Welcome back to The Dark Order. Last time, with mere minutes on a good run left between them and Artisans Plains, Dracia and company instead headed into Synapse's lair of Thunder Factory to take out a tower on a hunch, a hunch that proved accurate. But as Dracia and company left, Darkblood calls upon his spy telepathically, telling them now is the time to take the Resistance out. So, who is the spy? Read on to discover...
(Our story resumes mere minutes after Thunder Factory collapsed, where Dracia and company are still moving southward towards Artisans Plains. But as they move, General Goldix appears to flinch, as if seeing or hearing something nobody else does. But then a look of calm appears on his face as whatever it was seems to pass. But it does not pass the attention of Goldix, turning to his companions from his world.)
Goldix: Okay, my earlier thoughts are only getting worse, something's off with this group.
Dracia: I've been feeling the same way since you brought it up outside Clockwork Swamp.
Blaze: So what are we thinking? One of them is a spy?
Sulfur: It seems entirely possible.
Dracia: Well, we know it can't be Lenny, he was trapped in Psycho Burner's territory this whole time.
Blaze: And even if he weren't, Leonard Snart was a trusted member of the Legion. He wouldn't do that sort of thing.
Sulfur: That just leaves the rest of them. And any one of them could pass as a spy. Save General Goldix maybe.
(At the mere mention of his name, General Goldix turns around with an out of place smile on his face)
General Goldix: Everyone, welcome to Artisans Plains...
(Just as General Goldix makes the pronouncement, we finally see where we are, a calm and serene valley, not unlike Avalar in Dawn of the Dragon, or at least it normally is, save for the hordes of Grublins charging the place.)
General Goldix: What the...?! How'd they find us!?
Dracia: We've got a theory, but it doesn't matter right now, we've got to save the rest of your group!
(With a nod of agreement, General Goldix and the rest charge into battle against the Grublin hordes, along the way finally rejoining Splinter, Lapis, Gohan, the Fugitoid, Baraka, Kevin Levin, Nightwing, Frieza, Kid Flash, and Harley Quinn in fighting off these earthen invaders. But as they fight, we finally meet the rest of the Gilded Resistance, lead by Smoke)
Smoke: Looks like you guys could use a hand!
(Smoke starts the battle by suffocating several Grublins, followed swiftly by Peridot, who, having mastered her abilities of ferrokinesis in this world of war, flings metal shards into each Grublin's heart. The two are backed up by Night Owl in his Owl Ship, from the top of which Deadshot is able to snipe unsuspecting foes as Harry Mason, Abe Sapien, Trunks, Bentley the Yeti and Miles Morales enter the fray. Trunks dismembering and disemboweling Grublins on his sword, Harry Mason shooting holes into Grublin heads, Miles Morales wrapping them up with his web shooters before throwing the giant Grublin ball to Bentley, who hits them straight out of the park with his ice club, and Abe Sapien proving his adeptness in hand-to-hand combat against the enemy. Though that's not to say they don't suffer some injuries of their own though, as the Owl Ship is shot down, almost killing Night Owl and Deadshot, but the two get up from the rubble and keep shooting in spite of their injuries. After what feels like hours of fighting, the Grublins are destroyed, and Artisans Plains restored to it's usual peaceful state. Fast forward a few moments, and we see the group tending to their injured and trying to figure out what happened, while simultaneously coming to grips with this new hope they have, and those they have lost, which we pick up in splintered conversations)
Nite Owl: So Adrian is dead? And so are Ravager, James, and Vilgax?
Mysterio: Sad to say they are.
Smoke: You found Kuai Liang?
Cyrax: He was being used by Synapse as cyberized security at Thunder Factory. Sadly though, he won't be joining us. He gave his life to ensure we escaped.
Smoke: (As a wispy tear rolls down his face) A true Lin Kuei, to the very end it seems.
Splinter: Toxica was using my sons as mutant bodyguards?
Captain Cold: I wish I were lying, Splinter.
General Goldix: Okay, you said you had a theory as to how Darkblood's forces found us here. What is it?
Dracia: As much as I hate to say it, Wasp wasn't the only one spying.
General Goldix: Are you telling me someone in my own Resistance is a spy for Darkblood?!
Dracia: Yeah, pretty much.
General Goldix: I knew it! And I have good feeling as to who it is. SNART! GET YOUR TRAITOROUS ASS OVER HERE!
Captain Cold: Whoa, calm down, General. I'm no spy. I was trapped in the Volcanic Wastelands this whole time!
Dracia: Something I can vouch for. He wouldn't be a very useful spy stuck in that place.
Sulfur: But we have reached a consensus that the spy was likely travelling with us the entire time.
Jasper: (Looking suspiciously at Mysterio) I always thought you were a little two-faced.
Mysterio: Why do you immediately assume it was me?! Why not Mr. Roboto over there? Synapse could have hacked him at any time!
Cyrax: Deception is your bread and butter, Beck. Though Jasper has just as much potential to be a traitor as you do.
Jasper: Watch your speaker, Tin Man!
Bentley: Wait, could it be... what about Agent 9?
General Goldix: Agent 9? He's dead! I was the one who discovered his body!
Bentley: Darkblood's powers have fooled us before. He could be alive, and be any one of us right now.
Deadshot: (Pointing his rifle at Bentley) Sounds like something a traitor would say.
Miles Morales: (Webbing up Deadshot's rifle) Bentley's been here with us the entire team, Floyd.
Trunks: How can we even be sure that's even Bentley?
Peridot: We can't even verify that a disguise is plausible, you clod!
(At this point, the entire Gilded Resistance starts arguing amongst themselves, save Splinter, Abe Sapien, and General Goldix, the first two of whom are remarkably calm, while General Goldix... he's smiling. A smile that doesn't go unnoticed by Dracia. And with that toothy grin, she puts it all together)
Dracia: Wait! (Everyone stops yelling) I think I've put together who the spy is.
General Goldix: Well then don't keep us in suspense! Who is it?
Dracia: You should know better than anyone, General. Because you see the spy every time you see your own reflection!
(Shocked at this accusation everyone starts discussing the plausibility of this rumor amongst themselves)
General Goldix: This is a preposterous claim! What evidence do you have to back that up!?
Dracia: When we were in Frigidus' territory, you claimed to have been tortured relentlessly. But I saw no wounds consistent with anything. But it was your little sacrifice line to Cyrax that cemented it to me. Nobody would tell a grieving ally anything like what you said to him!
Sulfur: Based on that, I'm willing to bet this Agent 9 is actually dead, and you killed him because he came closest to figuring you out!
Dracia: Besides, you're the only one who knew exactly what the gem I had around my neck was capable of. Why else would you make it easier to steal by making a necklace out of it?
(With all the evidence against him laid out, General Goldix tries to appear surprised and shocked, but he can't, and instead starts chuckling, before straight up laughing like a madman.)
General Goldix: (As he removes his eyepatch to reveal both his eyes are there and have turned the same evil reptilian as Darkblood) I wondered when someone else would catch on. That's right, it was me. I've been sabotaging you filthy rebels from the start. That meddling Ape almost ruined everything though.
(With that, we flash back to years ago, where Agent 9 is recording something in a book)
Agent 9: But if I fail, well, our only hope lies beyond these Dark Dragon Realms, in a world where hope still reigns...
(As Agent 9 records this very opening line to this very story, the shadowed figure of General Goldix stands in the doorway)
General Goldix: Please, spare us this drivel. Even if there is a world where hope still reigns, you have no way to reach it, rebel.
Agent 9: (Seeing General Goldix is the one speaking) I knew it was you, Goldix. The others thought I was crazy, but I knew you were the one sabotaging our intelligence operations.
General Goldix: Did you honestly expect anyone would believe an insane Ape over the very namesake of this group? You stood no chance.
Agent 9: (Points his laser gun at General Goldix) You won't get away with this.
General Goldix: Oh you poor, simple fool. I already have.
(With that, the two begin their battle, but as suspected, it doesn't end well for Agent 9, as General Goldix crushes his skull within seconds)
General Goldix: (Wiping the blood from his paw) That will teach you to search for knowledge you were not meant to possess.
(As the past blends into the present, General Goldix only appears more evil as he continues to tell his story)
General Goldix: But now that you've figured me out, I have no need to keep up this old persona. Now you will face the true me.
(With that proclamation made, General Goldix begins a diabolical transformation, his gilded scales tarnishing as his nervous system turns is revealed in a glowing violet as the nerves become visible against his skin as strange tendrils emerge from his back, his teeth become razor sharp, and his eyes glow a solid purple)
Mindflayer: Ah, much better.
Dracia: (Now seeing the full monster General Goldix actually is) Goldix, what did he do to you?!
Operator: (In a new echoing voice) Goldix is dead. You can call me... Mindflayer. As to what's happened to me? I have been awakened.
(Now revealing himself, Mindflayer flashes back to reveal what happened to him, revealing he actually did start out by fighting alongside Spyro and Cynder in their only battle against Darkblood)
Mindflayer: I started this fight alongside Lord Darkblood's parents. They were so desperate to save their son from his destiny. What fools they were.
(As this battle is happening, Darkblood fires a bolt of dark energy straight at Goldix. But this was no ordinary bolt, it's a corrupting bolt, which slowly mutates Goldix into his current state. Now alone, Spyro and Cynder try to fight off their own family as best they can, but ultimately it is no use, as Mindflayer's tendrils reach out and suffocate them as Darkblood severs their heads)
Mindflayer They were the first in a long line to fall. A line which now all of you will join!
(Just as Mindflayer readies his tendrils to attack, a flash of light can be seen in the crowd, followed by a bolt of violet energy striking Mindflayer in the head, actually managing to scar his once covered eye. Looking back at the source of the attack, a familiar violet and ebony dragon can be seen)
Dragnarok: I don't know what that monster did to you, Goldix. But this madness ends here!
Mindflayer: Well, well, the Master as he was. And now the gang is all here. Just in time for your demise.
(Now with the entire party from the main world here, the battle begins. But Mindflayer has the entire Gilded Resistance beaten in a matter of moments, followed shortly by Dracia and company, all of whom he picks up with his tendrils before smirking)
Mindflayer: You, young lady, have proven too dangerous to have running around. But I know just where to put you. All of you.
(As Mindflayer laughs over the defeated Gilded Resistance, our tale ends for today)
Okay, that was a lot, I will admit. So, General Goldix was the spy the whole time. I admit that despite my best efforts to seed hints throughout, this reveal probably came out of nowhere. Which is fitting, because the idea to do this traitor thing really did for me. I was just walking to work from the parking lot of my then employer when I got the idea. And yes, the creature of the same name from Stranger Things was a design inspiration, specifically in the echoing voice and tendrils. So, all looks bleak right now, as even with Dragnarok having arrived, the entire Gilded Resistance has been taken out. Is there any hope left? Tune in next time to find out. Same time... same channel!