Stormy Days Ahead

"So this is the last Guardian?" I asked Shadith. She nodded silently. Laura glared at my former partner, still angry at her for injuring me in the last adventure. Laura seemed to be very protective and tense lately.

"Yes, I know who he is… The Dragon of Daethren. Otherwise known as Thorian, the Storm Guardian. We haven't seen each other for decades after we argued about who was the greatest Guardian. Of course, Thorian thinks that he has more elemental powers than me, that bighead! I'll show him!" Shadith actually looked scary and I stepped away from her out of fear. Laura also looked afraid. But then Shadith laughed and her facial expression changed into one of amusement. "Did I scare you just then? I was just pulling your leg!" We all laughed, relieved that she hadn't really changed.

"For a moment, you sure scared the hell out of us!" I joked. But Shadith was impatient. "Come on guys, I know the way to Thorian's abode." she said.

As we all entered the cliff face, I nearly fainted. There in front of us, was a real live dragon. The grey dragon was ten metres tall, unfurling gigantic wings and had a jewel studded collar around its neck. It also had a jagged scar on its left eye. As it roared, thunder and lightning shook the cliffs. I felt terrified of the creature. Jay was astounded as he craned his neck up.

"Oh my god," muttered Jay, staring up at the gigantic dragon. "How am I supposed to defeat this thing? Thorian will devour me in a second!"

"You have no choice but to go ahead and fight him…" Shadith said.

"What am I? Jay Lupine the dragon slayer?" said Jay sarcastically.

"I really mean it. If you don't fight, you won't get your Carniave cure!"

"Oh alright, you sneaky Shadith! I'll fight him, but only if I don't end up on a platter!" Jay sighed with disgust as he prepared his shield and sword.

When Laura and I approached the dragon, Thorian sensed our presence. Turning his horned head, he roared with anger. Yellow sparks of electricity shot out of his jagged mouth. I deflected some of the energy with my Sun shield as Laura crouched behind it.

"WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING HERE?" Thorian rumbled. I was very nervous; I had no experience in slaying dragons or talking to one. And here I am, trying to fight a real one! Nevertheless, I tried to put on a brave act.

"Jay Lupine, dragon slayer of Glade Forest, commands you to back off!" Thorian laughed, a deep guttural laugh that boomed.

"You tell me, the greatest Guardian, to back off? When I could snap your spine into two? I can control all the elemental forces! Hurricanes, storms, floods, earthquakes and fires, all are under my command! You, puny mortal are no match for my unseen powers!" The Storm Guardian started to spread his leathery wings. The jewelled collar glistened as the dragon launched himself into the air. Thorian rose into the air as his wings produced a hurricane. He spat out some huge flames, which were heading right for us! I tried to deflect it with my shield, but the shield didn't work as well as I had hoped.

We waited for the final blow; waited to be consumed by fire. But it never came. Instead there was a loud boom, darkness formed and the fire dissipated as if an invisible wall blocked it. I looked behind me. To our complete surprise, Shadith was behind us, an enraged expression on her face. Her palms were outstretched, a dark laser shot out of them and a round shadowy shield formed around us.

"I won't let you hurt my friends!" yelled Shadith at Thorian. "Laura, Jay! Run over to Thorian's nest while I distract him!" she whispered to us. We nodded and ran towards the nest on the cliff.

"How? But that's IMPOSSIBLE! No mortal has that power! Unless…" Thorian bellowed, then his orange eyes widened in realization. "You are Hadin in disguise! You are the Shadow Guardian in her false form!"

"It took you THAT long to figure it out? For such a big head, you sure have a small brain!" sneered Shadith/Hadin pitilessly. Black formless discs formed in her hand and she threw it at Thorian, they circled the air before they exploded.

"Take that back! You are weak, Hadin!" roared Thorian.

"I AM NOT WEAK!" yelled Shadith/Hadin. Her gold eyes began glowing a deep demonic red; the colour of fresh blood after it has been spilt…

Meanwhile… Jay and I managed to climb the cliff with difficulty. Grasping onto the final rock, we looked into the nest. There were sparkling jewels of the rainbow in there! Glittering and shining like the stars.

"Light beyond darkness,

Darkness beyond light,

I am the Guardian of Night.

Shadows of the forbidden wind,

Release the power from within!

Shadow demons, come to my aid!"

Shadith/Hadin completed her spell with an evil sneer. At once, she blurred into a red-eyed shadow and evil cackling filled the air. For once Thorian was afraid. The Shadow Guardian laughed harshly, the sound echoing the evil laughter.

"Wh-what in the man-manner of Daethran is ha-happening?" Thorian cried, looking around him in a confused manner. Ghastly giggles surrounded him.

"You'll see in a moment," reassured Shadith/Hadin.There was a fluttering of wings, then countless shadowy forms with sharp claws and bladed wings descended onto the dragon. They started to slash him, but he was ready for them. Thorian counterattacked with thunder and lightning. The two elements met and cancelled each other out, resulting in a major explosion…

Laura and I saw the demons attack the dragon, but there was crack of electricity and an enormous earthquake, followed by the demons screeching as the energy reacted. I felt scared that our friend, Shadith, would be hurt in the explosion.

Rocks broke off the cliff, tumbling into the darkness. I nearly lost my balance and grasped the cliff wall as Laura gasped.

"Hold on!" Laura yelled, reaching out a hand for me. With a flash of realization, I remembered the nightmare I had… Only it was reversed. I was the one clinging onto the edge and Laura was the one trying to help me. How ironic. I thought bitterly. My nightmare became true, but it was somehow inverted. My grip slid a bit and a few jewels fell out of the nest. Sweat was beading down my forehead, but still I held on with all my strength.

Suddenly Laura grabbed my hand, pulling me upwards towards her. I heard a crash and saw all the jewels from the nest tumbling down into the darkness.

"Th-thanks," I stuttered, looking into Laura's beautiful eyes. So warm and sad…

"No need for it," Laura teased, getting close to me. "You saved my life tons of times on this quest, so why shouldn't I save your life?" I let out a whoop of happiness and couldn't help myself from kissing her warm lips…

But then an angry familiar voice boomed from the depths of the earth.

"You have failed by not collecting the jewels in the nest!" shouted Master Glen. I fell to my feet. Pain racked my body but as I shifted my form, I felt a foreign but familiar mind try to overtake mine… It was the wild, untamed instincts of my Carniave form- but stronger than ever. I struggled.

I saw Jay drop to his feet. I felt terrified for him, for I knew there was nothing I could do to stop the transformation. I felt so helpless as he cried out.

"No, Jay… I love you with all my heart and soul!" Immediately the necklace around my neck started burning with a bright light. The necklace felt like it draining my life from my body. Then the light died down as the necklace reformed into a pale pink heart shaped key. Jay became unconscious.

"What the-?" I muttered, then I gasped for my voice was not my own. It sounded calm and serene. It was the voice of… A guardian!