Chapter 36-Fighting the Future

Narssia raised her head, daring to look at Raxmon as she finished explaining all he needed to know between their two time frames. She felt guilty for having hidden the knowledge for so long but it had been in his best interests that he and his family remain in the dark about the horrible turn of events that would bring out the monster within the she-dragon he knew as his mate. He was silent for a time, taking in all she had mentioned to him but eventually he spoke, the words strained and threatening to crack as the emotions the golden dragon felt slipped into his telepathy.

She needs to know this. If what you say is true then . . . He paused, glancing out the cave's entrance. Then we have only hours left.

A shallow growl was her reply as the black she-dragon lowered her head, struggling against the sorrow that bubbled up from within her at the thought of having to witness the death of the beloved beast once more but from a different perspective. Raxmon snorted and Narssia flinched as she heard the sound of him unfolding a wing, which one she could not tell as she had closed her eyes. The thin membrane draped over her frame, causing her to blink and focus her attention on the gold dragon as he gazed at her, eyes shimmering with brimming tears yet with a look of resolve and acceptance.

Come what may, I'm ready, the golden beast hummed. Narssia snorted, appalled at his optimistic attitude.

What about Jormundur? She asked, realizing that both grey dragons were expected to return as soon as nightfall began.

Raxmon blinked, his green irises narrowing with worry. Go and find them. Sitedal and Ryta are within the cave and she will leave to hunt soon.

Narssia hesitated, barely turning to face the entrance. A plume of smoke rose into the air from her nostrils and the golden dragon growled softly. Her worry was impacting all of them, she realized as Raxmon glanced back inside the cave to be assured that the other two young dragons were there.

Go, Narssia, he hissed faintly, snapping his jaws together as he did so to further emphasize his point. Return with the two greylings while I keep an eye on my mate.

A soft growl rose from her throat. You think you can pinpoint the exact moment when she switches? When she goes from loving mate to cold-blooded monster? I've been that Raxmon! I know the feeling of losing everything in an instant. You go and find the two, I'll keep an eye on her.

Raxmon snorted in disgust but didn't argue back, instead spreading his wings and taking to the sky. Narssia watched him go then turned and descended back into the darkness of the cave and of the mind set she had held during those times, back to a place she dreaded but was needed to keep those alive that she loved. She hoped Jormundur could understand her reasoning for not coming to get him, having to prepare for a night of terror and mentally steeling herself for the first signs that Arxa was revealing her presence within the land.

The bellow of returning dragons startled past-Narssia from her sleep and she raised her head with a low growl. Narssia, the broken forme of herself from the future, walked past and she snapped in warning. Despite the circumstance, the black mind-broken dragoness did not reply in any way and returned seconds later with both versions of Jormundur and Raxmon. Raxmon. A fury pounded in her head as she gazed at the dragon she had come to know as her mate. Why had she given herself over to everything she knew was wrong? Placing her life back into the control of Corruption's power was stupid, she should have known better, but it was too late to change anything. Mirage was dead, her own rider was dead, there was little keeping her from falling back into the darkness that she had tried so hard fighting against her entire life.

I'm going hunting, she announced to no one in particular as she stood and stretched her wings, feeling a slight chill come over her but figuring it was simply a draft from the winds outside.

Her frame writhed with anticipation as she plunged herself out into the sky and roared in eagerness over getting something to sink her teeth into. Unknown to her, her future form left moments later, staying close behind yet far enough back so she wouldn't sense the time-traveled she-dragon. The wind brushed against her scales, sending shivers up her spine. Something felt off, like everything she knew was about to be changed. A growl rippled from her throat and she shook her head, trying to move past the feelings of unease while she let herself mentally scan the forests below for life.

Narssia backed off, veering back the way she had come from as she watched her past self descend into the forest below and go after prey to feed her family. She could feel the rage building within the young she-dragon's mind; it wouldn't be long until the switch was flipped and Arxa was let gaze lifted to the sun, as it had begun its slow descent into the horizon, and a low growl rose from deep within her throat. As much as she wanted to change the course of history and save Raxmon's life, she had to let it happen as it had if only to protect those she cared most deeply about as they meant everything to her.

She hissed and flew back to the cave, recalling the hunting trip that only let loose the darkness she had held so long inside. Her past form knew nothing of the danger she was about to let out, a force no other dragon could contend against due to its ferocity. Sorrow welled up inside her at the thought of how she had tried so hard to make Ryta understand this after the brave dragoness had given everything to break her free for only a few moments. Corruption's might had been most displeased with this and had lashed out at her with every ounce of strength it possessed, a feeling having been most unpleasant to her weakened body and mind.

Raxmon greeted her joyfully upon her return but she brushed off his enthusiasm with a low snarl, eyes flickering with untapped rage as she folded her wings against her frame and moved deeper into the cave. When the golden dragon asked how his mate's mental state was she turned to face him and roared, threatening to injure him if he didn't leave her alone. Watching him back away, seemingly hurt by her angry rebuttal, Narssia lowered her snout and gazed at him with sympathy in her fierce irises.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lash out at you but . . .

Her head jolted up, fear running cold through her veins as she felt the familiar tendrils of Corruption's influence creep slowly into her thoughts. Raxmon's worried growl brought her back to attention and she found that Jormundur had walked up beside the gold beast, his yellow irises clouded with equal worry and confusion.

Is it time? He asked softly, motioning with his tail to the entrance of the cave as the first hints of the coming night had begun to trail shadows about the cavern opening.

Narssia eyed her time-mover son steadily then turned her gaze to Raxmon. Yes, we must be ready for anything. I fear I may not be as much help as I had originally thought with . . .

The darkness is invading your mind as well, isn't it? Raxmon's deep growl resulted in a soft one from her, her gaze flickering back to her son.

Raxmon, should I go ahead and tell the little ones to fly away from here?

A fierce roar from Narssia ended the discussion as her emerald eyes bore into the topaz irises of her son. Do not change the events of the attack. It made all of you stronger, and it particularly gave Ryta a reason to seek me out later and try and rescue me from the shadows of Corruption.

Jormundur growled softly in agreement and lowered his head, trying to regain the once peaceful atmosphere of the cave. As you wish, mother.

How much longer do we have until it's time? Raxmon snorted as a plume of smoke rose from Narssia's nostrils.

A hour, maybe less. I can't get an exact time as it happens so . . . She paused, glancing at the golden dragon. Her return from hunting sets everything into motion.

Raxmon snarled softly but said nothing in reply as Narssia turned her attention to the darkening sky outside. It was hard for her to keep a firm grasp on her emotions, particularly her anger and rage as those always led her down the same dark path her rider had once tread hundreds of years before her hatching. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Jormundur lean his head in towards the golden dragon and a slow sigh escaped her. He had loved the majestic beast the most out of her two sons, and had been the most devastated once the dragon had met its ultimate demise by her fangs.

A low hum filled the air and Narssia quickly backed up, feeling the air around her charging with static energy. There had been no rainstorm when she had killed Raxmon, that much she knew with utter clarity, so why would one come now? Perhaps it was payment for the interruption of the time frame Jormundur and her had caused upon their time travel? She shook her head, snarling quietly, and searched the cave's interior until she found the calm eyes of her son. The yellow irises mocked her with their inner peace and comfort, yet she knew he was also afraid of the events to come with Raxmon's death looming on the horizon.

'There was no storm when he was killed in our time,' Jormundur muttered softly to her mind alone as she returned her attention to the outside world.

'I agree, much has changed since the 'Night of Shadows' as I know it as since it was the downfall of myself and the rise of Arxa. Do not inform Raxmon of this as he will likely suspect something is wrong and question us further, something I would hope we could avoid if at all possible.'

Narssia laid down, her emerald eyes darkening as the light began to fade from the open environment before them. As her tail curled around her left hind leg, she felt a change in her past form, a ripple of anger that was more powerful then she expected. Her eyes opened wide and a low snarl rose from deep in her throat automatically, prompting glances from the two males which she ignored as worry over the situation caused her to stand.

She comes.

The low hiss of electricity building up in the clouds meant nothing to the younger version of Narssia as she hurried back to her cave, angry at herself and bitter at the herd of deer that had scattered upon her loud descent, Finding the prey had been easy but with so many to choose from she had gotten . . . overexcited and had announced her presence with a fierce roar, sending the group of plant-eaters into a mad frenzy to escape her powerful being. A badly timed lunge had sent her rolling along the ground while the deer she had tried to throw to the earth had dashed off, kicking wildly as its four hoofed feet carried it as fast as it could go while all she could do was watch as it fled from her.

She roared out in rage and threw herself into a spin, manipulating the wind around her to speed up her progress towards her home. The doe had been right in front of her but she had been so blinded by the ease of the kill that she failed to stop and consider all the possible outcomes before making her plunge onto the land. It made sense now why she had missed her target and sent it cantering away with the others while she collided with the soil and dirtied her gleaming scales with the filth of the ground-dwellers domain. Anger rose again within her and she opened her maw without hesitation. Instantly a blast of black fire stormed from her jaws and trailed across the sky, leaving in its wake a smoky line where the super-heated energy had torn through the darkening sky.

Despite the failure of her initial catch, Narssia had been able to find a weakened young buck and wrestle it to the ground, splattering her ivory white claws with the crimson blood of her victim as it refused to give up its life without a fight. The animal had been mangled badly by her fangs and talons but it would serve well as a meal for her youngest since the brown dragoness was not at her best for some reason. Clutching the deer firmly with her foretaloned legs, the black she-dragon rose slowly into the sky and was so involved in her own thoughts that the first clap of thunder startled her enough to make her snarl and throw a blast of fire at the rolling clouds above her as their darkening grey surfaces mirrored her own mind. For some reason, the entire trip had made her angry, not just losing her prey, although that had nearly brought out a raging inferno from her maw just to get back at the flighty mammals.

As the sky above seemed ready to crackle with energy, the black dragoness spotted her cavern and flapped her wings harder, positioning the outer edges closer to her frame should lightning strike. She felt a change within herself seconds before a jagged bolt of charged water vapor rushed for her and dived down, narrowly avoiding getting hit by the powerful current. The wind whispered to her softly as she turned her head to see how far the thunderbolt had gone down, startled when she realized it had ultimately struck a tree and blasted the bark apart, leaving a gapping split straight down into the trunk. Avoiding another lightning bolt, Narssia folded her wings tightly against her and called upon the wind to give her a lift. Her reaction to the motionless wind was a fierce snarl before she forced herself upwards and barely set foot inside the rock structure before another boom of thunder resounded in the distance.

As she noticed her past form nearing the cave moments before the thunderstorm had started, Narssia had slipped back into the shadows, instructing Jormundur to do the same as she watched with dread over what was going to happen as soon as the young darkness user set foot inside the cavern. Jormundur growled softly and Narssia was intrigued to see that Raxmon kept his distance from his mate as she finally entered and beckoned her children to come to her side. Ryta bounded to the dragoness moments later while the other two hesitatingly followed after their sibling but still stayed a good distance away as they lingered near the gold dragon. The deer was offered to the brown dragoness and she gladly picked it up and immediately went to a corner of the cave to begin work on devouring the meat.

The younger versions of Sitedal and Jormundur reluctantly joined their sister as their mother started toward Raxmon, Narssia holding back a snarl as she clearly saw the fury radiating from the young she-dragon's eyes. Raxmon appeared to have not noticed as he joyfully greeted her and led her further inside where the weather would not bother them. A quick glimpse at her time-traveling son showed Narssia the pain he was trying to hide as he stared after the golden dragon and almost uttered a low mourning growl before he caught himself and lowered his head.

My mate, Raxmon growled as Narssia cringed with agony over hearing him elaborate on calling the two a pair. What troubles you? What causes you this . . . distress? I've never felt your emotions this strongly before.

He had finally led the black dragoness over to a dry spot in the cave and both seemed content with the location, their bodies laying next to each other as he rested his head on her back. Narssia quickly flickered her attention to Ryta and her siblings and found the two males busy cleaning their claws while their sister was finishing her meal. Jormundur crept up beside his mother and she nudged him gently with her snout, wanting to open her mind to him to soothe his fears but worried it might disrupt her past self and the gold dragon that had only minutes left alive.

The younger Narssia snorted, smoke rising from her nostrils. What do you think is wrong Raxmon? She hissed, startling both her future form and Raxmon, as the male lifted his head from her frame and gazed at her with confusion. A storm just blew in and I almost got fried, is that good enough of an answer for you?

I . . . The storm isn't my fault but I suppose it did endanger you.

Endanger me? The dragoness snarled, eyes flickering with a slight whitish tint. If I hadn't let the wind guide me, there would have been no meat for Ryta and I . . . Well, you get the point. Other than that, I'm fine. I mean, sure my hunt didn't go as smoothly as I had wanted it to but no harm done to me.

Narssia edged closer, finding herself drawing back into the darkness that she had believed she had left once Jormundur had taken both of them to the past. They had changed the time line some as there had been no lightning storm during the original hunt. She just hoped Raxmon wouldn't freeze up and confess to the weakened and nearly overcome by darkness dragoness everything he knew, if that happened then she probably wouldn't get out the cave alive as it would turn almost all of the dragons against her and her time wielding son. A return nudge from her youngling calmed her some but worry still crept into her thoughts as she continued to watch the scene unfold before her.

Raxmon snorted, amused almost by the way his mate was trying to keep a calm exterior. There is something else bothering you, isn't there? You can tell me, you know that by now.

No. I can't talk about it, not now.

Would you deny me a chance to guess? The golden dragon asked as he nuzzled her and their tails wrapped together.

Raxmon, now is . . . She caught herself and shook her head, not before the two future dragons saw a brief glimpse of the monster they knew as Arxa come out once more as the she-dragon's irises flashed to being murky for a split second. You wouldn't guess right anyway, it's not something I ever told you.

But it's something I did, Narssia mentally corrected as she held back her feelings of anger, sensing it would force her into nearly the same position her former self was going through.

Raxmon growled softly, drawing back his head. Fine, just tell me when you're ready.

A shriek from Ryta broke Narssia's concentration on watching her past form and her gaze flickered to the brown dragoness. Sitedal had snapped up the last bone she had yet to crush and was breaking the ivory fragment into nothing more than splinters just to show he could, a trait that brought the darkness-bringing emotions back to the forefront of her mind for the damaged she-dragon. A low hiss from Jormundur returned their attention to Raxmon and his mate.

You wouldn't understand, no one can. Narssia felt sympathy towards the young dragoness, ashamed at herself for having wanted to injure it as soon as possible after their first meeting. Not even my rider knew what was going on . . .

As if an icy film had dissolved from her mind, Narssia felt the full rage of her prior being storm throughout her frame and she was certain Jormundur sensed it somewhat as he glanced over at her with a fearful gaze. She wanted to stand and roar out, to save the life of the golden dragon from his fate, but her muscles refused to move and she could only watch as the darkness of Corruption sprang to life inside the time-differed dragoness.

Tell me Raxmon, how important is one . . . She leaned in towards him, their snouts nearly touching . . . delicate . . . Her head snaked around behind his neck and positioned itself just above his shoulders . . . life?

The lunge and brutal snap sent shockwaves of agony through Narssia and at last she was able to stand, roaring out in anger. She mentally conveyed to Jormundur to take the hatchlings away immediately while she held off the newly created Arxa in the body of her past self, despite messing with the time frame. The grey dragon silently did as asked and she watched him lead the younglings away before turning on Arxa and letting loose another roar.

Monster, she hissed as the two dragons slowly began to circle each other, Raxmon's body laying between them. He was an innocent dragon who never deserved that kind of fate. You killed your own mate!

I know, Arxa snapped back, swiping out at Narssia as she backed up to avoid the blow. He earned it as soon as he started to work alongside you and that time-mover son of yours!

Horror and anger instantly replaced any sympathy she might have held and Narssia let out a burst of flames from her maw, only to have Arxa halt them in their tracks and send the blast back at her. The flames stung her nostrils and eyes but the enraged dragoness ignored the pain and leapt forward, smashing into the dark presence and sending them rolling along the ground. As she claimed top position, the Corruption-controlled dragon snapped out at her, forcing Narssia to find another way to weaken the evil that had consumed her younger self. Sending a blast of fire straight into her attacker's chest, Narssia was able to roll away and get back on her feet before the other dragon could manage to shake off the blow and attack her again.

Lunging once more at the dark version of herself, Narssia hurled her foretaloned leg into its face and threw it to the ground, its body landing right at the entrance to the cave, Realizing her options were limited, the still standing dragoness spat another fireball toward her foe before rising onto her hind legs and letting loose another roar. Arxa stumbled back onto her feet and Narssia rushed to meet her head-on, locking horns with the beast that had given over itself to Corruption's power.

Eventually as they shoved against each other, Narssia noticed that her strength was starting to wan. She had given everything she was capable of but she would see to the destruction of the monster before her even if it took her offering her life to rid the world of Corruption's most dangerous pawn. With a snarl, she jerked back and let her rage convert to energy for her flames, scorching Arxa severely before the servant of darkness could move out of the way. Her clawed forepaw rose again and Narssia heard the resounding snap of a bone breaking as she poured all of her emotions into her fighting, determined to give every bit of strength she had to beat the monster that had chained her within herself. Arxa was flung back onto the ground and laid sprawled out at the entrance to the cavern again and Narssia, although in the back of her mind she knew the reaction was wrong, leapt toward the injured dragon to finish things off for good.

Halfway there, she realized the dragoness had merely lain like that to encourage the jump, but it was too late to stop her roaring spring toward Arxa. Narssia tried to grasp out with her claws to catch hold of something but suddenly felt a stab of pain driven through her body from her abdomen, resulting in a wailing shriek as she closed her eyes, knowing the dragoness had lashed out with its hind taloned legs and thrown her forward and off the edge of the cliff. A similar blast of pain radiated from her wings but in the heat of the moment Narssia ignored the new possible wound. She tried again to grasp for anything and even tried to spread her wings but the instant the thin material was rustled, another jolt of paralyzing agony all but crippled her resolve to escape. A low snarl rippled from her jaws and she forced herself to open her eyes, glaring up at the entrance to the cave as she dug her claws into the rocks around her to slow her descent. Arxa sat just barely inside with a humored expression lingering in her dark irises, a mocking stare that only increased the fury Narssia felt toward the specter. With a bellow, the time traveled dragoness opened her jaws, expecting the fury of her flames to blaze forth, but blinked as the crackle of electricity arched up the rock formation and zapped the corrupted she-dragon with enough voltage that Narssia felt exhausted after the display of strength. Where had she gotten electricity from? She briefly thought back to her first kill under the name of Arxa, before Corruption's power had become involved. He had been an electric dragon, hadn't he? Maybe that was the reason for the wrathful skill she had displayed towards the dark dragoness.

Barely holding onto the stones with all of her strength, Narssia hissed as Arxa gazed at her once more before turning and disappearing inside the cave. Her energy was gone, her resolve was fading, there was nothing she could do anymore. The darkness had won, again, despite her best attempts to fight against it. Jormundur had to be miles away from her now, carrying out the order she had given him. Sparks flew from the crumbling rubble as she lost her grip and began a sharper descent to the land below, startling her so much that she spread her wings wide and then roared in agony as tendrils of pain seared throughout her body in protest to the movement.

Narssia squeezed her eyes shut, unwilling to see where the fall would take her as she drew into a tight spin, hoping for more speed to end her miserable failure attempt at saving who she had been from the darkness she knew all too well. I failed, she bitterly thought before she slammed into the ground, sending up a cloud of dust as she slid to a stop. The moist earth around her soothed her slightly but not enough as she found the strength from within herself to raise her head and examine her surroundings for enemies. Other than the grass and the sounds of a flowing brook, she could see nothing that looked like it might attack her. She snorted softly and lowered her head back down, digging her claws into the earth as her thoughts turned to her son and how he was holding up since the attack.

The sound of flapping wings broke Narssia from her thoughts moments later and she wearily raised her head to see the outline of a dragon circling above her mangled frame. She snorted, straining to see who the beast was, but quickly realized it wasn't Jormundur. He had either abandoned her or followed through with her request to keep the younglings of her past self safe. As if the creature above her had heard her thoughts, a deep rumble resounded through her mind.

Peace, young one.

Narssia snorted in amusement. Peace? She was as much at peace as she could be with having failed to prevent Arxa from being formed. Raxmon would never have had to die if she had only been stronger and more used to fighting the darkness that knew her heart so well.

I see you have no verbal response to my statement, yet your snort clearly reveals your feelings on the subject. The mystery dragon paused for a moment. Forgive me, I forgot you were deeply injured. I suppose I should take you back to my cave and treat your wounds.

As well you should, Narssia hissed before she passed out.