The Chronicles of the White Dragon Part 2: The Crossroads of Time

by Blackshadow999

When things of history thought lost begin to be seen once more; fear grips many, none can choose how events will turn out in the end. What is left from an ancient war is rediscovered by Saber, but he finds more than he bargained for. An enemy long forgotten returns! and intends to finish wha they started. A tale traversing and transcending even the bounds of time itself. Part 2of3

15. 15 Unforeseen Consequences

White Dragon 2-15

A/n

Okay, this chapter is kind of a mix of a filler, transition, and background all in one. And of course hilarity at random; it wouldn't be this story without that! Another trek arc will begin starting next chapter, hence the transition piece. Due to some readers requesting me to do so; for your reading pleasure, I did do a chunk of the scene of Saber meeting his adopted parents from Lara's pov. Well, enough from me; on with the story!

Chapter 15: Unforeseen Consequences

If there is a lesson I have learned in my life many times over; it would be that you can choose your actions, but you have no say or sway over the consequences that follow the actions you choose to go with. In short coming back to Warfang I was soon to find out, meant that I got to deal with consequences that I hadn't planned for. The effects of previous actions that I had thought were settled and so I wouldn't have to face anything else that would come back to bite me. Yeah, was I ever wrong in that way of thinking; if it were just unexpected consequences, I would be fine. However, as this is me we're talking about; like always, when something happens, specifically when an effects of from a previous event that has happened come back to bite me; they bite me in the rear hard!

It all started the morning two days after getting back to Warfang from the lunar village. You would think, that coming back to sleep in a comfortable bed would help the aches and pains that I had acquired from the recent trek. Well, the physical was on the mend… not so much the mental or emotional. My mental frame of mind was fragile at the moment, mostly from the battle with Darkhar and the following emotional storm that I was hurled into. … I'm ashamed to say it; but at times like this, things were sometimes easier with my life back with Uncle Douche bag… I can't even think of a different name for him now, he's just Uncle Douche bag forevermore and so it should be!

Anyway, where was I in this? Oh yes, the morning two days after getting back. The morning started much like most had when I'm in Warfang and since Lara became my mate. I wake up a little after dawn and of course Lara was in bed with me as she usually is and was snuggled up against my own body. So, a perfectly good and normal morning to wake up to in the view of a good number of people.

So, with this kind of start to the morning, one would think it would then keep going up and end up developing into a nice day, right? … Whoever would say that for me or to me… obviously doesn't know me very well at all or have been around me at all. My record is a very different story than a very happy one. Since I'm some kind of entertainment show or something of like for the man upstairs and that blasphemous one down below; my life is a testament to that point. It's just that with such a good start… it builds up the anticipation before the plunge downward to the tier of hell for the day.

Yet I digress and I'm getting off track; back to waking up and starting the day. It took me the better part of the next half an hour to convince Lara to wake up and get out of bed. I don't think I'll ever to get up at a decent morning hour in my lifetime… and I'll try. Once I had gotten her out of the bed we headed down to the meal hall for breakfast. So, everything was proceeding wonderfully normal from getting out of bed to breakfast, to become a dull uneventful day. However… it was at this point, my old standing enemy and nemesis decided to pay a visit to me. Yes, 'fate' decided to make its appearance in my life once again. When fate pays me a call, it never goes well from my perspective; I hate this particular unwelcome visitor! With fate making its presence known, things took a turn down a different path then they had been going on.

It began after Lara and I finished breakfast and we were exiting the meal hall. Originally, I had no set plans for the day and I hadn't asked Lara if she had anything in mind just yet. In fact, I was about to inquire of her on that very subject when all the sudden something wrapped around me and I found myself confined! My body almost immediately seized up and alarms were blaring in my mind. Said alarms went a little something along the lines of, 'ALL HANDS, MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS! WE'RE AT DEFCON 1! THIS IS NOT A DRILL; REPEAT THIS IS NOT A DRILL!' I think that about sums up my mood right this second. As bad as this turn of events was, it was only made worse by a sound that was heard.

"I found you my dragonet!"

No… it can't be! Shouldn't she be back at the lunar village and not here in Warfang complicating my life?! I managed to twist around enough to get a look at my assailant and found myself staring at scales that were black as the night. They were scales that I had seen before and it confirmed that it was indeed Umbra that was restricting my movement at the current moment. Within the first thirty seconds, the shaking and convulsing that was my bodily response to contact with adults, started up with vigor and strength and were out of control. What is it with this adult dragoness and… hugging me like this?!

"Umbra my dear, perhaps it would be better if you let… Saber go for the moment."

That voice was that of my adopted father Tetras. I was hoping that my… 'mom' would let go of me as 'dad' suggested for her to. This position just feels wrong on so many different levels for me! I dislike this bodily reaction that developed slightly less than I hated the man responsible for its development. I'm referring to none other than Uncle Douche Bag of course as this response is his fault! Still, I was grateful when I felt the imprisoning pressure leave; followed by my body falling forward to the street, still shaking and convulsing badly.

As I was on the ground, trying my hardest to get these tremors and involuntary motions to calm down and to still; I felt someone turning me over. The touch of the contact from whoever was flipping me over, seemed to add fuel to the tremors and other motions. Into my field of vision came the blue scales… of my mother-in-law Tiamat. While I was still dealing with the tremors, Tiamat was looking me over; for what reason… I don't know! I haven't figured out that much about this dragoness, in the few times that I have been around her!

"Are you… okay?"

… It's times such as this when such a question that should be obvious; that I want to scream 'DO I LOOK OKAY TO YOU?!'. I mean, the majority of my body is in involuntary spasms right now and I'm asked if I'm okay… never mind. I would have replied with a sharp retort; however, I will as usual, resist the urge and temptation and be the gentleman though it pains me. Besides, I was having more than enough trouble attempting to calm my tremors down and failing at the moment; I don't need more on my plate to worry about! I observed Tiamat seemed to be looking me over with a vague worried expression with a mix of a little curiosity.

Is is any surprise that I was by this time getting frustrated at how this situation was playing out. Here I was laying on the ground, currently in the throes of bodily tremors that I'm trying desperately to control! And finally to add to the already volatile mixture; I'm being stared at by a mentally damaged dragoness who has asked me, am I okay. Fate, WHY?! I know you get your kicks off of making my life everything but dull and most of those times involve misery, but can't you give me a freaking break for a little time?! Wasn't putting me in a life and death fight enough to satisfy you for a while?! It was a touch of warmth that changed the circumstance I was experiencing. The second the warmth came; the tremors dulled and faded, my body calmed down and it returned to normal and peace came into my mind. I focused on what was above me and saw that as I have come to expect in this happenstance, Lara. … No matter how many time this occurs, I don't understand how Lara simply touching me somehow calms and settles my bodily reactions that have been so deeply ingrained over the years and have failed every attempt to conquer them!

When everything had settled, I flipped over and stood on my paws; giving myself a quick check over before I looked back to Lara. My mate was smiling at me, which made my heart skip a beat. I instantly jerked the reins of my draconic instincts and stopped them before they got momentum to attempt to seize control from me! I had just gotten the control back; I'm not going to give up without a fight!

"Thanks Lara, I appreciate what you did."

Lara closed the short distance between us, and nuzzled the hollow of my neck; forcing me to jerk the reins on my instincts a bit harder than the previous tug. Before you get the wrong idea of me; It's not that I'm embarrassed to say that I have feelings for Lara per say, for it isn't that at all. Yes, I have come to accept that I have the feelings of affection, care and protectiveness when it comes to Lara; I still, can't fully explain these feelings. One would probably call it love or something like that. The point in my view; there is a time and place for such feelings to be shown and to whatever magnitude that would be. This is neither the time nor the place for public displays of affections! So I stood where I was and, though I accepted the gesture of care that Lara gave me, I didn't respond in kind to her. My gaze flicked over to Umbra who had been making her way over to my position. I just got my body and mind back to working order, I will have none of that again for the rest of the day!

"Umbra, you will not hug me without my permission and you do not have it right now."

The statement I gave hit Umbra fairly hard and I didn't like that much; but I won't stand for this dang it! I won't have her hugging me at random and losing control of my bodily functions! I'll lay down the ground rules or at this time the rules of engagement and they will be adhered to, or so help me I will resort to drastic measures! Nevertheless, that doesn't mean I can't be somewhat nice about it, nor does it excuse me for being mean to Umbra or anyone else.

"Do not take this personally Umbra, it is not you. I just would rather not have to deal the consequences that comes with such contact. … Intimate contact with adults does not go over well for me; it is an uncontrolled response. It is how it is for me."

Umbra appeared to be taking in what I said; it was the same with Tetras. To my right I began to hear Lara talking to Tiamat and by the differing tones in Lara's voice; she was trying to help Tiamat to remember her in earnest. I turned and faced the pair of dragonesses and just observed them talking to each other. Unfortunately for Lara, Tiamat wasn't remembering if her blank stare was anything to go by. As my mate tried harder, not being deterred by the lack of recognition from her mother; Lara brought up memories that involved her and her mother. In all honesty, it was just getting sadder the more I watched; for Lara became more and more desperate with the lack of response from Tiamat. On the other end of this was Tiamat, who was looking confused at what Lara was talking about. With the expression on her face, I was forced to wonder about what was actually happening in her mind. It was the look that she gave me upon our meeting; the one that said there was something that could be familiar, but there was likely a disconnect somewhere. That disconnect was causing the confusion or that's my educated guess at this point.

In my observation of my mother-in-law thus far; a past memory has kept coming to the forefront of my mind. There had been psychology college student that had practiced at the dojo and it had been the same one that had lectured on selective memory. They would often have us at the dojo listen to their practice speeches for the presentations they would apparently be assigned to give for their class. One such discourse keeps coming back to me whenever I watch Tiamat. The lecture had been for a big project for the college student… I think they mentioned it being their thesis or something like that. The subject matter had been on the category of dissociative disorders, specifically on dissociative amnesia.

The general idea as it is accepted in the medical world as I recall hearing; is in this disorder a person blocks out certain information, normally relating to an event that is traumatic or it can be something stressful as well. Whichever it is, it is to the very extreme and so has a heavy mental affect, usually damaging. The cause whatever it is, the experience is blocked; the person is unable to remember important personal information as the experience has affected the mind in a sizable way. The college student made a point though that this inability to remember shouldn't be mistaken for memory loss, for it goes beyond that and tends to include large gaps in memory or at least of the event itself. Now with this condition is unlike simple amnesia; which involves loss of information from memory whether caused by disease or injury to the brain itself. In dissociative amnesia, the memory itself is still stored in the brain; however, it is buried deep within the mind to the point that it can't be recalled by the brain despite the best attempts of the affected individuals.

That was the general gist I remember from that lecture I had listened to and now looking at Tiamat… she fits that condition so well it's scary. Not to say there isn't a glimmer of hope for my mother-in-law; technically the blocked memory supposedly could resurface on its own, if something around the one with the condition triggers that. Yet, if Lara didn't help her mom recall something… I don't really know what else could do the job. If nothing comes up or changes… me thinks that my mother-in-law will be like this for a long time. There Tiamat also has obvious signs of depression that can be seen from a long distance away, which just adds to the mess… oh boy this is going to be just peachy!

-Scene change-

-Tarra's pov-

I was out walking around as I do in the earlier parts of the morning. If I was back at Carona I would have done cleaning so that I am not seen as a bother; but here in Warfang the temple does not need cleaning so, I have taken to walking around this city instead. But this morning unlike the ones before, I came across someone I know and it was Saber of all dragons. He at the moment, appeared to be deep in thought about something.

"Saber… is there something wrong?"

Saber stopped and turned and looked at me like I had just appeared from nowhere.

"Oh, Tarra; I did not see you there, sorry."

… He did not answer my question. There is something bothering him, I can see that; I just do not know what.

"Saber, what is troubling you?"

Saber stood where he was and did not say anything at first. When he did speak it was different from how it sounded normally.

"I am… coming to terms with some things that had come up recent."

Things that he is coming to terms with? Wonder what he means by that… could it have something to do with Lara? She should be starting her cycle in the next few days if I remember correctly. Lara has been holding back lately for some reason, doubt she will when her heat goes into full strength. She might jump him and… oh my… no no, I should not think of that!

Well, Saber and I got to talking… I do not know why talking to Saber is so easy for me. It has never been this way with anyone before him. I managed to apologize for the trouble I caused him with… the disagreement with Lara. It cannot have been easy for him at all; he had looked tired for most of the time that Lara and I were not talking to each other. Saber had got around to asking about how I actually met Lara. I hesitated as the story also involved… how I lost my horns and tail blade. I do not think Saber would think any different of me were he to know, but it is still hard to talk about. Still, I will try.

I began the tale of how I met Lara; it was just after my dad had saved me from the group of apes that had taken me. Even if I was only seven at the time; I… I still wish I could have done more… maybe then my dad would not have gotten as injured as he did rescuing me from the group of apes. He had only lived a few years after that event, as his injuries had never healed fully. And then what the apes had done to me when they took me… I still have nightmares about it even now. Well I was scared and hurt when I had gotten back to the small village my parents and I lived. My parents decided that we should move and live somewhere else and so we went to Carona, which was the closest large city to where we lived before.

When we had gotten to Carona, I was still trying to recover from what the apes had done; so I was keeping to myself. I mean, the physical injuries like my horns that had been starting to grow out had been broken off. It still hurt where my tail blade had been as the apes had ripped it out. But it was more than that. The apes had humiliated me in ways that… well made it hard to be around others and not be scared that someone would not do something like them! With the damage they did I was ashamed and in pain; I did not know what to say if anyone asked why I looked the way I did! It was the day after we got to Carona and were settling in to the place we got, when I had met Lara.

-Flashback 13 years ago approximately-

Another day in misery I am forced to live. When I look at dad and the scars remind me what dad took to save me from the apes and that just brings back the memories of what they did to me. Why do the ancestors dislike me so much that they would let something like this happen to me?!

"Hello!"

I jerked in surprise and fright when I heard someone speaking in my direction. I whipped around; silently hoping that whoever was saying the greeting, was not saying it to me. In front of me was a young female dragonet that was probably around the same age as me. She had… purple scales… I thought a dragon with purple scales was only myth and legend. She had gold scales on her underbelly and the same gold color with her wing membranes. Her eyes were a blue that was similar to the sky on a summer day. Currently this purple dragonet was staring at me and was smiling at me. I looked away from her face and muttered my reply.

"Umm… he-hello… a-are y-you… talking t-to me?"

I still felt her looking at me; I just wanted her to leave me alone. Why would she even give the time for a dragonet like me?

"Yes, I am. You are new around here are you not?"

I nodded and did not say anything to her.

"So, what is your name?"

I was getting more nervous the longer that this female dragonet was talking to me. And as I get nervous, I mumble and get quieter.

"It is Tarra…"

"I am sorry, I did not hear you; what was that?"

I tried to gather my courage by taking a moment and breathing like dad tells me to so that I can calm down. Then I looked at the dragonet in front of me; I was shaking slightly, but I was doing the best I could.

"My n-name… i-is Tarra."

"Well, my name is Lara; it is nice to meet you."

This Lara bowed to me after giving her greeting.

-End flashback-

Lara had not cared about my odd appearance. It had taken me a few weeks to become even a little comfortable around her, which was different as I did not get comfortable around anyone that quick really at all. Lara had really helped me be able to be okay around others to an extent.

-Saber's pov-

… I know I had assumed that whatever trauma that Tarra had gone through in her past would have to be terrible at a bare minimum. However, my assumption hadn't prepared me for actually hearing the event. I was horrified, angry at the apes for what they had done. This past experience for Tarra, had been eating away at her. It was clear that many of Tarra's mannerisms came as a consequence from this event. I did have some new found respect for Lara; to stay steadfast in wanting to be Tarra's friend. It can't have been easy as Tarra isn't one for taking self-initiative.

After finishing up the chat with Tarra; my mood was slightly better as I knew things could always be worse. I feel that I have at least learned a bit more about Tarra and can now understand her a bit better. I was heading back towards the temple when I crossed paths with Lara and she wasn't looking in a very good mood at this time. Well, being the gentleman that I am because of the efforts of Master Kai; I asked her if there was something I could do to help. So… that's how I ended outside Warfang in a fairly private area, which would have normally worried me with Lara's oncoming condition. But it ended out that I listened to Lara telling me about her problems. … Sometimes, I can be too nice for my own health… well, it's too late now…

-Lara's pov-

-Flashback three days earlier-

"Tetras? Is that you?"

The dragon that had been the first father figure that I could remember in my life was standing in front of me. I could hardly believe it! I had never thought I would see him again… but then I did not think I would see Umbra either and yet I have. Tetras walked over to me and stared at me for a few minutes, likely to confirm if I was myself. The last time he had seen me I had still been a dragonet and now I was grown dragoness, not fully grown yet but much more than I had been.

"Lara? …Is that you?"

I nodded in answer to the question; then Tetras closed the distance and embraced me. It felt wonderful to be wrapped by Tetras again after so long. I had missed him along with Umbra and mom. I returned the hug to Tetras by hugging what part of his body I could reach. After a bit Tetras unwrapped himself from around me and was looking at Saber.

"My, what a curious creature. It looks somewhat similar to apes, yet it is also different. I have not seen anything quite like it."

I winced slightly at hearing Saber being compared to an ape; as he does not like being compared to them. Tetras turned to Umbra and began discussing what Saber could actually be. I spoke up in Saber's defense as he did not seem to be doing so for himself.

"He is not an ape Tetras; he is what is called a human."

Umbra looked at me curiously.

"Hu-man? What is that? I have never heard of such a creature."

Well, I had not either until I met Saber for the second time… and I was in heat at the time… kind of like what I will be in within the next few days. However, that's not the point right now; I replied to Umbra and her statement.

"Nor did I, until I met him; but that's what he is."

Tetras moved forward slightly and put his own word in.

"Umbra, why not listen to Lara for the moment on this. She seems to know more about this than we do on this subject."

Both Umbra and Tetras turned to me and I was now in the position to try and explain what a human was. I don't have any idea how to do so; I had hoped Saber would have jumped in and helped, but yet he had not. I did not know what to do and the two who were as close to parents as my own mother were looking to me expectantly. It was then that the voice I had wanted to hear finally was heard.

"So, you three going to chat all day? If so, then I will go and find something else to do while you three chat away."

We all turned in the direction that Saber's voice had come from. I felt my heartbeat speed up at seeing Saber was once again a dragon. A smile grew on my face and I moved forward towards my handsome, wonderful mate; that I thank my ancestors for time and time again to have found to spend my life with. When I got to his side I rubbed my head lovingly against his jaw to show that I am here for him at this time that he was having difficulty. Saber though, was looking at Tetras and Umbra with a stare of… I do not know what. Tetras was the first of us to speak.

"Ah, you are the white dragon from earlier!"

… Hold on, Tetras already had come across Saber earlier? When did that happen I wonder? Saber nodded in response and did not make a vocal answer or conformation, still Saber's gaze seemed to be switching from Tetras flicking to Umbra and then going back to Tetras. I glanced over at Umbra and saw that she was struggling with… something, maybe only she could see; I do not know. Whatever Umbra's struggle was about; it was worrying Saber enough for him to show it on his face a little. Tetras apparently noticed that there was something amiss with Umbra and asked her about it.

"Umbra… what is it? Is this white dragon reminding you of… Asreyel?"

I looked over at Saber and for a second there was a glowering expression, yet the next second Saber's face was back to the neutral expression he usually has. Maybe I should try to help and smooth things over with his parents. I went over to them and tried to help them understand.

"Umbra, Tetras; please try to understand; He is Asreyel and yet he is not Asreyel. I know it sounds odd and it was at first to me too, but Saber still has many of the traits and qualities he did before. Try and give him a chance please."

Tetras looked baffled and Umbra looked more longingly at Saber. I looked back at my wonderful mate to see how he was taking this. Saber's expression was still neutral, yet the feeling about him made it clear that he was not in a good mood right now.

"You are saying that that white dragon is Asreyel?"

I nodded to Tetras's inquiry and he was now looking at Saber with a bit of a different view now. Our conversation would have likely to have gone on if not for us noticing the presence of another dragoness. To my surprise, the dragoness had light blue scales and azure blue eyes exactly like mine… is she…

"MOM!"

It was a day I had dreamed about; seeing my mom Tiamat once again… could today get any better than it is now seeing so many I was beginning to think I would not see them again. Yet why she was holding onto Saber did not make a lot of sense, but just seeing her is enough for me right now. However, my feelings of happiness faltered as my mom stared blankly at me… it was almost like she did not know who I was; but that cannot be. I have changed as I have grown up a good amount since mom last seen me, still I have not changed so much that I would be completely unrecognizable.

"… Who are you? I have seen… one with… purple scales… but it was… long ago… but… that could have… been a dream…"

… Did mom say she did not know who I am?! That her seeing purple scales could have been a dream, meaning she thinks that I could have been a dream?! This… this cannot be happening to me! Mom does not remember me?! How can this be happening?! Even the Chronicler cannot be this mean to me and do this!

-End Flashback-

I finished telling Saber what had happened when we met his parents and my mom again. It had hurt to understand that my mom, for some reason did not remember me at all. Saber already knew that I felt pain after hearing mom asking who I was; as I had cried into his shoulder afterward. How could mom forgotten me in the years that had passed since she had come to see me when I was in the years of training? What could have happened to mom for her to forget so much?

The tears had started to flow at remembering seeing my mom again. I just did not know what to do now! I want my mom back, but I think it is possible that I might have already have lost her. I do not want to admit that for it would mean I would have to accept that as fact as well… I do not want to do that! It may be hopeless, yet I do not want to give up on my mom! I could not stop myself as I went and hugged Saber and cried into his front. I took comfort as I felt Saber hugged me back and rubbed my back in a gentle motions.

-Saber's pov-

As I attempted to console Lara by embracing her and rubbing her back while she cried into my front, I started thinking about this standing dilemma. I know I should've seen this coming at some point; ever since Tiamat hadn't recognized Lara, it had been an effort for me to comfort Lara following that incident. Hell, I'm amazed the girl was keeping herself together as well as she was; not all could! Still, Lara came, of course to me to be consoled and comforted; which was something I'm not good at as I don't do well with emotion myself or girls though I'm getting better to a degree. That doesn't mean that I don't try my da**edest at help Lara with this; after all she has done the same for me multiple times in the recent past during my times of need. Even I'm humble enough to admit such. I can repay her by doing the best to do the same for her, don't know if I have done much for her… unlikely, who knows.

This turned out to be 'damage control… take two'! Okay, let me give you an overview of three pros and cons in this from my end. As I like to attempt to be positive, I'll start with the pros. The first good thing that comes from this that I'm coming to admit; I get to spend… quality time with Lara. Before my time in the Dragon Realm, I would have discounted spending time with another as being good; considering it more a waste of time. Time with Lara had changed my view in this kind of thing along with my other friends being around me. Their persistence had… helped me change for the better in a way I hadn't thought about for the majority of my life. Pro number two, comforting Lara even a little, made things and part of my life much more bearable. The saying, 'a happy wife makes a happy home'; just change wife to mate and it totally applies to me in this.

Final pro in this and perhaps the most important of the three by a small margin, Lara doing what she did reinforced that she had accepted me for who I am and that isn't something that most do… it's usually the opposite. Just look at the group of people that spent their time around me; those being Chizuru, Sera and Sen being the three that stuck around me the most. Chizuru can be seen as the most normal of the three and she isn't human! It's nothing against Chizuru, her not being human; she is the closest one to a best friend I have before coming to the Dragon Realm. She knew the most about me besides Master Kai and of course myself. Sen… well, he is a case apart. He is as I said before, a surfer and so is easy going in almost everything. That has its proper place and time, Sen just doesn't differentiate the proper times where it is okay and when it's not and the proper place is the same problem as time. Sera… I don't know where to even start with that girl that was around me often and is now once again. She, is one of a kind… no question; I wished she didn't have the ability of knowing things she shouldn't, but I have no say in this.

Now, on to the three cons of this dilemma. Issue number one, I know little about how the female mind and thinking processes! I'll likely never understand how they work; sitting on the fence on whether I want to make the effort to understand it. Even with Lara, for the time I have been around her, when she wasn't my mate and the time that she has been; I haven't gotten any better at understanding why she sees things the way she does. Con two, this pain Lara was feeling was one that I didn't really get, but I didn't see as a big thing to worry over. Yes, it probably comes from being alone for as long as I have been; yet that is my experience. I have never known what it is to be loved or to have anyone care if you're alive or not; other than Master Kai and a little with those who spent time around me.

That leads me into my biggest problem in this damage control I'm doing with Lara. I have no experience with parents… hell I didn't know I still had any, adopted or biological until recently! My standing example of a parental figure, is Uncle Douche Bag and his parenting style was anything but good… and that's putting it mildly! The man beat me multiple times a week, sometimes on a daily basis; he made me do the household chores or rather I got tired of coming back to a dump the house had been sinking to. I had to learn first-aid to fix myself up from the beatings that came later as the beatings got steadily worse. So yeah, the subject of parents isn't a good one for me at all, for pretty clear reasons! That's before I get into mentioning and talking about my biological parent! Bahamut isn't even alive, yet he isn't dead either; which doesn't make sense at all. When he was alive, he sent me away before I hatched to spare me from knowing war, to get to know an idea that is arguably just as bad, societal distain, rejection and hatred of those that are different. Again, an idea that I could say more, yet I don't think I really need to. Then last but not least, my adopted parents; Umbra and Tetras. I have nothing against them; I just don't know them period. However, that will likely change in the near future with them both here at Warfang.

"Um Lara, I think I have said this already; but I know little about parents or really anything to do with them. That's how my life has gone for me. So, I do not know what to say for you in this."

Lara pulled away from me slightly and looked at me straight eye to eye, tears still coming from her eye slowly. Seeing her in this state was like a knife twisting in my heart. My facial expression which had been a half smile, faltered at getting a look of Lara's face which said she was hurting. I sighed before I spoke again.

"Perhaps Lara, you should try to go about this a different way. Instead of trying to force Tiamat to remember things that she apparently does not; try to get to know who she is now and at the same time have her get to know you. It will likely take time for this, but the chance of Tiamat remembering you is there the more time you spend around her, you just need to be patient."

That's the best advice I can give to Lara for her dilemma. It was the logical way to go about it; the longer Lara is around Tiamat the more likely that something sparks something in Tiamat's memory… or what was left of it. With Tiamat very possibly having dissociative amnesia, how much memory is left or left accessible is questionable. She likely has dissociative amnesia and though I know the general symptoms, yet I don't know of a quick cure and doubt there is one really.

So, after damage control, take two… I'm getting worried at how things are progressing with Lara or more to the truth, the lack thereof. Looking forward, things aren't going to go nice or easy for me if the past is anything to go by. Lara wants her mom back, but her mother doesn't remember her at all, that's the proverbial stumbling block that I'm to attempt to remove that has no intention of being moved from where it has planted itself… and I haven't a freaking clue how to do that! I had come back into Warfang along with Lara and we had separated not too long after we got back inside the city. Currently I was walking around Warfang without a destination in mind thinking on this particular dilemma when I hear a voice.

"Ah Saber, how fortunate that I have found you."

Uh oh… hearing that line in its various versions and renditions in the past, doesn't bode well for me. More like it tends to foreshadow problems and difficulties in the near future. I would have said I would weather the future event and then deal with the after effects with little if any problem… until recently; so now I'm force to change my view a little. I'll first need to survive the trouble and then clean it up and fix things somehow. Not a grand time for me… why do I attract trouble so dang much?!

Well, delaying the inevitable doesn't do a crapping thing… only makes it worse; so I turned around to face the speaker. I found myself looking at Spectra, who had a smile set on her face. I don't like the feeling that comes to me when I see that smile, it just cries 'guess what you get to do soon?!' need I elaborate my point further? Now, I have nothing against Spectra on a personal level; she's fine and is fairly nice, thinks about others, overall a good dragoness. However, she's also a guardian… that's no good mark in my book. If it isn't clear by now, it really should by clearer than crystal clear that I don't get along with the guardians and a portion of them don't get along with me, mostly the males. Yet, back to my current situation with Spectra; I plastered a half smile so that I could at least hear what she wanted.

"Fortunate is it? Why would you say that Spectra?"

"Well, it was hoped that you would meet with we, the guardians for an assignment."

So…as I feared and thought, the guardians want me to do something for them again?! I only got back from the last task a few days ago! What is this?! Am I some kind of go to man for the ones in charge now?! I'm certainly starting to feel like some kind of errand boy for the guardians lately. … Except of course for the undeniable fact; that the errands I have been running for them, have been having me risk my life and sanity above and beyond what I consider acceptable on-the-job risks! And then, I don't get much in the way of benefits from them for what I do… Hell, now that I think about it; I haven't received so much as a d**m thank you for anything I have done for them while I have been here! Talk about rude and being ungrateful! Then the personal problem with the view; being seen as an errand runner is an idea or view of me that's unacceptable and I won't stand or allow this to continue! However, being the kind of person that I am… I'll try to put it nicely first and if that doesn't work then I say it blunt and outright! I curse my ingrained manners right now as they won't let me just start badmouthing without observing the niceties first. I sighed as I made up my mind in this and faced Spectra again.

"Tell me Spectra… since when did I agree to be the guardians' errand runner? I cannot remember ever saying or agreeing that I would do that type of a job in any way. Yet, I am treated like I will happily do just that."

I paused and looked at Spectra and saw her looking at me curiously. So, doesn't know what I'm talking about… okay then, I took a deep breath, deciding to just to call out the guardians on what I was getting at.

"Okay then, you do not know what I am talking about; let me spell it out for you. Lately, it seems to me that I'm the first one the guardians turn to for things they are unsure about. Not to say that I would not be willing to voice my opinion… for all the good it does. I mean, since you guardians do not listen to what I say or give me the time to even put forth my opinion; what is the point of even saying anything to you lot that is charge? And since you do not listen; it is not like you would accept what I have to say at all either. Then when I do go out by my own choice or by your assignment; my life is thrust into serious jeopardy and even life threatening in the last few!"

Granted, the point of being thrust into life threatening situations recently wasn't entirely the guardians fault; it's just I have been noticing when the idea comes up a lot more now and it coincides with doing errands for the guardians. It is something I have noticed and very much dislike!

"So Spectra, please clear a fact up for me that is bugging me; is it that I am seen as expendable or am I missing something in this overall picture that supposedly you guardians can see? Because from my perspective, it really feels like you guardians, are trying to be rid of me for whatever reason!"

Spectra blinked in confusion as she stared at me after I had made my grievance vocal. She shook her head before replying to me.

"Be rid… of you? Whatever do you mean?"

I sighed at the query. Of course she wouldn't understand or even know, I'm still here and I don't look worse for wear right now due to my quick unnatural healing factor. Then, there is the fact I already brought up that was ignored again; the guardians don't listen to me! Whenever the report is given on a trek I go on, it's never me giving it; oh no, it's someone else that fails to mention what I go through. It all is forgotten or glossed over! Ah, the pain that is my life; doesn't it just suck... no I shouldn't finish that. I would fall into my old habit of using profanity excessively and swear to the point that were you to compare it to a landfill, the landfill would look okay when its judge on cleanliness beside my use of profanity. Well, might as well tell Spectra of what I mean… not like it will likely do any good though.

"Oh hmm… let us see; lately when I am asked to go do something you guardians, I end out fighting for life and limb, literally to keep my life for myself. But then again, I would doubt that you, Spyro, Lara and Neval even remembered how I was in the forest the night Neval and I got to the lunar village. After all, I look just fine now, like none of it ever happened, but I can assure you I was not just out on a nighttime stroll back at that time! And then, lest we forget that when the apes attacked, I was fighting them, yet unlike you I was fighting the non-dumb group. For some reason the assassins you guardians cannot admit or do not want to have an obsession with me and so, three of them were trying to kill me during that chaos."

I was getting sarcastic and less nice as I went and it wasn't helping me, but it felt wonderful to get this particular beef I had against the guardians off my chest! I had been getting sick and tired of the guardians being made out to be infallible and all-knowing and then others taking the fall when they were wrong! It was about time they see that there are things that go on that they don't know about and when they are wrong, they should admit it and take responsibility for it. Yet there was one little thing that was kind of bothering me.

"Spectra, do you guardians see yourselves as unable of being wrong and all-knowing?"

Spectra was taken aback by the question.

"Of course not, why would you even ask a question like that?!"

By Spectra's harsh reaction, the guardians don't see themselves as their reputation paints them; that's interesting, though it shouldn't be all that surprising. It's normal for someone not to see themselves as their reputation has them seen as, if they know their reputation at all. I stared Spectra straight in her eyes as I replied.

"Well, the guardians tend to come off that way; you included. Actually that's one of the reasons that do not get along with the guardians out of the many reasons that I have that I do not get along with you lot."

Spectra was silent at my comment, yet she appeared to be about to say something. I decided to keep going and get my point out.

"Before you deny what I am saying Spectra, take a bit of time to listen to my reasoning. Look at the logic I use and you may even learn something new by listening to me for once and can make changes for the better."

I took a moment to think of how to lay this out for Spectra… without seeming like a critical bas***d that is thrusting a sword into the heart and then just pushing and twisting to make it worse.

"With how most think and their general acceptance of events, I can understand that there is a need of some to help guide and manage the masses of dragons and the other races of the dragon realm. However, that should not mean that free thinking should be rare or discouraged by those doing the guiding or the rules they go by."

I started pacing as I did my monologue of logic without thinking about it. … It's an old habit of mine.

"Yet, with the ways things are done with how traditions state… most of the methods do not make sense when you look at them with how things are now. A random example of this would be say… the way you divide dragonets when they are learning to harness their particular element. Separating them may have been the way it was done, but why does it have to be done that way? From an older dragon I talked to a few months ago; the idea of putting dragonets of different elements together was suggested a year or so ago… and was rather promptly rejected. I believe on the grounds of 'tradition saying that those of the same element get taught together', I may be paraphrasing the line, but the meaning is clear."

I stopped pacing and faced Spectra again.

"Just because a tradition says to do something one way does not mean it has to be done that one way. I mean, let's say the suggestion had not been rejected; perhaps it could have failed and dragonets would not learn what they need to with their peer group. But then again it could have had dragonets learning from one another and getting to know and befriending each other; thereby dispelling a great deal of commonly held misconceptions of users of different elements from theirs. Did any of you guardians think of those possibilities before the decisions were made? Or did you just say no without even giving much thought to the idea, just due to the suggestion going against a tradition?"

I just stood and watched Spectra's reaction to what I have said. The emotions that played across Spectra's face was somewhat comical to me. The first in the show was bafflement, and it was followed by surprise. Then the show got interesting from my standing; Spectra got a look of being wrongly accused of something. It didn't stop there, next was an expression of being deep in thought, but that shortly changed to a look that some scientists get when they have a 'eureka moment'. Yet the last facial expression took the cake to me! The apex of this, the piece de résistance; the look of realizing that you have missed an obvious point of an idea mixed with a little guilt.

"I take it you now see where I am coming from in this."

Spectra didn't answer me as it appeared words were failing her. I sighed before I spoke again.

"I am not trying to undermine your authority or the way you do things. The point I am trying to bring to light is that there is never just one way for things to be done by."

I went quiet after stating my point. Spectra was having a self-argument at the moment and after a minute focused back to me.

"Admittedly, you bring up a point that I have never thought about. However, you speak of the tradition that dragons have as if you knew about them better than even the guardians; how might you know such things."

I held my tongue with steel grip. I hadn't meant to infer my knowledge of draconic tradition that I get from the memories. That's an explanation that I wasn't about to spout to the guardians! Either they would think I'm completely crazy or chain me down and try to get me to tell them everything… more likely the first outcome of the two. The first outcome was possible and I didn't want that either! At times like this; I'll fallback on my ever reliable out, improvisation!

"Past experience… humans are not all that different than dragons. They use tradition to setup how things run; the problem that tends to come up is that when a tradition becomes less need or replaced by another idea and yet what came from the tradition does not go away, then there is resistance to the change. That resistance can grow into something entirely different and sometimes dangerous. By what I understand, dragons like humans have a tendency to repeat what is done in the past, good and bad."

"And you think we would repeat the past?"

If that's not a baited question, I don't know what is! If Spectra is going to extent the gauntlet, then I accept! So… how to reply to this; should I be mean or nice? Well, best to just be honest and just say it as it is!

"You guardians have yet to prove the contrary to me. Hence, another one of the reasons I do not really trust the guardians."

Spectra gave me a look I have often gotten from adults. The expression said 'how dare I enter the territory of standing up for your opinion'! Well, I'll dare however and whenever I feel like it and there is nothing that will stop me from doing such things! This will be no different than the times before when adults took umbrage to my attitude.

"What would bring you to such a conclusion?"

… Could I have gotten any better reply?! That's a challenge I gladly and happily accept! Where should I begin in this?

"Are you sure that you want me to get into this Spectra? I give you a fair warning, I will not be putting you guardians in a good light."

Part of me was kind of hoping that she would give the affirmative yet the gentleman in me hoped she wouldn't. Spectra nodded at me… okay, she wants to know the failings of the guardians, then who am I to deny the request?!

"Very well then, do not say I did not warn you… *clears throat*, I will start with an issue I had even before I met the guardians not too long after arriving in the Dragon Realm. So, when I had talked with Spyro and he explained what he was doing out where we crossed paths; I really wondered what kind of motives the guardians had sending out Spyro on his own. I mean, after hearing his story, it was plain and obvious that the apes would be out to attempt to kill him. Even a child or dragonet would be able to see that. Nonetheless, either you did not think about that fact or you just ignored the point and sent Spyro out into ape filled territory without a second thought. What did you adult dragons think was going to happen?! Did you think Spyro was going to be able to walk through the area and the apes nicely escort him and ask if there was anything else they could do for him?!"

I paused and took a deep breath and continued.

"Next case example, when Seth, Cyra and I got back from rescuing Nightmare, Nightbane and Ruben. In that meeting and reporting we were asked or rather forced to attend; I would ask, did any of the guardians say one single word of thanks for rescuing the three dragons or helping them return safely to Warfang? No! The first words we get, and I quote, 'I believe we all know why we are here today' from Terrador in a reproachful tone. That was followed by reprimand after reprimand of what wrongs we had done in going to rescue three dragons you guardians had attempted and failed to do. And how did that meeting end for me specifically Spectra? I doubt anyone there can forget that I was sent through a glass window and if I had not prepared for anything I could think of, I could have ended up as a red splat on the stone below!"

Oh, there was so much more against the guardians, but I think those two examples will do for now to prove my reasoning. By what I was seeing of Spectra, what I was saying was hitting home hard. I sighed before I spoke up again.

"Look, I am not trying to say that the guardians are completely failing at the job they do, but there is definitely room for improvement. I am saying that perhaps you lot should think of the possibilities of the actions you take before taking them. It would be considered thinking ahead and that is most of the time a good thing. Just taking the time to think about what you are asking someone to do would be an improvement. Then maybe listening to others on occasion would be a wise idea; I say that because you guardians have really never listened to me or really anyone else that I have seen. Oh perhaps you hear what I say sometimes, but you do not take in what I have said at all."

-Scene Change-

So, with the conversation between Spectra and myself… done; both she and I headed to the council chamber. On the way to the council chamber I bumped into Spyro and Lara who were also on their way to the Council Chamber. That was a boost in my mind as that meant that whatever this trip was going to be about, I wouldn't be alone, but among friends, always a plus. When the three of us entered the council chamber I glanced around and to my surprise I spotted many familiar faces. First interesting face, I noted that I didn't expect to see; that being Tarra. My black scaled friend, was normally shy and doesn't do very well around others due to her shyness; apparently was going to go out of this trip. Next in line was Chizuru and that was a nice addition as she is one that any would consider a survivor and had skill that could help other to do the same. Plus, with her being a kitsune… she probably would have some good insights if we need to do troubleshooting along the way of this trip. … Then there was… Sera. Why the guardians thought of her to go on this journey, I can't begin to guess. Friend of mine, though she may be; Sera isn't the easiest to get along with or be around for a period of time. She can just be too much to handle much of the time. Maybe this journey was going to be harder and more complicated than I had originally envisioned.

The last dragoness in the room other than guardians was one that had black scaled and a white underbelly. She had no wings which was different yet… I swear I have seen someone like this before. As I kept looking her over, I got the nagging feeling that I have seen this dragoness before, but I have never seen that scale coloration. When the dragoness turned and looked at me; I caught sight of her eye and froze. The pupils were yellow and the rest of the eyes weren't white like I have come to normally expect, they were green. … Oh fiddlesticks! I think I remember where and when I met a dragoness very similar to this one and that meeting didn't go over well. In that instance, the dragoness had whacked me over the head with her sledgehammer like strength tail smack and that was after she had gotten done insulting Sparx at the harvest festival a week or so ago. Unfortunately, her name eludes me at this time; you would think that someone that had forced me to the ground would be someone that I would remember, but no.

The eyes were familiar yet the scale coloration wasn't and that was the problem. Unless that dragoness could somehow change her scale coloration, this was likely a relative of the female dragoness that I met before. However, as the dragoness made her way over towards me; the look on her face said she certainly knew who I was. I tensed up and shifted my weight, preparing for an attack. When she was in contact distance the dragoness spun around whipping her tail around with her. I had been ready and so dodged and increased the distance between the two of us.

"Hrumph… it is you again, stupid male."

Well I'll be, it is the same dragoness as before that slammed me into the ground; still can't come up with her name. I leveled my gaze at her and glared.

"Okay, granted I might deserve a whack or smack from time to time, no denying that. But I would like to know what I have done to earn me being smacked me before I take a hit, thank you."

I waited for the dragoness's answer, but heard chuckling from behind. I turned and saw that it was Chizuru. I gave her a deadpan look.

"Care to say what you find so amusing Chizuru."

Chizuru smiled at me before she replied.

"You still have a way of being in trouble with girls I see."

I sighed.

"No comment to that."

"Saber, Getsuga, that's enough!"

Ah yes, Getsuga was her name; why I didn't remember a name like that, I don't know. The command for attention came from Terrador and it was his way to call this meeting to order. I settled into my half listening half being bored out of my mind pose; that still outwardly has me look like I'm paying attention. … It's all about the way you present the poker face, believe me! So, the meeting ran like many had before; Terrador was droning on and would switch off between the other guardians. As much as I enjoy an old fashion bore session like this one, I can think of a lot of other things that I could be doing that would bring far more accomplishment to my life than this.

Now then, to the assignment rundown and overview. Apparently, there had been unexplainable disappearances occurring in an area a little beyond Carona. I was only partly listening at first, yet when I hear some of the circumstances of the disappearances, I began paying attention. Why might you ask? Because there were a few of the circumstances that sounded very similar if not near identical to some of the events that I have seen in the memories. That made me worried that perhaps the ancient enemy could be involved in this. Not even begun the journey and already there is a possible high risk for myself.

We were given the general information of the area, which there wasn't all that much. It irked me a little that there was a worrying lack of creditable information in this briefing. I understand that the guardians are by no means all knowing, yet still you would think they would do a bit more research into something like this before sending a group out. The info that cheetahs had gotten for them about the area was helpful and was better than nothing at all. However, the more the guardians told us about this 'assignment' the more possible problems I see coming up to trouble the group. At least there were few apes in the land we were going to be sent, whether that is a good thing or bad… can't say just yet.

I'll admit that I don't get along with apes and certainly not monkeys; they try to kill me whenever our paths cross after all. Yet, they're predictable and I can have a fairly accurate assumption as to what actions they were going to take. If these disappearances are somehow due to involvement of the ancient enemy, then all bets of how this will go are off. The fight… well more of a beat down I have received from Darkhar had taught me that at this point in time I can't predict with much accuracy what methods they would use. The results that they want and are aiming for; that's easy, they want me dead and anyone else that finds out about them.

After the guardians had given us the information they had, they mentioned that Arkanis back at Carona. As it happens, it was Arkanis that had brought up this situation to begin with. Since Carona is on the way to the part of the land we would be heading for, we wouldn't need to detour and that worked out well enough. I have learned that it is best not to complicate a situation more than necessary… otherwise you make more problems for yourself.

With the meeting with the guardians… finally! Some of those guardians can ramble on for a long time… I'll be nice and not mention name of specific guardians. The members of our group separated for our own preparations for the journey. It was the next morning when the group reassembled we set off on this trek. Our group consisted of Spyro, Lara and Tarra and even surprisingly Getsuga on the end of the dragons. Then there was Chizuru and Sera on the 'human' end. I was the odd one out as I could go with either side, as I can be a dragon or a human.

And so yet again I'm off on another trip that requires investigation on the way. It will be nice to have Spyro along and spend time with him, which I hadn't gotten to do for a while. The drawback that I see is that out of seven that made up our traveling group, five of them are female to the two males. Still slightly worse, four out of those five are on a friendly basis with me or wishes to be more than that. I don't know Getsuga enough to be able to predict how she would act. The party members aside, I would have liked more information on the point of this trip; just hope that Arkanis can fill in the gaps.

Chapter end

A/n

There you have it. Off on yet another trek and problems ahead more than likely. As always, please take the time to review and tell me what you think, you can ask questions, can't promise I'll answer all of them, but I'll try my best. I hoped you enjoyed the chapter and so peace out until next time.

KeyBlader Zen

I hope I answered you two questions in the PM I sent you.

HolyCross9

Hey everyone likes different things. And yes I was referring to Pinkie Pie; but please understand, I was forced to watch seasons 1 and 2 of My Little Pony with my niece for a couple of days almost straight and I was getting tired of it. So, I took it out while I was writing. Sera's personality is partly based off of Pinkie, but more off of a character from High School DxD, Serafall Leviathan; her appearance is based of Serafall as well. Hopefully I'll get to expand more on her character in the next chapter.