Dragons Hope

Chapter 8

Choosing Sides

Wake young one. You have much to explore. Sssee your surroundingss and feel Time flow freely around you, through you. The hissing voice called, beconing me to open my eyes and look.

"I refuse to listen to the whispers of any. They have destroyed me. Malygos, Keristrasza and Sapphrigos all know of my pregnancy. I have no reason to ever open my eyes again." I whispered into the darkness of my eyelids.

You have all the Flights to open your eyes for. You must sstand and fight for what you believe in Queen of the Darkflight. The voice grew closer.

"I am not his Queen." I finally stood and glared around. I took in a sharp intake of breath upon seeing my surroundings.

The ground was no longer the rough stones of the Nexus, instead smooth warm sand was everywhere. The cold walls of the Nexus were transformed into cave walls that had purple lights dancing though a few holes that lead to a rocky wideopen space. I could smell that other Dragons were around, yet all I saw was darkness barely lit by the purple lights.

"Where am I?" I continued to look upon the beauty that surrounded me.

You are in the realm of the Bronze and Infinite Dragonflights. My Domain. The Cavernsss of Time. The Origin of Time. I turned to see a large Bronze Dragon walking towards me, he was easily larger then Maylgos. He had patches of black on his scales, lightning like streaks went over the patches.

"Nozdormu? The Timeless Keeper?" I stared blankly at the large male.

Welcome to the Bronzeflights home. I would sshow you my whole domain, but Time is against usss. He looked around, some of the purple lights flew along his body. Do you know what you are? Who you are? What you are to become?

The questions took me by surprise. I took a step back, then took a deep breath. " I am a Black Dragon with the power of the Dragon Soul within my own soul. I am Neria of the Blackflight. Yet, I do not know what I am to become Timeless one. I cannot for see the future like your flight can." I looked at him, he was starring at the purple lights dancing around him.

You can see the future, with the power of the Bronze. You can see the passst, and how many events will play out. You just lack the right mentor. He grasped one of the lights in his mouth gently. Yet again to my surprise, it was not a cloud of mist or light, but a solid... thing. Do you know what thisss is? Nozdormu walked towards me with the object in his mouth, oddly enough his voice projected through it, unaltered.

"I told you, I know nothing of your Flight or how these creatures move or what they are." I let my temper flare. I almost wished I was away from the Bronze Aspect.

This is your future. I want you to view this memory He opened his jaws and the purple light began to dance around my own head. Then, without my permission, it dashed at my skull and seemed to enter it. I felt dizzy as images danced through my head. Suddenly the images stopped and my surroundings changed yet again.

I was in a warm area, warmer then the Caverns of Time. Massive trees created a canopy above my head. A large waterfall stood before me, it cascaded down into a large lake, surrounded by steep cliffs. Down by the center swam a dragon. He was shouting things to an unseen.

We are not vissable to the Time Livers eyes. You may venture closer. You are only ssseen when I allow. I didn't look back to see Nozdormu. I was too intent on the Dragon before me. Quickly I ran towards the cliff and jumped down, opening my wings enough to glide gracefully on the surface of the water. I landed on the bank and stared wordlessly at the dragon before me.

I saw a somewhat larger version of myself laying on the bank sunning. I had odd jewels on my horns. They were shaped differently. One a red heart. The second a green leaf. The third was a bronze sphere. The fourth was hard to make out, but it looked like a blue snowflake. The last on hung directly on in the center of my skull, just above my eyes. It was a black flame. There was also a pure white scale hanging from my neck, like an amulet.

"What are they?" I knew Nozdormu had followed slowly behind me.

Essencessss. The single word came out.

"What do they hold?" I looked back at me.

You must find out in your time. You will receive one today. I will explain all then. For now, look upon this area.

"Where are we?" I began to gaze out on the lake, at the Blue male.

Ssssholazar Basin. The Rivers Heart. His head swung his head towards the lakes center. You will be seen sssoon. The future you remembersss this time. I looked back to see a smile on the Bronze Aspects face. I turned back to the future me.

To my surprise she stared back. My, her, eyes had changed though. Instead of cyan on cyan eyes it was bronze on cyan. She too had a grin plastered on her face.

"Welcome." She had a laugh in her voice. She sounded older and much wiser then I did.

"Uh...Thanks?" I looked at Nozdormu in surprise. "I thought you only you could allow vision into Time?" He layed down again and closed his eyes.

"I do not require Nozdurmu's premission to enter the Realm of Time, but it is always welcome." Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the sleeping male. "I assume you are giving her the Essence of Time? Or am I remembering wrong?" She walked over and flicked her tail on the Bronze Aspects nose.

I wasss going to wait. I wissh to alter Time on this day. I want you to give Neria the Essssence. I see only good fortune coming from thisss time change. He opened one eye sleepily and rested it upon me.

"But, I'm not sure how to train her. You taught me by bringing me here, but I hadn't taught myself!" She looked between me and the Aspect. "Besides, I can only maintain this Time for so long. I haven't practiced my Time abilities lately. I have been trying to learn new abilites in the Life Essence."

Teach her sssimple skills. Ssshe will learn the rest jussst as you have.

"What do I start with? Time Stop? Using the Time Spirits?"

Time spirits are required to Time stop. You have to start there. I must go. I will return when I have finished my buisness in this Time. Nozdormu stood and stretched his massive wings. He took off slowly, heading East.

"Well, I guess I have to try and teach you something..." I looked back at the future me. I had remanded silent during the previous scene, having been confused by the whole conversation. "Ummm... Focus on the time period we are in. Try and draw the Time into a solid form in front of you."

"W-what?" I twisted my head slowly and stared at her blankly. "How do I make Time a solid?"

"You kind of... just imagine it. That's how I do it, then again I do have the Essence... Argh! This is so much more difficult now that Nozdormu isn't teaching you!" She shook her head and clawed the ground. Neria's jewels and Scale amulet swung around viciously.

"Can I ask a question?" I looked at the Bronze eyes.

"Yes?"

"Why is that white scale on your neck? And what's it from?" I looked at it. It wasn't dull, it was bright and seemed recent. I looked back at the face of Neria. Her eyes showed a sorrow I didn't understand.

"It's a long story. One you will live through one day. Just... love him while you can. Please, you won't regret it." Her eyes looked at the ground, then back at me. "Now, try an make the Spirit of Time appear."

I dropped the subject, seeing it was not going to answer my question. I closed my eyes and began to imagine Time itself. I concentrated on the Caverns of Time... the bronze flight.. the purple memories...Nothing. Then I remembered what Nozdormu said. The purple clouds were the memories of all, the very fabric of Time. Time. I focused on the purple clouds. I began to imagine one in front of me and slowly opened my eyes. To my amazement, one was swirling around me head.

"Excellent!" The Future Neria's voice showed approval, with the hint of sorrow still. "Now, try and stop time with this essence. You must imagine your surroundings stopping, halting to your power. You are Time itself when you combine yourself with the Spirits of Time. Believe you can control Time, and you will. Just focus. Drown out everything, but the Spirit. You are..." Her voice faded as I closed my eyes and focused again. I saw the Spirit, then I began to imagine if I was a memory. Slowly I began to feel ethereal myself. I opened my eyes and looked at my surroundings, they had turned gray and the lake no longer laped at the sand. The wind no longer blew. It was... motionless.

"I did it!" I walked forward, but fell ungracfully on the sand. My concentration was broken and again, my surrounds grew lively. I felt drained of all my strength. My eyes began to feel heavy.

"You did it! You stopped Time! We both did it!" Neria bent down and looked into my droopy eyes, happiness sparkled in hers. "I admit, I neglected to tell you that without the Essence of Time, you are slowly being drained off all your power. You'll have to rest longer when you return to your Time."

"W-whats the Essence of Time?" My voice was slow and sounded drunken.

"I will leave that to Nozdormu. He will explain it much better then me, I can guarantee that." I heard her walk behind me. "Speaking of Aspects, you need to know this. Deathwing can only control you as long as you allow him to."

"What do you mean?"

"Look at your armor in your mortal form. What do you see?" She didn't give me time to answer. "I see darkness, death, corruption. Him." She hissed.

"How did you refuse him?" I asked, growing less dazed.

"I removed him from my mind. From my armor. From my Soul. I focused on training and becoming the best I could for my..." I heard sadness enter her voice yet again. "Y-you just have to denie him. Don't let him rule you while your weak. I have no need to refuse him now. I have become stronger then him. Deathwing will always be a threat, yet you can neutralize his threat. You will rise to become the greatest you can for your flight, and all the Flights!" She walked towards my head and began to whisper. "You will have the Blessing of the Dragon Queen. You will rise to her p-"

Enough. Ssshe knows too much already. I ssshould not have left for so long. I heard Nozdormu landing behind us.

"I am sorry Timeless one. I thought it would be better if she knew."

She mussst find out on her own time. I will teach her the resst she needs to know. Return to the Wyrmresst Temple with him. You will be needed.

"Hmm..? Very well." I could no longer feel the presence of my future self.

Neria, risse and receive my Blessssing. Nozdormus voice seemed to ignite strengh in my tired limbs. I stood slowly, letting blood flow to my legs and wings. I then turned and walked slowly towards the Bronze Aspect, the Spirit of Time slowly following me spinning around my head again.

You have made great progress on this day. You have received one of the five Dragonflights powers. You have learned to control Time as it weaves around you, and you did so without the Essence. The future Neria required the ssstrengh of the Essence before she could ssso much as stop time. I will bessstoy upon you the Essence of Time. Use it to change between the Aspect of Time and Death. Nozdormu summoned two Spirits of Time, they spun around slowly together; then they formed the sphere I had seen on my own head not long ago. It floated elegently in the air, then slowly the wrist-guard drifted to my left horn and glided onto it slowly.

Neria. I have but one request.

"Yes Nozdormu?" I looked at him, my strengh renewed. I felt a rush of power now that I had the very power of the Bronzeflight on my side.

Do not look too far into you nor Ssssapphrigos' furture. Somethings are better witnessssed in the Time they should be sssseen.

"Very well. I will hold that request in my heart." I looked around at the center of the lake. My future self now swam with the Blue male in the lake. "That's him isn't it? That's Sapphrigos."

Yes. He hasss grown just as you have. You will both make fine leadersss. Now, return to the Time of your awakening. Remember what she sssaid to you. He can only control you as long asss you let him rule your mind... His voice faded and I turned to see his scales were turning to sand slowly. I began to feel my time in this area growwing shorter.

Return to your time, Queen of the Darkflight. Nozdormus voice was the last thing I heard as I slipped into sleep yet again.