Death and Destruction
Throughout this entire time, Spyro was forced to stare at the gleaming dusky scales of Umbrafor's talon as it kept his snout securely shut, preventing any energy from escaping his maw. He only horizontal slit above the talon that allowed some sight outside of the blackness that was in his face. The rest of Umbrafor's talons also bound Spyro's body, giving his no movement apart from the slow breathing through his nose and the hefty beating of his heart.
From what Spyro could see from his narrow entry point he and Umbrafor were entering a large hallway of a sort, lit only by the gently flickering torches that waved as Umbrafor pushed on deeper. The sounds of yelling from outside grew fainter as Spyro could only transpire as to the fate of those he wanted to call friends, he wished to break free and fight back and undo his wrongs. No…he needed to break free and save them.
He tried squirming, but his resistance was only met by stronger oppression, as pressure forced its way into Spyro's bones.
"It's pointless now, you've done all you can at this point…you should instead be proud of your part of this world's reshaping and embrace it because there is nothing else you can do."
Spyro still tried struggling, but nothing he tried got close to loosening the death grip that incarcerated him.
They came to a stop in a larger room, one Spyro could recognise from the black orb that still hung in the air.
"You want to know why I am doing this? Why I am forcing this world into destruction."
In between struggles Spyro was listening, and a part of brain was of course saying that Umbrafor was just as insane as Malefor, while a more reserved part was thinking that Umbrafor was issuing a new age. Still Umbrafor pursued with his answer. But what stuck with Spyro was how calm he was.
"I have seen the true corruption of this world, the cruelty and evil all harness within themselves and against each other. The apes and their greed, dragons and their arrogance, and the innocent suffer. That was not why we were created, and so we must restart like the many times before."
Spyro was reliving a month ago, when the world hinged on him to stop its destruction, when everything was lost and there was nothing he could do…but he couldn't give up, no, not when things were finally looking up.
"Now if you would be so kind to accomplish your destiny and ignite the orb once more? Then we can end the suffering you have been through."
In one monumental struggle Spyro lifted his snout wide enough to shout one important word. "Never…" He barely breathed it under all the continuous pressure but that was when he was at his peak.
Umbrafor let out a tired sigh. "Why do you continue to resist? What is so great about this world that is worth protecting?! You're continued blindness to the death around you and your ignorance to your own destiny as a purple dragon is only hurting this world! You've lost everything, your friends, your brother, even your parents!"
Spyro's captured body grew tense, not at the mention of his brother but his parents…but did Umbrafor mean his adopted parents…or his biological?
"But I feel like the one who's demise you would feel the most would be Cynder's'."
Somehow Spyro's eyes grew wider than they already were. Before narrowing to dangerous slits… "What about her…"
"So, you are listening?"
Spyro almost jumped. "He can read my thoughts?!"
"Of course, either those who allow me to or those within proximity like you, but that will be irrelevant to you in a moment, just as it was to Cynder. She tried resisting like you, but I had no intention of keeping her. She is a dangerous threat after all. So, I ended her there and then."
"No…" Spyro breathed, he could almost feel Umbrafor's hand reach around his delicate heart and crush it into dust. Still, Spyro refused to believe this was true. "You lie!"
In all truthfulness it was a lie, but that was what Umbrafor specialised in.
"If isn't the truth then, where is she? Besides…it was right here where we are standing is where I did the deed, ridding the world of a monster. Just look, does that not look like blood?" Umbrafor emotionlessly said, emphasising his point by practically shoving Spyro's face into it. Sure enough, a pool of blood laid undisturbed, half liquid and half solid, showing signs of drying up. That was when what little of Spyro's heart withered away, blown into the wind of oblivion.
Instead, the hollow space in Spyro's chest was replaced by an overwhelming desire of directed fury. Hatred and Vengeance was all Spyro knew and he would not spare Umbrafor.
What Spyro was unaware of though was that pool of blood was simply Umbrafor's own blood he spilt earlier to further his ruse. Unfortunately, Spyro was falling into it.
Spyro's maw began filling with a dark purple energy, he didn't care what implications would happen to him so long as Umbrafor dies. A familiar black hue also began leaking from the invisible cracks on Spyro's skin, bringing about a familiar form he despised.
"Die!" Spyro's twisted voice almost echoed around. He realised the vast amount of convexity brewing in his mouth. But with perfect timing and precision Umbrafor released his finger off Spyro's snout and pointed him towards the black sphere in centre of the room.
A white aura quickly enveloped the orb, beating slowly like a heart. A beam of pure white then escaped, launching out of the gaping hole in the roof, striking the fire stone for all the sentinels to see.
"She isn't dead." Umbrafor broadly stated.
"Liar!" Dark Spyro roared. Murder was all was going through Spyro's mind.
"I am not lying, I merely did what was necessary to curve your energy into something needed. That you see below is my own blood I purposefully spilt. Your Cynder is not here, where she is? I do not know, nor do I care as long as she doesn't impend us any longer."
Spyro didn't know what to believe at this point, but still a part of him, albeit small still listened and believed Umbrafor as Spyro restrained his anger. Struggling relentlessly like this would only waste valuable energy and time. Slowly Spyro regained control over his own body, less fuelled by his hatred and more by his desire to stop Umbrafor for what he is about to do, not what he had done.
However, before he could do anything Umbrafor slid his talon back over Spyro's snout, preventing him from doing anything else. If only Spyro thought clearer though, he could've used his teleportation to vanish from the scene…
"I hate what I've become you know, a heartless being. Never did I ever wished to be forced to manipulate other's emotions. But I had to crush out those weaknesses and tear away at other's own to carry out's fate's plan. Emotions make us latch onto things that get taken away from us at a moment's notice, crushing us and making us weak, and when we grow weak we are more likely to give up or make stupid mistakes through anger that only rebound upon us. That was why I was chosen by those above, our ancestor's ancestors and those further beyond to bring about the great cleansing! I gave up my grand old life of being's the queen's advisor and heeded the call. But to create a new world I needed a sustainable population…the Sentinels, and while most have failed me there is still a female among those who remain who can reproduce and create offspring who will not make the same mistakes we and previous generations have made. Now we have dawdled long enough. While I do not have any use of you nor do I even want you alive, Malefor insisted you watched the rebirthing of the world…and so you will."
Umbrafor turned around and headed back up the barren hallway.
Spyro was sickened by these ideas, no one should be forced to have children. This was just another reason he needed to prevent this. No Spyro needs for the world to remain so he can do his part of helping to restore the current world…
Then Spyro had a brilliant idea. However, before he acted on it anymore he had to check one thing.
"You're a stone-cold bastard…"
Yet amazingly Spyro didn't notice anything different, which meant Umbrafor was no longer reading his thoughts. The ancestors were really smiling upon him this day.
Spyro wasted in no time brainstorming as he gathered the facts in his head. The machine had been recharged, and thus in a condition to grant a wish once more. If somehow Spyro could break free he could rush towards the staff and grab it before Umbrafor can. Then he could wish for the ravaged lands to be restored. Places like Avalar would become lush, Warfang would be restored and everything would be returned to normal… The only problem of course was the fact Umbrafor had a death grip on Spyro and nothing he has done so far has managed to break it. But then Spyro had another brain wave, it was a long shot, but he was sure it works. Umbrafor insisted he hadn't seen Cynder, which meant she must've awakened and escaped before Umbrafor arrived. But knowing Cynder she would be hiding in wait, prepared to ambush whoever was foolish enough to try and activate the Dream Caster. So, if she attacked Umbrafor, let him go in return they could be team up once more to take on the threat together just as they had always done.
The cogs and gearwork in Spyro's mind turned in unison to put this masterful plan together. However, his quick thinking was disturbed as the ever present outside light shone into his eyes, bringing back to the harsh reality of remembering that Umbrafor had just ordered the deaths of several of the Sentinels.
However what Spyro saw instead amazed him and renewed him with a sense of hope (Umbrafor was carrying Spyro at a slightly lower angle so because of that he could see the ground). The eleven remaining Sentinels stood almost side by side, ready to ace anything that dared oppose them, and their target was Umbrafor and him.
But behind them stood Umbrafor's objective, the Dream caster deep into the maw of the grey beast of a building.
"So, the last of Fate's grand-children fall…" Umbrafor growled.
"You're gonna regret trying to take my life Umbrafor, cause we're gonna make you pay." Infernius yelled in an almost sneery fashion.
"Even with the endless chances I gave you, you still fell into the same trap. The same mind frame as everyone else week-willed. The belief that this world can be saved, and through those believes the world will only suffer even more. You may think that by stopping me that you will have saved the world but, you're only insuring a more painful destruction, an end to which there is no return."
"To hell with your speeches, we don't care about your world-changing crap. What were here for is respect we deserve and to prove why we four are the best, isn't that right guys?" Infernius yelled.
"Yes, sir it is." His three buddies sang in synchronisation.
"And you Umbrafor had failed to provide even that, and now your gonna take away our chances? No sir I do not think that will be happening, what do you think boys, should we put this show on the road?"
"Hell yeah!"
"You hear that guys, let's get him."
"Of all those who failed me…you are the worst Infernius." Umbrafor coldly replied.
Infernius looked taken back for a moment, before shaping his teeth into a snarl and tightening his eyes into a glare.
"And for that, you will be the first to die."
Umbrafor ended his statement opening his maw and beginning charge up an almost transparent sphere of wind energy, swirling around itself growing bigger and wilder with each passing second.
"Alright Ruby squad! Flaming arrow formation, we end this in one single blow. Watch how the real fighters do this."
Infernius instinctively began running, he's practiced this move dozens of times on unsuspected criminals and each time had riveting success. His three team mates ran with him in diamond formation. The idea was as they were running they would fuse their element together into an almost blade like flame with four times the power of a regular dragon's flame, and through using their running momentum, directly strike their target in a fire explosion, the recoil hurt but the target would be hurt more if not dead.
However, Umbrafor was not an unsuspecting criminal.
"Infernius wait!" Charditus cried out in alarm.
But it was too late. Umbrafor released his Spirit shredder. The slashing winds met the searing heat of Infernius's combined attack in a flurry of flaming gales. There was a reason why Charditus feared this attack in particular…it was a death sentence for any foolish enough to get in its way. It was a tornado in a ball, and Ruby squad was in the middle of it.
Red scales were torn from skin and serrations cut deep sliced all over their bodies in a bloody mess, all happening in front of the horrified stares of the other sentinels and Spyro, but there was nothing they could. Trying to intercept would only lead to them getting caught up and any element would get caught in the rushing air and add to the pain. All they could do was wait and pray.
What felt like an eternity, as if time itself slowed to crawl passed the winds ceased and lost shape, scattering and disappearing. All that remained were two motionless bodies and the low cries of agony of Infernius and one of his somehow still alive comrades.
Blood seeped profusely out of their many torn open wounds that without proper care and attention would only lead to their deaths if it wasn't too late already.
This only infuriated Charditus even further, he was never a fan of Infernius, but he didn't deserve this. Umbrafor had committed so much evil in his path for a false belief and now was his final act; Almost killing his friends, trying to destroy the world and robbing the Sentinels of a normal childhood. Fifteen years has been taken from his life and more and Infernius had finally had enough…this ends now.
He stepped forward. The situation looked dire and they all knew it, four of the eleven dragons were either dead or incapacitated, and they needed to take on a fully-grown dragon who has dedicated years into combat and a purple dragon. This required intense team-cooperation and a strong leader.
"Glace, Blaze! Grab Infernius and any others that still have a pulse, get them into cover and burn their wounds closed. You need to stop the blood flow! Saphira cover them. Blizarus, flank to the side, joint freeze style. Earthena go with him as well, shatter style."
While Umbrafor could clearly hear what they were doing, Charditus and co had developed simple phrases to communicate attacks that the enemy would not understand.
"Volterra with me, we need to try and incapacitate Spyro while he is like that."
Spyro could only watch in both awe at Infernius's tactical leadership even though part of it was against him. If only he could convince them he was on their side.
Spyro was shocked out of his thoughts by a blast of ice that struck Umbrafor's hand and splashed him.
"Bloody hell!" Spyro thought as he glared at what hit him, the truth shortly came to him. Umbrafor was using him as a sort of shield to lessen the impact on him. Still Umbrafor's hand was encased in a thin layer of ice, but a quick bend of the fingers broke the pieces off, showing no signs of damage or anything of the sort.
However, Spyro didn't have a chance to recover when an earth missile collided into one of Umbrafor's talons, shattering into fragments and showering the poor dragon. All the added movements of lurching Spyro didn't help either as Spyro found himself becoming slightly disorientated.
"I can't just remain here doing nothing, I got to get to the Dream Caster…"
Though bleeding furiously and only able to stare ahead without taking in most of it…Infernius remained conscious. Around him his best friends lain either dead or dying all because his foolish arrogance led him to believe he would be the one to save the world this time.
He was unable to do anything else but gaze at the chaos that surrounded him, unable to think anything else but of his mistakes and its consequences.
Infernius then felt a tugging and his back legs as something or someone began to pull him away, further away from his friends, leaving trails of blood…his blood. It was but another reminder of his stupidity.
He had learnt a terrible life lesson at a terrible cost and it will haunt him forever, to know how easy to lose everything you love.
Eventually he began drifting out of consciousness, everything became a blur, followed by the inevitable blackness.
Blizarus and Earthena were chucked across the ground in a gust of wind. Things weren't looking to good even though they outnumbered the dragon. Attacks done directly against Umbrafor seemed to do nothing, in fact the weaker attacks created with fire or electric were entirely thwarted by Umbrafor's Wind guard he had created around himself. Only solid objects like Earthena's earth missiles or Blizarus's icicle spears found their way through the daunting tornado Umbrafor had created.
Charditus felt something else was incredibly off though, he and the other have squared off against adults before and even they felt some degree of pain. But Umbrafor was not showing any signs of hurt or slowing down.
Charditus then saw Umbrafor charging up another spirit shredder, getting ready to aim it Volterra who was amid using her electricity breath in the vain effort of breaking the barrier. Acting quickly, he yelled out to her. "Move Volterra!"
Unfortunately, the sound of crackling lightning meant the voice was audible and sounded like a faint whisper to her. She did however stop the flow of electricity and looked over to Charditus who was running over. Before she could react any further, Charditus pushed himself and Volterra out of the way, tumbling onto the cracked ground, or so he thought.
Umbrafor though didn't even unleash his attack, instead merely waiting for Charditus to perform his heroic action and for them to be in a position where they could no longer dodge before releasing his spirit shredder.
Charditus's protective instincts kicked in as he shielded Volterra with his body and wings as both closed their eye in anticipation of the fatal attack.
Earthena tried coming to their aid but due her inability to summon earth in the Burnt lands meant she was helpless.
Charditus braced for the impact and held Volterra even closer, it would've been the end if it weren't for the watchful of Saphira spotting the bad situation and abandoned her post.
A two-foot curved wall of ice appeared in front of Charditus, barely tall enough to cover both dragons but still just enough.
A large snap of ice is heard as Umbrafor's heavy attack crashed into the barrier. Cracks appeared as it struggled under the pressure, but it never gave in, eventually subsiding and disappearing into nothing.
Charditus responded quickly, pulling himself and Volterra up and away before Umbrafor unleashed another move.
"We need a new strategy Charditus!" Earthena yelled, getting more desperate with each ticking minute.
But no matter how much Charditus scrambled his brain only one bad idea came to mind. "Conserve your energy, let him runs his down." Although it sounded like a reasonable plan that had worked many time before, Charditus understood Umbrafor had a vast amount of power and even if they did use their energy in small amounts it wouldn't be enough. Thus, Charditus wasn't keen on his own plan. On the other hand, though he also didn't want to demoralise his own troops any further.
Hope was dwindling like a hole in a barrel and the longer they kept this up, the less the felt they could win this, and seeing a third of them drop in the first ten seconds dealt an instant blow to their spirits.
Earthena could see the efforts of her team falter, stress and exhaustion revealed all they needed to in their facial features. "This has to end now." She growled in her mind.
It was times he ended it with a move that even Blizarus would be proud of. Umbrafor was distracted by Blizarus so she had a clear shot, she needed a lot of speed to penetrate through the wind barrier and aim for either Umbrafor's head or chest.
She backed up a few feet, digging her claws into blackened earth and planning her route. An uphill of igneous rock rose on the left which she could use to push off and get even more momentum.
Charditus watched Earthena from the corner of his eye and was about to intervene when he thought. "No, I need to believe this will work, it maybe our only way."
Despite all the times Blizarus recklessly pulled off these manoeuvres many of them worked to varying degrees of success, from distracting the opponents all the way to outright knocking them or several out in one fell swoop. Besides this was Earthena, she should would never normally pull off a dangerous attack unless she was certain it would work.
Earthena charged forward, kicking up burnt dust behind and gaining more speed with each push off the ground, she leapt slightly and kicked himself off the fore-mentioned rock, getting the extra velocity, she thought would be needed to break through the barrier. She also used this opportunity to clad herself in her tried and tested rock armour. her bulky body entered the rushing air and immediately Earthena was nearly thrown off balance, but through struggling pains he maintained his course and as soon as he was in he was out like a giant stone missile.
Umbrafor stood merely seconds away from dying. "Die you son of a bitch…"
However, almost like Umbrafor could read her thoughts Umbrafor turned his head like clockwork in her direction, and with a swift calculated procedure raised his talon and swiped at Earthena, somehow piercing through the rocky exterior and into her underbelly, cutting clean down like a surgeon's scalpel.
Earthena went limp much to the horror of Charditus and the others. All they could do was watch Earthena crash down onto the crusted ground and tumble into a flaccid pile, the rocks that covered her broke apart from one another and tumbled away.
"Earthena!" Charditus yelled. Almost unable to comprehend what had happened. Even though he had almost lost his friends not too long ago there was something worse about it second time ago, perhaps it was watching his friend's stomach get sliced open.
Umbrafor didn't even blink, instead he turned his back on the bleeding dragoness and turned his attention back to the rest of the dragons.
Volterra's eyes swelled up with heart-broken tears and her body went rigid with shock. Blizarus and Saphira too was left with their mouth hanging open, unable to speak anything.
Spyro too felt their pain, his eyes were wide and full of shock.
"You will die Umbrafor!" Charditus roared, renewed with the energy of adrenaline and motivated once more with vengeance.
Volterra saw what he was trying to do and held onto one of his back legs. "Don't…do this Charditus…" She breathed as she fought to control the enraged dragon.
"Let me go!" Charditus roared. His eyes met with Umbrafor's laughing eyes.
"I warned Charditus…This could've been prevented if you embraced my ways. Your emotions meant you got attached to your 'friends'. Now one is dead and you're angry. Then you will make more mistakes." Umbrafor spoke, with slight arrogance in his dark tone.
Charditus hated even the very voice of Umbrafor, and in a wild frenzy threw a powerful fireball in his direction, it flew straight and true right through the barrier.
Umbrafor snorted, and casually threw up the talon that held Spyro in the way of the Fireball's path.
Spyro tensed his eyes and turned his head away as the searing heat of the inferno collided into him.
"Gah!" Spyro yelled, even though it came out muffled it still vibrated through the area.
Umbrafor only growled as the fire scalded his skin.
A few slow tense moments of utter silence pass. Saphira rushed over to the others and looked to see where she could lend support. Charditus began to calm down and stopped trying to resist. Instead staring Umbrafor down with a glare of wicked fury.
Volterra released Charditus's rigid and shaking body.
Umbrafor observed them, waiting for the next reckless attack.
Seconds of glassy silence pass, only sounds of the rumbling ground echoed around.
However, a terrible roar caught the attention of all, where it emitted though was the real surprise.
Pain raced up Umbrafor's nerves as he felt something dig deep into his back leg as he turned his head in agitated rage towards whatever had dared damage him.
But to his surprise it wasn't that annoying dragoness Earthena…instead it was…
A purple orc?
Umbrafor almost did a double take on this unexpected plot development of an orc digging its axe into his leg.
"Is this orc really so foolish to attack me?"
Umbrafor eyed its colour suspiciously, this one was different from those he had seen before, but what did it mean?
"It doesn't matter what it means…they will all perish none the less."
In one swift move he crushed the Orc underneath his foot, digging his talons into it to make sure.
Spyro couldn't see what was going on and only had questions going through his mind.
Charditus and the others though, knew exactly what it was…it's motive though remained elusive.
The motive though, soon became apparent as more purple orcs burst forth from the ground and began encircling the baffled Umbrafor.
"What is this?" He growled through seething teeth. He wrapped his whip like tail around one of them and smacked it into an another before piercing the chest of another one with his heavenly white talon. However, for every one of these accursed creations he defeated another two would be born from the ground.
"They're trying to help Spyro!" Charditus yelled out in disbelief, not sure whether this was a curse or a blessing.
Spyro couldn't believe it either, did he still have control over them? He didn't wait for an answer, even though Spyro wasn't fond of orcs, if they were truly here to help they were a welcome if expendable sight.
Spyro could feel Umbrafor growl once more in frustration as another orc dug its axe into the talon that held Spyro. Since Umbrafor's drop in concentration the wind barrier that swirled around him died down.
Charditus too took advantage of the situation, the stakes and the situation just doubled in an instant but through it he was back in it. He was tired, but he needs to do this. "Get Earthena out of there!"
He and the other three bursted into action with explosive energy. "Volterra with me, we need to paralyze both Umbrafor and Spyro at the same time!"
How unfortunate that despite having nearly the same objective Charditus and Spyro were on opposite sides.
Approaching from the north Spyro spied Wyverns approaching, his ones more specifically of which he smiled to, any help was appreciated right now. It was then he saw the three injured dragons, two red and one green still collapsed on the ground around and he remembered unless he did something they would die. He appointed half a dozen of his orcs to get them out of harm's way. The orcs dropped their axes and hobbled over to their intended targets.
Two of the orcs walked over to Earthena and were about to reach out for her outstretched talons when multiple ice spikes pierced both in their backs. They collapsed into a crumpled pile on the ground.
"Ancestors why did it have to come to this…if only I told someone sooner, or done something none of this would've happened." Saphira whimpered in a weak voice.
"Shut up and watch my back. We haven't lost her yet." Blizarus snapped. He was beyond fury, but he remembered what Umbrafor had sneered at them. "Now one is dead and you're angry. Then you will make more mistakes…" Just like Charditus he wished nothing more than to remove skin from bone on Umbrafor but Charditus's lesson echoed through his mind and he remembered larger things were at stake and acting irrationally would not help. He then cautiously lain Earthena on one side of her back and spread her arms out to make it that little bit easier to pick her up.
Saphira was almost surprised by this sudden outburst but Earthena had a point. "Right, get Earthena out of here first…"
Blizarus didn't reply, instead he took off a short distance off the ground and positioned himself over the blood covered Earthena who had lost a lot of blood at this point. He grabbed each of his talons in a gentle but tight grip and with a great huff beat her wings lifted the entire dragon off the ground.
Saphira stood around unable to do anything else but keep watch of the other Orcs. Her tail drooped a little further as a flock of purple wyverns flew into view, their serpentine bodies squirming through the air like crimson snakes.
However, to her relief they paid the two no heed and instead went to join the battle brewing a little further away.
Despite the immense energy required to lift-up a dragoness as bulky as Earthena Blizarus was sure to keep the giant gaping wound facing upwards to prevent any more blood seeping out, but even then, the drops kept on dripping back down to the warm earth below.
With one final huff Blizarus started moving the delicate package away from the site and into cover not far from where the other two dragons were tended.
"Hold on where did the twins ago?" Saphira thought worried. It was then even in the clouds over-looming watch she spotted two small figures heading in the opposite direction.
"Those little bastards ditched us." Saphira growled. She looked down at the two fire dragons still unconscious, it was then she noticed the dried blood faintly staining their crimson scales and blackened marks indicating the wounds had indeed been cauterized.
Blizarus didn't respond, instead his face went bright red with effort as he expended all his effort in gently placing the dragoness back on the ground besides the others.
Though he breathed heavily and wanted nothing more than to either take a long break or to kill a certain dragon, he persisted on with doing all he can for the emerald dragoness whose life depended on him.
"Go help the others." Blizarus ordered. "I've got this."
"O-okay." Saphira unsurely replied, not compelled to whether that was the right decision or not. Regardless she listened and headed towards the ensuing battle raging only dozens of metres away.
Earlier.
"We got them out of there." Glaze spoke aloud.
"And sealed their wounds." Blaze added.
The two twins stood over the unconscious dragons teetering on the verge of life, half hidden behind one of the corners of the ancient structures
"Perhaps we should engage in battle my brother?" Glaze posed the question, looking at him for an answer.
"Perhaps not…" He replied, staring off into the distance at what appeared to many floating specks. "It appears we have a lot of company approaching." He indicated to the cloud of winged creatures swiftly heading in their direction.
"Dragons from Warfang perhaps?" Glaze offered up an explanation, raising her head up to the distant and dark horizon.
"Or a flock of Wyverns more likely…" Blaze replied, narrowing his eyes to see if he could make out any more distinguishing features. However, the combination of distance and the looming shadows meant only silhouettes could be made out.
"No, their wing span is too large, could be Dreadwings." Glaze countered.
"It doesn't matter what they are, they can deal with the situation here and we can leave."
"Then it's time we left."
"Agreed." Blaze responded with a nod. He gave one more glancing look to the bloodshed stirring before following his sister into the clouded skies.
It was becoming apparent night was approaching as shadows formed and visibility was lessened.
"Volteer, a moment of your time, if you will?" an almost familiar yet strangely undesired voice called out. However, Volteer knew at one point he would need to discuss strategies of what to do when they arrived at the Burnt lands and that and he was dreading every second.
What confirmed this worry though was the sternness etched into Cyril's tone. It the deep, formal and non-joking mood that was a part of Cyril's personality.
Eventually Volteer turned his attention to Cyril who was still manoeuvring in between dragons to reach Volteer's side. He hid the box under one talon and lain it flat against his side.
"It wouldn't happen to be the inexplicable possibility of our plan, strategy, proposal of engaging our young accomplice Spyro in the desolate, inhospitable, hazardous regional section of here?" Volteer babbled on.
There was a nervous undertone hidden in Volteer's voice, but his erratic speech concealed it from detection.
"Yes, we need to devise a strategy to do just that." Cyril responded.
Volteer had already thought this part through as part of his excuse. He wished he didn't have to lie to Cyril, but he had to preserve the life of Spyro.
"I have already previously calculated our best plausibility of tracing, tracking, pursuing down Spyro is to disconnect into reduced group sizes and sweep across the entire area." Volteer explained.
Cyril pondered the idea a little before replying. "While I am not entirely keen on splitting up…it may be our only option. We need to stop Spyro before he can accomplish any barbaric plans. Very well, I will take several teams to the east side while you take some west."
Hearing this response was better than anything Volteer hoped for. For he knew one thing that Cyril didn't. The location of the Dream caster. Which means that he will have authority over the other dragons and give the order to capture Spyro and not kill him.
Volteer had a sinking feeling Spyro was there still deciphering the book…
"Sounds perfect." Volteer excitedly spoke in surprisingly simple words.
Cyril nodded sharply. "If by chance you do encounter Spyro, do not engage without alerting us first. We now very little of what he is capable of nor of the army he has amassed…I am now going to debrief my fellow dragons of the plan."
While Cyril departed, that last comment of Spyro amassing an army resurfaced an old fear. The distant reminder of the siege that almost ended it all. He couldn't get it out of his brilliant mind.
He gave fleeting look towards the distant ground, waving red figures of wyverns floated gently in the air. Tiny flecks with flickering wings gathered in groups. Even the battle-ready forms of hero orcs stomped through vast flatlands. However there didn't appear to be any sign of organisation, instead showing behaviour more like docile animals.
However, he managed to push those images out of his mind. He needed to address the situation to many teams and assign them positions to search. When he did he made sure the other teams searched far away from the site, and that the dragons that did accompany him were ones he trusted very well such as Zinnia and a few dragons he knew from even before Malefor's return and from there the dragons made their way to the Dream Caster.
Even after a short time Volteer realised how distant he had managed to get from the others, who were already far away in distance to the west.
Chaos was exploding out all around. Charditus had been in such situations but never one where so much rested on his back. He had just burnt through the circuit like veins of one orc while Volterra shocked one till only a smouldering purple and black mess remained.
Even though Spyro specifically ordered them not to attack Charditus it didn't stop the two dragons from tearing them apart to reach the two real threats.
Spyro too was getting increasingly worried, despite the onslaught of ground and aerials assaults inflicted on him from orc and wyvern alike Umbrafor's grip wasn't weakening, instead all it did was infuriate the black dragon even more and causing him to become more violent.
Spyro's numbers were dwindling and to top it all of he could also see in the distance the arrival of large numbers of dragons. Time was running out.
He almost caved into the pressure when a loud shriek sounded through all their ears.
Spyro smiled in hope even though he never expected to be happy about this. The golem had arrived.
All ceased the fighting to watch as the ground behind Umbrafor opened-up and gave birth to the purple monster who shoved its giant narrow head through surface followed by its spiny back and arms. Lastly it pulled through its needle like legs and towered above them all.
Even Saphira and Blizarus could see the beast stand high above the buildings, staring down at its victims.
"Impossible…" Umbrafor breathed as the Golem stabbed its huge hulking nail of a leg into his chest, barely missing his heart, and just as swiftly as it was inserted it was retracted.
Umbrafor's whole body went rigid, his eyes stared straight, and a gagging sound is heard emanating from his mouth. Bloody seeps slowly out of his maw and chest. Like a great tree cut down he fell backwards, landing with a huge crash flat on his back. The instant Umbrafor's talon prison broke open Spyro burst free and flew directly for the open entrance of the Dream Caster's residual chamber.
Spyro felt so relieved and rejuvenated to be able to have control over his mind and wings, down to the very tips of talons. He would've almost be whooping with joy if his mind wasn't focused on reaching the Staff. He still felt a bit disorientated like someone was pounding his cranium from being swung around so much like a sword.
Spyro then heard voices chase after him.
"He's going down! Let's go Volterra!" It was Charditus. Spyro could almost make out an undertone of desperation edged into his voice as two pairs of flapping made their way after him.
Spyro had already beckoned his construct allies to retreat before those for Warfang arrived. Even though they had served their purpose Spyro couldn't bring to heart to just let them die. No instead he told them to return to their homeland in the underground cave.
However, he had the other issue, if he were to be followed down this stair case by the others it would only make things harder than they are. He needed a way to stop them. Spyro had grown to know Charditus as one who would ignore everything else if there was something at stake. So, summoning his troops wouldn't work.
Spyro looked forward to see what else he could do to stop them, ahead the open entrance heading downwards into the darkness dimly lit by the blue eerie flames. this gave Spyro an idea.
Just as Spyro was about to dive downward he opened his maw and charged up a beam of convexity and unleashed it across the top of the entrance, moving is maw left to right horizontally before shutting it off again.
He dived downwards just as the first bits of debris began collapsing behind him, it was slow to begin but gradually larger pieces started buckling underneath each other, speeding up the process.
Charditus could see what was happening. "He's trying to collapse the entrance!"
"Hurry Volterra!" He yelled. Both dragons strained their wings even further in the struggle to beat the collapsing entrance.
Both dragons swoop in just as the main archway collapsed in, sealing in themselves in with a purple dragon and device capable of altering the future of the planet.
A great cloud of dust and ash blew out and engulfed the surrounding area, Saphira turned her eyes away and Blizarus opened his wings to protect Earthena.
The dust shortly settled and parted revealing the destruction Spyro had created.
"You get that son of a bitch, were counting on your Charditus and Volterra." He thought proudly.
Spyro could just make out the blurry blue torches as they raced by his head, shaking violently and threatening to extinguish with the passing wind.
Whooshes of two dragons are heard shortly after as the figures of Charditus and Volterra are painted on the walls.
Spyro had to quickly open his wings when he realised the bottom, or the jagged stairs came to a stop at the floor. Although he succeeded in slowing down he equally prospered in crash landing and skidding across the floor, halfway between the stairs he just arrived from and of those leading up to the wand. The impact was sharp and sudden, leaving the dragon feeling a little limp and unsteady standing up.
He heard the audible clatter of two pairs of talons hitting the surface behind him followed by two pairs of lighter feet. Despite the dimness of the flickering torches the room was remarkably bright with no apparent source or reason. The details on the three dragons could be made out. Scratches in scales, differences in colours. Remarkably alike yet very different.
"Give up Spyro! We won't ever let you near that staff!" Charditus roared.
Volterra could detect there was falter hidden underneath false confidence. She knew Spyro could easily take them on and win. But she remained strong for Charditus's sake.
All they needed to do was hold him off long enough for the wand to depower and let Warfang put an end to Spyro. Even if it meant the end of them at this point as so many before them had already done. Umbrafor was down and so it was between them.
Spyro turned to meet his gaze, not with anger. But with pleading understanding for what he was trying to do. "I'm not evil anymore Charditus! I've been cured. I'm not trying to destroy the planet…I'm trying to restore the old one."
The was something in his voice that was nagging at Charditus, something silent or undetected in the dragon's behaviour only surfacing since he spoke.
"Don't lie to him." Volterra screamed at Spyro. Who in return looked hurt. Volterra then turned back to Charditus. "He is trying to get into your head, please don't let him…not again."
That was all the convincing Charditus needed.
"Enough talking. This ends now!" He thundered. "Volterra keep him busy."
"No…" Spyro thought sadly. He quickly turned back to run up the steps.
"Stop him." Charditus yelled, sprinting after the purple dragon.
Volterra unleashed a maelstrom of electricity that cleanly struck the back the purple dragon.
"Argh!" He screamed a howl of pain that reverberated around the room. Still he struggled up the last remaining steps.
"No!" Charditus repeated those words in his mind when he realised Spyro was going to reach the staff first.
Spyro dragged himself up the final step, stretching his paw out for the staff.
Whack!
Spyro's body tumbled down, step by step back down the bottom.
Charditus too came to a stop, barely metres away from where Spyro was getting up from. All three dragons staring at a Black Quadruped with bands covering her neck, legs and tail that had saved them from utter destruction.
It was Cynder.
"Cynder you're alive!" Spyro cried joyfully. Umbrafor was indeed telling the truth.
Cynder didn't reply, instead she leapt off the top step.
"Cynder?" Spyro asked more unsurely.
She landed back on the ground and shoved her head heavily into Spyro's neck and swinging it sideways, earning her a grunt from him as he skimmed across the smooth dusty ground.
She then glared at the other two. "Are you with him?" She growled.
"No, we're here to prevent him touching the Staff like you." Charditus explained.
"You know about the Staff? What does it do?" Again, she snarled. She was casting her gaze in between the two dragons and Spyro who still recovering his breath.
"A lot, but all you need to know is Spyro plans to destroy the world with it and that we will help you in killing Spyro."
The last two words though made Cynder falter. "Kill Spyro…right."
"Cyn…Cynder I'm not evil…" Spyro tried to reason. All three dragons turned their attention towards Spyro and readied for an attack.
"Liar!" Cynder yelled with sudden rage, disappearing into the ground through her shadows.
"Oh no…" Was all that went through Spyro's panicking mind.
He barely had time to pull back as Cynder exploded from the ground in front of him in a flurry of shadow and sharp talons. Her sleek claws just grazed his chest, any slower and she would've drawn blood.
"She's trying to kill me?!" Spyro was left feeling horrified. "Cyn-Cynder?" He whimpered.
She didn't reply, nor did she have the time to anyway.
A sphere of electricity stuck the surface to Spyro's left. He quickly raised his wings up as it exploded, releasing surges of electricity that sought out his wings.
Spyro then rolled out of the way narrowly missing a score of fireballs.
"I swear I'm telling the truth! I can restore the planet if you just give me the chance!" He desperately yelled out just as finished his roll. "Look at my eyes and tell me I'm lying!"
Charditus almost scoffed. "Don't listen to his crap! Look at his eyes and he'll change you."
"Dammit…there is only one way I can prove to them I'm not lying." He said as he glared at the Staff. It might've seemed like a stupid way to prove his innocence, but it was the only way.
Unfortunately, between him and the Staff three dragons determined to stop him stood in his way.
He loathed it but… "I have to fight my way through…"
He narrowed his eyes and crouched low, eyeing the staff.
"Be aware, he is about to make a dash for the staff." Cynder growled.
"This is it…"
Spyro leapt and was immediately met with a wall of fire that exploded in front of him, however without losing pace Spyro focused on the centre and raised a pillar of earth in front of him. He hopped onto it and jumped off immediately after, unleashing a torrent of ice to cool the flames enough for him to pass through unhindered.
He landed the other side and continued his sprint. Off to his right Volterra tried unleashing a rush of electricity aimed at the purple dragon but Spyro ducked underneath it and instead retaliated with a small sphere of electricity. It wouldn't have done much if any damage to a dragon but the unexpectedness of it plus the fact it was Volterra meant she panicked and dived downwards.
Charditus was still circling around after completing his fire barrier, meaning only Cynder stood in his way…and to Cynder it meant she was the only thing that could stop him.
Both dragons narrowed their eyes even further. This was a battle not only of motives, but of determination.
Spyro took to the air as Cynder unleashed several Fear missiles.
Spyro dodged to the right but the red glowing missiles continued pursuing the purple dragon relentlessly. He countered by folding his wings in momentarily, letting two of them pass either side before forcing them to detonate with precision lightning right before dropping downwards to avoid a two more. He retaliated by throwing a fire ball in between them just as they circled around, detonating mid-air and taking them out.
Spyro turned his attention to the staff, the was no getting passed her like this, she was just far too capable at close range of dealing with airborne foes. Unless…
Spyro circled once more, looking for an opening, he noticed Charditus and Volterra gaining also so he had to time this right.
He dove for the Staff, igniting himself in a comet dash right over the head of Cynder.
Cynder Panicked and without thinking unleashed a beam of convexity.
It struck Spyro dead on.
"Aaargh!" He yelled as the beam scorched his skin and left his nerves burning. He over shot and crashed down the other side, way back down the stairs, smashing the floor with a heavy thud. He was in agony and moving a muscle was nothing but pain. Still, even when aching, even when his body screamed for the agony to stop Spyro got up.
A great rip appeared in the roof, knocking lose chunks of debris that fell around the four of them.
Cynder sighed a little relief but much to her sad annoyance Spyro wouldn't give up. She launched off the top step and flew at the purple dragon. She shoved her two front talons into Spyro's chest forcing another grunt out of him and pinning him down and forcing her tail blade on his throat.
Blizarus paced back and forth impatiently while Saphira made sure Infernius and the other fire dragon were holding up.
He hated not being able to do anything, especially since Charditus and Volterra were fighting Spyro. But someone needed to look after Earthena. The minutes ticked by and nothing, there was the odd rumble echoing out of the underground building but that only added to Blizarus's suspense.
"Hey tough guy…" a weak voice sounded. It was Earthena, she turned her aching head towards Blizarus.
Blizarus immediately whipped his head around and went to her side. Saphira also joined in.
"What were you thinking?" He spoke in almost outrage like fashion. "You know that is my job."
"Well I thought…a thank you was in order…but I suppose you're right." She tried shrugging, but all she made were feeble movements.
"Just don't do anything the crazy next time."
Earthena then drooped her head.
"Earthena?" Blizarus asked in panic.
"I'm afraid Blizarus…There may not be a next time…"
"What are you talking about? Of course there is. dammit Earthena don't do this to me." Blizarus tone lost all trace of frustration as a sad urge of dreaded realisation crept in.
"I would've loved to have seen the world with you guys…promise me you'll do that for me won't ya Bliz…" Earthena smiled, tears filled her eyes as her time came.
Tears also came in stream from Blizarus and even Saphira let a few slip.
"No Earthena…we're gonna do that together…me, you…Charditus and Volterra…were a team." He wept while holding her talon. Of which she managed to motion to his face and wiped the face.
"And promise me…promise me you'll never let anyone like Spyro do this again…" Earthena's voice grew fainter with each word, her touch getting cold and her talon grew heavy in Blizarus's own.
"Please…don't leave me…"
"Goodbye…Bliz…"
She was gone…
"No…NO!" He yelled, shaking her talon in useless motions, trying to bring her back.
Saphira could only watch as this dragon's anchor broke away, leaving him helplessly reaching out for someone that wasn't there.
"Another move and I'll end your life right here." She hissed.
This brought Spyro back to his senses as he stared at the ferocious anger behind Cynder's eyes. Her fury pierced his own eyes and shallowed his heart.
"Did…did she threaten to kill me?!" Spyro thought wildly, he could feel the blade rest cold and firmly up against his neck. His breaths were short and full of panic.
Cynder then lifted his head and slammed it back on the ground with a forceful shove.
"Why Spyro! Why did you do this? Why did you submit to the darkness!" She screamed. Tears flailed out of her eyes as her cold fury grew into a full blow storm of anger and confusion.
"Cyn-Cynder!" Spyro found his voice weak and insignificant. "Please…I'm not my darker self…I can restore the world if you allow me…just please…" He croaked.
However, Spyro's plea only enraged the dragoness even further.
"Now you're begging?! How desperate and mad are you to even think that would work? You really have fallen from grace." Cynder growled. "First you lie to me! Then forced me into the one thing I hated, the thing I despised most about myself."
Spyro couldn't bear to look at her any longer, shame and guilt flooded his mind.
"All throughout you played with my emotions for your own fun, and made me do things I didn't want to!"
"What?" Spyro suddenly thought…he never did anything of the sort…Had he really hurt Cynder that much that she is forcing herself to lie, to come up with reasons to hate Spyro.
By now Cynder had completely lost herself.
"But no matter how evil you may be…no matter how many times you betray me and others who called you friend…I can't kill nor. But I can still prevent you from causing any more harm." She concluded.
"You two get out of here…I can finish this from here. I can destroy this place." Cynder ordered.
Charditus was a little surprised by this. "But Cynder."
"No… I need to make sure no one can use the machine ever again… I promise I'll meet you on the surface."
"Alright…let's go Volterra." Charditus replied.
"Are you sure Charditus?" Volterra asked.
"Yes, I think I can see why Cynder needs to be the one to do this. Plus, I think Cynder wants to be alone for when she does it."
"Oh…okay." Volterra answered.
"Besides we need to clear a path out of here since Spyro caved it in…We'll see you on the surface Cynder." Charditus called out as he and Volterra headed for the stairs.
Several minutes of strained rubble removing and awkward twisting through narrow gaps and both dragons were free…only to see the sad sight of Blizarus mourning over Earthena's body and Saphira trying to comfort him.
Immediately Charditus's heart slumped…unable to do anything but gape as Volterra buried her head in his neck. It was a sad day for all…
Not even the arrival of several large dragons including Volteer and Zinnia and three others broke them out of this miserable trance.
"Where is the purple dragon!" An Earth dragon clad in the famous Warfang armour spoke.
"Be a petite more tactful, it is palpable that these younglings are troubled and require essential time." Volteer uttered in a discerning voice.
The guard looked back in confusion, aware he had done something bad but not sure what.
"He means be careful what you say, these kids have just lost someone close." Zinnia explained in a soft voice.
The guard realised his horrible mistake and ushered an apology as quickly as he could.
"Down there…" the roughish voice of Charditus intervened and indicated with his head to the buried ruin.
"Commence excavation, we require stopping the purple dragon and beckon and summon the others. We require instantaneous succour in retrieval of the injured and aid in subduing Spyro." Volteer ordered just as the three accompanying dragons begun removing the boulders, clearing a path down and a fourth fire dragon fired a signal flame indicating to the others to come here.. Zinnia decided to soothe the dragons the best she could.
"I promise when this is over…your friend will receive a hero's funeral for standing up for what's right." It wasn't much, but it was the best she could offer. However, her meaningful remarks were only met with cold silence, but she didn't expect any different.
Instead she stood by Volteer and watched the others make short work of the collapsed entrance. In a matter of minutes, they had created a hole of which big enough for the dragons to squeeze through. They didn't know what to expect or what he had done, all the while Volteer remained afraid and unaware of the true power of what he might have to face, unaware Cynder had already stopped him.
The stairs looked gaping, ready to swallow those daring enough to enter. Sounds of intense blasting bellowed from below, making the already unsure dragoHowever, Volteer wasted no time and entered the gaping mouth of the beast ready to face the things that lurk in the dark.
Time ticked by even though they didn't count the seconds. But eventually the echoes died down. Silence was all the two knew.
"No one must ever be able to use this place again!" Cynder spoke to an invisible audience.
She kept Spyro pinned to the floor, still with her tail blade pressed against the soft flesh of his neck.
She looked upwards, observing the key points weak points of the structure and settled her sights on the top of the pillars supporting the ceiling and many tonnes of earth.
"No Cynder…you can't be think-" Before Spyro could finish the sentence Cynder let out a flash of convexity and swept it all over.
The entire room begun shaking as boulders many times the size of the two dragons dislodged themselves and came crashing down, splintering into pieces. Spyro saw a large one about to fall on top of them.
Spyro then saw tears streaming from Cynder's face. "My heart…still belongs to you despite all that has happened…and if I allow it take over…If I allow us to live…then disaster would only happen again, and I would tear myself apart. We both must die here. Goodbye Spyro!"
"Cynder No!" Spyro yelled his final word as a golden energy gathered around him.
The huge sarsen stone fell…
Upon hearing quake reverberate through the earth Volteer immediately forced the team to evacuate back to the surface. Eventually the shaking subsided, and Volteer felt sure enough for the dragons to re-enter into the darkness, down the steep stairs they trudged, many of the torches had fell and extinguished themselves.
The low hanging ceiling eventually gave way to absolute carnage. Debris littered the place, several of the pillars had toppled and now lain on their side. What was once a clean smooth floor looked wild and deserted. It was almost pitch black aside from a few shaken torches barely grasping to the wall and an odd golden glow emanating from behind the rock.
Volteer decided to investigate, raising his magnificent head upwards and peered over.
What he saw absolutely befuddled him.
Two dragons, one purple and one black with wide wings spread out and eyes shut closed. To the outside they looked like they were stuck in the motionless cycle of a synchronised fury.
Volteer had no idea how long they had been like this, nor the tale or epic battles that had occurred. The sacrifices made and betrayals beheld. But something told him to smash the crystal.
Heya all, this is the end of part 1…but not the end of the story, there is another story to tell, one that goes beyond the oceans and into the skies that will lead to an epic conclusion.
But before Chapter 21 comes out I will be visiting old routes and cleaning up my work, but I will let you know when that is done.
Hope you all enjoyed this climax though and I apologise if some parts looked/feel rushed, feel free to comment, favourite and anything else as it really does help. But whatever you do don't turn away, we still got a long journey ahead of us!
Until then peace out
BlueDinosaur99