I think I will be updating the entire fic to this site now. Deviantart is dead.
The Chronicler's realm swirled and churned with the stars and galaxies that Cynder had grown so accustomed too. The blue stone today, however, felt icy under her claws and there was a sensation of dread in the air. She glanced to her 'companion' in this realm, the once savior of the realms, Spyro. He seemed to shy under her glare, and instead focused on the shimmering form of the Chronicler.
"It seems like an eternity since I have seen you two before me." Ignitus said, his voice warm and thick with emotion.
"Feeling's mutual, Ignitus." Spyro grinned widely. "I didn't think this was ever going to happen again."
"On that note, is he the real deal?" Cynder jumped on the topic at claw.
"He is indeed." Ignitus glanced through his book. "However, I cannot see anything that has transpired under thrall of the Sorcerer."
"Figured as much." Cynder let out a tiny scowl.
"I must ask that you come to the White Isles now." Ignitus said. "There has been….disturbances I wish to treat before we go after the Sorcerer."
"Define disturbances."
"Your convexity levels, Cynder, are in such flux where you may not be able to control your transformations anymore. You need to train that."
Cynder knew deep down he was right, but didn't want to admit it. In her opinion, the convexity would give them a fighting chance, but from what happened on Dante's Freezer…she had to admit, it was growing into a concern.
"What about me? Are my levels alright?" Spyro asked.
"You will need to be leveled out, but it is not going to one extreme to the other."
"Oh good. That would be bad."
Cynder raised an eyeridge at him. "No, I figured it would be a good thing."
"…Yeah that sounded really stupid when I said it aloud."
Cynder let out a tiny smile and faced Ignitus. "Can you tell how the others are doing? Are they back at the Freezer yet?"
"They are on their way."
Satisfied, Cynder stepped back and Spyro began to chat with Ignitus. The conversation didn't last long, but something inside of her felt…thrilled to see both of them together. The look of genuine happiness on the purple's face offsetting the loving, nurturing expression on the periwinkle's was something she needed to see. At least, that's what it felt like. They eventually headed back, but Ignitus looked very grim before they did.
Cynder saw him turn around before they left, and a Draconic figure stood behind him. She couldn't see who it was, but it was familiar. Icy blue scales, ones she had seen before. Yet, she was returned to her body before any more details could be remembered.
"How much longer must we fly again?" Cyril complained, letting out a grumpy 'harumph' after the seventeenth identical island they passed. It appeared that they were taking a different route to the freezer, and while it made sense, flying any more was putting considerable strain upon him.
"Hush," Azulia glared back at him. At least, it looked like a glare. "Not much longer now."
"You said that three hours ago."
"And I'll say it again until we are there."
"Oh stop with the incessant complaints!" Volteer called from the back of Terrador. "At least you can feel the thrill of flight, the acceleration of blood pumping through your veins as winds whip and whirl around you!"
"You're getting a free ride." Cyril snapped back.
"I've been dismembered!"
"With the both of you shut up?" Terrador grumbled. "I've had to deal with him yelling in my ear for the past day, I don't want you instigating him."
The flight went largely silent after that, and what seemed like pure joy flowed through Cyril's veins as the fortress loomed in the horizon. Azulia's harsh gaze softened at the sight of it, and she accelerated to speeds that Cyril struggled to match.
"How are you holding up?" She slowed down to fly alongside him.
"I've been better, but also worse." Cyril glanced down at the ruby.
"I'll help you relax later. I know this must be putting considerable strain on you." She purred into his ear. "But I also want you to stop complaining. We're all sick and tired of the flights."
"I refuse to fly again for some time." Cyril folded his claws. "But very well. For you, I shall keep my mouth shut."
"Just for the flight, dear. Otherwise I want it open." She grinned mischievously and flew off, tail flickering. Cyril watched her, and for a brief moment, it was like her scales had never paled. He was staring at his mate again, for the first time since this apocalypse happened. Despite being a vampire, she was still…her. Crude advances and all.
And he loved every one she made.
Once they landed, the Vampires swarmed out of every nook and cranny, nuzzling and greeting their queen. It reminded Cyril of canine packs, but it didn't make him feel any less irritated that they were swarming HIS mate!
All the vampires looked toward the refugees, some with hunger in their eyes. Yet, they glanced at Azulia and noted her bared fangs and raised tail. They hissed and chattered to themselves, but otherwise did not make any hostile advances. The most was curiosity, and by the younger looking ones at that. All of them continued to shift between the living and their queen, however.
"They will be staying with us for now." Azulia informed them. "They are not to be fed upon, nor are they to be mistreated. If any of you do this, I will tie you down and make you witness the sunrise."
No one made any objections. Azulia turned to the refugees next and spoke:
"I am afraid that all we have to eat is seafood. Hunting on the mainland is too dangerous." Azulia indicated to the ocean beyond the walls. "In the meantime, you have the run of the fortress, but I do recommend not going alone for now. It is larger than you think."
At the clap of her claws, one of the larger females stepped from the shadows and was ordered to show them their chambers. Cyril recognized her to be the one encountered on the railing before he was stabbed. She lead them away, Terrador accompanying them 'just in case'. Cyril couldn't blame him for the suspicion if he were honest.
"So, where is that power core?" Volteer broke the silence. "I will need it for my experiments."
"This way." Azulia jerked her head for him to follow. Cyril, having nothing better to do, followed along. Down the icy caverns they went, and the entire time he felt like he was being watched. The Necrolites, a commonplace in the Freezer now due to the Vampires, stopped and stared. How unusual, he thought. Azulia herself narrowed her gaze at them.
It didn't take them long for them to arrive in the dungeon, where it was stored according to her. Cyril frowned as he stepped inside; even for him, the place was chilling to the bone. A lot of Vampires, he noted, were frozen in red ice. Yet, he could feel their gaze upon him.
"Some did not take the change well," Azulia explained their unasked questions, "Others sought to betray us during our flight to retrieve the refugees."
"How did you get that information?" Volteer peered at her.
Azulia tapped her head. "I have a telepathic connection to my swarm. I know."
"When were you going to tell us this?" Cyril inquired.
"I never needed to until now. Does it change much?"
"…No, not really."
"My point exact."
Then, before the end of the dungeon, Azulia stopped. Her claw hovered over the warded, icy door. Eyes narrowed, she stepped away, as if sensing something. Within moments, Vampires crawled out of the walls and joined them, clad in armor. Azulia's gaze turned back to Volteer and Cyril, all but motioning them to stay put.
"There is a large presence on the other side of this door," She answered, "One that was not there previously. Stay here."
Just then, the door was blown apart by a blast of pure convexity. The shadowy residue lingered in the air for a moment, and a pair of golden eyes greeted them from the darkness. Cyril went numb; he'd recognize those eyes anywhere.
"You three are slow to arrive." A familiar, seductive voice that sent icy rivers down Cyril's spine spoke.
Crunch, crunch, crunch, the sound of plated claws against thick ice and snow came next. Black armor lined the Draconic form, offset by silver shoulder pads and gauntlets. A skull pattern was drawn on the breastplate, glowing an artic blue color. Below it, a vent of sorts glowed with wispy verdant energy.
"I was wondering if I would have to wait forever." The restored face of Malefor grinned widely as other eyes opened in the darkness.
When Cynder returned to the world, she was immediately kept low by Viberian. He placed a claw to her and Spyro's muzzles, indicating outside of the cave. Slowly, they turned and saw a hellish sight.
The sky…it had warped. It was like it was stuck in perpetual night, streaks of violet running across the starry sky. Then, it shifted back to daytime, before being yanked back into twilight. Thousands of Necrolites filled the air, not noticing them or not caring enough to check. They were all heading west, away from the Freezer, but they weren't the only things in the sky.
What looked like massive warships joined them. Except, they weren't ships at all. They looked like giant, floating creatures made of purple and blue flesh. Glowing eyes, gills, and mouths illuminated the night, and a wail vibrated the cavern, mixing in with the shrieks of the Necrolites.
Yet, when the sky returned to normal, every single Necrolite and new creature vanished.
"What…when did this happen?" Spyro asked, hushed.
"The moment you two started to stir." Viberian muttered. "I couldn't believe my eyes."
"I can't either." Cynder agreed with him. "The Sorcerer has to be behind this."
"Is it me or…are those creatures like the ones in Convexity?" Spyro blinked a few times when they came into view again.
At that moment, Yeras sprang to her claws, having previously been out of sight. She was petrified, and it took Cynder wrapping her tail around her muzzle to prevent Yeras from shouting. After a few moments of fidgeting, she was released, and she crawled down next to them.
"I just spoke to Ignitus." She hissed quietly. "The world…The Sorcerer is pulling it into Convexity!"
"WHAT?!" came the collected cry of the other three.
"I don't know how, but the stabilization is off, so he isn't able to do it yet. But he will soon! We need to get to Ignitus soon!"
They didn't speak any more, instead reacting and heading to the waters. Cynder pointed the blade at the waters, and like it had a mind of its own, a beam of ice shot from the tip. A ship made of pure ice formed, the sounds of ice cracking and shifting momentarily blocking all sounds. It wasn't large, nor was it a proper ship; more like a giant igloo, but when they stepped inside, they found that it was remarkably warm. Either that or the biting cold was so numbing it felt that way.
Yeras held the elemental essence, and when they were ready, unleashed it. Cynder was almost thrown right off the back from how sudden it vroomed across the ocean, and she nearly ripped out a talon hanging on for dear life. She was settled after a bit, and a thought crossed her mind as she stared at the shifting sky.
"Was that you talking to Ignitus after us?" Cynder asked Yeras.
"Yes." She nodded. "He's been helping me with my visions."
"But…why did he want you to come if he could do it from a distance?"
"I guess he can teach me the basics from afar." The half-purple shrugged, glancing away from the ebony. "I don't question these things anymore."
Cynder laughed to herself a bit, moving away from Yeras to see Viberian and Spyro chatting inside. It was…awkward to say the least. There was a lot of silence, and neither really noticed her. It was clear that what Viberian had said earlier left a mark on the once legendary hero, and Cynder's own memory loss was bothering him as well. Plus Cynder's moves on Viberian…what a mess.
"Did The Sorcerer ever think of this when you were in there?" Viberian asked.
"If he did I don't remember it." Spyro frowned, pulling the cloak tighter around him. "I just know I cannot let this stupid cloak go now."
"You kind of look like a newborn." Cynder jeered.
"It's not the worst thing I've been called." Spyro swished his tail slightly. "Still, uh…this is kind of bad. Do we know when we are gonna arrive on the White Isles?"
"Not a clue."
"Could be worse," Viberian created a small fire with some of the sticks he gathered on the island. "Could be still stuck in Warfang."
"Speaking of, what happened there?"
"Turns out our base was on top of a nest of Necrolites." Viberian began to explain to Spyro their adventures so far, Cynder settling down next to Yeras, who had joined them. It was nice, Cynder mused, to have a quiet moment in their journey, even if it only lasted a few brief moments.
The ice-ship slowly drifted toward the bleached, sandy shores of the White Isles. Cynder felt a sense of familiarity, but wasn't sure from where. It was like she had been here, but through a looking glass. Then again, that made sense.
"The energies here are astounding." Yeras commented, hopping off after Cynder. "A lot of traps, though." Yeras held up a claw, where a fish swimming through the air swam between the talons. "And…floating fish."
"Sounds like Ignitus with the traps." Viberian muttered.
"Maybe it's a test? I had to do that when I first met the other Chronicler." Spyro gave a shrug, tugging his cloak around him tighter. It wasn't that cold…then again, riding the icy boat made all feeling leave her body.
"So, what do we do?" Cynder turned to Spyro. "You're the only one who's been here. That remembers it, anyway."
Spyro shifted his eyes between them, stiffening after having been placed on the spot. "I honestly have no idea. The place looks different. That gate wasn't there." He indicated to a large, golden gate that blocked the entrance to the isle.
"You're correct." Ignitus's voice spoke from all around them. "I have done some…renovations ever since you two were last here."
"Okay but why?" Viberian scowled. "You knew we were coming, so why make it more confusing and waste more time?"
"You are not the only ones to seek me out." Ignitus replied. "I have tested many would-be heroes, and I have to ensure they do not remember or expect anything."
Cynder shrugged. "Look we just got done with a trial of our own, can we just skip it?"
"But of course, Cynder."
The sounds of wind whooshing followed by the crackle of electricity echoed through the twilight beach. A portal opened before the gate, shimmering in the air. So many portals, Cynder thought distantly. At least this one wasn't a tornado. Yeras entered first, her head held high. How strange, the ebony dragon mused. Confidence wasn't exactly a trait that Yeras physically showed.
Once through the portal, they were greeted by a large, circular room that seemed so different and oh so familiar. The first thing she noticed was the pool of visions in the direct center, shimmering in the pale light that soaked through a window. Books upon books crowded the walls, all different colors and with runes written upon them. More books were on the right side of the room, she noted.
Then, much like he appeared in the visions, Ignitus appeared. His book was larger in the flesh, but he still had that warm, caring grin that she had grown accustomed to. Although, it faded when he locked eyes with Viberian, the vermilion dragon all but building flame in his maw.
"Hi Ignitus!" Spyro greeted heartily.
"Hello, young Dragon." Ignitus beamed at him. "It is nice to see you all before me."
Viberian opened his mouth but Yeras stepped on his claw, silencing him.
"I wish it were under better circumstances, however." Ignitus gave a weary sigh. "It seems just like yesterday when the world was in peril from Malefor and the Destroyer."
"Hopefully we won't have to deal with that anymore once The Sorcerer goes down." Yeras said.
"Yes, but you all are not ready to face him yet. You would be slaughtered immediately."
"Well, that's encouraging." Viberian frowned in annoyance. "What do you want us to do then? It's not like we can waste time training."
"Ah, but you can. Time works quite differently here." He indicated above them, where an hourglass hovered. "Much like your adventures to the elemental plane, but this time, three days here is no more than ten hours out there."
"How?" Cynder questioned. "How is that remotely possible?"
"This island is placed in the exact location prime for such enchantments from what I understand. The previous Chronicler had a thousand years to figure out the island, and even he did not learn all."
Cynder gave up after that.
"So what do we have to do now?" Yeras asked. "I mean, if we're going to get killed, what's the thing we need to work on?"
"Cynder's convexity needs to be stabilized, and Viberian's elemental core is fractured. The elemental inside him acts as a crutch."
"Excuse me," Kalmorag spoke to all of them using Viberian. "I'm doing more than all of you with this situation so do not downplay me."
"I wasn't insulting." Ignitus raised a claw in apology. "But if he gets separated from you, you will be at a disadvantage."
Neither Viberian nor Kalmorag spoke after that.
"Please no spiders." Spyro once again said. "I have nightmares of slamming my head against the ground trying to get them."
"I will not unleash them. You do not have Dragon Time anymore so it would be unfair. However," Ignitus clasped his wing-claws together, "we must not dawdle any longer. We will start with you, Cynder, and move on from there."
Cyril had no idea what to do for once. Volteer sparked and crackled with electricity, the ice guardian doing the same with his own element, but it was clear they would not win. There must have been hundreds of eyes in the darkness! Azulia looked ready to take a step or two back, sheer determination preventing her.
"Oh relax, these are just precautions." Malefor indicated behind him. "Azulia dear, did you really forget about our little bond?"
"What's he talking about?" Cyril asked when Azulia didn't reply.
"Oh, she didn't tell you!" Malefor sounded amused. "Well, her and I have a very special deal…one that she is not honoring."
"I refuse to do any more." Azulia bared her fangs. "Find someone else to do it."
"I would had there been any others left to do so." Malefor lowered his head to stare into her eyes. "You I can track easily, but the others…not so much. After all, we did imprint…"
"Imprint?" Volteer jolted as if remembering something. "Azulia why-"
"You imply I had a choice." Azulia snapped. "Get out of here, Malefor. I'm free from your control and I can bring this entire fortress down on your head."
"Ah, but the fact that you haven't yet means that there is some measure of it." Malefor wiggled a talon. "I'm not here to fight. I'm here to get what I enlisted you to do."
"I destroyed the lab, Malefor." She spat. "You will find nothing but decay."
Malefor blinked a few times, searching her. Then, he grinned. "As I thought."
This made the rest of them be taken aback.
"What does that mean?" Cyril asked.
"Lets just say…once you find out what she did, you'll want to leave her in the sun to die." Malefor chuckled. "Now, with that…"
Malefor vanished into the shadows afterward, leaving the rest confused. Volteer and Cyril glanced to each other, and then to Azulia who stood rigid. Her eyes were widened, fangs biting deep into her lower jaw in rage. Not to mention the traces of fear that lined the shadows of her muzzle.
"Azulia, what is he talking about?" Cyril asked after a moment.
"I'm so stupid." She hissed. "Why did I ever think I was free of him?"
"You are." The ice guardian placed a claw on her shoulder. It was like touching ice.
"No, no I am not." She said miserably. "We imprinted. He will always know, deep down, what I am doing and where I am. The things he made me do because of that…"
"Then we defeat him, and sever the connection!" Volteer said cheerily. She glanced back at him, and his optimism vanished. "What's the problem?"
"There is…something I need to show all of you when Cynder gets back." Azulia whispered. "There is another reason why I wanted you all to leave at first."
"Well your work with him is over."
"It's not that simple, Cyril." The Vampire Queen's voice fell into a low, almost mourning cry. "Let's just say…I did some horrible things under the servitude of The Sorcerer, but this is the one that gives me nightmares."
Without saying another word, Azulia turned around and left. After making sure that there was no other undead, Volteer decided to stay down here to 'try and work the core' and create the crystal golems. From the way it was said, Cyril knew that he was being told to go after Azulia, and he wasted no time in doing so.
He found her right where he thought he would; her bedding. She looked absolutely miserable, like if she could cry, she would. He approached, and she was receptive of his touch, but it was clear that she was afraid of something. She refused to look him in the eye, and for the first time ever since they first met, he saw her completely turn away.
"What's eating at you?" He asked calmly, stroking her spine.
"Cyril, have you ever done something that you never wanted to do but had no choice in the matter?" She asked after a moment. "Something so bad that it threatened every relationship you ever had or will have?"
"I…can't say that I have."
"That's why Malefor was here. He attacked us, but in a way that he knew would hurt me the most."
"Azulia…" Cyril adjusted himself to get a better look at her muzzle. "What did he make you do?"
She told him.
Cynder never felt so tired before in her life. It was like her very flesh, her scales scales were sloughing off her body, and yet she was foolish enough to press on. Wounds covered her body, and yet the Necrolites kept coming. Everyone else was dead. She was the last one standing.
All elemental energy was sapped. The sky was red, almost reflecting the blood spilt on the wet soil. And yet, no matter what, no matter how much determination surged through her, nothing was working. Her claws could only work so well against the hordes, and if they didn't kill her, pure exhaustion would. The last remaining Dragon in the world…and she was powerless despite her abilities.
Except one. One that constantly remained out of reach no matter what she did. The power of Convexity, just at the tip of her claws, and yet so slippery that she couldn't grab hold. It could have allowed her to save everything, and yet…she couldn't.
Yeras was gone. Viberian was gone. Cyril, Volteer, everyone! Why was she the last one standing?
With a sigh, she charged up one last attack. She was going to die, but that didn't mean she was going to let them go without the last word. She could see the Necrolites, blotting out the sun, as the world around them splinted and cracked. Magma burst from the floors, and Cynder unleashed the strongest attack she could muster; a tornado that formed around her. She floated in the center, a death-roar rupturing her throat as the tornado stripped away parts of her body as well as the flesh of and bone of the Necrolites.
And then….everything stopped.
"That is five times you have failed. You need to find the anger." Ignitus's voice entered her mind. "You have come so close, and yet you resort to the suicide attack each time. You need to focus."
Suddenly, the area shifted, melting away to reveal herself back in the Chronicler's lair. Cynder collapsed to the ground with nary a scratch on her. Yet, the phantom pain inflicted upon her lingered. It wasn't until the familiar glow of an Emerald crossed her vision did she perk up, seeing Viberian standing over her with his pack of medical supplies. He looked a smidge proud, but kept leering back at Ignitus, who stood on a platform behind him.
"I think she's been through enough." Viberian said to his uncle sourly. "Your tactics clearly aren't working."
"It worked in the past." Ignitus rubbed his chin. "Perhaps with the memory loss a different approach is indeed needed…"
"Only took you five tries to figure that one out."
"Please, no fighting, my head hurts enough as is." Cynder grumbled under her breath.
"So, what do you propose for the exercise?" Ignitus asked Viberian, who shrugged.
"Ask Spyro on that one." He turned his head around the arena. At least, it looked like an arena. Sort of like the training grounds back in the temple, now that she got a better glimpse. "Actually, where is he? And Yeras for that matter?"
"Yeras mentioned something about tending to the fishes, but I do not know where Spyro is." Ignitus looked just as confused as his nephew. "Cynder, recover, and we will pick this up either in the morning or later."
"Preferably morning." Cynder mumbled.
The two males went off to search for Spyro, and Cynder followed behind them. The fire of anger was in the air, Viberian practically warming it himself. Yet, remarkably, he kept himself restrained when he walked alongside the chronicler. On one side, she wished he would put aside their differences and focus on the greater good, but on the other she wanted to murder Spyro, so it was highly hypocritical.
Maybe she should give him a better shot. It was unfair to him. He had just gotten free of the Sorcerer, and found out his mate was without a memory of him. His heart must be shattering. Maybe she could get to know him better, to ease his pain and maybe have him move on.
Then, she saw him sitting with Yeras, the both of them meditating of sorts and being surrounded by fish. It was a tranquil scene, one that made Cynder want to kick Spyro off a cliff. She simply couldn't explain it. It was a knee-jerk reaction, and one she silently wished would go away.
"Ah, I didn't expect to see this." Ignitus sat down, motioning for the others to stay back.
"See what?" Cynder asked.
"Do you see that glow around Spyro and Yeras?" He indicated to the faint, purple aura around the two of them. "That is something almost never seen before, as purples very rarely cross each other. There have been five recorded events of this happening, and each time, this was mentioned."
"What exactly…is it?"
"Spyro is imparting his knowledge of the elements into Yeras. Or, at least, trying to." Ignitus said with a hint of disappointment. "The problem with Yeras is that she is highly unlikely to be receptive physically to the changes."
"I suppose she's desperate to help out if she's doing this." Viberian observed. "Guess we should wait and see how this turns out."
They didn't have to wait long, for soon Spyro's eyes slowly opened. He was saddened, by the looks of it, and judging by Yeras's expression, it didn't work. He assisted her to her claws, allowing her to lean on him as he walked over.
"It didn't work, did it?" Ignitus repeated Cynder's hypothesis.
"Well, she has that core of a purple, but it's so damaged that I can't do anything for it now." Spyro said sadly. "Whatever happened…ugh. This is repulsive. She told me that Malefor did this."
"She's not the only one he did it too." Cynder scowled. "Should we check if I have it too?"
"I uh….I can try but I need to rest first. To be honest, I don't think you are."
"Explain these 'elements' then."
"Stop." Ignitus intervened. "Cynder, escort Yeras to somewhere she can rest. She'd appreciate it."
Cynder stopped. She was being a bit selfish there. Silently, she took the demi-purple on her back, and walked through the halls toward the sleeping quarters. At first, Cynder thought that Yeras had fallen asleep, but the shifting of her body said otherwise.
"You alright up there?" Cynder twisted her head back.
"No." She answered. "I'm unfixable."
Cynder growled slightly. "Stop that talk."
"But it's true."
"Yeras if you don't stop downplaying yourself I'm going to seal your muzzle shut. It's not true and I do not want to hear any differently."
"But then I'd silently do it." There was a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Do I have to lobotomize you?"
"That's mean."
Cynder shook her head, snarling but deep down happy that Yeras's mood had changed a bit. Or at least, seemed to. Entering the chambers, which were small but comfortable, Yeras was placed down on soft sand that didn't get under the scales. It was strange how it worked, but it was undeniably pleasant to lay upon. It was there that Cynder noticed something off about Yeras; her scales had lightened a bit, and it wasn't because of the light that filtered in from the moons. Almost like Spyro's.
Exactly like Spyro's.
"Yeras, your scales….they changed color." Cynder explained to her.
"Did they? Lemme check."
"I'm being serious."
Without wasting a second more, she ran back to get Ignitus and the others, and they crowded in the room to investigate. Yeras's condition had…worsened? Cynder honestly didn't know if that was the best way to refer to this as. Her underbelly scales had taken on a darker shade of purple, almost black in color. Before her very eyes, the horns and talons had begun to do the same.
"What is going on?" Spyro inquired. "Is this normal for what I did?"
"I do not know." Ignitus summoned his book. "Her body is changing…but it is not specific. It is, however, killing her. But….oh dear."
"What?" Viberian glanced at the book, but looked confused when he tried to read it.
"It appears there is at least a temporary stabilizer for her…but alas, it is in the Freezer." There was a hint of horror in his voice. "Malefor is a monster."
"What did he do now?" Cynder asked wryly, placing a claw on Yeras's head. She was silent, but conscious, and her scales were icy cold to the touch.
Ignitus let out a low sigh. "He forced her to create purples."
The winds around Dante's Freezer howled and whipped, and silence had fallen over the fortress. That was until a loud CRACK split the night. Cyril, having fallen asleep next to Azulia snapped his eyes open at the sound, his mate already on her claws. She dashed out, him in tow, and looked over a balcony to see that a portal had opened in the courtyard.
Azulia was down there in a millisecond, Terrador next to her at the front. At first, they waited, and then a familiar face came through. Her ebony muzzle was contorted in rage, and for a moment, she leered at Azulia before letting out a sigh.
"We don't have a lot of time before we got to go back," Cynder explained, moving to the side to allow another to step through. It was Yeras…but she was different. Her scales were…livelier. She still had that corrupted feel to her, but she looked almost normal.
And then he saw the impossible. Out came Spyro, the dragon Cyril had watched grow up, only to fall in battle. Or, at least, that's what was thought. Now, here he was next to Cynder, who often regarded him with cold glances.
"What happened?" Azulia demanded. "Why do you have-?"
"It's a long story." Viberian stepped through after, the portal shutting behind them. In his claw, a stone could be seen with runes inscribed to it. "More or less, Spyro broke free of the Sorcerer, and he's with us now."
"That's not why we are here, though." Cynder snapped. "Azulia, we need to access that lab. Yeras has turned into a purple but we need to complete the process."
"BACK UP, WHAT?!" Cyril exclaimed, Azulia's face shattering into horror. "She just admitted to me that it existed and now you want to rub her face in the wounds?"
"That's not the intent." Yeras mumbled. "I told them I would have been fine but it was for the best that we at least try and stabilize myself."
Almost as if on cue, blood began to dribble down her mouth as she coughed. Spyro kept her steady, and Cyril remembered Volteer's words about it. Yeras was not going to last long, and upon closer inspection, saw stressed veins on her neck and face. The bleeding didn't stop, only slowing down when crystals were applied to her.
"She's dying." Cynder snapped. "Whatever he," she jabbed her tail at Spyro, "Did to her is killing her. The moment Ignitus brought up Azulia's experimentations, Yeras coughed up blood, and she's our only shot."
"I'm never doing that again." Azulia growled lowly. "I will never subject anyone to those torments again."
"YERAS IS GOING TO DIE IF YOU DON'T!" Cynder all but spat in Azulia's face. Cyril fired off a warning shard, forcing Cynder to step back.
"She is saying no, so I refuse to do it!"
For a bit, the two females bickered back and forth, and Cyril didn't want to approach Azulia after a bit. He was seeing a whole new side of her, even if that wasn't what she really was. To be abused and used by Malefor into carrying on his experiments, to looking ready to murder Cynder right where she stood. He didn't know what to do! He wanted to leap in, to settle this fight, but no matter what he would do, one side would lose.
If he chose Azulia, Yeras would die. If he chose Cynder, he would potentially break his mate's mind and forever lose her trust.
Surprisingly, the answer came not from he or the two arguing. It came from the three male bystanders, who had each shot up an element to dispel the fight. Spyro stood in between them, on his hind legs and claws outstretched, with Terrador standing near Azulia, Viberian to Cynder.
"Enough!" Terrador shouted. "The decision here is none of ours to make."
"It's my fault this is happening," Spyro said Azulia, glancing back at Yeras. "I should fix it, but I need Yeras's permission. I did this to her, and I don't want to try anything without her consent again."
Yeras said nothing, looking down on the ground, dark blood drizzling down her muzzle. For a moment, Cyril thought she had died where she stood, until a weak nod escaped her.
Azulia's face fractured at the sight of Yeras's nod. Her body trembled, eyed widened in fear. As they prepared to take care of Yeras, Cyril pulled her aside for a moment, offering a comforting wing. She didn't say a word; she didn't need to. It was his job to make her feel better.
"Look, you can just unlock the door or something." Cyril murmured to her. "You've suffered enough."
"No, that's the thing; What they need requires me to be there." She let out a sigh. "There are just some things I'd rather keep hidden. They already do not trust me anymore."
"Did you want this to happen? To experiment?"
"Absolutely not." She gave him a horrified glare.
"Then it is Malefor's fault, as we said before. You are not to blame. But you can save Yeras. In there, we may find the key to defeating Malefor or Faulnox."
Azulia mulled over the thought, glancing back to the others. Cynder was supporting Yeras, who looked worse already. Spyro and Terrador were talking, the latter surprised, but it was Volteer that drew the attention. He gave Spyro a very suspicious glance, eyes shifting between him and Yeras. It was like he wished to accuse Spyro of something, but Cyril did not know what.
"This is going to be a disaster." She huffed. "Follow me." She said to the others.
Cynder stayed with Yeras as best as she could while keeping a good pace with the others. Azulia looked like she was hanging from the gallows with her guilt, and despite how vicious she came across, Cynder couldn't help but feel sorry. Yet, Yeras needed the queen's help, and the ebony would be damned if it didn't happen.
They approached a wall, one that Cynder had passed a few times. Yet, as Azulia pressed certain parts of it, the wall slid open, revealing a tiny room. Before them, a strange gate of sorts stood before them. Before it, a pedestal stood, dried blood in the crevices. Spyro gasped at the sight of the gate, and a distant memory awoke within Cynder.
"This is a gate to Convexity, isn't it?" Spyro asked. "What on earth are you doing with one?!"
"Do you really thing I would do this in this dimension?" Azulia asked quietly, not facing any of them.
The Vampire Queen placed her claw on the pedestal, which caused blood to run down the 'veins' in it and into a pool. The shimmering, crimson liquid hardened at the bottom, and formed itself into a crystal. Azulia picked it up, and held it before the gate. The wind howled, and a force tore through the freezer. Starlight filtered through, and the vast void of space opened before them.
"Wait, you were born in the Year of the Dragon?" Viberian sounded surprised. "No wonder."
"No wonder what?" She tilted her head back.
"No wonder why you're queen." He mumbled more to himself. Cynder gave him a strange look.
They all stepped inside, and were immediately in another world. Cynder's jaw almost hit the ground, and no doubt if Yeras could do so without spilling blood, she would too. It was cold, metal, and unlike anything Cynder had seen before. There were all these weird buttons, lights, and doors that had no handles.
Then, Cynder noticed the damage. Everything had been purged by red ice, from tables with discarded equipment, to broken vials of strange, purple liquid. Azulia motioned for them to stay put, stepping into the middle of the room, causing lights to flicker on. Strange, as there were no torches in sight.
"My word, where are we?" Volteer vibrated in place, like it took every ounce of energy not to run off.
"This is where I worked. The Sorcerer created it specifically for this purpose. Said something about using a Mole Professor's designs and 'making them better'."
"So what do we do?" Volteer inquired. "There appears to be many doors."
"There are many subsections, but what we need to do is access the main lift and that will bring us to the lower levels. From there, there is bound to be a stabilizer."
"Sounds simple enough." Terrador said.
"It does, but the problem is that I needed three keys to get in. In my haste to destroy everything, I only have one. We'll need to get the other ones."
"So we should split up." Cynder caught her drift. "Alright, but who is gonna stay with Yeras?"
"I will." Azulia said heavily. "I can't face some things in there."
"I understand."
The groups were split up afterward, with Terrador, Cyril, and Volteer going off, and Cynder being stuck with…the two males. Oh, this was going to be a recipe for disaster. She just knew it. One way or another, the other is going to explode. Wincing internally, they stepped through the door on the right, watching as it slid open at their approach.
"This place is too strange for me." Spyro muttered. "It seems familiar, though."
"Gonna go out on a limb and say we're gonna be encountering more things like this." Viberian examined some of the flickering lights. "This uh…."
"You don't need to say it." Cynder chuckled nervously. "I'm thinking the same."
"Did Azulia ever tell us what this key looked like?" Spyro asked. "I mean is it just a key or what?"
A short trip back revealed that the keys they were looking for was a small card-like thing. Evidently, the Guardians had the same thought process, as Terrador came back to ask the same question. Once they figured that out, they went back down the hall and into a room at the end…only to have the door slam shut behind them.
Then, a beam of convexity nearly took off their heads. From the shadows, strange bipedal figures mixed in with Gnorc troops greeted them. They looked crystalline, their bodies made of segmented triangles with a beak-like face. Six eyes narrowed at them, and it spoke in a droning hum.
"Oh no." Spyro paled at the sight of them. "I know them. Krystilsts, The Sorcerer's elite clean-up crew. They're made of pure convexity."
Before he could continue, another laser of energy was fired at them, and the fight truly began. Cynder felt a grin form on her muzzle as she leaped at the face of a Gnorc. Its neck was snapped from the blast of wind, and the body thrown into another. Another Krystilst formed in a flurry of energy and crystal, whipping shadowy tendrils in all direction. They were just a tad too slow, aiming where they were instead of where they were going.
Until Cynder was nearly stabbed through the eye by one. Then, Viberian unleashed a torrent of flame, melting the environment and Gnorc alike. The only things left were the two Krystilst, who proved to be quite resilient to elemental attacks. Nothing Cynder did worked against them, nor with Viberian or Spyro. Physical attacks, however, were highly effective.
The problem was hitting them. Every time they got close, they'd teleport across the room, fire, and repeat. It took five minuets for them to finally dispatch them, with Cynder whipping her tail at the same time as Spyro, shattering the midrift of one. Viberian took out the last, attacking while Spyro distracted.
"Clean up crew, huh?" Cynder panted heavily, leaning against the wall. "Does he have a lot of these?"
"I remember seeing a lot but as you can see, they don't like direct combat." Spyro chuckled weakly. "Probably a lot more than I remember."
"Right, well…" Cynder winced as part of the floor sparked. "We'll be more prepared now, right?"
"Speak for yourself, I can barely keep up." Viberian muttered.
After they caught their breath, they moved on, deeper into the depths of the laboratory.
"You're shaking." Yeras's voice snapped Azulia out of a trance.
The Vampire had all but blotted out their surroundings, withdrawing deep within herself. She could hardly believe that she was back where she swore she would never return to, and with a successful 'experiment' in tow. Ugh. It was wrong to think Yeras as that, but fate really seemed to be twisting her life around the past three years.
"I'm not." Azulia replied.
"I can see you vibrating a bit. You're scared, aren't you?"
Azulia snarled at the eyeless face of the demi-purple. Those glowing holes seemed to be mocking her, and the sincere, yet pained, expression was just making it worse. It reminded her of the countless others that went through what Yeras did.
"I am not scared."
"Maybe not, but something is bothering you. I know what you did, but its more than that, isn't it?"
"What makes you say that?"
Yeras formed a smile. "Call it intuition. You feel guilt, but it's a strange guilt. I'm not sure what it is, but you cannot even look at me anymore. You used to before."
Azulia turned to the side. Oh, she was good. It was true, there was more to the story, and it wasn't one she was willing to tell. Cyril didn't even know. When Azulia looked at the face of Yeras, it wasn't the young female that she saw. No, she saw two individuals, coming in at the same time. Yet, if it was told, every ounce of redemption she gathered would be drained.
"Some things, Yeras…are better left buried." Azulia replied quietly. "I've already caused enough pain. I do not desire to go into more detail and relive it."
"I forgive you."
Azulia blinked. "What?"
"You experimented, caused more abominations like me." Yeras placed a claw over hers. "You didn't want to, but you had to. So, I forgive you. You didn't do anything to hurt me directly, but I think you need to hear it from someone who experienced it."
Azulia's icy demeanor nearly shattered. She glanced down at Yeras's claw, unable to tear her eyes away. If she could, she would cry. Instead, she just felt so cold. Images flashed in her mind, where someone else had gripped her claw in a very similar manner. It was weak, and much like now, penetrated her emotions like a pickaxe.
"I don't deserve it." Azulia moved her claw away. "I've done too much to accept it from you."
"Well, I'll just keep saying it then."
"No, Yeras, you don't understand. I appreciate it, but I can't accept it."
"I do understand. But I will leave it for when you wish to accept it. I do not fault you for it. I do not think any less of you. No matter what you tell me, it is not your fault."
Azulia wanted so badly to reveal what happened. It would have been the perfect time, but she couldn't vanquish the hope this dragon presented. Not yet. Perhaps after the battle against The Sorcerer. Instead, she formed a small smile.
"Thank you." She said with as much warmth as she could muster. "I did need to hear that."
"I had a feeling you did." Yeras chuckled, which devolved into her coughing up blood.
"I think you need to rest." Azulia said. "There is bound to be some Rubies around here. I know I kept them nearby."
Azulia got to her claws and rummaged around the room, checking containers. She could not face Yeras, and it was like a breath of fresh air to finally be moving. She sighed and stopped for a moment, making it seem like she was looking at something else.
Fate really enjoyed playing games with her.
"I do not like this place." Kalmorag said in Viberian's mind. "This is an abomination."
"No kidding." Viberian muttered, watching Spyro rummage around some cabinet. "Can you feel it too?"
"The soul-crushing misery? Yes. And there is a source to it."
This surprised Viberian. For some reason, the others didn't really notice this, despite being obviously freaked out. However, the moment Viberian stepped inside, there was something…off. Something deep inside this laboratory, calling to him. It was familiar, but he couldn't place it. All he knew was that he was close to whatever it was, but it was constantly out of sight.
"Viberian, you alright?" Cynder called to him from further down the hall. "You kinda blanked out."
"Yeah, I'm fine." Viberian flickered a small smile, following them quietly.
"It is most curious how we may feel this, and they do not." Kalmorag stated.
"I don't question things anymore." Viberian quietly chuckled.
"Who are you talking to?" Spyro turned his head back.
"He's got an elemental inside of him." Cynder explained. "So it's like constantly hearing a one-sided conversation."
"Sorry." Viberian said sheepishly.
"Oh, I get it! It's like how The Chronicler communicated with me before. I get it, I get it." Spyro nodded his head a few times.
"Are we sure he did not hit his head on his escape? He seems too...naïve to be whatever they call him."
"I don't know. Never really met him." Viberian shrugged. He didn't need to, he realized, but it was too late to take it back.
Then, they came to a room where another one of those convexity crew…things, awaited. They were dispatched, and Cynder decided to stay and check around the room, motioning for them to continue on. They did so, stepping into the hall, and as the door shut, a wave of awkwardness hit full force.
Dontsayanythingdontsayanything….Viberian's mind raced. You made it past the boat without really talking about the obvious.
"How long have you been traveling with Cynder by the way?" Spyro asked.
DAMN IT. Viberian wanted to bury his face in his claws. In the back of his mind he heard Kalmorag cackling.
"Uh…since you two died."
"So not long, huh?"
"Nope." Viberian said in a finalized way.
Spyro, however, did not get it. "So um…what is she like now? I mean she's been hostile to me but seems to like you."
Viberian pretended not to hear the conversation at first before Kalmorag brought up that avoiding him would not settle this. Reading a note written by Azulia about how they needed more Convexity, he sighed and answered.
"She's definitely headstrong. And likes grapes. Apparently she hated them before. I really can't compare."
"I see."
"Look, I know where this is going." Viberian whirled around swiftly. Spyro jerked his head back in surprise. "Basically, ritual went wrong, and she's pining after me trying to fill the gap in her memory of you. I just lost my mate last year, and I got a daughter to look after before I can pursue my own happiness. I'm not gonna stand in your way."
"Well, I was mostly curious but that also prevents awkward questions later." Spyro laughed nervously. "But don't lie, you are attached to her."
"She's a friend."
"No, it's more than that." Spyro wasn't accusing, but he wouldn't tear his eyes away from Viberian's. In any other case, the flame guardian would have been intimidated, but after so much…this was incredibly minor. Didn't make it less uncomfortable .
"Are you sure you're also not trying to fill the gap your mate left?" Spyro asked.
Viberian opened his mouth to deny it, but then he thought about it, drifting back to the air elemental plane. Cynder had all but presented herself to her, and he didn't let it on but…it was temping. Something about that affection he missed, but it wasn't right. He couldn't replace Eimuria like that, nor could he take advantage of Cynder's confused emotions. Yet, the tender touching, the warmth of another's body against his own…he missed it.
He missed being able to come home to someone.
"I'm not going to stand in the way." Viberian's claws curled to match his snarl.
"I'm not here to instigate you, or to back you off." Spyro said calmly. "It hurts but…I'll see how this goes. I just wanted you to know that I'm not blaming you or accusing you of anything."
"Well…thank you. But this isn't the time to have this conversation."
"Actually, it's no better time. I mean, we may not get another chance."
"We're in a creepy lab."
"I like the backdrop."
Viberian didn't know how he was going to reply to that, so instead just refocused on the task at claw. Now that he wasn't as distracted, he felt the calling again. It was down the hall, where the lights flickered to stay on. Spyro followed him, and Viberian decided to let him in on this emotion he felt.
"Are you sure it's not a trap?" Spyro asked. "I mean, we're also kinda leaving Cynder on her own."
"Go back to her then. I have Kalmorag."
"Oh right your elemental thingy…right, okay, I'll stick with her. Stay safe."
"You too."
"Is it wise to go off alone?" Kalmorag inquired as Spyro stepped back toward Cynder.
"I recognize what I am feeling now." Viberian said gloomily. "They don't need to see what we're going to."
"I…see. How noble."
Viberian did not encounter anything on the way. The more he traveled down the dark hall, the more overwhelming the presence got. He was reminded of holding Eimuria one last time, watching the light leave her eyes. The pain and loss was crushing, and he wanted nothing more than to break down. Whoever was calling out was in pain, and confused, and very, very familiar.
Viberian stopped before a closed door. It was icy to the touch, and there was low moaning on the other side. Like…crying. Never stopping, never resting. Tears streamed down his own muzzle involuntarily, and the door was unlocked. Guided only be the fire in his maw, the dancing flames only partially illuminated the sight before him.
It was like a quivering pile of remains. Almost unrecognizable as a Dragon, but he knew exactly who it was. The horns were icy, and curved ever so slightly. It did not move, but instead one violet eye focused on him. A small, guttural cry echoed from the remains, and he realized this thing wasn't truly alive anymore. It twitched an icy blue talon, one that was stained purple.
"The spirit is unable to be set free." Kalmorag said. "It remains. And it will do so for all eternity."
"We should put her to rest." Viberian barely spoke, a hiccupping sob in his throat. "She can move on if there is nothing to return to."
"No amount of Rubies can fix her. It is for the best."
Viberian nodded, and the quivering mass closed her eye. A noise, which sounded like an attempt at speech, escaped her fangs. Viberian charged up an attack, and thanks to Kalmorag, was able to unleash a torrent of flame that incinerated her immediately. From the ashes, a small icy ball rose, trembling before shattering into the air. The emotions changed to relieved, and Viberian had to escape the room, collapsing on the wall and burying his face in his claws.
"She can never know what happened." Kalmorag said. He figured it out too.
"I know." Viberian sniffled. "What did he make you do, Azulia?" He asked himself before picking himself up and rejoining the others. He couldn't tell them. It was better that they didn't know.