The Realms of Chaos
Chapter 2: A Quest Is Born
Rating: Subject to change...
Notes: I'm not trying to write an epic, but if anyone has any suggestions I'm willing to listen. However, if I receive any empty flames, I will either:
A) Delete the flame
Or B) Hunt you down and demand a reason!
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Snowflake didn't expect Elora to take Ripto's appearance lightly, but not like this...
"SNOWFLAKE PASSIFLORA LATEROSE!!! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU JUST DID?" Snowflake shrank back from Elora's sudden outburst. Several windows shattered under Elora's voice, fine pottery exploded into pieces, and Snowflake could hear her ears ringing. 'I can't believe it! She's treating me like a two-year old!' Snowflake thought. She approached the faun cautiously, her hearing temporarily disabled.
"Elora, I had to help him." Snowflake started politely. "After all, wasn't I supposed to look out for anybody in need of our help?" The dragon forced the last bit of her conversation out through her clenched teeth. They were in the lobby of the infamous Avalar Healers Association, where Elora liked to spend in her free time. The entire building was hidden underground, which explained why all of the windows were skylights. Also, it possessed some of Avalar's most potent magic and creations. The Alchemist was the head honcho here, creating magic talismans and potions that marveled all of Avalar.
"In his case, he didn't need our help. You should've let him die in the snow." Elora hissed. Snowflake cringed; she knew by that tone that her job here was hanging by a thread. Three people already fired her, and she didn't need another failure on her resume.
"But, if you can only listen to me you will see why I brought him here!" Snowflake shouted to the miffed faun. Elora said nothing and turned towards her office, a stately room near the Alchemist's lab. It was also where Snowflake's personal record was being kept. She raced after Elora; Ripto still slung across her back, and followed her into her office. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Elora pull out Snowflake's record and get her official red marker. 'Damnit, and I was starting to like this job.' Snowflake thought.
"I'm sorry Snowflake, but I can't employ traitors. You'll have to work somewhere else..." This time it was Snowflake's turn to scream; only hers was in terror, not in rage. She grabbed Elora's writing hand with a quick claw.
"Stop jumping to conclusions, you stubborn faun! He's here for a reason, you know! If you don't take the time to listen to me, then I was wrong about working here in this place!" Elora sighed as the dragon glared at her with defiant eyes. She set the pen down reluctantly, but the faun was still seething at Snowflake. "Look. The reason Ripto is here because someone attacked him with more powerful magic!"
Elora's mad face changed into one of surprise. "I'm listening, Passiflora." Elora groaned. Snowflake sat Ripto in a chair as she explained the sight of Changeling, the rescue of Ripto, and the column of fire that shot from the ground. She made sure not to skip any details, because each detail made her job's survival more likely. When she was finished, Elora's face was full of pure terror. She moaned and buried her face into her arms in despair.
"Great. There's another wizard in Avalar, and I have to deal with Ripto again..." Elora muttered. After about a few solid minutes of wallowing in pure despair, she lifted her head out of her arms and brushed her beautifully trimmed hair back into place.
"I will send for Spyro, but first we have to take your friend to the healing ward. Don't worry; my apprentices will heal him properly. With a little persuasion of course..." She left the office in a flash of brown fur. In just a minute later, she came back with some help. Two teenage male fauns whisked Ripto away (but not without several different sounds of awe to add to the atmosphere.) and left Snowflake to her own devices.
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When she was left alone, Snowflake walked towards the showers to think. As the warm water beat down on her scaly body, she scrubbed the filth away with a soup bar and a sponge.
Once again, she imagined her friends glaring down on her with utter disappointment. Crystal, a tall blonde-haired human, would shake her head in shame and wordlessly curse Snowflake. Minerva, a bluish phoenix bird, would giggle softly to keep her composure. Last, but definitely not least, a defiant purple phoenix bird sillily named Doomfeather would shout several choice words at the dragon, using his unruly attitude to his advantage.
"I'll show those friends..." Snowflake muttered as she rubbed the base of her wings with a conditioner to massage her tired muscles. "I'll show them that I can amount to something..." Her ramblings were increasing in volume until she bellowed at the top of her lungs.
"I'LL SHOW THEM ALL!" The showers echoed her words out into the hallway, making quite a few people nearby back away nervously.
After the shower, Snowflake stumbled like a zombie to the healing ward, the only place in the building where any beds were. The shower reminded her that it was well past a reasonable bedtime. A clock chimed in the hallway with its hands showing that it was 3:00 am. She dragged herself into the healing ward, ignoring the large crowd near Ripto's bed. As soon as she reached the closest bed, she collapsed into a deep sleep without even pulling the covers over her.
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"Snowflake Passiflora Laterose, can you hear me?"
Snowflake stirred and pulled some covers over her. "But Crystal, I don't want to see Minerva's stupid magic tricks..."she murmured subconsciously. The covers were yanked from her grasp, causing the dragon to tumble onto her back. Her eyes snapped open.
"I'm awake!" Snowflake shouted. Her eyes focused, and she saw three famous faces look at her. The first one belonged to Elora her boss, the second one belonged to the most brilliant inventor called the Professor, and the last belonged to the greatest dragon hero called Spyro. Snowflake rubbed the eye gunk away from her eyes and sat up.
"Okay, where's the fire?" Snowflake replied sarcastically. Spyro gave her a strange look, but didn't say anything. The mole-like Professor answered her.
"You see, Snowflake. We've been looking into this Changeling creature you told us about. It seems that she's a powerful witch that wants to obtain the Gigas Crystals." Snowflake wore a look that said 'I-told-you-so'. The Professor didn't catch it. "She already has two of them, and that's enough to create giant fire columns like you described, along with the power to control weather. We have a serious problem on our hands." Snowflake slipped out of her bed.
"Let me guess. You want me to collect the rest of these gems before Changeling does. Sounds reasonable, but where do I start?" Snowflake stated. She only wanted to stay at Avalar for a few weeks to make enough money to pay off her loans, not go on some gem-collecting adventure!
Spyro smiled a toothy draconic grin to the white dragon. "You also got a head start. While Elora was tending to Shorty over there, the Professor came up with a powerful tool to track these gems down." Spyro tossed her a machine that looked like the cross between a computer and a magnifying glass. Snowflake examined it carefully.
"That, my friends, is a Gigas Crystal Tracking Device or GCT, as I like to call it. It fits in the palm of your hand and locates the power sources of the gems. It will also describe the lands that the Gigas Crystals are located in for ease of recovery, not to mention that it provides accurate maps. All you have to do is look through it when the alarms sound off, and you'll find the gem. The plan is to locate all six of the Gigas Crystals, then bring them to their rightful place, which is in the Diamond Palace." The Professor explained. Snowflake's jaw dropped.
"Wait a minute. First, I have to find these four gems scattered across Avalar, then I have to somehow take Changeling's gems, and finally I have to find the Diamond Palace, which hasn't been seen in centuries! How can I do this all by myself?" Snowflake shouted, her voice cracking in disbelief. The mole scientist chuckled.
"That's because you won't be alone. You'll have Spyro," Spyro the dragon puffed out his chest heroically, "and Ripto." Spyro's chest deflated and he gave the Professor a you-can't-be-serious look.
"What? Does he have to come?" Spyro shouted. The Professor nodded. "Sadly, we all think that the wizard would be safer in the hands of both his enemy, and his savior. Believe me, Ripto isn't going to go on a killing spree if he has the person whom saved his life near him. In fact, he'll decide against it. Also, he has something that might prove useful..." With that, he switched on the GCT on. It went ballistic! Beeps and whirls screamed across the hallways. Without another word (they couldn't tell, because his voice would've been drowned out anyways.) the Professor led them to Ripto's bed.
Snowflake looked through the GCT like a magnifying glass and saw that everything but Ripto's scepter showed up dark green through the machine. The red jewel on Ripto's scepter glowed bright white on the screen. Snowflake slowly lowered the GCT. "You can't be serious. Ripto has a Gigas Crystal?"
"I didn't believe Book Boy either," Ripto stated. He had a change of clothes, not to mention he looked a lot better. He was sitting on his bed, a disgruntled look on his face. The scepter lay in his lap, where he could use it if it was needed. "I'm afraid it is so, Ripto. Your scepter has the Red Gigas Jewel. Where did you find it?" The Professor asked. Ripto shrugged.
"Well, after that dragon got the better of me during the Dragonfly ceremony, I left to find a new jewel for my scepter. While I was traveling along the molten rivers near where I last battled that fire-breathing lizard, I heard a large crackling sound and out came this Gigas Jewel. I picked it up, used it as my scepter, and planned for the next meeting of that dragon." Ripto explained. "In fact, that's what was on my mind while I was in Winter Tundra. Suddenly, the cat creature shows up, demands for a Gigas Crystal, but I say that I've never heard of them. When she heard that, she nearly roasts me to death, then she shows up!" Ripto pointed towards Snowflake.
The next thing that Ripto did was unexpected. He got off of his seat on the bed and headed towards Snowflake. He bent on one knee and kissed her hand, and caused everybody in the group to become completely star-struck. That is, except for Spyro. He was trying as hard as he could to contain his laughter at the sight.
"I may be an evil warlock that wants to take over this world, but I have at least some morals. For saving my life, I promise that I will never intentionally do any harm to you unless the debt is repaid." Snowflake glared down at him. "Is this a trick?"
Ripto shook his head. "Believe me, I can't take over a world if I'm dead. One of the most valuable things I've learned is that life is something that you should hold higher then riches or land."
Deep down, Snowflake knew that he was just making this up. The wizard couldn't just turn from an evil dictator into a loving friend just because Snowflake saved his life. He was trying to lead her into a false sense of security so he could take advantage of her later. She smiled at him warmly.
For now, she decided to play along.
"Okay, but remember that you must come on this silly collection quest with me." She pulled her hand away from him and pointed to his scepter. "Lucky for you, Changeling didn't know that your scepter holds a Gigas Crystal. Make sure it stays that way! No public announcements, no bragging, no 'I-will-be-ruler-of-Avalar' speeches. Understand?"
Ripto nodded. "I will only try to take over Avalar after Changeling is beat within one inch of her life!" Everyone else looked skeptical, but Elora was the first to speak out her mind. "Well, I guess beggars can't be choosers. Spyro," Spyro looked up to her. Elora whispered her word of caution into one of his ears. "Make sure Ripto doesn't go anywhere without at least one of you keeping an eye on him. Don't let him leave your sight!" Spyro nodded in agreement and gave her a wink.
"Good! Then everything's settled! According to the GCT, the nearest Gigas Crystal is in the ancient Rainforests of Mist, also known as the Forbidden Jungle for many explorers have lost their way inside. The Crystal is in the heart of the forest, where crumbling ruins lie. Keep your spirits up and find that Crystal!" The Professor informed. The three adventurers' faces wore different expressions. Spyro had a look of pure bliss at the sound of a new adventure. Ripto wore a mask of blank expression, meaning that he could be thinking about anything. Snowflake's face said 'How was I talked into this?'
"Meet me at Idol Springs. I'll escort you on your way..." With the Professor's words; Elora and the Professor rushed out of the building into the morning air of Fracture Hills, the three new adventurers following them. Without another second wasted, the group of five raced towards Idol Springs to start the new quest.
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"So, the Green Gigas Crystal is in the Forbidden Jungle?" Changeling asked questionably. Wart the dragon looked up momentarily from the large reference book that was bigger then he was before he returned to his task. They too had a good idea where the Gigas Crystal was. "Yes. It is located in the Mist Ruins, where we are sure to find the Gigas Crystal, making us powerful enough to warp between the planes separating the realms of the universe!"
Changeling sighed at her assistant's excitement as she scanned the horizon. 'Like a eight year old in a candy store,' she thought to herself. She was standing on a ledge overlooking the great Rainforests of Mist. It didn't take her long to get her there, seeing as her mansion sat near the outskirts that bordered the forests. Behind her, about a hundred dragons and lizardmen sat behind her, waiting for her next move. It was large enough to keep her from getting killed, yet small enough to not attract any unwanted attention. She brushed the hair away from her eyes as she listened to her self-appointed lackey.
"Doesn't a monster called Grunge guard the Crystal?" Changeling questioned. Wart nodded reluctantly, as if he expected to be mangled by his master for revealing a challenge blocking her way to world conquest. "Yes, my Mistress. It says that Grunge is a monster created by the negative energy of the Green Gigas Crystal to protect it from intruders. No one has ever made it past that monster yet."
Changeling wore a look of surprise on her face. "Wait a minute. How come the Silver and the Yellow Gigas Crystals didn't have monsters to guard them?" Changeling asked. She was absently tumbling the two jewels around in her right hand, feeling their cosmic power flow through her fingertips. Wart shrugged, but she couldn't really tell since his shoulders weren't exactly level with each other.
"Maybe since the Green Gigas Crystal was left sitting for so long that it was able to turn its negative energy into a monster. You never can tell with magic..." Wart answered. Changeling moaned. Just typical. There was information missing to her main source of power. What if the crystals had a side effect that her mutated dragon didn't catch before it was too late? The idea of her mutating into a horrible monster left a bad taste in the sorceress's mouth.
"Well, at least we have that short lizard out of commission; or else he'd mess everything up!" Changeling quickly changed the subject. She scanned the forests once again, looking for the telltale signs of any ancient ruins.
Wart rubbed his bumpy head; his claws permanently dyed neon green from the result of Changeling's many fun games that she liked to play with his genes. "Do you mean Spiral the dragon, or Rippy?" He asked in confusion.
Changeling smiled mischievously. "Those were nice variations of their names, and I meant the short yappy one with the purple robe. If he decided to join our 'merry' quest, he'd just bring his brainless monsters along and mess everything up. Not to mention that Grunge would only get heartburn after munching on his carcass. Then again, it would've been amusing to-"
"Squawk!" A giant bird interrupted Changeling's thoughts. It was an exotic red macaw with a hooped diamond earring around one of its claws. It landed on Changeling's outstretched arm, where the sorceress could stroke the bird lovingly. "Changeling, we're not alone on this quest! Rawk!" The macaw crowed. Changeling stroked its head feathers once again before answering. After all, she didn't care about a few more pests to deal with...
"Who's following us? That purple pipsqueak?" Changeling asked lightly. Spyro wouldn't give her any trouble, not with the two Gigas Crystals at her command. The macaw answered monotonously. "Yes, along with two other companions. One is a pure white dragon with an attitude, and another is a red lizard with bright clothing!"
"What? How did that big-mouthed lizard survive?" Changeling grumbled. The parrot, feeling uneasy with his master's developing mood, flew away to a safer place. She seethed for a few moments before regaining her composure. "Ah well. He's just another vermin to get rid of. I'm sure that if Grunge doesn't get him, his companions will!" She turned to Wart. "Wart! It's time to go to the Mist Ruins. Tell our men that its time to start marching." Then, she quickly added.
"Also, tell them that if they see any purple or pure white dragons on the mission, they can break any bone in their bodies. I've heard that dragon skins make nice armor if you skin them right!" Her thin lips parted into a grin as she glanced in the direction of the large group of scaly monsters. Wart felt his soul turn to mush underneath her gaze.
"However, if they find Ripto, hand him to me. I want to feel his last heartbeat against my claws. I want to see him die with my own eyes this time around!" Wart shivered, but he followed Changeling's orders. What did Ripto do to cause Changeling to hate every last atom in his body? After all, she could just make Ripto a brainless servant to her forces, like she did with several rebellious youngsters.
He shook the thoughts away and ran off to alert the lizard command, leaving Changeling to her own devices. In fact, Wart was so absorbed with his work; he didn't notice the large column of fire rise just behind him...
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The Rainforests of Mist were more beautiful then Snowflake suspected. Beautiful flowers coated with dew sprouted everywhere and filled the place with color. Trees made the canopy turn bright green with the filtered sunlight that rained through the leaves. Everything in the forest was beautiful. That is, everything except for the mood that the three travelers were in.
"Why am I stuck with you of all people?" Spyro hissed.
"Well, at least I'm not friends with a brainless cheetah and a flighty goat!" Ripto hissed back.
"Wha? She's not a goat! She's a faun, you-"
"Shuddap! Both of you!"
Snowflake butted in between them, stopping a fight before it started. The two reptiles both glared at each other's direction before starting the march again. The female dragon sighed in defeat. 'I should've stayed at Willowbranch.' she thought as she whacked away another stray branch with her right hand.
The sun was still high in the sky, but neither of her companions' moods had changed ever since they left the going-away party at Idol Springs. Sure, they acted like good buds in the company of the carpenters, but once they entered the forests, their true colors emerged. The carpenters were kind enough to hand them three backpacks full of provisions, but Snowflake carried all three of them. To make sure that Spyro or Ripto didn't torch any provisions during their flame-happy fights, she carried them across her back.
"You know, compared to you two, being trapped between several debts and three sneering friends was heaven! What if Changeling's also in these rainforests?" Snowflake complained. That shut them up. Immediately, they stopped seething at one another. Spyro observed the forest area around him.
"As a matter of fact, it is kind of quiet..." Spyro murmured. Snowflake nodded subconsciously, her heartbeat thudding against her chest. She did notice that the birds weren't singing as usual, but she thought that Spyro and Ripto were the cause of it. Spyro's eyes darted from one suspicious-looking bush to the next. "I don't like this..."
"Ignore it! Just keep moving! Maybe if we ignore it, it'll go away!" Snowflake shouted, her voice masking her uneasiness. However, it didn't help conceal her fear. Still, she relentlessly marched on through the forest in the direction towards the Ruins. Spyro and Ripto, knowing that she was holding the GCT, followed her and kept their eyes to the flora in the surrounding area.
It's just a forest animal...It's just a forest animal!
Little did she know, her suspicions were going to be proven wrong...
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Remember to review! I'm taking off valuable time off my summer to be typing this! :)
As for the next chapter, someone else's fan character is appearing in the story. Also, please be courteous. No flames unless you want to meet the business end of Ripto's scepter! :)