Chapter 16: A family reunited
A/N: A special appearance from Crash Bandicoot, one of my favorite characters as well.
Ravager and the dragons followed Collette into the Serpent Forests and that took them a few days. At the western end of the forest, they found the mine entrance with a rusted gate in the way. Ravager and Ignitus tore the gate down and they entered the mines. There was a Crash Bandicoot poster stuck to a mine wall with him holding a pick axe and flashing smile with a thumb up. The words "Work it, Bandicoot style!" were found over his head.
"Who's he?" Ignitus asked as they passed the poster.
"Must be a mascot for the miners of old. Many say he roamed this mine before the human-draconic war and mysteriously disappeared after that. His famous quote was "Whoa!" Collette said.
"You seem to know quite a lot about the ancient humans. You studied about them?" Ravager asked.
"Yes and I find their history rather interesting. It's unbelievable that they are quite advanced with steam-powered machines compared to the apes and us using coal-powered junks," Collette chuckled.
"Junks eh, how painful," Ignitus smiled bitterly.
There was a chasm up ahead but the dragons could fly and Collette just used her magic to walk over it. They entered a great chamber but it was in a terrible mess, as if a war had been waged in there. Towers were everywhere and their tops had fallen into the bottomless chasm or got stuck on the railways. They were at the top most tier so they can see the entire aftermath of the destruction.
"Wow, this place is a mess. No wonder they abandoned the mines long ago," Fiona said.
"Hang on, something doesn't seem right," Collette said.
A stalactite had fallen from its base and Collette inspected the base. She touched it and rubbed the dust between her thumb and second finger. After that, she looked around and frowned.
"I think that happened not long ago. Something tells me that someone has been through this part of the mine," Collette muttered.
"Think it was mom and dad?" Ravager asked.
"No way, this place is a warzone! No one can survive," Ignitus said.
"Haven't you heard what dad said to us before? He said: 'Heroes never die' and I find it rather true," Ravager said.
"There's only one way to find out. We have to look for them hope that they're all right. Ravager, you're a good scout. Follow the path of destruction and try to lead us to your parents. Ignitus, you have the sense of a bloodhound. Can you smell the railway tracks and tell me if anything had been here before?" Collette ordered.
Ignitus sniffed a railway track and his eyes perked up.
"Ma'am, something has been here. It smelt like burnt metal and they smell like as if it was a few days ago," Ignitus said.
"Then I guess my predictions were correct. Ravager, scout ahead and see if you can determine a safe route," Collette ordered.
"Aye ma'am," Ravager nodded.
He followed the trail of destruction and that led him to another chamber with no railway at all. It seemed like the entire railway system was demolished. Below the chasm was a large crystal super cluster.
"I think I know where they have been," Ravager muttered.
He called out to Colette and the others and they came quickly. Ravager pointed at a distant entrance and Collette knew what he meant.
"Anything?" she asked Ignitus.
Ignitus sniffed around and nodded.
"The smell is faint but very distinct. I can smell my mother's scent," Ignitus said.
Collette looked down and shook her head.
"There is no way across without wasting too much magic. You guys fly across while I find another route," Collette said.
"No, we're doing this together. We'll help you get across," Ravager said and gestured to the two dragons.
They nodded and used their claws to grab Colette gently. They flew across the chasm and landed Collette safely at the other side.
"Great job you two. Now, let us move forward and search for your parents and the other two," Collette said.
Spyro laid lifeless at the edge of the river for days now and Cynder was also still out cold. However, Spyro's mind was far from dead. He was summoned by Ignitus once more for a little talk.
"Spyro, how are you?" Ignitus asked kindly.
"I'm…dead?" he asked.
"No, you're merely…knocked out from taking too much damage. I must say, you have a lot of guts to take the fall for Cynder. It's noble of you," Ignitus smiled.
"Yeah…it hurts to be noble," Spyro quipped.
"Anyway, I've summoned you here because you are losing time. Argus is preparing for the ceremony and your daughter's life may be on the line. He plans to use her as a blood sacrifice since a virgin dragoness' blood is needed to absorb the power from the planetary alignment. Added to that, her powers are just like yours when you were young and that is a potent thing," Ignitus said grimly.
"What can I do if I can't even move? I mean, I've been there for 5 days already," Spyro said bitterly.
"Oh, your time will come when help arrives," Ignitus gave a secret smile.
"Who will that be?" Spyro asked.
"That is a secret my young dragon. In the mean time, your body will be recovering. You better head back to recovering for you will need it," Ignitus said.
Spyro slowly flapped open his eyes and found his body slowly recovering. Then, he heard footsteps to his left. Turning around, he only saw a pair of sneakers before fainting again. He didn't feel someone dragging him into the water and soaking him in there before pulling him out again and laying him on the ground. The stranger soaked Cynder next and she woke up suddenly just as she touched the water.
"Gahh! Who the heck are you?!" she screamed.
She found herself staring a creature that looked like…uh…what is it anyway?
"What are you?" she asked the creature.
The creature didn't say anything and just waved at her. She just found him pure weird and pure dumb. That thing seem like it couldn't even talk.
"Um…do you live here?" the black dragoness asked.
The creature nodded and pointed down the dark path beyond.
"So you live in there?" Cynder asked.
The creature shook his head and pointed at the dark path again. Cynder thought for a while and snapped her fingers.
"There is a monster in there," she said.
The creature jumped up and down as if he was mad while knocking his head. He held up a picket sign with the word 'exit' written on it. Cynder knew what he meant.
"Oh, I get it, you were trying to tell me that there is an exit beyond!" she said happily.
The creature nodded happily and pointed at Cynder.
"So…what are you going to do about Spyro?" she asked and stared at Spyro sadly.
The creature tapped his chin thoughtfully and a light bulb appeared over his head. He grinned and whistled loudly. Moments later, a boar-like thing came by and stopped in front of the creature.
"What are you doing?" Cynder asked when she saw the creature dragging Spyro and placing him on top of the boar.
He then offered his hand to Cynder, which she took it. He helped her out of the river and placed her on top of the boar. He took a seat on its head and pointed forward. The boar ran forward at top speed with the creature directing it.
"He may be a thing that can't talk but he sure knows how to ride," Cynder said to herself.
Just as they were travelling in total darkness, the ground behind them fissured with an orange glow and broke. Erupting from the ground was a gigantic demon with a fiery body traced with magma lines. Cynder had a sudden flashback.
"Oh no, it's the Hell Golem!" she thought aloud.
The creature uttered a loud 'Whoa' and kicked on the boar's head, making it run faster.
"Faster, it's gaining on us!" Cynder yelled.
Spyro was slipping off but Cynder caught hold of him by the wings and pulled him back up. They ran up a ramp and went higher and higher but the Golem was still coming after them, determined to rip them apart. Cynder turned around to shoot air blades at the Golem but its armor was too tough and Cynder couldn't even manage to make a dent in it. The Golem pounded the ground and sent stones dropping from the top. The creature riding the boar deftly made it avoid the falling rocks.
"I'm starting to wonder if the Hell Golem is responsible for the mine's hazards," Cynder scowled.
The creature was definitely panicking by the looks on his face but he was doing quite well in controlling the boar. The Golem raised one of its massive hands and struck down on the ground and sent a crimson shockwave towards the back of the boar. The boar swerved left and avoided the shockwave. The Golem roared and picked up speed.
"Hurry, he's gaining on us!" Cynder screamed.
They were already breaking the surface and the creature grabbed Spyro and Cynder. He leapt off the boar and grabbed onto the edge of the hole, letting go of Cynder first before climbing out himself. The boar led the Golem elsewhere and they were safe for now. Cynder helped the creature up and he put down Spyro before dusting himself.
"Thanks for your help; I don't think we can survive without you. My name is Cynder and you are?" Cynder asked.
The creature pointed at a poster of him stuck to a nearby toolbox. Cynder read the words and raised an eye ridge.
"Your name is Crash Bandicoot eh. You look like some kind of mascot," Cynder said.
The bandicoot just hung his head low and sighed. Cynder didn't know what that gesture meant but she reckoned it was saddening for him.
"Anyway, have you seen anyone nearby?" she asked.
Crash nodded happily and pointed towards a place where the sunlight shone down. Cynder thought she saw Hunter pass by.
"Perfect, it's them we're looking for! Thank you," Cynder said happily.
The bandicoot took a bow and waved at her.
"Saying goodbye so soon? Won't you want to join us in an adventure?" Cynder asked.
Crash shook his head and handed her a wumpa fruit.
"For me? Um…thanks," Cynder said.
Crash just waved at her and leapt back into the hole. Seeing that there was nothing else interesting, Cynder dragged Spyro's body while holding the fruit in her mouth. She dragged him with all her might and that caught the attention of Hunter.
"Cynder? You're alive! I can't believe it!" Hunter said happily.
Cynder spat out the fruit and nodded.
"Someone helped us and his name is Crash Bandicoot," Cynder said and put down Spyro's body.
"Crash Bandicoot…who is this guy?" Hunter asked.
"I'm not sure…he looked like some kind of fox but then again, he isn't," Cynder muttered.
Clearing her throat, she looked at Hunter.
"Why didn't you guys try to save us?" she asked.
"We were busy fending ourselves from ape attacks. Don't know where they came from but they just came out of the darkness. We've been busy and Sven was hurt by an arrow. He's okay though," Hunter said while pointing at Sven.
They got some rest and looked across the chasm.
"We've been out for a few days eh," Cynder said.
"5 days actually and we've felt tremors a few times. Anything underneath the mines?" Hunter asked while looking into the chasm.
"A Hell Golem and I suspect that it was responsible for all the hazards that nearly cost us our lives," Cynder said angrily.
"Well, sounds like the Golem didn't want us here," Cynder said bitterly.
Then, they saw the boulder that was lodged at the entrance on the other side was blown into pieces and from there came her 4 familiar faces.
"Wha…What the? What are you doing here?!" asked a surprised Cynder.
"Mom, you're okay!" Ravager said happily and flew across to the other side.
He hugged her and that caught Cynder by surprise. She then smiled and patted his head while the others came across.
"I'm happy to see you but why are you here?" Cynder asked and looked at Collette.
"You have some explaining to do, Ravager," Collette said sternly.
"Ravager, what did you do?" Cynder asked angrily.
The black dragon just gave a nervous chuckle and explained everything to his mother. Cynder was scowling while Hunter just remained neutral.
"So you thought you can be a hero by saving your sister? Ravager that is the most absurd thing you can ever do!" Cynder scolded.
"I'm sorry mom!" Ravager cowered as his mother stared at him angrily.
Her expression softened and she gave a small smile.
"Still, you have proved yourself to be quite a hero after fighting off the apes at Skyrim. I'm only glad you're still alive," Cynder said softly.
Her expression turned angry again and she tapped the ground with her finger.
"However, you have been foolish and that may cost you all your lives. I'm grounding you two for 5 months and Fiona, you should know better than to leave your mother. You wait 'till she hears what you have to say," Cynder said sternly.
Turning to Collette, she scowled at the vixen.
"And you, Collette Spellcrow, you should know better than to bring them out on such a dangerous mission that may cost the kids their lives. You should have turned back after you caught them," Cynder said.
"Well…I…" Collette stuttered and her face was red.
Cynder sighed and sat down on the ground.
"We're all safe and I'm happy. Still, if you want to go on this adventure…I want you kids to write an essay for me regarding this adventure and I'll judge the score. If you get more than 80 marks, I'll drop the 5 months ground on you two. As for you Fiona, I'm not sure how I can help you for I think your mother might deal with you in her own way," Cynder said.
Ravager and the others just looked embarrassed and sorry, not saying a word. Cynder smiled at them and patted their heads.
"Well, what say you?" Cynder asked.
"Are you sure you'll let us go?" Ignitus asked.
"Of course I will, provided you write me an essay after we return," Cynder said.
"In that case, we're on!" Ravager said happily.
At the village of Black Dawn, Argus was preparing for the Resurrection Ceremony by preparing the needed items and equipments. He had them cleansed and enchanted.
"This may take a while but it should be ready before the planetary alignment," Argus said to his henchmen.
"Should we go prepare the altar in the church then?" one of his lieutenants asked.
"Go, we need to maximize all the time we have left. Make sure the girl is well-fed so she won't starve to death."
"But sir, she's refusing to eat and her body is growing weak."
"Force feed her if she won't eat," Argus growled.
Argus held up the magic mirror and Malefor's face appeared on it and he was smiling evilly.
"I do hope that you are doing a good job," Malefor said.
"You already know the answer so why are you asking me a question that you already know?" Argus asked lazily.
"Just feigning stupidity but I'm rather bad at it. Maybe you should teach me how to do it," Malefor mocked.
"So you're implying that I'm a stupid clod eh. I guess it takes one stupid to know another stupid," Argus shot back.
Malefor laughed a bit and focused his eyes on Argus.
"Make sure you have the ceremony done. As for the young dragoness, make sure she stays healthy. I have other uses for her," Malefor said.
"Whatever you say, sir," Argus said sarcastically.
"You better keep her alive," Malefor growled before his face disappeared.
"Oh, she'll be alive alright. I'll make sure of that," Argus muttered darkly.