Chapter 25: Prophecy Unleashed
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. Let me tell you this one was a wild ride. It'll also lead to quite a bit of excitement before season 2. I hope you all like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
In the great forge, the Mysticons, Seekers, Dante, Nimue, Malvaron and Nova Terron looked at the prophecy in front of them.
"The prophecy." Malvaron said in awe.
"When the twin stars unite." Arkayna read.
"The Spectral Beast will take flight." Zarya read.
"Its roar will herald in a new dark age." Piper read.
"From the chaos, th-the Dragon of Destruction will rise." Ryou gulps reading that part.
"And the dragon's rage will purge the realm." Em finished causing all of them to look in horror.
Shrieking Choko rolls up into a ball. "Don't worry, I know how you feel." Piper gulps.
"Spectral Beast? A new dark age." Em gulps.
"Wait Dragon of Destruction? I thought you beat that thing." Zhalia said looking to Ryou.
"I uh…guess I didn't beat it well enough." Ryou said screaming on the inside.
"Dante, this isn't good." Lady Nimue whispers.
"You think I don't see that?" Dante gulps.
"How many know?" She whispers.
"Just one other and luckily she's not here." Dante whispers.
"Spectral Beast, a new dark age?" Sophie read.
"You're the expert, what does this all mean?" Zarya asks looking to Nova Terron.
"Doom." Nova Terron said before taking out his glyph. "Gandobias, assemble the Astromancers at once."
"But Star Master it's card night." Gandobias said.
"If you don't meet us at the Caves of the Fang immediately it will be your last night." Nova Terron threatens.
"Better get the other Huntik Foundation over there too." Dante suggests.
"Let's hurry." Lady Nimue nods in agreement while everyone else followed Nova Terron.
"So wait are we hunting dragons right now?" Tecna asks.
"I love a good hunt." Zarya said.
"A thousand years ago, a Spectral Drake rose from the caves and wreaked havoc and destruction." Nova Terron explains.
"I thought that story was a myth." Em said.
"Same." Musa nods.
"I assure you it wasn't. The beast nearly destroyed everything. If there is another." Nova Terron said.
"That's where we'll find it." Malvaron finished.
"And what do we do about the Dragon of Destruction?" Piper asks.
"Yeah that thing is already out and about." Zhalia said as Ryou paused.
"If we do run into the Dragon of Destruction we must attack to kill. Destroy the Dragon before it can destroy us." Nova Terron said as Ryou stopped in his tracks as everyone walked ahead.
Whimpering in fear Ryou was getting nervous about this before slowly following after.
"Wait the prophecy said we need the twin stars to wake the beast." Arkayna said.
"Dragon Mage focus on the mission at hand." Nova Terron instructs. "Necrafa and Tazma are probably looking for the Spectral Dragon even as we speak."
Growling Arakyna follows after him.
At the waterfall near the palace, a few guards were out front when suddenly multiple blasts flew in knocking them all to the ground.
Appearing behind one Nick knocked him to the ground while Tazma, the Trix and Tibion landed nearby.
"I bet these fools have no idea what they're guarding." Tibion mocks.
"Then let's enlighten them." Icy fires a blast of ice at the waterfall freezing it.
Stepping in next Stormy and Darcy blast the ice destroying it revealing a secret entrance.
"The Caves of the Fang." Nick declared.
"My Queen, we're heading in." Tazma said into her bracelet.
"Good, soon the Spectral Dragon will be mine and my Dragon of Destruction won't be too far behind." Necrafa said.
A half-hour later, the Mysticons and Seekers arrive to see Proxima and Gandobis waiting up front when the Huntik Foundation arrived as well.
"It's about time. Tazma's already inside." Proxima said.
"Gee nice to see you too." Zhalia said.
"Step aside please. Heroes coming through." Arkayna said as they ran to the entrance only for Piper to slip on some ice.
"Ugh this had to be Icy. I hate her." Piper groans.
"We all do." Malvaron said.
"Come on team we got this." Arkayna said.
"I'll tell you what you've got. You've gotten us into another heap of trouble." Proxima glares.
"Hey you think you can do better?" Musa asks.
"All you guys do is sit in chairs." Zarya said as Arkayna walks up to her.
"Yeah you should try being on the frontlines sometime." Arkayna glares.
"Come along Proxima." Nova Terron said.
"Wait she's coming with us?" Sophie asks.
"And me. You all need as much help as you can get." Nova Terron said.
"And me." Malvaron said.
"What about you? Proxima memorized the entire cave." Nova Terron points out.
"Yeah I don't really do all that studying." Malvaron said.
"Relax, boyo you can stand guard with us." Montehue said walking up.
"You guys are staying out here?" Piper asks.
"In case anymore evil shows up." Teien said.
"Besides not like these idiots can do anything." Cathy said glaring at the Astromancers.
"Excuse me?" One glares.
"Maybe if you guys actually helped we wouldn't be in this mess." Scarlet said.
"Oh this coming from the foundation that was formed not even month ago?" Gandobias asks.
"Come on it's Magic Hour." Proxima said.
"Hey that's my line!" Arkayna said.
"I'm pretty sure she said Magic Flowers." Em said.
"Let it go Dragon Mage." Tecna said as they followed in.
Ryou was about to go in when Dante put a hand on his shoulder.
"You okay?" Dante asks.
"No dad, nothing about me is okay. Nova Terron basically said he'll chop my head off to stop the apocalypse." Ryou said terrified.
"Hey if he even tries he'll have to go through me." Dante assures.
"Dad maybe I'm more trouble than I'm worth." Ryou said when Dante grabs both his shoulders to look him in the eyes.
"Don't talk like that. Alright you're worth more than all those stupid Astromancers combined. Now get in there and help your friends." Dante said.
Taking a deep breath Ryou nods and runs in.
"Be strong Ryou…you'll have to be to get through this." Dante sighs.
In the caves, Proxima and Nova Terron led while Ryou, Piper, Arkayna, Zarya, Em, Tecna, Musa, Zhalia and Sophie followed.
"Stay close girls, it's easy to get lost in here." Ryou said looking around.
As Choko looked around he let out a little scream.
"Choko, be very quiet. We're hunting dragons." Piper said emphasizing the very.
"These caves run for miles under Drake City. At the center is the cavern that spawns these monsters." Proxima explains.
"Great so if you're the expert of this place where's your map?" Zarya asks.
"Up here." Proxima said pointing to her head. "I memorized the layout."
"Of course she did." Arkayna rolls her eyes.
"But I also made a backup on parchment in case of emergencies." Proxima said taking out a map.
"Wow talk about preprepared." Tecna said.
"Over the top if you ask me." Arkayna said.
"Reminds me of someone I know." Sophie said looking at her and immediately Arkayna hit her. "Geez princess."
"Well Proxima may be impressive but her strategy is nothing compared to our Tactician." Piper said patting Ryou on the back.
"Oh really?" Proxima said looking at him.
"I'm not called Mysticon Tactician for nothing." Ryou said.
"Really? Then where's your bracer or your Codex Piece?" Proxima asks.
"I uh…I don't have one." Ryou admits.
"Mysticon Tactician isn't an official Mysticon but his skills have proven useful to the point he is allowed to assist the real Mysticons." Nova Terron explains.
"Gee thanks for the love." Musa said.
"Yeah glad you appreciate me so much." Ryou said sarcastically.
"Hey we appreciate you." Piper assures walking up to his left.
"Ever since day one." Zarya said on his right.
Chirping Choko agrees landing on Ryou's shoulder.
"You guys are the best." Ryou smiles wrapping his arms around both girls and pulling them into a group hug.
In another cavern, Tazma, Nick, Icy, Stormy and Darcy were looking at a map.
"These caves are like a maze." Icy growls.
"Maybe if we go that way and then turn right." Stormy points.
"No that leads to a dead end." Darcy said when Tibion flew in.
"We must hurry the Mysticons and Seekers are probably in the caves by now." Tibion said.
"Big deal they'll never catch up." Nick said.
"Agreed they're too late. This way." Tazma said pointing down a cave.
"But first, a little something to welcome them. These caves will be there tomb." Tibion said spreading runes on the floor.
Outside the caves, Dante was pacing nervously back and forth.
"Dante sit down, they'll be fine." Montehue said.
"You'll wear yourself out." Teien said as Dante stops and sighs.
"Sorry, just worried about him." Dante said walking over to the Huntik members.
"Ryou's a tough, he can take care of himself." Cathy said.
"I know from experience." Lucas agrees.
"Plus he has plenty of backup." Grier said.
"Yeah but ever since he saw the Prophecy he's been a little on edge." Dante said.
"Can you blame him? It basically said the apocalypse for us all." Tersly said.
"We're all a little nervous." Aisha said.
"Ugh they're taking too long." Malvaron said.
"Well it might be longer." Gandobis said looking over. "Would you all like to join us for a game of cards?" He offers.
"You guys are playing cards at a time like this?" Scarlet asks.
"We're just trying to take the edge off. Wanna join? You all look pretty stressed." Gandobis asks.
"Since when do you care?" Cathy narrows her eyes.
"Call it a temporary truce until the real danger is stopped." Malvaron suggests.
"Hmm alright." Grier said as the Astromancers walked over.
"Deal me in too." Dante sighs as the Astromancers took multiple decks of cards.
Back in the cave, Proxima was looking at her map.
"This doesn't make sense. This tunnel should come to a branch." Proxima said.
"I had it all up here." Arkayna mocks.
"Not helping." Sophie said.
"Perhaps there's a clue in the prophecy. How does it go?" Proxima said turning them.
"When the twin stars unite." Zarya starts.
"The Spectral beast will take flight." Piper finishes.
"So basically all this starts with those stars." Musa said.
"Does it mean the Twin Stars of Samara?" Proxima asks.
"That's what I thought but their orbits don't cross for a long time." Tecna said.
"12 years, 4 hours and 6 minutes." Em said as everyone looked at her weirdly. "Sorry I'm kind of a star nerd."
"It must mean something else." Zhalia said.
"Will you all stop this! We need to focus on finding the dragon." Nova Terron said.
"That's what we're doing." Zarya said when Ryou noticed the look on Nova Terron's face.
"Wait a minute. You know something don't you?" Ryou glares.
"What? Me? No. I'm hiding nothing. This is my hiding nothing face." Nova Terron said nervously.
"Oh well in that case I just have one thing to ask Nova?" Ryou asks.
"What?" Nova Terron asks before Ryou grabs him by his robes and yanks him in.
"How stupid do you think we are?!" Ryou asks.
"I was hoping enough." Nova Terron cringed seeing he blew it.
"The prophecy isn't talking about stars is it?" Arkayna asks as Ryou let go.
"No, it speaks of the Royal Twins." Nova Terron said.
"But there haven't been any twins born to the Royal family." Arkayna said.
"Not in a long time at least." Sophie said.
"So we don't have to worry about the dragon then?" Piper asks.
"Wrong. There are Royal Twins, they were born 15 years ago." Nova Terron explains.
Flashback:
We find ourselves in the royal palace with Queen Goodfey holding a baby wrapped up in a blanket.
"Oh aren't you precious? I wish your father could see you but he's off keeping the kingdom safe. Yes he is." Queen Goodfey smiles as a baby coos.
"Congratulations Queen Goodfey, have you chosen a name?" A guard asks walking over.
"I must choose two. I have been doubly blessed." Queen Goodfey said revealing two babies under the blanket.
Suddenly the door swings open revealing an Astromancer with a hood over his head.
"Halt!" The guard orders but the Astromancers blasts both him and Queen Goodfey freezing them in place.
Taking off his hood, we reveal the Astromancer to be Nova Terron.
Moving in he grabs one of the twins before holding his hand up to Queen Goodfey and the guard.
"Simplemind." Nova Terron said erasing the memory of what just happened.
Once he left the two snapped out of it.
"Congratulations Queen Goodfey, have you chosen a name?" The guard repeats.
"Yes, we're gonna call her Arkayna." Queen Goodfey smiles.
Flashback End:
"What did you do?" Arkayna growls summoning her staff.
"You have to understand." Nova Terron started.
But before he could do anything else Arkayna blasts him knocking him to the ground.
"The Princess had a twin? You…you!" Arkayna reached into her vest and pulled out an amulet.
"Whoa girl!" Ryou said grabbing her arm stopping her.
"Get your hands off him!" Proxima yells as everyone grabbed her from all sides.
As Choko tries to hold her, Arkayna kicks him away causing him to land near the runes Tibon set causing him to gasp.
"Calm down girl!" Em said.
"Easy!" Zarya said.
"Don't lose your head!" Sophie said.
"How could you?!" Arkayna snaps with glowing green eyes blasting them all off causing Choko to land right on the runes.
"Uh oh." Ryou said seeing the runes start to glow.
"How could you?!" Arkayna roars when the cave started to collapse.
"Incoming!" Zhalia yells.
"This way!" Ryou yells as Sophie and Tecna grabbed Nova Terron and followed.
"Over there!" Proxima points running to a door but a rock fell on her knocking the map out of her hands.
Gasping Ryou turns around and helps her up. "Come on we gotta go!"
"My map!" Proxima said.
"You still have the one in your head right?" Ryou asks as she nods. "Then that'll do." Ryou said as they ran to the door.
"Hurry!" Piper yells as she and Zarya firied arrows and hoops trying to clear a path.
As Arkayna tried to follow Nova Terron was having trouble.
"Come on move!" Sophie yells.
"Leave me." Nova Terron said.
"No way you and I aren't done yet!" Arkayna yells running towards them as the cave collapses separating them.
"Star Master!" Proxima gasps.
"Dragon Mage!" Zarya gasps.
"No!" Zhalia and Musa gasp at their missing friends.
Heading to the wall they tried blasting away the rocks.
"Choko!" Piper said pulling the little foz out of some rubble.
Chirping Choko groans with spinny eyes.
"At least you're okay." Piper said.
"We have to get to Nova Terron. Hurry up and breakthrough those rocks." Proxima said.
"We're more worried about our friends than that baby snatcher." Zarya said.
"Dragon Mage! Seekers! Come in!" Em said into her commlink but got no response. "This isn't good."
Ryou looks to the walls and put his hand over his mark in nervousness.
Outside the cave, everyone was watching as Scarlet was in facing down two Astromancers.
"Hmm I call." Scarlet said putting a few coins down.
"I raise." One said.
"Me too." A Female Astromancer said. "Get ready to lose. Two pair." She said putting her cards.
"3 of a kind." The other said.
"Hmm that's not bad but I have 4 Aces." Scarlet said causing them to groan in agony as Cathy took their money.
"Pleasure doing business with you guys." Cathy giggles.
"One more round! I want my money back!" Gandobis said.
"Alright but it's my turn now." Dante said.
"Count me in too." Montehue said as they shuffled the cards.
"How do you keep beating us?" A female Astromancer asks.
"Hmm call it payback for how you treated the Mysticons and our fellow seekers." Teien said.
"Payback, she truly is the worst." Lucas chuckles as he, Aisha and Cathy put all the winnings in a bag.
"How much is in there Tersely?" Aisha asks as Tersely counted it all.
"Ooh this could cover a few travels." Tersely said.
Back in the caves, Nova Terron groans getting up.
"Dragon Mage, Seekers are you alright?" Nova Terron groans when Arkayna walks over and glares at him.
"Oh we're fine but you're the one who should be worried Star Master." Arkayna glares blasting him and trapping him in her magic.
"Dragon Mage stop this! We have to contact the others!" Tecna said.
"Too much interference. And I'm not going anywhere." Arkayna said not taking her eyes off Nova Terron.
"You would put the quest in jeopardy just to threaten me?" Nova Terron asks.
"So I can get answers! Melee Artist!" Arkayna said as her four-armed warrior appeared and grabbed Nova Terron. "Now you are gonna tell me what you did with the twin or else!"
"Don't do this. He's not worth it." Sophie said.
"Yes he is!" Arkayna said letting her emotions get the better of her.
Pulling back his fists Melee Artist was about to let him have it.
"The twins had to be separated in order to protect the realm to save millions of innocent lives!" Nova Terron said.
"Where did you take her?" Arkayna asks.
"Alphagalagar, my Star Master gave me specific instructions. I was to open a portal to the Astral Plane and…"
"And what?" Arkayna asks before Sophie realized it.
"You had to get of her, didn't you?" Sophie asks causing Tecna and Arkayna to gasp in horror. "You had to throw a baby into the Astral Plane?!"
"May Gaigax have mercy on me." Nova Terron said as Melee Artist drops him. "What have I done?!"
"You're worse than the monsters we fight. When this quest is over, so are we." Arkayna growls calling back her titan. "Come on girls."
Grabbing the map Tecna looks to him. "You should be ashamed of yourself."
"I don't know how you sleep at night." Sophie said as Nova Terron started to sob.
In the other cave, they were starting to get tired of not breaking through the rocks.
"We'll never get through at this rate." Musa pants.
"I just hope they're okay." Em said.
"They're four of the toughest mages we know, they'll be fine." Piper assured.
"Our best bet is that they meet us at the Dragon's lair." Ryou said as Zarya turns to Proxima.
"You heard him. Take us there, now." Zarya orders.
"But my map and I'm not sure if I—" Proxima stutters.
"Not so easy being on the front lines is it?" Ryou asks causing Proxima to pause.
"No, it isn't." She admits before looking to him. "How do you do it?"
"First you take care of one problem and then do another and you keep doing that until everything is fixed. Right now you need to remember the way our friends need us." Ryou said.
"Alright. Follow me." Proxima said leading them down the path.
Outside the cave, the next round has Grier in a stand off with an Astromancer.
"Hmm I go all in." Grier said pushing all his money forward.
The Astroamncer looks at his cards and saw he had 3 of a kind but the look on Grier's face showed he was confident.
"I uh…I fold." He said as Grier flips over his cards to reveal he didn't have anything good.
"Fooled ya." He smirks.
"What? But how?" The Astromancer gasps.
"In battle you need to learn to get into your opponent's head. As long as I acted cool you never caught on." Grier said before tossing a few coins to him. "Here get yourself a book on war strategies."
Groaning all the Astromancers hated that the Huntik Foundation were kicking their butts.
"Oh man I am so glad I am on your side." Malvaron chuckles.
Back in the cave, Arkayna, Sophie, Tecna and Nova Terron entered a deeper part to see skeletons and old weapons all over the place.
"What the?" Sophie said as Tecna picks up an old dagger.
"This metal is ancient." Tecna said touching it causing the blade to turn to dust.
"Fallen Dragon Hunters and thieves from bygone eras." Nova Terron said when Arkayna spots a green cave shaped like a tooth.
"There it is, the Dragon's lair." Arkayna points. "Alright girls ready yourselves."
"I'm coming with you. We must fight as one to save the realm." Nova Terron said.
"I'll fight as one to save the realm but for your sake not a chance." Arkayna said as they made their way in.
Up on a series of rocks they saw something placed in the middle.
"Wait that's not a dragon." Tecna said.
"No it appears we found it's egg." Nova Terron said looking at the Spectral Dragon egg.
"The twins need to be united to spawn the dragon." Arkayna said.
"Yes but if we destroy the egg all we have left to do is take out the Dragon of Destruction." Nova Terron said.
"Maybe that's how you work but not us. We'll hide the egg from Necrafa." Sophie said.
"And what of the Dragon of Destruction? You said he was alive so what makes you think you can stop him?" Nova Terron asks.
"Uh well…" They pause.
"They must be destroyed in order to assure the protection of the realm." Nova Terron declares when they suddenly heard laughter.
"You can't stop fate!" Looking up they saw Tazma, Nick, the Trix and Tibion looking down at them.
"Sorry but that's our egg." Nick grins.
"Not a chance!" Sophie said.
"Come on out Marauder!" Nick said calling out his titan.
"Go Sabriel!" Sophie said calling out her warrior.
"Solwing, Fandancer you're on!" Tecna said calling out her eagle and warrior titan.
"Jokoul!" Darcy said calling out her demon titan.
Leaping in Maraduer clashes blades with Sabriel as the two titans were in a lock.
Up above Solwing was dodging Jokoul's attacks when Fandancer leaps in and smacks Jokoul in the face.
Flying in Tibion attacks firing dark beams at them.
"Hyperstride!" Running out of the way Tecna leaps in and kicks Tibion in the chest knocking him to the ground.
She was about to move in when Icy attacks making her jump back.
Nearby Sophie was running to the egg when Nick leaps in and pins her to the wall.
"Oh no you don't!" Nick growls.
"You always were a lousy Seeker Nick." Sophie growls before kicking him off her.
As Sabriel stabs Marauder inn the chest he goes back to his amulet.
"Dragonfist!" Darcy leaps in and slams Soulwing to the ground forcing the eagle to return to his amulet.
Growling Nova Terron fires as powerful blast sending her smashing into Jokoul making them both crash to the ground.
Tazma fires multiple blasts at Arkayna but she swats them away.
"You're not getting in my way this time Tazma!" Arakayna said as Sabriel and Fandancer joined her.
"You can't stop me Dragon Mage!" Tazma blasts the rocks above them forcing the titans to push Arkayna out of the way before they were crushed.
"I'll get the egg!" Nova Terron said going to the egg.
However before he could Tazma traps him in shadows binding him.
"Nova Terron!" Tecna gasps when Darcy knocks her down causing her and Arkayna to dangle for their lives.
Moving quickly Sophie runs to grab both their arms before they fell.
"Hang on I got you!" Sophie said causing Tazma to laugh.
"Your time has come Star Master and you three really thought you could avoid fate?
"Nothing can stop Necrafa." Nick said as Tazma grabbed the egg.
"Tibion, finish them!" Icy orders.
"It would be my pleasure." Tibion said when suddenly a Boltflare hit him in the back.
"Surprise!" An arrow flew in and knocked Tazma to the ground knocking the egg out of her grip.
"Aw what a cute little dragon egg." Piper said as they saw Ryou, Zarya, Em, Proxima, Musa and Zhalia ready for battle.
"You guys made it." Sophie smiles.
"About time." Tecna smiles.
"It won't be so cute when it's grown." Tibion said.
"Not if we have anything to say about it." Ryou said as Arkyana, Sophie, Tecna and Nova Terron landed across from them.
"You're outnumbered, there's nothing you can do." Arkayna said.
"Wrong." Nick said as they blasted the ground under them.
Acting quick Ryou jumps out of the way while everyone else dangles for their lives.
"Time to end it!" Tazma said as she, Nick and the Trix fire blasts of darkness at them.
"No!" Ryou fires a blast of red energy that struggled to keep the attacks away.
"Mysticon Tactician!" Nova Terron gasps as they saw Ryou struggle to keep it up.
"Just hang on for a little longer!" Zarya yells but Ryou was dropping to his knees.
"You can't stop us! Nothing you can do will save them!" Icy declares.
As Ryou struggles to stand he remembers one thing.
"No…there's one." Ryou said before looking to the others. "Guys I'm sorry for all this, but I can't save you if I don't do this."
"What are you talking about?" Em asks when everyone saw Ryou's mark glow and darkness started to spread throughout Ryou's body shocking them.
"Wh-What's happening to him?" Piper asks in horror.
"Ryou." Zarya said softly.
"Alright guys listen up. I-I'm going away now and you have to make sure I can come back because if I hurt any of you I don't know what I would do." Ryou said tearing up.
"Mysticon Tactician what are you doing?" Proxima asks.
"I'm sorry for lying this whole time. I didn't want any of this to happen." Ryou said hanging his head in shame.
As the darkness completely envelops Ryou he lets out a fierce roar as his attack knocked all 4 of them backwards.
Struggling to climb up they all looked in horror as from the darkness Ryou had changed to Mysticon Demon.
"What is he?" Nova Terron asks.
Zarya's eyes widen in horror seeing he looked just like the Dragon of Destruction she saw when Necrafa took over the city.
"No…no it can't be." Zarya's eyes widen in horror as Ryou leaps across and lands across from Tazma as she got up.
"What's a matter? You guys look scared?" Ryou asks as his eyes glowed red.
"W-What are you?" Stormy asks.
"Your worst nightmare!" Ryou declares as he released a giant wave of energy that knocked all four of them to the ground.
"Put him on ice, Frostanna!" Icy said as her ice titan appeared and created a powerful blizzard.
"You think I'm scared of a little snow?! Hardly!" Ryou roars firing black flames melting them.
"What?!" Icy gasps.
"Out of my way!" Drawing his sword Ryou flings a blade of energy destroying Icy's titan.
"What are you doing? Stop him!" Tazma yells firing shadows at him but Ryou slashes them to pieces continuing his advance towards them.
Outside the Huntik Foundation was bleeding the Astromancers dry.
"Alright guys this it. You guys have a decent amount of money but if you try again. We're gonna clean you out." Dante chuckles.
"You guys don't exactly have much left to lose." Grier said
Pausing the Astromancers sigh in defeat meaning the Huntik Foundation had won.
Back in the cave, Darcy was knocked to the ground.
Groaning in pain she looks up only to see Ryou looking down at her with an evil grin.
Raising his foot Ryou slams it down on Darcy's face knocking her down.
"Fireblade!" Looking up Ryou saw Nick and Fireblade go on the attack but Ryou jumps away.
"You're in the way!" Ryou yells impaling Fireblade in the chest destroying it before knocking Nico to the ground.
"Where do you think you're going?!" Ryou grabs Nick by the leg as he tried to get away and slams him to the ground. "I'm gonna stain this cave with your blood." Ryou said with an evil look that brought chills down everyone's spines.
"What's happened to Mysticon Tactician?" Proxima asks.
"He's scaring me." Piper whimpers.
"Wait, he said he managed to beat the Dragon of Destruction but he couldn't." Zarya said in horror.
"What do you mean?" Arkayna asks.
"I mean Necrafa tricked us! She never had the Dragon of Destruction try to take him out, she made him into the Dragon of Destruction!" Zarya points shocking them.
"He's the Dragon of Destruction?!" Nova Terron gasps as Ryou threw the four of them to the wall.
"It's over." Ryou said readyng his sword to finish them off.
"That's not our friend." Em said.
"We gotta snap him out of it." Musa said.
"But how?" Tecna asks when Piper paused remembering what Ryou said before he was taken over.
"I'm sorry Ryou." Piper said silently before a serious expression appeared on her face.
Ryou was about to stab Tazma when a hoop flew in and hit him.
Gasping everyone looks to see Piper glaring him down.
"Stop this right now." Piper said.
"Striker what are you doing?!" Zarya asks.
"He said it himself. Tactician is still in there but we gotta knock him loose!" Piper said as Ryou turns to her.
"Your little hoops won't stop me." Ryou growls.
"Hang tight Tactician. I'll get you out." Piper said as Ryou swings his sword but Piper blocks it with her hoops.
Growling Piper swings her body to the right and pushes Ryou back before elbowing him in the face.
"I'm gonna rip your stupid ears off Elf!" Ryou growls.
"Give me back my friend you monster!" Piper snaps.
Swinging her hoops Ryou blocks it and swings his sword cutting Piper's shoulder causing her to wince.
He was about to attack again when an arrow and a green blast hit him.
Shaking it off Ryou saw Zarya, Zhalia and Em glaring him down.
"I'm so sorry. This is gonna hurt me a lot more than it's gonna hurt you!" Em yells before swinging her sword clashing with Ryou who hisses at her.
Using this chance, Tazma, Nick, Tibion and the Trix got up and escaped.
"They're getting away!" Tecna points.
"You guys go after them! We'll handle this!" Zhalia yells.
"Be careful!" Nova Terron said as he made a barrier and pulled out the others.
As Proxima looks back at Ryou who was fighting off his own friends she couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him.
Slamming her bow down, Zarya locks with Ryou.
"Ryou! I know you're in there! Come back!" Zarya said.
"Z-Zarya." Ryou chokes shocking. "H-Help…me." But before he could say anything else the Dragon took over again. "Help me slaughter you all!"
Kicking Zarya to the ground Ryou leaps in only for Em to punch him in the face.
"Never thought I would use this on a friend! Go King Basilisk!" Zhalia yells calling out a giant repltile monster appeared and with one glare turned Ryou to stone.
"Ryou! Zhalia are you insane?!" Zarya snaps.
"No, girls we need to stop him." Zhalia said.
"How?" Em asks.
"Once I undo the spell hit him with everything you got it's the only way." Zhalia said.
All three Mysticons look to each other worried but knew she was right.
"Alright on three. One…two…three!" Zhalia said as King Basilisk undid his effect and when Ryou regained consciousness he looked up.
"Fly Phoenix Fly!"
"Time to Howl!"
"Battle Unicorn Charge!"
As the wolf, phoenix and unicorn charged in they smashed into Ryou causing him to scream and crash into the wall creating a hole.
"R-Ryou?" Piper asks when they heard a groan.
Slowly all of them smiled to see Ryou walking out in his Mysticon Tactician form holding his head.
"Ugh why does everything hurt?" Ryou groans.
"Ryou!" Piper smiles hugging him. "You're back to normal."
"Piper." Ryou said when he noticed the cut on her arm. "Wait. What happened to you?"
"Uh well.." Piper said nervously.
"Wait…did I do that?" Ryou asks in horror.
"Ryou calm down it's gonna be alright." Zarya said.
"Not it's not! Get away from me!" Ryou screams running out of the cave as fast as he could.
"Ryou wait!" Zarya said.
"I'm going after him you guys go help the others!" Piper yells running after him.
Outside the cave, Malvaron was about to win.
"Give it up Gandoby. We got this in the bag." Malvaron said when they heard an explosion.
"Oh no!" Tersley said.
"Yeah they should be scared." Malvaron smirks.
"No! That!" Tersley turns to show Tazma getting away with the egg.
"I hate my sister." Malvaron groans.
"All of you fly!" Tibion said before calling for the Spectral Army to distract them. "No one gets past! No one!"
Suddenly Nova Terron comes out with Sophie, Musa, Arkayna, Proxima and Tecna while King Basilisk flew out of the cave with Zhalia, Em and Zarya on his back.
"Hurry!" Em yells.
"Destroy them all!" Tibion yells as the Spectral Beasts flew in.
King Basilisk managed to turn a decent chunk of them to stone but they still had trouble fighting off the rest of the army.
"Where's Tactician?" Musa asks.
"Talk later fight now!" Zhalia said.
"We need more fire power!" Zarya yells.
"Wish granted!" Dante said as the Huntik Foundation came to the rescue.
"Defend Freelancer!" Cathy said as her lance titan appeared.
"Firbolg! Help them!" Scarlet said as a giant blue titan warrior appeared.
Leaping in Freelancer stabs multiple spectral beasts while Firbolg swats them away.
"Tolivane!" Montehue calls out a spinning titan that smashed into more of them allowing him to slam his axe through them.
"Megataur!" Grier and his giant bull titan smash through a dozen spectral beasts increasing the gap.
Nearby Teien and Dante threw multiple blasts hitting the attackers when Lucas and Aisha leap in and destroy them.
"What happened in there?!" Dante asks looking to Zarya.
"Ryou got taken over and he hurt Piper. He ran off to who knows where." Zarya said.
"Where's Piper?" Dante asks worried.
"She went after him. Hopefully she finds him." Zarya said.
"Me too." Dante cringed.
Running along the rooftops of Drake City, Ryou was panting heavily as he tried to outrun Piper.
"Ryou wait! Come back!" Piper yells.
"Leave me alone!" Ryou yells before tripping in a loose tile and falling into an alley.
Groaning in pain, Ryou looks to see Piper leap down and gasp.
Ryou had fallen into the same alley she and Zarya found him.
"Ryou please stop running." Piper said.
"Piper please, stay back." Ryou said crawling backwards. "I don't want to hurt you."
"Ryou. That wasn't you." Piper said sitting in front of him.
"Yes it was. I've always been the Dragon of Destruction. Since the moment I was born I was made to be Necrafa's killing machine and I almost hurt you guys today." Ryou said looking at the cut on her shoulder.
"Ryou you're not a monster. If you were a real one you wouldn't be this hurt over a cut. You're a good person." Piper assured.
"But for how long?! If I dive into the Dragon of Destruction again I could be gone forever! I don't wanna be a monster! I wanna be with you guys and help people." Ryou said sniffling. "Piper I'm scared. I don't know what to do."
Seeing him tear up Piper leans in and hugs Ryou.
"Let me help you." Piper said surprising him. "You've always been there for me when I was scared and I wanna be there for you. We all can. Please Ryou, don't be scared. Where's the Ryou that I met in this alley? The one who always helped others? Where's the Ryou…that I fell in love with?"
"Piper?" Ryou said shocked.
"I love you Ryou. I always have. You're more than just a member of our team. We need you. I need you." Piper said before kissing Ryou on the lips causing his eyes to widen.
Sniffling Ryou smiles and hugs her back. "Thank you Piper."
"Please, please don't run. We'll help you figure this out. I promise." Piper said.
"I won't because now I have an extra reason to stick around." Ryou said giving Piper a kiss causing her to smile.
Flying in the air, Tazma held the egg tight.
"Pathetic mortals. They will all tremble before the power of my queen like ants before a giant." Tazma said when a blast almost hit her.
"Guess you need an exterminator for us." Arkayna mocks as she and Nova Terron flew in.
"We're closing the gap!" Nova Terron said as they gained on Tazma.
Diving down into the city, Tazma tried to lose them.
"Tazma! You are not the first Astromancer to go down the path of darkness. Come back to us! Necrafa is the queen of lies!" Nova Terron yells.
"Necrafa will make more powerful than you could imagine!" Tazma said when the Trix flew in.
"Like this!" Firing three blasts the Trix knock Nova Terron off the Griffin.
"Farewell Dragon Mage." Tazma smirks as they used this to escape.
"Hang on Nova Terron!" Arkayna said flying in and catching him.
"Where's Tazma?" He asks.
"She got away." Arkayna said.
"You should have left me." Nova Terron said.
"Believe me I wanted to. How could you do something so horrible?" Arkayna asks.
"I did what needed to be done. Why are you taking this so personally?" He asks.
"Because this is as personal as it gets. She was my sister." Taking off her disguise Nova Terron saw her turn back into Arkayna.
"Princess Arkayna? I am truly sorry. But you don't know the full truth." Nova Terron said. "Alphagalaga wanted me to destroy her but I couldn't do it…I took her to a place I knew she would be safe. I put the whole realm in jeopardy because I couldn't do my job."
"You did the right thing." Arkayna said.
"Dragon Mage! We found him!" Em calls out.
Quickly turning back Arkayna turns to see Em, Piper, Zarya and Proxima fly in with Ryou.
"You're back to normal." Arkayna smiles hugging him.
"Thanks to Striker." Ryou smiles as Nova Terron walks up to him.
"So you were the Dragon of Destruction the whole time?" Nova Terron asks.
"Yes. Yes I am." Ryou nods.
"So many parts of me are telling me to kill you now. Stop you from bringing the apocalypse." Nova Terron said as Ryou was about to take a defensive stance. "But I think there's been enough death."
"What? You're letting me live?" Ryou said.
"For now. The Mysticons seem to believe you are a good friend." Nova Terron said.
"He's the best." Zarya said as she, Piper and Choko hugged him.
"Well then it will be your responsibility to get him in check. Make sure this doesn't happen." Nova Terron said.
"But we don't know how." Em said.
"Well there might be one way. When we went to Phoneix Canyon we met Rosa Leafdancer and she said I needed the help of the Original Mysticons but we would have to find them." Ryou said.
"Wait the Mysticons Trials? You took one?" Proxima asks.
"The what?" Piper asks.
"The original Mysticons left behind a set of trials for whoever took up their mantle. Should you be worthy they pass on their knowledge to you. Yes maybe they can help." Nova Terron nods.
"Then you'll show us where they are. I need to get stronger." Arkayna said before looking to her friends. "The twin is alive and we need to be strong enough to save her and beat Necrafa."
"We will." Em nods.
"Don't worry we won't let Necrafa get her hands on you." Piper said taking Ryou's hand.
"Not a chance." Zarya agrees.
Smiling Ryou hoped that would be true.
In Necrafa's palace, she was presented with the egg.
"You have done well." Necrafa said grabbing the egg. "All that's left is to find the twin stars and then my Dragon of Destruction will rise."