The Realms of Chaos
Chapter 5: Suspicious Lodging
Rating: For now, it's PG. It may change if there is anymore cussing and/or violence.
Notes: Holy cow! O_O What was once a silly idea has become probably the most popular story on Fanfiction.net! I'm getting so much happy reviews that it gives me new intentions to write this story. (I was going to cut this story short due to lack of interest, but now thanks to all my reviewers, this story will continue running until its end.)
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The Green Gigas Crystal still shined like a beacon of the purest light even as the day turned into night. Snowflake trudged relentlessly in front of both Spyro and Ripto, her feet now quick with the anticipation of getting out of the rainforest. Spyro also kept the same pace, his strides effortless as he tore through the underbrush. Ripto still walked with an atmosphere of moodiness, but he was still keeping up a fast and steady pace so as not to fall behind. The trees forced apart by the Green Gigas' magic creaked back to their original spots when all three travelers past them, creating the aerial image of a natural zipper being closed.
"So, how long will it be before we hit the beach?" Spyro asked urgently as they jogged through the trees. Snowflake didn't need to turn around to answer his question. "At this pace, we can reach the shore early in the morning if we set up camp when it gets dark."
"Why do we have to set up camp? We have two Gigas Crystals to scare away any forest animals!" Ripto complained. Snowflake sighed. "If we continue walking through the night, we're probably going to end up passing out when we hit the beach! Even evil dictators need their sleep, Ripto!" There was a murmur of agreement from Spyro, and the case was final. When they ran out of energy, Snowflake stopped them and set up camp in the shelter of the bent Gigas-controlled trees.
Camp was the same as always. Spyro lit a fire with his flame breath for them to warm up against, and Snowflake gathered some food from a nearby stream. Her male companions sat in silence, their eyes glazed with many different thoughts circling through their heads. Spyro sighed dreamily as he thought of Elora, his longing to be in her warm embrace once more evident on his face. Even Ripto was at peace, sitting in a spot away from the two dragons as he fiddled with a silver lace-like thing. Snowflake sighed; she didn't bother to look into her friends' actions. She ate her fish as she examined her clothes, for her once-cute skirt was now a tattered mess of blue cloth from the misadventures in the blasted jungle.
Even though she wasn't built like many mammalian girls, she still felt more comfortable if part of her body was covered, mainly because her friend Minerva knitted it for her right before she traveled to Avalar and got stuck in this Gigas Crystal scenario. Her shark-tooth necklace was still hanging across her neck, but she was afraid that she might lose it during this adventure and she had the trinket ever since she was a kid. Her thoughts swallowed her, and soon her fish dish was forgotten. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice Ripto until he was almost shouting at her.
"What?" Snowflake asked, snapping out of her trance. Ripto shook his head sadly at her lack of attention. He then repeated himself. "I was watching you carry that Green Gigas Crystal in your palms all day, and I realized that if you can't carry it around properly, you might lose it. So, I made you something that will make carrying that stupid accursed jewel much easier. I designed it so it's a lot like my scepter, so I hope its effective..."
The short dinosaur handed her a rather beautifully crafted necklace that was made out of a fine silvery metal. Snowflake saw that the necklace was what he was messing around with while he was eating a rather dull meal of rainforest fish. In the middle of a necklace there was a large clasp designed to lock the Green Gigas Crystal into place. Snowflake placed it around her neck and then clicked the Crystal into it. It held the glittering crystal in nicely. To test it out, she shook it violently, and she gave a whistle of awe when she saw that the necklace did its job.
"Whoa, that makes my job a lot easier after carrying around that jewel." She smiled warmly. "Thanks, Ripto! You're such a good friend!" To Ripto's surprise, Snowflake wrapped her arms around him and gave him a hug as a sign of her appreciation. Ripto, despite being short, was only a head shorter then Snowflake so his position wasn't at all awkward. The friendly embrace lasted only a few seconds, but Ripto was sure that Spyro was going to make a rather witty remark about it later. As soon as he left Snowflake's arms, he ran briskly back to his spot, thankful that he was born with red scales to mask any reddening cheeks.
Sure enough, Spyro was chuckling rather darkly at his nemesis. Ripto glared at him and brandished his scepter threatening in his direction. "Do you want to start something, dragon?" Ripto hissed. Spyro shook his head as he leaned back against a large tree stump. Usually, Spyro was more then ready to exchange insults with Ripto, but it was late and Spyro wanted to get a decent amount of sleep. "It's nothing to get upset about, Ripto. It's just that it reminds me of when I first started a relationship with Elora, and how she would give me friendly hugs..."
Ripto raised an eyebrow. "Relationship? You mean that Snowflake and me could be an item?" Spyro shrugged his purple shoulders indifferently. "It's a possibility. After all, wasn't Snowflake the one that has stuck by your side ever since she pulled you out of Winter Tundra? She defended you through thick and thin, even if it put her reputation at stake. If it weren't for her, Elora would've tossed your injured body back into the abyss Snowflake found you and let you die, happy to be rid of her worst enemy. Let's face it, Snowflake cares for you and I'm starting to think that you care for her back!"
Ripto grumbled as he settled himself into a comfortable position near the campfire, ready to go to sleep. "Bah! You speak nonsense dragon, as usual! Snowflake's a dragon, a species that I've hated for all my life, and there's no way I would ever fall head over heels for her. In fact, as soon as this quest is over, I'll forget all about the dragon maiden!" He retorted. He expected Spyro to make a witty comment back, but instead the purple dragon merely shrugged his shoulders and turned over on his side. He folded his leathery wings around him. This was something that dragons do by instinct when they go to sleep, like a dog walking around in circles before it settles into bed.
"Whatever you say, Shorty. Good night..." Spyro muttered. And soon Ripto heard the deep even breaths of slumber emit from the sleeping dragon. Ripto turned his head to check what Snowflake was doing, and wasn't surprised to see Snowflake in a deep slumber; her bat-like wings curled around her like a cocoon. He could still see the necklace he made for her wrapped around her scaly neck. Ripto mumbled to himself as he settled himself near the campfire.
"Bah, what does Spyro know? I would never show compassion to a dragon beast! I wouldn't even think about such a thing!" He wrapped his robe around himself like a blanket. As he fell into a deep sleep, however, their was still a little nagging voice lingering in his head telling him that he was only lying to himself...
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Changeling smiled at her cronies' wonderful work. The pieces were falling gently into place, and the Gigas Crystals would soon be all hers to own.
Moneybags struggled under his bounds as several bulky lizardmen tied him against a large wooden pole. His arms were pinned behind his back as the sacrifice was prepared. The large bear gave a terrified moan as he realized that there was no escaping his fate. Several onlookers, including the blue wolf Nazza, wore masks of grim satisfaction.
The beach was a grim sight indeed. A large camp was set up many miles away from Snowflake's tree route. Several rows of makeshift tents lay sprawled across the ground, looking a lot like scattered leaves from an aerial perspective. In the middle of these scattered tents were a few wooden caravans, each of them filled with prisoners that Changeling has taken during her journey for the Gigas Crystals. Most of the army had gathered near the shore, eager for the appearance of Changeling's sea dragon. Moneybags, on the other hand, scanned the shoreline in a frightened manner of the appearance of his would-be murderer.
"Don't worry, Moneybags. The sea monster didn't forget. Creatures of the sea have a veeery long memory." Wart said mercilessly to Moneybags. Wart, along with several other mindless cronies, was standing guard around Moneybags just in case he struggled free from his bounds. Wart wasn't normally this bloodthirsty, but he carried a lifelong grudge against Moneybags, seeing as Moneybags would always tax his family into a deeper poverty. Wart bit his lip to keep from crying out as he remembered all of the savings lost by Moneybags and his family. A sharp pain tore into Wart's right arm, the price he had to pay for failing Changeling, and quickly he shredded his virulent ideas to writhe in pain.
Even in the dark of night, they saw the monster rise from the sea. It was a graceful movement of solid muscle. First a finned ridge rose from the waters, then some silver scales, and finally the whole body of the sea dragon emerged from the waves. Everyone gasped in amazement; the sea dragon was of an immense size. It was a large dinosaur-like creature with a finned ridge running down its body from its forehead to the back of its tail. Bane had a long neck, suitable for sea monsters, which carried an intelligent serpentine head. Silver fish-like scales ran down its body, giving the monster the illusion that it was wearing a full suit of armor. Sharp teeth protruded from the monster's bottom and top lip, giving it a dangerous air to it. The sea dragon walked onto the beach and stopped just a few inches away from Moneybags. He grinned a toothy grin to the camp that was set up before him.
"Bane, you've finally arrived!" Changeling exclaimed as the demon emerged completely from the waves. She bowed until her pointed ears touched the ground, a sign of respect when addressing sea monsters. Bane did the same, a gesture that meant he saw her as a respectful individual. Several creatures awed at the sheer beauty of the sea dragon. Moneybags whimpered in sadness as he thought of the sea dragon tearing him apart with large claws.
"Thank you, Changeling. I see that you took the time to prepare a sacrifice in my name. Now, without spending more of your time, I shall take my offering!" Bane inched closer to Moneybags until his jaw was right above him. His mouth opened wide, a grinning chasm of rows of sharp teeth. Moneybags winced and prepared himself for the end.
Crunch!
Bane swallowed a nearby lizardman in one sweep of his giant jaw. Little droplets of blood fell from the creature's mouth. Moneybags sighed in relief, just happy to be alive. Wart, who was just inches from the spot the devoured lizardman was standing, fainted from the shock. Before Changeling could ask the question on her mind, Bane answered.
"Although you did went through the trouble of preparing my offering, I would rather munch on a healthier animal. This creature looks like he's consisted of mostly fat! Yuck." Bane explained. Moneybags looked a little insulted as several horde members burst out laughing at the sea dragon's comment, but his heart was gladdened with the mere fact that he was being kept alive. Changeling looked to Moneybags; her venomous purple eyes alight with anger, and motioned to a nearby lizardman.
"Put him with the rest of the captives. I have no use for him until we get to my fortress." She ordered a nearby lizardman. The burly scaled creature muttered something impossible to catch before it untied Moneybags from his stake and dragged him towards the large wooden caravans that carried Changeling's captives. Bane was polite; he waited until the sound died down amongst the lizard-like horde before he resumed his talk with Changeling.
"Although I usually don't meddle with the leaders of large armies, you were kind enough to offer me both a reward and a little snack. Tell me what you wish from me." Bane said. He now assumed a position like a resting cat, with his serpentine head resting on dangerous webbed claws. Nazza gave out a low whistle to himself as he considered how effective the sea-dragon's urbane manner was effecting everyone. Wart, who was revived just a short while ago by someone swiftly kicking him in the stomach, watched the honorable sea creature in awe.
Changeling was not effected by Bane's urbane talk. "Cut the small talk, Bane. I've heard that you would give anyone any information about the seas of Avalar if you paid them a small fee. Well, I've paid my fee. I expect answers..." She started sub-consciously fingering the small purple purse tied around her belt that contained the two Gigas crystals she collected. "I want to possess the Blue Gigas Crystal. Tell me how to reach it, and I can make you the richest sea creature in Avalar!"
Bane thought about this offer for a moment. He lifted his head in a thinking manner, his left claw drumming the sand as he pondered about it. Silence fell as everyone waited for the sea monster's answer. Finally he gave his decision. "The Blue Gigas Crystal is none of your business. I will not tell you anything about it!"
Changeling was shaken by this answer. "What? I've summoned you with the prospect of rewards, and you're not giving me the answers I want? I thought you said that you would offer your wisdom to anyone who sought after it, you lying lizard?" Bane smiled rather wolfishly at the cat-like sorceress yelling at him.
"That's what I said, but all you want is power for yourself and no one else. I will tell you this much though, since you did ask for my knowledge on the subject." Bane stopped to clear his throat and continued on. "A powerful Guardian created by its powerful magic protects the Blue Gigas Crystal, like its other accursed cousins. The Blue Guardian is a tentacled menace called Kraken, and only someone with the courage of a true hero can pluck the Blue Gigas Crystal from Kraken's clutches." Changeling frowned. She paced back and forth in front of Bane, her mind trying to piece together her current options.
"So, you're saying that if I was brave, I can get the Crystal?" Changeling asked, eager to get more information. Bane shook his massive head, his green eyes surveying the purple-furred sorceress. "No, I said that only someone with the courage of a true hero could get the Gigas Crystal. You are filled with greed and malice, something that would never measure up to the Kraken. Judging by your rashness, you'd be ripped apart before you could get within four yards of the powerful Gigas Crystal. And with that,"
Bane rose to his full height. "I'm off!" And with those final words, Bane wisely dashed back into the ocean's protective cover right before Changeling could utter a command to stop him. If Bane had waited a moment longer, Changeling would've cut him down with the power of her stolen Gigas Crystals. Many of the horde members gazed into the sea with awe, and Changeling yelled curses at Bane's back that involved very colorful four-letter words.
"Look on the bright side, Mistress." Wart tentatively said to Changeling, hoping to make her feel better. "At least we know what it will take to get the Blue Gigas Crystal." Changeling shot a venomous glare at the dragon lackey and knocked him down to the sand with a single blow of her fist. Since she was in a bad mood, she had to find something to beat up to get rid of her fury. Wart seemed the likely subject for said beating. Grinning evilly, Changeling stepped on Wart's stomach and pressed all her weight on the snively dragon.
"I don't need your sympathy, you worthless little toad with wings! If I need sympathy from you, I'll ask for it. Understand?" Wart nodded, sweat beading on his forehead. Changeling got her foot off of his stomach, and signaled him to stand up.
"Good. Stand there!" Changeling ordered, and Wart immediately knew what was going to happen. Horde members familiar with this practice formed a tight torch-lit circle around both sorceress and lackey, for their lust for spilled blood still wasn't satisfied from Bane's offering. Changeling waited until the lizard-like cronies ceased any extra noise, and then ordered Nazza to hand over her special club. Wart bit his lip and braced himself for his punishment.
Changeling, although she was a spell caster and a bookworm, was also very strong in physical aspects. Sometimes, when injecting powerful toxins and mutagens into her lackey didn't satisfy her cruel nature, she would beat Wart up with a limber wooden club until he literally screamed for mercy. This punishment was great entertainment for the horde members, and sometimes they would swing their fists at Wart after the punishment was over, causing even more bruises to be inflicted upon him. This was the price to pay for his memory and his restored self, both promised by Changeling if he helped her during the Gigas Crystals quest.
Changeling swing her club at Wart's exposed right side, sending the hapless lackey sprawled against the sand. Torches scattered an eerie light across the scene as Changeling jumped for Wart like a madman and struck out at him with her wooden club. Each resounding thwack caused the witnesses to wince, including the more faint at heart. Nazza the blue wolf, who wasn't yet put away in the slave caravans, could only shake his head in shame as he watched his former partner get the snot beat out of him. The cruel punishment lasted until no more screams emitted from Wart. Changeling stopped, her anger now spent on her mistreated lackey. She bent down close to the dragon and inspected him. Wart was unconscious and his breathing was stagger. Blood flowed freely from his mouth and from his open bruises that she had inflicted on him.
Satisfied, Changeling walked back to her lavish tent, leaving the poor dragon to sleep where he laid in the sand. She needed some time to think.
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It was now morning in the Rainforest of Mist, and the mismatched group of heroes has once again walked amid the bent trees towards the sea. Snowflake was humming some random tune to herself while Spyro and Ripto argued about something that Snowflake didn't bother to care. It didn't take a rocket scientist to know that every single one of them was sick and tired of the rainforest after being stuck in it for so long. Snowflake was humming her favorite songs to keep herself from dying of boredom, while Spyro and Ripto were arguing about whether Elora was a goat or a faun. This was why all of them burst into a dead run when Snowflake shouted, "Look! I see the coast!"
As soon as they burst out of the rainforest, the three reptilians kept their fast running pace as they ran through the tall grass of the rainforest's outskirts. After running for a good thirty minutes, they landed in an exhausted heap in the soft sands of the peaceful coast, their moods sunny despite the fact that the sky was covered in clouds. Snowflake grinned when she saw the magnificent waves crash on the beach; perfect for surfing. She suddenly felt angry that she didn't bring a surfboard for such wonderful surfing waves, forgetting the fact that carrying a surfboard around in the rainforest would've drove her nuts. The water seemed so tempting for the tired dragon and suddenly a childish idea formed in her head.
"Last one in the water is a Gnorc!" Snowflake yelled immaturely as she dashed across the sand. Spyro took the challenge and forgot about the task at hand for the moment. "Not if I get there first!" Spyro called out. He playfully chased after Snowflake and the two friends giggled like schoolchildren until they hit the water. Ripto watched from his spot in the sand as Spyro and Snowflake splashed in the salt water; the drama that the Gigas Crystals handed to them seemed nothing more then a memory now. Snowflake called out to Ripto as she bobbed in the sea's caressing tide.
"Come on, Ripto! The water's great!" Snowflake shouted to him over the crashing of the waves. Spyro glared at her and said something venomously that was thankfully lost among the crashing of the waves. The dragons waited for his response, and when he didn't give him an answer, they went back to frolicking in the cold salt water.
Ripto just sat back and watched as the two dragons played in the salt water, something that he had been doing ever since he was a child. He was never a popular person even in childhood, so often he just sat off in the distance and watched as other kids played their games. They never included him in any of their merriment because he just so antisocial. Besides, the kids never liked him anyway. Ripto remembered their cruel jokes about him, which had persisted throughout his life. People just couldn't let him forget the fact that he was a little on the shrimpy side. Thanks to all of these gibes throughout his life, Ripto became a bitter creature that wanted nothing more then world domination.
As he thought to himself, he noticed a structure in the distance. Startled, Ripto quickly called for his friend's attention. Both dragons ran out of the water as fast as possible. Their jaws dropped when they saw what was lying on the coast not far from their current position.
"Whoa, how come we never noticed that before?" Spyro choked out as they stared at the lavish mansion in the distance. Not far from where they were standing, the mansion sat on a cliff that hung slightly over the crashing waves. It didn't look rundown at all, but rather it had a cheery coat of light brown paint. A white ornamental fence, not a desolate black one, surrounded the house with its intricate designs. Despite all these positive qualities, the house still had a sense of mystery, what with it stranded in the middle of an otherwise abandoned coastline. Still, Snowflake looked to her friends, her smile still on her face. "Well, it looks like we found ourselves some lodging!"
Spyro gave her a weird look. "You're joking, right? Haven't you ever read any stories about mansions in the middle of nowhere? If we go into that mansion, chances are that we won't be coming out!" Snowflake shook her head, the Gigas Crystal bobbing with each movement of her head. Ripto, always the one to argue, butted into the conversation. "Don't be a stick in the mud, Dragon. We've been in a rainforest for five days, talked with a plant monster, fought against lizardmen, and we're running out of rations! Do you think we can't handle whatever's living in that mansion, Mr. Hot Shot?"
That encouraged Spyro. He took one look at the mansion perched on its peaceful cliff, breathed a hopeless sigh, and started leading the way. The three friends followed Spyro until they reached the mansion's front steps. The large house was still nonthreatening even from up-close, but still neither of the three wanted to be the one to knock. Finally, after many arguing and choice words, Ripto walked up some even-painted steps and up to the door. The door was fashioned in a lavish way, much like the house, for it had many delicate carvings and its knocker was shaped like a webbed claw holding a ring. Ripto considered these decorations lightly as he gripped the handle and pushed the door open.
"It's unlocked!" Ripto announced to his friends. The other two followed him inside, and gazed at the interior of the mysterious mansion. The house was lit by one fancy hanging chandier that sent glittering rays of light across the room. Two twin staircases that started from the opposite sides of the houses only to curve and meet in the middle as one staircase facing the door. But that wasn't the most surprising feature in the house. The large living room was filled with bookshelves as high as the ceiling. On each bookshelf were literally thousands upon thousands of books, with hundreds of topics present. The three heroes let their eyes roam up and down the shelves.
"I knew something weird was about this house." Spyro broke the silence in an irritated tone. He started to pace in front of the rows of bookshelves, his eyes searching. "These books remind me of someone, but I can't put my claw on it..." Then, there was the sound of someone coming down the wooden stairs. Spyro ceased his searching and turned his head to the source of the sound.
"Hello! We don't get many visitors around here!" The occupant of the mansion cheerfully called out as she traveled down the stairs. The voice belonged to a female rhynoc clothed in a simple green dress. A green witch's hat that matched her dress was perched on her head. She carried a glowing silver wand that looked both simple and elegant at the same time casually in her right hand. Spyro immediately assumed a defensive stance as soon as he spotted the rhynoc, smoke billowing out of his nose. Snowflake got in front of him to make sure he didn't reduce the rhynoc into a pile of ash. When the rhynoc was at the foot of the stairs, Snowflake noticed that they were roughly the same height.
"It's such a nice surprise to get visitors here and judging by your clothes, this mansion's a nice surprise too." The rhynoc said, her voice filled with witty sincerity. She walked towards the group, a smile on her face. "What are your names weary travelers?" Snowflake, immediately won over by the rhynoc's good manner, shook her hand in a polite manner as she spoke their names. "I'm Snowflake Passiflora Laterose, and these two are my friends Ripto the Sorcerer and Spyro the Dragon."
The occupant of the mansion gasped in surprise. "Wow! The Spyro the Dragon and Ripto the Sorcerer are both standing right in front of me? What luck!" The rhynoc circled Spyro, a look of bewilderment on her face. Spyro watched her warily as she studied him and noted all of his features. "Hmmm...When I heard about you from my brother, I figured you'd be a little taller and a little scarier..." Ripto gave her a confused look as she examined the Gigas Crystal hanging around Snowflake's neck. "Wait, you don't live here by yourself?"
The rhynoc shook her head, her brown eyes sparkling. "No. My brother and I both live in this mansion, earning our gems by selling books and specially forged magic wands. Of course, I'm getting ahead of myself. You wouldn't care about my occupation if you don't even know my name! My name's Eledor, and welcome to our mansion." Snowflake couldn't help but smile at Eledor's introduction. 'I think I'm starting to like this rhynoc,' Snowflake thought to herself.
"Eledor, huh? Why does that name ring a bell?" Spyro asked. Eledor smiled in a sarcastic way at the dragon. "Maybe it's because my name is similar to my brother's name. You might know my brother Grendor, Spyro." Spyro's face lit up as he instantly remembered why this place looked suspicious.
"Grendor! You mean that two-headed monster is still alive?" Spyro blurted inconsiderately. Suddenly, he was sent flying across the room by a well-aimed punch to the face. Ripto wouldn't stop laughing as the female rhynoc grabbed Spyro by the throat and started shaking him wildly. Her voice was filled with venom as she spoke to him. "Don't you ever call my brother a monster again in my household, or I'll turn you into a toad. Understand, dragon?"
Spyro, who now had a black eye, nodded silently at the fierce little rhynoc. Eledor then dropped him to the ground and turned to Ripto and Snowflake. "Let me show you to your rooms, my guests!" Eledor said cheerfully as if she never did a single act of violence in her life. As she led the guests to the stairs, Spyro couldn't help but think that sleeping outside under the stars was a better idea then staying inside the same mansion as Grendor and his crazy sister...
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Wart stomped through the camp under the rays of the afternoon sun with a tray full of a still steaming lunch that Wart was able to receive half-heartedly from the snake-like cook. The snake was hesitant to give the mutated dragon any food, but after Wart threatened to tell Changeling, the cook handed him the remains of the stew of the day. He winced every time he set his right foot down the sand, for it sent waves of pain across his body with every step. He could hear many of the horde members laughing at him, and he knew it was because he wasn't a beautiful sight to behold at all.
The dragon wasn't very pretty even in good health but now that he was covered in gashes and bruises, he was very pathetic looking indeed. His mottled green skin, which was covered in ugly mutated bumps that gave Wart his name, had many different shades of blue and purple on top of it. One of his yellow eyes was swollen shut and he had a piece of fish meat tied to it. He wouldn't dare switch his position from biped to quadruped to lighten the weight on his right foot for his left arm hung bruised and almost unusuable at his side. Tears slid from his open eye as pain stung in every part of his body.
'That's it. I can't take this constant abuse anymore. I don't care if she does return me to my old self; I'm not going to go through another one of her punishments!' Wart decided in his head. As if by chance, when he limped past Changeling's lavish tent he could hear her voice discussing something.
Changeling's tent was different from the other tents set up on the beach because she draped many different furs across the front so it created both a door and a status symbol. Smiling by this turn of events, he pushed some of the furs aside with his head until the inside of Changeling's tent came into view. Changeling had a few knick-knacks she had stolen from people she conquered over, including chests filled with beautiful gems. A table was set in the middle, covered with maps of every nation in Avalar. Changeling was standing at the head of the table as she discussed her plans with her two trusted commanders of the lizardman army that she called the Crimson Scales.
The Crimson Scales were both dragons, one of them female and the other male. The male was a big black dragon that stood on his hind legs like Wart, only he was a lot stronger. Fiery tattoos covered the space between his ankles and his knees and the space between his wrists and his elbows. The dragon's back faced towards Wart, his large bat-like wings blocking the rest of his body from view. The other Crimson Scale was a pink dragon that looked a lot like Spyro if it wasn't for the fact that she was also standing on her hind legs. Her tail swished behind her, her tail ring gleaming under the afternoon sun. Her big wings were folded behind her, but they didn't hide the two rings that circled her delicate horns.
From what Wart had picked up during his trips across the camp, the pink dragon's name was Crystal and her big friend was named Dark. Dark never spoke to Wart, but Crystal would talk about how mad she was that Changeling had caught her and her friend while they were going to meet Spyro, and that they had strived to become the Crimson Scales so that they appeared loyal in Changeling's eye. Wart knew that their loyalty to Spyro might just come in handy someday, if not for him but for someone else. He pushed his thoughts out of head as he caught snippets of Changeling's discussion.
"...Bane was a mistake. I knew we couldn't trust those slimy sea dragons." Changeling discussed to Dark and Crystal. The two Crimson Scales showed their agreement with Changeling's discussion by nodding their scaly heads. Changeling, knowing that they were listening, unfurled a map of some city that Wart was unfamiliar with. She pointed to the map with a polished claw. "Since they aren't our allies, they are our enemies. They're the only people who know how to get to the Blue Gigas Crystal and they use that information to taunt us. We already captured one of their kind, but they still ignore us as if we're nothing more then fleas on some animal's back. It seems the only way to get what we want is to launch an attack on their city."
Crystal gazed at the map, her lavender eyes roaming across the piece of paper. "How are we going to do that? We don't have gills or scuba gear, you know..." Crystal stated, her voice beautiful and almost harp-like. Changeling then picked up another rolled-up scroll and opened it over the map of the sea dragon's city. Wart suppressed a gasp; it was the blueprint of an underwater war machine! Dark and Crystal both studied the design of the shark-shaped war machine casually as if they were reading something trivial.
Changeling smiled, very proud of her handiwork. "I've made enough of these babies to level their city to the ground. I'll storm in on their beautiful city tomorrow night and make them tell me where the Blue Gigas Crystal is. It goes to show them who the real boss is. Now, on to other matters. Cobra was discussing that we-"
Wart heard no more of their conversation. He was too busy dashing off towards the slave caravans, his pains and hunger forgotten. He moved in an inhuman speed, his wings giving him more lift. 'I don't care if she tears off my arms if she hears what I'm doing, I wouldn't forgive myself if she leveled the sea dragon's city to the ground!' Wart thought to himself. As he reached the caravans, a plan was forming in his mind. A plan to stop, or at least delay, Changeling's plan of destruction....
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End of Chapter 5.
Ending notes: I've been getting tons of fancharacter entries in both the reviews and my inbox. I have not declined in using any of these fancharacters, but I will have to say that no one can enter anymore fancharacters into my story until between End of the Blue Gigas Crystal Saga and the Beginning of the Purple Gigas Crystal Sagas.
(For those confused, I personally divide my story into Sagas, depending on the Gigas Crystal being focused on. Consider this chapter the ending of the Green Gigas Saga and the Beginning of the Blue Gigas Saga. Whee. :p)
Some notes: Eledor is like Nazza. She doesn't belong to me but rather to another fancharacter creator that just let me borrow them for the moment. Same thing goes for the two Crimson Scales. Believe me, all three of them will have bigger roles then the ones they've received in this chapter. I'm very generous with my received characters. Of course, I'm not accepting anymore fancharacters until the Blue Gigas Crystal is in either Snowflake's or Changeling's hands! (Who ends up with it, I can't tell you.)
Chapter six won't take as long to type, because now I have two more hours of free time in my schedule now that marching season is over. I hope people aren't mad of me for all the countless delays.