Chapter 27: Rise of The arch-Dragon
A/N: To address some of the disappointment some of you may have felt towards Spes and Mentem. Spes' harsh words towards The goddess in the last chapter stem from an, as of yet, unknown past. His bitterness towards Spectra will be elaborated in the future, but not now. As for Mentem, ultimately his anger towards his initial belief of Spectra has long sense vanished, but he doesn't believe her to be a deity. But he does admit she is a powerful Dragoness, and that she is not a person who would hurt anyone of her own accord.
Now...one more thing before we begin:
We are nearing the end. ;)
...
Oculos was the first to awaken that morning.
The events of the night before almost felt like a dream to the grey dragon…sitting at the foot of his bed, with Persephone still resting her head on the pillows, sleeping peacefully, Oculos continued to recall his and Persephone's encounter with The God of Death, Persephone's creator and master…he remembered how furious he was when he witnessed Persephone being tormented by her creator.
Even though he held no regret for saving Persephone and that he is more than willing to give up his body so Persephone could live and was safe…safe from The God of Death's wrath. But he couldn't deny how frightened he was…there was no denying that today, he would die…
Oculos closed his eyes upon feeling his nervousness rising. Using his left paw, Oculos rubbed his eye lids softly and groaned.
But his nervousness dissipated upon hearing Persephone awaken and shift. Seconds later, he felt his mate's head rest against his neck and nuzzled his neck affectionately. Oculos smiled softly as he let his head lean against Persephone's head. The two mates remained that way for three minutes, listening to the crackling fire in the fire place.
"Lay down…please…" Persephone said softly to her mate.
"Should we assemble the others to the war room?" Oculos asked. "Today is the day our forces have been preparing for…the attack on Warfang…shouldn't we at least prepare for the attack."
This made Persephone chuckle softly.
"I am not one for swearing," Persephone said. "But fuck the army and fuck those fools…what will happen tonight will require no army…but right now, all I want is to be with you for what little time we have left…"
"But the others…" Oculos began, but stopped when Persephone touched his lips with her index claw.
"Can wait…" Persephone whispered. Oculos slowly eased and nodded. Persephone smiled and said. "Xea…"
Suddenly, Xea appeared in the room in it's teenage dragon form, head raised at it's mistress.
"Find Elise," Persephone "Tell her 'It's time'."
Xea nodded and suddenly vanished. Persephone lovingly nuzzled Oculos' neck.
"Elise will call the meeting in two hours…" Persephone whispered to him lovingly. "We have plenty of time till then…"
Oculos sighed as a small smile crossed his lips. Slowly, he turned to face her as she pulled him back down onto the bed…enjoying their time together.
…
Two hours later, The Forsworn guardians were assembled in the War Room. None of the "Guardians" said anything to the other, since there was nothing needed to be said. All they knew was that Persephone called for a meeting, and that it was concerning a supposed "Shift in power" of how the world runs. To the surprise of most of the "Guardians" was the appearance of three new dragons.
A Stone Dragon, a Sand Dragon and a Water Dragoness.
The Stone dragon had various scars running across his body and his left eye was missing, there was no eye patch over the socket, which had completely scarred over, leaving no need for a patch. His scales, like the traditional Stone dragon, were brown. His underbelly was grey along with his wing membranes, the tail blade was a double bladed axe that looked as though it could slice in half a bipedal creature with ease. The dragon appeared to be in his late fifties, but all of the Guardians assembled noticed an aura of power and experience radiate off of him…something the Fire Forsworn Guardian hated about the Dragon.
The sand dragon was the polar opposite of the Stone dragon. The dragon was agile in appearance and while the Stone guardian maintained a stoic personality, this dragon maintained a somewhat smug personality that showed he held no qualms with insulting even the most powerful in the room. His scales were golden brown and his underbelly and wing membranes were dark brown. His light brown eyes hinted at a sadistic side, but also a jokester.
The Water Dragoness appeared to be in her early twenties. Her scales were turquoise in color and her underbelly and wing membranes were a light purple. Her tail blade took the form of a trident and her horns were slightly jagged.
These were the new Guardians on the Forsworn Guardian Council. Brutus, the stone dragon, Cinna, the sand dragon and Elise, the Water dragoness, were senior members of The Forsworn and, unlike their fellow "Guardians" joined the Forsworn not out of greed, but in belief that The Forsworn was the key to a better world. Although their loyalty was not as strong as Oculos' to Persephone, the three guardians were still loyal and would follow Persephone into battle.
As the Guardians sat in wait for their leader and her second in command to arrive, the other guardians looked at the three new dragons. Orm was about to make a smug comment until the door to the meeting chamber opened with Persephone and Oculos entering. When Persephone and Oculos entered the room, Oculos shut the door and stood next to Persephone as she sat down at her place at the table.
"Morning…" Persephone said emotionlessly, she turned her head to the Water, Sand and Stone guardians. "Thank you for joining us at last my friends…I take it your mission was a success?"
Elise answered. "Yes milady, the subject is in the final stages…whenever you are ready, you may awaken it."
Persephone grinned.
"Thank you my dear." Persephone said, pleased.
Most of the other guardians, aside from Brutus and Cinna, appeared to be confused. Vind was the one who spoke next.
"Uh…milady…what do you mean 'Subject'?" The Wind Dragoness asked, trying to sound respectful to the leader of The Forsworn, whom she was still trying to get on her good side.
Persephone looked in the direction of the wind dragoness, and a smirk crossed her lips.
"Tell me Vind…did your father ever tell you horror stories?" Persephone asked, smirking darkly.
Confused, Vind said. "No…"
"Well then," Persephone said as she stood up from her chair and began to circle the table. "Let me tell you all a horror story…one that is quite true, and I'm sure most of you have heard."
Persephone continued to circle the table, after circling once, she began her "story".
"Long ago, back before the Empire was formed, back during the reign of The Pegasus Family line," Persephone said. "There was one year where a terrible plague struck the lands of what we now know as Tall Plains. Life stocks mysteriously died, crops withered up and waters became toxic…thousands of people in that region died. The Pegasus family line ignored these signs and assumed whatever was happening would end."
Persephone grinned sadistically.
"Oh…but it only got worse. As little dragonlings died before they were hatched, and this plague wiped out entire generations…their problems only got worse…when the entire island began to tremble…and was obliterated when something began to form…a beast…one that defies the creation of The Goddess herself, and is bent on only destruction…this beast crossed the seas towards the mainland of Tall Plains, and proceeded to wipe out countless lives, and reanimating their corpses into monstrosities… It was only thanks to Emera that the beast was slain…and t he world was saved…" Persephone stepped beside Vind, who looked up into Persephone's glowing crimson eyes. "Tell me, Vind…do you know the name of this beast?"
The Wind Dragoness shook her head, nervously. Persephone smirked while patting her cheek softly in a patronizing way. She then looked out to the others and grinned as she made her way to Oculos' side, Oculos couldn't help be enjoy watching most of The Forsworn look at his wife with confusion.
"The beast's name," Persephone began. "Is The Arch-Dragon…"
Almost all of the Forsworn Guardians gasped at the mere mention of the Arch-Dragon. Only Rädsla and Brand didn't gasp. Everyone in the room knew what an Arch-Dragon was however and none of them were too thrilled about hearing about it. Vind actually looked frightened from the tale and she shivered lightly in her seat.
"Pathetic bitch, you're not even worthy of being in the same room as Persephone." Elise commented quietly as she glared at the Forsworn Wind Guardian.
"H-hey!" Vind stuttered angrily as she glared at the water dragoness.
"Enough! Lady Persephone isn't finished!" Oculos boomed and his unnatural eyes glowed lightly.
Everyone went silent upon the death dragon's outburst. He took a deep breath before his eyes stopped glowing and everyone looked over at Persephone.
"Thank you, Oculos." the dark dragoness said appreciatively. "Now then... I am going to summon summon an Arch-Dragon to attack Warfang. While this is happening, Oculos here will become the God of Death's own avatar." she informed everyone with a blank expression.
"What?!" both Jord and Vind cried out in unison.
All of the Forsworn Guardians in the room, except Rädsla, was completely shocked by this news.
"Lady Persephone, I'd like to say that I strongly believe that you shouldn't summon an Arch-Dragon." the overweight earth dragon spoke as he quickly stood up.
"Your concern has been noted. Now sit down, Jord." the dark dragoness replied calmly.
Jord opened his mouth to say something, but decided against it and sat down.
"Now then, are there any questions or concerns?" Persephone questioned with an unreadable expression.
Everyone remained silent, but the Forsworn Fear Guardian slowly raised his paw.
"When does the party start?" Rädsla asked darkly.
"If you mean the summoning of the Arch-Dragon... within the hour." Persephone answered. "If that is all, this meeting is adjourned." she added before she and Oculos turned around and walked out.
...
In Oculos' living quarters, Persephone was helping Oculos put on some ceremonial black robes that covered almost all of his body. The only parts of him that were still exposed was his wings and neck.
Once the robes were on, Persephone made her way in front of her new mate and slowly placed a mask over his face. The mask resembled the God of Death's skull and it was bleached white. There were four eye sockets on the math even though Oculos only required two.
"Well... this is comfy." the death dragon commented with a muffled voice because of he mask.
When Persephone was finished placing the mask over her mate's face…she smiled softly at Oculos and looked down at the ground, an attempt to hide her sad expression…but Oculos knew what she was feeling…a sense of anxiety, knowing that she would lose him today whether their plan was successful or ended in failure. It made Persephone, for the first time in her immortal life, feel hopeless.
Oculos slowly placed his paw underneath his mate's chin and tilted her head up so his yellow eyes and her crimson eyes met. Behind the eye holes of the mask, Oculos' eyes were kind and loving…Persephone smiled as he hugged him tightly…the two's embrace continued for four minutes, neither willing to let the other go. But it was ultimately Oculos who broke the embrace, which at first Persephone sobbed once, refusing to let Oculos go, but after a minute of Oculos whispering words of comfort and love to his mate, Persephone reluctantly broke the hug, and dried herself of the tears staining her cheeks.
Oculos wiped the tears away with his left paw, comforting Persephone. Oculos slowly pushed the bottom of his mask up over his lips, and the two leaned in for one last kiss before leaving Oculos' quarters.
….
Persephone and Oculos looked out at the vast ocean before them. It was six o'clock at night…just as Persephone planned it. Behind them stood Brand, Brutus, Cinna and Elise.
Slowly, Persephone stepped forward until she was knee deep in the ocean. The Dragon-Goddess slowly held up her left paw, which soon began to radiate a violet smoke like aura. Persephone's crimson eyes shut as she began to chant.
"Child of Discord…" Persephone began. "Harbinger of suffering, deliverer of hardships…rise up! And Do as you were made to do! SPREAD CHAOS!"
The sphere of "Smoke" flew forward from Persephone's palm, and flew into the water, creating a flash of violet light…
For two minutes, nothing happened. Brand was about to leave, thinking that Persephone was wasting his time…until he felt the entire Earth shake. Suddenly, a whirlpool began to form three miles out at sea. A Dragon suddenly appeared in the distance, standing approximately thirty meters tall. The dragon was made completely out of earthly materials, such as seaweed (from the ocean floor) stone and vines. It's eyes blared a sickly green aura and breathed a sickly green fog from it's mouth.
Persephone smirked as she saw the Arch-Dragon rise up…it's attention soon turned to the mortals and The Dragon-Goddess miles away. It flapped it's vine and stone wings up and quickly flew over to the mortals. The Guardians tensed. But Persephone merely held up her right paw, and snapped her talons…
In a flash of Blood red light, the Arch-Dragon vanished.
Persephone and Oculos turned to the others, and as the guardians made eye contact with Persephone, The Guardians, along with Oculos and Persephone, vanished…teleporting to Warfang.
….
Cecil stood in his quarters, resting quietly, but he heard the sound of the festivities going on outside of The Temple…The Festival of New Dawn had reached the end of it's first day. New Dawn was a week of celebration for The citizens of The Empire and it's allies.
It marked the end of the corrupt Pegasus Family line, and the rise of The Empire founded by Empress Emera, who gave liberty and freedom to every race, not just the dragons. The Festivities lasted an entire week, each day having new attractions and themes. Such as this day would be meant to represent cultures like the Fire Dragons, Stone Dragons and Earth Dragons, then the other days would represent other cultures as well. This year, thanks to Cecil, he managed to convince the Guardians to allow the Fear and Poison dragons represent their cultures, since they fought for The Empire and proved their loyalty…Cecil hoped that by the end of this week, the Poison and Fear Dragons could be represented on The council…thus giving all the dragon breeds a voice.
But now, Cecil enjoyed his sleep…resting for the next day.
But Cecil soon felt an aura suddenly appear in his room…one that he didn't recognize…but seemed familiar. The Blind Prophet quickly bolted up right on his bed…but suddenly felt a balled fist slam into his forehead, knocking him unconscious.
…
Oculos looked down at the unconscious body of The Prophet from behind his mask and pitied the blind dragon…but he knew his mission…and he aimed to accomplish it.
A second after he knocked the prophet unconscious, a portal of crimson light appeared in the sky above Warfang…when it opened, Oculos heard the sound of The Arch-Dragon roar and land in the city…
Oculos knew what that mean.
Phase one was accomplished…now it was time for phase two of The God of Death's arrival.
