When the world Ends
Cynder groaned as she rose.
"Eurgh…how long was I out for?" She mumbled. It was then the memories of past surged like pain through her mind. Her eyes shut tight in agony. The memories of murder and blood shed jammed there in her head. She clutched it tightly and howled in pain.
It took only moments though before this eventually faded. Still this left a sorrowful and pained look on her face, the fear that plagued her victims, the blood of innocents spilt by her own talon…
She forced those memories to one side for the moment, she had other things to worry about.
In front of her lain an unconscious Spyro, freed from his darkness, but still he was making unusual jerking moments with his head appendages.
He looked so innocent, like a restless child struggling in its sleep…the Spyro she knew…No. She need to think of Spyro more like Malefor because that was who he is. They both tried destroying the world, They, both threw away everything they loved for power and the chance to reshape the world…and they both are purple.
She had to end it now. She stepped forward and raised her tail blade.
She looked once more at his face, screwed up in mortal pain, the very sight of it made her tail droop a little, as she become more unsure of her actions. But then she tensed up again.
"I need to do this! If I don't then he will kill us all." She posed once more, aiming for his exposed defenceless heart.
For a moment she waited, quivering.
"I…I can't do this." She meekly admitted, her tail dropped to the floor. Instead she began pacing. "But what can I do?"
She paced back and forth, on the one hand if she put an end to this, then never again would she have to worry about purple dragons…but on the other, this was Spyro, the one she loved. It didn't matter how many times she masked him with the face of Malefor, deep down it was still him.
She growled to herself. "I know I'm going to regret this…"
She grabbed two of Spyro talons and begun dragging him. Perhaps there was a way that she could prevent Spyro from doing this while also keeping him alive. She wasn't sure how but it was worth a try at least.
Her track of thought was broken when one of Spyro's free talons swiped randomly in the air, narrowly missing her eye.
"Need to be careful of that…"
He then mumbled something incoherent, something about needing to stop himself…followed by a much louder "No!" hiss of annoyance. Upon that Spyro's shaking became more violent, resisting Cynder's attempts to restrain him. In one desperate error, she used her two remaining talons on top of his. It was though they had a mind of their own, working together to struggle even though the dragon was physically unconscious.
Spyro, unaware of his actions opened his maw. Cynder's eyes grew wide and her body stricken in cold fear as she anticipated what was to come. To her luck though the convexity beam was weak, if they could ever be considered weak. It was still enough to send her scattering through the air and luckily over the piles of dark crystals and into the wall. She was knocked out again on impact.
Spyro meanwhile had gone from mad to bizarre, he was flailing about, as if two beings were fighting for control, he was wobbling all over the place, randomly lashing out at nothing and getting threateningly near to the piles of black crystal piles yet never actually touching them.
From a distance, they looked like a flock of dreadwings. But up-close one would soon realise it was much scarier. It was the entire Warfang army, they didn't realise Spyro was only in charge of a few Orcs and a golem but still they weren't taking any chances.
The wind too had picked up, as did a light shower of rain that was getting heavier each second. Indicating a storm was brewing overhead. But that didn't bother them, they were used to it.
Hundreds of adult dragons, comprised of many different elements flew straight and true for the Burnt lands. What more many of them had bowman archers riding on the back of them. With the electric dragons, the usually lighter framed but faster carrying one or two moles and the Earth dragons, the bulkiest of them carrying up to eight. Only the guardians and a few selected flew unburdened.
Volteer deliberately distanced himself from Cyril, for he concealed a secret. In his grasp, he held a small golden chest, and although he dodged Cyril he couldn't avoid Zinnia.
"So, what do you happen to have in that chest of yours?" She asked.
Volteer hurried his mind for an answer. "Nothing apprehensive I can tell you. This container withholds a singular exceptional headdress engineered uniquely to me." He lied.
"In that teeny tiny chest? I highly doubt so; your mind is far bigger and more beautiful than that." Zinnia complemented with a naughty ulterior motive. It was an odd comment, but Volteer was an odd dragon so it worked out perfectly for her. He felt a little hot around the horns.
"Err…Precisely as I corresponded precisely a moment ago this is a magical helmet that changes its shape to mould around my cranium and when I have it unequipped it shrinks down to fit inside this box."
This simple lie made Zinnia chuckle to herself. "You know I can tell a white-lie when I see one. So out with it, what's in the box. I won't tell anyone if it's embarrassing." She slyly replied.
Volteer, admitting defeat instead pleaded her. "Please, if I show you contents, you mustn't utter a spelling of this to anyone, specifically Cyril."
"A secret from your best friend? This must be good. Oh, I just love the urge of not being able to tell a secret." Zinnia eagerly spoke.
Volteer quickly placed a tight grip on the lid.
"I didn't say I was going to tell!" She defended.
"Alright." Volteer sighed, he made a quick glance either side of him as Zinnia moved closer. He then tucked the box closer to his chest and slid the lid of the box open.
Inside, a green jade snake with a yellow crystal embedded in its head raised its head and greeted Volteer with a flick of its tongue, more specifically one that Volteer had taken from Malefor's den and adapted to make better.
Zinnia looked at it puzzled. Never before had she seen something like it but at the same time she felt she should recognise it. "That's an…interesting pet?" She simply put it. Volteer closed the lid.
"No, no. This contraption isn't a visceral. This piece of biotechnical hardware is what I termed as the energy suppressor harness." He explained. "I was working on this device a miniscule time before to aid in combating criminals but ever since the turning of our delinquent Spyro I had developed this to subdue the prevailing abilities of him."
The instant Volteer explained Zinnia knew exactly what it is and secretly giggled to herself.
"I had a little trouble, problem, misfortune with the device, that was until my cohort in Warfang suggested an invaluable possibility that turned out to be completely true. Because of that I managed to reverse the polarity of the force expelling the energy to instead draw it in."
"You're welcome." Zinnia merely added.
Though puzzled at first, Volteer quickly worked out what she meant. "Interval, postponement, delay, you're Zinnia?!"
"The one and only…Ancestors you really don't remember me."
"But, indefinitely the last time I glanced you was-"
"Right before you left to become a guardian. A handsome one at that." She added.
Shame leaked into the features of Volteer. "That was an infinite time ago. I had elapsed so much of that time. But how did I forget you?"
"Typical you…" She sighed happily.
For a long time, they had exchanged letters, updating each other of the updates in their lives. However, the letters stopped exchanging ever since the night of the raid. It was only a month ago Zinnia started sending letters but by then, Volteer had been so transfixed on the war he had completely forgotten. So, when the first letter arrived Volteer thought she was an unusual stranger with a passion for science and knowledge like him so he too returned the letters, and become long-distance lab partners of a sort. All the while Zinnia accepting the fact that Volteer didn't recognise her, that was until now as Zinnia made it her mission to find Volteer again. A small silence fell between them. But Volteer was eager to rekindle his friendship with her, she on the other hand was keen to make it more than just that.
"So how did you figure out that by breaking the crystal into two and merging the opposite sides that it would counteract the flux relay?" Volteer asked.
"Simple, I just applied the rules of magnetism into this." Zinnia replied.
"Of course. Not only that but it will also prevent the crystal from interfering with the reception and programming of the chain, thus preventing an output overload and inevitable implosion."
"I honestly did not even think of that." She mused before giggling. "You never have changed." She reminisced about the past. "Not ever since the time you gave those bullies a good beating anyway."
Upon those words Volteer remembered it. Back in his academy he was pure and simply a nerd and thus often alone. But one day He saw three slightly older dragons picking on Zinnia, and his pure heart told him that he could not simply ignore it. However, in knowing he was outmatched by the brutes he used his secret weapon…his vastly superior intelligence.
So, what he did was created an electrical impulse that although undetectable had surprising effects. The three dragon's movements become jittery and sluggish as Volteer quickly beckoned Zinnia to him, and Zinnia being an electric dragon was unfazed by the static in the air swiftly hurried over.
From there on out the two stuck close together, becoming best friends and sharing Volteer's quiet corner in a peaceful garden. Zinnia grew fascinated over time By Volteer's wealth of knowledge and found his normally erratic speech impediment cute. She was sad to say the least when she heard he had been allocated a spot for Guardianship but glad at the same time. She also vowed when she older she would find him again and make him an apart of her life.
"So how is your love life?" Zinnia asked in plain view. She wanted to get right into the details, she needed to know if there was a chance.
Volteer stumbled upon his own words at the randomness of the scenario. "Blah…Eurgh…my love life?" He blurted out.
While he was recovering from his surprise the gears in his head turned, his love life…it had been practically non-existent. He had tried to engage in such things before but many found his unique accent and terminology off-putting, and others had been a bit too 'brutish' for own liking, rather having fun fighting than pondering life's greatest mysteries. On top of that he had spent a large portion of his time alone with the other guardians. He had however wished at one point to meet the one who kept sending him these messages.
"Why in benevolence would you want to intrude on such enclosed matters?!" He asked half nervous, half affronted.
"Typical male…" She mused to herself. "Just out of simple curiosity? Is there any harm in that? Now come on, you trust me with one secret…" She said persuasively.
"Well no-"
"Good. Perhaps after this little mess is sorted out me and you can go out on a romantic date like I dreamed out about ever since we met."
Volteer was bewildered beyond belief. He had just been asked out on a date by someone her hadn't seen for countless years…this was not the kind of get together he was expecting. However, his expression told Zinnia everything.
"What? You knew this was going to be the next step in our relationship if it wasn't for you leaving." Zinnia argued.
Volteer tried to think of a counter argument. But nothing came.
"No disagreement? Great, this means it's a date. Don't worry, I know we got more pressing matters at hand, but we can always discuss it in more detail afterwards. Okay then see you later." Just like that she departed, disappearing into the fray of dragons.
Volteer was left in utter confusing shambles. He had just been outplayed in words. Zinnia was a lot more confident than he remembered, but other than that she was the same. He was still getting his head around the events. It was not how he imagined it to play out, but at the same time it, with some adjustment he guessed it would work out alright. He would finally go on a date with someone he knows very well who also shares a passion of the mind. She was also someone he could trust a secret with. Ancestors help him when Cyril discovers this…
Umbrafor took each slowly down the narrow step stair case that led to the octagonal room. He and his minions had just found Spyro's 'friends' unconscious just like Cynder was. However, since they were under Spyro's influence for longer the toll of suddenly being freed had lasted longer on them. Regardless Umbrafor took full advantage of this situation and captured them, lining them up next together. Malefor then casted a spell that forged a purple slightly opaque glowing manacles to form around the unconscious legs and neck, pinning their bodies to the ground. Not only that but the same spell also supressed their powers.
However, another strange thing to note that upon the connection being temporarily severed, the purple orcs, wyverns and even the golem that helped clear the place out resorted to back-up instructions and buried themselves into the ground into a dormant state. This made their presence unknown to Umbrafor, which will come in useful later...
Umbrafor though had other worries. Despite finding the others Spyro was not among them, so while the others guarded their newly captured prisoners Umbrafor went ahead to check the Dream Caster room just in case. What he found was even better. Spyro lain unconscious on the stairs leading up to the Dream Caster Staff.
Umbrafor felt there was something off though, a strange new energy filtered through the room he had not felt before.
"This must mean he had powered up the machine." He thought a little worried. He stepped forward and grasped the purple dragon in his grasp. "We can't have you causing me anymore trouble…not when I am this close."
He checked the crystal deposits around. "It doesn't look like he had used it…but what caused him to fall unconscious like this?"
Umbrafor then came to the greedy realisation. "If the machine is charged up…It means I can use it!"
Without a moment's hesitation, he clasps the staff in his other talon.
"I wish…to put an end to the world! Not with the destroyer! But a wave of destruction to purge those unworthy enough to be in the new age!" He spoke loudly, with a voice of demanding and authority almost like a god.
The blinking of the rainbow crystal rapidly increased in strength and speed, and a low whistle, sounding almost like it was charging up. However as soon as it started it ended, much to a befuddled Umbrafor.
"This isn't supposed to happen?!" He cried in anguish
He then stared at the sleeping dragon. "What did you do?!"
However as expected there was no reply. "No…the amount of dark crystals here means the machine couldn't mean he has used it." He gazed around once more, and to be honest the amount of dark crystals there were to begin with it would be almost impossible to tell if the machine was used. "The only plausible means would be that machine simply timed out and requires another beam of convexity. That's it…that's the only possibility!"
Settled with that being the only solution. He turned and headed for the exit. He needed Spyro awake to restart the process.
Five minutes ago.
Spyro could feel his head pounding on the side of the skull as if someone just clobbered him. He could feel his senses throbbing in disorientation.
When Spyro came to he was baffled. He wasn't where he remembered fainting, in fact he was in the furthest place from it.
A white almost like snow gently fell around him, and a night sky encircled him and the floating platform he was on. Large blue lights, like mini suns glowed in the distant. Spyro then turned to the sight directly in front of him. A strange wall stood tall above him on the circular rock. Strange blue glowing patterns lined the bottom of these walls, almost speaking an ancient language. The thing that caught Spyro's eye though was a ring in the circle of the room, big enough to stand in with a white opaque light emanating into the night sky.
This place felt so distant, but at the same time so familiar. Then it struck him…
"I must be in one of my dreams. But why now?!" This only meant one thing. He took a step forward.
"Hello? Chronicler?!" he called out, deep into the empty vastness.
Nothing…then a voice spoke out.
"It has been some time young dragon…"
It was different from the voice he was accustomed to in this situation.
"You're not the Chronicler." Spyro pointed out.
"Oh, but I am young dragon. Just not the one you remember."
That voice…Spyro recognised it all too well. But that was impossible…
"Ignitus…" Spyro called out unsurely.
"Yes Spyro. It is me." Ignitus happily sighed. His voice rugged, ancient and wise, but still had that underlying care.
"Ignitus!" Spyro yelled in joy, before returning to the questions. "But how? You…you died…didn't you?" Spyro was caught in both joy and distress. He had hundreds of questions and wanted the answers now.
"I did. But when a new age starts, a new chronicler is chosen to record all events, I was chosen to undertake this task."
"That is great Ignitus! I just can't wait to tell Cyril and Volteer that you're alive!" Spyro could barely contain his excitement.
"Indeed, but what about you? You too have been busy." Ignitus pointed out.
It was then Spyro had remembered the previous month, immediately sadness weighed heavily upon his heart.
"I…I failed Ignitus…I was unable to find a solution to saving the planet…and I was unable to find Cynder." His voice, sounded a little dry when saying the last part.
Ignitus was a little uncertain on how to respond to that comment, but still pursued the conversation.
"But young dragon, at least you have tried, and that is sometimes all we can do."
"I guess…I am just glad that even after all this there are still people willing to be my friend."
Ignitus didn't respond… He didn't know the softest way of telling the dragon…
"Ignitus. Could you make sense of something please? Right before you contacted me I was having the worst of dreams? It felt so strangely surreal… But in a way, I can't explain. Maybe it was another vision?" Spyro's tone notably saddened again. "I remember Losing myself to the darkness…and doing some horrible things…but Cynder was there as well."
Ignitus couldn't hide the truth anymore. "Young dragon…that was no dream, nor was it a vision." Ignitus replied sorrowfully.
"What?!" Spyro cried in utter alarm. "But that would all mean?! I don't understand Ignitus." Spyro didn't want to believe it, even though deep down he held a feeling it was.
"Yes, young dragon…all that was real." Ignitus said, he was saddened himself, even though it wasn't him who had to receive the news.
Spyro looked at the ground, all energy removed from his being like as if someone had just jabbed him in the stomach. "But how…? Why was it didn't feel entirely real?"
"That is because young dragon your alter-self, your darkness as you call it has taken control, and forced the real you aside. You still see and feel everything your body does, and even share the same thoughts."
The images of all those he hurt…all those shocked faces forced their way into his mind…all the dragons he had betrayed stared at him accusingly and shocked. It forced him to huddle into a ball, wishing for the world to swallow him whole.
"I really have failed Ignitus...even as the purple dragon…even with you as my mentor. I failed to restore the realm…and I fell into the darkness, I let it consume me like hatred…I failed you Ignitus…" Tears were now visibly appearing in his eyes.
Ignitus voice took a softer tone. "Young dragon, you haven't failed me young dragon. Even now you inspire me."
Spyro's reply came out a little harsher than he intended as he poked his head out. "How can you say that when not only did I fail my duty as the purple dragon, failed the people who depended on me and in the end, became the one thing they despised. Even with the powers granted to me as the purple dragon I failed."
"Spyro…I think it is time I taught you one more final lesson as your mentor, one more lesson about being a dragon, about being you."
Spyro remained silent, with tears still drowning his eyes.
"Why do you think you managed to get this far young dragon?"
"…Because of my friends…people who used to be my friends…" Spyro admitted.
"Though they now see you in a different light. It doesn't mean they have forgotten what you once were, who you still are. It wasn't the fact you were the purple dragon that they entrusted their faith into you, it was you that they put their trust into."
"Ignitus…I let them all down, I gave into my darkness and let it win…Now the world will be ended."
"No, you haven't young one. You never gave in, that is why you never went full on evil at the start. Even now your being is fighting, with every inch of its being. Remember that moment you finally had with Cynder?"
"I do…that bit did feel real."
"That is because you won that battle. Even though it was but for a moment you took back control. Which shows you are stronger than you believe young one. It shows you are more than capable of winning the battle against darkness. Not because you're the purple dragon, but because your spirit is burning strong."
"Why are you telling me this Ignitus?"
"Because young dragon. I still see greatness, and a chance for a happy life for you Spyro."
"…I'm sorry Ignitus. But you were wrong about me before. There is no happiness. Even if I was to defeat my darkness, even if I was to undo my wrongs. I still have done things to my friends that are unredeemable…"
"And why wouldn't they not forgive you? I'm sure Cynder would understand how you felt."
"Cynder…" Spyro distracted himself for a moment…Cynder did know how he felt…the guilt of harming innocents against his own wishes. But then again…Spyro also knows how Malefor feels, the power and joy from manipulating others to do his bidding… Spyro was in a conflicted state.
"Ignitus…But aren't I closer to being Malefor than to Cynder?"
"Because of your colour? Because of actions that weren't your own?"
Spyro weren't to argue back…but found he didn't have one.
"You should never take responsibility of actions that weren't your fault. And even when you have wronged, you must be willing to put it aside and find a way to correct it. That is the lesson here." Ignitus concluded.
"Correct my mistakes…" Spyro whispered. "Are you sure Ignitus?"
"Have I ever lied to you Spyro?"
Spyro then thought deeply, connecting the dots in his mind to draw a conclusion.
"Everyone falters at some point, and everyone needs that one person to remind them what they are fighting for, isn't that the type of future you want?"
Spyro then looked outwards upon the world, not seeing it for what he sees, but what it could be.
"Of cause. The reason I came this far was because I wanted to make it better for everyone else regardless of what happened to me. It was because of their kind actions and trust they willingly put to me I was able to fight Malefor." For the first time in a long time, even if for the wrong reason, Spyro smirked. "It was because of their actions now, that allowed me to finally face my own darkness…But still I cannot forget what I have done. I am still responsible for my darker side actions and thus I must find a way to rectify them. So first, stop my darkness from undoing all I have fought for, then face the consequences of my actions. Then maybe…just maybe I can win my friends back, maybe I can win Cynder back."
"Ignitus? Do you know if I ever manage to get my friends back? Do you know how I can?" Spyro asked hopeful.
"That is something you must work out on your own. It is your life and your choices. All I will say if follow your heart and be yourself. Isn't that how you earnt their friendship in the first place?"
Spyro nodded, then smiled. "Thank you Ignitus."
"Now young dragon, how about we do something about your darkness?"
"What do you mean Ignitus?"
"Look in front of you Spyro."
Spyro turned his head from the skies and looked at the white alter.
"What is it?"
"It is Light. Your fifth element. Do you remember your battle with Cynder in Convexity? At the moment, you unleashed that energy?"
"You mean convexity fury?"
"No Spyro. What you did there was a Light Fury. One of the two true secret power of the purple dragon. It is an element so rare, so powerful yet pure that it can vanquish the very essence of darkness. As you did with Cynder."
"Light element? I've never heard of it. And if I have used it before how come I've never been able to use it again?" Spyro asked.
"Because like your other elements, it was quenched out of you after your fight with Cynder, never reawakened." Ignitus explained.
"You also said it was one of the two? What is the other one?"
"That would be the dark element, Convexity as you would know it. Do not get it confused with Cynder's shadow element, this is an element far stronger, far more destructive, yet can also be used for greater things."
"I still don't get it. If this is also the power of the purple dragon then how does Cynder have it?"
"That is because in order to acquire it, you need to be exposed to great darkness. Cynder acquired hers through her contact with Malefor's influence. While you Spyro, acquired yours when you were struck on the night of eternal darkness. When you were hit your body merged with that a spirit of great evil. Which is how your dark element came into existence, and how your dark side grew as well."
"Now young dragon, a great change will happen when you step on the altar. Your darkness will be gone, erased from existence as the light will purge the evilness away. You will then notice a huge increase in your own capabilities, far beyond any other dragon."
Spyro contemplated his options. On the one hand, if he accepts this power, most of his problems will just vanish, and he can continue with his life and start making amendments. However, there was still something that bugged him.
"Ignitus? Did Malefor undertake the same power?"
"…Yes, Spyro he did."
Spyro's mind was made up. He put on a more serious expression. "Is there another way? I am aware the darkness would be gone should I accept this power. But power also corrupts… I don't think I can handle that amount of power, not yet anyway." Spyro admitted.
"You truly are amongst the wise young dragon. To be able to know how much power you can handle without using it foolishly. But you should never always be afraid of power. For your enemies won't hesitate to claim the power."
"About that Ignitus? Is there a way I could compromise? Is there a way to accept the gift long enough for it to get rid of the evil spirit inside, but then seal it away?"
Ignitus fell silent, almost thinking this proposal through. "I can do that. If that is what you wish. Would you wish for me to also seal up your convexity?" Ignitus asked.
"No thank you. The reason being is that I have control over it. At least I think I do. It is I don't trust myself with the power of the light element, not yet anyway."
"Very well young dragon. If that is what you insist. I shall honour your request. But, I'm afraid sooner or later you may need to call upon the powers of light and dark to help save the ones you love." Ignitus warned.
Spyro didn't like the sound of that one bit. If it meant what he thinks it meant then there would be a lot more fighting. Something Spyro wasn't so keen on anymore after the events of the last three years. But if it means saving his friends Spyro would gladly put his life on the line time and time again.
"Thank you Ignitus."
"Step onto the Platform young dragon. It is finally time to complete your training."
Spyro stepped towards the ring. "Ignitus. If this darkness has overtaken my body? How come I'm not affected here?" Spyro asked, generally curious.
"We are deep in your sub conscious, a sanctum of safety where no evil can invade."
"Oh." Spyro simply replied. "Did Malefor ever get this chance? To get rid of dark side?"
"Spyro, Malefor's corruption was not born from an outside source. He chose the path of darkness. A choice you were never given. A choice I know you would make the right decision regardless. That is why I chose to believe in you."
"Believe in you." Spyro cherished these simple words more than anything else at that moment, because it meant that if Ignitus, the one dragon Spyro was sure he had disappointed, could forgive him. It meant there was a chance the others would as well. But that will need to wait.
Even though he had this moment to respire, along with the great news that not only was Ignitus was alive but together they can get rid of his darkness. There was still a lot to do.
Spyro took one more step forward, placing the talon into the ring, a bright glow emanated at this touch, sending a slow wave of almost heavenly pleasure upwards through his body. Spyro then went fully into the ring as the pleasure simply washed away.
"Now dragon. Let the power of your ancestors course through your veins. Feel their energy and hope light up your tired eyes." Ignitus instructed.
Spyro could feel all his exhaustion and negative feelings simply fade from within. Like he had just taken a long warm bath in pure blissful light.
What Spyro felt the most though was the sense of something leaving him, like a weary burden…his darkness. It was forced from its carrier and ripped apart by the light's benevolent power. Spyro swore he heard another voice, a twisted evil one howl in pain before disappearing from existence. But he didn't care. He felt rejuvenated and refreshed. His long dark month of constant tiredness and fear of losing oneself to darkness were over. He was renewed with new energy, new determination and an old goal resurrected – save the world.
Spyro stepped back out of the light, he knew that he still held its power within, but Ignitus did promise to seal it away until a later date.
"Does this mean my darkness is gone?" Spyro asked.
"The corrupted soul you harboured is gone. But the affects he has left are permanent. While you no longer have evil ideals or will be corrupted, you can still fall victim to your emotions and your darkness will be summoned forth, often to destructive ends. So, you must learn to control your own power."
Spyro did not like the sound of that, for this meant that moments such as where Ignitus died could still happen. However, he was grateful for the fact that he can no longer be influenced to commit intended evil like he was before.
"Now go young dragon, you still have work to do."
Spyro smiled, an empty smile but smile nonetheless. "One last thing Ignitus. Will I ever get to see you again? Can I come back to the White Isle?"
"Young dragon… my new role as Chronicler means I have a great responsibility."
Spyro's face slumped a little.
"But I will always have time for you, young dragon. Now it is time for you to go."
Spyro nodded. "I'm ready."
Spyro felt his vision blur away, as a pure blinding whiteness invaded his mind and blinded him.
Feeling returned to Spyro as he returned to the real world, reinvigorated both physically and mentally as if he just had just enjoyed a nice long rest back when he was a carefree dragonfly and not weary from his previous month of suffering. Despite this though he still held the knowledge he had done wrong and that he still held a duty regardless of what happened to him know.
He immediately felt something tight and firm clutching him around the waist, when he tried to resist this thing merely tightened.
Spyro's vision returned to him, to a sight that horrified. Five dragons captured in ice, two desperately trying to break free. It was Charditus and his friends. Charditus and Saphira though were the only ones who had regained consciousness. Surrounding them though were the six dragons Spyro recognised as Umbrafor's underlings. But that meant…
"It's about time you awoke dragon." Umbrafor spoke.
"Of course." Spyro regretfully thought. The thing the arm was attached to was no one else but Umbrafor. Umbrafor even had two talons on the dragon's maw, preventing him from opening it.
"Your rogue behaviour is causing more problems than solutions. But now we can put an end to this you, your friends and this world. All negative emotions, all evil will be cleansed away as depicted by fate. All I need from you is your convexity…and even if you won't give it willingly I know how to manipulate your emotion in ways."
"Umbrafor you idiot!" Charditus tried to yell, despite being unable to get a clear view of the black dragon. "If you do this you will kill us all." Charditus had only awoken only to find himself already caught in the ice. He had already demanded to know how he even got here but was met with a blankness.
Umbrafor barely gave him the time of day and simply ignored him.
He then turned towards his minions. "I can trust you with the simple task of ridding of these traitors, now can't I? Or are you that incompetent?" He snapped. "I have the right as fate deliverer to renew this world once and for all."
Umbrafor left, entering the room with the white orb.
Infernius looked greedily at the five dragons now in their captive, the five dragons that had caused him so much grief from his master. He could finally be rid of those pesky dragons. He careful examined each one, until his eyes fell upon Saphira. It was then he remembered.
"Alright boys, let's get Saphira and get out of here."
His sudden instruction caught everyone there off guard.
"Something wrong boss?" One of his squad members asked.
"Were ditching that asshole, he doesn't give us the respect we deserve." He argued.
Many of them fidgeted awkwardly on the spot. This was completely unlike Infernius. I mean sure Umbrafor did try and kill him only moments ago but a complete turn?
"What about Umbrafor? And the prophecy?" Another one asked.
"What about them? As far as I'm concerned Umbrafor can go screw himself over, we are the chosen ones after all aren't we? We are destined to survive. Now bust Saphira out and let's get going."
"What are you doing?" Saphira finally spoke up.
"Do I have to explain everything over and over? I'm getting you out of here, don't ask why just go along with it."
"But Boss, won't Umbrafor come for us?!"
"I'm sure he has other things to worry about than a few escapees." Despite this his friends still looked at him unsurely. "Who are you going to trust? The madman, or me? The guy who has been leading you without fear, the guy who actually understands people like you." He said earnestly.
That final comment, about understanding made the three fire dragons get over their indecision, Infernius was the only one who understood their kind of people.
They gave each other looks of confirmation before turning back to Infernius. "We're with you boss."
"Good."
Infernius then approached the frozen Saphira. "Now hold still while I bust you out." He said.
"Well I can't exactly move smart arse…" She replied.
Before Infernius could move any further the twins slowly trotted in between him and Saphira.
"We can't just allow you to do that."
"Master Umbrafor won't be too happy, and we would hate for you to screw up our chance at least of surviving."
"Listen, I personally don't have a problem with you two, in fact I invite you to join us getting out. Either way I'm leaving here and I'm leaving with her." He said defiantly. To emphasise his point the three other dragons, joint his side. "You two together may make a strong combo but we'll overwhelm you with sheer numbers…Now move it or lose it." He ordered.
The twins emitted a low growl between them,
"Why are you doing this? You can't outrun Umbrafor's wrath." One said, not backing down.
"You'll get us killed for your own mistakes! He'll punish us when we didn't do anything." The other added, doing the same.
"So, for that we can't let you do this...for our own safety."
"Umbrafor is a deluded mad man, I doubt he can even pull this off. But unless you move I'll be giving you a hell far worse than anything Umbrafor can do."
Infernius's buddies grinned almost viciously. They had the twins now, there was no way they could win two vs four so the only option was to back down.
The twin's growling escalated in volume, but it was a more frustrated growl.
"Damn you Infernius, why are you doing this to us?"
"Umbrafor is gonna kill us."
Both stepped back, giving Infernius a clear line of sight of Saphira.
He simply shrugged. He then activated his hidden power. His claws caught alight and with the new added heat pressed them gently on the ice while also breathing a small steady stream of flame. He made short work of the ice that encased Saphira.
At this point it became more than clear to Saphira that Infernius was off his trolley but more importantly he wasn't following Umbrafor. She had no idea what caused the sudden change but she was glad.
"Wait Infernius, we can't just leave. We need to stop Umbrafor!" She pleaded.
"The hell we do, what he does is of no concern to us."
"Listen to her Infernius! If Umbrafor and Spyro are allowed to go through with this insanity, then no one will survive." Charditus tried adding.
"Bull crap, were chosen ones, were safe." Infernius argued back.
"No Infernius we aren't, no one will survive. Everything Umbrafor had been feeding us these last fifteen years are lies. How would Umbrafor be able to kill everyone and not us? It's simply not possible." Charditus pleaded.
Infernius tried to ignore him, instead working on melting the rest of the ice.
"I'm not asking to be your friend or anything. But if we do not stop Umbrafor everything we love, your friends, home, literally everything will die!"
Charditus didn't respond, instead staring at one spot on the ground "…Is this true Saphira?"
"Yes! Everything Charditus said is true." Saphira desperately replied. "Nothing will survive." She repeated…a sorrowful and bleak tone overtook her and she shook her head. "The same goes to you two." She said as she turned her head to the twins. "Even if Umbrafor didn't kill you the destruction will. And if you truly cared that deeply for each other which I know you do then you would never allow something like this to happen. mean even if what Umbrafor said was true, that we would be spared…that's just no way to live now is it?"
The twins looked a little surprised by this, that even though moments ago they tried defending Umbrafor that they were given an option.
"Sure, there is a lot of bad things in the world, a lot of things that may make us hate it. But that is why it's important to love the things that make them good and not take them for granted, that is what makes your relationship of even more special. Isn't that not what matters about the world?"
The twins stared for a moment before looking each other in the eyes with uncertainty. just like the trio of fire dragons gave only seconds ago, gave nods of agreement.
"Sigh…I'm probably going to regret this but to hell with it, you only live once." Infernius thought.
"How long do we have?!"
To answer his question a beam of light exited the building their two opponents were in, it reflected off the fire stone and into the main building.
"Not long, minutes even." Charditus replied grimly.
"Alright gang, let's do this!" Infernius roared, if he was going to fight he might as well enjoy it.
"Free Charditus and his friends and prepare for battle, because this will be a battle to rival that of Malefor! We're fighting a Purple dragon and an Ex-guardian."
All seven dragons went into action. The four free fire dragons quickly withered away the ice surrounding Charditus and his friends. With a bit of his own flame Charditus was the first free who immediately went to work getting Volterra free.
Moments later she too was free, though still unconscious.
"Come on, we need you awake." He mumbled. Her frail body was cold to the touch, but she was still breathing and more importantly alive. He rubbed her underbelly, trying to generate more while also giving off his own. He needed to get the blood flowing.
Meanwhile Blizarus was up…
"You?!" He yelled accusingly behind Charditus's back. Charditus quickly turned just in time to see Blizarus tackle Infernius in a flail of claws and teeth.
"Hold it Blizarus!" Charditus hastily yelled.
Infernius gently placed Volterra on the hot ground, letting the seeping gases spread around her before leaping to Blizarus. He and two of Infernius's friends struggled to control the enraged dragon but they managed to subdue him.
"I'll kill you all for what you've done."
"That's enough Blizarus, we're allies now."
Blizarus turned to his leader. "The hell you mean allies?! These guys tried killing us and are going to blow up the planet. How can you say they are allies?" Blizarus yelled back.
"Because now they're gonna help us stop him now. They have seen the truth."
"Bull crap I say, they're trying to trick us."
"I don't trust them fully either but it's better to have them allies for now than enemies, alright. If they do betray us you have my full permission to retaliate alright? You're capable of doing that."
"…Of course I can, I'm the best at killing here, especially against him." He said much calmer now but still spiteful.
"You couldn't kick my arse if I was blind folded." Infernius thought hatefully to himself.
"Alright…how long are we stuck with them for?!"
"Only a few minutes, at least until we stop Umbrafor and Spyro." Charditus replied.
"Fine, can you shift off me now then, cause I'm not much use down here now am I." Blizarus commented.
"Eurgh…why am I cold and warm at the same time?" A voice grumbled a few feet away. It was Earthena and she was coming around.
"Earthena, are you alright?" Charditus asked as he and Blizarus stepped forward.
"Tired of constantly getting knocked off my feet but otherwise fine. Where are we this time?!" She replied.
"Burnt lands still, but outside."
Earthena was about to reply when she spotted Infernius, immediately she tensed up and Charditus sensed it.
"Don't worry, he's on our side." Charditus quickly inputted.
"Ha, I doubt so, he follows Umbrafor like a death hound, once a death hound always a death hound I say." She scoffed.
Infernius too this rather personally. "If I'm a death hound then you're a bulb spider fat arse."
"Enough both of you! We don't have time for this." Charditus snapped. "Umbrafor and Spyro are about to exit that building right there any moment and we need to be ready. It is going to be tough, we've seen what they both are capable of but hopefully when we attack they will be attacking each other as well."
"Straight in for the attack, finally something nice and simple." Blizarus appraised. "I'm gonna enjoy sinking my teeth in Spyro's bones after what he had done to me!"
"Alright, I do not know fully what's going on but one thing I do get is breaking bones." Earthena added.
Then the twins stepped forward.
"We will lend our strength in this fight alone." One said.
"But after that we are going our own way." The other added.
Charditus nodded, "that is all I ask."
"I think that's enough leadership from you, I am of course the one did free you and thus initiated the operation, which means I call the shots." Infernius insisted.
Charditus didn't argue, they didn't have time for it nor was it necessary. Instead he hurried back to where Volterra was, she was a lot warmer now and her heartbeat was more apparent.
"Please wake up Volterra, we need you." He mumbled to himself.
"Alright so the way were gonna have it is in V formation. I'll be at the front with you two (He pointed at two of his team mates) on my left and you and Saphira on my right, make sure to do some pose that shows how awesome we are and that Umbrafor knows we mean business…"
Volterra started coughing as she lurched her body upright, her eyes slipped open. Charditus placed a supporting talon on her back and waited for her to properly clear her airwaves.
"You're alright Volterra, I've got you."
The coughing subsided quickly as Volterra got to grips with her surroundings, panting heavily.
"Slow your breathing, you are safe." Charditus used the softest voice he knew.
"Charditus is that really you?" She asked helplessly, praying to ancestors they were truly free of Spyro's malicious control.
"It is Volterra, the real me."
Volterra immediately went in for the hug, gripping and holding tighter than any time before, she needed this shield to hide her insecurity for the moment.
"I'll be at the front of course. My team and Saphira will be at either side. Twins, you can be either side alright! Everyone in position." Charditus continued to order.
Charditus yearned to hold onto, but he knew there was one final task before the storm can settle. He forced himself away despite her repeated attempts at clinging on.
A beam of light exited the building their two opponents were in, it reflected off the fire stone and into the main building. Indicating Umbrafor had indeed broken Spyro.
"I'm sorry Volterra, but we need to do one more thing before we can be together." Charditus said.
"But…haven't we done enough?" She almost whimpered.
"I'm afraid not." Charditus simply replied.
Volterra sadly sighed, but she lessened her grip.
"Alright…I really hope this is the last thing we got to do. I don't know how much more of this I can take. I just want to be safe, the four of us…I want to be with you." She sighed.
Charditus placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, leaving her heart aflutter and speechless. Despite it being small she knew he poured a lot of emotion and feeling into it along with a craving for more. But like he said it would have to wait just a little longer…just a little longer.
Even though the circumstances were less than ideal they got their emotions across to each other and that was that. One final battle and those emotions could finally be expanded upon.
"…As for your Charditus, form your own position, we maybe 'allied' but I still don't trust you…" Infernius interrupted, in position ready. At least he was giving leadership of his own team back over.
"Alright." He addressed his best friends, followed by a pause. "Our mission, our final mission not as Sentinels, but as Us. Is to stop Umbrafor and Spyro!" He added.
"Shut up Charditus, I've already done the inspirational speech." Infernius rudely snapped.
Charditus simply ignored him but understood he didn't have time to waste.
"In position. Remember do not recklessly charge, Umbrafor has watched us all our lives so he knows what we are capable of. But most importantly whatever you do stay away from his Spirit slicers, that will kill you instantly."
In a moment the squad fell in line, side by side.
Unknowingly Saphira had snuck away from Infernius and instead joined the ranks of Charditus.
Cold moments pass as the tension that radiated around grew thicker, to the point you could reach out and almost touch it. But eventually a black silhouette slunk out of the shadows. One talon…two talons and wicked pure white fangs sticking out his narrow snout. He still held Spyro firmly in his grip who was still struggling.
"And so, the last of Fate's grandchildren falls…"
Hey All, Bluedinosaur here. I know it had been a long time (far too long…) since the last chapter update but I was at a very busy part of my life and simply found little time to write. But I'm back and hopefully for good.
I also realise this chapter has some cringy moments but perhaps this will only get worse but next chapter will be nitty and gritty and deadly. Next chapter will also be the last…of part one. For of you who remember there are still many plot holes, characters unknown and stories unresolved.
But until then Fair well my friends.
Bluedinosaur99