The Realms of Chaos

Chapter 7: Underwater Trials

Rating: Good old PG never let me down yet, but anymore cussing or violence and the rating goes up.

Author's Notes: If you have trouble picturing the sea dragon machines Changeling created, think Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire's cruisers, only in sea dragon form.

~*~*~~*~*~~*~*~

The four travelers continued down the lit cavern path towards the city of the sea dragons. Eledor and Spyro were carrying on a light conversation about how Changeling could be foiled, while Ripto and Snowflake both admired the glittering royal purple jewels lighting the passageway. Ripto's scepter, instead of being carried in hand like he usually does, was resting behind him in Snowflake's backpack, which he agreed to carry. The other three had to convince him that after the encounter with Nazza they didn't want some sea dragon to raise the alarm when Avalar's biggest enemy came into view. Travel down Serpent's Way didn't take very long, for it was in the middle of the afternoon when they ran into the main gate.

"Woah." was the only thing any of them could utter. The main gate that separated Serpent's Way from Azura City was a colossal door made of the same purple crystals that had lit the path. It towered far above all of their heads, and Snowflake guessed that even the mighty sea dragon Bane couldn't be as tall as this gate. The only way to open the door was to lift the two giant locks that were on either side of the door; both high above their heads. The four of them stared at the glittering marvel in front of them, frozen in its spell. The one to break it was Eledor as she tentatively took a step closer to the gate...

"Halt!" Four lizard-like two-legged creatures jumped down from above and instantly surrounded the travelers with large pointy pikes made of driftwood. They were all roughly the same size, and all of them had velvet black scales that gleamed underneath the cavern's lights. Their eyes were a bright shade of yellow-green, which made their eyes seem to shine with a light of their own. Jagged fins rose from behind their shoulders and behind their heels, so they were definitely a breed of sea dragon. Spyro, Ripto, Eledor, and Snowflake all had their backs to each other and neither of them made an effort to move with the sharp points pointed.

"By order of High Chieftain Moss, son of High Chieftain Waterivy and father of Princess Goldenscale, no visitors are allowed in Azura City during this time of crisis. All four of you must wait until the evil Changeling is driven away until you can visit our fair city. I suggest you turn back around and come back another day." The guard with his lance against Ripto's throat rasped in a throaty voice.

"Hold it! You mean we summoned Bane, swam through rough currents, and traveled down Serpent's Way just to receive a "come back next week" warning? High Chieftain Moss allowed us to enter the city while Ripto was attacking Avalar!" Eledor protested. The guards laughed at her argument. Snowflake's guard came up with a snide response.

"Did Ripto have a large army ready to level our city to the ground? Did Ripto have the power of the legendary crystals by his side? Did Ripto enslave many innocent creatures for his own evil devices? Compared to Changeling, Ripto's a joke! Besides, that short egotistical dinosaur didn't have the brains to search under the waves for us!"

Snowflake winced at that last statement; Ripto was sure to do something foolish now that he had said that. She could see Ripto clench his fists right beside her, and sure enough he reached from behind him and pulled his scepter out from Snowflake's backpack in one swift movement. Eledor glanced at him worryingly, wondering what he was going to do. Spyro was whispering "please don't be stupid" repeatively to himself like a chant. Ripto pointed the potent gem at the guard's throat much in the same fashion he did to Snowflake when he was injured in Winter Tundra.

"See this?" Ripto hissed. Magic coursed through the jewel and it started to glow with magical heat. The sea dragon lowered his pike, and his companions watched him and Ripto warily. "This is the Red Gigas Crystal, one of the six that hold this world together. We're on a quest to secure them all so they can be properly transported to the Diamond Palace, and I don't like your attitude about travelers. The only way to get the Blue Gigas Crystal is to go through your city, and believe me when I say that I don't want our quests delayed because of some warning!"

Spyro, Eledor, and Snowflake were speechless. None of them had ever seen Ripto behave in such a premeditated manner. Was this the same Ripto that had foolishly claimed that he was invincible and that the worlds would be his countless times? The pike clattered to the stone floor, forgotten by the guard's numbed fingers. Lime green eyes narrowed. "You're Ripto, aren't you?" The guard asked. Ripto said nothing, but flashed a dinosaurian smile full of sharp teeth.

"Yes. Fate plays a merry joke on us all, and that joke is that I'm the keeper of the Red Gigas Crystal even though I'm not a resident of Avalar. Either you let me and my companions in or else you will witness the might of one of the most powerful magic of your world!"

There was an awkward silence that followed Ripto's demands. Snowflake's heartbeat sounded like a drum inside of her chest. All three of Ripto's companions waited for the sea dragons to react. After what seemed like an hour, the guards dropped their lances and backed away from the travelers.

One of them bowed. "Sorry for the interruption, holders of the Gigas Crystals. You see, our king received an underwater note from a young sea dragon named Maryne that warned us about Changeling. It warned us to be on our guard, the reason why your throats were against our pikes. The only people who are allowed to pass are the holders of the Gigas Crystal, such as Warrior Against Raging Tyrants instructed."

The four guards then scrambled up the side of the Azura City's gate. Snowflake saw the reason why they were the guards of the gate; they climbed up the smooth crystal face like geckos against a glass window. The group split in half, and with two to each lock, the dragons pushed the gate open.

Ssssskreeeeccccchhhh!

The beautiful purple crystal gate slid inward across the ground with a deafening roar. The gate was hardly opened at all; the lack of a worn path made this true. Dust fell in clouds across the group of travelers, and soon all conversation was cut off by hacking coughs. The gates slid to a stop, and when the dust faded they saw a passageway made from transparent tubes linking to an elevator.

"When you go up the elevator, ask for High Chieftain Moss. May the tides of time always be kind to your sails!" A sea dragon called from high above their heads. Then the guards skittered away and there was no evidence that they were actually there. As they stepped onto the elevator and activated the thing to go down, Snowflake turned to Ripto. "Geez, how did you convince them to let us go? You're usually so egotistical, and yet you were so calm when you were talking to those dragons. How did you do that?"

Ripto took a deep breath and, as if afraid to meet her gaze, focused his eyesight on the deadly jewel on his scepter. "Where I live, threats are commonplace and you pretty much risk your life 24/7. Sure, I'm probably what you call egotistical, but I can be pretty calm if someone's pointing a pike at my throat." Ripto explained. Eledor let out a murmur of acknowledgement, but Spyro scoffed.

"Please! Like you could think coolly, Mister 'Say-Hello-To-Your-New..." Spyro's voice trailed off when the elevator stopped and Azura City was presented in its full splendor. Azura City was a mystical city, possessing air thanks to the magical bubble surrounding silver and turquoise towers and buildings. "King" tumbled out of Spyro's mouth, forgotten as the group of four watched sea dragons of every size and shape walk across thin bridges hovering high above the "ground". Out of all the heroes in the group, Eledor was the only one that wasn't gaping at the wondrous sights.

"Come on, we got to go to High Chieftain Moss. He's not going to just run into us while we're staring at Azura City, now will he?" Eledor then led them through the bustling streets of Azura City. Hardly any dragons stopped to see the new finless guests; the ones that did stop only did so because they recognized Eledor. The group followed Eledor through strange exotic streets and in-between lavish buildings that must've been used as apartments for the strange creatures that lived there. Finally, after had what seemed to be an eternity of passing through many streets and curbs, Eledor stopped at a domeish-looking building that was built out of silver and chrome. The rhynoc rapped a knuckle on the door.

"I'm coming, I'm coming..." muttered an old, gravely voice from behind the door. An old biped sea dragon opened the door. His tanish scales, which were gray around the edges due to old age, were set off by the gray-green fins rising behind the creature's sharp blue eyes. He leaned on a nicely curved staff made of a fine oak with one claw; the staff had several medals and trinkets tied to its body. Despite his somewhat silly appearance, the air of authority was unmistakable around this wizened old dragon. He was definitely High Chieftain Moss.

"High Chieftain Moss," Eledor addressed him with a bow of respect. Moss motioned for her to continue. "My friends are holders of the Gigas Crystals, and they want to retrieve the Blue Gigas Crystal for the good of the sea dragon nation and the world of Avalar. If you would be so kind as to show us the way..."

Moss cut her off with a wave of his claw. He stepped towards Snowflake and studied the Green Gigas Crystal hanging from her neck. Before she could stop him, he grabbed the thing in-between his hands and looked at it more closely. Snowflake let out a gasp; Grunge told her that only mages could handle the Gigas Crystal without experiencing the evil radiation the crystal brought to the Guardian himself.

"Before you ask young one, I'm a mage myself. I was around since before the Guardians were around, back in the days when the rulers of Avalar were all mages that either seeked to control the world in an iron grip or to try to solve the world's problems with magic that could only destroy." Moss closed his eyes as he remembered days long past. His wizened tone seemed to weigh down upon the others' chests as he reminisced about the Blue Gigas.

"I remember that fateful day when the accursed Blue Gigas Crystal landed here just as its brothers were scattered in different parts of the world. The council strived to figure out what to do with the potent gem; some asked to lock it away, others asked to destroy it. Soon, they agreed to seal it within a cave that would keep the jewel safe from robbers but make the jewel accessible when there was a time to use it. However, just before they put the jewel into the cave, my brother, crazed with greed, snatched the jewel and dashed off into the cave like a raving lunatic." Unshed tears welled behind the old one's eyes. "His greed, mixed with the radiation of the Blue Gigas, changed him into the Blue Gigas Guardian Kraken, a monster that wants nothing more but to supply himself with all the treasures of the seas."

The Guardians weren't born; they were created from people who were changed by the Crystal itself. Snowflake thought. She remembered how saddened Grunge was when she solved his riddle. He was a king of a large kingdom, and the Green Gigas had ruined his life forever by both transforming him into a large monster with a hide of leaf litter and by sending his people away from the Mist Castle, changing it into the Mist Ruins. Ripto interrupted her thoughts; he had the tendency to do that.

"So, if you're the Kraken's brother, then you can get us the Crystal right?" Ripto asked. Moss smiled at his eagerness. "Well, yes and no." Moss replied. "In order to receive the Blue Gigas Crystal from Kraken, you must pass his underwater trials; trials that test your bravery and the proper skills to hold the crystal."

Spyro smiled warmly; the little dragon was always eager for a new challenge. "We can take it on! If we can handle a large leaf monster, then we can handle a large underwater monster! Where do we go?" Spyro's spirited attitude seemed to breathe life into their situation. Moss started to walk in one direction. He said only two words to the group of young reptiles.

"Follow me."

~*~*~~*~*~~*~*~

High Chieftain Moss led the group of four into a grand hallway. It was on the outskirts of the city, leading into an underwater mountain. Because of this, the magical bubble that surrounded the whole sea dragon city only touched the grand hallway and the entrance of the mountain. Polished tiles soon became smoothed rock underneath their feet. The only sound that echoed through the hallway was the steps of the group and the tapping of the Chieftain's staff.

"It's an honor to have the holders of two Gigas Crystals take part in the Underwater Trials of Kraken. Ever since the Gigas Crystals were scattered and the Guardians were born many years ago, I have sent worthy personnel into the Kraken's cave to battle my brother and give the Blue Gigas Crystal to the sea dragon people. But, in order to test their worth of holding the Blue Gigas Crystal, I have created a test that will sort the brave warriors from the people who just want to play hero..." An ironic smile spread on his scaly lips.

"Is there a possible chance that someone will get killed during this test?" Eledor asked. Moss remained silent as he pushed the large rocky door open. A circular room bare of anything save for a religious-looking alter made of marble in the very center and some wooden benches leaning against a wall. One wall had another boulder leaning against it, but no one in the group found it suspicious. Moss escorted them in, and the four heroes sat on the benches. Moss slowly made towards the middle, and laid his staff onto the altar.

"As a matter of fact, yes. People who aren't worthy of this test do suffer the penalty of losing their life..." Moss said, as if the matter wasn't worth mentioning. Eledor narrowed her eyes.

"Why are you letting us do this if we can easily die? If we die, the world will fall under Changeling's grip!" Eledor shouted. Moss shrugged his scaly shoulders. "Rulers conquer and rulers die. Otpir the Merciless was a big tyrant, but his rule was soon ended at the time of his death. Changeling can't live forever. If she wins, then she'll rule; the world can turn with or without her."

"But what about the city?" Eledor cried. "She has plans to harm the city; Warrior Against Raging Tyrants said so!" Moss smiled. "This city has lasted since my grandfather was a little sea pup, and it'll last until my grand offspring are old and wizened like myself. Nothing can harm this city and nothing ever will. Now, are you four going to stop asking questions and let me commence the trials?" That question immediately shut all questioning mouths. The dragon elder's smile stayed on his wrinkled face; he had retained his humorous spirit over the years.

He grabbed his staff from the altar and held it over his head. His voice changed from one that is filled with love to one that had seen many deaths and losses. Moss's throat would always tighten whenever he performed this ritual; the young people he saw during this trial were never seen again by living eyes. "Oh great Kraken of the Blue Gigas Crystal, we summon your light to send willing youths to meet their fate in your clutches. Give us the strength to commence the trials, to prove themselves pure of mind and brave of heart. Send their souls to meet their callings!"

Snowflake suddenly became aware of the swirling wind that entered the room. She was immune to the cold that the wind brought with it, but she could feel her companions wrap themselves to shut out the bitter cold. Moss, with the wind swirling around him, looked like a demon ripped out of a storybook. A blue bolt of lightning conjured out of nowhere struck his staff, and suddenly the wind and the cold was no more. Everything was silent; Moss stood there like a frozen statue and the four heroes glanced around at each other. Just when Spyro rose from his seat to check on the old one, Moss's head jerked in their direction so suddenly they jumped.

"Young onesss." Moss's voice sounded different; a sinister hiss vibrated from his voice box instead of that wizened grandfather tone. His posture was also different; instead of standing very stately like a powerful figure, he slumped his back and looked more malevolent. His eyes glew a shade of crimson as he bared his teeth like a wolf surveying a flock of sheep. "You want to prove yerssselvesss worthy of fasssing me?"

It was Kraken all right. Spyro rose again from his chair to stand defiantly at the possessed sea dragon. "Yes, Kraken! We've come for the Blue Gigas Crystal, just as we did when we came for the Green One!" Kraken/Moss let out a hoarse laugh. A shiver went down the group's spines. Kraken didn't seem half as polite as Grunge was. "The Green Gigasss Guardian isss a weakling. A total mockery of hisss lovely! He jussst gave it away! Didn't even tessst your modesss of battle. Not like I will, I asssure yooooou..."

Spyro faltered underneath the tone of Kraken's voice. The Guardian was a lot less nice then Grunge, and Grunge was threatening them on how intruders' bones were resting in his belly. Spyro smiled defiantly. "So, what's the big test?" Kraken shoved Moss's staff in Spyro's chest, causing him to double over in pain. Kraken smiled; this one had a spine. "There will be three tessstsss, you unruly dragon! The firssst will be a tessst of bravery; the sssecond will be the dangerousss path from here to my lair. The lassst tessst will be a fight to the death againssst me..."

Snowflake was growing impatient. Sure, Kraken was freaking them out but that was no reason for him to mistreat her friend Spyro like that. She rose from her seat and stood by Spyro's side. "Give us the tests then, Kraken, because all I'm seeing is a Guardian that's blowing more hot air then a hair dryer!" The possessed Moss smiled; he slammed his staff down just in front of Spyro's foot. "The trial beginsss now!"

The wind began blowing in the chamber again. Snowflake clasped the Green Gigas Crystal in her hand as if it would ward away the danger. Eledor seemed to try to sink lower into her clothing, and Ripto wrapped his cloak around himself for warmth. Spyro stood rooted to his spot; his eyes fixated on the possessed High Chieftain. Suddenly, images began to spring into their minds. Each person had different visions, but the effect remained the same. Spyro saw Elora, Hunter, the Professor, Bianca, and all of his friends slaughtered like cattle among a bloodstained field. Ripto saw a leather-winged demon that breathed fire and brimstone upon its victims. Eledor saw regions of Avalar destroyed; fire raging across dead bodies. And Snowflake, she saw a monster standing on a tall castle tower that had sharp teeth, long claws, and a tattered cape fluttering behind it...

Suddenly, the horrible images were gone. All of them were panting heavily as if they had all ran a mile, the images still fresh in their minds. "Your mindsss are all pure, it ssseemsss. One with greed or thoughtsss of themssselvesss would sssee imagesss of an empty bank or maybe themssself just sssitting there with a gun pointed to their head. All of you worry about landsss, friendsss, or even ssspecies in danger before your own sssafety. You passs..." Kraken said, a bit disappointed by how far the four actually went. Without using the staff as a walking stick ala Moss, Kraken led them towards the boulder that was leaning against the wall. The creature shoved it away without any sign of weakness, revealing a hole that led to a very high-speed current. Kraken smiled at them.

"I usssually get only gill-breathers to do the trial of speed, but sssince you four are air-sssuckerssss...." Kraken went and lightly touched each of the four travelers lightly with Moss' staff. A warm tingling sensation filled all four of them. Gills sprouted and fins appeared at the most appropiate places. When the spell was finished, Eledor, Spyro, Ripto, and Snowflake examined themselves.

"Dear Lord, I look like a codfish!" While Spyro and Snowflake were rather sleek looking finned sea dragons with gills to breathe through, Ripto didn't look as impressive. He looked more like a red sea monkey then anything else. Eledor, who now sported fins on her wrists, fins in-between her toes, and some gills, giggled at Ripto's shout out. Snowflake sighed.

"You look fine to me, Ripto." She replied. Spyro raised an eyebrow at her comment but said nothing. Ripto crossed his finned arms. "No I don't! I refuse to swim while I'm in this shape and that's final." Kraken hissed in irritation, but Snowflake quickly thought up a solution. "Don't worry; I'll carry you like back at Winter Tundra." Ripto's expression softened a bit, and he let the white dragon pick him up.

With a violent splash, the four of them got trapped in a swirling vortex that sped towards the Kraken's cave. Spyro, who knew how to swim quite well, sped way ahead of his companions. Eledor followed at a steady pace. Snowflake followed behind with Ripto clutching her with a death grip. The current sped them through rocky caves, in-between coral, and past some rather deadly looking rubble. As they swam at unimaginable speeds, they could spy the skeletons of sea dragons that failed to swim past the obstacles in time.

A large rock loomed ahead of them. It bobbed up and down in the water, but it was held to place by the magic contained in it. A small cave opening was in the front of it; almost as small as a pinhead from their current position. The magically controlled current launched them at the cave at breakneck speeds, and the four of them soon found themselves sucked into the inky black darkness.

The third trial had yet to begin...

~*~*~~*~*~~*~*~

"Tell me, what kind of creature would fill their house full of books? It's unnatural!"

Wart rolled his eyes at Laigon's remark. The underwater scenery went unnoticed as they cruised through the briny deep in the large underwater dragon machine. While Wart operated all the engines and weapons, Laigon controlled the ship's limbs and direction. Together, the two controlled an awesome beast that could tear Bane apart with metallic limbs.

They had scoped the coast, and sure enough they had ran into Grendor's mansion along the way. Laigon had hated the whole experience. The rhynoc wouldn't be of any use to Changeling; rhynocs were supposed to fight, not read! Also, when interrogated, Grendor said he never saw any purple dragons, white dragons, or orange lizards. Laigon had even searched the entire house, but there was no possible evidence that three reptiles ever came that way.

"I bet he hasn't seen anyone in years. I bet he spends all his time reading books!" Laigon hissed. Laigon, a true warrior at heart, thought all forms of art were a waste of time. Books were nothing more then groups of words that geeks read because they were too weak to participate in true entertainment. Paintings were just sploshes of color that imitated the life that they could never possess. And, why solve puzzles when you could spend your time slaughtering some poor creature? This was probably one of the reasons why he and Wart weren't good friends; Wart had Laigon beat in the intelligence apartment. Wart flashed neon yellow teeth to himself; Laigon was no threat to him at all.

"So, this is Azura City. Marvelous." Laigon said emotionlessly. Azura City reared out from the dark depths, and Wart saw a dazzling city surrounded by a magical bubble that supplied oxygen to keep the occupants breathing. Atlantis had nothing on the sea dragon's city, and Wart was gladdened by the fact that no one up until now was able to disturb the peace. Laigon was thinking the exact opposite; he wanted to see this city burst into clouds of dust for insulting his precious boss.

"Wart!" Laigon's voice called. He circled the ship around the city. "I found a weak spot in the city's main structure. Fire a torpedo at the direction I'm pointing and this city is as good as dead!" Wart rolled his eyes; the idiotic sea serpent didn't know basic commands. His hand reached for the button and pressed it. Laigon smiled and waited for destruction.

Nothing happened.

Laigon was obviously very cheesed off. His left vein throbbed in his neck as he turned his head at Wart's direction. "Where's the torpedo, you sorry excuse for scales and flesh?" Laigon shouted. An awkward silence passed between the two reptiles as Wart's sickening yellow-green eyes locked with Laigon's feral brown eyes.

Wart shrugged his uneven shoulders. "It's a wonder this prototype has any defenses at all. Someone seemed to have forgotten to install the torpedoes in." Wart didn't mention the fact that he *forgot* to install the torpedoes on purpose. Considering that Crystal was handling the other weapons like the claw mechanisms, Laigon immediately placed the blame on her.

"That air-headed female! Changeling should've let me install the weaponry, not some prissy girl." Laigon spat. Wart didn't bother to mention that Changeling was female also; Laigon was a very stubborn individual and what he thought usually went. The watercraft bobbed slightly with the rushing current.

"So, what now Laigon?" Wart said, his emphasis on Laigon's name showing his displeasure to being around him. Another silence followed that comment. The mutated dragon smiled to himself; Laigon was actually using that thing between his "ears". That poor brain must suffer from neglect thought Wart vengefully.

"I have a plan." Laigon announced. That's a new concept, Wart was tempted to say, but he knew that if he backsashed Laigon he'll get a scimitar shoved down his throat. Laigon started to steer the craft in a different direction. "I'm going to grab the Blue Gigas Crystal and please Changeling!" With a lurch, the ship changed direction and sped through the waters. Wart dug his neon yellow claws into Laigon's seat in front of him as the dragon craft swerved with Laigon's sharp turns.

"What the hell are you doing? I thought only the sea dragons of Azura City knew where the Blue Gigas was!" Wart shouted. The wind was knocked out of him from whiplash as Laigon suddenly stopped the craft. The sea serpent's eyes radiated pure hatred at the dragon. A scimitar slid out it's holder and was pointed at Wart's throat.

"You know what, Wart? I'm an Azura City Citizen. I remember when the Blue Gigas Crystal was first located into the Kraken's cave, and I happen to remember exactly where the Kraken's cave is. If I bring back the Blue Gigas Crystal, I'll be Changeling's second-hand reptile, not you! I'm sure she'd rather have a strong sea dragon like me be her right-hand reptile rather some mutated failure that has a face only vomit could love. If you say anything about me not telling Changeling the location of the Blue Gigas Crystal, I will make sure the poison of my blades eat you from the inside!"

Laigon turned around and went back onto the controls. The engines whirled as Laigon forced the craft into its maximum speed. An insane holler rose from his scaly lips as the sea dragon machine sped towards Kraken's cave.

Wart knew he was in the hands of a madman and there won't be any way out anytime soon...

~*~*~~*~*~~*~*~

The four finned friends found themselves in shallow water again. They had reached their destination all right; spilled treasure littered the bottom of the pool they had landed in. One by one, Spyro, Eledor, Snowflake, and Ripto climbed onto the rocky banks into the cave. When they emerged from the water, a tingle ran down their spines. Kraken's magic spell wore off; the fins and gills the group of four had faded away.

"Check this place out. No wonder Kraken is so greedy..." Spyro gasped. The vacuous cave was filled with piles of treasure that had fallen out of sunken ships. The place looked like an underwater ogre's lair, complete with the piles of gold and jewels to sleep on. Only this cave had barely any dry land to walk on, as the other half of the room sloped down into a deep dark pool with waving kelp branches in the water.

"Ssso, you actually made it. Congratulationssss." Kraken's voice vibrated in the cave. When he was using Moss as his puppet, Moss's voice box didn't give it the booming tone Kraken possessed in his real body. The group quickly ran towards the source of the noise, jumping over piles of treasure that were in the way. The water in the deep pool stirred as the kelp branches writhed. Snowflake gasped; those large kelp branches were really dark greenish blue tentacles.

A slimy squid-like head emerged from the water; a torpedo-shaped face framed with deadly spikes made from a tooth-like substance. Malicious red eyes glowered at the group of heroes. Kraken's body was consisted of large tentacles that writhed like they had minds of their own and four large claws that were used to rip the ship hulls apart for treasure. A tail with sharp spikes like a whip curled behind him like a scorpion's tail. As his body rose from the water, Spyro spotted a glowing blue light underneath the monster. The Blue Gigas Crystal! Spyro braced himself to run.

"Now, time for you three to ressseive your eternal reward!" Kraken was now towering to his full height; he was an octo-monster of monstrous proportions. He slammed two large legs covered with hair-like tentacles onto the cave floor, scattering his ill-gotten treasure in many directions. Spyro, seeing his chance, dashed towards the monster and his crystal. With a sickening sucking sound, a glob of ink shot towards the group. Snowflake scoffed.

"Please. A ball of ink? What's that going to do; get us dirty?" A drop faster then the main body hit Snowflake's left arm and quickly dissolved into her skin like acid. That gave her impetus to run as fast as her body allowed her. Sssssssss! The acid landed in a large splat on the ground, the ooze mere millimeters away from Snowflake's feet. All the treasure littering the ground absorbed the goop; Kraken's ink had no effect on any of his precious lovelies. Suddenly, Eledor had an idea.

"Quick! Grab a shield from the treasure!" Eledor instructed. Just as another ball of acid was hurtled at them, Ripto, Eledor, and Snowflake were ready. They held up large elegant shields made of different precious metals and jewels. As they deflected the blast, Ripto shouted, "We're not going to anywhere fast if we just block his attacks! We got to find a way to hurt him..."

Spyro agreed with him for once. "Yeah! Find a way to get him from blocking the crystal!" Snowflake, as she held her large jeweled shield, looked down at the green glowing crystal hanging from her neck. She smiled as a plan formed in her head. "Eledor, do you have any levitation spells?" Snowflake asked casually. Ssssssssss! Eledor nodded to her friend. "Yes! Grendor and me just found it in an old book back in the closet. It may be a bit rusty..."

"JUST DO IT!" Ripto shouted as a spray of ink bigger then their shields would be able to deflect hurdled towards them. Time seemed to slow down. Eledor pulled out her wand from her clothes. Acid rained death towards them. She closed her eyes tightly and quickly chanted the words. Snowflake and Ripto crossed their fingers. Spyro watched for an opening...

"Yah!" Purple light surrounded the inky acid, condensing it into a ball in mid-air. Kraken paused and watched the magic unfolding in front of him as if in awe. Spyro waited to see what his friends were going to do, his eyes still locked on the Blue Gigas Crystal just out of reach. Eledor strained to hold the goop and, with a quick twitch of her wand, sent the ball hurdling right at Kraken's face.

Eeeeeeyarrrghhhh! An unearthly screamed pierced their ears as Kraken clawed frantically at his eyes with his large claws. Spyro jumped into the deep water for the Blue Gigas Crystal. He navigated around numb tentacles as he hurried towards the crystal. Unfortunately, Kraken's pain wore off a lot quicker then they hoped. "Tricky little devilsss, you are. But not tricky enough!" Bubbles spilled out of Spyro's mouth as tentacles wrapped around the dragon just as his claw was barely touching the crystal. Kraken smiled at them with wicked teeth. "I knew you'd try the old ssshield trick. Happensss every time! Now, watsssh asssss your friend'sss life isss lossst!"

Spyro thrashed in the water frantically as he tried to free himself from the tentacles. Alas, the octopus-like limbs were very sticky, holding the dragon like a fly in a spider's web. His lungs burned from the lack of oxygen. Colors flashed before his eyes. He inhaled water in a futile attempt to supply his lungs. Just when he thought it was the end, Kraken's grip suddenly loosened and the dragon quickly swam to the top.

As Spyro greedingly gulped large amounts of air, a loud sound echoed through the cavern. Kraken's head was seized by a very familiar-looking monster with glowing red eyes and scales that looked like leaves....

"Grunge!?!" Spyro shouted. Indeed, as Spyro had scrambled against the tentacles, Snowflake had tried to summon some kind of protective power from the Green Gigas Crystal to save her friend. She was in for quite a surprise when Grunge suddenly materialized at her feet. Kraken clawed at Grunge, tearing pieces of him with each swipe. Despite all the wounds Kraken created on Grunge's body, the leaf monster still held on tightly without any signs of weakening. Sinister snarls issued from the fanged mouth as it tried to escape Grunge's grip. Eledor's voice called out to him. "Get the Crystal, Spyro! Get it while he's distracted!"

Spyro needed no second warning. The purple dragon dived back into the depths, even more wary of the limp tentacles then he was the last time. At the bottom of the pool, which was disgustingly filled with the remains of those who failed, shone the Blue Gigas Crystal on its pedestal. Spyro grabbed it with both his claws and the crystal came off. He scrambled to the surface of the water. He walked towards his friends, crystal in mouth. Instead of greeting him and patting him on the back, they were staring at Kraken. Spyro turned around and saw a humble sight.

Kraken was bowing to him. The large monster, who was previously trying to kill his friends, had his slimy head lowered to the ground. Grunge did the same thing, parts of dead leaves falling from where his massive body was injured. Kraken's voice ran out in the caverns, a melodious tone to his normally hollow voice.

"True hero of Avalar, you are the new Blue Gigasss holder; the firssst one to passss all the Underwater Trialssss of Kraken. You are alssso now the one I ssshall protect, asss isss the law of the Guardiansss to alwaysss guard the Crysssstalssss. My power isss yoursss to command." As with that, both Grunge and Kraken faded away like apparitions. Something cold traveled up Snowflake's spine when the cave was empty of guardians. Spyro ran to a pile of treasure and dug for a necklace to hang the Blue Gigas Crystal in.

When he had a brilliant golden necklace holding the fatal gem around his neck, Spyro said the one thing that troubled them the most as they stood in a large cave at the bottom of the sea.

"How are we going to get out of here?"


~*~*~~*~*~~*~*~

End of Chapter 7

*slumps into chair* Whoo...I hate writing battles and this one had a doosy. I'm sorry if the battle with Kraken was distasteful and utterly disappointing, but I can't write battle scenes to save my life. I'm also sorry for the delay; I had sort of a writer's block.

The Kraken's cave has only one exit, and that's to dive into the water and swim out. This is going to be a problem...

*Announcer-like voice* Now that the Blue Gigas Crystal is contained, Changeling will change her target to the mysterious crystal that can bend minds and make people insane; the legendary Purple Crystal of the Mystic Mountains. (Located just near the Mystic Marsh in Spyro 2) Will Spyro and his buddies receive this crystal like the rest, or will the tricky feline have something up her sleeve? And what exactly does Wart have in store for the young heroes? Tune in next time for the eighth chapter of The Realms of Chaos!


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