Nightfall had arrived. Vector's shift was almost over; his only company was the now dying flames of their camp fire.
"Urgh." He sighed. "We're gonna need more firewood." He peered over to his sleeping companions. "I should probably go and pick some more up before my shift ends. They should be alright until then." He got up and ventured into the dark forest surrounding them. Deeper and deeper he went – the forest becoming darker and colder. "Creepy place…" He mumbled to himself. "I'll just get a couple more and then head back." As he said that, he started to move slower. His eyes drooped and his tail dragged along the floor. "…sooo…tired…" he yawned. He found a great oak tree. It was bare and looked almost menacing, but it just looked like the perfect place for a quick nap. "Ahh." Vector waved his hand at his concerns. "I can just take a quick lie-down here. I mean, what's the worst that could happen?" He nestled down in front of the tree, resting his hands on his belly. His eyes drooped; more and more until they finally closed…
CRACKLE-CRACKLE-CRACKLE
CRASH!
"W…what's going on…?" Vector murmured at the ruckus around him. "Boy! It's hot! *COUGH* What's going on?" He shot his eyes open and tried to fan out the smoke that had gripped around him. "*COUGH-COUGH* W-What?! The forest's on fire!"
The forest was ablaze ahead of him. Vector scrambled to his feet, staring in shock at the fire. The flames drew closer at an alarming rate.
"Oh no…" He muttered. He noticed something within the blaze; a pair, of glowing red eyes. The Necrodragons. "Th-they're back!" He yelled as he turned and ran back to the camp, the groan of the Necrodragons following closely behind.
'What could possibly go wrong?! With the experience you've had, you'd think you'd know better! He thought to himself as he ran back to the camp. "Guys! Get up! GET! UP!" He screamed as he ran past them.
"Urgh." Mighty mumbled as he awoke. "Vector. You don't have to scream like that – just shake me or something to wake me up. I know it's my turn to watch..."
"Shut up and run!"
Espio jumped up awake. He saw the smoke creeping up above them. The eerie, red glow approaching them from within the forest. "Fire!" He called over to Mighty, who then rushed to wake Charmy and Ray.
"WAH! W-W-W-WHAT'S GOING ON?" Ray called out as he dangled from Mighty's grip as they ran.
Charmy shrieked. "IT'S THE MONSTER!"
A dark dragon figure swooped past overhead. A loud shrill blasted through them – almost knocking them off balance.
They soon caught up with Vector. "LOOK OUT!" He yelled, diving behind the nearest tree. The others were quick to follow as the second creature darted past, blasting a ball of flame within their path – singeing the tip of Ray's tail.
They grouped up behind the great tree that shielded them from the blast. The dragon landed and approached them as if an evil overlord emerging from the fire itself.
They dashed to the nearest tree as the creature tore the first one apart with its claws.
The second came and attacked their new hiding spot. Again and again they dashed to another tree, but the creatures kept coming. It was only a matter of time.
"Urghh! We can't keep doing this – we need a better plan." Mighty yelled over the crackling flames.
"We can't run – they'll easily outrun us." Vector said. "*COUGH-COUGH* We need to find some sturdier shelter – a cave or someth-"
"*Gasp* Over there!" Espio pointed to the forest's edge. "A thick bamboo patch – they won't be able to see or reach us and they're strong & *COUGH* flexible, so they won't be able to break them either. *COUGH-COUGH* It'll give us enough time to come up with a better strategy at least."
The flames were edging closer. They were no threat to the heat-proof Necrodragons, but it continued to devour the forest around them.
The group charged to the next nearest place of cover. Vector scanned the environment. It's time you start using that brain of yours Vecs He thought.
"Espio, use your camouflage and distract them whilst we get everyone else to the bamboo brush – you can use your speed to escape yourself." He said.
"*COUGH* Impossible! They're capable of seeing through it."
"*WHEEZE-COUGH* Then just use your agility – I know you'll be able to hold them off until we reach there."
Espio glanced back at the monsters now slowly approaching them. He nodded.
Mighty, Vector, Ray and Charmy charged ahead towards the bamboo thicket. Espio halted the dragons; running up and down the still standing trees, throwing shuriken blades at them.
"It's working!" Mighty exclaimed. They were now in open fields – half-way to thicket.
The shuriken could not penetrate the thick hide of the creatures, but was enough to get their attention. They darted their heads in and around the trees – snapping after the fleet-footed chameleon. But the forest was unable to hold two massive creatures in one spot and they kept crashing into one another and getting stuck in the branches.
"NNyyhhaaa!" Espio exclaimed, throwing three blades at once.
The dragons snarled at him, but one turned its attention to the chameleon's comrades and broke out into a gallop towards them.
"No you don't!" Espio called after it, reaching to his gauntlets to retrieve more blades. "Sh…Shimatta…" He gasped. He had run out. "LOOK OUT!" The other dragon then struck him with its tail into a home run.
Vector peered behind him to see the gargantuan creature galloping towards them, spreading out its colossal wings as it ran. "Move!" He yelled at them.
Vector leapt into the thicket – narrowly missing the jaws of the massive monster. The thick bamboo caused the dragon to almost flip over it and it crashed to the ground nearby.
Espio attempted to heave himself up from the dirt. In front of him was his bag containing the last pieces of evidence he had. To the right, was his katana in its sheath.
Grrrooooar! He heard a shriek coming from the forest. He winced as he turned to see.
The dragon marched over to the edge of the forest. It spotted him and Espio caught glimpse of what appeared to be a smile appear on its face as it began its charge. Espio scrambled over to his sword and tried to unsheathe it. "Come on, come on!" He said as he tried pulling it from the damaged sheathe.
AAAARRRGGGHHH! The creature was airborne, ready to devour him as it flew by. But Espio was finally able to swing out his sword from its sheath – knocking a tooth from its gaping jaws. It roared in pain, but the distraction allowed Espio enough time to grab the bag and escape into the bamboo.
"Espio!" Charmy exclaimed in enthusiastic relief.
"Y-Y-You're okay!" Ray added.
"That was a little too close for comfort." Mighty said. "What now? The creatures are circling overhead now."
"We can't wait them out. They've been sent out on a mission and their entire life goal is to fulfil that." Espio panted. "They also seem to have gotten smarter, so we've only got a limited amount of time before they figure out how to get to us."
Vector noticed a tiny stream that seemed to lead out of the forest. Water always leads to more water; a stream to a river, a river to a lake… Vector thought.
"Espio." He finally said. "Can those things swim?"
"I…I don't know." He said. "They're not studied – they start off as statues in an underground passage on our Mountain."
"They what?!" Mighty said.
"Wait a sec…" Vector shushed them. "What's that sound?"
"W-w-what sound?" Ray asked.
"Exactly. They were circling above before and screaming and stuff…"
"They're doing something…" Espio realised. "What are they doing – the know something!"
Vector started to lead them off in the direction of the stream "Time's up guys we gotta -"
Suddenly one of the creatures zoomed overhead, blasting a stream of flames upon the thicket. Violet-tinted smoke arose around them.
"They've mixed their flames with their venom!" Espio alerted them. "It's rising with the smoke – we need to get out of here now!"
"Quick! Follow me!" Vector called out and they followed him in the direction of the stream.
The smoke was thick, almost liquid like – motioning like an aerial liquid in fact. It was a dark colour and the violet hue was almost reflective despite being somewhat gaseous. It crept towards the group at almost the same speed as they were running, apart from one person.
Ray found himself caught in the lethal cloud as he was unable to keep up with the others. He coughed with every breath he took in – each breath becoming more and more challenging.
"MIGHTY!" He coughed. "H-H-HELP!" He slowed as his coughing and choking became more violent. The flames drew closer to him.
Mighty turned and heard Ray's cry for help. "M-MIGHTY!"
Mighty desperately turned to his companions. "Guys! I have to get Ray!" He pointed back into the thick, black smoke.
"You can't go in there!" Espio yelled. "You won't last a minute!"
Mighty didn't listen. "I have to save him – I'm not losing another family because I did nothing!" And he disappeared into the black cloud.
Espio was about to run in after him, but Vector quickly stopped him.
"You can't save them if you're dead." He said. "C'mon – we'll think of something when we get outta here!"
Espio reluctantly complied and they carried on towards the lake.
The flames drew closer. Ray was on his knees crawling. He continued to choke on the smoke. Barely able to speak, he attempted to call out to Mighty for help again, but all that came out was a coarse wheeze.
His cries were finally answered "RAY!"
Ray looked up in relief. "M-M-Mighty!" He called back, followed by intense coughing.
Mighty ran over. If the toxins didn't kill them first, the flames sure were as they got dangerously close.
"Ray!" Mighty coughed. "Ray – I'm here!"
"Look out!" Ray choked as a group of bamboo landed onto him. "GAHHuhh!" He cried.
"RAY!" Mighty screamed as it began to crush the little squirrel. "Not again – this can't be happening again!"
The flames crawled onto the sticks and were slowly making their way to Ray. Ray's eyes drooped – he wasn't going to make it.
"Keep those eyes open Ray!" Mighty yelled to him. "I'm gonna get you outta here." He coughed.
"M…M-M…Mighty…" Ray said, his voice growing coarser by the second. "D-D-Don't leave me here…" Ray began to cough violently. The ash from the smoke was beginning to cause damage to his lungs. The toxins were attacking his entire system.
"Don't worry – I'm here. I just need you to hang in there." he began lifting the bamboo off of the Squirrel. "Just...*cough*...hold...on!" He strained as he lifted the bamboo. The toxins had already begun to affect his strength. The armadillo was growing weaker and weaker – time was running out.
"Mighty…p-p-please…." He gasped again.
"I'm not going to leave you here!" Mighty yelled, but backed away in shock as he saw the young squirrel coughing up blood. His eyes slowly closed into unconsciousness. "Ray!"
The fire grew closer. Mighty had to act now. With his waning strength, he tapped into his inner chi and launched the bamboo pile off of the squirrel. Hurriedly, he placed the unconscious Ray onto his back as he ran off towards the rest of the group. The ash and toxins from the smoke were beginning to act upon the rest of his system as his vision began blurring and his heart rate increased.
"Where'd they go?" Charmy asked in panic as the trio pulled themselves out of the water on the other side of the lake. "Where's Ray and Mighty?"
Espio and Vector did not reply. They waited in the water for a sign of Ray or Mighty.
"They've not come out…" Espio murmured. "Vector, we must -"
"It's too dangerous." Vector replied. "Have faith Espio; they'll be out any-"
Just as Vector was finishing his sentence, Mighty ran out of the burning bamboo and stumbled into the lake along with Ray. The dragons watched that region of the water, awaiting them to resurface. One even went on to create small waves with its tail – making the resulting vortex a difficult place to escape from.
"Oh no…" Vector exclaimed before diving in himself after them. The dragons realised this and took back to the skies.
"Vector!" Charmy tried to warn him.
Vector was quickly able to find the pair, but was not out of the water yet. He paddled towards the edge, suddenly noticing the fearful expressions on Espio and Charmy's faces.
"LOOK OUT!" Charmy screamed. Vector looked behind him, his eyes widening.
The two creatures dove into the centre of the lake, creating a colossal wave that launched them all into the forest.
Espio swooped up Charmy and attempted to sprint away but the waves soon caught up and they began crashing against the rock and trees of the forest.
The waves dissipated. All that was left was a half-empty lake, several felled trees and our five injured heroes. It was a miracle that they survived, but Mighty and Ray were both unconscious and were in critical conditions.
Vector and Espio's eyes slowly peered open. The moon, the stars and the smoke of an extinguished flame was what they saw.
"Looks like..." Vector gasped. "...it's game over then, man..." The footsteps of the dragons were heard getting closer. "It's a nice night to die…and it was a honour to do it by the side of you four – I never thought I could trust anyone as much as I do you guys now…"
"Really?" Espio winced. "You barely know us. We interrupted your peaceful, solitary, life with danger. How can you hold such regard for us so soon that you would trust us like this and put your life on the line for us time and time again?" The footsteps grew closer.
"I don't know. I've lived my life in suspicion – those papers you saw were from my days as a detective, so obviously I jumped at the chance of going back. I missed those days and I needed the money, but you guys gave me more than that. Heheh. It sounds cheesy, but you gave me friendshipm- something I don't think I've had in years. Friendship is the greatest reward money a guy could get – a reward worth dying for." The creatures were nearly there, their shadows looming over the pair. "It's been an honour fighting by your side. If there's an afterlife, we should do lunch or something sometime."
Espio used every ounce of strength he had left to haul himself up. "No…"
Vector tried to lift his head up to see what was going on, with painful results. "Espio? What're you doing."
Espio limped slowly towards the great beasts. Their eyes literally blazed like furnaces in front of him, but he fearlessly kept moving. "I will not…have you all die…needlessly…for my problems…" He said. "They came for me…so I'll give them what they want – no-one else has to die."
Vector rolled over and tried to get back up, but his body was still too weak and he looked helplessly after Espio.
The Necrodragons bent their heads down closer to the ground towards Espio and snarled. Espio raised himself up straight, stretching his arms out to the sides stating "Take me monster!"
They raised their heads and widened their jaws. Espio closed his eyes. Vector turned his head away.
Everything stopped.
BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-
KABOOM!
Espio was sent rolling back onto the floor from the explosion.
As the dust cleared, he reopened his eyes. They were gone! The Necrodragons had returned to a dust-like form. "What…what happened?" He said.
Vector finally pulled himself up. Charmy was beginning to come through as well.
"Espio what happened?" Vector called out.
"I…I don't know." He replied
"Did ya break a spell or somethin'?"
"I…what? I…I don't know…I…"
Vector's eyes widened again. "Will it regenerate into something bigger now?"
"No it won't." A voice called out from the dark of the night.
"Huh?" Vector exclaimed.
"Who's there?" Espio asked, too weak and tired to draw his katana blade.
A figure walked past them. They were dressed in a full, black, costume from head to toe – likely a ninja, but Espio wasn't able to define what clan they were from. He came to the conclusion, however, that it was a kunoichi (A female ninja) as seen by her skin-tight suit.
"There are three known ways for vanquishing a necrodragon." The kunoichi spoke. "Number 1; destroy the planet with it on it. The creature would be completely unable to reform and would forever drift through space..."
"You're gonna destroy the planet?!" Vector exclaimed.
"...Number 2; the creature must fulfil its task, after which it will return from which it came and turn to a golden statue. Its current goal is to capture, or kill, the one known as Espio..."
Espio held his throat in discomfort.
Vector was lost from the thought of that creature turning to gold. "S-Solid gold…?" He drooled.
The kunoichi just sighed. "Number 3..." She continued as she knelt down to the creature's ashes. "Is to reduce it to its dust form. Before it can reform, you must seal it in a sacred dragon sachet like this." She took out a small, white sachet and began to scoop the dust into it. "Once the sachet is sealed – the creature is essentially rebooted and holds no recollection of its last command." She sealed the sachet. "We're not sure how this works exactly, but they are as old as these monsters themselves – from before the four clans settled in these lands."
"Wow..." Vector exclaimed. "That easy huh?" The kunoichi paid no attention to him. However, there was something about her – something not quite right he thought.
"So you're an Acrodon ninja." Espio said.
The kunoichi gasped and appeared to jolt.
"Only an Acrodon Ninja has access to this. Reveal yourself."
The kunoichi stood motionless for a moment. She turned to face them, reaching to her hooded mask. Slowly, cautiously, she pulled it down to reveal her identity.
"M-M...Mariko…?" Espio said in near disbelief.
Mariko shifted her head down, shutting her eyes firmly and clenched her fists tight. She trembled slightly. Espio took a step forward, reaching out towards her.
When she opened her eyes again, Espio saw the tears building up. "E…Espio!" She exclaimed and embraced him with a gripping hug.