The most important injuries are the ones that cannot be physically healed.

Arrowheadlock

Shade's POV

Well, we were back in Warfang for the time being, Spyro and Cynder were bargain hunting for carpenters. Brian was somewhere, (Big surprise) and Amber and I were in our room for the time being.

Something about Amber seemed wrong, she seemed depressed, and I wanted to help but how?

"Amber is something wrong?" I asked, I need to at least try.

"I-I don't know for sure." Amber replied, "I think I love someone, but I can't tell if he loves me too or not. I overheard some of the other girls talking about how they really loved somebody who only broke their heart. I can't stop but worry, am I next?"

"Who is it?" I asked, now I'm really concerned.

"Brian." Amber sighed.

"Have you ever confronted him about it?" I inquired; Brian would hardly strike me as the person to break someone's heart like that.

"No, he isn't the easiest person to find you know." Amber answered.

"True," I admitted, "but perhaps what you need to do is talk with one of the rangers, one of the people who watched Brian grow up. They might know something we don't."

"Okay, I just want to know." Amber agreed.

Unfortunately, Dixon who by all means was Brian's step father was unavailable, but Jim listened to the situation and nodded his head in understanding.

"I think I know what's going on Amber, Brian is suffering from PTSD, though I'm glad this is the extent of it." Jim explained.

"PTSD? What is that?" Amber asked.

"Post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD may develop after a person is exposed to one or more traumatic events, such as sexual assault, fighting in a war, sustaining a serious injury, or the threat of death in which they experience intense fear, horror, or powerlessness." Jim explained, "And Brian witnessed or experienced them all first hand, all at a very young age."

"That must be hard, but how does it affect him?" Amber asked further.

"Brian is a real lucky case Amber," Jim comforted, "People who've seen only half of what Brian has would have gone insane, and started killing anyone in sight. Brian on the other hand, is only confused in a sense; some words have a different meaning to him than yours or mine."

"So, he just doesn't know what to think about this?" Amber asked trying to make sense of it.

"Brian sees 'relationship' or 'love' differently, he's afraid of it." Jim tried to elaborate.

"Brian and afraid in the same sentence? This has to be important." I commented

"You see Amber," Jim began, "Brian is afraid that if he pursues this relationship with you, he'll force you to surrender your freedom to him. He doesn't want to have total authority over you. He's seen women forced to submit themselves to men and vowed to never force someone to do it to him."

"So Brian thinks that's happening? He doesn't want to do it so I can keep my freedom?" Amber asked as tears formed from her eyes, tears of joy.

"That's why I love him, his selflessness."

". . . And I share the same feelings." Brian admitted as he dropped down from his hidden perch, "I just don't know how to deal with them."

Amber had only one response as she nuzzled into his side, "Let me help you, let me heal you."

For the rest of the month, Amber and Brian were embracing each other off and on throughout the day. But as night fell onto the land Amber retired to her bed and Brian and I began our patrol as usual. Tonight was quiet as normal without any impending monsters but we remained vigilant, watching and waiting for when we'll be needed.

It was only a few hours before sunrise when we spotted something on the night sky. Brian and I made a silent flyby to examine the possible threat.

It was worse than we thought; Spyro told us about the sky pirates he encountered three years ago and their fleet of flying ships. Well they're back, an armada of over three dozen ships manned by monsters was sailing for Warfang.

And at the helm of the flagship, was Appa. He was back for me, but I'm not afraid, I'm not even worried. I am ready, but first we need to warn Warfang. The fleet was still two to three hours away from firing range of the city, plenty of time to develop a defensive strategy.

Brian woke the city up easily enough with a supersonic pass. Terrador called for an emergency meeting of the guardians, captain of the city guard, Spyro, Cynder, Brian, myself, Jim, and several members the council.

"How did Appa managed to create enough monsters to fully man all those ships?" Volteer asked as we looked at the fleet.

"That ape is the source, we take him out and the rest of the fleet will fall." Someone exclaimed.

"If we can board and capture some of the smaller ships, we can fire away on the flagship from all sides. We just need transport and air support." Jim plotted as we started picking out our targets.

Brian and I were the first strike, using our energy blasts to destroy a battleship together and draw Appa's fire. As expected, Appa saw us as the biggest threat and sent most of his fleet on us, giving everyone else easy access, Idiot.

As Brian and I made our attack runs, the Guardians split off and destroyed ship after ship. Terrador used his brute size and strength to crush the ships, Cyril used his ice breath to create ice wedges that split ships apart, Volteer used lightning to detonate the ships powder kegs blowing the ships to splinters, and Arial was creating tornados to throw some of the smaller ships into each other. Spyro and Cynder were the most powerful though, combining their convexity to vaporize entire battleships.

Then I found Appa on the deck of the flagship yelling at his minions, I knew it was time to prove to him what I was now.

'Brian, I'm taking Appa.' I echoed as I began to swing around.

'No, we'll take him together!' Brian echoed back but I was already in my dive.

'Brian, it's MY fight not yours!' I argued.

'Alright Shade, Godspeed.'

With a terrifying roar I pounced into a minion in front of Appa shredding it apart with my claws. The evil mage shrieked as he jumped back but quickly regained his composure.

"Return my property to me and surrender and I may spare your life." Appa threatened, "Is the destruction of the dragon city really worth one failed experiment?"

"Here I am," I told in a voice that sent chills down the ape's spine, "I am your failed experiment, but I'm not afraid of you anymore."

"Ha! What bluff! Experiment Omega was terrified of me! But if what you say is true, you will die and your corpse will teach me your secrets!" Appa yelled as he fired a spell at me, I lept over another minion and pounced on Appa.

My fight has begun. . .