Snarl's jaw hung open and his eyes widened in shock. He hadn't even seen the young dragon move, but there he was, standing in front of him. Tremor glared at the Alpha while his body radiated with energy.
Behind him Candice had her eyes squeezed tightly shut. When she didn't feel the sting of the wolf's blade she cracked on eye open and gasped at the sight before her. Tremor had thrown himself in front of her and stood on his hind legs allowing him to stop the wolf's blow with his front paws. But the earth guardian's legs weren't strong enough for such a defensive move. Snarl pushed down on the dragon's paws but Tremor was determined to protect his dragoness. He angled his head to the side, catching Snarl's blade on the hooked horn that stuck out on the side of his head.
"Tremor," Candice squeaked in surprise.
The earth guardian roared. He leaped up and drop-kicked the wolf in the chest knocking him across the room. "Thanks for the delay." Tremor groaned as he got to his feet. "It gave me just enough time to draw up the power I needed."
Candice smiled. "What would you do without me?"
Tremor glanced at her over his shoulder. "Let's hope I never find out." The dragons turned their attention back to the Alpha as an angry howl rang in their ears. Snarl picked himself off the pile of rubble and glared at Tremor.
"So you still have some fight left in you do you?"
"More than you know," Tremor growled. "When you put Candy in danger there is no end to my power!" He gave an earth shaking roar and spread his wings in a full display of his power.
"Then let's see how well you fare against someone of your own magnitude." Snarl sneered as his energy began to shroud the room in an abnormal green glow.
"You're not just going to be fighting me." Tremor shook his head. His energy began to spread and Snarl's eyes grew wide as Gaia manifested beside her brother.
"You're going to be fighting both of us!" The twins chimed in unison.
"I'm not afraid of you!" Snarl lunged for Tremor and swung his blade. Tremor ducked and head-butted the wolf in the chest, sending him into the roof. Gaia leaped forward, turning into a ball of pure energy and slamming into the Alpha. The wolf bellowed as he rolled across the ground and caught himself before he could hit the wall again. Tremor and Gaia charged. The twins zig-zagged in between each other, their energy crossing paths and glowing stronger than before. The wolf's eyes moved from one dragon to the other, unsure of who to strike first. Just as he was about to strike, Tremor clamped his jaws down on the wolf's arm, causing a piercing howl to echo down the halls. Tremor swung the wolf around by his arm into Gaia's tail attack. The Alpha felt the wind rush out of him and his ribs crack from the blow and he collapsed on his knees. More blood spurted from under the stones that covered the puncture wound Candice had given him.
Tremor reared his head back and fired an earth bullet, but Snarl was waiting for it. The wolf blocked the blast and deflected it in Gaia's direction. The energy struck the dragoness in the chest and knocked her against the wall.
"Gaia!" Tremor cried but Snarl grabbed him around the neck and tail. The wolf lifted him up and drove his knee into Tremor's stomach. Tremor coughed hard and blood spattered across Snarl's chest. The wolf pulled him into his knee again before turning him upside down and crushing him between his knee and elbow.
"Tremor!" Candice screamed. Beside her, Gaia got to her feet and glared at the wolf.
"I won't let you take my brother's life!" She hissed and charged Snarl head on. The Alpha turned and flung her brother's body at her. Gaia dissipated when Tremor passed through her and hit the floor.
"What?" The wolf's eyes grew wide and widened even more when he felt an impact against the back of his head. Gaia appeared from behind him and slammed her tail club into the wolf's skull. Snarl staggered forward and fell to his knee, causing another stream of blood to spurt from the stone brace on his leg. Tremor lifted his head and fired an earth bullet in hopes of catching the wolf off guard. Snarl turned one eye up and swatted the attack away and into Gaia again.
"Tremor, you're not getting anywhere with that!" Candice shouted. "You're only hurting Gaia when you use your elemental breath!"
"I'm fine!" Gaia assured her friend as she got to her feet and moved over to lend her energy to her brother. Snarl watched in silence as the two dragons readied for another charge. "Wait for it..." Gaia's voice whispered in her brother's mind.
The Alpha narrowed his eyes at the two earth dragons suspiciously. All of a sudden everything went red then darkness took over Snarl's vision. He shook his head trying to shake the blind feeling that he been stricken with.
"Now!" Gaia shouted in her brother's mind. The two dragons charged forward and Snarl stiffened when he heard Tremor's claws scuffle on the floor.
Still blinded, the wolf lunged forward, arms spread and claws ready to tear into them. The twins sprang into the air and beat their wings once. Snarl felt pressure clamp down on both his wrists. He was swung around twice before being released. The wolf howled as he was thrown against the metal doors. The guards on the outside jumped in surprise when a large dent burst outward.
Tremor breathed heavily for a couple seconds then began to cough hard. His lungs felt like they were closing up and the burning inside them hurt even worse.
"Tremor, are you alright?" Candice asked, shaking in her chains slightly.
"We've almost beaten him, Tremor." Gaia whispered, placing a comforting paw on his shoulder. "Just stay strong a little longer."
"You should know me by now sis," The earth guardian chuckled between coughs. "I'm too stubborn to quit."
"I know." Gaia smiled. "But a few words of support never hurt anyone."
"You... haven't beaten me... yet." Snarl growled as he struggled to get to his feet. The brace around his knee had been shattered allowing his blood to flow freely. Streams of blood trickled from his eyes, nose and mouth, soaking his dark grey fur. Snarl clenched his fists so tight his knuckles turned white.
The Alpha began to glow again. Tremor stepped in front of Candice to protect her just in case the wolf tried anything.
With an angry snarl the pack leader dove for his blade. He grabbed the handle as he rolled to his feet and hurled the blade at Gaia. The dragoness dissolved again as the weapon passed through her and lodged itself into the wall.
Tremor lunged for Snarl's throat but the wolf was in a blind rage. The Alpha smacked Tremor into the floor before lifting him up and driving his knee into his back. Tremor screamed in pain as the pressure threatened to snap his spine in half. Snarl plunged his claws into Tremor's chest. The earth dragon's screams grew louder as the wolf proceeded to dig his claws in deeper and deeper.
"Let go of him!" Gaia shouted and launched herself at Snarl's arm. She struck his hand causing the wolf to drop her brother but the hit did little more than distract him. Tremor was beginning to fade and thus her own power was weakening.
Snarl turned and grabbed the handle of his weapon that was still embedded in the wall. He looked back at the earth dragon on the floor that was making every attempt to get back on his feet. Candice's eyes widened as she realized what was about to happen. She struggled against the restraints even harder as Snarl tightened his grip on the handle. In a last desperate attempt to save her mate's life, Candice's body gave a massive, inward heave. She yanked the ball up that held her tail and swung her tail, causing the chain to wrap around the Alpha's arm as he wrenched his weapon free. Candice cringed when she felt the force of the swing stretch her spine out, causing several vertebrae to pop loudly.
Snarl looked back in surprise at the ice dragoness. Candice smiled devilishly and twisted in her chains. The move twisted Snarl's wrist and he howled in pain and fell on his back. The dragoness kicked at the wolf's hands as he struggled to free his hand and weapon from the chains. When she kept kicking his hand away Snarl swung a heavy fist into Candice's gut. The dragoness choked when the air rushed out of her, temporarily immobilizing her. The Alpha grabbed the chains and pulled his hand and blade free, shattering the chains that restrained Candice's deadly tail blade.
In a flash, the canine was on his feet, ready to end the dragoness's life.
"Gaia!" Tremor shouted as he got to his feet. The twins attacked in unison. Tremor struck the back of Snarl's knees, causing them to buckle, while Gaia simultaneously slammed her tail into his chest. As Snarl fell back he swung his blade at the ice guardian hoping to connect the hit. Candice ducked and the jagged blade passed just inches over her head.
Snarl rolled and bounced across the floor but landed on his feet. As he looked up Tremor appeared in his field of vision and fired an earth bullet, shattering his weapon. The wolf grabbed him about the throat but Gaia struck his humerus, numbing the wolf's arm. Snarl dropped Tremor, who landed on his feet and rolled back. The earth guardian dug down deep and opened his jaws wide with a mighty roar, releasing the largest earth missile Candice had ever seen. Snarl blocked the attack with his one good arm.
"I won't lose!" Snarl bellowed. "I refuse to lose to a pathetic dragon like you!"
Tremor's eyes narrowed as he felt his energy being pushed against him. He dug his claws into the floor and braced against his opponent's force.
"You can do it Tremor!" Gaia coaxed as she merged with his spirit again. "I believe in you!"
"Yeah!" Tremor nodded and unleashed the loudest roar he could muster.
Snarl hollered as he felt the bones in his body begin to shake from the guardian's immense power. The quake surged through his arm and spread throughout the rest of his body. The ferocity of Tremor's earth missile swept over him like an avalanche. The Alpha was thrown against the wall, shattering every bone in his body before the earth missile hit, blowing a colossal hole in the wall and shaking the entire castle.
The dust choked both guardians' lungs and they both coughed hard, Tremor more than Candice. The earth guardian fell to his knees and struggled for air but only succeeded in making the coughing worse. Gaia appeared next to Tremor and spread her wings, giving them a few powerful flaps. The energy blew the dust down the deep tunnel Tremor's attack had created, temporarily relieving her brother.
"Thanks sis." Tremor hacked and spattered more blood across the floor.
"I told you, when you need me, I'll be there for you." Gaia smiled gently at him.
"Tremor!" Candice cried. The earth dragon turned to see her struggling to free herself with the use of her tail blade.
"Hang on Candy, I've got you." Tremor trudged over to her, stifling his coughs before firing an earth bullet into the chain that dangled from the ceiling. The chain shattered and Tremor caught her before she could hit the ground. The earth dragon fell onto his back with his dragoness on top of him. The force of her falling on his chest caused another fit of coughing from the earth dragon but Candice paid it no mind. She squirmed her way out of the chains and began smothering his face with kisses.
"Tremor!" She sobbed as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"It's okay Candy," Tremor wheezed, stroking her crest. "Every thing is okay."
"I'm so sorry." She wept and collapsed onto his chest. She could hear for herself how labored his breathing was.
"Sorry for what?" Tremor craned his neck towards her with a raised brow.
"I'm sorry for what I said. I said that I hated you. But I don't! I love you Tremor! I love you more than I have the words for right now!"
"I love you Can..." Candice didn't wait to here him finish. She got up and pressed her lips to Tremor's as the hot, salty tears trickled down her muzzle and across Tremor's face.
Off to the side Gaia smiled at the sight before her. She could feel the love from her brother swell up inside her own spirit and she sighed deeply. The sound caused the guardian's to open their eyes and look up at her. Candice stepped off of Tremor allowing him to get back on his feet.
"Oh, don't stop on my account." Gaia giggled. The guardians laughed and Candice's cheeks flushed.
"Thanks for the help sis." Tremor smiled as he walked over to her. "I couldn't have done it without you two."
Gaia only smiled. "Thank you Tremor."
The earth guardian cocked his head curiously. "For what?"
Gaia thrust her head towards Candice. "For keeping your promise."
Candice's cheeks burned even more and Tremor joined her in the embarrassment. But he recovered quickly and smiled at his twin. "Anything for my sister."
"And I'm thankful you kept your promise to me." Candice purred nuzzling her mate's neck with her long, smooth horns. Gaia nodded in agreement.
"That's my brother Tremor for you." She giggled for a second but then stopped when the room shook. "You two should get moving. I think the others are going to need your help."
"Good idea." Candice nodded. She and Tremor started towards the iron doors.
Tremor stopped and turned to look back at his sister. "Rest in peace, Gaia." He sighed as tears trickled down his cheek.
"I will." Gaia nodded. "Though I'll still be around." The two guardians watched as she began to merge back with Tremor. "By the way, mom says 'hello'." Tremor only chuckled as she vanished from sight. He felt her power swell up inside him and he took a deep breath. He coughed hard as he exhaled and Candice gave him a worried stare.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Tremor assured her. "Just a little winded." As usual, the earth dragon didn't realize the severity of his cough. "Let's get out of here!" Candice nodded with a determined smile. "Stand back." Tremor stepped closer to the door and took in a deep breath.
The guards outside the door heard the thunderous roar and covered their ears as the heavy iron doors were blown from their hinges. The wolves barked and yelped in surprise as dust filled the dungeon. The dust suddenly turned to ice and the yelps of surprise quickly turned to cries of pain when the particles stung their eyes. A low growl echoed throughout the cell block. The wolves froze, not from fear but from a blast of dragon ice breath.
"We're clear!" Candice called and stepped delicately between the frozen bodies. "Let's move!"
"I'm right behind you sweetheart." Tremor chuckled, stifling another cough.
"Hey! Wait! Get me out of here!" A familiar voice called. The guardians stopped where they were and looked at each other.
"Who said that?" Tremor inquired and looked around the dimly lit chamber.
"Up here!" The voice called again. The two dragons turned their eye up to the ceiling to see a lantern with a golden yellow dragonfly pressed against the glass staring down at them.
"Sparx?"
"No. I'm the other dragonfly that hangs out with you guardians, Wallace. Pleased to meet you!"
"Wow, they turned you into a lantern?" Candice nearly burst out laughing.
"You know, the longer you stare, the longer I'm up here!"
"Alright, alright." Tremor sighed. "We'll get you down. Candice?"
"You got it!" The ice dragoness spat a single spike that shot through the glass bottom of the lantern. Sparx hugged the sides to avoid getting impaled in the process before slipping through the hole in the bottom.
"Boy, that was close." He whistled and brushed the back of his hand against his forehead.
"Does that happen often?" Tremor inquired jokingly.
"More often than I like," Sparx grumbled.
"I guess the bad guys know a good thing when they see it." Candice chuckled.
"Yeah yeah yeah. Can we get going?" Sparx demanded.
"Works for me." Tremor nodded and charged down the hall.