Thanks to everyone who reviewed and voted! Here is the next chapter so please, enjoy! You'll find out if Silas lives or dies in the this chapter.
"Spyro, NO!" Ember roared shrilly, lunging at the male dragon as her jaws snapped viciously. Spyro's lilac eyes widened in shock at the dragoness' sudden violence, the male backing away to avoid her talons.
Roaring, Spyro rose on his hind legs, readying his talons as Ember positioned herself over the human, smoke pouring from her open maw and nostrils.
"What do you think you are doing, Ember?" Spyro asked, his scales heating in rage. He could feel the inner fire burn and singe his whole body, wanting to be released.
"He is not one of them!" Ember hissed, eyes narrowed, pupils gaining a predatory sharpness.
"No! You don't know what you speak of!" Spyro cried, Ember's eyes widening as the dragon's violet scales slowly became a darker shade of purple before turning completely black. Spyro's eyes turned completely white, as if he was blinded by a demonic light.
"All humans must die! Stand down or suffer the same fate!" Spyro hissed, black mist swirling around the dragon.
"S...Spyro! This isn't you! This is...is evil! You're not evil! You're a hero!" Ember cried, desperation filling her eyes as she saw the darkness pour out from the dragon's very being. The darkness slowly spread along the forest floor, destroying any foliage that had not already been burned by the flame.
"The dragon you once knew is dead! Spyro is dead! He was too weak!" The black dragon hissed, Spyro's voice more dark, as if demonic.
"No! Spyro, I know you're still in there! You can beat it! I-I know you're angry about losing Cynder, but-but that doesn't mean giving into your dark desires are right! Killing those humans didn't bring Cynder back! Ju-Just as killing Silas won't bring her back! You're only spreading more death! Nothing good can come from it!"
"No!...You're wrong! These...humans...they must pay!"
"But they have families, too, Spyro! They have friends, they have mates, and, and children! The pain you feel...you don't want other to feel that same pain do you? I know it's not fair, but I know how it feels like, Spyro! When...When I lost Flame...I...I felt like I had nothing to live for. And I know that's how you feel like too. You're not alone, Spyro! And I know you don't want to do this!" Ember cried, shaking, though unwilling to abandon her dear friend.
"I...I..." The dragon broke off, voice weak and broken. The dragon of darkness reared on his hind legs, releasing a shrill, demonic roar as the darkness suddenly dispersed into the air, Spyro's blackened scales now returning to their normal purple hue.
Spyro slumped in his posture, beaten and ashamed, his body shaking with silent tears.
"Ember, I'm so sorry! That wasn't me! It wasn't me! I...I just got so angry and...it took over..." Spyro cried, head bowed and eyes closed in pain.
"It's okay, Spryo. I know you didn't mean it." Ember replied, smiling sadly at the purple dragon.
"Come on. We should get out of here." Ember spoke softly, Spyro remaining silent as Ember nuzzled Silas, frowning at the human's unresponsive state.
"I can carry him, Ember. I...I want to help." Spyro spoke quietly, Ember stiffening at the male dragon's offer. Ember could feel an uneasiness settle in the pit of her stomach. As much as she hated to admit it, she didn't trust Spyro. Not yet, anyway.
"No...I got it." Ember spoke, Spyro looking around the burning forest as Ember laid down next to the man.
Gently, Ember picked up Silas with her jaws, and clumsily, awkwardly, put the lifeless knight on her back. Ember could help her heart from beating in terror upon noticing that the man didn't even stir.
"Okay, we can go now!" Ember spoke, struggling to hide her panic. She just wanted to get Silas to safety.
"Do you see that, Corpse Walker? Looks like your little friends have caused quite a stir!" Mordred laughed, panting.
Rorek paused and looked up into the sky, a massive cloud of smoke rising from the forest in the near distance.
"So it seems." Rorek muttered, barely dodging a swipe from the mercenary.
"Why don't you stay still so I can lop off your head!?" Mordred cried in annoyance, Rorek retreating to a safe distance.
"Because attacking you directly would be idiotic." Rorek stated bluntly, posture calm and laid back.
"What are you doing toying with this mortal? Destroy him!" Malefor roared, Rorek flinching at the harshness of the Dark Master's voice.
"Destroy is such a harsh word." Rorek muttered softly, swirling a sword in his hand as Malefor snorted.
"As is crucifiction."
"Be quiet, you!" Rorek hissed, ducking as Mordred swung his blade, Rorek pivoting before lunging his weight toward the man's unbalanced flank, causing Mordred to fall onto the ground.
"Uggh! Bastard!" Mordred cried in rage, Rorek rubbing his shoulder, sore from making contact with the man's armor.
"Stand down and you shall live."
"What?! Coward!"
"Never!" Mordred hissed, slowly getting up only be roughly kicked back down by Rorek, his foot pinned Mordred's sword arm.
"Come now. Must we really do this?" Rorek sighed, shaking his head.
"Do it! Kill him! You know cannot run from what you truly are. You are a murderer in cold blood. Can't you smell his fear? Heart the frantic beating of his heart? You want to stop it, make the heart cease to beat just like you did with that child. Do not deny what you are."
"I had a reason with that child. I shall not kill a defenseless man. He is of no threat to me nor has he endangered my life." Rorek whispered softly, kicking the man to stop his struggles.
"Hmmmmm, interesting. So you are a hypocrite as well? That child was defenseless and of no threat to you, yet you still ended its life. And this human, that has tried to kill you, has no reason to die?"
"The babe was already dying. This man is not. He is of no threat to my life at the moment. However, if I see fit, I shall kill in defence."
"Liar. You feel it within you. You feel the need to kill once more. Just like you did, oh, so long ago. You just forget. These are the memories in the darkest corners of your mind-the ones that hide the true you. It wants its fill of blood, and you are denying it that." Malefor spoke, voice calm.
"You speak lies! That man is not me. Not anymore." Rorek broke off, muttering softly. Mordred still struggled and cursed underneath him.
"Yet you do not deny."
"I..." Rorek faltered, voice quavering as his brow became covered in perspiration.
"Go on. Kill him. He wouldn't give you the same mercy. And once he is done with you, he will hunt down and kill your pathetic friends. You don't want that, do you?" Malefor asked.
"I...no, I do not, but it is not right. I cannot kill this man." Rorek spoke, shaking his head.
"Coward. Then allow me to obligate you in awaking the darkest parts of your mind that have been dormant for too long." Malefor hissed, laughing as Rorek faltered, screaming.
"NO! GET OUT!" Rorek screamed shrilly, holding his head in pain, feeling the darkness surge through him, fill every fiber of his being.
"No...not this...not this..." Rorek whimpered, struggling for breath as he felt the darkness take control. Cold, and endless like a void. Yet all powering.
Shaking, Rorek watched in horror as his nails began to blacken and his skin grow paler, several black veins beginning to show, as if popping out of his flesh. With gasped breaths, Rorek struggled to regain control, finding Malefor too powerful as liquid began to run down his face, as if it were tears.
Trembling, Rorek wiped the liquid away, his glove coming back covered in a reddish black liquid. Whatever it was, more of it streamed down his face, his eyes having turned black and rimmed with the liquid.
"Wha...What are you? A Lich?" Mordred asked, terror in his eyes.
Rorek stared at his nails, jagged and tainted, his features covered up by his hood. Slowly, almost unnaturally so, Rorek lifted his head to look at the man, eyes black and skin ghastly. And he smiled darkly, revealing jagged and broken teeth stained with blackness.
"I am your death."
"Did you hear that?" Spyro asked, Ember's eyes showing with worry as a horrifying scream surrounded throughout the forest. Several flocks of birds took off flying, their frantic flaps almost like a panicked heartbeat.
"Y-Yeah." Ember replied, her voice shaking. "I hope Rorek is alright." Ember added softly.
"Who is Rorek?" Spyro asked, head low in shame, yet his eyes shone with curiosity.
"He is Silas' friend." Ember responded. "And my friend as well."
"I'm sorry you had to see what you saw. I never wanted to hurt anyone." Spyro spoke softly, wings to his side.
"I know. It's okay." Ember replied, Silas hanging limply on her back. She had to admit, the human's weight was starting to hurt her back.
"Do you want me to carry him?" Spyro asked again, looking at the dragoness. "You look hurt."
"I'm fine." Ember replied, smiling. "I'm healing, anyway. You can thank Silas for that. He saved me."
"Saved you?" Spyro asked, looking at the human quizzically. Ember nodded.
"Ember, can I ask you something?" Spyro asked softly after several seconds of silence. The smoke and heat from the forest fire was long gone.
"Yes?"
"How did you know...that I lost Cynder?" Spyro asked, Ember falling silent, eyes glued to the floor.
"I...I guessed. I mean, only something as bad as losing a loved one could make you lose control like that. I'm sorry about Cynder, Spyro." Ember spoke softly, looking at the purple dragon with sadness.
"And I'm sorry about Flame." Spyro spoke, his liac eyes looking upon the dragoness with sorrow.
"You...You heard me?" Ember asked, shocked.
"Yes. Even when it had control...I still heard you. I heard your voice, Ember. You made me come back." Spyro replied, smiling softly. "Thank you."
"Spyro?" Ember asked, the purple dragon turning to her.
"It's okay. You can let it out."
"Ember, what do you mean?" Spyro asked, stiffening as Ember nuzzled him, and wrapped her neck over his shoulder in a hug.
"It's okay. You don't have to be strong anymore. You don't..." Ember replied, eyes blue eyes watering as tears softly flowed down her face.
Spyro closed his eyes, returning the hug was he let the flood walls break, the tears running from his eyes like a torrent, and sobbed.
"I'm so sorry, Cynder...Ancestors, I'm so sorry!" Spyro sobbed, gasping and hiccuping as his legs began to lose their strength.
Ember stood silently, tears running down her face and onto the ground as she glanced back at Silas, the young knight still lifeless. Thinking about him being dead, more tears welled up in her eyes and began to fall. He was willing to die for her, like a true friend. Even when she had almost abandoned their friendship.
"Oh, Silas...I'm sorry. Please, don't die. Don't die..." Ember whispered softly, Spyro's sobs overpowering her soft voice.
"Flame, I'm sorry. I'm sorry..." Ember continued, thinking back. "I wasn't strong enough to save you. But now, now I'm scared it will happen all over again...forgive me, Flame."
Ember's eyes lay fixed upon Silas. She couldn't even tell if he was breathing, and that scared her to no end.
The pair stayed like that for several minutes, Spyro's sobs no several gasps and sniffs.
"Thank you, Ember...I mean it." Spyro spoke, pulling away as Ember smiled, her eyes crystalline blue eyes looking into Spyro's star graced lilac eyes.
"It's okay. I needed it too." Ember replied, looking once again back at Silas.
"Is he okay?" Spyro asked, approaching the knight to get a better look only to have Ember pull away.
"I...I don't know. I want to check on him." Ember replied, ignoring Spyro's hurt look.
"Do you still think I would hurt him?"
"I..." Ember hesitated, finding an area of grass to settle down in. "I don't know." Ember answered, Spyro's eyes shining in despair and grief.
"I thought you trusted me."
"I do, just...not with humans." Ember replied, trying to gently slide the man off her back. She flinched when Silas landed with a loud thud on the ground.
"Silas, Silas, wake up." Ember whispered softly, nuzzling the human, terror filling her eyes upon finding no response.
"S...Silas...?" Ember whispered, faltering in shock as the man still did not stir. Silas also had a trickle of blood going out the corner of his mouth.
"Silas. Silas, come on. Silas, wake up!" Ember whispered harshly, nuzzling the human even harder, frantic.
Ember's wide eyes looked over the knight, panicking.
"S...Spyro, I don't see him breathing! I-I do-don't see him b-breathing!" Ember cried in pure terror, hot tears streaming down her face as she looked at the male dragon in desperation.
"Move over, let me help." Spyro spoke, Ember trembling as Spyro got near.
"I won't hurt him. I promise."
Silently, Spyro lowered his head to the human's level, sniffing him. Ember visibly shook, the color fading from her scales.
"Ancestors, please, no. Please..."
Spyro closed his eyes, becoming completely silent as he listened for any signs of life, relying on his magic.
"Ember...I don't..." Spyro paused, listening more intently. Ember's legs gave way upon hearing even the slightest hint of a doubt, the dragoness sobbing loudly, wildly.
"Wait...I hear something..." Spyro announced, hearing the weak beating of a heart and the slow, shallow breathing.
"He's alive!"
"W...What? Oh, thank the Ancestors!" Ember cried, jumping up, only to have Spyro push her back.
"Ember..." Spyro shook his head, looking at the dragoness sadly.
"Wha...no, no, no, no!"
"He's dying, Ember. I'm sorry." Spyro spoke, crestfallen. Ember shook her head wildly.
"No! Oh, no! No! Sp-Spyro, he can't! He doesn't know! He doesn't know! He has to know!" Ember cried shrilly, looking at the purple dragon in desperation.
"Y...You can save him, can't you? You are a Hero! You are a purple dragon! You-You can master all the elements!" Ember begged, Spyro shaking his head.
"Ember, I'm sorry, but...I can't."
"Yes you can! I saw you Spyro! I saw you heal all kinds of injured dragons! You can!"
"N...Not on humans! I don't even know if it will work. You know what it does to me, Ember." Spyro admitted, Ember's eyes narrowing in rage.
"Try, Spyro. At least try!" Ember hissed, her face suddenly softening. "Please."
"I...I will." Spyro sighed, hesitant.
Spyro turned toward the human, still feeling his weak lifeforce as Spyro closed his eyes once more and put his claw over the man's chest, and focused.
Ember held her breath as she watched a white light gather at the base of Spyro's talons, the ball of energy growing and growing until it reached it's maximum size.
"Come on. Come on." Ember gasped, watching as Spyro then plunged the ball of life energy into Silas' chest, Silas suddenly gasping.
"Oh, Silas!" Ember cried, overjoyed as she ran toward the human, accidentally knocking Silas over as the man grunted.
"Oww...E...Ember? Where are those men? H...What happened to me? I saw a white light..." Silas asked, confused as Ember continued to nuzzle the human again and again, wrapping her neck around the human in the form of a hug.
"Oh, thank the Ancestors you are okay!" Ember cried, nuzzling the human's nape, Silas wrapping his arms around her neck to return the hug, though still horribly confused.
"What happened?" Silas asked, being pulled up onto his feet by Ember, her tail flicking wildly.
"You were dying, Silas!"
"What?!"
"And Spyro saved you!" Ember cried, obviously overjoyed. "That was the white light you saw!"
"...okay." Silas spoke, at a complete loss for words as Ember suddenly lunged at the human again and pulled him into a hug.
"Oh, I thought you were dead!" Ember cried, practically crushing Silas against her chest, the knight awkwardly struggling from her talons.
"Wait...Spyro...saved me?" Silas asked, Ember suddenly dropping Silas to the ground.
"Yes! Yes he did!"
"But...he tried to kill me! Kill you, if I remember correctly as well."
"Oh, that's because he was evil at the time! Spyro is good now!" Ember replied, giggling as she turned to Spyro, the purple dragon panting, and seeming exhausted.
"Thank you, Spyro. Thank you so much." Ember spoke softly, calming down as Silas stared at the dragon with alertness.
"You look exhausted. If this magic would have weakened you so, you need not have to save me. Nonetheless, I thank you." Silas spoke, Spyro nodding.
"No problem. Ember...she actually wanted me to do it." Spyro spoke, head low. "It...the energy is made up of some of my life force. It's powerful, but it can backfire on the user-like it is now. I wasn't sure if it would work on humans, but I tried."
"I thank you deeply." Silas, Ember smiling at him.
"Silas, that's your name, right?" Spyro asked, Silas nodding.
"Yes."
"I'm sorry for...for trying to kill you. That wasn't me. I never meant it." Spyro apologized, Silas studying the dragon, as if unsure.
"All is well...Spyro."
"Thank you, Ember, as well." Silas spoke, turning to the dragoness.
"I didn't want you to die, Silas." Ember replied, smiling. "Should we head back to Rorek? I heard a terrible scream coming from his direction, but it didn't sound like him. It...sounded...I don't know."
"Truly? This is disturbing. Shall we be off then?" Silas asked, turning to walk as Ember followed, eager to move. Spyro, however, stayed farther behind the pair.
Silas paused, realizing that this was the first time he had had no pain when he moved. Looking back at the purple male, Silas couldn't help but look at the beast in admiration.
After several minutes of traveling in complete silence, Ember couldn't take it.
"Are you alright, Spyro?" Ember called back, slowing her pace from Silas' to Spyro's.
"Yes, I am fine." Spyro answered.
It was horrible, really. Neither Silas or Spyro made an attempt to speak with each other. Ember guessed it was out of fear that Silas didn't speak to Spyro, and as for Spyro...well, she wasn't too sure.
"Why don't you talk to him?" Ember asked, Spyro shaking his head.
"I don't' really want to talk to him right now." Spyro answered, Ember sighing.
"You should. He's really fun when you get to know him." Ember reasoned, Spyro remaining silent for several seconds.
"I just don't understand how can be so attached to him."
"Because he is my friend." Ember replied, the tension thickening.
"But he is a human. Human's destroy everything they come close to." Spyro spoke.
"Silas will not destroy me. He is a good human."
"Humans killed Cynder, Ember. They killed Flame. They killed your parents. How can you say humans won't eventually destroy us?"
"Silas didn't slay any of them." Ember muttered darkly, Spyro sighing.
"Like it or not, Ember, it's his nature to destroy."
"Silas will never slay me. He cares for me." Ember countered, Spyro looking at her strangely.
"How so?"
"As a friend! Don't be in a rut, Spyro!" Ember hissed, rolling her eyes. "He will make someone a good mate though."
"You are weird. I think you got even worse from when we were kids." Spyro commented, chuckling.
"Why thank you!" Ember replied, beaming with pride.
The trio walked some three miles before they returned to the original patch of forest they had been ambushed, the fire having spread. The area they had rested in was now burned.
Looking around, Silas spotted a body, badly burned, and torn to shreds. Silas had to cover his mouth to keep himself from vomiting as Ember wretched from the horrid sight.
"What happened?" Spyro asked, shocked as Silas moved closer, noticing that the a mass of intestines lay around the corpse, its throat slashed.
"At least it is not Rorek." Silas muttered, recognizing the corpse as Mordred. "But...where did he go?"
"He must have left a long time ago." Ember commented, wobbling. "Can we leave?"
"I know a clearing where we can rest. It should be safe." Spyro spoke, Silas sighing as he looked at the corpse.
"I knew that man was evil."
Night fell until the small group eventually came to the clearing, Silas practically falling down in exhaustion along with Spyro.
"This will do." Silas muttered, sniffing as he looked up into the sky, seeing constellation of Draco the Dragon, and chuckled.
"What's so funny?" Ember asked, settling down next to the young knight.
"I just found it ironic that I see the constellation of Draco."
"Draco?"
"Yes. You see those group of stars? That is Draco the Dragon." Silas pointed to the stars, Ember squinting her eyes to see.
"Oh, I see! I see the dragon!" Ember cried in excitement, Spyro remaining quiet on the opposite end of the small clearing.
"Can you show me anymore?" Ember asked.
"If I can find them." Silas replied, laughing as he began to yawn. "Now, let's see...Big Dipper, Little Dipper, Scorpio..." Silas pointed to each one, Ember's eyes filling with joy upon seeing all the creatures in the sky.
"I've never seen them before! This is amazing!"
"Yes, yes it is. My father and I used to look at the stars. Sometimes, we would see a falling star, and I would make a wish."
"Did it ever come true?"
"Yes...yes it did." Silas answered after a paused, settling down as he began to doze.
"Silas?"
"Hmmmm?"
"I forgive you." Ember spoke softly, nuzzling him as the man smiled.
"Thank you. That means a lot to me. I am glad to be your friend." Silas replied, Spyro snorting from the other side as he turned his head away from the pair.
A lot of people wanted Silas to live and I was rather shocked. Is it just me or is Silas and Ember becoming more romantic? I kind of feel like Ember is ignoring poor Spyro. I got the vibe that Spyro was jealous or something. Anyone else? And I apologize for the awkwardness of Silas being revived. I'm not good at deciding romantical pairings so if anyone has an opinion please leave a review. A friend of mine is pushing for Silas and Ember...so at the moment it's either Spyro and Ember, Silas and Ember or NOTHING! I'll put a poll up sometime during the day I think. Well thank everyone that has being reading this story and I hope you are enjoying so far!