A/N: Thanks for waiting. I now have the 4th and second-to-last chapter of the story ready.
Disney's Raya and the Last Dragons
Chapter 4: The Battle at Spine; Truths Revealed
Sometime later. The trio were now inside a sort of hut as the bag was removed from Raya, Banja, and Sisu.
"Okay, where are we?", Raya asked as fire crackled in the fireplace before Banja noticed his sword far from where he is.
"Well, that's just great.", Banja sighed.
"Interesting choice of digs.", Sisu spoke before someone stepped forward, earning the trio's gasps. and crashed the door open.
That someone has a black eye patch on his left eye, and wears heavy clothing to keep him warm due to the cold weather of Spine. He also has leather boots that seem to have been made in a rush, a red cloth tied around his waist, a fang to replace a button on his fur jacket, and a Dragon Gem shard on his necklace while he raised his axe and pressed it against his shoulder.
"So, let me guess. You must be Spine's new leader.", Banja guessed.
"And you two must be dung of brain to think you could steal Spine's Dragon Gem.", the stranger responded as he closed the door and then tossed his axe toward a wall.
"Gem? Who said anything about gems? We have no interest in gems.", Raya fibbed before the stranger only lifted the bag up, revealing 3 gem pieces inside.
"Okay, yeah, I can see how that makes me look like a liar.", Raya realized.
"Actually, I think it was the lying that made you look like a liar.", Sisu retorted.
"Well, she's not wrong there.", Banja responded before the stranger laughed villainously, if not in a strange manner, puzzling the trio so far as to laugh with him in puzzlement.
"I'm not sure what's funny.", Sisu spoke.
"I don't think it was ever funny.", Banja retorted.
"Your fear is like delectable nectar feeding the tum-tum of my soul. It's good. Tastes like… mango.", the stranger spoke as he sniffed.
"Wait. Mango?", Banja puzzled.
"Oh. I love mango.", Sisu spoke.
"Of course you love mango! Only a tongue-less cretin wouldn't.", the stranger responded.
"Oh, toi!", Sisu spoke in worry.
"'Oh, toi' is right.", Banja responded.
"It's been such a long time since I've last peered into the eyes of a trembling enemy. Where has the time gone? It's been so long.", the stranger asked to himself.
"Sounds like you've been through a lot, too.", Banja guessed solemnly.
"I know, right? He seems lonely.", Sisu agreed.
"No! I'm not lonely. I'm a Spine warrior. I was born and bred to do only one thing. To invoke fear and to crush the skulls of my enemies!", the stranger exclaimed.
"Uh, actually, that's two things.", Banja responded only for the stranger to growl aggressively, taking the trio aback some before then laughing.
"Look at your face.", the stranger laughed.
"Look. What do you plan on doing with us?", Banja asked.
"Oh, it's gonna be bad. Horrifying! It'll take me two weeks to clean up!", the stranger responded.
"You really have no idea, do you?", Banja guessed.
"Yes, I do. I'm formulating this gruesome plan in my head… Makes me sick just thinking about it. You… You just wait. Until then, why don't you just hang around? Good one, huh?", the stranger spoke before laughing again just as Tuk Tuk exclaimed, bursting through the door and knocking him to the pole.
"Ongis, tie him up!", Zei ordered before they did so with Tuk Tuk growling at the stranger.
"Huh?", the spine warrior puzzled.
"Let them go. Now...!", Zei demanded as Noi snarled.
"A little one?", the stranger puzzled.
"All right!", Sisu spoke with a grin.
"Phew! Good work, Captain Boun!", Raya grinned.
"Fang's here!", Boun urged as he set Raya and the others free.
"What?", Banja puzzled.
"People of Spine, we are hunting for Raya and Banja, fugitives from Heart! Send her out, or we're coming in!", Namaari shouted as Banja and raya looked around and saw countless statues.
"You mean to tell me you're the only one here?", Banja puzzled.
"My people battled the Druun with much valor, but lost.", the stranger responded before Banja turned to an empty crib with a stuffed mammoth in it.
"I'm sorry. You really have been through a lot, too, haven't you?", Banja asked before then devising a plan.
"Okay. But Fang's here for me, not for any of you, so I'll hold them off long enough for you to escape.", Banja plotted as he put the gems back in the bag and gave it to Sisu.
"You're gonna fight an entire army?", Sisu asked.
"Only if I have to. But right now? I just plan on stalling them. The fact is, just as she knows how to push my buttons, I know how to push hers. And once you guys are clear, I'll regroup back with you.", Banja responded as Raya then walked over to the stranger.
"What's your name?", Raya asked.
"The moniker given to me is Tong.", Tong responded.
"Okay, Tong, look, you don't know us, and we don't know you, but I'm sure that you know a back door or a way outta here, and it's really important that my friends stay safe, okay? So, I am sincerely asking you, will you help us? Please.", Raya pleaded before Tong then grunted in agreement, making Sisu grin as well as Banja.
Meanwhile, as Fang soldiers prepared to fire their flaming crossbows, Banja went up to the gate and sighed.
"Okay. Note to self, don't slip up and die.", Banja sighed as he drew his sword and positioned the sword below the barricades in front of the gate.
"Burn them out.", Namaari ordered before Banja's blade slashed through the barricade, opening the gate and revealing him to Namaari.
"Leave them out of this, Namaari. This is between you and me.", Banja urged as she stepped closer to her in the snow.
"You and the Dragon Gem pieces are coming with me.", Namaari ordered.
"I'm not going anywhere with you! And neither is Raya! Not even the dragon gem pieces!", Banja snapped back, causing the army to ready their weapons.
"I knew you couldn't handle this by yourself. All see it clearly now. Without your army, without your reinforcements..., you're nothing.", Banja hissed with a scoff.
"Stand down. This shouldn't take long.", Namaari spoke as she drew her own weapon and prepared for battle.
Then, Banja looked to his left to see Tuk Tuk escorting the others to safety before turning back, serious as ever with both clashing their weapons up until Banja used his sword like a whip and removed it from Namaari.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Did you need that, 'dep la'?", Banja smirked before Namaari then kicked Banja back and took his weapon.
"Nah.", Namaari responded, tossing aside Banja's sword.
"All right. Fisticuffs, then.", Banja spoke before then charging toward Namaari, briefly having the upper hand against her until she then stopped his kick and then tossed Banja to the ground with Banja getting back up.
"Why are you stealing gem pieces?", Namaari asked.
"Because you tore the world apart! And I am going to fix it if it's the last thing I do!", Banja shouted angrily in response as he looked back at the others and saw them escaping before Namaari gave a beastly growl in response, so beastly in fact that it resembled a snow leopard's growl before then charging toward her again and then try to attack only for Namaari to dodge him and then attack him, knocking him down to the ground, but not without Banja putting up a fight before Banja glared at her.
"I am going to march right up to Fang and take that fragment so that I can put the gem and the world back together!", Banja proclaimed before moving in to strike again only for Namaari to kick him away. making Banja exclaim painfully with Sisu noticing in worry.
"Oh, no. Banja!", Sisu spoke to herself in worry.
Meanwhile, Banja grunted as he was only able to turn around to face her on the ground.
"Even if you take me, you still have Raya to deal with.", Banja warned before Namaari went over to Banja and picked him up by the shirt.
"Oh, we'll find her. It's only a matter of time until we do.", Namaari responded, stretching out her talons, as she was about to strike when the fog suddenly covered the area, puzzling her, before she turned around to find her men being overtaken by Sisu, who spewed out fog at the soldiers just as Tuk Tuk and the others caught up only to see Sisu attacking the warriors with fog breath before she stopped and glared at Namaari with a growl before roaring again and speaking.
"GET AWAY FROM MY SON!", Sisu snarled.
"What...?", Banja puzzled in shock.
Frankly, Namaari was in shock, too. She had widened eyes and looked surprised, if not tearful, prompting Sisu to lighten her glare with Banja, shocked as he was, catching up to the others as best he could.
"Yep, she's a dragon. Let's go. Come on!", Banja urged before Raya spoke to herself in puzzlement.
"Mom...?", Raya puzzled in awe.
Meanwhile, Sisu looked back a bit, now feeling sorry for Namaari before Sisu then took off after the others, leaving the stunted Namaari behind.
Later, while travelling away from Spine, Raya spoke to Sisu.
"I can't believe it... You were our mother the whole time?", Raya asked.
"Yep. That's right. And guess what? Your dragon side? It came form my side of the family.", Sisu responded.
"Mom! I can't believe it. I never thought we'd ever see you.", Raya sobbed with tears of joy.
Banja on the other hand didn't quite know what to think as he seemed briefly conflicted before he and Raya were suddenly hit by the shrimp tails.
"Hey!", Banja exclaimed.
"Did you just hit us with shrimp tails?", Raya asked.
"When were you gonna tell us she was Sisu?", Boun asked in shock.
"Well, technically, you always knew she was Sisu.", Raya responded before another shrimp tail was tossed at Raya.
"Seriously?", Raya asked.
"Look, no one has ever given us a reason to trust anyone again, especially not Namaari! And before now, we couldn't even trust you guys not to attack her as soon as you found out she's a dragon!", Banja exclaimed.
"Why would we want to do that?", Zei asked.
"Oh, I don't know, to-to kill her? Take her hostage, even?! For all I know, you might as well use her as a bargaining chip to claim those gem fragments for yourselves!", Banja snapped back in retortion, making them gasp at these accusations before even Banja realized he went too far and sighed.
"Look. I'm sorry. Really, I am. In case you haven't noticed, I am having a lot of trust issues lately, especially since Raya and I found out that Sisu was our mother and never even bothered to tell us!", Banja responded, glaring toward Sisu coldly, making the dragon frown in shame.
"Whoa. Okay. That's surprising, too.", Boun commented before Banja sighed and calmed down slightly.
"The point is, we've been through a lot 6 years ago. You all know that. But... now that I know for certain that you can be trusted after all..., I guess you would've found out sooner or later.", Banja continued.
"About what? Sisu being a dragon? Or Sisu being your mother?", Boun asked.
"The former. And I'd appreciate it if you don't bring up the latter right now.", Banja responded.
"Why are you here, divine water dragon?", Tong asked.
"Isn't that obvious, big guy? My buddi... er, children, Raya, Banja, and I are gonna fix the world.", Sisu spoke.
"And bring everyone back.", Banja added.
"You're gonna bring everyone back? I wanna help.", Boun offered, only earning Raya's sigh.
"I'm sorry, we can't let you do that. It's too dangerous.", Raya responded.
"You're not the only one who lost family to the Druun.", Boun spoke.
"Well, just 6 years ago, we were. But then..., while we were out collecting the gem fragments after such a long time, I found out just how much you suffered. How much you all suffered. So, you're right. We really aren't the only ones who lost family to the Druun. But that's all the more reason we... I can't lose you guys either.", Banja responded.
"But we still want to help you. Please. Let me help you.", Boun offered, forming a circle with his hand.
"Please. Let us help you all, too.", Zei pleaded, forming a circle as well with Noi and the Ongis joining her, even Tong as the gem fragment glowed.
"I too wish to join this fellowship of Druun butt-kickery!", Tong offered as well.
"Well, what do you know? I guess it really is silly of us to keep that a secret from you now. All right. You can all join us. I'm still going to bring everyone back. But this time, we'll all do this together.", Banja grinned before Tong nodded with a happy grunt and gave the fragment to Sisu before making a circle with his hands just as thunder rumbled and the rain started to fall down.
When it did, Raya's spine started to grow long and dragon-like, surprising her.
"Whoa! Uh..., okay.", Raya spoke.
"What's that?', Banja puzzled as rain fell down before then gathering into a big drop in Sisu's hand, even floating above it.
"My big brother Pengu's magic.", Sisu responded before then gently pressing onto it and then using it and many other raindrops as leverage to climb up to the air and fly across it, enjoying herself as she flew across the sky and then passed by the ship as everyone stared in awe before Tong held Noi up, making Zei grin at him before Sisu then went up higher into the sky and then fell down into the water, most of which splashed on Tong as everyone else noticed before Tong laughed with everyone else laughing with him before Sisu went up from the river and saw Raya and Banja, the former of which smiled greatly while the latter only gave a small one before he sighed and spoke to Boun.
"All right, Captain Boun. Chart a course to Fang.", Banja spoke.
"You got it!", Boun agreed.
Later, Banja was explaining his plan.
"All right, everyone, here's the plan. The last gem piece is in Fang, the most heavily guarded of the five lands. Now, they're protected by an artificial canal that separates them from the rest of the world. The only way in or out is by water.", Banja stated as he got out a map of Kumandra before it then showed fog being spewed out from Sisu's mouth before then dragging the guards down from below, surprising them before Raya, Banja and the others moved in under the fog with Sisu morphing back to human form.
"Luckily for us, we have a magic water dragon.", Raya added.
"Thank you for pointing that out for us, Raya. Anyway, the palace will be swarming with Fang soldiers. To sneak past them, we'll need to…", Banja began before Boun interrupted.
"I got this, guys. I'll take care of the first wave.", Boun spoke before then going in and then punching one of the soldiers in the gut, elbowing another in the cheek, and drop-kicking the third in the cheek.
"Tong will follow up with his giant axe of bad-axery.", Boun added as it then showed Tong raising his axe and slamming it down to the ground, causing the cracks in the ground to form before then showing Zei, Noi, and the ongis charging in the palace.
"And then come Zei, the ongis, and Noi…", Boun added before all 5 leapt out toward Virana with Zei getting the gem fragment out of the staff and then tossing it over to Sisu, who puts it back together and then causes energy to flow into it before it gave off a bright light that engulfed the area, even destroying the druun outside.
"…who will toss the gem to the Mighty Sisudatu. And then, bye-bye, binturis.", Boun spoke as all that transpired while imitating the sounds before then showing him imitating an explosion.
"Super flow plan, am I right?", Boun asked as Noi clapped.
"Uh, no. That's not really flow so much as a clog.", Banja argued.
"I agree. Here's my plan. We infiltrate Fang, confront Namaari, and offer her something nice and go… 'Hey! Wanna help us save the world? Because all it takes is one gem piece.' 'Yes! I've been waiting for someone to ask me! Here you go!' Best friends forever!", Sisu spoke as it then showed Sisu going up to Namaari before holding out the treasure chest with Namaari apparently getting excited before then giving the gem piece to Sisu with the two walking down the stairs.
"Yeah, I think I'd rather go with Boun's plan.", Banja responded.
"What?", Sisu puzzled.
"Yes!", Boun spoke to himself, pumping his arm.
"What, why?", Sisu puzzled.
"Because it's Fang.", Raya responded.
"Their blades are especially designed for the stabbing of backs.", Tong added.
"If it weren't for them, none of this would have happened.", Zei added.
"They're the worst.", Boun added before Noi mumbled in agreement.
"If we're just honest with her, deep down, I got a feeling she wants to fix the world as much as we do.", Sisu guessed.
"You weren't there when Namaari betrayed us. After what she did, she doesn't deserve our trust and she never will, because she's just a lying, deceitful snake that doesn't deserve trust!", Banja retorted angrily, glaring at Sisu, even giving her the impression that he's still mad at her.
Then, all of a sudden, thunder sounded and rain started falling again.
"Whoa. Uh… What's with the downpour?", Raya asked.
"Come on! I need to show you two something.", Sisu spoke.
"Oh, no! I am not gonig anywhere with yooouuu...!", Banja exclaimed as he and Raya wound up grabbed and brought with her as Sisu ran before Boun spoke to Tong.
"So, what do we do now?", Boun asked.
"I don't know.", Tong responded.
Meanwhile, Sisu carried both Banja and Raya across the air.
"Where are you taking us?", Raya asked before Sisu showed them the answer as they wound up at Heart, seeing the one thing they never wished to see again, their father turned to stone before arriving at the now desolate ruins of the citadel.
"Sisu, why did you bring us here? We had enough bad memories as is.", Banja spoke.
"This is where it all happened.", Sisu spoke.
"Yeah, I know. We were there.", Raya responded.
"No. This is where it all happened 500 years ago.", Sisu responded.
"Where what happened?", Banja asked before Sisu parted the plants to show a statue of one of the dragons.
"I want you to meet my brothers and sisters. The real mighty ones. I miss them.", Sisu spoke.
"I don't understand. All this time and we never even knew they were here?", Banja spoke in shock before he then made a circle with his hands and lifted them up for a moment.
"That's right. They were here.", Janto spoke up, attracting Sisu, Raya, and Banja's attention.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?", Banja asked.
"Huh? Hey, there, Janto! What are you doing here?", Sisu asked.
"Wait. You know him?, Raya asked.
"Uh, yeah. He's basically my brother.", Sisu responded.
"Your...brother?", Banja puzzled.
"Yes. That's right. And more than that, I am also Virana's wife and Namaari's father.", Janto responded, making Banja gasp before he drew his sword in anger and deliberately attempted to cut him down only for Janto to block the strike with his own staff with Banja repeatedly trying to attack him as Janto spoke to him.
"Calm down!", Janto urged.
"Never! I'm not about to let you shatter our uncles and aunts!", Banja retorted angrily.
"But I'm not here to do that! I only came here to pay my respects to them and talk with you!", Janto shouted, trying to reassure him.
"LIAR!", Banja only shouted before lunging in to strike again.
"This is no lie! The day the world fell apart 6 years ago, I tried to stop them from doing this, but that wasn't enough!", Janto shouted, giving Banja a moment to pause before he only continued as Raya shouted.
"Banja, stop!", Raya urged.
"You stay out of this!", Banja shouted to Raya angrily.
He was rather abrupt. Sisu and Raya had never heard him speak like that. They felt surprised and uncomfortable.
"Seriously, though. You gotta stop and trust him.", Sisu urged before Banja only snapped at her.
"You are the last person to be talking about trust to me after everything you did!", Banja snapped.
"Dang, Banja! Why are you so mad?", Sisu asked.
"Because after Raya was born, you abandoned us; left us as orphans for six long years! When we were young, we were afraid that the Drunn would get us every night! And by the time Raya learned of her powers, she was terrified and thought that the gem cursed her for letting Namaari defile the gem chamber back when it was still whole!", Banja shouted before turning to Janto and continued his assault.
"And YOU! Our ba wouldn't have been stone! None of this whole mess would be happening if you did better and stopped those two in the first place!", Banja ridiculed fiercely.
"You think I wanted this to happen?! Ever since what happened, I've been trying to make things right; make up for my mistakes!", Janto shouted in response.
"MISTAKES?! Our ba is nothing but stone now! And for all we know, he may be gone because of YOU!", Banja roared as he lost his temper.
He raised his sword right above Janto and prepared to strike him down.
"Banja, no!", Raya shouted before Banja only gave a roar and struck downward, hitting the staff with such tremendous force.
Bang, bang! Smash, smash! The staff flew all into pieces as Banja's sword thudded against the ground before Banja panted and then stormed off a few feet away, tossing his sword aside as Janto stood in shock.
"Banja... what's happened to you...?", Raya asked in worry and sadness.
Having seen that seen herself as well as acknowledging the fact that it actually is her fault on her part, Sisu sadly turned to Janto and spoke.
"Janto. They need to know the truth.", Sisu spoke, earning Janto's sigh.
Play Hans Zimmer Music: "Po Finds the Truth"
"Very well. You see those dragons over there? Those dragons are Amba, Pranee, Jagan, and Pengu. We weren't always the last dragons.", Janto explained before it then started showing a flashback of Janto finding Quynh as a baby hatchling. picking him up, and bringing him in before it showed them together as well as Quynh being trained by Janto himself with Sisu and the others eventually seeing how grown he is but increasingly worried as they knew what happened earlier involving the Druun and Humans, especially Pengu.
"A long time ago, I found him as a little hatchling and raised him like a son... And when I saw his natural talent with magic, I trained him. And told him that he was destined for greatness. But it was never enough for him. He wanted to become the chosen savior. But Pengu and the others saw a growing darkness and this increasingly disturbing change in his heart and ultimately refused. Outraged, Quynh laid waste to one of the human villages.", Janto added as it then showed him and the Druun attacking a human village as a baby was left behind before Quynh spoke to the Druun.
"Get them all!", Quynh shouted before the Druun screeched as they moved in toward the baby only to get stopped by Janto's bright light, prompting them to move back.
"Take the kid back to his parents. And run away! Go!", Janto urged before Sisu then ran off with the kid as instructed with Janto eventually winding up turned to stone.
"It was a nightmare what Quynh was doing. And worst of all, it was unforgivable. So, I had no choice but to destroy what I had created. But the problem is... I couldn't...", Janto spoke as Janto charged toward Quynh, who suddenly resembled his younger self, making Janto falter before Quynh then took advantage of it and then got knocked aside before he went after Sisu and the others, eventually to the point of surrounding them.
"By that point, all the other dragons had been turned to stone. We were drowning in a sea of Druun. But my oldest brother Pengu refused to accept defeat. This is where we'd make our last stand… united. So, one by one, they combined all their magic, creating the Dragon Gem. I don't know why they chose me. It could have been any of us. All I know is I trusted them… and they trusted me. And so…", Sisu spoke as Pengu picked up a scoop of water and converted it to a ball with Amba, Pranee, and Jagan lending their magic to it with Pengu offering the gem to Sisu before the others got turned to stone with Sisu then becoming determined to unleash the power as Quynh headed out for Sisu and was about to attack when the blast erupted, not only knocking him back, but also causing him to vanish completely before flashing back to the present.
"I loved Quynh like I never loved anyone before...", Janto finished, making Banja soften his glare into a worried look as he turned to his left.
"When they put their faith in me, it empowered me beyond anything I could imagine. The same can happen with Namaari.", Sisu assured before Banja then turned around and spoke up solemnly.
"I really wish I could believe that. I once thought that we could be friends and look what happened. It's not just her fault this happened. This all happened on my watch. It's all my fault too...", Banja sighed.
"No, Banja, it's my fault.", Sisu responded.
"What?", Banja puzzled.
"I mean, if I had just stayed, maybe I could have helped. There are no amount of excuses that can make up for 6 long years of all the pain I caused you.", Sisu apologized.
"No. If anyone's sorry, it's me. I should have tried harder to talk my wife and Namaari out of the plan. I should've have been there that night to warn your father about the plan.", Janto added, making Banja start to shed tears.
"Right now, there's no way to get rid of the dishonor that my family has committed. But I an at least going to try now.", Janto assured before Banja then started crying softly as Sisu and Janto hugged him.
"I am so sorry for lying to you.", Sisu apologized as Banja then finally calmed down.
"I've just been alone for so long. How can I even be friends with her now?", Banja asked.
"After all this, maybe you can be.", Sisu assured.
"Even if she wanted to help us, how could we possibly trust her?", Banja asked.
"But if somehow you could, you wouldn't just bring your ba 'd also bring back his dream. Kumandra.", Sisu assured, only earning Banja's sigh.
"I told you before, Sis... Mom. Kumandra is nothing but a fairy tale...", Banja sighed, only saddening Sisu and Raya.
"But then again... I was starting to think that you were just a fairy tale before you turned up after all this time. ", Banja finished with a grin, making Sisu and Raya grin as well as Janto.
Later, the trio were now outside on the bridge as a flower was now placed in Benja's stone hands as a puddle of water was recently placed in those hands.
"Do you think he would even recognize us? So much has changed.", Raya asked.
"Of course he will.", Sisu assured.
"You know? You kinda remind me of him.", Banja grinned.
"Oh, yeah? Strong? Good-looking with impeccable hair?", Sisu asked, making Raya chuckle softly.
"Hopeful.", Raya responded.
"How would we even approach Namaari after all that's happened?", Banja asked.
"It may feel impossible, but sometimes, you just have to take the first step, even before you're ready.", Janto advised.
"Yep. He's right on this one. Trust me.", Sisu concurred.
After some thought, Banja sighed with a grin and spoke.
"Fine. Okay. We'll go with your plan, Mom."", Banja sighed.
"What? My plan? You're gonna go with my plan?", Sisu asked in surprise.
"Yeah.", Banja responded before Sisu laughed joyfully.
"All right! You're not gonna regret this. But we're gonna need a really good gift. What do you think she's into? Cats? Knives? Cats with knives? Knives with little cats on them?", Sisu asked as Raya and Banja laughed.
"Actually, I know exactly what to give her.", Raya assured, getting out the necklace she was given.
A/N: And it looks like we're getting closer to the finale now. Just 2 more days until the finale. That should be something, huh? :) Until next time. :)