A/N: Here you go. another chap. Now I personally liked this one the most so far. It has so many influences on it. Id like to see if anyone can see them :)
So anyway enough of me ranting on. As always, I hope you like it :)
Ember sat staring at Aerilin with a little confusion.
" When you say in common you mean..."
" Cynder." Aerilin finished for her with a small smile. " And it seems i'm not the only one who's been plotting away behind the scenes, waiting for the right moment to spring." He continued. " Can I say this Ember, Iv wanted to exact my revenge for a long … long time. Since before you ever hatched to be correct."
Ember watched and gazed with wonder. She squinted her eyes and looked at him and dared to ask the question. " … What did she do to you?" She asked in a whisper. She jumped when Aerilin laughed aloud.
" There's no need to be intimidated my dear. We're all on the same team aren't we?" Aerilin waited until he got a nod from Ember before continuing. " You can probably guess what she did to me when I say … I had a family once." There was no sign of sadness or grief in his voice. Ember realised what he meant and hung her head.
" I'm sorry-"
" For what? You didn't kill them Cynder did. I should be thanking you. You're the closest dragon we have to Cynder and therefore are able to harm her the most."
" And how is that may I ask?"
" Flame." Aerilin said as an answer. Ember tilted her head to the side in confusion and asked.
" How does he fit in-"
" Oh Ember i'm sure you can fit the puzzle together. Its not that big after all. But i'll do it to save you the trouble. You know Flame likes you correct?"
" yea but how of all dragons did you know about that. I haven't met you until now?"
" More questions hmm. Well I suppose you need an answer for that but i'll tell you on the way." Said Aerilin rising from his seat.
" On the way where?" Ember asked suspiciously.
" Why to the my coliseum – although its nowhere near as big as an average sized one – but I still like to call it that."
" What, Why are we going-"
" another question. I have some dragons at my disposal who are part of the rebellion. Well not really a rebellion but part of the … union of dragons who want Cynder to pay."
" There's more out there!" Ember gasped.
" Far more than you can imagine. We're going to this coliseum to convince a whole lot more as well. Come" Said Aerilin while beckoning Ember to follow him. They both walked out the back door of the house and through the back streets of the village. Aerilin looked around the back street and only saw a red fire dragon flying away. He smiled and continued talking.
" Now. As I was saying before. I have at least ten dragons who follow me and believe what you and I believe about Cynder. They're all for taking her down. The reason I know about you is because I have had my dragons watching every move Cynder makes. That includes her friends and … rivals." Aerilin said while looking forward. They were walking down the main street of the village and there weren't many dragons around. Ember nodded to herself before asking.
" So that explains how you know about me."
" Yes. As for wanting Flame of all dragons. Picture this, A group of six dragons consisting of Flame, Spyro, Cynder, Earn, Winfil and Ornis. Now picture them laughing as they normally would with Flame at the heart of almost every joke. Now take Flame out of the picture and … you have your bait. The group would be hurt the most by taking away there source of happiness and humour in the group and therefore split them a little making it easier for us to catch Cynder. It would make the biggest impact so to speak. And where one dragon from the group goes, the others will most likely follow." Aerilin said. Ember nodded thinking it all through while they walked. They were now going through a small market. Ember let herself look over everything and she smiled watching the smaller dragon helping out. She stopped momentarily to look at something but when she turned to catch up to Aerilin she suddenly walked straight into someone.
" Sorry!" She said desperately.
" No need madam." The dragon said. He was red and had a golden underbelly but Ember couldn't see the face from a hat the stranger had on. The only things she could see where a pair of hornrings and a larger bulge on the front of his snout.
" Sorry again. I'll be on my way." Ember said before catching up to Aerilin who was waiting for her.
" What was that then?" He asked cheerily.
" Just bumped into him and I was saying sorry." Ember said dismissively. Aerilin nodded. They walked and turned for a little longer before they came to a building that was circular in shape much like a coliseum and over three stories tall. There was two green dragons at the front door guarding it and the immediately frowned at Ember and Aerilin. Aerilin however raised an arm and smiled.
" Be still my friend. It is I, Aerilin and Ember." Ember watched as the gaurds glanced at each other before dropping their down into a sitting position again.
" Begin your pardon Aerilin. We didn't know what you looked like-"
" Think nothing of it. Just don't let anyone else through until we're finished."
" Very well." Aerilin then walked through the door and Ember followed. It was surprisingly warm warm inside and there were candles everywhere. They walked further until they came to a very tall tunnel which, from what Ember could see, travelled out into the coliseums grounds. Aerilin turned to Ember and smiled.
" This is were we separate for the time being. You need to go up those stairs to your seat."
" Wait wow wow. You never said anything about separating. I thought you said-."
" I never said you would be going alone now did I? No Thaw here will be with you." Said Aerilin before he snapped his talons and indeed, Thaw came to his side and hung his head obediently. " Thaw. Would you be a sport and take Ember to the viewing box?"
" Yes. I would love to sir." Thaw said looking up slowly. Aerilin chuckled.
" There now, isn't that a little better?"
" Whatever. I'm still not convinced." Ember said a little heatedly which only gained another laugh from Aerilin.
" You will be once this is over." The ice dragon said with a smile.
" Come on Ember lets go." Thaw said. Ember turned slowly and stalked after the smaller dragon up the stairs until they came to a small seating area. Ember couldn't help but let her mouth drop. From the outside the coliseum looked nothing more than a few stories tall but what she didn't realise is that it digs under ground within the building. She was now staring from the seventh level up in a podium seating area down to the stage in the middle of the coliseum. Dragons of all different shapes, sizes and colours numbering in the hundreds were looking at the stage from every direction. She couldn't make out anything the dragons were saying but one stood out to her. A group of three fire dragons stood on the opposite side of the building looking down. But one of them wasn't looking down, but in fact looking at her. Directly at her. Not moving or speaking, in fact when Ember looked closer she could see that the fire dragon wasn't part of the other group and stood there on his own. She shivered and turned to Thaw. She was about to ask something but the crowd stopped her when they broke into cheer. She looked back at the stage and saw Aerilin walking out with a proud grin on his face.
Aerilin walked into the middle of the stage and looked at the dragons all around him. He stayed quite for a moment until the dragons calmed down and chuckled. He cleared his throat before looking up and smiling.
Slowly the crowd erupted into roars of applause and the corners of Aerilin's mouth tugged in a smile. He turned and pulled himself into the air and landed directly in front of both Ember and Thaw on the podium seats. Aerilin walked past Ember and whispered.
" Welcome, to your new army." Ember shivered at his words and gazed at the dragons chanting the name Prometheus.
The six dragons flew, as Spyro had said. Without stopping. Without resting. When they were hungry or thirsty they would fly low and take a gulp of water from a stream or snatch up a quick snack from the ground and carry on. Even so they were still feeling the effects and were clambering dangerously close to falling from the sky out of pure exhaustion. Spyro stared at the horizon desperately wanting to see the gates of the cheetah village. His wings screamed at him every time he pushed the air down to keep him aloft but he shrugged it off. Even with his higher pain threshold and higher strength than the others, even the purple dragon was being pushed. And if he was being pushed then the others would be within throwing distance of deaths door.
" Spy … Spyro I have to … I have to stop." Flame wheezed.
" No. We have to power on … we have to-"
" Spyro I can't … I can't go on." Flame managed before his wings failed him and he began to fall with a small whipping noise coming from his wings as they caught the air.
" FLAME!" Spyro shrieked before spinning round and pulling his wings to his side. The others turned and were hot on his tail. Spyro shot through the air as fast as he could, letting gravity do most of the work but it wasn't enough. Flame was getting closer and closer to the ground. Spyro cursed himself before accessing his dark powers and before long. His body was covered in his dark energy. Spyro then opened concentrated on Flame and suddenly became a blur. Using convexity speed he missile'd through the air and caught up to Flame In an instant. The purple dragon grabbed Flame's body and flung open his wings halting their fall and slowly coming to the ground. Flame fell limp out his hand unconscious and Spyro sat struggling to stay up.
" IS he alright!" Yelled Ornis who crashed into the ground beside them instead of landing. Spyro nodded his head. The others then fell to the ground around them with only Cynder and Earn managing to stay up.
" Spyro … lets just stay here for now." Cynder pleaded.
Spyro nodded his head with a sigh. " Very well. We'll stay here for two hours before we head of again. We can't be far now."
" That's what you … That's what you said last time we nearly stopped for a rest." Said Ornis muffled with his head and face under his arms.
" This time I mean it. We've passed both our camps on the way and I think if we all listen carefully, we can actually hear the village-"
" Nope nothing … I'm so hungry." Winfil complained. Cynder chuckled a little before hearing a strange noise. She turned her head round to see a small deer grazing not far from where they had landed. She chuckled and said.
" A deer."
" Dinner!" Winfil said while drooling at the mouth. Winfil leapt into the air towards the deer but before he came anywhere near it, the deer disappeared into the distance.
" No I almost had it, I almost had it!" Winfil howled before he snapped his head up and tilted it a little. " Its laughing at me out there. Its laughing!"
" Winfil stop it and come have a rest. We're leaving within the next two hours." Cynder sighed. Winfil reluctantly sat down with a huff. Ornis was sniggering away and trying to hold it in but with a resounding fail. Winfil raised an eyebrow and glared at him.
" Are you laughing at-" But Winfil stopped when Ornis burst out laughing and hit the floor.
" … You're such an idiot …" Ornis said between his laughs. " You kill me honestly Winfil."
" I'm glad I amuse you." Said Winfil curtly. Cynder smiled and left to sit next to Spyro.
" Well half an hour left. I'm glad to see you're awake now Flame." Said Winfil while pacing around the camp.
" I'm glad to see you're still happy." Said Flame sarcastically. Spyro was sat in the middle watching the sky. Clouds had taken over and the sun was nearly gone. Spyro new when they got back it was going to be a blow to the guardians to know they failed. Spyro himself was disgusted with himself for failing. He didn't fail when it came to defeating the dark master, the worst dragon ever in his and the guardians lifetime. And yet he could succeed in getting a small artefact. A whole city fell because he wasn't fast enough either.
" How do you think the guardians will take it?" Spyro blurted out to the rest of the group. The once constant murmur from them all fell and there was silence. Earn coughed a little.
" There's nothing they can do. We failed. We can only try and succeed in our next journey. Simple as that." Huffed Earn.
" Couldn't have said it better myself Earn." Said Spyro. Flame looked around him and saw that nearly everyone was either sitting and ready to go or lying down and falling asleep. Flame snorted as he got up and jumped into the air, coming to a hover above them all.
" Can we just go now? I think we're all good enough."
Cynder stood and stretched her wings and looked around. " I think we can make it. After all its not that far away now. What do you all think?"
" I think we can do it. By the ancestors with ease I think." Ornis said jumping into the air. Spyro chuckled as he walked over to Cynder.
" You know how to get them going don't you."
" Meh, its a skill." She said with a wink before taking to the sky herself. Spyro shook his head before jumping as well. He told them that this was the final push and they new all too well what was to come when they reached the village. Spyro shivered at the thought. Flame for the first time looked serious and Earn had a grim look on his face. The group flew for no more than ten minutes when the sight of the village came into view.
" Well guys. Prepare to be the bearers of bad news." Sigh Winfil as the walls grew closer. Spyro could see the guards patrolling the wall spot them and sound the bell, to which he then saw three large dragons come out the main gates with a smile in which he new he would have to wipe clean off.
" Can't get any worse than fighting them shadow dragons." Huffed Flame.
Terrador was beaming with the coming sight of the six dragons. He turned a little to Chief Prowlus and smiled. " I told you they would pull through didn't I?" Prowlus grunted in return and folded his arms.
" It was indeed within my calculations and premonitions that they would be unharmed upon their return." Volteer babbled. Both Cyril and Terrador let him continue on his babbling. They weren't going to stop him on this occasion.
" Spyro! Please can-" Cyril started as the dragons came to a stop. He was silenced when he saw there faces . Only grim and bereft faces were looking back at them.
Spyro only shook his head. " We didn't get it." He muttered before he hung his head.
" The shadow dragons." Winfil whispered.
" you … you didn't get the artefact." Terrador said in shocked silence. " Get inside before the other dragons see you. This must be discussed elsewhere.
" Tell me what in ancestors happened!" Terrador growled. Spyro stood and took point allowing the others not to feel the wrath of Terrador. Spyro sighed before starting.
" We got there exactly when we were meant to be. Only it was the city..."
" Warbrin?" Asked Prowlus.
Spyro nodded. " There was no city left when we got there. Only ash and rubble-"
" No!" Prowlus said slamming a hand onto the table. " That can't be possible. I know as well as these three that Warbrin have the best flyers out there. In fact its second only to Warfang. How could that happen. How can a mere thirty dragons take down a city as large as that?"
Spyro snorted at the cheetah chieftain. " Because, Prowlus. They are not your average dragons. They are real, and yet they are not. They are immortal, and yet they are mortal. You can't kill them unless you have the power of shadow and if you don't then you can only slow them down. As most of us found out at said city-"
" Wait they were still their when you arrived?" Asked Cyril.
Spyro nodded. " Although we didn't encounter them until we were just about to leave, which tells me that they must have been watching us … In fact i'm sure they would've been watching us."
" Then how did you survive?" Asked Terrador more seriously. Spyro shook his head and stared back at the others for help. Cynder was about to move but Earn beat her to it and walked to the table.
" They let us live. We put up a fight, a losing one at that but after a while they just left."
" Hmm. Did they say anything about what their plans were?"
" Nothing. Just a small boast about how good a fighter they were and then they just left."
Terrador sat on his haunches and thought about the events he was being told. He new one thing for sure. Warbrin was no more. Terrador thought it odd that Verena's shadows travelled to Warbrin first instead retrieving the easier artefacts in the desert. Something clicked in the earth guardians head but he didn't want it to be true.
" You said you got there exactly on time?" Asked the green dragon interrupting Prowlus' rant at Spyro. The purple dragon nodded confused. Terrador sighed in defeat. " Then I know where they're going next and we need to stop them."
" Where?" Asked Cyril sceptically.
" There going to Wartalon next. Think about it. So far they've taken the cities that could be used to form an alliance against them. Warbrin was first and I can bet my earth guardians status that they're going for Wartalon next. It makes sense, take away the ability of the opponents military resources and leave them vulnerable to anything."
" Then we need to go now!" Earn said getting to his paws.
" Not so fast young dragon. You will stay here for one day before you leave. Warbrin may have been two days away but Wartalon is but only one. And Warbrin is three days away from Warfang so I can bet the shadow dragons aren't even back yet. Rest and prepare for tomorrow … all of you." Said Terrador as he rose to a stand. All the dragons nodded before rising and exiting the door. Spyro however stayed put and stared at Terrador.
" But Terrador. Surly there's no harm in leaving now, Yes we're still tired but it means we'll get there well and truly before the shadow dragons."
Terrador sighed as he stared down at the purple dragon, not by much, but still stared down. " Spyro, You have done many things in your life. But this is something you cannot do alone. The others won't be able to keep up with you. Maybe Cynder but any normal dragon wont, and they're probably walking without the slightest amount of energy left. You need to let them catch up."
Spyro looked down and thought for a moment before realising there was no getting around it. He looked back up with a half hearted smile. " Alright. I'll get some rest too then."
" I'm glad to hear it Spyro."
" Wartalon! We need to be there as soon as possible." Flame growled outside his tent along with the others. They'd all walked to Flames tent and decided to stay there until it was time rest.
" You can't expect to just get up and fly away to Wartalon after that stunt you pulled outside the village." Replied Ornis, narrowing his eyes.
" Bu …" Flame stopped at the look Cynder gave him thought about his next words carefully. " Fine! If I can't leave then I suppose I'll just try and find Ember." The red dragon said before getting to his fight and stalking off further into the village. Ornis let out a sigh.
" What are we gonna do with him." He said more to himself than anyone else.
" Its not him i'm that worried about. I'm still concerned about Earn. He seams to have come out his shell but i'm scared that since we're back in the village and no longer stuck together, he'll just go off on his own." Cynder said while drawing a picture in the mud with a talon. Both Winfil and Ornis exchanged a glance before agreeing.
" But he wants to come with us again. That's got to mean something-"
" Yes it means something. It means he wants revenge on the people who killed Star. Not to be with us. There's a difference." Huffed Ornis before mock pushing Winfil's shoulder.
Flame stalked through the streets looking round every corner. So far he'd found nothing to do with Ember. Not even the name gave any signs to anyone he asked. The red dragon wondered aimlessly round the village looking until he spotted something. He thought he would never find her because there were after all, the entire population of Warfang in the village and then cheetahs on top of that. Flame wondered round every bend and corner and before long, found himself in a distant part of the village. He walked down before suddenly a door swung open to his face.
" Whole lot more as well. Come." Flame heard someone say. He didn't think twice before talking to the sky in the opposite direction. The red fire dragon flew up and over the nearest building before slamming into the building roof and looking back. He saw an ice dragon walk out the door and after him.
" What!" Flame said in whispered shock. Ember walked out after him. And after that a smaller ice dragon came out. " What is this the ice dragon convention." Flame snorted to himself. He watched as they walked away and realised he was going to follow them. He looked up to the sky and put his paws together and said in mock prayer. " Oh mister Sherclaw Holmes. Please let your method work." Flame then lunged over the side of the building and into the alleyway following them. They rounded two corners in which Flame kept close pace. Flame past a small window sill in which he picked up a large oversized black hat and stuck it on his head as well as a gold coin before he carried on. He watched as they both walked round almost every corner that came before they walked onto a large street. Flame came round the same corner and stuck to the side. He new if he got spotted it was over. To Flames good luck, another street ran parallel to the one he was on. Flame leapt onto that street and started to run ahead of Ember and Aerilin. He ran until he new he was at least far away from them that if they were to see him, they wouldn't recognise him. Flame jumped back onto the main street and found himself in a market. Flame looked and saw both the dragons coming.
" Right think think think think." Flame said before a bulb went off in head. He looked at a shop keeper for hornrings and when she turned Flame grabbed two hornrings and dropped the gold coin which he previously picked up. Attachment them quickly Flame also saw a mask stall. Flame walked past it and casually picked up a mould for the snout which made it look swollen. The red dragon quickly put it on and started walking directly towards Ember. Looking the other way and keeping his speed at a neutral. He saw her stop to look at something and Flame inwardly smiled.
" Always curious." he whispered. He carried on walking in which he past both the ice dragons. Flame only got a quick look but from the smile the larger ice dragon had on him. He didn't like it. Flame saw Ember turning to carry on and this was his chance. He lined himself up and walked straight into her.
" Sorry!" She said desperately. Flame smirked while putting his head lower to keep his eyes hidden. Flame turned his tongue up so as to sound different and said.
" No need madam." Flame could see Ember trying to decipher who he was and kept his head low. The red dragon waited for her to speak again.
" Sorry again. I'll be on my way." Ember said before she dashed of past his side and to where, he presumed, the ice dragon was. Flame turned and saw them walking round another corner.
" Where are you going?" He said to himself while talking off his extra facial features. Flame then continued following them, getting weird looks from some dragons but nothing more than what he had before. Soon he saw them both come to a large circular building and Flame was going to follow them but he was stopped at the sight of guards at the door. Flame cursed under his breath before realising what building it was. He smirked and flew round the other side before ascending to the roof. There he found an unlocked hatch and quickly jumped in. he found himself surrounded by hundreds of dragons. Flame scanned the dragons and eventually came to the podium box and that's where he saw her. Ember sat with the smaller ice dragon and she did something. She looked directly at him. Flame wondered if she recognised him but he didn't have time to think because the crowed soon applauded and he saw why. The larger ice dragon walked onto the stage. He cleared his throat before speaking.
" Goliath Prometheus , one of my true friends. Born in Warhorn, although he was the perfect example of a Warfang citizen, but a Warhorn dragon nonetheless. Favoured fighting all his battles head on and not letting anyone come in his way. He sought out to win by any means necessary. Settling for nothing short of victory, or he would die trying. When asked by his brother Leonis Prometheus, Why is it that he so forcefully endured whatever came at him on his own without any help what so ever. Goliath couldn't help but smile and said ' It makes me a better dragon.'
The names that were given to them both, are because of their apparent lineage. To the ancestor called, Prometheus." The ice dragon paused for a moment to chuckle.
" Prometheus … Prometheus was the dragon that stole fire from the gods of convexity. He was the dragon that started the bloodline of all fire and ice dragons here and now with his mate Aquaria. The Ancestor who gave us ice. He new what he did was wrong but he saw it for the good of all dragons alike. When news of his treachery reached that of the gods of convexity, well … they weren't very happy with Prometheus for his betrayal. When Prometheus was caught and brought to justice for his spectacular theft, the gods saw it fit that the punishment would and forever more be, for Prometheus to reside on the farthest moon from his beloved planet. And for every time the bright side of the moon reached him, a dragon of immeasurable size would swoop down as the golden ropes of Tartarus that held down the Titans themselves, seized and strapped him to the largest rock on the moon. The dragon would always rip through his stomach and eat his liver over and over. Day after day. All because he gave us the element of fire.
" Goliath and Leonis were named after this Titan Ancestor because they new that they would bring new things to this world, be it stolen, be it fought and won for. Or created from their intelligence. Allow me to ask you to remember the defences around Warhorn at the time of the great war. Built and created by the Prometheus'. They tried their hardest to protect their city and they died trying.
" I stand here not as a dragon. But as a beacon. A symbol. I'm here to tell you the type of enemy that brought the destruction of Warhorn and nearly the entire world is once again out their." Aerilin pointed to the large tunnel in which he came from. " You know her by many names. The Dark mistress. The Evil dark dragon and most notably, the Terror of the Skies.
For those of you here who know me. You will know that I gave my word to honer the name Prometheus. That I will help and treat any who believe in a fairer world, the same way as I would family. That I will settle for nothing short of greatness or die trying as they did. …For those of you here who do not know me. Allow me to introduce myself to you all. My name … is Aerilin Prometheus … and if you will join me, Id like to rid the world of Cynder." Flame stood with his mouth ajar. Aerilin smiled looking all around before he flew up to the podium box and whispered something into Embers ear. Flame didn't want to stay any longer. He turned and ran as fast as he could out the coliseum before spreading his wings and launching himself into the air. He flew and soon found his tent with only Ornis in it. Flame landed with a thump and smacked the ground.
" FLAME! Where have you been the others are sleeping because we're leaving in about seven hours for Wartalon. Get some -"
" Listen Ornis I need to tell you so-"
" Zip it Flame. Get some sleep and be at the gates for eight tomorrow morning sharp." Ornis snapped before launching into the air going towards his own tent. Flame sighed and looked at where Ornis had flown and whispered.
" I need to tell you that Cynder's going to die."