If you enjoyed the chapter of Jak meeting the dragon guardians, you'll love this next one then, with all the artifacts gathered, its time to activate the master control!
Chapter 22: Dragons on Elorin
The trio in the temple atrium had seen the screen the precursor had conjured for them fade away. Leaving them to process what they had just witnessed, from the tests to the horrors they had unveiled. The possibility of giant arachnids living within the bowels of their planet definitely gave them some cause of concern, though the biggest shock of all was witnessing Jak's transformation. Though unlike Jace and Pulster who were shocked, Cyril was feeling quite peeved, for he knew that Spyro and Cynder must have known something about this and never bothered telling any of them. It would not be the first time the young dragons had kept secrets from the guardians, and they had been warned before that the consequences would be severe if they ever did so again. Though he wasn't sure if he had any ground to stand on himself, giving that he had kept a secret from his fellow guardians regarding the mystic gem he had given to Cynder. Suddenly, right in front of them, an orange glow materialized into cylinders emitted right in front of them!
SHHOOOMMM
The shapes of Jak and Terrador emerged from them, and the lights faded away showing their true colors. In their hands and paws were the final two artifacts they had retrieved prior to completing the test. The trio led by Cyril stood wide eyed for a moment in silence.
"Wow, now that's an entrance," commented Jace, causing the triumphant trio to turn towards them.
"I expected you to come out of another door or something, though I guess this place gets points for creativity," added Cyril.
"Creativity?! Suurrreee…" Daxter ranted, "If coming up with creative ways on terrorizing, vandalizing, or otherwise killing us deserves credentials, then yes! This place makes it at least to the top five of the list!" His rant received no response from the dragons, other than cold blank stares, something Daxter was quick to notice.
"Oh, now you guys are going to give us the cold shoulder too? Great, one little freak out and we're labeled most undesirable," Daxter complained.
"Don't flatter yourself furball," said Jace, "we were ignoring you long before, well, we saw what we saw." His stare turned to Jak.
"You saw what happened?" asked Jak concerned.
"Your precursor was most obliging," said Cyril, "though I'm starting to wonder if we would have been better off reconsidering it." Jak could do nothing but look at each one of them left to right, Terrador, Pulster, Jace and Cyril were all giving him disapproving looks. He could do nothing but shake his head shamefully, it was like Haven City all over again. Something dire happens, he changes, and all the witnesses would then shun him, if not run away from him. The only way out was to give them the full story here and now, hoping that he would cover any parts that Spyro and Cynder left out. He couldn't lose their trust like this after gaining it so fast, the fate of his friends and his planet depended on this alliance!
"Then allow me to be obliging," he began, "if you would allow me to give you the full details of how and why that happened in there, will you be willing to listen, and try to understand?"
The dragons looked at one another in silent discussion, keeping the two outlanders in suspense. Daxter gulped a little as they appeared to be as still as statues for a minute. Then, the acolytes shrugged their shoulders to their superiors, where as the two guardians merely nodded to each other. Turning around to face Jak again, Terrador spoke, "Very well, make it brief."
Jak went into a quick but detailed story of when he first arrived in Haven City, to being unjustly imprisoned by the tyrant Baron Praxis, followed by the cruel dark eco experiments conducted on him by said tyrant and his former right hand Errol for two long years. Daxter had cut in and said he had rescued Jak from prison in the nick of time, otherwise they would have killed him. After that, they pledged to make Praxis pay for his crimes and worked with the Underground on crippling his grip wherever they could. Of course, that was when Spyro and Cynder arrived, and they all knew the rest.
"Like I said to them, I broke them out to ensure that what happened to me wouldn't happen to them. Otherwise, well I'd rather not know what effect dark eco could have on a dragon," Jak finished explaining. The dragons turned toward each other feeling uncomfortable, for the outlander made a valid point. They had already seen how dark elements corrupted one purple dragon, and their greatest dread was that the same thing could happen to Spyro, if not by his own free will like Malefor, then by some outside force.
"Well I guess this means one thing," said Cyril, causing everyone to turn toward him, especially Jak and Daxter, feeling apprehensive. "That we too are indebted to you Jak, saving our young dragons from suffering a fate no youth should endure, and despite your misfortunes, you have managed to turn this supposed curse into a strength, directing it toward your enemies and not your allies."
Jak looked shocked at his gift of gratitude, instead of condemning him for acting and looking like a monster, they congratulated him for being anything but! All the dragons gave him reassuring nods and grins, which he returned wholeheartedly. It was clear to him now where Spyro and Cynder gained their understanding from the first time they saw him change. Daxter wiped his brow as a sign of relief.
"We are relieved as well," added Terrador joining in, "we can't allow any more young dragons to lose their way in these times. Poor Cynder was already forced once to follow the dark path against her will, and though she is free now, I doubt she can go through such a turmoil again." The outlanders closed their eyes and drooped their heads, remembering Cynder's painful story told to them by Spyro.
"And Spyro," Terrador continued, "his potential has been proven greater than any dragon before him, and we are ashamed to say our greatest fear has always been that corruption would find a way to taint his heart, especially since entering the Well of Souls to rescue Cynder long ago. For if it did, we may be looking at an even greater danger than Malefor was."
"You can't believe that!" Jak shouted stunning them, he looked up at all of them with a gaze of steel, "Spyro may have a lot of power that's true, but power is nothing without a will to do what's right. I know I haven't known him as long as you guardians have, but from what I've seen, his heart and his will have always been in the right place, even more than me. He's even told me himself after completing his story on confronting the Dark Master the last time we met..."purple dragon or not, I'm nothing like him and I never will be"...
"Well said young warrior, well said," said Cyril nodding. Pulster and Jace gave the human a grin and Terrador followed Cyril's example. Jak just smiled while holding the Omniprism under his arm. Everyone was actually enjoying the momentary peace and quiet until Daxter interrupted again.
"Well, now that that's all settled, I say we get outta here, put these trinkets into the gate, and go home! I wanna leave before some giant monster centipede or something shows up."
"Hehe, for once your paranoia is amusing little furry one," chuckled Terrador, "prior to what we've encountered in here, there are no such creatures like what you described that live in our lands."
"Indeed, I've said once before, the wildlife on this isle are all harmless," added Cyril.
"True master," cut in Jace, "but what about below the isle? Isn't there the possibility of other creatures living within the planet, like what we saw today?" He finished looking at the ground below his feet, with his master following his example, then Pulster, Terrador, Jak and finally Daxter. All were now feeling quite nervous and even scared, the memory of the giant spider emerging from the pit within their planet was fresh in their minds. Jace's comment may have proven merit, a lot of land creatures had been identified in the Dragons Realms and recorded within Warfangs archives, but not much was known about creatures below. Their experience today was certainly something to be added to the textbooks, but it didn't ease their present discomfort.
"Uhh, well, umm" Cyril stammered.
"Its, hmm, I guess," followed Terrador. Their stammering wasn't helping Pulster at all, and was actually feeling even more shaken up, and he was usually the one to keep a level head.
"Let's just get out of here," said Jak, "In my experience in dealing with the unknown, sometimes its best to keep moving forward." He walked off past the dragons toward the exit, Omniprism in hand and Daxter on his shoulder, shaking. The dragons pondered briefly watching him walk off.
"I'm with him," said Pulster finally, and followed Jak out.
"Master?" Jace asked Cyril.
"You heard him Jace, come on," the ice guardian said before following Pulster, his acolyte following behind swiftly. In watching the party follow the elf outside, Terrador could think to himself while still remaining stationary holding the Beta-sphere, 'kids a natural leader, and it seems like he might not be aware of how much he truly is, hehe, species aside he would have made a fine guardian.'
Back at the portal temple, where the rest of the dragon party led by Spyro and Volteer remained, a showdown was about to commence. In the absence of the others, the remaining guardian decided it would be best for all of them to keep their fighting prowess sharp. Once the party returned with the artifacts to activate the gate, some if not all of them would be making the jump to Elorin themselves, which meant new unknown wonders and dangers. Practicing to keep their skills sharp was the best way to handle whatever would come their way on an alien world. At least that's how it was put in smaller words, unlike the lengthy explanation Volteer had given before, which most of them (aside from maybe Zaxto) practically forgot every word to.
None the less, the training commenced, first it had been one on one, then two on two, alternating between the acolytes and Spyro. Now, it was 3 against 1 with the acolytes against the purple dragon. Wielder of all elements or not, he was still the youngest student present, and hadn't used his elements as long as any of the others. Though given what the young dragon had already accomplished, he proved that years of experience may be important, but wasn't everything. He was determined to prove it again, as he stood in the center of a triangle surrounded by Chloro, Zaxto, and Saphira. Volteer stood off to the side observing.
"Remember to keep on your toes and in control of not just your body, but your emotions as well, and always remember anticipate, anticipate, anticipate," the electric guardian coached. Whenever he wasn't babbling excessively, he was giving the pep of pep talks. Spyro eyed each acolyte before crouching into a fighting position. His action caused the others to follow with their own, they stood paused, waiting for the guardian's signal.
"GO!"
Chloro was first to attack with a lunging claw strike, Spyro jumped in the air and dodged, Zaxto pounced at him trying to catch him in the air. Spyro barrel rolled to avoid him completely. As Zaxto skidded in landing, Chloro jumped up to attack again, only for Spyro to dodge him again with more aerial maneuvers. His last move put him behind the earth acolyte allowing him to fire an earth shot at his back knocking him away. Zaxto attacked again, taking flight to join the purple dragon in the air. Seeing the electric acolyte come at him, Spyro turned over in the air to slam his tail at Zaxto's claw that was coming at him. Their attacks halted each other momentarily, before they recoiled slightly, and then attacked with elements, Spyro's fire blast vs Zaxto's electric stream. The fire enveloped the stream forcing Zaxto back, but Spyro was surprised from behind as Chloro fired his own Earth Shot, making the first hit against the purple dragon. Chloro then engaged Spyro with Zaxto joining him in the fray, fighting with multiple close combat aerial attacks. Spyro pulled in his wings allowing him to drop to avoid their last attacks. He then engaged his ice powers in the form of an ice tornado.
WHIRRR
The force of the ice twister hit both of them, causing them to recoil away from its diameter. Spyro ended his surprise attack, only to feel a sudden chill enveloping his body, followed by a sudden gust that grabbed him. He soon found himself in a spinning ice whirlwind that wasn't his own.
"Woooaaahhh!" he cried as he was caught in the full grip of the twister. He now realized he had forgotten someone and who was the cause of it. He was suddenly grabbed out of the twister by a blue blur, and pounded into the ground, held in place by a certain blue dragoness.
"Caught you in your blind spot purple boy," said Saphira keeping him pinned as he struggled to get free. "Don't bother, I'm bigger than you and can keep you in place for a whole hour, just surrender and you can end this with dignity, somewhat."
"You know Saphira," Spyro gasped to the older dragoness, "when it comes to my opponents trying to pin me down, you should know something…it doesn't work!" He engulfed his body in electricity, sending the full force of the energy into her.
"Aaaggghhh!" Saphira cried as she retreated away from the electrical discharge. Spyro jumped up back up on four feet as the electricity faded away, though he let out a few breaths to catch the ones he lost. Zaxto and Chloro landed on both sides of Saphira, all of them staring him down. It looked like the next round was about to begin…
"TIME OUT!" The dragons turned to see Sparx holding his hands in a timeout manner to them. They all gave exasperated looks to the dragonfly.
"Really?" asked Chloro.
"Yeah, you know the rules," said Sparx, "Volteer told me that the first sign of anyone short of breath, the match ends, and Spyro's gasping counts."
"Darn it, I barely got one hit on him," complained Chloro.
"Be happy you got one! I couldn't hit him once!" complained Zaxto.
"Maybe you should spend more time honing your fighting prowess and less time rambling your tongue," commented Saphira.
"Stay out of this! Don't think I didn't notice what you did! You only pinned him because you had us wear him down! You call that prowess?" argued Zaxto. Spyro could only watch this argument sweatdropping in silence, he dared not get in the middle of it.
"I call it strategy," said Saphira, "I had to find an opening in his moves to execute a takedown, and I did."
"Yeah, lot good it did you in the end, miss short circuit," commented Chloro.
"Better than you thick skull!" she shouted.
"Hey!" Chloro yelled back.
"ENOUGH!" Volteer yelled ending the argument, causing Spyro and the acolytes to give him their full attention as he walked over to them.
"Bickering among ourselves is most ineffectual, a real battle is currently commencing on a world presently unseen and will soon be clear to us, we simply cannot enhance the drudgery with more weight from our own stress," Volteer rambled. All the young dragons sighed and gave him a sad nod.
"Don't you all realize what's about to happen? We are all soon to embark on a journey even our distant ancestors can't recall, to establish new relations with a species wielding abilities foreign to our own yet benign in their own unique methods…"
His rambling continued on, causing Saphira and Chloro to give the electric guardian exhausted looks. Sparx gave him a look of annoyance before clamping his hands over his ears. Whether it was dealing with Volteer here in the Realms, or Daxter on Elorin, he was getting a taste of his own medicine from those who (in his opinion) had bigger mouths than him. Spyro merely rolled his eyes at his electric mentor. The only one who was giving him full attention was Zaxto, for he was just as excited as his mentor to journey to this foreign world that Spyro's friend Jak had briefly described to them.
"...its quite probable that this journey may be the most exciting in the dragon archives yet! Even right now, I'm sure old Ignitus is watching and writing the events presently unfolding," Volteer concluded.
Spyro's look turned warmhearted at the sound of his old teacher's name, who was now the Chronicler, "I'm sure he is Volteer."
"You said it!" blurted Zaxto stunning everyone, "We've only just started and I'm already pumped! Imagine, a whole new world of species with similar intelligence to ours, and intelligence means libraries! I haven't even read everything in the Dragon City library and an opportunity like this arises? Talk about providence with a treat! Master Volteer, do you think when were done planet saving we could stay awhile and…" His ramble was ended when Saphira plopped her wing against his mouth to silence him.
"Take a breath and tie your tongue blabbermouth," she stated, while thinking to herself to avoid verbally insulting the guardian in front of him, 'he just ended his own ramble and you want to get him started again? Ugh, if Zaxto really does become guardian, I may resign just to avoid listening to him. How Master Cyril put up with Volteer, I'll never know.' The electric acolyte shoved Saphira's wing away from his face and gave her a glare, but she gave him no mind.
"Master Volteer," she said, "As thrilling as it is to start a journey no dragon on our planet has ever done in our lifetime, save Spyro and Cynder of course, isn't it imperative that we not lose focus of why we are doing this in the first place? Spyro and Jak both said if we don't stop these Dark Maker monsters, there won't be a planet for any of them."
"She's right Volteer," added Spyro, "I get you're all excited, some more than others, but this future journey to Elorin is a mission, not a vacation. Plus, none of Jak's people have ever met a full grown dragon before, most of them were intimidated by just the sight of me, and if we approach them in a way that seems threatening to them, they won't hesitate to attack. Diplomacy is more important than prowess in this case, which is why Cynder stayed behind to help the monks prepare their people for our arrival. The least we can do is not trip it up in anyway."
"Ah don't worry Spyro," added Chloro, "If I can make good friends with Jak right from the start, I'm sure I can do it with others of his kin. Unlike Vacu I didn't give off a bad first impression, and that always counts."
"You good friends with Jak?" questioned Saphira, "You've barely said two words to him."
"I've asked questions," he argued.
"Sure, once," she replied
"Still counts," he replied back.
"Young ones please!" Volteer's guardian side returning with a stern voice silencing them, "keep this petty arguing up and none of you will be going, is that clear?!"
His statement caused the trio to go wide eyed, hearing that did the trick, and they all stood up as tall as they could with closed mouths. Sparx could only chuckle at their predicament while avoiding Volteer's gaze, getting reprimanded by the blabbermouth of the guardians was a rare treat to watch, and he relished it. He didn't escape Spyro's gaze though, who only glared at the little dragonfly in silence. Honestly, he was just as worried about his brother ruining the diplomacy as Volteer was about the acolytes. He could only hope the others would be back soon before tensions continued building. Little did he know his prayer had been immediately answered, for an approaching party not yet noticed by them was nearing the portal temple.
Upon exiting the temple, Vacu had immediately started asking questions, particularly about the newfound items that Jak had in his hands, and how they got them. To curb his pupil's curiosity without going into too much detail, Terrador immediately said in short answer, "these are the artifacts we came to find here, yes they have been here all this time, and yes they will activate the portal. How we got them, well it was just another test, which we passed."
Vacu accepted the short explanation and was eager to get going, for he disliked being stuck in one place for so long doing nothing. Jak gave Cyril the artifacts to put in the body satchel he had kept around his torso. After making sure they were secure, he climbed aboard Terrador again and they all set off for the portal temple. They flew once again in V-formation, Terrador in the middle, Cyril and Pulster to his right and Jace and Vacu to the left. Though as they were flying, a discussion of concerns was going on.
"It's wonderful that we have gathered the final items needed to activate the portal, but it is disconcerting what we have discovered during their retrieval," began Terrador.
"I agree old chap," said Cyril, "the fact that Malefor is once again roaming free is enough to give me chills that would freeze even my blood solid."
"I still can't believe it!" shouted Jace, "It was bad enough when it was just him and his armies to worry about! The monsters he brought alive on this world were enough to bring nearly everyone to their knees, remember the golem?! Now he has an army of evil aliens working with him, how are we going to fight that on top of the Dark Master himself?"
"Because last time you guys didn't have us," said Jak, "Like the precursor said, if both of our worlds enemies have joined forces, then it only makes sense that both of our worlds defenders will stop them."
"Your courage is admirable Jak," said Pulster, "though statistically speaking, given the fact that their numbers eclipse ours, and it takes only a purple dragon to match another's power, whom Spyro is of course, but still not as experienced as even us acolytes, the odds are slim to none of us succeeding in victory, without some sort of game changer like last time."
"Wow, thank you so much for those encouraging words Mr. Pulser," said Daxter sarcastically.
"It's Pulster," he declared.
"Whatever."
"Pulster," Terrador said getting his attention, "are you saying it's hopeless to even fight? That Spyro's previous victory over his traitorous predecessor was a fluke? and we should surrender now because he won through luck, I thought you are aware that…"
"…there is no such thing as luck," Pulster cut in, "I am well aware of that fact Master Terrador, and I accept it more than any other fact of the Dragon Guardians code. Though I guess my statement was poorly worded and you misunderstood. I didn't say anything about surrendering, I'd rather die on my feet then give the dragon traitor the satisfaction of me groveling at his. I was just giving my perspective on the situation in terms of odds. From that perspective, they are against us at every angle, but even the worst of odds has a weak point, and if it can be found once, it can be found again."
"Meaning?" Terrador asked.
"I may not believe in luck, but I do believe in miracles, the fact that another purple dragon is alive today is one in of itself, after what happened at the temple years ago. Plus the fact that even though he hasn't fully matured yet, another miracle is that he still managed to best the Dark Master on his own turf!" Pulster exclaimed, his statement seemed to be turning away from an aura of discord to one of hope, and was prevalent on all the faces of his audience.
"Not to mention the miracle we have just witnessed in this past year up to today, we've learned and proved, even only in minor details, the origins of our race on this planet! What was originally thought to be a myth, a children's story, is in fact a true fact of history, and can only be explored further from this point on!" he finished with a look of ectasy on his face, and the electric acolyte finally took a breath after finishing his speech. Everyone could only grin at Pulster as he had his moment, until Vacu spoke up.
"Wow," the earth acolyte began, "never knew you were one for emotional speeches Pulse, I guess behind that structured head and stone face of yours you really can feel, who knew?"
Pulster just snorted at his response, and turned his gaze forward again. Terrador could only shake his head at his pupil's statement, but part of him enjoyed it. Watching these youths go at it with each other reminded him this was as it should be, friends and rivals competing with each other and building one another up to rise to their full potential was what the Guardianship test was all about. For reaching said potential didn't always involve just harnessing fighting skills, mastering elements, and academic learning, but personal self development as well. Setbacks aside, what he had witnessed today from the moment the outlanders came through the portal gave him hope for the future.
"I see them!" shouted Jace. Looking ahead, the distant view of the temple was growing in size, and an assortment of colors could be seen outside it.
"Want to roar? Let them know we are coming?" joked Jak.
"Hehe, no need, they'll see us soon enough," said Terrador, before his tone turned dismal, "though I dread how Spyro will take the news that his greatest enemy is free, after all the effort it took to defeat him before." Jak shared the dragons concern, he would probably take it harder than he had taken Errol's return.
"Well, there's only one way to find out! Gentleman and dragons, let's come in for our landing!" cried Daxter. The dragons rolled their eyes, but obliged him as they began their descent toward the ground group.
Volteer had just finished reprimanding the arguing acolytes before sensing something approaching from the air. He turned, and to his enjoyment saw their remaining allies returning from their mission, hopefully successful.
"Their back!" cried Volteer. Everyone followed his gaze and saw the returning party as well.
"Alright!" Zaxto cheered.
"Yeah!" Chloro added.
"It's about time," Sparx finished.
Saphira and Spyro just smiled at the return of their friends, and though all of them shared the joy differently, they all were wondering the same thing, was the mission a success or bust? The wondering ceased as soon as they all made touchdown one at a time a few yards ahead of them, with Vacu being the last one to land. When the last dragon landed, Jak jumped off Terrador's back and onto the ground as well.
"Welcome back everyone," said Spyro, "how did the artifact hunt go?"
"It was a hairy experience! Thanks for asking," said Daxter.
"Isn't everything a hairy experience with you?" chortled Sparx, "I mean your covered in hair!"
"And you have no legs glowboy! So watch it before I step on you with mine!"
"Why you…"
"DON'T EVEN START," Spyro declared to his stepbrother. Shocking not only him quiet, but everyone else. Daxter then began to open his mouth.
"That goes double for you," warned Jak. Both sidekicks silenced themselves, and all the dragons could only grin at their predicament, the acolytes more than the guardians though. Volteer broke the silence with an important question.
"So um, I presume you've acquired the artifacts?"
"Thought you'd never ask," said Cyril, reaching to his satchel and unzipping it. He pulled out one of them, the Beta-sphere and held it in his paw for everyone to see. Volteer's group gazed at it with wonder and curiosity. Jak walked up to Cyril's side to reach into the satchel himself and pulled out the Omniprism for them to see as well.
"You did it, well done everyone," said Spyro.
"I'm curious about what you went through to get them, but seeing how we are pressed for time, that can wait till later," said Volteer.
"Yes, that would be best, and most appreciated old chap," groaned Cyril.
"Guess this means we head back down to the gate and activate the master control?" asked Chloro.
"Indeed young one," answered Terrador. "But before we open the gate, we must complete our own preparations, including informing you all of some recent news, and establishing a new chain of command."
Setting: Elorin Wasteland
Back on Elorin at the Monk temple, much had been accomplished in one day in preparation for the full activation of the portal. Seem had sent her scout to Spargus again to inform King Damas of what would soon be transpiring. Through Cynder's guidance, she had learned the names of the guardians, their mannerisms, the dragon guardian hierarchy, and how they usually dealt with diplomatic relations. She was quite surprised by some of the similarities in what they included in treaties, though instead of signing names, they used their paws dabbed in ink, something that made her wonder about the size of the paper they would use once they drafted one. Though that was a minor matter compared to ensuring Damas would comply. To say he was reluctant in allowing more aliens into his city was an understatement. His first response to the scout's report was to take action into his own hands and send out his own men to deactivate the portal indefinitely. That was until Sig stepped in again, saying that if he was willing to give Spyro a chance, why not anymore of his kind? particularly the ones who personally taught him and even raised him?
"My lord, though he arrived unannounced, Spyro has done nothing suspicious or diabolical to deserve our animosity, I personally have worked with him, and he does his own race justice if I do say so myself. Why don't we follow his example and do the same for ours? Besides you always said Spargus is open to newcomers pending approval, think of these dragons not just as aliens, but new upcoming wastelanders."
Damas still held his skepticism, but eventually allowed Sig's words to sink in. He said he would be willing to meet these guardians' leader, and only him, provided that if Sig would lead his own personal guard to the temple and meet them face to face. If the dragons returned with them all together, they would work with them from there. Following the king's orders, Sig led Kleiver, Krust and Bore to the temple via leaper lizard, since they were the only alternative to reach the Monk Temple other than the Dune Hopper. The scout was returning with them as well, and after crossing the wasteland, and ensuring they didn't catch the attention of any lurking Marauder patrols, they rode their leaper lizards across the monoliths and up to the temple entrance. The scout then escorted them inside and led the Spargus guard to the portal chamber where Seem was waiting for them. She had just turned around to see the scout return and her following party.
"Good of you all to come, though I was hoping King Damas would be with you as well," Seem said as the scout left back down the walkway.
"Our lord doesn't trust you as of late," growled Krust, "it's bad enough you've brought one alien to our planet, now you want to bring even more?"
"Aliens are already invading our planet, as I've been warning for months regarding the Day Star, what I am doing is a way to re-balance the scale of power for us," Seem informed.
"By inviting even more outland filth here? If you had any sense you would destroy this gate and close them off for good!" yelled Bore.
"Destruction of the arch is not an option! Especially when one of our own is on the other side and a dragon is still here," argued Seem.
"Then get whoever is over there back right now and destroy it then!" Bore declared.
"We have been given an incredible opportunity to begin new relations with a species that has already visited our planet before and parted on good terms, and you would have us throw it away?!" Seem retorted angrily, before taking a breath and pressing against her temple with one finger, "why your king trusts you imbeciles with his life is beyond me."
"Why you!"
"Silence Bore! That's an order!" Sig ordered with edge.
"Oh? And perhaps you…"
"You too Krust! Unless you have anything worthwhile to add, keep quiet, and keep in mind I'll be reporting to our lord about our experience here later!" Sig told both of them.
Both henchmen finally shut themselves quiet, but not without an angry grumble. Kleiver just watched the whole argument in silence. Personally, he shared the duo's distrust in these dragons, having seen one in action at the arena yesterday. He thought his king was a little too trusting in allowing the alien to roam the city, especially one that could handle a group of metalheads without breaking a sweat, and could breathe fire from the mouth! But he kept silent, preferring not to be scolded like the two loudmouths were. Besides, in his mind if they did turn against the people and attack, the dragons would make for fine hunting trophies.
"Sister Seem," said Sig, "please understand despite the opinions of 'others' Damas is willing to give these creatures the benefit of the doubt. He only requests an audience with their leader to see for himself if a collaboration is worth our while."
"From what I've learned from our mutual associate, that shouldn't be a problem. Despite how fearsome they look, they are a race that only attacks if life is threatened in any way, and not just their own but their allies as well," explained Seem.
"Well, if that purple whelp is any good at giving a schooling as he is at hunting metalheads, you must have a PhD in their ways now," said Kleiver.
"Spyro has shown quite the aptitude, but I never said it was him who was teaching me," replied Seem.
"Then who?" asked Kleiver.
"I believe that credit goes to me," said Cynder walking from behind and catching all of their attention. All of them save for Sig were shocked at the sight of her, this new black dragon was unknown to them, though she appeared the same size and age as Spyro.
"Gentlemen, allow me to introduce the Dragon Realms first liaison, and my own personal mentor and newfound friend Cynder, an 'associate' of Spyro," introduced Seem.
"Cynder? Hehe," chuckled Sig, "should have known one of you would stick around, though I always thought it would be Jak, seeing how he's one of ours."
"Jak is currently filling my role at the moment on my world, he had something to do there only he could accomplish, plus he really wanted to go," Cynder explained with a grin, "it's not every day you get to travel to a new world right?"
"True," said Sig.
"Well now," interrupted Kleiver, walking over to Cynder, "looks like not all of them come in the same shape or color, and they got females as well. What do you think now boys? They don't seem too different from us anymore now do they?" He finished his remark turning toward Krust and Bore, who could only scowl at his retort. Kleiver always loved nothing more than showing people up, even his own kin. Cynder eyed the large moustached wastelander with ilk, his tone reminded her too much of Krew, and needless to say those weren't fond memories, but she decided to be the bigger person and not give a bad first impression back.
"Right, and you are?" she asked.
"Name's Kleiver miss dragon," he answered smirking, "Damas's personal right hand, not to mention the newbie Jak's guardian."
"Kleiver," warned Sig, knowing he was overstepping his lines.
"Really? Jak's never mentioned you before," said Cynder.
"Probably because he's too busy trotting about the wasteland in the vehicles I lent to him, I can see he's gone and left the Dune Hopper here for the second time, but don't worry, he'll be getting a strict disciplining later," said Kleiver.
"Jak couldn't bring your vehicle back right now because he's currently off world," Cynder explained, "Once he gets back, I'm sure he'll put it back where it belongs."
"Really? Hehehe," chuckled Kleiver, "Newbie's more renegade than I thought if he needs another babysitter other than that yappy rodent on his shoulder to look out for him."
"Ok! now you..."
"No Sig!" Sig started to reprimand Kleiver's smart mouth before Cynder stopped him, and turned toward the wastelander again with a look of spite, "For the record blowhard…" needless to say her statement shocked everyone present, "Jak is more than capable of looking out for himself, he's saved my life on this planet more times than I've saved him. He's no newbie, and I'm not his babysitter, I'm his friend, and just so you know, those that pick on and insult my friends behind their backs don't fall under my favorite list, so watch your words."
She kept her glare while walking past him and toward Sig, leaving Kleiver motionless. Her retort angered him, but part of him was also intrigued, having never conversed with any dragon before, he never realized they had such guts. Usually those that talked back to him ended up never getting back up, but she was fearless in talking him down. Maybe having these dragons around wouldn't be so bad after all, for if there was a war coming, the last thing they needed were cowards on the front line.
"One more thing Mr. Kleiver," Cynder said pausing halfway to Sig, her back still turned to him, "call Spyro a purple whelp again, and I'll take your little gun and stick it where the sun doesn't shine."
Kleiver went wide-eyed, as did Krust and Bore, this dragoness certainly had a mouth on her, and the tone in her voice gave the notion she had the skill to back it up. Krust and Bore backed away a little bit toward Kleiver, whom only gave Cynder a stink-eye while clenching his gun as she halted in front of Sig and Seem.
"I'd listen to her if I were you guys," said another voice catching their attention. They turned to see Calidan standing by the walkway smirking at them, who had followed Cynder unseen to them until now, "she can be quite persuasive, trust me I know."
While that was occuring, Sig and Seem started conversing with Cynder, especially regarding her little talk with the wastelanders.
"Your ability to deal with disrespect never ceases to amaze me young one," commented Seem.
"I've dealt with worse, trust me," said Cynder, before turning toward Sig, "He really isn't Damas's right hand is he?"
"He likes to think so," answered Sig, "he may be one of our best gunners, but Damas has never called him anything like that."
"Figured, the king of integrity and respect you described Seem would never hire a blowhard like that as his right hand," Cynder said to the monk.
"Indeed," her tone as dismal as Kleiver's cheery personality.
"Back on track, any new activity from here yet?" Cynder asked, returning to the real issue.
"Not yet, from what I read in the book the master control would only activate if all four artifacts were inserted, but it never described how its activation appears. We have prepared ourselves as best we can on our end, so right now we are left playing the waiting game," said Seem. She then turned silent returning to a patient state. Cynder and Sig could only look at each other concerned, at this point it was unknown when the portal would open again. The dragon ancestors could have hidden the artifacts anywhere in the Dragon Realms, it could take months for them to return, and they didn't have that kind of time! They had taken a gamble in sending the foursome through the portal for an unknown amount of time, they just hoped the cost wasn't too high.
Setting: Dragon Realms
Inside the Dragon Realms temple at the maw of the sealed gate, the group were finalizing their own preparations in opening the portal. Cyril had given his body satchel to Jace and made sure it was full of the dragon's records of their research from this place. Contents included the rune transcripts of the portal, and one of the Dark Maker foot molds, and it was Jace's mission to ensure it would all be returned to the Warfang Dragon Temple for security. Saphira had gone and refastened her own satchel to her body, and filled it with her own copies they had of everything, transcripts and molds. It had been decided that the guardians would establish foreign relations as a full team effort, Terrador, Cyril and Volteer would journey to Elorin to meet with Jak's people, each taking one acolyte with them. It had been decided that Jace, Vacu, and Pulster would remain in the Dragon Realms to act as temporary guardian heads until their mentors returned. There was arguing of course, particularly from Jace and Vacu, who felt like they were being denied the chance of a lifetime. The guardians reasoned that they should consider this an honor, and an advanced exam, to see if the acolytes could truly handle the guardian responsibilities on their own. Also, in case something should happen to them, the acolytes would have to take their place so that the guardians still lived. Jace and Vacu reluctantly relented, feeling proud that the guardians trusted them to take their place, even though the opportunity to travel to another planet had been denied to them. Terrador turned to Volteer, electing that Pulster should be their leader in his place, for out of the 3 of them, he had noticed the electric acolyte was the best at keeping a level head, one of if not the most viable traits in leadership. Pulster humbly accepted, much to the grumbling of the other two.
While Terrador and Volteer talked to the one group of acolytes, Cyril was overseeing the others. Saphira's satchel was full of contents to give to the monks, both to help the dragons understand them, and as another act of establishing good relations. Even though she felt a little irritated at having to deal with Zaxto and Chloro a little more since they would be accompanying her, she was more than thrilled to be able to see her best friend again soon, and to journey to an alien world, something others only dream of. Separate from both groups, Jak, Daxter, and Sparx could only watch and wait till they were ready.
"Any idea when they will be done?" asked Daxter.
"That depends," Sparx answered, "particularly if Volteer starts to ramble again, it could be another few hours, and even more if his mouthy pupil repeats it in the other group."
"Great," Daxter scoffed, "and people call me a big mouth."
"Enough you two," Jak told them, "we'll be underway soon, just let them finish what they need to."
"Yeah, well the sooner they do, the sooner we can stop twiddling our thumbs, and claws in Spyro's case, right Spyro?" asked Sparx turning toward his stepbrother beside him, or at least where he was before. He looked up and around and saw that the purple dragon was sitting a few feet away with his back toward them. Jak and Daxter saw him as well, the young dragon appeared to be in a dismal mood.
"Uh Spyro?" Sparx asked him again.
Though the sidekicks were slow to realize why the dragon seemed so distant, Jak immediately knew what troubled him. Spyro had just found out that his greatest enemy was free again, the one who had betrayed his whole race for power, sought their extinction, and tried to destroy the whole planet out of his own twisted ideals. Not to mention kidnapping and brainwashing his love as a child, turning her into a monster against her will. Spyro knew he would have to tell Cynder the news, no matter how terrible it was. He hated it when triggers resurfaced Cynder's bad memories in her, after everything he wanted to do and had done to help her move past it, toward a future they both wanted. Now with the Dark Master free again, those triggers would be a recurring theme every day.
"Hey Spyro," Jak said walking up to him, even though the dragon still remained a statue, "you alright? You're too quiet even for you."
Spyro finally took a breath, "I'm fine...just feeling...powerless."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean it took everything Cynder and I had to even beat him once, and even then it didn't stop him, the spirits of our ancestors are the ones who imprisoned him not me! But not even that could stop him permanently! I mean, if our combined strength plus the ancestors power can't end the Dark Master, then what can? I'm starting to think this alliance, albeit with good intentions, is a waste of time, for no matter how much we strive to fight, darkness always finds a way to creep around," Spyro droned.
"Spyro," Jak began reprimanding hearing his pessimistic speech, before changing tone, "your right." Spyro turned toward him stupefied, so did the sidekicks, was Jak actually saying we should do nothing and let the enemy win?
"Darkness exists as much as light does, but that doesn't always mean its a bad thing," Jak explained, recalling what the precursor told him in the artifact temple. "I mean look at you and me, we both have powers resulted from darkness, but does that make us bad? No...badass maybe, but not bad."
Spyro, Daxter, and Sparx chuckled at his witty remark, before allowing him to continue. "Regardless whatever abilities we may have and whatever evil history a predecessor may have, it's what we do ourselves that really defines us. I mean I'm nowhere near a legend as my ancestor Mar was, I'm just a hero with a gun, a board, and a bad attitude...within reason. You on the other hand, are completely opposite of what I've heard this Malefor is, I've seen it before and I see it now, so don't let anyone or anything tell you different."
Spyro allowed his words to sink in for a moment, before letting out a sigh and giving his alien friend a grin, "Thanks Jak, I needed to hear that."
"No problem, besides if anyone is going to need comfort regarding this bad news it's your girl, so don't you be breaking down in front of her got it?" asked Jak.
"Got it," replied Spyro, feeling adamant and more determined to get back to Cynder than ever. Suddenly, Terrador called everyone's attention again.
"Alright everyone, gather around," he said. Jak and Spyro walked up to him, as well as Cyril and his group of acolytes.
"We all know our respective missions and who is carrying them out, Pulster, Jace and Vacu will remain here in the Realms, both to guard the temple and ensure that the records we have collected here are returned safely to Warfang. Make sure that when the time comes, the Dragon King is made aware of our current situation, I trust you will give a proper explanation."
The mentioned acolytes all gave him an understanding nod and a bow, before returning to attention. Daxter turned to Spyro to ask a question in whisper, "You guys have a king too? Why didn't you tell us?"
"There's a lot of things we don't know about each others worlds, just consider that one more thing you've learned, now quiet! This is important," Spyro answered the ottsel in hushed tone.
"We guardians will lead everyone else through the portal to first establish official relations with Jak's people, from there we will choose from our various contingencies of what to do next, depending on what your people decide to do," said Terrador while turning to Jak.
"That would be up to how Damas deals in meeting with you guys, I'm sure you'll be told this once you arrive, but he is a bit hesitant in welcoming strange creatures from another world, like he was with Spyro. But I know once you guys prove your character toward him, he will be willing to oblige you, from there it will be slow yet smooth sailing," explained Jak.
"Good, that's all we can hope for," said Terrador.
"So do we leave for Warfang now master? Let you guys activate the portal?" asked Vacu.
"One of you must remain here to safeguard the temple Vacu, remember? I believe it would be best for you to take the first watch," Terrador answered.
Vacu's expression went wide-eyed and blank, he would back where he was when this whole thing started. Having to go through safeguarding a lone temple pushed him to his breaking point before. Now he had to do it again? He wasn't sure if his mentor was still punishing him for his behavior earlier, until now.
"Um...really?" trying to keep composure, "why not either of them?"
"Because logically speaking, you're the best choice right now," Pulster started explaining, "Jace needs to return to Warfang with our records fully intact, and I need to go to give a detailed explanation to the Dragon King, and keep him on the level if necessary."
Vacu huffed, he would have argued further, but trying to reason with Pulster was like trying to use his own strength against him. The electric acolyte was always better at speaking rationally to curb people's irrationality and emotional outbursts. Something the earth acolyte was not known for unfortunately, and now he would be paying the price for it.
"Relax Vacu," said Jace, "We'll alternate shifts when we return, and if possible bring back some more help so the load doesn't fully fall on you alright?"
"Sigh...fine, guard duty it is," Vacu said, ridding himself of as much animosity as he could.
"Good," said Terrador giving his pupil a stern look, but an approving nod. He turned toward Jak again, "I believe we are ready now young one, let's open it."
Jak nodded and turned toward the wall behind him, where the two artifacts were sitting. He walked up to them with Spyro beside him, he picked up the Omniprism, and the dragon picked up the Beta-sphere. Jak walked over to the gate while Spyro took flight. Pulster, Jace, and Vacu backed away toward the stairs to be as far away as possible in case of another vacuum. Terrador, Cyril, Volteer, Zaxto, Chloro, and Saphira stood in the middle of the chamber as the two heroes reached the front of the gate. They brought the artifacts as close to the gate wall as they could, waiting for a sign, it came in a familiar sound.
HUUMMM
The gate wall started glowing the same ethereal orange glow that Jak, Spyro and the sidekicks remembered. Though the sight was anew to the dragons and were gasping at it. The artifacts lifted themselves out of their perspective hands, Beta-sphere on the left, and Omniprism on the right. Once again, rocks began to shift metamorphically, opening a channel that each artifact immediately floated to set itself into. A locking was heard, and the hum and glow continued to envelop the chamber, so far so good. Spyro turned to Jak, knowing what the final step was. He nodded and unzipped the bag around his waist, and reached in to pull out the dark eco crystal Seem had given to him. The glow of it caught the attention of the dragons behind them.
"Dark eco," acknowledged Saphira.
Jak went over to the left side of the wall where the dragons said the drawer was, and placed the crystal against it. Upon contact, it opened once again, empty and ready for more fuel. He turned toward everyone else, and they all either gave him acknowledging nods, or adamant stares. Without further delay, he dropped the crystal in the drawer, and watched it sink back into the wall.
HUUUMMM...WHIIIIRRRR
Jak immediately backed away with Daxter retightening his grip around his shoulder guard. Sparx immediately clung to Spyro's horns, knowing what was about to happen. The guardians and acolytes could only watch what was happening in amazement and shock. The Seal of Mar glowed again, this time brighter than ever, before the wall split open to reveal the blue spinning portal once more.
"Here we go again," muttered Daxter.
CLUNK...CLINK
Suddenly, another odd sound caught them all off guard, one that Jak and Spyro didn't recognize. The spin of the portal seemed to be becoming...distorted, instead of a swirling pattern, it looked like it was melting. Confusion was apparent, all of them had seen the portal activated at least once before, but this time something was different. The hum seemed to die down from the gate, and the melting look of the portal continued.
"What's going on?!" cried Cyril.
"I don't know! Jak do you?" asked Spyro.
"Don't look at me! I'm just as lost, remember Seem said not even the book she found illustrates what its activation looks like? Let's just hope this is part of it," Jak answered, looking into the portal's maw, which was now oddly forming some different colors other than blue.
Setting: Wasteland Precursor Temple
"So you've gone and abandoned your own kin for these dragons huh?" Kleiver was conversing with Calidan with Krust and Bore right behind him, "never heard of a wastelander selling out his people for an alien race, guess there is a first for everything."
"Are you really that stupid, or is that your droopy mustache talking?" Calidan asked.
"Watch it you traitorous bugger, you'll be reported to Damas soon enough."
"Good, I've been wanting to talk with him anyway," said Calidan casually, which stunned the wastelander trio. "Also for the record, I don't sell people out, that's not in my nature, and I have never abandoned the wastelanders of Spargus because I'm not affiliated with any of them. I was never one of your citizens, I'm a wastelander all on my own."
"Liar!" yelled Kleiver, "No one can survive in the wasteland all on their own, much less a skinny little whelp like yourself, I know I've tried!"
"Then apparently you didn't do it correctly," replied Calidan.
"So you calling me a liar?" questioned Kleiver.
"You called me one first, which I know I'm not, my own memories are proof enough of that," said Calidan. Kleiver's rage was building at this youth's smart mouthing.
"If you ain't one of Spargus, then that makes you a Marauder in my book, and do you know what we do to Marauders?" declared Kleiver, followed by Krust and Bore coming on both sides of him with their guns out, growling and ready to take aim.
"Ugh, not this again," sighed Calidan, "listen carefully, that's the second time I've heard that this week, and I'm going to give all of you the same answer, I've never associated with Spargus, and I absolutely don't associate with Marauders! I'd rather be metalpede chow than join those brainless barbarians, and that is that!"
"You expect us to believe the word of a wastelander rogue?" asked Kleiver.
"As far as I'm concerned, I could care less what you idiots think, I've tried explaining myself, but if all of you are too pig-headed to believe me, then go sit on a squall!" Calidan finished, and then stormed pass them. Only to be interrupted when Krust pushed his gun in his face, halting him. Calidan's gaze went stone, especially when he felt that Bore came around to his opposite side, and Kleiver remained behind him to hold him in the middle of a triangle.
"Where do you think you're going boy?" Kleiver asked sinisterly.
"Away from you, tweedledee and tweedledum," he growled attempting to move again, only to be blocked by Bore's gun this time.
"You ain't going anywhere, except to our lord for punishment," threatened Bore.
"Keep pointing a gun in my face," declared Calidan with his own anger building, shoving the gun away, "and I'll show all of you how a real wastelander fights." With his way clear again, he started walking away to the opposite side of the chamber. Krust and Bore's own rage reached their breaking point, finally aiming their guns at the rogue and opening fire while yelling. Calidan huffed sensing their aim, and immediately rolled to the side avoiding their fire and reaching for a gun on his back.
The gunfire immediately shocked Sig, Seem and Cynder, "KRUST! BORE! What the hell are you?!"
"Silence you Haven filth! This is our fight!" yelled Bore, who was still shooting at Calidan. He dodged yet another shot while bringing up his blaster to aim. He jumped and flipped in the air avoiding two more shots from them, and during his descent fired two of his own. Both shots hit the guns, knocking them out of their hands. They landed behind them smoking, and the two wastelanders could only gawk at them, then each other, then at the one who shot them. Kleiver was stupefied, it was like a one-sided gladiator fight just now, without the arena. Sig, Seem and Cynder were also shocked, nothing could voice their surprise. Calidan just stood still on the ground while keeping aim, glaring at the two idiots who pushed the wrong buttons.
"Have I made my point yet?" he angrily questioned them. Krust and Bore were as silent as they were scared now.
"WELL?!" His following outburst finally ushered a response, and the two idiots merely gave a gulping nod.
"Good, now anymore funny business from either of you, and I'll shoot more than just your guns! Is that…" His disciplining was interrupted by the sound of a whirring HUUUMMM. It soon caught everyone's attention, as the volume of the sound continued to grow. All of them looked around the chamber for the source, save for Seem, whose insight knew what was about to occur as she faced toward the arch. She took a few steps toward it, causing everyone else to look toward her as the humming grew louder.
"They've done it, it is time," she said. Joyful looks immediately popped up on Sig, Cynder, and Calidan's faces, where as the other wastelanders were freaking out.
"What?! It's opening again?! Destroy it! Destroy it now before they destroy…WHACK!" Krust's freakout ended with a gunbutt to his head knocking him out, courtesy of Calidan. He then turned and glared toward his cohort, who was still scared out of his mind. At the same time, a group of 3 monks led by the Head Research Monk was making their way up the walkway to see the sight of the wastelander showdown in front of them.
"Convenient your here now, can one of you take this dolt somewhere where he won't cause anymore trouble right now?" he asked pointing to Bore, before turning to Krust at his feet, "him too, though he should stay asleep for most of the day."
"Take their firearms as well," added Seem, looking over to them, "they've officially lost their privilege to wield them in here." The Head merely nodded and motioned two others to grab the sleeping Krust. The two made their way back down, and the Head and the remaining monk forceably escorted Bore out of the chamber while holding their weapons. With them gone, Calidan turned his angry gaze toward Kleiver.
"Care to join them?" Calidan asked with distaste.
"I'm staying right here," he declared, his own fearless state returning to him.
"Then unlike them, behave," Calidan growled before holstering his gun, and walking over to join his friends in front of the Alliance Arch, which was now starting to glow ethereal orange. Blue streaks of energy were pulsating through the channels in the arch. They all enjoyed the familiar show as the lightning gathered together in the center and formed the blue swirling tunnel of the portal.
"Wait, shouldn't we be standing back? Otherwise we'll go in instead of them coming out?" asked Calidan.
"What do you mean?" asked Sig.
"Cal's right Sig, lets step back slowly," said Cynder.
They all complied, but to their confusion there was no vacuum, instead the blue swirling tunnel of the portal seemed to be melting. More colors were beginning to form as well, looking like some sort of abstract.
"Funny, I know I've seen this only once, but this doesn't look the same," said Calidan.
"Your right, this is different from before," said Cynder.
"I believe that's what we want," said Seem, "if they did find the other two artifacts, the master control would be unlocked. We may be witnessing its activation, let us wait and see."
The colors continued to mold in the portal, but then they started to make...forms. They could make out structures in the background of standard geometric nature, whereas within the forming picture, bodies were being made. The the most prominent being a blue male figure with an orange blur on the shoulder on the right, and a purple reptilian form with a yellow spot on its head on the left.
Jak, Spyro and their sidekicks watched the portal continue its forming. Shapes were now becoming clear to them from all the new colors that had been emerging. From right to left, they could see a dark gray male shaped piece of armor, a black reptilian form, a slim orange form possibly female, and a light brown male form all surrounded by an orange brown dome-like background. Spyro was truly astonished by what he was seeing, Jak even more so, for of all the incredible things he had seen precursor creations do, this was the most wondrous. They had a prediction about who it was they were seeing and what was happening, but they wanted to wait until the image was done before stating it. After five minutes of being activated, the image was complete, and the portal was open.
From both sides it was like they were looking at a window, with some wavy distortion. But their images were clear enough to deduce who the other was. Cynder walked up to the window ahead of everyone else sticking out her paw.
"Spyro?"
Spyro saw her approach the portal and extend her paw. He walked up in response, Sparx letting go, and reached out his own to match hers from his side, "Cynder."
Deciding to take the risk he reached his paw into the window, and felt...nothing. The window wasn't affecting him in any way, his paw had merely gone through it, out to the other side. Cynder saw this, and touched his paw with hers just to be assured it was him. Once she felt he was solid he grabbed his paw and pulled. To Sig, Cal and Seem's shock, the purple dragon emerged from the window on their side, staring into Cynder's eyes.
"Wow, now that has to be the most beautiful thing I've ever felt from the other side of space," he said to her.
"You're the most amazing sight to me on any world, don't you know that?" she flirted to him with a giggle. She lightly nuzzled him and said one last thing, "welcome back."
"Ahem!" The dragons broke from their moment to look back and see Sig and Seem smirking and Cal clearing his throat while trying to look away shyly. The two of them immediately blushed until they heard someone else walk behind Cynder, to their added embarrassment it was Jak and Daxter smirking as well.
"Don't suppose you two would like to step back home for some personal time?" Jak joked, "After all it's just two steps away."
"Tempting," said Cynder chuckling, "but maybe later once your world is saved again."
"Your choice," said Jak, before Cynder jumped up and gave him a hug on her hind legs, which stunned him at first, but gladly returned. She jumped down from him and said, "welcome back blue boy, all of you, you did it!"
"Indeed you did, you've accomplished something that's been awaited for thousands of years," added Seem.
"Well I can't take all of the credit," said Spyro, "I was just helping guard the temple, it was Jak who found the artifacts."
"True, but it was you who spoke on my behalf to the guardians in the first place, if you didn't I never would have gotten them at all," said Jak.
"Well then I guess we are right on both accounts, good?"
"Good," said Jak.
"Good," followed Daxter.
"Good," followed Sparx.
"GOOD! Honestly, sometimes you boys are more annoying when your collaborating rather than fighting. Particularly Sparx and Daxter," said Cynder.
"Hey!" yelled the sidekicks.
"Ahem," Seem silenced them and got their attention, "I presume there are others waiting to come through?"
"Sure, be right back," Jak said walking back through the window. On the other side, he looked up to the dragons faces, whom were still standing shocked in the middle of the chamber.
"Come on over everyone, they want to meet you," he gave the gesture with his arm and walked back through the window. The grown dragons could only look at one another, before they all mutually nodded and Terrador made the first step.
On the Elorin side, Jak told them, "let's give them as much space as we can, there are six of them and I know they will fill up the chamber, so let's stand back."
The whole party retreated to the back edge of the chamber, just a few feet away from the edge, though just out of danger of falling. From right to left, Sparx, Spyro, Cynder, Jak, Daxter, Sig, Seem, Calidan, and Kleiver watched as the approaching aliens reached the threshold. The first to come out was a large green dragon with scarred brown wings and a mace like tail. One by one they came out, astonishing primarily Calidan, Sig, Seem, and Kleiver. Two of the dragons, one blue and one yellow, were the same size as the green one and the other three about the same but not quite as big. Their size truly shocked the wasteland party, as if they were larger than they expected. All six of them filled the chamber, slightly cramped but they all still observed one another. To add to the wastelanders shock, the green one spoke in a deep authoritative tone.
"People of Elorin, I am Terrador dragon guardian of Earth and leader of the dragon guardian council, and newfound liaison of my Realms. Your youth Jak has spoken well for your people and has made an adamant impression upon me and my kind. He has earned my trust, and as a result I have journeyed here today in hope that we can extend that trust into something more, an act of mutual alliance for our worlds."
Seem took in the guardian's words before finding her center again and walked up to him. Everyone on both sides watched as she approached Terrador and looked up to him with a friendly face, "Welcome Terrador guardian of Earth to Elorin, I am Seem, leader of the Precursor Monks and acting liaison of my people. We have much to discuss."
Terrador gave her a nod, Cyril and Volteer could only give somewhat emotional stares at this incredible moment. All of the acolytes had grins that would probably never be wiped from their faces. Jak and Spyro could only watch the exchange smiling themselves, knowing they had finally finished what their ancestors began.
"So what do you think now?" Jak asked Spyro, in regard to how he felt earlier.
"I think, everything is going to work out just fine."
It is done, two worlds have met on mutual ground, will it be smooth sailing from here? Or a rocky road? The chapter turned out much longer than I expected, but I really wanted the dragons to make it to Elorin. Wait and see whats next because Damas will be surprised next in the chapter to come!
