Part One: Wild Eyes
Heart:
I opened my eyes to find myself in what was once familiar to me. A canopy bed now refurbished without tears in it, a window to the side still unbroken and now without scorch marks at the base. Sitting up I looked around a bit startled and confused as I soon stumbled out of the bed. My stance was shaky, but I walked on out of the room to find that the rest of the castle I once dwelled in no longer looked as though a battle had been through it.
"How is this...? How did I...?" I stammered trying to regain my voice as I continued to wander through the grand halls.
I soon came to a visiting room with a grand fire place being used to keep the area around it quite warm. Before it rested an elaborate armchair with a figure sitting in it. Across from that was a fine sofa and large book shelves lined the walls to the left and right.
"Ach! Gut morning! I hope you have rested well! You were in poor shape when I came across you when I was hunting after a Winter Wolf. Fearsome creature! Now please, take a seat please!" The Baron called out to me from his seat, taking a sip of wine from the glass in his hand. Adorning the walls of the room were the heads of various monsters stuffed and mounted. Trolls, tentacled horrors, griffins, manticores, and other beasts of legend.
I eyed the wall, shaking my head slightly before walking over to the sofa and taking a seat close to the fire.
"How long have you been here Baron?" I asked curiously while looking around the room still.
I noticed my hands were rather pale from being out for so long. I wondered how long I'd been out, "How long was I up there?"
"Shortly after I came here, so about... two years I would say." He replied, taking a moment to ponder. "Found it abandoned. So, with what I could gather, I refurbished it, and made it into my new mansion! I hope that you are liking it. Infact, that dress was one that was left here."
I looked over, my eyes widening as I found the deep purple gown of the queen. I bit my lower lip nervously before sighing, "Well at least someone's using this place. Better than it being empty anyway."
I stood up and went to look over the dress hanging from the dress form. With another sigh I looked to the Baron and admitted, "This was once my home, but since Anaheim is now I don't really mind as long as you maintain it peacefully, and please do not make trouble for the neighboring Anaheim and their prince there."
"Oh... well, of course! I plan on not doing such a thing." Bringing himself up, he walked over towards me. "Oh, and you were alseep for a full week. You took quite a beating, it looks like. Are you feeling well now?
I was surprised to hear how long I'd been out, and I looked over myself a bit now. I was still wearing my torn up battle gear, and my showing skin was pale. Then, jumping to attention, I looked to my shadow to find it still there, but shredded from the fight with Shadow. That was part of why I was so pale.
"I think I'll be okay, but until my shadow and magic recover I can't go back to the others, or even contact them..." I grimaced, "And Duke doesn't know if he should come looking for me yet..." I took a deep breath, "but at least my children and them are safe from Shadow for the time being."
I then looked over the dress again before my eyes widened with worry before I started down the hall and made my way to the main court yard. Upon reaching the garden my eyes watered to see two headstones where my hand crafted pieces had marked my parents' graves before.
"Please, do not strain yourself! You are welcome to stay as long as you need. It is your castle originally after all." The baron said as he followed after me, his boots clacking on the floor with each step.
He would find me looking out over the graves, giving a slight sigh as I said, "Thank you for giving them proper stones..." I wiped my eyes with my arm as I remembered discovering their graves with my teammates.
"It's still strange knowing this place, and these people...were a part of me. The team is mainly what I know of now with the memories we've made now. I was just a child when I left this empty place," I told him, "From here I went to Borg's kingdom and then ended up in the caverns until I hopped worlds."
"Well... I couldn't just leave them unmarked. It wouldn't be proper now, would it?" He gave an understanding nod, looking at the gravestones. "... come, back into my hall, and I will regale you with tales of the hunt! Have you ever seen a man who fought a linnworm and lived? Well, now you have!"
I couldn't help but laugh from hearing this, "At least someone's having fun here."
Afterwards I followed him back through the castle and listened to his adventures from over the last nearly two years. Yet before I did I looked over my shoulder once more at the two graves and wiped my tears away. While I listened to the Baron he lead me to a room where seamstresses had worked a long while ago, thus helping me find clothing that had been made for my mother that I could now once altered. So I did, mending a tunic and leggings to wear until I could return home and mend my battle gear. Returning to the baron I declared, "I think in a few days I will head out to see what has become of the dragons while I recover my magic and shadow."
Raising his hands, he gave a defensive position. "I swear I have not hunted down a single one! In fact, I came across a nest of them some months ago! They seem to be on the incline."
My eyes lit up hearing this, "You saw them?! A nest?! Where?!"
A hopeful smile on my face, "They must have survived Shadow's attack those years ago! That means..." I paused as my eyes watered, "It means I didn't fail this world!"
I then realized that by making Shadow chase after me, they had been safe and free to roam and build their numbers. "I'd love to see them, I'll go once I recover a bit more."
"Up in the mountains, towards the North. I warn you there, the beasts up there are particularly fearsome and aggressive."
"I'll be careful, but I really need to see the dragons for myself," she smiled still, "It's important to me, but thank you for your advice and help."
After a few days of rest and regaining some of my strength I headed towards the North. Swinging my pack over my back I began my ascent up the mountains. Old instinct I thought was long forgotten kicked in as I scaled the cliffside. At times I would look over and out towards where I'd started from to see it growing smaller with distance. As I did I realized my claws and wings would have made this go much faster, however with my shadow the way it was I knew I didn't have that in me right now.
Giving a determined smirk I continued my way in the same way I had when meeting the others. As I did I felt a pang in my chest that made my eyes mist as I reached for the next bit of rock to hang on from. Making sure not to slip I took a deep breath and thought of home for a moment. My real home now. The one that was worlds away locking me out with a thick doorway I couldn't breach as is. Glancing back again my mind attempted to show me instead the pond in the distance calling me back. Such an odd thing I realized to see a stadium as more of a symbol than a castle was to me now. A smile attempted to curve my lips none the less as I wished they could be adventuring with me.
Catching sight of my warped shadow however reminded me why this wasn't possible right now. Shadow was growing ever desperate and would use whatever he could to get what he wanted. I shuddered as my mind played out Duke's form shifting unwillingly from Shadow's puppetry over him. Then my grip tightened on the cliff as I heard the teammates he had formed, twisting their nature and draining who they were.
These thoughts and others pushed me forward as I continued my climb. The weather grew harshly cold as I did. Rocks along the cliffside became rigid and slick with sleet and ice. Shifting my stance and grip I slid to the side and found a bit of a trail covered in snow to begin my way up further. Throwing on a cloak my father had worn I began my hike with my boots sinking into the snow. At one point I felt myself slip and slide back down a bit when stepping on covered ice. Scrambling I made a purchase of ground beneath the snow and held on to keep from falling back down. Then with a breath taken and released I pulled myself up and continued on a bit more cautiously. It took longer this way, but then I couldn't be in a hury right now.
So my thoughts returned home once more as I made my way slowly. I wondered what antics Nosedive was up to if he had recovered already. I knew they were probably on the alert after the last scrape, upping the security and looking over readings from Shadow to adjust to. Tanya would have it figured out in no time. Mallory was probably keeping an eye out for other trouble in the meantime, patrolling with Wildwing and Grin perhaps to stay busy. I wanted to apologize to them for leaving so suddenly as I had. Yet I'd known there wasn't much else I could do. We needed time that Shadow wasn't willing to give. We needed to form a plan. And...I needed to get him away from them, to get his claws out of their shadows. With his deal completed with me he had released their essence back to them, restoring who they were. At least in that I had succeeded.
Yet I knew he wasn't seeing it that way. While Duke watched over our Avery and Flynn he wondered how this had happened. How Shadow had stolen me from him when he'd promised to keep that from occuring. My eyes and brow twisted into a grimace as I breathed, "It wasn't your fault..." For once I needed to steal him from Shadow's claws, and I had.
Though in my core and in my very bones I knew this wasn't over. Shadow had slipped away to recover and would come back. After all these years he hadn't given up yet. In all these years with them he'd been trying to reach my magic and I. He'd attempted when we'd barely begun as a team. An enounter I'd forgotten for a long while echoed in my head as I realized, "That's how he knew...he'd seen them...and him..."
The day when Duke and I had finally broken away from holding back.
Deep in this memory I had nearly missed the sight of a large wing casting it's shadow over the mountain I was hiking up. Looking up I found not a dragon, but a roaring wyvern seeking a meal. I froze hoping it hadn't spotted me. My cloak remained up and was darkly colored to blend in with the mountain...if there weren't snow covering it. Snarling it dove down towards me, screeching with talons readied. Leaping to the side I tried not to slip again as my boots sunk into the slick snowbank and pulled me down with ice beneath my heels. The harsh cold of it stung through my gloves and clothing, dampening them as well. Yet there wasn't time to tend to this as the creature landed with it's talons digging into the Earth. Then it stomped towards me trying to pick me up with the claws of it's webbed fingered wing. Rolling to the side a bit I drew my glaive and held it up, slashing at it's wing. It shrieked in pain, causing the very mountain to tremble with us. Glancing up I could see thick snow shaken from the peek rapidly approaching us. It did too as it went to get away. Taking a shot I grabbed onto it's spined tail and held on with all my might to keep from slipping off. With it taking off I avoided being burried, but was now on a swift trip towards it's nest.
My eyes darted in search of a safe landing as it ascended further up the mountain side. Knowing I was there it then hastened it's flight until a nest was in sight. Then with a spin it swung it's tail to shake me off of it. My grip loosened as I went flying, hitting my back against the cliff and falling into the nest on my hands and knees shakily. Again it landed with a harsh thud and growled at me with eyes gleaming of...rubies? Looking up I breathed cautiously as it watched me close in return. Any wrong move and...I'd never return home. Yet also, as I watched it something sparked within me. Much as it had those days long ago when I'd first met my dragon companion or Mother's hatchlings.
"You...you and I are kinda similar aren't we friend?" I asked, "Caught between bodies and realms because of it?"
It's gemlike eyes narrowed as mine focused.
"I know I don't look it...but I share scales and wings to fight with as well. I'm a dragon, but I'm not at the same time. As you stand in a world of Dragons..." I gave a light laugh, "I stand in one with ducks. Despite not looking like them...other than a brief time..." I laughed again, "They've never questioned my placement with them. Is that how you feel I wonder? You hide up here in the mountains because you know it's dangerous for you despite how close to your cousins you really are."
It backed up slightly as I tried to stand up.
I then glanced to the side and found a single egg wrapped in whatever warmth the mother could find. Stepping back myself I removed my cloak and slowly reached it out towards her. When she looked to me bewildered I pulled back and stepped cautiously towards the egg. As it growled I breathed calmly, "I'm not going to hurt it. I promise from one mother to another."
I then wrapped my cloak around the egg carefully, making sure she could watch me the entire time. It did just that with those fiery wild eyes. As I rested my hand against the covered shell I tried to feel for something within. Warmth, movement, anything.
"It'll hatch soon if we can keep it warm," I said after observing the slight shift and push I felt from inside, "but food is scarce here, we'll have to move elsewhere."
The wyvern let out a groan of a growl in response. At that it approached and curled up beside it's unhatched child.
"Can you understand me?" I then asked.
To my bewilderment it nodded it's head. I now began to wonder just what little difference there was between her and the dragons I once protected. Observing her she was built mostly the same in structure, with differing wings. From what I could tell she understood my words, but couldn't speak as Mother had through our thoughts.
"Can you let out a breath for me?" I asked stepping back to give her room.
Lifting her head she reared her neck back and turned so not to catch her egg or I in what was unleased. In that instant a sonic force burst forth from it's mighty jaws pushing back the snow on the patch of mountain encasing her nest. Once the ground ceased in it's trembling from the roar let out and I steadied myself I walked up to her intrigued, "Can all of you understand us?"
She looked to me a bit bewildered it seemed.
"About 2 years ago a nest of you were nesting near a castle," I pointed towards the fallen kingdom, "were you one of them?"
She followed my gesture as though trying to remember something before suddenly glaring at me with a growl. I winced remembering the fight we'd had. I raised my hands up, "I'm not here to fight. We were simply trying to protect one another then."
Then I asked, "Could you understand my friends?"
She nodded her head and then watched as I tried to think things through a bit more.
"Where are the others?" I inquired, "There were three of you before."
She shook her head. Again I grimaced as she looked towards the kingdom with pained eyes. My core sunk as I realized what had happened.
"I will fix this...I know I can't bring them back, but I can put a stop to you being hunted," I replied regretfully, "And it'll protect the rest of you from here on out."
Then I looked down the trail leading in the opposite direction, "But first I need to finish a quest I am on. There's a nest of dragons nearby. If I can find it perhaps I can talk with it's mother or father to let you join the group. You can protect one another and build a flight."
How did I remember all of this? Memories that were long locked away echoed as I brushed my hand gently against her snout. She moaned a soft growl as I attempted, "Let me help. I will give a signal if it's safe. If not I will come back and we'll try something else. Just hang on okay?"
She seemed to give in with dispair threatening to put out the fire in her eyes. Stroking her scaled face I promised, "We'll find a way to help your baby."
With that I began my hike down the other side of the mountain side towards the next the Baron had marked on my map. The frigid weather attempted to force me to a standstill now that I was without my cloak. Hugging my arms to my chest I tried to look back to make myself laugh a bit, "How did...I survive...on Puck World...if I can't take a bit of snow...?"
It started to work as a bit of warmth filled my chest thinking back on those earliest of days. A soft chuckle escaped my lips as I recalled Nosedive taking me clothes shopping, or attempting to and quickly getting sidetracked. As I remembered it I dressed like him most of the time, only with a long sleeve shirt beneath my hooded vest to make up for my lack of feathers. Yet deep down I knew it wasn't clothing alone that had kept me warm despite dwelling on an icy planet.
"Weren't you guys afraid of what taking me in would mean?" I wondered.
They hadn't known a thing about me. No hospital on their planet would have known what to do with me had I not recovered as I had. I'd known I was running from something even then...weren't my brothers worried about that something finding me eventually? Was it worth the risk if Shadow had followed after me rather than being sealed away? I hadn't really grown up with Wildwing and Nosedive, and yet they act like I did in some ways. They could have been in real danger.
"You knew that didn't you?" I realized.
Perhaps not the severity of Shadow. Yet Wildwing at least had to have known that there was a danger in bringing me inside that night. However it didn't matter much did it? You carried me inside with Nosedive, and from that moment you carried part of my burden without my knowing or protesting.
It was as simple as that wasn't it? That one decision. They could have easily called the hospital and sent me on my way instead. They could have tossed Duke's note aside and...my core grew warmer. He'd made a choice that night too hadn't he? With as much risk as they had. He could have stayed back. A possible outcome would have been my magic waking up far early on as a result and I would have my memories. Though not my freedom I'd learned to appreciate...
"Losing her memories may have been the best thing for her..." Mallory's comment echoed in my head.
In a way it was true. Before then I had hopped from place to place, giving myself appointed tasks far too big for one person. Yet I drilled it into myself that I had to be the one to continue on that way. With my family and kingdom lost to me...so was I...So I gave myself an endless set goal to try and achieve, even if it was from a place of passion. What love I had for it over the years had grown to be automatic in someways due to isolation. While caring for the dragons I protected, even with them taking me in as one of their own, it wasn't the companionship I craved. Mother knew this and despite traces of effort...I knew my chances were thin in this world. Even with my attempts to connect with champions of our own realm I knew it for not. Dragons weren't seen as those to protect, even though it was preserving the world they knew.
When Asteroth and Shadow invaded I knew there was no hope for this. With the lord of the red dragon usurping the kingdom I knew in my core that no one would help me in my plight. With Borg having to go into hiding and my having to run back to the nest during that battle...I knew all too well. The name of dragons had been all but dragged through the mud and would be feared increasingly than ever before. Their rapidly dwindling numbers had shown this.
"That's why I was there..." I vaguely recalled.
The day of the invasion. I had noticed my bretheren under attack suddenly and had gone to investigate as to why. The hunters had bore the royal crest. Were they going against the prince's orders, or had he forsaken our cause for his people's wishes? Either way I had gone to find out.
Finding the skies stained crimson as blood over Anaheim I quickly found my answer. The people were scattered and afraid, and demanding the slaughtering of the creatures before they could attack with their leader. Prince Borg had been forced into hiding to escape the sorceror taking his castle so he could fight back one day. This left his guards under Asteroth's control and decree. He was ordering their hunt to commence to rid himself of competition. Even if magic died one day, his would remain absolute with the dragons gone. I had tried to fight back. Wielding the star sword I had stolen...I had tried. That's when Shadow had found me in the castle and tried to make me his puppet as Asteroth created his own with the remaining royal guard.
My powers had woken up, but the sword had not. Forcing me to flee and warn mother...Shadow followed to where our true first battle had commenced.
With my escaping to another realm out of a desperate plight for help, I had lead Shadow to a realm between worlds. There I had trapped him upon reaching Puck World without knowing. Had I not lost my memories I could have gone back with help...or maybe...maybe I knew there was more that needed help...that I wasn't willing to admit with my memories intact. As much as I wanted to fight back, as much as I wanted to return and protect what I had sworn to...perhaps I knew. With my memories stolen from me that night I was free to at last give in and say, "Please...help..." I barely breathed as Duke had lifted me up that night...though neither of us had heard one another that night, he still listened.
I froze standing while looking out over the cliffside. As I did I took in the scenery for a few moments. In the distance I could see a vast forest surrounding a structure deep within it, reaching up and clawing at the heavens above it. Shrouding it was a thick mist making it difficult to see what it was.
Then I glanced down to feel my heart leap with hope. Hidden away among the cliffs of the mountain was an opening not unlike the one Mother had used in our caverns. Securing my rope I started my way down to it. Gripping the thick cord I used the moutain side to steady myself as I leapt down in spurts. At last reaching the mouth of the cave I left the rope where it was to easily climb back up if needed.
Without a sound I headed inside slowly. Stepping with caution I crept along the throat of the canverns, at least shielded from the wind now as I did. My damp clothes still clung to me like a cold wrap against my small frame. Shivering a bit I tried again to focus my thoughts on more comforting times. Our earliest adventures helped. I winced at my attempts to fight back then...It had taken some time to grow used to fighting again with my memories pulled away. Though I had never been willing to give up either. Even at the start.
After all they had done for me, the risk they had taken by taking me in, it wasn't difficult deciding to stand with them. Skills hidden away or not I was going to fight. They said I could have run...but that simply wasn't so. I could run from a lot of things, but never them.
"But you did run didn't you...?" His cruel whisper taunted, echoing down the natural hall.
"No...because unlike before I intend to get back to them," I answered firmly.
"So you say. However as I recall you looked for a way out as soon I got a hold of you," he retorted.
"To get you away from them," I assured, "And out of our home."
"Then why haven't you gone back to them yet?" He inquired.
I didn't answer in words, but glanced at my shredded shadow casted at my feet. A twisted chuckle filled my ears as I stepped into a deep opening within the caverns, "You've tapped yourself out have you?"
"I've got enough," I bluffed.
"I wonder..." he snickered from the depths of the stone dome we had met in.
I realized quickly that I could see just fine with my eyes shifting to their draconic state. Perhaps not all of my magic was in need of recovery. Some inate part still seemed to be there for me to tap into.
"Why are you...?" I trailed off when I looked deeper into the room, passed him.
Behind his strengthening form was a still body of what had been a slumbering dragon. Rapidly my blood began to boil as he grinned his hollow smile back at me.
"It was quite an exceptional meal, raw and quite obstainable. Though I assure you it went peacefully," he said to me as I began to slink along the wall.
"Why...?" My voice tried not to shake.
"I was hungry after our fight from before. You left me quite torn apart as you have before...and yet you can never quite finish me off can you?" He taunted.
"I can try again!" I growled as claws began to emerge from my fingertips, "I'll shred you apart for this!"
"Will you now? Go ahead and try child," he mused while sitting back against the shadow cast from an object across from me.
As he stroked his tendriled hand over it I looked to find three dragon eggs resting in their nest.
"Once they hatch I can get a bit more nourishment. Such sweet fruit they will be for my labors over the last few years chasing you!"
"Why are you chasing me?! What do you hope to gain?!"
"Because you were strong enough to wake me up and break my seal, and it's rude for one's breakfast to run away!" He scoffed while sneering at me with empty eyes.
My eyes shot wide open upon hearing this, "All of this because I walked in at the wrong time?!"
"Not exactly," he shrugged, "You did offend me that day, and the offender must pay their price."
"I was a child! You took away my home! You chased me from this realm! All because I woke you up?!"
"That was how it began...but seeing how you grew made me crave you all the more little wisp," he cackled with sick delight.
"I grew up alone protecting the magic of this realm from creatures like you!"
"But if I hadn't chased you, you never would have met that dear thief of yours would you?" He retorted sharply.
Seeing me recoil he continued to push, "Long before you had met your draconic mother you had magic within you child, that energy sparking in your core drew me to you. It's what gives you a voice without words, it's what makes you able to open doorways sealed away by space itself. Without the proper push however you never would have known."
"You think you did me any favors?!"
His laughter drowned my ears, "Of course not, I did myself a favor. By pursuing you that magic has grown and will be quite the feast. Your abilities will become my own as a result, and your body will be my vessel until it crumbles to dust. No matter what I will not be sealed away again! I will open all the doors of space and dimensions and continue to grow."
"No you won't!" I snapped, "You will not slip away this time! I won't let you near Duke and the others again!"
Without realizing it my body began to shift from my growing rage. Before I'd never known why! Before I'd never asked! I just ran!
"You are not why I met him! You're not why I found my teammates!" I shouted with energy sparking around me.
"But I am aren't I? Had I not been after you, forcing you to use your magic, would you have tried to leave? Would you have opened the door to their realm?" He mocked.
As he spoke my scales swiftly grew over my body. All of their faces flashed in my head as my core burned unbareably within me.
"You never would have met them!"
"You're wrong! They came to this world, I would have found them!" I insisted while fighting the rising panic in my chest, "I...I would have met him!"
"Is that so?" He snickered as my body began to change into that of the dragon I would have become long ago had it not been for...
I was so tired of this chase. My heart burned to go home. My body ached to be in his arms as well as to hold my children. Memories tried to pull me back to my teammates.
"What will be different this time?" He questioned with a smile I failed to notice as a tail whipped out from my spine.
"I have to do this! I have to stop you!"
"Like three years ago? Like the other day?" He pushed, "March on then!"
My jaw realigned to that of a dragon's maw as I gritted my sharpening teeth. Energy lashed out around me as I stepped between him and the eggs. The light of my bursts of electricity severed him from their shadow.
"I will make sure every sliver of you is burned away!" I growled with wings bursting from my back, "And then I will-"
"And with this you will be mine as you should have been years ago!" He cackled as he reached his tendrils out and began to absorb the very energy I was attempting to lash out at him with, "And don't worry...I'll be sure to reunite you with your thief soon enough...or at least your body as I use your claws to shred him apart! Almost makes you wish you hadn't run in the first place doesn't it? At least then he'd be spared?"
As these words reached my now pointed scaled ears my energy came to a sudden pause.
"If you'd never opened the door to them they would have never known of any of this, and they would be safe," he sneered grinning ear to ear.
"Until you opened the door to their realm," I said.
"Of all the realms out there I may not have ever gotten to them," he retorted.
I looked directly into his hollow spaces for eyes. My core twisted in on itself as I began to question all that I knew. Then I instantly stopped at the first image of them to come to mind. As we stood together right as our resistance was forming, not knowing one another beyond my brothers and I. None the less we faced that battle united and took on an ongoing mission just the same.
At this something snapped within me.
"It doesn't matter how we met! All that matters is that we did! It's not because you chased me away from fear, but because I found the courage to seek out someone! To seek them out! And we forged our team without knowing what you even were!" I growled as a heat rose in beneath my scales, "Together we will finish every battle that comes our way, including the one with you!"
Yet still he laughed, "Either way you won't defeat me now. Not like this!"
"I can buy them more time and protect these hatchlings in the process!" I pushed while focusing the energy within me and lashed out at him.
He continued to laugh while reaching his hands out to me and drinking in the energy with them, "That's it child! Curve my craving at last! Ensure that I can never be locked away again!"
Then I paused, waking up to what he was doing. Glancing at my own shadow I found that of a scaled beast, the shadow of a dragon rather than the one I knew. Once more he'd set his trap carefully. He'd known I would erupt when faced with the now dead creature behind him. He'd known I would try to defend the eggs behind me. He knew how to taunt me while so fatigued and home sick. Why hadn't I known this after all this time?!...Or maybe...
At this I breathed in deeply, turned my head and let out a roar bursting with light and energy that he tried to reah for. It's light burst down the hall I had wandered in from. Shadow scoffed, "What a waste, but it won't matter will it?"
My sapphire eyes narrowed looking down at the being of shadow. His hollowed face sneered with hunger and delight. Slinking towards my shadow he mused, "Now to claim this vessel and open the realms as I see fit!"
I stepped back while trying to force back the transformation I'd undergone.
"No..." I realized as I struggled.
"It's too late," he assured as he reached to grasp the throat of my cast shadow resting along the wall.
"This is why isn't it?" I realized without words spoken out.
"Even if I can't defeat you, I can protect them," I insisted as I began to lash out at Shadow again, focusing the light of it upon him.
He shrieked and laughed all at once. As he was pulled apart by the light, he held onto the magic he'd grasped. This all but confirmed what he had warned me of. Like this I could not finish our fight. He would go on surviving with my magic even at my strongest. Despite the light shredding him it also nurtured the slivers scattering away to regroup and strengthen.
As he split into pieces I found them gathering around my shadow waiting to pounce. Their tendrils reached out to overwhelm me. I in turn backed away while still shielding the eggs behind me from his grasp.
"Guys..." I breathed without a voice, a heat engulfing me.
His shadowed hand closed around my throat to rob me of the ability to cry out. He gathered together and narrowed his eyes with a wicked smile, "Ironic I will have a dragon's body after being sealed away by them. It will be so vigorating to unleash it upon your quaint little city you've been dwelling in all these years! When they see your scales they'll know how you finally fell to me!"
"And they won't be able to stop you will they?" His grip on me tightened.
Looking around desperately I realized further his set up. The darkly lit cavern was his domain. My energy could lash out, but as long as there was a shrouded piece of stone he could escape and drink in the magic of my attacks. Frustration continued to build in me as I glared at him. His tendrils went to wrap around my shadow, attempting to envelope me as he had at the pond. As he brushed a clawed hand over my scaled face he laughed, "You are finally as you should have been. Why be a mere human when you can be this? Why be a part of that pathetic flock when you could stand on your own?"
"Guys!...Duke!" I could hear my mind scream without a voice to cry out with.
Just as he went to merge with me I felt the light in my eyes try to hang on, growing wild and bright as sapphires gleaming in the dark. A burst of energy engulfing me as I lashed out to try and get him off of me. He held on tight with a tendrilled hand gripping my shadow as a heated light erupted from me out of desperation. This was all I could ever do, he would survive every time I fought him alone due to the nature of my magic, the magic he craved. Yet at the same time... "I will hang on no matter what it takes!" My mind went on as I stood my ground.
"You will be mine!" He cackled madly.
Suddenly a mighty roar shook the cavern we were locked in battle within. Looking down the hall of stone I could see something thunderously approaching. Her wings tucked to her sides the wyvern I'd met came forth letting out another roar, this time unleasing the sonic force it had displayed before. I managed to hold on to my steady stance in my draconic form, shielding the eggs with my wings from the attack. Yet Shadow found his grip slipping as the force made the walls he clung to tremble, thus making his form unstable. At this I let out one more of my own, with electricity and crystalled dust emitting from my jaw it lapped at him to knock him back. He shrieked with rage as he slid back down another tunnel. Though without seeing him, I knew he had both lost and gained with this encounter. As long as there was a sliver he could get through he'd get away and had gotten a taste of the meal he was determined to have.
With him gone for now I felt my body beginning to revert back. My own shadow was a warped and shredded mess by this point as I fell to my hands and knees. Yet looking to the wyvern I could see my eyes still reflecting a shimmering with a lingering light.
"Thank you..." I attempted looking up at her.
She nodded her head before turning to head back.
"Wait!" I said quickly, causing her to pause.
Shakily getting to my feet I looked back to the eggs and then their ever sleeping mother now. Turning to the wyvern I spoke, "They need a mother...and your child needs a flock to be strong."
She tilted her head curiously, lifting her wing to reveal her carried egg beneath it still wrapped in my cloak. Cautiously she then walked over to the nest and looked over them. Together we could feel the shifting from within the shells.
"I will make sure your child is not hunted, but I think you know by doing this you can prove what you both are regardless, don't you?"
"There's a thriving forest nearby it seems, so there must be food for you and your young. Protect one another and your numbers will grow and grow strong from this point on," I added.
She slowly nodded her head before placing her egg carefully with the rest. Then she curled up beside them and wrapped her tail around the eggs to shield them. A weak smile curved my lips when I watched her with them. This was how Shadow had lost, "Alone we can not win...no matter how we fight on. But the battle we'll bring together will be the turning tide that wins this war!"
Upon saying this I turned to leave out the cavern. However as I did I felt the wyvern mother wrap a wing around me to pull me close to her. Giving a soft laugh I hugged her back.
"Thank you..." I just barey heard in my mind.
Looking to her I saw her nod her head and speak with her new voice, "We will be okay."
Turning to the fallen dragon I tried to understand what was making this possible. Perhaps a lingering magic in the cavern itself? Or maybe the wyvern herself had unlocked something already deep within herself. Either way I smiled and gave a nod to the mother of four, "We certainly will be."
With that I headed back out of the cavern. Looking out over the forest shrouded in fog beneath the mountain side I reached my hand out. Yet try as I might I could not get a door to open. My trembling body reminded me of why. What strength I had recovered had all but been diminished with that fight. Frustration fueled me as I begged to go home. Fatigue washed over me as I crumbled to my knees now, "Duke...? Guys?"
Would this cycle just continue? Shadow and I would be locked in this fight as I was locked away from them? I shook my head desperately, "Just a bit longer...I have to hang on..."
With this I succumbed to my exhaustion and crumbled to the ground on my side. Unable to stay awake I looked up at the darkening sky above me. As I did I recalled a dream of a memory that echoed out to me...
"Duke?" Nosedive had asked shortly after Duke and I had gotten together.
"What is it Dive?" He'd replied without knowing I was in the hallway just outside.
"I've just been curious," my twin had started, "I'm glad you and my sis are together...but isn't it weird with her being human?"
"She's your sister despite being human isn't she?"
"Well yeah," Nosedive said without a second thought.
I had paused at the door, remaining there with curiosity tugging at me.
"Then why would this be strange?"
"I guess it really isn't when you put it that way...although I think Phil and some other humans are having trouble getting used to it," Nosedive laughed.
Duke shrugged, "That's hardly goin' to change anythin'. Now that I have her I'm not lettin' her go..." he trailed off.
"So you were carrying a torch for her for a while?"
Duke nodded his head admitting, "It seems we both were."
"So what was it then if you don't mind me asking as a curious big brother?"
Duke had then turned his head, glancing towards me knowingly before answering.
Duke:
"Those wild sapphire eyes of hers drew me in..." I replied again, telling my children now to try and ease their cries for their mother somehow.
I then turned my head slightly while sitting on the sofa, knowing she wouldn't be in the hallway, "In those eyes I found trust I'd never imagined I ever would."
"That's obnoxiously sweet," Nosedive teased from beside me.
"You said somethin' like that three years ago," I chuckled.
"Well it still is," Nosedive smiled.
It was then that I felt something sharp in my chest. Looking towards the now glowing star sword I found myself handing my children to the young drake beside me urgently.
"Dukester what's the matter?" He asked taking the twins from me carefully.
"Heart...she's in trouble..." I realized with growing fear gripping my chest.
I reached for the hilt and held up the blade unsure of what to do.
"It's been about two weeks..." Wildwing mentioned entering the room and seeing this transpire.
"I can't wait for her...I know Shadow's there...but I also know somethin's wrong...she would have come back by now," I tried to explain, "She-"
"Duke," our leader rested a hand on my shoulder as I waited for him to try and sop me, "Go bring our sister home please!"
He and Nosedive nodded as they both seemed to hear something that wasn't there. A voice cried out to each of us without her being anywhere near.
With that I drew the Star Sword and swiftly cut through the air to create a door. As I did I felt a vague sensation of energy being pulled from my core, but I ignored it for the time being. Instead I hurried through the opened gateway as I commanded, "Bring me to her!"
As the doorway sealed behind me I ran ahead, eager to see her and those eyes of hers again looking up at me as she always had...
