Chapter Twenty-two: Copper

Copper felt that same pain that he had felt one year ago when Rust had died. He felt like something had been wrenched out of his heart. He knew this feeling all too well. He couldn't bear to feel like this ever again.

Why Fatebringer? Copper wondered. Why did he have to die?

Neither Lavender nor Copper said a single word on the way to the FireWing Stronghold. They just looked down gloomily and stayed silent.

He looked at the arm where he had carved the words "For Rust" and carved the words "and Fatebringer" next to it.

He knew that he had to win this for them, that their efforts would go to waste if he and Lavender didn't succeed. Why did Rust spare him if he couldn't save Pyrrhia? Why would Fatebringer light himself on fire if they ended up losing to the DeathWing?

Copper realized that Rust and Fatebringer wouldn't want to see him like this.

We should focus on defeating the DeathWing, and getting the Fire Stone, or we're going to lose! If we lose, Fatebringer would have died in vain, Copper thought.

As they slid through the tunnel, Copper told Lavender about this.

"Okay, whatever," she said in a nonchalant tone. She seemed completely out of focus.

"Snap out of it, Lavender. We can't change the past. We can only change the future. And that depends on what we do now. Whether we win, or we lose. It's down to us now, Lavender," Copper said.

Lavender took a deep breath and nodded.

A moment later, they both jumped off the tunnel, and were met by many FireWing

Since Fatebringer had told them everything he knew and had seen, they knew almost everything about the FireWings.

They all introduced themselves.

"We don't have much time," Fateshadow said, as they headed off towards the Stone Room.

"We need the Fire Stone, no matter what," Copper said.

"It's definitely needed in order to defeat the DeathWing," Surf agreed.

"So, how do we get it? It's all locked in there and everything, and it doesn't seem like there's a way to open it," Copper said.

"There is one way to open it. You have to complete that obstacle course without flying, and find the key," Ignis said.

"Stop playing around! Innocent dragons are dying over there in the battle, and you think we have time for a stupid obstacle course?" Copper asked. "Why can't you just open it like this?"

He slammed his body into the glass case really hard, but nothing happened to the case. Copper was thrown backwards.

"That's why," Arson said.

"It's animus cursed. You have to complete the course without flying, and get the key, before you can be proved worthy," Surf explained.

Copper shook his head as he went over to the obstacle course, and Lavender started to search for the key.

Copper entered the tunnel which said "start here" on it, and started sprinting through the pathway extremely fast.

Huh, this is easy. What could possibly be hard about just sprinting through a tunnel? Copper thought.

Suddenly, arrows came shooting out of nowhere. What! he thought, It won't matter, I have metallic scales!

He kept on sprinting, and was met by a cliff. He couldn't stop quick enough, and tried to jump, but it was too late. His feet slipped off the edge, as he hopelessly attempted a jump in mid-air.

Luckily, he had enough momentum that he was able hang on to a ledge on the far side. He pulled himself up and climbed up to the top.

"What?" Copper yelled as he jumped back. Standing in front of him was the DeathWing, who was snapping Fatebringer, Lavender, and Rust's necks. The DeathWing kicked Copper and started running towards the next obstacle. Copper quickly got up and chased after him. Suddenly, he came to a halt, in front of Copper was a bunch of moving platforms, swinging axes, and a moat below.

He's getting away! Copper thought, as he saw the image of the DeathWing go into the distance. Well, here goes nothing! Copper thought, and he jumped onto a platform. Yes I landed it-OOF! His thoughts were interrupted when he got hit by an axe, and got knocked off the platform. Copper caught himself on a ledge of a different platform. Momentarily, he hanged from the platform, staring down at the murky water below him.

Wow, that must be a 500 foot fall. It won't be enough so I can save myself with flight. But it's enough to kill me, Copper observed. Suddenly, the platform started moving. Copper pulled himself up and looked up to see the DeathWing flying towards the next obstacle.

"HEY! THAT'S CHEATING!" He yelled. Copper was tempted to fly, but he held back, knowing that he would be disqualified too.

Copper jumped off the platform and landed flat on the next one, barely avoiding the swinging axe. There! The exit! Copper exclaimed to himself. Just one more lunge. Okay, ready. One, two three! Copper pushed off the platform just as it started moving. Yes! He reached for the edge of the exit. Then he realized that he was going to fall short. Copper's talons raked the wall as sparks came flying off. It was a long climb to the top. Slowly Copper dug his talons into the wall and pulled himself to the exit.

In front of him was an open room that seemed to have no gimmicks. Is this the final challenge? He wondered. Then, Copper saw an IceWing standing on the other side of the room.

"I hate you! You and your friends always ruin my plans," the IceWing hissed.

Suddenly the room became darker and darker. The IceWing slammed Copper into the wall.

"Who are you?" Copper yelled. But then, the DeathWing was suddenly in front of him.

"I am your greatest fear," the DeathWing replied, snapping Lavender, Fatebringer, and Rust's necks again.

The DeathWing blasted intensified frostbreath. Copper tried to dive out of the way, but it was too late. The deadly frostbreath struck Copper square in the chest.

"Ahhh! It hurts so much." Copper said.

The DeathWing came flying at Copper. Unfortunately, he didn't have enough time to react. The DeathWing's talons struck through Copper's frozen scales. It was enough to make a hole. The room went pitch black.

This is it, I'm going to die now, he thought. "No! Don't give up Copper! You can do this!" In his mind he saw Fatebringer, but he had a crimson flame outline. "Here." Fatebringer said. "For this one time, let me give you fire."

"For Pyrrhia!" Copper yelled, and he punched the DeathWing. Then, golden flames started coming out of Copper's mouth and the room became brighter.

"No! Nooooooooo!" Copper heard the DeathWing yell. But then, in front of him was a young IceWing, and he burst into flames.

Copper sat there for a moment looking at the ground. His wounds were healed and he was fine.

He looked ahead and saw a door.

As he walked through the door, he saw seventeen other doors, with names over them.

Copper decided to try his luck, and he opened the door marked FireWing transformation room. Standing there, in the doorway, was Fatebringer.

"Fatebringer! I thought you were dead!" Copper exclaimed, giving Fatebringer a hug.

"I am, but I'm about to become a FireWing," Fatebringer said.

"Oh, and by the way, they told me to give you this," Fatebringer told him, handing him a key.

Copper smiled, as he thanked Fatebringer.

"I'll see you soon," Copper said, as he walked out the door.

Copper decided to go back the way he came, so he walked out of the door that wasn't marked.

When he walked outside the door, he was in a completely different place. The door that he had walked through had suddenly become golden, and there was a large golden throne in front of him.

How did I get here? Copper wondered.

"We used the teleporting door," Fateshadow said from behind him.

Copper thought it was kind of unfair and annoying that he could read minds and see the future.

"Says the one who has metallic and fireproof scales," Fateshadow said from behind him.

Copper sighed.

Suddenly, Lavender appeared beside him.

"How did you do that?" Copper asked.

"Teleporting door," Lavender replied. She also had a key in her talon.

"How come you also have a key? I'm the one who got the key!" Copper exclaimed.

"What do you mean? I completed a whole obstacle course to get this thing!" Lavender said.

"There are tons of obstacle courses, which all have keys. The number of locks varies on how many dragons are visiting to seek the stone, but there has to be at least two dragons," Surf said to them.

Empress Vulcan came in, carrying the case that held the Fire Stone. Copper nodded at Lavender, and they both opened the case.

"Wait, we don't need this anymore," Copper said. "I already defeated him in the last obstacle."

"That's because it was an illusion of him. For the last obstacle, you must overcome your greatest fear. He probably was doing something, since just the dragon alone doesn't seem to faze you," the Empress replied.

"Yeah, he was," Copper said, gulping as he remembered Fatebringer, Lavender, and Rust all getting their necks snapped by the DeathWing.

"Anyway, there's no time to waste. Lavender, can you take the Fire Stone?" Copper said, as he recalled the memory of his brother getting impaled by a flaming hot spear. Why do I have a ton of gory moments in my life? Copper wondered.

Lavender took the glowing Fire Stone in her talons.

"Remember, the stone is powered by anger. If there isn't enough anger inside you, then you won't be able to use the stone. Plus, I know that you guys have other stones. Those stones can't be all used together as one force unless you have all of the stones, or if you have the Fire Stone. You might be able to use one of the stones in the second batch to do that too. Anyway, if you use the Fire Stone, you can not only use it's great power, but also connect the other stones to create one large force to defeat the DeathWing. Sorry, I shouldn't talk so long. Good luck, guys," Fateshadow said to them.

"Good luck on your fight. I'm sorry that I may not help you. We wish you luck," the Empress said.

With that Copper and Lavender flew off into the portal.

The battle was hectic when they arrived. The firescale dragons seemed to have learned from Fatebringer, and were chasing the dragons around.

"I have to stop them. They're making a path from the DeathWing straight to Queen Barracuda!" Copper said.

"You can't stop them alone, Copper. How about you get the fire-proof squad to help you?" Lavender said.

Copper nodded as he headed off towards the fireproof MudWings, who were busy fighting off some artificial SkyWings and LeafWings. Copper swooped down and picked up his fellow MudWings, and they flew off towards the firescale dragons.

Copper purposely flew straight into a firescale dragon. The SkyWing fell to the ground, and Copper dived on him. The dragon screamed and kicked Copper hard in the face. Copper pinned him to the ground, but the dragon kept on kicking him and punching him. Copper looked up and saw that the path was almost complete.

Please work, Copper thought, as he picked up the SkyWing beneath him and threw him at the DeathWing.

The DeathWing easily dodged the firescale dragon, but it took him a moment to regain his balance. Lavender, Harenae, and Arenae took advantage of that, and Lavender blasted venom right at the DeathWing's face, while Harenae and Arenae shot fireballs at the spikes on his back.

Why isn't Lavender using the Fire Stone? Copper wondered. Then he remembered what Fateshadow had said about it being powered by anger.

Suddenly, he saw a pale-blue IceWing flying towards them. It landed next to Lavender.

"Sorry, I had to use this to get through the enemy," the dragon said, and the color of their scales instantly changed. Copper realized that this dragon was a RainWing, and not an artificial RainWing from the Rain Stone, but a real RainWing from the Rain Kingdom.

"Mom!" Lavender suddenly screamed, as she jumped up and hugged the dragon.

The RainWing and Arenae were staring at each other in shock.

"You - you came," Arenae stammered as Lavender let go of her mother.

The RainWing nodded.

"Of course I came, I heard that Lavender was here. I didn't realize…" she trailed off.

"Been six years now, Quetzal, but you still don't want to see me?" Arenae said.

"You left us, Arenae, while you went off to continue being an assassin!" Quetzal said.

"You know what the RainWings thought of me, Quetzal. I couldn't do that to you guys. Harenae had already chosen. I had to teach him to control his powers so he wouldn't end up like me," Arenae said.

"Well, you didn't have to leave us! You left us to be with that stupid queen! She almost got Lavender killed, you know, and where were you then? Off on another adventure?" Quetzal said.

"No, Quetzal, I was that 'weird monster that came out of the venom pool,'" Arenae said.

Quetzal's eyes grew wide.

"You can still do that?" she asked.

"I guess I have enough venom to do it twice or three times," Arenae said.

"Then why didn't you visit me? Why didn't you visit us?" Quetzal asked.

"I was saving one for in case one of you was in danger, which I already used to chase away the RainWings, 2 so that I could teach Harenae and Lavender, and the final one for if I ever really needed to use it," Arenae said.

"Um, guys, what are you talking about? Oh, and also, is that my mother?" Harenae asked.

"Harenae? Is that really you?" Quetzal asked.

"Um, yeah?" Harenae said.

"Oh, I've missed you guys so much," Quetzal said, hugging Lavender and Harenae.

"Uh, how come I didn't get any hugs or even an 'I missed you?' Why only a shouting?" Arenae complained.

Quetzal sighed.

"Fine, I forgive you, Arenae," Quetzal said.

Arenae smiled.

"So, what were you guys talking about before?" Harenae asked.

"Venom-teleporting," Arenae said.

"And that is…?" Lavender asked.

"It's what it sounds like: teleporting by using venom."

"How is that possible?" Harenae asked.

"It just is."

Arenae explained that venom-teleporting is when you use some of your venom to teleport you into some venom somewhere. You could choose where you wanted to teleport to, as long as there was a good amount of venom there.

"What do you mean by a good amount of venom?" Harenae asked.

"You know, like more than just a few drops."

"Cool. But how come I haven't seen any venomous dragons do it?" Lavender asked.

"It's a lost art. Many don't even know that it exists, let alone have enough venom or know how to do it. I think that a few BeetleWings can, I guess, since they have so much venom."

"But how come you've never taught me how to do it?" Harenae asked him.

"Venom-teleporting takes away some of your venom and your energy. I knew that one day I must teach you how, but I dreaded that day."

"So, uh… can you teach us how?"

Arenae nodded reluctantly.

"I'll start with you, Harenae, since we always start with the oldest. Grab my talon, close your eyes, and then focus on your tail barb. After a few seconds, focus on the venom inside you. Then, think of a map of Pyrrhia. You'll probably see a few places that you can teleport to. Focus on the one that you want to go to, and then it'll zoom in. You'll see what it looks like, and then imagine that you're there too. Then, you'll be there," Arenae said.

Harenae closed his eyes, and a few moments later, Copper saw him vanish and suddenly come out of a puddle of venom that was nearby.

Pretty cool, he thought.

"Copper, behind you!" he heard Lavender suddenly yell.

He turned around just in time to see the DeathWing fly into his face.

Why isn't he going for the queen? Copper wondered. Copper was pinned to the ground and couldn't do anything. The DeathWing's hideous face wasn't fully healed, and yet he was still smiling.

"I animus curse you to not be fireproof!" he rasped.

Copper's eyes went wide.

"Actually, never mind that. I enchant you to d-" the DeathWing started, but he was suddenly knocked off Copper.

"Whoa there, not so fast kiddo," a familiar male MudWing voice said to the DeathWing.

Copper stood up and saw his mother and father standing over the DeathWing.

"Mom? Dad? Is that really you?" Copper asked.

"We were let out of the prison since everyone is focused on this little weak fellow over here," said his dad.

The DeathWing growled and lunged at Brick, who was Copper's dad.

Brick dived to the side.

The DeathWing glared at Brick, who shook his head.

"Can someone tell me why this guy is always so mad?" Brick asked.

Copper shrugged.

"Where's Rust?" Xerocole, Copper's mother, asked.

Copper looked down, ashamed.

"He… he's dead. He died last year so that I could escape from the SandWing guards."

There was a stunned moment of silence, which the DeathWing decided to take advantage of by diving at Brick again.

"No!" Copper yelled, but he was soon met by the DeathWing's scorching flames. "Ahhhh!"

Copper's metallic scales slowly became softer. He had never felt so much pain in his life.

So this is what it feels like to get burned. It's so painful, Copper thought. He instantly felt worse about his brother's death.

Copper's mother hurried to his side. Copper wasn't used to getting burned frequently. He heard his dad roar as he tackled the DeathWing and proceeded to slam him on the ground. The DeathWing backed away, but he didn't seem to be that injured. He dived at Brick once again.

Copper felt like a coward as he dived into the ocean below as his mother and father fought the DeathWing. As soon as the flames were out, he came up for air and swam to shore.

He saw Lavender appear nearby. Copper looked around for the DeathWing, but he didn't find him. Copper sighed and turned around, and was met by the firescale dragons who were attacking Brick, Xerocole, and Lavender.

Copper was about to dive at them when he realized that he didn't have fire-proof scales anymore.

What should I do? Copper wondered.

However, his instincts took over as he saw Ciel knock Lavender to the ground. As he came closer, he saw that the Prophecy Stone had fallen down, and Caelum was running towards it too. He didn't know whether the stones were fireproof or not, but he knew that if that stone could be destroyed by fire, and a firescale dragon got a talon on it, then the NightWings would lose the ability to see the future.

Not caring whether he got burnt, he dived for the stone.

As he closed his talons around the stone, he felt like he was about to explode into a million pieces. He looked up and saw that Caelum had landed on top of him. He kicked him and ran away before he could get punched in the face, and dived into the water once again, where Lavender was too.

In that moment, Copper glimpsed what would have to happen. He saw what he had to do, and what would happen if he didn't.

Copper saw Ciel kill Lavender and Harenae. He saw the DeathWing taking the Sea Stone from Queen Barracuda's corpse, and then he saw Ciel give the DeathWing the stones that she had taken from Lavender.

The DeathWing looked around.

"All of the tribe stones, spawn as many dragons as possible. Oh, you say that that isn't possible? Here, what if I use this strange fire-colored stone to override the limit? Good. So then, spawn as many dragons as possible, and kill all of the fire-proof dragons and hybrids until you find the fire-proof stone and the hybrid stone. Wait, what did you say? There's a second set of stones? Oh, okay then. After you find the stones, most of you come with me, while the rest of you guard the hybrid stone. If anyone goes near it, then kill them. Got it? Good. What are you waiting for? Go get those stones!" Copper heard the DeathWing mumbling to himself.

Hybrids fell left and right, while the fire-proof squad flew off, closely followed by a large group of artificial RainWings.

Copper was hidden well, so the dragons didn't notice him.

Suddenly, after the fire-proof squad got hit by venom and plummeted out of the sky, the DeathWing said, "There! He's hiding! He's a hybrid and he used to be fire-proof!"

Copper tried to run away from the artificial dragons as they came after him, but he tripped on a vine and fell on his face. The DeathWing laughed at him as the vine tied him up.

"Burn him!" the DeathWing ordered, and suddenly Copper felt like he was going to turn into liquid. His vision went black and suddenly he could feel nothing.

"Copper? Are you okay? Why did you faint in the water?" Lavender asked.

Copper sighed.

"Just a… a vision. That was my first vision, it was a little weird, that's all," Copper said, feeling bad that Fatebringer had to deal with it all the time.

"Yeah, right," Lavender said, but she didn't talk about the vision after that, since she probably realized that it was troubling Copper.

Copper shook his head.

He knew that he had to get Ciel out of the way, but how? How was he going to do it?

He thought and thought as a vision about limited immortality hit him. He realized what he had to do.

"Here, take the Prophecy Stone. I've had enough visions for today," Copper said, handing the stone to Lavender.

Suddenly, Lavender was on the ground, clutching her head.

"Are you okay?" Copper asked.

Lavender stood up and nodded.

As Copper regained his focus, he realized how many casualties this battle was going to have.

I need to think of a way to defeat the DeathWing, while getting rid of those filthy firescales, Copper thought, just as he remembered that he didn't have fire-proof scales anymore. Copper looked around himself, desperately trying to find something that can deal damage; damage at a safe distance.

There, and there, Copper observed, as he spotted tons of spears left behind, I can control metal.

When Copper looked up, he saw the DeathWing and Ciel bearing down the lines of Copper's reinforcements. But he also noticed that there were more spears scattered.

"Well, I'll have to get going then. I think I have an idea on how to defeat Ciel and the DeathWing," Copper gulped.

"Um, you feel like telling me?" Lavender asked.

Copper pretended not to hear her and started gathering all the spears he could hold. And putting them beside him. He looked up once again. He found tons of spears, but he still didn't think it was enough. However, at that moment, Ciel came and punched him hard in the snout, sending him flying backwards. Instantly, Ciel came bolting at Copper. Copper started to feel the burn again. The pain. The agony. But most importantly, the adrenaline to win. Copper and Ciel were both spiraling toward the sand.

Copper stabbed Ciel with a spear, and controlled the metal in it so that it would be as painful as possible, before it melted into liquid iron.

"That won't work!" Ciel said, as the spear melted easily through her talons.

However, Copper pilotted one at her, while jabbing with another. Ciel's talons dug deep into Copper's metallic scales.

I need more spears, Copper thought. By now several spears had struck Ciel. Copper's vision blurred as he tried to hang on.

What's that? Copper wondered, breathing heavily. He soon realized that it was indeed molten copper, dripping and splattered all over the sand. With all his might, he punched Ciel square in the snout.

Copper stabbed Ciel with yet another spear, but this time he controlled the metal so that it pushed her into the ocean and kept her there.

"No!" Ciel yelled furiously, but her struggle was no use.

Out of nowhere, Copper heard a scream. He turned around to see the DeathWing clearing the area, and making his way towards Lavender.

C'mon Copper, you can do this, he chided himself, as he barreled toward the DeathWing, while tapping in and out of his consciousness. He struck the DeathWing's stomach head first.

This is the end for me. But not for Pyrrhia, Copper thought, as the DeathWing punched him hard in the face with a firescaled talon. He had just enough time to throw two more spears.

"Go to Lavender," he whispered to the spears, as he took one last look at the world before everything disappeared in front of him.