Entity: Well?

Me: Well what?

Entity: What trials are you going to set up for Spyro and Cynder. For that matter what about Link and Samus.

Me: Oh well I'll tell ya later right now there are a few things I gotta deal with.

Entity: Fine but you still have to tell me what you plan to do.

Me: Of course but if you were patient then you could read it.

Entity: Too bad I'm not.

Me: This has gone on for long enough so let's get to the chapter.

so... Spyro and Cynder are going through a series of trials to gain full control over their new ability... Samus and Link are looking for the four other temples and their trials so that they can enter the Spirit and Phazon door back at the White Isle... Ridley... well let's check in with him... and perhaps I'll have something to talk about that deals with the SPace Pirates, Federation, and such... I doubt it though but who knows...

I Know that some of you have lives outside of this site so I'll do this to make things simpler for you to Nav this chapter:

Part 1: Training on Zebees

Part 2: The Dream

Part 3: Tallon IV's Teaching's

Part 4: Aether's Pilgrimage

*Agon*

*Torvus*

*Sanctuary*

Part 5: Elysean Envoy

Part 6: Back to the Present

I hope you readers enjoy this chapter because I wanted to bring Ridley back to the main part of the story. so enjoy and drop a review.

Chapter 28

Ridley's Return

Part 1

Training on Zebes

A rift opened on Planet Zebes within the most sacred place of the Chozodia. The Chozo who were there took quick notice of the Time Rift and what came out of it. Upon turning towards the rift on of the Chozo saw what had appeared then looked towards the others as if in question but then an elder showed up. He looked at the creature that had came forth from the rift before announcing anything.

"The visions of these past few days has come to pass and yet there is one piece missing from this puzzle. The Survivor is still missing. Before us we have the Cursed Dragon whom I saw come forth from a rift in time from an period of the future where chaos thrives upon a distant planet. We shall take in the Cursed Dragon and teach him what we know." The elder stated before looking over to Old Bird who was still young and not as wise as he should be.

"As you wish Elder. We need to give him a name." one of the other Chozo stated as they looked at the unconscious dragon.

"He already has a name. It is inscribed upon the armor he wears. His name is Ridley." The elder stated walking towards the out cold dragon.

(Ridley's POV)

Upon waking up my vision was blurred and my head hurt like Kraid had just stomped on it. Not to mention that my body seemed to feel like it had been beaten by Draygon. My eye sight slowly reformed but very slowly like Phantoon. Upon clearing I saw that I was in a rather nice looking room inside what many civilizations would consider primitive architecture but these were familiar and I would recognize such design anywhere.

"Oh good he wakes. Grey Voice get the Elder." Some one outside the chamber said.

"Definitely Chozo." I muttered incomprehensibly to myself.

I got out of the... bed... and looked around the room that must be mine now when an old and wise looking Chozo entered.

"Ridley... It is good to meet one who is old in mind but young in body... hmm... It seems that you have met with a terrible fate, haven't you?" The elder asked.

Ridley looked at the elder Chozo for a moment before speaking.

"Yeah I guess you could say that. I lead an attack against an enemy that..." Ridley was cut off by the Elder who started speaking.

"You lead an attack from a city called Warfang, which resides on a planet called Spyrus, and the attack was upon a Volcano called Heart of Darkness within the Corrupted lands which were formerly called the Burned Lands and before that the Swamps. The attack went too well and upon reaching the core you were confronted with an opponent who was far stronger than you. Some time into the battle he opened a Time Rift and sent you back in time to here. Am I correct?" The Elder spoke all of this as if it were common knowledge.

Ridley looked at the Elder and nodded but was curious as to how he knew.

"Future Sight Dreams. That is how I know young dragon." The elder said answering Ridley's curiosity. "Now it's time for your training to begin."

"What?" Ridley asked confused and on the edge of incredulous.

"If you are to pose a challenge to this Corrupted Dark Spyro then you must go through training to pose a proper threat. Even now, in you time, you new friends do not pose a great enough threat to take down such a powerful foe." The elder said as he turned and left the room to walk the corridor to a different place, Ridley followed after quickly.

It seemed like hours passed when they finally arrived in a chamber that Ridley did not recognized but he took notice that the area was Tourian. As he looked around the place he looked at the Chozo around him but he shook his head not wanting to cause any sort of disturbance. He was soon lead into a chamber and behind a window there was a Chozo standing at a terminal. Soon I was the only one in the chamber and the Chozo at the window spoke.

"Alright, Ridley, your training will begin shortly so be ready and... Begin." A chozo said at a terminal.

The metal chamber changed to a chamber surrounded by stone like a cave with rather little vegetation growing. I was alone in this cave and set to face against unknown creatures. The wait was not long.

Soon several creatures were released into the room some were obviously hostile while others were inadvertently dangerous. I smirked at the choices of enemies. Ki Hunters, winged and not, zoomers, Wavers, and a few others. I opened my mouth to release Plasma Orbs or at least a stream of flames... Nothing came out except for a stream of smoke. That obscured all vision possible and I stopped trying to use any kind of breath attack. Shaking my head I decided that I should just attack the way I usually did. With my Claws, Tail, and such.

I attempted to fly but for some reason my wings did not seem to respond the way they should have. I had to act instantly because the creatures were getting closer and for some reason they seemed to... change. They became more hostile the closer they got to me. I drew up onto my hind legs when something seemed off about it but I paid it no mind for the time being as I slashed at several of the creatures with my claws and my tail blade. Eventually I did manage to fly and when I managed it I began slicing the enemies in half, their remains falling to the ground in a heap.

A few minutes later all the creatures were dead and I was covered in blood but still standing.

(Outside the chamber)

"He fights furiously."

"Indeed he does. The question is what should we put him up against next?"

"I'm not sure but I have an idea. We just saw what he can do against creatures from Crateria. Let's go through the regions of the planet shall we? Brinstar is next. Then Norfair, after that it will be Maridia, lastly Lower Norfair."

"Agreed. We'll see how well he fairs in each area before presenting him to the Guardian."

"Let the next test begin."

"One question though."

"What's that?"

"Should we pit him against the biggest enemy in each area?"

"I don't think that we should... At least not yet."

"Then let's continue."

(Inside the chamber)

I looked around the field of battle taking note of the creatures I had just killed then it changed again to a jungle like chamber. What came forth from the vines and such were several creatures. Zeela, Waver's, Side hoppers, Reo's, and many more... I took a fighting stance against these creatures and began to slaughter them quickly.

They were dead in no time and there was nothing of them left but their corpses which seemed to get sucked into the ground. Then the terrain changed to what looked like a lava formed cavern. Out of nowhere creatures appeared. Sova's, Desgeega's, and several others. soon these creatures were killed but I had taken a little bit of damage. Mild injury but not enough to warrant medical help.

These were too easy for me to take down but I was starting to suspect that something was up. Soon enough the chamber changed to that of a room in Marida above the surface of the water but something told me that I would have to go under water to kill other creatures in this trial chamber.

I killed everything above the water and looked below and sure enough there were creatures in the water.

"Great... How am I supposed to go down there and kill them all without getting killed?" I asked aloud but got no answer.

I began looking around and saw a something slightly out of place in the chamber. Something like a turret on a ledge that sloped into the water. I flew over to it and took command of the turret and aimed into the water. I looked at the systems of the turret and began firing into the water at the creatures. Soon these creatures were dead as well. The turret vanished, as did the Maridian terrain.

It was all soon replaced by the ultra heated environment of Lower Norfair where I was soon faced against many kinds of creatures that THRIVED in the heat. Lucky for me I was immune to the effects of ultra heated areas. I began attacking the creatures that came forth and suffered some injury yet again but it was soon restored.

The chamber changed back to the Tourian chamber that it was.

"Well done Ridley. You have excelled through all the trials. Since you have been in there fighting for all this time some of us had thought that you would not survive much longer. Apparently you are able to survive against those creatures for several days seeing as each one took you two days to complete." A voice over the Comm system said.

"What? Several days?" I asked incredulous.

"Well yes... To us you've been in there for three weeks fighting against such odds. Apparently it's only been two days for you. Interesting... Time seems to flow differently around you. No matter You are to be taken before the Guardian to be tested for your worth. If you pass the test you will be put against the final enemies of each area. After that you will be transported to Tallon IV to further your training. Now leave through the door and head to your room, Old Bird will come for you in the morning. You'll need your rest." The chozo stated.

I shook my head and groaned. Somehow I had been in that training chamber for three weeks and yet it only seemed like two days to me. Some reason time did not flow right around me. I paid it no mind as I fell asleep.

Part 2

The Dream

As I slept I began hearing voices in my sleep and soon everything slowed down to a crawl.

"What the... What happened?" I asked and my voice echoed around the empty void.

"Do not worry Ridley... You are in a place known as The Dream Trial. You are here because you have awakened an ability within yourself to slow time down. It is now time that you awaken an inner fire that burns within you... Please proceed to the Emblem of Infernus to awaken your inner fire." a voice echoed out.

I was wary of what was going on around me but I saw a fire burning in the distance so I made my way towards it. Upon reaching it I stepped onto the emblem.

"Within those who can harness the power, Fire burns within them all and seeks to be released. This power lies dormant within you as well. Feel the warmth of it flowing through your veins. Sense it as it burns a path before you. Draw upon the fury of this fire and focus it." The voice echoed again.

I closed my eyes and felt a fierce fire rushing through my body wanting to be released in it's full fury. I could sense it as it burned my scales or so it seemed. I drew upon the inferno and focused. The power began to build up to a devastating point all the way to being unbearable to contain but the sensation of it was immense and the power that I could feel within it. Soon the build up of the fire became too great and thus I released it.

The flames shot out around me in a fury swirling in a vortex sending out massive bursts of flames to scorch the stone and the emblem. The emblem shattered from the furious blast and I was surrounded by the flames.

"Congratulations, Ridley... You're a natural. Should be expected from one who lived in the depths of infernal fires." the voice spoke, "Proceed forward to learn more about the fire that you now hold."

I looked around and I noticed a gate way that had just appeared. It looked like it had once been closed but the burn marks that covered it revealed that it was incinerated by great flames. I walked through the gateway and jumped across the floating platforms to a larger one.

On it there were four statues that looked like stone soldiers of some sort. I looked at them all when they suddenly came to life.

"Oh come on... Statues that come to life... really? Don't you think that that has been a little over done?" I stated aloud.

"As you say thus they will be replaced with something different." The disembodied voice said.

Soon the statues were replaced by robotic machines that were still human in shape but they would use different attacks. One took aim at me with a beam laser and started to fire. I evaded the beam and saw as it burned a path through the air leaving behind a residual stream of the flame itself. I blinked and evaded several other such beams and managed to vaporize two of them with my own Fire Breath. The last two teamed up on me.

One took aim on me the other aimed above me and they both aimed on either side of me. I knew that this was going to hurt one of us but then they fired their beams. Suddenly everything slowed down and I moved out of the way and incinerated both droids into molten metal. After they vanished into the stone more platforms appeared.

I climbed to the next area and the same thing appeared. Droids began moving and attacking me with their Beams of Fire. I began burning them with fire but that did not stop them from coming at me. Eventually I began getting irritated and charged at them while breathing fire. The flames surrounded me and I went right through them leaving behind the melted remains.

All four of them were nothing but pools of melted metal and wiring. I saw more platforms appear and I proceeded to the next area. The next area I had to kill the robots till for some reason my angry got the best of me and the flames swirled around me and melted them all. I was surrounded by the flames once more when the platforms appeared.

I proceeded to the last area, which was something like a temple of sorts, and I went inside.

I awoke afterwards and apparently it was morning. I got up feeling oddly well rested and went through a minor morning routine. After all that I was escorted, by Old Bird, through several rooms of the Chozodia and eventually we came out into a very large vaulted chamber with some sort of engraving on the wall. I looked at it and then Old Bird knelt.

"Guardian... I have brought the Cursed Dragon to be tested by you... Yes... Yes he has passed the previous tests... I believe that he is ready for your test.
Understood... Yes Guardian... I shall leave him to your trial." Old Bird said then rose and left the chamber.

I was left standing in the middle of the chamber when suddenly it darkened. The four glyphs darkened as well and a beam shot from each one into the mirror like surface of the object in the Guardian's hands. I watched as the mirror reflected my image but in the opposite form. Soon a glyph appeared in the mirror and I launched a fire ball at it. The glyph flashed and separated from the Guardian on the wall and took it's place in it's slot.

After that the Guardian became an ethereal entity and began floating around the room. As it did so bolts of lightening would shoot down and hit the ground where I was standing, but I moved fast enough to evade them. Another Glyph appeared and I hit it with a bolt of fire and it too went into it's respective slot in the wall. The ethereal Guardian became faster and soon a it began shooting down a blot of lightening into the center of the room that would traverse the entire room.

I fired at the third glyph and it took it's place with the others. The Ghost Guardian got much faster and began launching bolts of lightening AND fire onto the ground. I narrowly evaded several of such bolts but was hit with others. The Glyph would appear and vanish just as fast as it did so. I began calculating the Guardian's movement speed, the time that the glyph appeared and vanished and also my own speed...

Eventually I had it all down in my mind and... The glyph appeared... I leaped into the air... I opened my mouth... I single bolt of fire was released from my mouth just seconds before a fire ball could rain down on me... My fire ball hit the Glyph and it flashed before taking it's place with the others. I was then hit with the fire ball from the ceiling and was sent to the ground. I, shakily, got to my feet and realized that the room had returned to it's normal lighting.

I got to my feet and looked at the Guardian emblem on the wall and saw the mirror it held reflect my image standing still. I walked into the center to face it and soon I saw my image change. On my legs were four bracers that were the color of Samus' Power Suit. They formed on my legs and the reflection vanished. I then felt that I was MUCH stronger than I was before.

I then heard a voice echo in my mind with such a sound that it could not be described.

"You are now in possession of 1 of 5 pieces of the D.P.S... Use the Power Aura at your disposal and use it in your coming trials against the great fiends. Go forth and may strength serve you well." the voice said.

I nodded towards the Guardian and started to leave the chamber and was teleported into the Training Chamber of Tourian.

"Ridley, you were to be pitted against the Great Fiends of this planet but you have surpassed all our expectations... You are ready to be taken to Tallon IV." one of the Chozo voices said.

I was then teleported to the surface of the planet and there I saw a ship that looked almost like Samus' but it was in such a form that I could just walk up a ramp and be inside. I boarded the ship and was surprised that it had been built in a way that I could pilot it myself. I noticed that the ship had been set with an auto pilot to take me to Tallon IV instantly. I walked onto the Pilot's platform and sat down the machines came to life and the ship began to rise from the ground but I stopped it and went back into the Chozodia. Once there I left a message for Samus AND the Chozo.

The message was a notice to the Samus of this time but also a warning about Mother Brain. After leaving the message I left Chozodia and boarded my ship once more. The ship came to life and I was on my way to Tallon IV.

Part 3

Tallon IV's Teachings

Several hours passed when the ship landed in the Chozo City that would, fifty years later, would become known as the Chozo Ruins. The ship landed and I left the confines of it and found myself in the central plaza. Upon leaving the ship I was faced with several Chozo, one of which was oddly white colored. I took that one to being the Elder here, I wasn't far wrong considering the fact that the Shaman and Elder were related and close to the same age.

"Young Ridley... We've been expecting you. It is time for your training to begin here on Tallon IV. You will first learn the lands, how to traverse them without flight, and how to fight the creatures in each area. You're survival is a most high priority other wise your friends will perish against the Demon of Destruction. Now then... Let us begin your training." The shaman said looking at me.

I stepped off the ship and onto the sand of the Chozo City, the sand was soft and warm, as if it welcomed me. The ramp to my ship closed and sealed itself, I figured that I would have to complete my training here before going anywhere else. My choice was made so I would have to take on this training.

A few hours passed and I had been lead to a single chamber with a hologram in the middle of it. Upon quick observation I noticed that it was a Map Station, or at least that would be it's future use, currently it displayed a map of the whole planet. I looked at the planetary image for a moment then began to take notice of many familiarities. I walked up to the hologram and marked the location of the Over World, then the Chozo Ruins and several other locations. I even marked and highlighted a single place on the global map and labeled it as IMPACT CRATER. Of course I was questioned why I would marked their most sacred place as such so I decided to tell them.

"I marked it as such because well... Fifty years from now an object known as a Leviathan Seed will crash down there and begin corrupting the land eventually spawning the Phazon Mines at this location within the Magmoor Caverns," I tapped the locations on the map and continued on, "How I know all of this is because I am not originally from this time line. So... Are we going to move on to the other parts of the training?"

The elder and shaman looked at each other then at me and for the longest time I felt like I was standing on a set of balance scales. They then began to lead me through several corridors and such back to the Central Plaza before saying anything and then it was the Elder who spoke.

"Well, Ridley, it seems that you know much about our land... and our future I think it is really time for you to take on the Trial of Strength... Starting from here, heading to the Hall of the Elders within the city depths, then into Magmoor Caverns where you will then head for Phendrana to the Elder Shrine there and eventually to the Chamber of Hero's within Magmoor Caverns. There you will claim the D.P.S. test will test all of your abilities and more to prove your worth. Once, and if, you obtain the helmet your training will begin and it will begin first off with you learning more about your Fire Breath ability then you will go to Phendrana with White Feather, our shaman, to learn more of you inner powers. You will also learn to control your elemental powers better and learn the extent of the Power Aura that surrounds you. Now it is time for you to start the Trial of Strength." The Elder said.

I nodded and the Chozo seemed to vanish through several doors leaving me in the central plaza to begin my trial. They were nice enough to leave a map device behind for me to use but I realized that it would not work but once every thirty minutes.

"Ok... I guess I should have expected this. Oh well, time to prove my worth." I said to myself before making my way to a door that had a red lock on it. I took in a deep breath and remembered the Fire Bolt that I could now use. I released it upon the door and opened it. After opening the door I entered into a corridor of sorts.

I continued along this corridor and several other chambers till I came to one larger chamber that had magnetic railings on the ceiling, a half pipe in the middle and a morphball tunnel going through the large stone wall that held the half pipe. I leaped onto the half pipe then jumped into the square pit on the other side.

As I landed I could feel the ground start to shake but nothing seemed to happen that is until a statue jumped down from the ledge above. I recognized the statue as being a Torizo of some sort. I looked at me and swung its arm in an arc sending out a stream of energy towards me. I evaded the beam of energy by jumping to the left, afterwards I charged at it and jumped into the air to strike it's head with my claws or my fire breath. I hit with my fire breath instead.

I managed to hit it a few times with the Fire Bolt and eventually it dropped to the ground. When it crumbled to dust, more like a tone of sand, a small sphere was left behind I didn't think that I would be able to use it without a full form Power Suit so I left it alone. I only took two steps away from it when my bracers started glowing. The glowing vanished and I started walking again when I looked behind me the sphere was gone then everything went black. A few seconds later I was standing on the other side of the half pipe.

"What the... That was odd." I said to myself then I looked down at the bracers and saw that my whole body seemed ethereal, almost ghost like. Then i felt the cold stone beneath my feet again but then a sudden chill crept over me but shortly faded. I shook my self, opened the door, and made my way back to the main plaza. Once there I made my way to a ledge higher up and opened the door there and went through.

The next room was a corridor that took me to a room called "Meditation Fountain" There was a fountain at the other side of the room and two other doors. I went east towards the Arboretum. Upon entering into the Arboretum there was a giant tree in the middle and platforms spiraling up around it. I climbed up to a point then headed for the east door and blasted it open with a Fire Bolt. I went through the corridor without pause and was in a chamber called Gathering Hall.

In this room I looked around then checked the map. There was a place nearby where I could relax for a bit but right now I was not feeling tired and I had yet to encounter anything dangerous. So after looking around and taking notice of the bridge like platform above I took flight and made my way to it. Upon reaching it I was ambushed by something.

After landing on the bridge and regaining my focus I saw what had attacked me. It looked like a shriekbat only... it was bigger. It rushed at me again and this time I was ready for it and evaded but that did not keep the razor spikes on it's sides from grazing me. There was blood, my blood, covering the stone of the bridge so I took flight and decided to fight the thing in the air.

It rushed at me again, I evaded quickly and countered with a stream of flames from my mouth. It was now burning, out of control it crashed into the bridge and exploded. I landed on the opposite side of a morphball tunnel with the door behind me. Looking at the damage I hoped that the Chozo wouldn't hold this against me.

Turning around I opened the door and entered the next corridor. At this point I was figuring out that the Chozo City was 75% corridors and 25% chambers. The next room was the energy core but I was not stopping there I continued on and entered into the Furnace area. My body became ethereal once more as I approached the tunnels for the Furnace. I went through the walls like a ghost and entered into a room with a rather large machine against the wall I had phased through.

My body was still ethereal and having memorized the map from when I had looked at it I headed north then east. I went completely through a purple door and entered into a chamber called Crossway. I went to the other side of the chamber and blasted the door open and went through into the corridor beyond.

After the corridor I was at point Alpha of the Trial of Strength, the Hall of the Elders, this room was vast and in the middle was a statue of an elder Chozo. I flew towards the statue and stopped at the feet of the statue and looked up at it. For a moment nothing happened. Then a Chozo came out from behind the statue.

"You have made it this far, Young Ridley. From here you will need the aid of Ice." The chozo said. Afterwards I passed out.

I must have been out for some time because when I woke up next I was in a room beyond the Reflecting pool chamber. I shook my head and felt my body go transparent. I looked around and saw the tunnel and walked through the wall and opened the door on the other side. Upon entering the chamber I felt a sudden chill surround me I shook my body but the chill didn't vanish it still clung to me like dust on a static charged screen.

I turned around to see where the chill was coming from. As I turned I felt the chill cling voraciously to the arrow shaped blade on my tail. I craned my neck around and saw that ice was clinging to the blade.

"So the Ice ability is an Ice Blade on my tail. Lovely." I said and shook the chill from my tail AND my body before going down the elevator.

I was on the Tallon overworld now and there was a white door ahead of me.

"Great a white door. If memory serves the Ice Beam is what opened that kind of door. I don't have the Ice Beam so lets see if my Ice Tail Blade will open it." I said while staring at the door.

I looked at my tail blade for a moment, shook my head, then I spun around and Ice clung to my tail blade. The edge of the ice blade cut into the white barrier of the door and it split open leaving a greyed door left for me to walk through. The next few areas were corridors and from the looks of the Over World I could tell that I was going to be facing untamed land.

Upon reaching the large opened space where there was a water fall flwoing down fro where I was standing down into a large lake below I leaped into the air and flew towards the west end of the lake. Upon landing I took out the Map device and noted that it was usable again.

I activated it and looked at the Over World map. There were a few marks on the map one was the Temple here and the other was an elevator that went to Magmoor caverns. I figured that my path was set for me so I headed for the Magmoor caverns elevator seeing as the Over World Temple was marked with Ω. I took that as meaning that I would comeback through and be heading towards it.

I closed the map device and headed west. I opened the door and entered the Waterfall chamber, which I navigated through easily considering the fact that it was still in it's original non collapsed splendor. I went through the next door and was in an area that must have been used as a landing site due to the burned and barren spot near the center. I kept heading west, opened the door and went into the next chamber. This chamber there were a few beetles to jump out of the ground and attack me. I killed them off quickly, after they died I was oddly greeted by the sight of six red gems and four green gems. I figured that I was getting low on both because I was feeling a bit tired already. I even noticed a few blue gems as well. The gems sunk into my body and restored my health, my mana, and I felt more motivated to get through this trial of strength.

I went through the next door and into the next area of the over world. This area was apparently a vast canyon but not the kind that I would have expected. I looked around the place and noticed a door upon a ledge a little higher up. I flew up to the door and went through. I was still heading west and the chamber I had entered was filled with roots and water. I flew past the root and made my way to the door on the other side.

I Blasted the door open and went into the next area, which was a cave. I glided to the bottom of the area and wound up gliding into a hole in the wall where there was a door. I opened the door and went into a tunnel that would take me to the Magmoor Caverns elevator. I entered the elevator room and went down into Magmoor caverns.

The elevator stopped, I opened the Map Device after the remaining minute was up. I looked at the Magmoor Caverns map and the room I was in. I took notice of the southern door and saw that it was sealed, at least for now. I looked at the map more and saw that the northern door was still opened to me. So i headed north to my destination. Phendrana North.

I went through a series of tunnels and caverns with lakes of lava till I was at the door to the Phendrana elevator. Of course my trek to the door was not easy because I had to defeat some Cavern dwelling natives, such as a Magmoor serpent. I was not bad hurt but I sustained a few injuries, which I was able to heal rather quickly with the few red gems that surprisingly dropped from the enemies.

I opened the phendrana elevator door and took the elevator up to Phendrana north.

Upon arriving I left the elevator room and noticed that the door sealed behind me at this point I realized that I would not be able to travel certain paths twice. I went through the tunnel and made it to the Phendrana shoreline. Things were not going to get tricky they were just going to get cold and annoying seeing as, when I checked the map, the closest elevator was WAY far south on the map.

"Well this couldn't get much worse." Even after I spoke those words I knew my folly. A blizzard kicked up and blinded my path and hindered my flying.

"Me and my big mouth." I groused as I trudged through the driving snow towards the one path that was currently open to me. I managed to reach a ledge and ahead of me was a floating platform that I could jump to with a high enough jump.

I jumped up and made it onto the platform and managed to glide WITH the wind to the ledge that had a door on it. I opened the door and went through the corridor. A few minutes later and I was in a room known as the Chozo Ice Temple. Here I was able to fly to the top of the chamber, which I did, once at the top though I saw another Chozo Statue. There was ice streaming from it's mouth to it's hands to the basin beneath it.

I looked towards the opened grating to the right of it and went through the door and wound up phasing through the wall till I got to the door on the other side. I went through the door and found myself in a large chamber that was called "Chapel of the Elders". I looked around but saw nothing in the room save for an alter at the far end of the chamber.

I glided towards the alter and looked at it for a moment before rising up and placing my front legs on the alter. Suddenly my mind went blank for what seemed like a moment. Upon waking though it was more than just a moment, it had been three hours since I was out. I leaped away from the alter and noticed that electricity was arcing across my claws.

As I looked at my electrified claws I saw the purple door and remembered that they were opened by the Wave Beam, which was electrical energy anyways. I walked up to the door and slashed it with my claws and opened it. I left the chamber and went back to the shorelines where I started heading south. Of course the blizzard had stopped and I was able to fly. So I flew all the way to a large circular cave where there were purple doors going to it from all sides. I went south and slashed that door open and flew across the ravine to the next purple door, that I opened the same way.

I entered the chamber and I was in an elevator room destined for Magmoor Caverns south. I went down.

I arrived in Magmoor caverns a few minutes later and already I was getting tired and the warmth of the place released the chill that had nearly became part of me back at Phendrana. I felt better but I also felt tired. So I went into the room behind the Elevator and laid down on the floor. I fell asleep instantly.

Hours later I woke up well rested so I was now able to continue the trial of strength. I walked back into the elevator room and took note that it was shut down so i slashed open the purple door with my claws and went through the tunnel and opened the next purple door the same way. I flew through the next area and went for the northern portion of the area. I opened the door and went into the tunnel and continued north. I slashed open another purple door and entered the Geothermal core. I flew across the lava lake and opened the blue door on the other side.

After that I entered another tunnel and headed north once more. However I did slash open another purple door on the way. After that the other doors were blue and I opened them and continued north. I went through the Elevator room that went to Tallon Overworld West side. It was shut off so I kept heading north. Eventually I was back in the room that had the tunnel that went to Phendrana north.

In this chamber I felt that I should fly to the top. I decided not to ignore this instinct so I flew to the top and saw a blue door that I opened quickly. Inside I found myself looking at another Chozo Statue. I kept looking at it but nothing happened. I figured that now the Trial was finished, for some reason I felt that it was but I still had to get back to the Temple Grounds back on the Over World. I left the Warrior's Shrine and headed north again.

I kept heading north until I found myself in another elevator room. I, of course had faced many creatures on the way here and still managed to get here without getting killed or something. I took the elevator up.

I was back in the Chozo City and saw that there was only one path for me to travel. I headed south towards the main plaza. I went through the Vault where I saw what looked to be the outline of a helmet,or at least the ghostly shadow of one, on a pedestal. I ignored it and continued south. I went through the Main Plaza towards the Elevator that would take me to Tallon overworld NORTH.

Upon reaching the elevator I felt elated that this whole ordeal was almost completely over. I got on the elevator and went down to the Overworld.

On the Overworld I went south and stopped in the cavern, I flew to a ledge above and went through what was called the Gullly. I opened the blue doors and came out at the Landing site, where I headed south.

I flew to the door, opened it and went through. Inside I killed the spike heads that were on the ceiling and opened the door on the other side. I went through the Temple Security station and blasted the door open at the other end. I made my way to the Temple Grounds, that would later be called the Artifact Temple.

Upon arriving I was tired, yet excited that it was all over now. I was greeted by several elder Chozo who stood their ground in solemn silence. I walked forward towards the white feathered Shaman who had something in his hands. Upon getting closer I took notice that it was a helmet that would fit over my head with a yellow screen like thing that would cover my eyes.

I reached the shaman and dropped to the ground completely tired and needing to rest. I passed out right there at the final point of the Trial. Embarrassing really but nothing can stop tired. I was out like a light.

When I awoke next I was on my ship heading through space. The helmet was on my head and there was a message on the computer.

"What the... 'You have passed the Trial of Strength, Ridley, may the spirits guide you safely. The helmet magnifies your Breath attacks and allows you to see in darkness.' Well at least I am on my way again. I might just get back to my own time faster than I thought."

I looked at the computer screens and took note that I was a long ways from my next destination, Aether.

Part 4

Aether's Pilgrimage

Hours passed and finally my ship landed on the northern side of the temple. I got on the elevator and was taken up to the Great Temple where I was quickly ushered to the Main chamber of the place. There was some kind of creature there looking at me. I stepped forwards and introduced myself with pride.

The creature introduced himself as a Luminoth named U-Mos who was the fifth sentinel of Aether. I nodded and began to wonder what I was going to be doing here as far as training went when suddenly I was given my mission. I groaned inwardly about it. I had to safe guard a bunch of Luminoth who were on a pilgrimage to all the temples of Aether.

I nodded agreement to it and was handed a fragment of an object that went on my back perfectly. It felt strange yet natural at the same time. I took the lead of the Luminoth who were to be protected. We left the main temple and made our way south east to an elevator room that would take us to Agon Plains (Before it was Agon Wastes).

Upon arriving at Agon I took note that I had no idea where I was going. That is until the Map Device that the Chozo had given me made a strange sound. I opened it and saw the entirety of Agon Plains. It was beautiful and vast and life seemed to flourish here. Too bad I knew that they would become a wasteland sometime in the future. I shook my head as I looked at the map device and saw the location of the Agon Temple.

"A lot of ground to cover." I said when suddenly the group of twelve Luminoth and myself were encompassed in a blue, red, purple, black, and white dome of energy.

When the energy faded we were greeted by the sight of ruin. I had heard from some of the surviving Space Pirate that Aether had been broken during the Phazon War. I looked at the ruined land around and nodded my head.

"Agon Wastes... This is going to prove more difficult." I said to myself.

The Luminoth were starting to panic wondering what happened and such. I looked at them for a moment and they calmed down and were looking at me.

"What has happened to our beautiful planet Great Dragon?" one of them asked.

Great Dragon am I?... I mentally laughed at the thought. "What has happened is a time shift. Time has warped around us to a point in the future where Aether is broken... that is to say split between two dimensions. A Light and Dark form. Don't ask me how time shifted around us because I don't really know."

"What should we do?" another asked, a female by the sound of voice.

*Agon*

"What we should do is stick together and keep our heads. If we can do that then we may be able to get through this without incident." I said On top of that I may be able to get the SPace Pirates who landed here to lend some assistance in helping me protect these guys. "Just follow me alright."

They all seemed to gather their wit's and minds to such a level that I was surprised that such a state of calm existed. I shook my head and readied my Ice Tail Blade, my Thunder Claws, and my breath attacks. I was alert to my whole surrounding now, Is this how Samus feels when she's venturing through unfamiliar terrain? I thought.

We began our journey across the desert terrain of Agon Wastes. Having not closed out of the Map device I noticed that it had overloaded but I had noticed that there was a map station nearby before the time shift. We began heading for the Map Station. Unfortunately there was a translator gate barring the path to the map station. Thankfully one of the Luminoth with me translated the hologram. The gate sunk into the ground opening the way to the Map Station.

We went into the cavern and made it to the Map Station. I stepped onto the platform and was greeted by the markings of the terrain and the names of the areas. As I looked at the map I noticed that there was no real clear path to reach the Temple because most of the path's required the Morphball and the Luminoth did not have that ability.

I presented the problem to them and they began to think over options and idea's while I did much the same thing... That is until I decided that they should stay here where it was safe so that I could check the rest of the land out. They of course agreed to stay at the Map Station thus allowing me free roam of the landscape. I didn't tell them that I had an idea because if I did I'd have to tell them about every detail of it.

I ventured from the map station and looked up to the sky and saw an orange object flying through the atmosphere and get hit by lightening. I took flgiht and headed east towards a Space Pirate command center. I landed on the roof and was able to tear through it with my Thunder Claws and the Power Aura that still surrounded me. When I got in I was near a computer console and Space Pirates surrounded me instantly.

I never really cared much for introductions and at current point if I were to tell them my name they wouldn't believe me because at this point in time the me of this time period was under going cellular regeneration back on the Homeworld. I turned to the computer and typed in a few passwords along with a series of security clearance codes and instantly I was in the database and the holoprojector was displaying my appearance to the whole facility. I stood my ground and faced thee troopers.

"Lord Ridley?" They asked in question.

I looked at them with a look of 'Stand down or die.'

"Is that you Lord Ridley?" another asked.

"Yes it's me." I said.

"The last we saw you, you had been vanquished by the Hunter on Tallon IV. We put your body into the Regen chamber." Another stated.

"Well of course you did but here's a kicker for you guys... The me of this time still exists I am from a further future where I was sent back in time with the ability to alter time around me. My body went through an age degeneration but I kept my memories. Now I need three of you to pilot three skiffs... I'm on a mission to this time period from the future so help me out. Oh and I'll give you guys a fair heads up... Samus has landed on the planet but I don't think that she will get here very fast so gear up and let's get this mission of mine done with." I said as my tone rose to a point of no nonsense do the job or your head is on a platter.

Three Space Pirates stepped forwards and acknowledged me. After that I turned to the computer and typed in a few more lines of data. Considering that by this time the Space Pirate in my original time period had most likely acknowledge Link and Samus as their leaders along with me... I put in their data into the system and put the whole thing under a new level of security. Instead of there being a code black level 7 security code this Security level required a level 10 clearance with a 20 part pass code combined with a triad key lock, which I crafted later. This security code was marked as Code Dead.

Meaning, if anyone but me were to access the files within they'd be killed by a security drone that would be set to monitor this particular file. I did, however, set up a display protocol for the files...

("Variable = event of Leader disappearance from current time frame: display file: C746-335Ω... end script.")

After setting the protocol I turned to the three that would go with me and told them to get the skiffs and follow me. I flew through the hole I had made and outside I saw the three skiffs rise into the air. I took the lead and lead the skiffs west back to the Map Station. Upon arriving I told the Space Pirates to return to the Command Center and to leave the planet and head for a set of coordinates. It was the location of an inhabited moon where they could survive until such a time of the future they got a communication.

After they left I went about rigging the controls of the skiffs into the control of one skiff. This way I only needed to pilot one and be able to pilot all three. After that was done I went into the Map Station and brought the Luminoth out of the cave. We got onto the skiffs and time shifted once more. This time we were taken back in time to a point where the place was still a wasteland but it was the kind of wasteland that you would enjoy looking at. I activated the three skiffs and we lifted off into the air heading north east towards the temple of Agon.

Not five minutes into the flight did complications come forth. Black five legged creatures with a single red eye began to appear all over the sandy desert below. Some of them began attacking us but I had already opened the Weapon Cache on the skiffs. Inside each cache were enough weapons to arm these Luminoth and even then I placed a Combat Chip on the side of their heads so that they would obtain the Combat skills of the fiercest Galactic warrior ever, Samus Aran.

The Luinoth took up the weapons and we all jumped from the skiffs to the ground below, luckily we were above the central mining station. Upon landing we were surrounded by these creatures that I instantly realized were the Ing. I began tearing through them as fast as I could. Hitting them with my Fire Breath, Fire Bolt's, Ice Tail Blade, and my Thunder Claws. The Luminoth were fighting tooth and nail holding their own against these creatures. Eventually we fought them back and they began to run but I knew that the fight wasn't over and the Luminoth that I was to protect also knew much the same thing.

We had taken injuries during the battle and I knew that as long as the Luminoth had those Combat Chips on them they would be able to absorb the Energy Capsules that would appear. I blasted open a Luminoth Supply Cache and out of it came a restore 50 capsule along with some red and green gems. The gems absorbed into my body and the restore 50 capsule was split between the Luminoth who had gotten injured. Currently this was no longer looking like a pilgrimage and more like a battle for survival.

We made our way north towards the Temple. We were ambushed by Ing and this time they seemed to want revenge. Unfortunate for them some how time seemed to stop around me. I paid it no mind and mercilessly executed the Ing that threatened to annihilate us. After killing the last one time resumed to normal speed and the Luminoth looked at the scene of death that were the Ing. The question was there but they did not voice it. Instead we continued north into the Agon Temple, but the place we were going was further in. We made it into the temple when we were attacked by something bigger than a normal Ing. I was the one targeted the Luminoth were barred off from what was going to be a major boss fight.

This thing was bigger than the normal Ing and I was not going to let it beat me. It rushed at me in an attempt to possess me most likely but some how I was immune. The Ing reformed and growled at me. I shot it in the face with a Fire Bolt. It must not have liked that one bit seeing as it roared and charged at me. I jumped to the left but was hit with one of it's legs and sent sprawling to the ground. I was laying there and looked at my health.

"Thing hit's hard." I groaned slightly as I attempted to get back to my feet. I fell back to the ground. As I lay on the ground I saw out of the corner of my eye the luminoth started to work on the weapons they had been given. One of them raised their hand into the air and something flew from their hand and landed in front of me. The giant Ing hissed at the thing as it gave off a bright light.

I got to my feet and approached the object. I felt a mixture of three things. One, a calming light. Two, a dreaded darkness. Three, was the feeling of total destruction. I walked forward and picked up the object. It fused into my body and became something else. Light and Dark charge attacks and the Annihilator Aura. I shook my head and focused on the light that flowed around the planet and was engulfed in the blinding light. I charged the giant Ing and saw it's health drop from near full down to three fourths. Suddenly this battle had turned in my favor.

In no time I had gone through all my Mana but the giant Ing was down to less that one fourth of it's health. I was out of mana thus my fire breath, Ice Tail blade, Thunder Claws, Light, Dark charge, could not work. The Annihilator aura was useless so I switched over to the Power Aura and rushed my foe and began ripping it a new one. I jumped into the air and swing my tail around and slammed it into the ground right on top of the giant Ing. the creature fell to the ground twitching screeching and screaming in pain before finally dying and turning into a black ooze that burned away in the light.

After the fight the creature released from it's body several red gems, several green gems, purple gems, and blue gems. I picked them all up and was fully restored. I was at full potential and I had enough Spirit gems to augment one of my abilities. I was not sure which one to work on first but I focused heavily on them. After a bit I sensed that the one that would take the least to augment was going to be three things. My Thunder Claws, my Dark Charge, and Light Charge. At that notice I began focusing the Spirit flow into the Light Charge and it was augmented to level 2. Light Rush and it unlocked a secondary effect Sun Burst. From what I could sense of it it'd vaporize anything dark aligned but it used more mana.

I then used the rest on my Thunder Claws before continuing into the Temple with my retinue of Luminoth. Upon reaching the Energy Controller time shifted once more back to normal, well normal before the Phazon war. At that instant I removed the Combat Chips from the side of their heads. They staggered slightly afterwards but part of their mind's remembered the combat we had been in but to them it seemed like it all happened to someone else.

I, on the other hand, was relieved to have gotten these guys to the first temple semi safely. Of course I was asked what had transpired to have taken us so long to get to the Temple. I told the Luminoth sentinel of the Agon Temple what had happened. From the first time shift all the way to the recent one. I told them about what is to happen later in the future and thankfully the twelve Luminoth that were with me vouched for me on the tale.

"This is troubling but stilll it is good to see that you all made here in relative safety. But trusting you with their safety might have been a bad idea." The luminoth sentinel said.

I looked at him and said bluntly, "If it were not for me then you guys would not have heard about what is to happen in the future. From the way it seems it may happen rather soon. As far as I am concerned I am holding off the inevitable destruction because for some reason time flows differently around me and possibly due to the Light Energy of this planet the time of this planet has slowed drastically. Meaning that the universe is moving slowed down while time flows normally for us. That Leviathan is most likely a week maybe a month away as we speak. Now as far as their safety goes... I am certain that more troubles will arise as they continue their journey so as far as I am concerned... They need me to keep them safe and I intend to do just that. U-Mos trusted me with their safety and I intend to make sure that they are."

After I had said all of that I began to wonder if I should have said it at all but then the twelve Luminoth look both awed and appalled. I didn't care I made my way to the transfer chamber to leave. Before I left the chamber I was stopped by the sentinel of Agon Temple.

"I don't know why U-Mos trusts you but the Light of Aether has told me that you require more power in order to defeat an enemy in your own time. The Chozo of Zebes and Tallon IV informed us of one such as you and we have been working on creating an extra piece to the Dragon Power Suit. Sadly as we were working on it someone broke it into four pieces. I have one fragment and I will give it to you. You did well in getting them here in rather safe condition. Please you may need this for whatever may transpire. I'll inform the other temples and we will most likely convene with U-Mos on this situation. As such you should be on your way back to the Temple Grounds and head for Torvus." The Luminoth said.

He then handed me an object that looked like a chunk of metal but from the looks of it I knew that it was part of the Dragon Power Suit that I wore two pieces of right now. I accepted the fragment and he placed it on my back, for some reason I could swear that it fused with my body in such a way that nothing would be able to remove it. It felt as if Light energy had fused it to my back. After it had fused with my body some how I instantly got the sensation that I would be able to move a bit faster.

"There are two other pieces to it. Torvus, and Sanctuary. You had best be on your way with these twelve Luminoth. For some reason I get the feeling that they will swear a form of loyalty to you but I am not certain what they will do. Continue to protect them on their journey to the other temples and back to the main temple if they do swear loyalty to you then know this. Luminoth do not swear loyalty to just anybody." The luminoth bowed slightly and said, "May the Light of Aether guide your path."

I nodded to the Luminoth sentinel and the twelve that I was to protect began following me once again.

"I will do one thing for you... I'll take you back to the Elevator that brought you here." The sentinel said.

*Torvus*

Moment later we were at the elevator and were on our way to Torvus. Hours must have passed before we reached the entrance and when we did. I shifted slightly and felt the two pieces of the back plate of the Dragon Power Suit shift with my body. At this moment I felt that I could move faster and possibly attack faster but the latter would have to be tested later. We got on the elevator and went down into Torvus Forest.

It was as we were on the elevator that time shifted once more. We were in the horrid future where Toruvs Forest was now Torvus Bog. I looked at the Map and noticed that I would have to download the map data at the Map Station. I handed the Combat Chips back to the Luminoth and told them how they worked and they understood easily. They put the Combat Chips on and drew forth the weapons they had been given. All of them gave off a brilliant light that anything of dark intent would be killed by it. I nodded and we made our way from the elevator out into the dangers of Torvus bog.

It took us a couple of hours but we had managed to get to Great Bridge. It wasn't easy nor was it hard, the minor problem was the water the slightly bigger problem were the creatures that would show up. We were standing in the center of the Great Bridge and looking at where we needed to go but there was no way of turning the bridge... at least not without going into Dark Aether and manually turning it with the Bomb Slot that was there. I decided to heck with it and took flight.

I took a deep breath and released it into the air I began wondering what could be done about this when I got an idea. I walked over to where the control mechanism was, or would have been, and slammed my claws, charged with electricity, into the wiring. Their were sparks but then the bridge started to turn. A few minutes later and it was facing the door that we needed to go through. It was then that Dark Pirates showed up to cause some trouble.

I took flight and was indeed able to move faster. I was fast enough that I caught one of the troopers and disabled his teleportation and invisibility device. He was not happy about it so I jumped away from him and before he could strike I hit him with a Light Charge. He was sent staggering backwards and was vaporized by a volley of Light Beam from the Luminoth on the bridge. I looked around and, before I could take flight, the second one showed up behind me and caught me in the side with it's wrist blade. Now I knew how Samus felt when she got stabbed by one of those. It hurt like Charged Beam and I did not like the feeling of it. I knocked the Dark Pirate upside the head with my Ice covered Tail Blade just seconds before the Luminoth rained down Shining death upon the Dark Pirate.

I fell to the ground and the red gems that just seemed to appear after each enemy I killed were absorbed into my body. I was still weak and I could feel my own blood pouring from my body still. I got to my feet, staggered over to a Luminoth Supply Cache and smashed it open absorbing the red gems and green gems that burst forth from it. I was curious as to why the gems would show up on planets where Red and Green gems did not exist but then I figured that there was some kind innate power in me that every enemy I attacked and anything I busted open would spawn red, green, purple, and blue gems no matter where I was at.

The gems that had spawned flowed into my body causing the deep wound to knit itself back together. I leaped into the air and flew towards the door that the Luminoth were now standing in front of. I charged into it with dark energy covering me and opened the door. We entered the corridor and made our way into the next room. This room had crates on the ground and an elevator that went to the top of a ledge. We all got onto the elevator without anything getting in the way.

We got to the top and entered the Energy Controller transfer chamber. I activated it and time shifted around us once more back to a point in the past before all the destruction happened. We left the chamber and entered into the Energy controller chamber and were met by a Luminoth Sentinel.

"I have been waiting for you. I have been told of all that transpires around you Ridley... I must say that our future seems dark but what is there that you do not tell us?" the luminoth asked me.

"A warrior in orange armor will appear during the time of your true darkest hour and will fight back the Ing AND defeat their leader. This warrior will come from the stars on a mission to learn what had happened to a team of Federation soldiers that had vanished. At that time point all will be thought hopeless and the surviving Luminoth will be in stasis save for U-Mos. I have brought all twelve Luminoth sojourners here safely." I lowered my head and raised it back up but held it higher than before.

"So I see... You have done well in protecting them from the dangers that seem to arise from the Time Shifts that surround you. I have this for you as reward for seeing them safely here. The last one to get will not be an easy one to obtain. Mainly because the Luminoth Sentinel of the Sanctuary Temple will want to put you through a series of tests before handing it over to you. Either way with this you are able to use a new ability known as Synchro...

It will allow you to synch your power with that of other allies nearby thus granting you stronger abilities... For example if you were to use it out in the Time Shift and you synchronized your power with that of the twelve Luminoth that follow you right now... Your Fire Breath would become Lava. Your Thunder Claws would become Plasma Talons, your Ice Tail Blade would evolve into a whirlwind on ice, and the Light and Dark charge that you have would become something more... Light Charge instead of it being a simple charge it would send out a massive beam of Light. Same for the Dark Charge. The truth is the extent of the Synchro function depends on the number of allies that you synch with.

As you can tell with Twelve allies the power is great but with more than a hundred allies to synch with... Imagine the power of your attacks. Able to call lightening from the skies, bring down a glacier from the polar caps, and so much more... I've spoken too long you must be on your way to the Sanctuary temple to get the final piece." The luminoth said before continuing in a tone that sounded too much like Ignitus, "Now hurry young dragon."

I stood silent for a moment then said, "May the Light of Aether shine upon your future." to which I got the response, "May the Light of Aether give you strength." I left the chamber with the twelve Luminoth following me.

We were teleported back to the entrance of Torvus and then we made our way out of Torvus to the Temple Grounds where we would make our way to the Sanctuary elevator...

*Sanctuary*

SEVERAL HOURS LATER we arrived at the elevator but I was dead tired and so were the Luminoth who were with me. I laid down on the ground and they did much the same. I was out before I even realized it but even then the sleep I got was quite peaceful and well over deserved. I had stayed awake, as had the Luminoth, for well over a day and a half to accomplish what all we had managed. I slept well and when I woke I saw the display on the helmet reading that my health and mana was fully restored and I also saw that I had enough Spirit Gems to augment two of my skills. I augmented my Thunder Claws to being Lightening's Paw and I noticed the augment was to be able to bring lightening down from the sky. For some reason at reading that I was reminded of an old song from way back int the past of the human history I could not remember the name of the song but something about command and Lightening's hand or something like that. I then augmented my Dark Charge and unlocked the Dark Burst, which would be useful. After that I still had some Spirit energy left that I put onto my Fire Breath.

After it was all said and done the Luminoth were waking up and were ready to go, of course after we ate something first seeing as we had not eaten for some odd time. After we ate we entered Sanctuary. When the elevator stopped there was no time shift at all. We were left in the normal time fram but that did not keep the twelve Luminoth from being ready just in case the Time Shift happened.

As we looked around the Sanctuary complex I noticed that all the doors were opened so I took a look at a near by "you are here." map and found where the Map Station was located. I went and got the map data so that I would not have to use those 'you are here' maps at every ten minutes. We made our way towards the Temple area of the place but we wound up being deterred by something. That something was the Time Shift and we were about at the Main Gyro Chamber when it happened. After it happened we made our way to the Temple area where, upon me jumping down, I was pitted against a giant mechanoid. I looked at it and decided I'd try the Scan Visor for a change.

*"New (Creature) entered into log books. Data is viewable in Log book... Quadraxis 2.0. This version of Quadraxis is stronger and much tougher to fight. After the first Quadraxis was taken and destroyed on Dark Aether a year ago by fearless bounty hunter Samus Aran the blue prints were found and altered. Quadraxis 2.0 resists the possible chance of being corrupted by darkness. It also has a shield barrier that protects it from harm if it is in battle. Weaknesses found. Stage one SHIELD generator located on it's under side."*

After reading the data I rushed into the battle and leaped up and slashed the generator with my claws that were charged with lightening. After I slashed it a bolt of lightening shot down from the sky and completely disrupted it's circuitry causing it to go through a full system reboot. At this I took advantage and began tearing up the Shield Generator and broke it. That might have been a bad idea because after it started back up the gravity of the arena seemed to become greater yet it was unaffected by it.

I was practically plastered to the ground and I just knew that any attack of mine would be met with shear gravitational resistance. I made all attempts to evade the next attack but I was too slowed by the gravity that it hit me anyways. I was now being hit by the attacks of this Quadraxis 2.0 and there was nothing I could do... well there was one thing so I decided to try it out.

"Synchronize... ..." I said and suddenly the gravity that surrounded me no longer seemed to exist.

I got to my feet and felt electricity arc over my body. I rushed at the Grav flux generator that was just beneath where the Shield Generator was. I leaped up and slashed it into inoperable status. Now what I had to do was take out the legs and then the head. I managed to destroy the primary body leaving the head to fly around the place shooting at me. I moved too fast for it to target me so I was able to land on it's head. I slammed my claws through the metal plating and tore it open before a bolt of lightening struck down right into the open hole.

Needless to say Quadraxis 2.0 dropped to the ground and was offline permanently and just in time too because apparently there is a time limit on the Synchro ability. I got to my feet and looked around at the destruction and then the Time shift activated again and we were back in the before Phazon Sanctuary Temple. We made our way to the Energy Controller and entered the chamber.

"WELCOME... I see that you all have made it here in one piece... I also see that it is useless for me to put you all through a series of trials seeing as you have data on a machine from the future. Quadraxis 2.0 was quite formidable I must say so as reward for both getting these luminoth here in one piece and for surviving against a strong foe I give you the final piece of the armor piece that we held here waiting for you. Take it Ridley and be on your way." the Luminoth sentinel said.

I stepped forward and the final piece clicked into place on my back and I felt the flow of time around me. I felt that I could control the time flux that surrounded me which I was soon to note would be exceedingly useful. I looked at the Sentinel and bade him farewell just seconds before I was teleported to the Main Temple, the twelve Luminoth with me as well. Upon arriving we were greeted by U-Mos.

"Welcome back. I see that the journey was oddly rough and treacherous. Young Ridley... You are to head to Elysea where the Chozo there will help you out in regards of getting back to your own time. As it is now there is a choice to be made here... These twelve have been with you through out the journey and some have found great favor towards you while others are slightly afraid. Now is the time for them to make their choice. Go with you on your journey or remain here and await the future that is to come." U-Mos said.

We stood there silently for an hour or so before anyone said anything. and then it was two luminoth who wished to go with me. one was male named L-Kln the other was female named S-Tel. I looked at the two of them and noticed that they liked each other and would never go anywhere without the other. I nodded my head and U-Mos bowed his.

"You two realize that when we leave you may not see your home for some time?" I said

They responded in turn, "We understand but the future we saw would be devastating for us to endure and as such we wish to go with you. You are infused with the Light of Aether and as such we will go with you Leader." L-Kln said.

I closed my eyes and shook my head. "Very well we have a long space travel ahead of us. We are heading to Elysea where the Chozo there will be waiting for my arrival. Most likely by that time the abilities I have gained here will have become melded with something else. Now I suggest that you two go pack up whatever it is you need to so that we can be on our way." I said all this in a calm manner and started to leave the temple when U-Mos stopped me.

"The control of Time is a powerful ability and must be used sparingly."U-Mos said before letting me go.

I returned to my ship, got on and waited for the two Luminoth who'd be going with me to arrive. An hour later instead of just the two showing up it was six Luminoth that showed up. They boarded my ship and acknowledged me as their leader. I sighed a heavy sigh and sat on my haunches right where a command chair would normally be. At this I was able to control my ship but at the moment it was set on an auto pilot system. I didn't have to do anything but now that i could control time I could speed the flight up drastically.

I did so and we were at Elysea in no time.

Part 5

Elysean Envoy

When we arrived several bots showed up and began going over my ship to ensure that it was in top shape. The six Luminoth and I disembarked from my ship and made our way from the landing site to an entrance hall of sorts. When we got there we were greeted by a group of Chozo.

"Welcome Ridley. I suspect that these Luminoth are the ones who decided to follow you after learning what the future holds for their people. It is not a problem for we have designed Power Suits specifically for their kind of weaponry. As for you Ridley... We have been working on a way of opening a time rift back to your time since being told about you by the elder of Zebes. First we must test you, however I think we should start by giving you the chest plate of the D.P.S." The deep gray feathered Chozo standing before me said.

I looked at the container they brought with them and noticed the chest plate inside of it. I stepped towards it and one of the luminoth following me stepped forwards, picked it up, and placed it on my chest. The chest plate fused to my body just like the back plate did except this time I didn't feel anything except for the tingle of my scales seeming to become harder.

After the sensation faded I looked at the Luminoth who bowed afterwards and took... his place amongst the other Luminoth. It was L-Kln who did it so i was not too worried but still all six luminoth were standing as if they were expecting a Time Shift to happen at any moment. In all honesty I was expecting it as well but I knew otherwise because of the back plate giving me control over the ability.

"Now that that is done. Ridley we need you to take a message to the nearby Federation Planet, Norion. The planet is uninhabited at current point but according to your future it becomes occupied by the Galactic Federation and rather soon too. We ask you to take this message with you there. What it holds is information on the SOURCE as well as coordinates to this planet and others. We are entrusting this message to you in hopes that we can some how make a difference for the future. For your Luminoth companions we offer these Power Suits altered to the Luminoth physiology." The elder chozo said.

I was handed a communication device and the Luminoth that were with me were handed objects that looked like wrist bands with a dual insignia on them. The first was the mark of the Luminoth, which looked like a fusion of Light and Dark. The second was the mark of the Chozo which was ... I had no way of describing it. In any case a bright light surrounded them and they were wearing their Power Suits only it was more like a simple suit of armor that was missing a few components. They didn't seem phased by the issue instead they seemed more ready for battle.

After everything was said and done we turned around and were about to head for my ship. We got on my ship and we were on our way. We flew through space when suddenly we came under attack. I looked at the view screen and saw that it was a group of Space Pirate fighters trailing us.

"Great... Brace for impact and ready yourselves for combat. Space Pirates are right on our six." I said and the Luminoth were already geared up and ready for a fight. As for me I turned my ship around and readied the guns on it. For some reason it felt as if the ship were a living entity because it began moving of it's own accord and returning fire to the Space Pirate Fighters. One by one they went down and my ship was the only thing out there... that is until the frigate showed up.

"Craptastic." I groused as I saw it. It was the Oltura and it was by far the best Frigate in the Space Pirate organization. That is until it mysteriously vanished. "Actually I always wondered what happened to it."

My ship seemed to rush through the vacuum of space as if it were a living creature and it landed on the Frigate at the landing bay. Upon disembarking from the ship, the Luminoth ready for battle, I noticed that indeed my ship was more like a living creature now. The way it looked it looked to be a giant metal dragon like the Guardians on Spyro's planet. It moved it's head and looked at me and I saw that it WAS alive. No machine could give off that kind of look no matter how much programing was done.

The look was like that of a mother wishing to protect her young no matter what. At that I saw the Metal Dragon shrink down in size till it was the size of one of the Guardians. I was amazed at this so I decided that this would end up becoming VERY interesting.

Turning towards the first obstacle I saw that it was going to be a group of normal low ranking Space Pirates that were usually assigned the crap jobs that no other pirate would ever take. The Space Pirates were marveling at the ship that was alive, this gave a good distraction for me and my group of fighters. I released a Sun Burst into the midst of them, the Luminoth started firing their Light Beams and the Metal Dragon opened its mouth as if to breath fire but a missile shot from it's mouth in front of a stream of inferno hot flames. The missile exploded and sent Space Pirate corpses flying in all directions.

As we got past this first group we made our way into the frigate and fought our way past several Space Pirates. Most were normal some were higher ranked but all in all they were no match for us. We made our way through the frigate towards the Main Reactor. We got there with very little trouble but most of all we slaughtered several hundred space pirates on the way. I had augmented my fire breath and it was now marked as Inferno, I had also augmented my Ice Tail blade.

We were looking over the railing into the main reactor core of the frigate. "I guess this is almost how Samus feels when ever she goes after Space Pirates. Well... Let's blow this thing into oblivion." I said.

I powered up a Dark Burst while the Luminoth charged up their Light Beams. The Metal Dragon readied a Flare Bomb. We released the power into the core and it began to exploded then become sucked into a black hole. Needless to say we started running back towards the landing bay... that is until we were stopped by a fallen wall of debris. We began looking around us for a way out but there was not one save for back the way we had come. The Metal Dragon... or should I say Dragoness... returned to normal size and began tearing apart the corridor but the boarding ramp was down so we all got inside and the ramp closed up.

At that moment we heard and saw the walls being blasted away by several missiles all the way to the outer hull. After that we were free to leave while the frigate got devoured by a hungry black hole.

"Now I know what happened to it and why there were never any reports from it." I said quietly to myself as I looked at the vanishing frigate.

After it was gone we made our way to Norion to deliver the Chozo message. We did so and as we were told there was nothing there so we went about setting up a basic landing station here and left the message inside. After we did that we left the planet but left a long range scanner behind. Sure enough a few federation ships showed up and a landing party was sent out. One found the data file but hid it carefully to ensure that no one would see it.

We made our way back to Elysea in rather suppressive silence. Upon arriving at Elysea we were greeted by the Chozo and I was told that they had finished the Time Rift Portal. Most of all the Chozo were surprised by what had happened to my ship. They were not expecting it to be a living dragon but it was alive. She began moving about and shrunk down to the size of a guardian dragon. We then began heading through the place to a central chamber that I knew was going to end up being destroyed shortly after the Portal was used.

We entered the chamber and the Chozo began powering up the portal. A few minutes later and the Time Rift Portal was active and open ready to send us through time. I looked at everyone and saw that they were willing to follow me any where, even to the edge of the abyss itself. I nodded my head.

"We've all been through a lot. I thank all of you for being by my side through it all. Now we are going to be jumping forward through time to a world at war I pray that we survive to live or fight another day. Hopefully we won't have to fight again for a long time. I give my thanks to the Chozo for all that you've done to help me. I also give my thanks to the Luminoth of Aether..." I stepped towards the portal and the six Luminoth and the Metal Dragoness followed me. "I would say ore but this already sounds cheesy and generic so we'll be going now."

We all stepped through the portal and were rushed forward through time to the time period I had vanished from.

Part 6

Back to the Present

*Bad pun/reference*

We were flung out of the Time Rift Portal and into a dark chamber that was illuminated by a faint blue light that radiated from the cylindrical tank that was filled with a smoky liquid. I got to my feet but the others were knocked out save for the Metal Dragoness who got to her feet and walked up beside me. I looked at the chamber and realized where we were.

"The Aurora Chamber." I said aloud.

"Welcome back Ridley. It seems that it's been only a few days since you vanished. And since you have been through the past and obtained the D.P.S. there is still one piece of it left for you to obtain. Before you ask the item left to get is the Power Cell that activates the whole Suit. Now take the Power Cell and activate the full power of the Dragon Power Suit." AU 484 said.

I looked around and saw a pedestal rise up from the floor. On it was a single glowing disc like sphere. I reached out to grab it but it floated up and slammed into the chest plate of my armor. I was then encased in a blinding light.

A few minutes passed and the light vanished but we were no longer in the Aurora Chamber. Instead we were in a large chamber in a structure that was unfamiliar to me except for the fact that it was still in Warfang. I was wondering what had happened when suddenly I noticed that the helmet was working at full capacity now.

It registered three energy tanks along with a status on Samus, who was at near critical health. Instantly it shifted through to Link, who was doing rather well but close to critical health as well. It then switched again to Spyro then to Cynder and they were both alright except that their mana was VERY low. As I looked at all the full function aspect of the Suit I noticed my reflection in a nearby mirror. I looked at it and saw that the back plate seemed to have spread to cover my wings in a metal plating that looked more like a blade edge with a single spike on it. The chest plate and back plate also seemed to have spread up my neck but it was not uncomfortable to move my head around. I took notice of my tail blade which now was also covered by the D.P.S. metal and was emitting an icy white glow from the edges of it. I took this to mean that the Ice Blade was enhanced. I then saw that the bracers had extended slightly over the top of my paws and that there was a power magnifier on them as well.

I then went into the Suit's systems and saw what the whole armor did.

Bracers: Increased melee damage plus Power Aura.

Helmet: Scan visor function, Enhanced Breath weapon power, and able to see in pure darkness.

Back Plate: Increased attack speed, Increased movement speed, Synch function, and control of Time Shift.

Chest Plate: Increased defense.

Power Cell: Increased health

Full Armor: Relic. twelve relics of the Chozo spread amongst allies to magnify all power.

1 Truth: See the truth beyond sight, (Luminoth)
2 Chozo: Synch with Power Suit's crafted by Chozo, (Ridley)
3 Lifegiver: Transfer self health or mana to friends, (Luminoth)
4 Wild: When in trouble enter a berserk state, (Cynder)
5 World: Traverse worlds quickly, (Luminoth)
6 Nature: Draw energy from the surrounding nature, (Luminoth)
7 Strength: Draw strength from terrain, (Link)
8 Elder: Wisdom of ages past, (Luminoth)
9 Sun: Draw mana from the sun, (Luminoth)
10 Spirit: Draw upon inner power when situations demand, (Metal Dragoness)
11 Warrior: Strength, health, and mana increased, (Samus)
12 Newborn: New life restored to inflicted lands. (Spyro)

As I looked at all of it I was surprised that all this power was bestowed upon me... That is until I realized that it was split. The six luminoth each had one relic, Samus had one, Link had one, Spyro had one, Cynder had one, and the Metal Dragoness all had one... I also had one.

As I looked at it all I noticed that each of the Luminoth as well as the Metal Dragoness were synched with me as were Samus, Link, Spyro, and Cynder. I realized that I now had more problems to deal with. Now I had to deal with the safety of others as well as my own. I shook my head feeling exceedingly tired. I walked over to a pile of cushions and laid down. I was asleep before I even realized it.

Sorry for the long time of no updates but uh... LONGEST CHAPTER EVER! *16,000+ words... (for me) Hope you guys enjoyed it because I went to such an extent to bring this chapter to you guys. Ridley going from the Dragon realms *His time period* to Zebes (past) then Tallon IV (b4 Phazon), next Aether (Before Ing + After Meteor crash), later Elysea (before destruction), FINALLY back to original time period at the Dragon realms within the Aurora Chamber. On top of all that he got his own Power Suit ... well Dragon Power Suit but still D.P.S. ... Bracers (Zebes), Helmet (Tallon IV), Back Plate (Aether), chest plate Elysea, and Power Cell (Aurora chamber Dragon Realms)... so I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter... ... I doubt that another long one like this will come about in the future. if it happens then there must have been a reason for it... just count on it...