Power: Something I thought of after I'd posted the fic up on DA and I was considering taking the fics down and reposting them with this added, but I couldn't be bothered .
Icy Wilderness; Red's Chamber
"I can't believe I underestimated you."
Spyro smirked and turned to Sparx. "Maybe his power wasn't so infinite after all."
While the young dragon was distracted, Red spread his wings and soared upwards. His raw burns screamed in protest and he let go of his Dark Gem staff as he strangled a howl of pain. In the warmth of his Chamber, the wounds he'd sustained had not been as bad, but in the cold of Icy Wilderness, they sang. Blinking aside the tears that had welled up, blurring his vision, he set a course.
Ice Citadel; Interior; Elizabeth's room
Elizabeth sat in front of her dressing table mirror, running a stiff-bristled brush through her orange fur. Spyro had relit the boilers, warming up her home. She'd had her warm bath and was in her nightgown, about to go to bed.
Tap, tap, tap.
She put her brush down and looked at the window. With a look of astonishment the Ice Princess stood up, crossed over to and opened it.
"Red, what in Icy Wilderness. . ." she trailed off as she took in the burns and open wounds on his tail, legs and underbelly. ". . . have you been doing?"
"Does the name Spyro mean anything to you?"
"You came all the way here, in the cold like that. . . ?" she shook her head. "Only you, Red, anyone else would be screaming in agony. You'd better come in."
She closed the window as he hopped off the window and, with the help of his considerable wingspan, lighted on the floor, a gasp of pain escaping him.
"Lie down." Elizabeth knelt beside him and looked him over. "Hold still." All the inhabitants of Icy Wilderness knew at least basic healing spells. If the cold got hold of an open wound, and one did not have a healing spell, they were done for. The Ice Princess had chosen to spend years of her childhood learning the more powerful healing spells. These were deeper penetrataing and required physical touch. They also drained more magic. Before long, Elizabeth could feel exhaustion set in. She glanced at Red, who would flinch everytime she touched his more serious wounds, and scowled. "Don't pretend you're not enjoying this."
He gave her innocent look, but said nothing.
A long moment of silence elapsed between them before, the Ice Princess lifted her hands and, clasping them together on her lap informed him that she was done. The red dragon got carefully to his feet and examined the scarring. He met her gaze, "Thank you, Elizabeth."
She smiled and sprawled out on the floor. "Gosh, I'm so tired." The Ice Princess was too exhausted to object when he picked her up and carried her over to her bed. He pulled the covers up to her chin. "I have to go."
Elizabeth grabbed his hand as he turned to leave and he looked back, surprised. "Why Red? Why are doing this?"
Red dropped his gaze. "You wouldn't understand."
A pause. Then he pulled away and headed over to the window.
"Red?"
He paused in opening the window. "Yes?"
"I suppose I should wish you good luck. . . but if you win, you'll plunge our Worlds into darkness." she turned away from him. "You've changed Red, and not for the better."
The only sound to be heard was the howling of the wind as it gusted around outside her window. Then, "Elizabeth. Despite everything, my love for you hasn't changed."
She didn't respond, nor move. Not even when she heard the windows closing with a click. His leathery wingbeats were quickly swallowed by the wind as he headed off for the final confrontation with Spyro. And she couldn't help but wonder if final was going to be literal.
Power: Aww, poor Red . But look, injuries. Yes, injuries. Come on, you don't really think the old dragon could come out of that without some burns at least? And it's not quite out if continuity. Spyro still has to get out of Red's Chamber and the healing didn't take that long. . .