The Mistress of Darkness
Warfang was on the Horizon far away. Traitors gate towered above all else as the large camp below hustled and bustled with impatient citizens. It even spilled outside of the camp as little dots that were moles were practicing against straw targets. Different coloured dragons clashed in the air, armour gleaming as they prepared for war. There was however a noticeable difference in the number of moles around, meaning that the woman and children were indeed escorted down into the ruins. No one knew how long they would be forced to stay put but it was for the best.
"It is good to be outside of that dusty old temple. I mean I know it got those…nice renovations but the only real value that place has is historical, and look at it now." Cyril commented.
"Exactly, the lack of motion can cause grave calibrations to the effectiveness of one's aeronautical proficiencies." Volteer ranted on in his usual tone. Finally, being able to go outside had eased their tension somewhat or at the very least gave them something to talk about.
"Quakedor, I might add you have done a marvellous job in getting them ready. I would even say Terrador would be proud of you."
Quakedor merely grunted, he always fell quiet when his brother was mentioned.
"Quakedor. A minute of your while if you would in muteness." Volteer called upon.
Quakedor, puzzled followed Volteer away from the group so neither Cyril or Zinnia could hear.
"What seems to be the problem Master Volteer?"
"Simply dualistic ideals. One is that when we collide with Spyro we take him back alive. We need to see if there is still a way we can have rid him of his malevolent, wicked, sinful evil lateral."
"I apologise for speaking against but we will try all we can to capture Spyro alive, however if he does not comply we will be forced to put him down. I can't do any more on that part, not while dragon and mole lives are on the line." Quakedor stood by his morals.
"I fully comprehend the undeniable requirement of citizen security. I suppose that is all you can really do." Volteer mumbled.
"I'm sorry it has to be that way Master Volteer. What was the other thing you wished to speak off?"
"Ah yes the other subject I wished to elaborate with you was the topic of your accomplice."
"Do go on." Quakedor said interested.
"She is a peculiarly interesting individual. Occasionally I feel her precarious glare sitting on my occiput. Can you fathom on why that is?"
"In all honesty Master Volteer, I had only met her just before this journey. her motives are hard to judge. I've only got a slight clue to what they are, but nothing solid to make any assumptions."
"If you had only just met her then why did you bring her along?" Volteer asked.
"With regards Master Volteer, I did not exactly have to time to organise a proper journey."
"Understandable I suppose."
"Now that is out of the way is there anything else?"
"Not to my intellect that I can quiz on. Thank you for your information."
Quakedor nodded before both dragons re-joined the group. For the rest of the journey the remained silent as they speeded for Warfang which was growing closer and closer with each beat of their wings.
Dark Spyro and his manipulated friends lounged around regaining their energy. Any scars they had suffered had healed and now they were waiting for the golem to return.
The sound of swishing of something moving through the lava caught their attention. Swift slashes through hot magma echoed through the cave.
It was here.
Dark Spyro rose and faced towards the entrance where an icy blue figure entered his view. There was a large difference though. Its arm was missing. It its place were thick round blackened rocks that formed an arm.
The golem must have lost its arm from the cascade and exited to construct a new one.
"So, it arrives, our prey!" Dark Spyro eagerly spoke. "Everyone gather around and transfer your energy onto me. We need this golem to aid us but I do not have enough power on my own." He ordered more serious.
Without hesitation, his minions formed a circle around him and begun creating a link between him and them. Dark Spyro could feel the energy pulsing through him. Power!
The Frost Golem was not happy to find his home invaded once more. However, to Dark Spyro's annoyance instead of charging forward…it roared and waited there.
"What is it doing?" Dark Spyro thought to himself befuddled.
His question was answered in a form of which he had hoped would not have happened.
Three dozen or so red orcs burst from the wall with axes in hand.
"Damn that golem has called for back-up!" Dark Blizarus cursed in his fragmented voice.
"I don't understand though, it didn't do that last time?!" Dark Earthena also commented.
"It must not be taking any chances in being rid of us." Dark Charditus added.
The gears in Dark Spyro's head were clicking quickly. "Did Malefor send these? No… more than likely they obey the frost golem."
"Ignore them." Dark Spyro ordered. "They cannot get us in the air. Our only task is going after the golem.
Dark Spyro turned to get a running start when he saw a dozen wyverns burst into the cavern as well.
Dark Spyro gritted his teeth…Just before he began smiling.
"Now I get to see how strong you truly are. You four keep those constructs away from me while I focus my energy. However, stay put around me in case I need to call upon you for your strength."
The frost golem scrambled up the platform, digging his needle like legs into the ground for extra group.
Dark Spyro discharged a purple beam that had hints of red in it. Although it was a beam of convexity, Spyro had infused a portion of his own life energy which gave it an entirely different effect. It struck the golem dead on, and even though dealt no damage the golem remained almost motionless. Stricken solid as the pulse worked its magic.
Despite as powerful Dark Spyro was in his form though he could feel his grip slipping fast. He needed more power.
"Vol-terra!" He grunted strained.
Dark Volterra swiftly turned and immediately focused her life energy on Dark Spyro. The effects were immediate, Dark Spyro could feel his energy pushing back against the golem's own, but still it wasn't enough.
"Blizarus!" Dark Spyro yelled. Clearly this amount of energy transferring both in and out was causing a huge tension on both his mind and body. However, he pushed these feelings aside as Dark Blizarus fed his energy in as well. The forces between Dark Spyro and the golems' were now balanced, but not tipping into either's favour.
Charditus meanwhile was keeping the orcs at bay, spreading wave after of intense heat that forced the orcs back while Earthena struck wyvern after wyvern with precise shots of earth to the crystal flooring.
Dark Spyro though knew this could not go on for long, any more laundering at he will simply weaken too much.
"Earthena!" He called out.
She snapped her head around and like the others focused her energy, leaving Charditus to fend off the huge group himself.
Dark Spyro's heart was beating faster than any dragon's should. His body ready to collapse and give up to the energy. But the darker being inside his body though keep him sane and focused, ignoring the pain. He almost had it, he could feel the Golem starting to submit. He just needed one more push.
"Charditus!"
Dark Charditus who was conserving his flame mana at this point instead exhaled it all at once, creating a bonfire that was brighter, deadlier and longer lasting than the ones before. He then turned and forced out the last bit of life energy Spyro needed.
An orb of purple energy burst forth from the golem, spreading out and hitting all those within the cavern, dragons and orcs included were swept away a small distance and any flames snuffed out. The crystal ceiling though did its job and prevented any more cave-ins thankfully.
When Dark Spyro came too though he starred at the golem through white-panned eyes. It was rising from its paralysis.
But…there was something different, in fact Dark Spyro almost felt silly he didn't recognise it straight away. The frost golem's veins now pulsed a deep purple…like convexity.
"Does this mean I succeeded…where Malefor had failed?"
The golem simply watched him through expectant eyes, clearly forgotten that these very dragons had just attacked it on numerous occasions.
However, another thing that was both startling yet curious was that all the wyverns and orcs caught in the blast also glowed a vibrant purple unlike their magma colouring before.
Dark Spyro watched them cautiously while his 'friends' formed a tight circle as the constructs hobbled closer, after their energy transfer they were in no condition to fight, but still they needed to protect their master. However, what only confirmed his suspicions what that instead of attacking the Wyverns landed a small distance away inspecting the group, while the orcs had their axes lowered, clearly showing they posed no threat or willing to fight.
"Just as I thought. These particular group of creatures were controlled by the golem, but now that I control it, I control these ones as well like my own personal army." Dark Spyro grinned widely showing his once innocent teeth and his eyes glistened with the prospect of power.
However, this moment passed as he realised that all that he had wouldn't matter. He still had a planet to pick apart and rebuild in his image of innocence.
"What are they doing?" Dark Blizarus growled.
"feinting harmlessly. Don' let your guard down because they can strike at any time…" Dark Charditus replied.
Dark Spyro though chuckled to himself. "They are of no threat to us anymore. They are under my control.
The others relaxed. "You lot!" Dark Spyro said to the orcs and wyverns. "Head over to the Dream Caster and rid the outside of any intruders, even if they're your own kind. Kill anything that isn't your group."
The orcs and wyverns bowed their heads in acknowledgement. The orcs did their awkward stumble to the walls before diving into them while the wyverns headed out the main entrance.
"As for us we too are heading for the surface but we require to do something first." Dark Spyro ordered. "Golem I need you to go on ahead and seal up the lava flow."
The golem bowed its giant head before heading back up the tunnel.
Dark Spyro then turned his attention to his resting minions, clear as crystal they were exhausted. "When we reach the surface, your priorities will be to find some crystals and restore both your health and energy."
Then it occurred to Dark Spyro…weren't there five of them? He counted them…where was Saphira?
"Where is she? Where is Saphira?!" He growled.
"She left the cavern ages ago." Dark Charditus replied.
"And you didn't think to tell me?!" Dark Spyro cried in anguish.
"It didn't deem important. Besides that, you never asked us before."
Dark Spyro grabbed Charditus by the neck and squeezed. Even though Dark Charditus offered up no resistance. Dark Spyro took a deep breath and released. Killing him here wouldn't accomplish anything.
"Next time do tell me when someone leaves please." He ordered sarcastically before regaining his composure "On the other hand, she couldn't have gotten far, that lava is impossible to go through without my abilities. The golem should spook her out of hiding. Alright when we move scan the cave walls in case she is hidden in them. Blizarus grab the book and when we find her grab her and bring her to me. Okay we move now."
Blizarus sharply nodded and snatched the book up in his talons.
Saphira struggled to control her breathing, her heart was racing. She had just seen the golem for the first time. She had heard rumours oh how colossal they were but you couldn't truly get a grasp of size until you have seen one.
Before she had just managed to escape the cavern without arousing suspicion but her hope simply died when she remembered the magma cavern. Like Dark Spyro had said there was no way through it. Even though she was frantic to get out, she wasn't sure how but she just had to.
She held her breath once more when she saw the red wyverns race out of the lava and she sincerely hoped that Charditus and co were alright. Even though she felt guilty she also couldn't let what happened to them also happen to her. So, she waited.
Five minutes of excruciating silence passed with only the odd sound or rumble coming from the cavern. Saphira then flattened her back even further when the wyvern darted back through the lava shortly before the golem returned and begun sealing up the lava flow with its crystal blast. She was even more terrified though when she they were a different colour.
"What is going on?!" Her mind raced.
"Keep a look out, she is somewhere here!" She heard Dark Spyro's cold and broken voice speak.
"They know!" She whimpered, never had she been more afraid, even though the first twelve years of her life lead up to these events.
"There she is!" She heard Volterra's petit and nervous spoke with full confidence.
"Oh crap." She whispered, desperately looking for a way. Too her mind-numbing relief a section of the lava had already been cleared up and was her ticket out of here.
She dashed with all her heart and beat her wings with all her might.
"After her!" Dark Charditus roared.
"No need." Dark Spyro casually replied.
"Huh?" Dark Charditus and the rest of them stopped.
Dark Spyro grinned and spoke softly. "Allow me to deal with her. You lot will instead follow the golem as you resupply your energy. Its mere presence will scare off the other constructs. It needs to go and get a fire stone and plonk it on top of the pedestal. Did you hear that golem?"
The golem took a moment away from what it was doing and with a quick nod of its beak acknowledged its instructions right before finishing up its work here and clambering out of the cavern.
"It will lead you to the Dream Caster where you will help kill anything that isn't ours. One last thing though. Cynder is still somewhere out there and is very dangerous. If you find her then work together to capture her…I want her alive. Now go, I'm going to have a little fun."
Dark Spyro vanished in a purple flash, leaving the four other shadows-stricken dragons to catch up to the purple golem.
Umbrafor woke with a startle from his daydream. Fear plastered on his normally dead face, a rare sight indeed if ever. He had just had a terrible vision, one of him and Spyro colliding in battle once more…and Cynder was there. What more there were no more clouds covering the dark skies everyone came to know as normal.
"Was that a vision of after the destruction of this world…no there is something not right about that conclusion…no…there are other dragons celebrating…"
No…Umbrafor had reached a conclusion. Spyro can no longer be trusted with this task. He had to go against his master's wishes this one time. He felt his ring and called upon Malefor.
"What is it? I was enjoying finding a good spot to watch the world's demise." He complained.
"Master I had a vision. We can no longer rely on that filth Spyro. He will doom the entire plan unless I intervene. You need to bring down this barrier now" Umbrafor spoke aggressively.
"Now come Umbrafor. Don't you think you're overreacting?" Malefor replied carelessly.
"I don't have time for your petty insignificant pleasantries. No one has…I know what I saw…My visions are never wrong and you know it." Umbrafor hissed back.
This time Malefor took him more seriously. "Are you sure?"
"How many times do I need to tell you?" He replied in hysterics.
"Very well, I shall see what I can do, I may have some connections to the fire wall. In the mean-time, I will amass what troops I can from within to slow them down. Do not fail me Umbrafor."
"I never fail you. I'm more concerned though about my followers…there are still things I do not think they grasp fully…and its best I keep it that way."
"I shall leave you be. Do what you can and the glory of the world's rebirth will be no one's but your own." Malefor then vanished from the crystal.
Umbrafor then turned to his troops. "What do you think you all are doing slacking? Back to training this immediate moment or I will personally make sure you are strained.
The effect was immediate. All seven dragons rose and divided into two groups, Ruby squad on one side and Sapphire squad on the other and then they began brawling.
However, it wasn't enough for Umbrafor. "Hit harder for ancestor's sake. These very dragons your holding back on could very well betray you and betray our course. There are no friends in war or am I to remind you?"
Those words hit home, 'reminding' often included torture to 'clear' the mind of unnecessary feelings of friendship and companionship for each other. Forcing these dragons to bury these feelings under tough emotionless exteriors. Despite what Saphira believed all these dragons did resist Umbrafor's influences, some only forced to do malicious crimes in fear of death.
The urge to simply run was simply always there. But Umbrafor's unforgiving nature always haunted them from ever doing so they are left with this option.
Infernius though approached his master right before the fighting.
"Master…I've got one request."
"You're in no position to do Infernius. I do not need to remind you what your other 'captains' have done. Now back to training." He snapped.
"All I ask is that we spare Saphira!" He blurted out as quickly as he could, clearly intimidated by the much bigger dragon.
Umbrafor just stared down at him in fury and outrage. A strong almost-hurricane like strength swept through the area, taking out all seven dragons.
"Have I not taught you anything?! Have I taught that compassion only leads to downfall?" He roared as the other dragons cowered. "I give you the opportunity to reshape the next world, where Pain and Arguing no longer exist. Yet you deem it not enough. I thought the promise of survival would be enough for you to pledge your loyalty long enough. But I was wrong yet again…None of you deserve to be in the new world."
Many of the dragon's eyes grew wide, in fear these words meant what they did…death.
Boldor though, aware the others were indeed scared put his ego into his head and stepped up to Umbrafor. "I'm not afraid Master, because I'm more loyal than any of these morons. I am truly worthy of entering the new world."
A couple of the dragons growled in annoyance at his remark loud enough for him to hear but he simply scoffed.
Whack! Umbrafor sent a sweeping talon that shoved Boldor all the way to level with Charditus. This left him both shocked and bewildered.
"Boldor if anything you are the least worthy. Your arrogance and incompetence had mildly amused me at best but now it's just getting annoying." He then turned to the rest of them who rightly kept their mouths shut.
"That's right fear me! As it appears fear is the only thing that drives you right now." He then quietened his voice without losing any of his ferocity. "It's come too far though…Killing you all would not help me."
Some of them sighed some relief but immediately put on edge when Umbrafor spoke once more. "That does not mean though I'm not willing to send some of you to an early grave though…" He finished. "Now back to work…And if I see anyone even stopping for a second I will ram my talon through your gut so hard the last thing you will see is darkness."
He really has lost his cool this time, and when Umbrafor threatens something in this mood he means it…that was what ended Amethyst squad early into their training… The other six dragons were quick to get back to fighting, but Infernius remained put aware Umbrafor had more to say.
Umbrafor then regained his composure…but for a shirt time. "Spyro is no longer a reliable source and thus it is up to me to see through what we have planned for fifteen years. This will not fail."
Infernius heart beat even quicker as Umbrafor picked him up clearly off the ground and crushed him tightly in his talons, followed by Boldor.
"As for you two, you ungrateful swine. I've never been one for fear, more an eye for eye type, give to those who give to me. But you have tried my patience time and time again so it's time to put this new strategy to the test."
Infernius didn't like the way this sounded.
"You may have been specifically chosen for your born advantages over the purple dragon but everyone has their weakness. Yours's is rather pathetic is it not? A fear of heights?" He sneered mockingly at Infernius.
"Coward here is afraid of heights, how stupid. But I'm not afraid of anything!" Boldor mocked before feeling the air constricted out of him even more.
"Silence…"
Infernius's fear turned to anger. "Only extreme heights above the clouds! What kind of dragon that can fly would be afraid of heights?"
"Oh, it's above the clouds now? Last time I heard it was somewhere very much beneath them below the freeze layer? Let's find out."
In one powerful beat of his wings Umbrafor propelled himself and the two dragons still in his clutches way into the air. Higher and higher they went, closer and closer to the thick layer of clouds, purple lightning dancing across. The other dragons snuck a glimpse at them before returning to their straining training.
The temperature was plummeting fast as both small dragons begun shivering, but still they climbed higher, they could've easily passed over the fire barrier if that was it actually-worked but Umbrafor had no interest in that at the time.
Infernius didn't dare open his eyes so he had no idea how up they were. But the crackling of what sounded like static gave them an indication they were right below the clouds or even in them at this point, his heart constricting in his chest.
However, he did feel a truly wonderous light fall upon him, so much so he couldn't resist taking a peak. He was glad he did.
Umbrafor had stopped at this point and now was hovering there, he had released his grip before.
The sun rested upon the horizon, beautiful bright blue heavens covered the area above them. Normal white clouds gently drifted lazily across the sky. The black clouds below with the jagged lightning acted as dreadful contrast. They were like in an airy space between heaven and hell. The beautiful skies above were heaven, but the blackness below, the darkness they all walked and shared is hell.
The Sun's gentle loving touch on their skins made even Boldor shut up. Even as cold as it was the sun made them forget about it. It was amazing how they could take something as sacred as the sun's gaze for granted.
"Don't you see…" Umbrafor's voice changed from one of hatred to that of an angel. Like he was the warden of heaven. "This is what I fight to return. Our ancestors took this away from us because we're greedy, we only ever took and never returned love or anything back into our world, the world we took for granted. This greed only leads to anger, hatred and other unnatural entities in the world, to the point that even I have let this anger ruin myself. But the ancestors have given me another chance. The darkness in this world has grown too strong and there is no saving it... I know I have done so terrible stuff but all will be forgiven for me when the new age comes. So, I must bring forth the next age as Fate as commanded, and then fill the next world will love and joy. I tried saving as many of you at birth as I could, for when you are at birth is when you are most innocent. I tried saving you so innocence could be raised properly in the next world." His voice then turned icy once more.
"But you two are not innocent…your arrogance and greed will only poison the next world so you must be eliminated here and now. Filth cannot be given a home in the land of the pure."
Just as Umbrafor turned cold once more the numbness of being so high up settled in once more, a coldness so bitter that even Infernius's wild fire within was nothing but a smouldering ember. He felt his entire body shake and go rigid.
"Five minutes we have been up here though…that is more than enough time for your wings of your small size to have seized up."
Infernius and Boldor glared up at the black dragon in spite and horror.
"Remember the parting words I gave and maybe the next life will be merciful to you for you had failed your duty in this one. Now I return you back to the hell you once came."
With minimal effort he opened his talons, releasing the two dragons.
Boldor began screaming immediately, thrashing and desperately trying open his wings while Infernius could only look down terrified at the approaching cloud layer.
Boldor's panicking only made him plummet even faster, disappearing into the black clouds first. Infernius remained paralyzed, unable to control his breathing, only able to take short shallow breaths of air, he too vanished into the darkness only to reappear moments later beneath.
By now Boldor was streaking faster and faster, spiralling out of control. His screams deafening out the further he fell.
Infernius finally regained some control of his mentality, remembering his training. He angled himself as if he was standing on the ground and tried frantically to arc his wings. But it was no use, like Umbrafor said his wings had frozen up and were useless. He regretted looking down but to his estimation he had about one minute left before he slammed downwards.
Despite wishing against it he prepared his finals thoughts, abandoning him ego. "Umbrafor…Fifteen years I had obeyed him without hesitation…only taking my friends and the offer of a life in the future in return. Fifteen years I had put up with his damnable torture, whippings, mental beat downs and starvation, and all I learnt was fear and loyalty to him. But he had betrayed me. Is that what Saphira saw…Even what Charditus and his friends saw?"
He looked down once more. Even if he could put his wings into place to slow his descent there was simply not enough time, he will be crushed into the hard ground.
"Boss hang on!" He heard in the distance, he snapped his eyes open. That voice…there was no mistaking it.
He gazed downwards and to his dismay his three friends were ready in catching position. They were going to save him."
Now he had to try and slow down. In a last-ditch effort, he violently forced his wings out. Any second now…
He felt several pairs of talons grab onto him and yank on various parts of his body. It hurt to say the least, but was less painful than hitting the ground.
He kept his eyes shut tightly though as his body landed relatively hard onto the ground…the ground. He almost hugged it like it was his mother.
"You gonna kiss it boss?" He heard one of them say.
Upon realising, what he was doing he quickly rose back up from the ground and addressed his three friends.
"You saved me…?" He asked softly.
"Of course we did, you're our friend, boss." The same one replied.
They had literally saved his life and treated it like it was nothing…this made Infernius rethink, just like how everyone took the sun for granted Infernius took his friends for granted. Those who stood by him and followed him without question…true friends, he really should show his appreciation more. In his own way of course.
"Oh what am I saying, of course you were going to save me. I wouldn't expect anything less from my team." He said in confidence, returning to his regular self but with a new twist.
His team mates grinned back. "For the record boss it was me who did most of the catching." One of them blurted out trying to steal the glory."
"Ah hell you did. I was me who caught you boss." The other playfully snapped back.
"Ladies, you all did well…for the record just call me Infernius from now."
"Infernius?"
"Were a team, and teams are equal. Even though I will still be calling out the shots."
"Alright!"
Infernius was about to say something else when he noticed the twins staring down at something behind a ridge, then it hit him.
"Did Boldor make it?" He said more concerned.
His sudden attitude change made his friends uncomfortable. "Well…No." He put it bluntly.
Infernius rushed past and took to the side of the twins who gave him a brief look.
It was not a pretty sight.
Blood splattered everywhere, bones poking out of various sections of his mangled corpse. What was worse was that his eyes remained wide open, fear plastered in complete circles.
"That could've been me…" He whispered solemnly. He has seen some horrid things in his life and done things himself. But nothing like this…
"When we saw him crash we looked up and saw you in a similar position." One of them spoke in barely covered terror.
"Then your friends flew up to save you." The other spoke in similar fashion.
They stared down at the unlucky carcass for a few quiet minutes.
"It appears Fate has other ideas for you, considering you are alive." The voice of Umbrafor unwelcomely intruded. "Perhaps you have learnt you lesson now. Very well you shall stay for the moment. Alright all back to training." The last part he said sharp but casual, acting like he didn't do anything.
"Oh, I have learnt my lesson alright. I learnt why Saphira betrayed your arse…Fate chose me to live, and from that I choose that me, Saphira and my friends will ride on into the next world…but for now I will play along but as soon as we find Saphira me and the crew are ditching your arse."
Saphira streaked out of the cavern like a blue blur, panting heavily. She soared upwards and over the ravine edges. She spotted a nearby rock, barely large enough to conceal her but she had no other choice, no doubt Dark Spyro and the others where hot in pursuit.
She peeked over just in time to see the Golem climb out and four black shadowy figures. But where was Dark Spyro. She frantically scanned the skies in case she had missed him.
"Looking for me?" A twisted voice spoke contemptuously from behind.
Saphira visibly jumped and wheeled around to see him standing right there bearing his teeth evilly, her heart skipped a beat.
She could do nothing but flatten herself up against the rock, too afraid to move. She slammed her own eyes closed and forced her head to one side.
"What's the matter? I'm not that scary, am I? Come on and just open your eyes…just a smidgeon is all I need."
Saphira ignored him, knowing well-aware of what would happen if she gave in.
"Don't you get it, what I am offering you is a life without fear. Where you can leave all your worries behind." He said enticingly.
"I would rather live in a world of fear than one of regrets that I can't get rid of." She argued.
"Regrets?! You can forget all regrets if you just let me…"
"No…regrets are what motivated me to leave Umbrafor. Regrets are what will motivate me to help those I've wronged." She spoke more bravely before, now that she was standing for her beliefs.
"But you just said-?" Dark Spyro replied, surprised by her contradicting statement.
"I know what I said. But there is more to regret than just those I've wronged, regrets can never be erased but they can be rebalanced by god deeds. If I joint you…then I would be left with nothing but haunted regrets and no one to help."
Dark Spyro growled, he hated stubbornness. "What I offer you-"
"I know what you offer and still I refuse."
"Will you stop cutting me off!" Dark Spyro hissed.
"No, because it doesn't matter how many of us you turn, or if you bring us onto this new world you would only bring one thing, hatred and false joy. Is that what you want? A world of false hope."
Dark Spyro pondered that thought for a moment. "You have a point…It would be a false world with you around. The answer is simple then, I leave you here to savour your final moments while me and the rest create a new world of joy."
Dark Spyro then turned and left, leaving Saphira on her own.
"Is he really gone?" She tried listening, a heartbeat, footsteps, anything to notify her if he still lurked. But nothing. Two minutes passed just to be sure, but still only the distant sound of lava and the gentle mellow of wind were heard. She sneaked a peek.
Immediately she went into shock, he was right there. She slammed her eyelids shut. But it was too late. She felt the evilness pierce her mind and invade and the black foggy substance overflowed through her scales and cloaked her. She opened her eyes to reveal two orbs of unholy white.
"There, don't you just feel those worries and fears disappear?"
"I do…" Dark Saphira spoke like a broken witch. "It's a great feeling I'm telling you."
"Good, now that this has been resolved we have a final mission to fulfil."
"Of course we do, we got a new world to fulfil."
The guardian's arrival was met with both gratitude and uncertainty. Hundreds had gathered expecting a speech…Many still had their betrayal scorched at the back of their mind, literally the guardians had allowed the purple dragon to escape, the key to bringing back the old world they loved.
"I think they are expecting you to speak." Quakedor spoke.
"Then a speech they shall be granted. It has been far too long since I've the pleasure gracing these people." Cyril replied. He cleared his voice and stepped forward.
"Friends, Enemies and everyone else. You have sought our help and help is we as guardians shall provide. We realise we have conducted a terrible error, and because of that a new threat looms over us. Spyro has turned, and like the previous purple dragon and plots to end the world, and we now must put a stop to him. However we cannot do it alone, as such we need to rebuild broken bridges between ourselves. Help us now and we promise once this is over we shall rebuild your city, not just overlooking but be by your sides to lift the stones and carry them!" He finished with a triumphant ring.
That was enough to inspire the crowds. When a guardian promises something they always follow through with it. Most of them cheered, with only the most anti-guardian of them skulking away.
Quakedor then grabbed the attentions of the guardians and Zinnia.
"It seems you have earnt their trust." He spoke gruffly. "But now we need to strategize on how we are going to repel Spyro's forces. We are exposed out here without the protection of the wall."
"This does leave us at a perplexing disadvantage-" Volteer added.
"Volteer a moment of your time." Cyril asked huskily.
Both dragons move away out of ear shot.
"It's is about young Spyro Volteer. On our way here I had been thinking on our current situation."
"Go on…"
"I fear that we may have to put aside our morality and put an end to him. We cannot risk letting our own weakness for him give him a chance to escape."
"But Cyril, surely there-" Volteer questioned.
"No." Cyril countered, more serious. "If the opportunity presents itself we must be on the ball to seize it. I would rather regret the loss of one dragon than the world."
"…I comprehend." Volteer relinquished.
"I understand it is hard Volteer but we must do what we can to survive. We cannot give him another chance like we did to Malefor for him to change."
"Master Cyril, Master Volteer!" A hurried squeaky voice broke out.
They both turned to find a mole dashing towards them as fast as its little legs could carry it. "The barrier sir! The barrier has dropped."
They both then looked towards the barrier…the barrier that wasn't there. They both exchanged looks of hope and determination.
"We need to move indefinitely. Get every abled bodied mole and dragon and be ready. Now maybe our only chance to strike." Cyril ordered. Chaos ensured as moles dashed about grabbing their weapons and armour, dragons too criss-crossed the skies.
"Gentle now Golem, we wouldn't want you to have to recover another stone, now would we?" Dark Spyro warned gently as it nearly slipped out of its clutches.
Dark Spyro, now accompanied by Dark Saphira had re-joined the others who had recently refuelled their mana levels, Dark Spyro had also taken the book off Blizarus. The golem hobbled along with its rock. A thirty-foot-tall spire with a flat surface appeared over the horizon, unlike the others dotted around poked over the horizon.
"That must be it…" Dark Spyro thought to himself.
As they approached it became more than apparent that fighting was ensuring between Spyro's own Orcs and wyverns a few disorganised red ones.
"Earthena, Blizarus, please be helpful and clean up these pests. It would make our lives so much easier…Golem carefully place that stone you are holding onto that Platform up there then go and rest."
Without ushering Blizarus and Earthena flew off and begun killing off the outsiders while the golem plonked the crystal on top of the spire before digging itself back into the ground and away from the area.
"Charditus, Volterra and Saphira would you please follow me, since I'm such a nice guy you can stay together with me, we got two more things to do. One of which will be slightly difficult given are weakness to the dark crystals."
"There is no need for that." Dark Saphira spoke up, grabbing their attention. "We sentinels are immune to the effects of dark crystals, only one of the reasons why we were chosen for the sentinel program, and before you came along we were forced to gather the dark crystals and have the prepared for when we used the machines ourselves. There is enough there for even two uses of the machine."
Dark Spyro found this very intriguing. "How convenient then, that means the only thing we now need is a beam of convexity…I wonder where we could get that?!" He smirked. "Stay here while I do the honours."
Dark Spyro disappeared into one of three buildings, a simple bland grey structure with scorch marks every so often. Inside he found a single hole allowing for light to enter up out of the roof. In the middle of the room a black orb levitated undisturbed.
Dark Spyro skimmed through the book until he found the page describing the orb again.
"What am I doing…I don't need this." He muttered, slamming the book shut and ignoring it.
"All I need to do is this." Upon those words, he released a beam of convexity, striking and reacting to the orb. A white glow resonated from within. A moment later through a pure white light shot out of the orb, out of the skylight and struck directly with the fire stone where it undergone a similar procedure and a red light shot out once more and directly into the main structure.
"I am now guessing that all I need to do is activate that staff now. I'm not sure how long the energy will remain active but I better not procrastinate now."
Dark Spyro turned and simply left, awaited by his companions. The sounds of hissing and axes colliding sounded through the air as ongoing skirmishes raged all around.
"Saphira, Charditus and Volterra could you please help clear up these orcs, they're becoming a nuisance now." Dark Spyro grumbled.
They nodded, Saphira immediately struck an approaching orc dead in between the eyes with an ice spike.
Dark Spyro headed for the final building, standing, looming like a maleficent cathedral over him. This did not phase him one bit though, he was too focused on the task ahead. He followed down a long steep stairwell that fed into a tall thin corridor. Torches with blue flames lined the walls and the room beyond.
Dark Spyro strolled down the vast hallway, half expecting something to jump out like a creature or a trap. But nothing came.
He reached the end which opened into huge octagonal room. Eight pillars held the roof up at equally distanced-positions. More blue torches illuminated the area around. Rounded encrypted steps lined the centre and right in the middle a pure black protruded with four tiny spikes raised out at the top, deceptively looking like a hand, a hand that clutched a truly beautiful crystal that somehow shined in all colours of a rainbow but be transparent at the same time.
What caught Dark Spyro's eye though was the mounds upon mounds of dark crystals that piled like mountains on the outskirts of the room, never had he seen so many in one location.
"That staff, more specifically that crystal must be what actually makes thoughts a reality. So, when I grasp it the energy from these crystals must be drawn inside and effectively feed it…It must be a hungry staff to require this amount of energy. But then again Saphira did say there was enough here for two wishes. Alright, time to make my new world."
Dark Spyro took a step forward, one step closer to accomplishing his goals. Even though he didn't realise it this action he was about to do had more meaning that he ever intended. He was about to destroy the world, the one thing he prevented Malefor from doing. Literally even when the planet had broken apart Spyro refused to give up, and now he was throwing it all away.
"Not another step!" A voice rung out, it sounded both scared and unsure, but still with a hint of foreboding and courage.
A shadowy figure descended from the ceiling and landed on all fours.
"Cynder…so glad you could join me."
"Please Spyro don't send me away again."
"And why would I do that to you? I actually hoped to see you again." Dark Spyro smirked, even though Cynder ignored it.
"Spyro…I know you are still in there, you can still stop this. No one is hurt so you can always turn back."
"Now why would I want to turn back now?"
"Because the Spyro I know, the real Spyro would never truly succumb to his darker side!" She yelled, she tried withholding her tears, but still they dripped.
"That Spyro was a fool. But now he is gone. Don't you see Cynder, this world…this world we saved was never worth it!" He yelled back.
"That is not true! I may not know all the horrors you had suffered but I know why you are upset. But there are still those who love you Spyro. I love you! And I always will!"
"No Cynder…there is no love left in this world." Dark Spyro spoke more openly. "For the last month, I had been on the run…for no crime. I stopped this world's destruction and they want me dead because of it. The problem isn't me it's them." He pointed accusingly in a random direction. "At this point they are only capable of hate, that was apparent even before the war. But I had let this foolish belief called hope prevent me from seeing the truth up until now. Don't you remember Cynder? You were manipulated into stuff you didn't want to do yet no one seems to believe you or is even willing to give you a second chance."
"But the guardians did."
"Those guardians tried cornering me and kill me. They never held hope in us. Instead they merely 'hoped' that we would take out their problem of which we did. Then they betrayed the trust I cherished so deeply."
This widened Cynder's eyes.
"Spyro…"
"There is no such as hope in this world. That is why I'm creating a new world, with hope, and I want you there to be with me Cynder. Imagine just starting over again everything of the past gone. No more bad memories, no more people looking down upon you. Just me and you together as we both wished for in a beautiful world. I love you as you love me."
Cynder looked away for a moment. Contemplating these words. If Spyro did this wouldn't it kill them all…Spyro included, or did he know something. Was she really going to let Spyro do this…so that she could be with him. She then looked back up and stared Dark Spyro in his white eyes that still held an apart of Spyro's innocence. Eyes…
"No! I said I loved Spyro… You are nothing but a parasite feeding off his body. If I allowed you to do this then you would kill us all! Then your promise would be pointless anyway. And if the real Spyro is truly gone then that means you are nothing but an empty shell of him, someone I'm more than willing to kill if it means putting a stop to this stupid cycle!" She growled.
"You still don't get it, do you? Spyro isn't gone! Instead he had seen the truth."
"Liar! You said it yourself."
Dark Spyro took a deep breath in, and exhaled both the air and the darkness around him, leaving Cynder once more speechless.
"Look me again in the eye and tell me this isn't the real me…" He said plainly.
His purple irises read nothing but truth…so he truly was committed to this.
"Now please Cynder will you join me? What I'm doing is in both our best interest. I really do love you." He said more sadly.
"I…Alright." She submitted. Her pride was hurt…but It would all be better when it's all gone now wouldn't it? If Spyro was really wishing for death then the world must truly be better off non-existent. She shakily limped over and joint his side.
"Thank you for understanding…I know it is hard." He spoke softly.
She didn't speak, she was simply too upset to do so. So instead they walked forward.
However, despite Cynder submitting her mind as still thinking.
"If Spyro really loved me then he would listen to me as well." Then the realisation struck. "He isn't doing this for me. He is only doing this for himself. What I truly want is to stay in this world…to make it a better place. Guilt is something that isn't meant to vanish, it's something that needs to be appeased. It doesn't matter who they are, they will not take that one thing away from me."
They reached the first of five steps, Spyro was about to place his talon down.
Cynder then pushed to her left and tackled him down, pinning him down underneath me.
"I will never let you do this! Even if I must die!" She hissed out loud, finally contempt that she needs to do this. That she can do it.
Spyro's anguish was immediate as anger clouded him again. "Let me go!" He roared as he desperately struggled.
For a few seconds, they struggled.
"I tried doing this the easy way for you Cynder! But it doesn't matter how important you maybe to me I can always force you to be who I want you to be! He shrieked. He glared his eyes upon hers. The effect was instantaneous.
Cynder tensed up and grunted in pain. Memories of all her evil deeds flooded into her head like a tidal wave, scarring her mentally.
Dark Spyro kicker her off.
In Cynder's mind panic overtook, even though she was now under Spyro's control she still had free rain over her mind. She was still aware of everything around her, her sights, her actions. But she just longer couldn't control it.
"Finally, now that is sorted."
He took a few deep breaths to help control his breathing and regain his spent energy. He then took a step onto the rounded step…and collapsed.
What the? Why the hell did Spyro just collapse? Did Cynder maybe do something to him or? Who Knows but me?
Regardless next chapter serves as the pinnacle of the story. I Apologise if the past phew chapters haven't been as tense or good but still I hope you have enjoyed. But with Umbrafor, the guardians and Warfang on their way you can expect next chapter to have a large battle.
Apart from that there are only really 2 chapters left of this part of the story, so I would like to say thank you all who stuck by me since the beginning and who will continue reading until Dawn.
If you are enjoying the story though and are one of those people who Haven't clicked the follow button then why not do that now? It really does me and the story a load. Also, if you got the time why not leave a review. Encouraging comments as well as criticism is welcome