Reticence Saga
Wings of Change
Chapter 4: Megan's Edification
Megan Roph was a known prodigy of the mystic arts before she was exposed to the Virk virus. She may have bumbled some spells, but everyone knew her potency. Now that potency was coupled with the considerable elemental power of the shadow dragon. Such power can't just be ignored.
Zara had been in favor of depowering Megan and throwing her in the dungeon caverns for good measure. Fortunately, Spyro was made to see reason and instead had her sent to the Khan Academy instead.
The Khan had originally had a small camp in the city, but after the virus had mutated the majority of the population, suddenly their business had skyrocketed. Now they were based on an island several miles from the city, several Atlantean buildings inside a walled compound visible as Megan's shuttle circled. "Never thought I'd be in school again," said Megan.
"Descending...please stand by," said the shuttle computer.
"It won't be so bad," said Gary, "At least you'll be training with heroes instead of fighting them."
"It just stinks that I can't even come home at night cause it's a 4 bloody hour flight," snapped Megan darkly, adding gloomily, "I'm gonna miss you."
"I would stay if I could," said Gary, "But I am but a simple weregoyle. I have no real element."
Megan said stubbornly, "I'll call every day." before hugging Gary.
"And I will come over at once if you call is more than 10 minutes late," said Gary fervently.
"Gary, you don't really think anything's going to happen to me, do you?" asked Megan.
"I don't know. We were supposed to be safe on that ship," said Gary, the shuttle landing with a thud and the back opening onto an open field, dragons in both anthro and feral shape going back and forth, some chatting, some alone.
In front of the ship was a smiling earth dragon. "Xander," said Megan happily, the dragon nodding.
"Miss Roph, so you are the new student?" he said in his usual soothing voice.
"Well, you'll find I already know a lot," said Megan, making a shadowy flame appear in her hand. "That's good to know. That means we can skip some of the basics and move you onto the more advanced classes," said Xander.
Megan's smile froze a little. "Well...how hard could they be?" asked Megan. Xander and Gary both winced at that.
Megan walked into her new class, at an open colosseum style sitting, a sign saying 'feral forms only'. Several dragons were already laid down on cushions, Megan looking around, feeling her confidence failing as she saw a fire dragoness and her friends making little constructs out of their elements
"Do I really have to go feral?" asked Megan. She sighed, concentrating and yelping as she fell onto her new front paws. Megan stood out quite a bit in her dragon form. She had four front legs, five eyes, and instead of having horns, her scalp was covered with closely clustered red spikes. She noticed their looks before concentrating, two of her extra arms retracting into her sides before she waved nervously as all the other students stared at her.
Megan sighed before closing three of her eyes. Some people were so sensitive about oddities. She went over to a cushion and curled up, covering her head in embarrassment before she heard a cheerful voice say, "That seat taken?"
Megan looked to see who she thought, at first, was a younger Cynder before realizing her proportions were wrong. She was also a darker color than Cynder, probably closer to what Cynder was when she was younger. Cynder did end up nearly purple after all that time she spent with Spyro. "Hi there...you new too?" said the dragoness, sitting down next to Megan.
"Yeah, kinda need to catch up on some stuff," said Megan.
"New student here," said the dragoness, before extending a forepaw. "My named Umbra...from Dragonridge Town in one of the Aurora Islands," she said cheerfully.
"I'm Megan, I'm with Captain Lynch's crew," said Megan, awkwardly grasping Umbra's forepaw, "You'd think they at least allow us to keep our thumbs."
"Professor Xander says we should not forget who we were even with this weird illness," said Umbra.
"But I was originally human," said Megan.
"Oh, that explains your name," said Umbra.
"So...I didn't know there were towns other than Warfang," said Megan.
Umbra shrugged, "We were out of the way enough to not get noticed by the apes."
"Oh yeah, I forgot you have a primate problem," said Megan.
"Had," said Umbra, "Malefor cursed the apes after he was freed."
"Frankly, I think we still have a primate problem," said another dragon, "The furless kind."
Megan turned to glower at that. An ice dragon was giving her a sneer. "You can't say you humans are bringing more problems than you fix," said the dragon.
"Only one third human, iceberg," snapped Megan, eyes glowing red.
"Oh, I'm sure the other third enriches your blood," said the ice dragon sarcastically.
Megan growled, Umbra prodding her, "Hey...just ignore Frostra over there. She's from Warfang and thinks the core revolves around her."
"She wouldn't happen to be related to Cyril, would she?" asked Megan.
"She wishes," laughed Umbra.
"But I just know they'll be wanting me to enrich their lineage," said Frostra, "After all, a family like that only deserves the highest breeding."
Megan glared harder at that, muttering as a human walked in, who she spotted as Morgan. Frostra also noted, making a look of annoyance and disgust. "Ok, students, I see we have a few new faces here," said Morgan.
"Oh please...it's just some bumpkin and a human mongrel," sneered Frostra, adding, "Hardly worthy of being a Shar." Megan had the presence of mind to move her seat a little further from Frostra.
"Frostra, is it? Of the Icicle clan, yes?" said Morgan, as if he hadn't just been insulted. "I'm sure you've heard of us," said Frostra.
"Yes, yes I have and it doesn't mean a jot. Here you're a cadet, you all are...and you're family. You'll work and train together and some of you will become Shar," said Morgan confidently.
"What do you mean 'some'?" asked Megan.
"Becoming a Shar is not an easy task, Cadet Roph. It's not for everyone," said Morgan.
Frostra smirked. "Daddy made sure I had the best training as soon as we got evolved," she said smugly.
'If she ends up my roommate, I am going to scream my lungs out,' thought Megan.
"I'm sure you got plenty of amateur training but that's not going to give you that kind of control. Some elements may seem superior, like ice against water, but against a trained warrior..." began Morgan.
Frostra twitched before screaming as her ice construct melted into water and splashed all over her. Megan was half-expecting some makeup to wash away as well. "My father will hear about this and you'll be sweeping my room before the day is EEK!" snapped Frostra on a 'spoiled rich girl' rant before Morgan's form rippled like water and grew into a sea blue dragon, whose eyes were narrowed.
"By the way, were you aware that Morgan is one of the most experienced veterans still around?" asked Megan.
"Indeed, Miss Roph. Most of the New Order have been trained by me and Professor Xander, Miss Frostra. Many began their lives as humans. So if you will struggle to work with 'human scum', then you may leave and we can arrange a shuttle back to New Warfang," said Morgan smugly.
Morgan then turned to the rest of the class and asked, "Does anyone else have a problem with our faculty?" There was silence, Frostra glaring though not leaving. "Good, now, let's welcome our three new entrants. First, the illustrious Miss Frostra," said Morgan, with a hint of sarcasm.
There was a small amount of applause for her. Frostra strutted down, sneering at Megan before stepping onto the stage. "Ok...show me some elemental control so I know what level to put your training at," said Morgan. Frostra took in a deep breath before blowing out. The cold air swirled around in a circle before it formed into a large ice disc. "And what use is this?" asked Morgan.
"Have you ever seen such a perfect reflection?" asked Frostra, looking at herself.
"Somehow, I expected this," said Megan, "I thought I was exaggerating to myself, but I knew to expect this."
"Ok...beginner level. Umbra of the Blackwing clan," said Morgan, Umbra gulping and gliding down, looking nervous. "It's ok, little one. Just so what you can," said Morgan kindly.
Umbra concentrating before everything went pitchblack. There was a long moment of quiet before they heard someone yelping, following by the sound of a slap. Megan tried opening her infra red eye, only for that to fail too, before the blackness contracted, flowing back into Umbra.
"Very good indeed, level 2. It's good but you need control," said Morgan, the only one unphased. "And last, but not least, Megan Roph of the NSC Bladestorm," said Morgan.
Megan gulped, the dragons whispering things, Megan hearing a couple muttering, "Isn't that the ship that lost the legendary dragon's daughter?" Megan glared, but also gulping.
"Miss Roph, at your own pace," said Morgan.
Megan gulped, concentrating. That light dragoness she'd become against Lady Nega would be perfect...but it wasn't coming. She could feel it...faintly...as well as it not budging.
"Well, that shows what happens when you let the bloodstreams muddy," said Frostra with a sneer.
"Frostra!" snapped Morgan, before Megan snapped, the lights starting to flicker, red eyes appearing in the shadows...before something clipped her across the horns, the eyes vanishing. "Level 2, with Miss Umbra," said Morgan, adding, "Miss Megan...a word after class."
"Uh, sure thing," said Megan.
The rest of the lesson was basic controls and other tests, till a hum was heard and the dragons began to leave, Umbra staying with her. "Hey, that fury wasn't your fault. That wyrm pushed your buttons and I'm gonna back you up," said Umbra with a smile, before Morgan came into view.
"Miss blackwing, you can go," said Morgan.
Umbra sat down with a frown. "I'm here to support Megan," she said sulkily, putting her snout in the air, Megan smiling.
"Fine, but I'll be making Megan your roommate. This conversation does not leave the three of us." He sat down, before saying, "Miss Roph, that fury was impressive to be sure, a level 4 at least. But there's powerful dragons watching you. They want you to get the works."
"What do you mean by 'the works'?" asked Megan.
"Full training, especially in mental control." said Mogan.
Megan growled, "I'm not Lady NegaMorph anymore."
"So you're not keeping that name?" asked Morgan.
"Hell no. She's insane," snapped Megan.
Morgan nodded. "Be careful about provocations too. Miss Frostra's father is a blowhard...but there are others with better connections," he warned.
"I get it," said Megan, "Besides, I'm sure I won't have to worry about Frostra long. She's bound to be drummed out of here."
"Hopefully. I'll certainly recommend that," said Morgan, adding, "She has all the makings of a Shar-Virk if you ask me."
The dorm room was pretty well made, Umbra in her anthro form the moment she stepped through, going to a wardrobe to pull on some clothing. "So...what's your hometown like?" asked Megan, shifting back to her clothed anthro form.
"Boring. My parents had to fight in the Malefor War and...well it was just me and someone from Warfang came to our town...spread the Virk plague."
"Yeah, that thing's caused a lot of problems," said Megan.
"Oh, I wouldn't say that," said Umbra, "I mean, look how I turned out." Megan looked her up and down. Umbra was quite a looker for an anthro, a smile on her face and currently just in a bra and pants. "Sooo...what was this Lady Nega? Was there a Lord Nega?" she asked cheerfully, jumping onto one of the beds.
"She was an identity that I used to have, until she gained a personality I couldn't stand," said Megan.
"Ah, read about them in the introduction notes, an other," said Umbra.
"Yeah, at least here they have amulets that help you keep them under control," said Megan, "And I was way out of control."
"Oh, that's so sad," said Umbra sadly, jumping down and giving Megan a hug...which was a little awkward as she was a head taller, before she let go. "Least that asshat Frostra's gone."
The two, in feral form, walked into the cafeteria, the smell of bacon and eggs wafting around. Megan felt a little better. By now Frostra was back home being a brat in Warfang instead of at that table over there what the hell?
The last three words were said out loud, staring to see Frostra, surrounded by a lightning, earth and fire dragoness each. "What the heck? What's she doing here?" she grumbled.
Frostra was saying "-and of course Daddy called his friends on the Council immediately. Any school that throws me out over some human clearly didn't deserve funding, he said. So now I've been reassessed and am in level 2 by one of his personal trainers."
Megan groaned and said, "Oh great. I should have known it wouldn't have been that easy to get of Malfoy there."
Umbra gave her a confused look, "Malfoy?"
"It's a reference from a book series," said Megan, "It's a good series but it can be pretty polarizing."
"Oh...maybe she'll fall off the island?" asked Umbra hopefully.
"She has wings," said Megan.
Umbra twitched, her amulet glowing for a second as she said, "Not if they're broken," before her eyes turned back. "Sorry, I'm still waiting for my treatment. My other's called Kevin."
'Kevin' snapped, "I told you, I am not called Kevin."
"You're not that familiar with human gender name relations, are you?" asked Megan.
"Oh I am, I just like to annoy Kevin," said Umbra happily.
Kevin snapped, "I fucking knew it!"
"Well, I hope on getting my amulet long before my new other develops," said Megan.
"Wait, you got rid of your other?" asked Umbra.
"She's a garter snake in a zoo in another dimension," said Megan innocently.
Umbra and Kevin said via the same mouth, "Cooool."
Unfortunately, Frostra noticed Megan and Umbra just then. "Well, well, look what the wyvern dragged in," said Frostra.
"You do know wyverns are aligned with the elementals now, right?" asked Megan pointedly.
"Huh...proof even animals can do magic," Frostra sneered, her gang sniggering.
"Aren't you aware that part of being a Shar-Khan is tact and diplomacy?" asked Umbra.
"And about making sure the natural order is correct," said Frostra loftily, her snout in the air.
"Not the sort you're thinking of." said Megan icily
"What would you know about order, you asymmetrical drab?" asked Frosta.
"Hey, I'm not asymmetrical!" snapped Megan. 'Not anymore,' she thought. A second later, some scrambled egg hit her in the side of the head, courtesy of the fire dragoness, the four laughing as Megan glared.
"Oh, you do not want to start a food fight with me," said Megan.
"You think we can't take you?" sneered the electricity dragon.
"Nope," said Megan before her eyes glowed white, "Because you don't want to waste that food you have."
Frostra stared as her friends got green eyes and threw themselves into their food, Electra literally swan diving into her eggs. "Hey, you stop that," she said fearfully.
"Oh, I'm sure they'll stop when they've run out of things to eat," said Megan. Frostra growled before lunging at Megan with a snarl.
The head of the Academy was apparently one of the Council. Frankly, it was no longer a surprise when new students started trouble. It was almost a rite of passage. But this one did have a unique spin on it. "You're gonna get it now," muttered Frostra coldly, nursing a black eye.
"I wasn't the one who threw the first punch," said Megan.
"Yeah, but who'd believe you?" sneered Frostra before a female voice said "Who indeed?"
Megan facepalming as Zara, in her feral form, strode in. "From what I understand, Miss Frostra was completely provoked," she sneered.
"You? How can you be the head of the Academy? I thought Council duty took up all of your time?" asked Megan.
"Mr. Spyro is handling things while I make sure troublemakers are rooted out. These Shar have rose-tinted glasses on," sneered Zara, looking at the report. "So...thrown egg?" she said in a mockingly-disbelieving voice.
"Ok, where's Xander? I want a fair opinion," said Megan.
"Mr. Xander has better things to do," snapped Zara, adding, "Than handle unprovoked fights...eggs? Miss Frostra, do you have an account?"
"Me and my friends were only talking," said Frostra.
"Oh that's bull-" began Megan before yelping as Zara snarled at her.
Frostra smirked briefly before sniffing, "And then...they just attacked us." She even managed some crocodile tears.
Zara smiled. "Ok, that's all, you can go. As for you, Miss Roph. I think being restricted from any of the voluntary entertainment groups should do...and just be glad that Mr. Spyro would deny me locking you up in Warfang Caverns," she said smoothly.
"This couldn't be more blatantly unfair," said Megan.
"I could always expel you. You'd have to be locked up till your powers could be drained," sneered Zara.
Megan yelped, "But the docs said it can;t be removed without hurting-"
Zara interrupted, "Do I look like I care if you'd survive?"
"You couldn't be a worse head for this Academy!" snapped Megan, "I wish you would just take a ride on a rocket!"
"Huh...and I wish my people would see sense and ki-" Zara snapped before vanishing in a flash of white light.
Megan looked around, expecting Zara to reappear. Then she said loudly, "I wish I had a brand new electric hovercar!"
She sighed before looking at an action sheet for the accident, before looking both ways and writing '3 weeks detention' in Frostra's before posting them and running off cackling.
But the Khan Academy wasn't just about typical high school power struggles. There were still classes and they were quite the challenge.
Megan and Umbra staggered out of the physical fitness one in their anthro forms, which was more closer to combat training. The two were now with training ion blades, which could only stun, and covered in small scorches from the training blasters.
"I don't like P.E.," groaned Umbra dizzily, having taken a few training blasts to the head and, as a result, was currently visiting planet concussion.
"I'm definitely more of a mage than a fighter," groaned Megan.
"Least Frostra got knocked out cold," said Umbra happily.
"I hope she broke a nail. Urgh...I'm never gonna get this," grumbled Megan. It hadn't helped her mood that Zara's punishment had been cleared.
While the other members of the faculty were far more lenient, they frowned upon using 'dark magic' on other students. The two turned the corner to their room to see a scroll in front of it. Megan picked it up and saw it had her name on it. "This better not be from Frostra or her gang," she grumbled.
She flicked it open to see some neat handwriting that read, "To Miss Roph, if you want to learn true skills, then come to the quad after sundown. Signed, a friend."
Umbra looked at it, saying, "Doesn't look like Frostra's claw-writing."
"Yeah, but it could easily be a trick to put me in a humiliating trap," said Megan.
"I'll come with you then," said Umbra calmly.
"Ok, at least someone will be able to go for help," said Megan.
The two stepped out of shadow walk into the quad, the moon shining down. "Urgh...ok, if I was setting a trap, I'd have told security someone would be out of bed so if you see a light-" began Megan, Umbra staring and pointing.
Megan sighed, turning and staring, a mauve dragon laying on the teacher's cushion with an interesting look. "Oh, by all means, continue," he said in a suave voice, Umbra saying "Woof' distantly, Megan's dragon side mentally echoing the response. As far as dragons went, he was extremely good looking, confirmed when he gave them a smile.
"You the person who sent the note?" Megan finally managed.
The dragon nodded, "I am, Miss Roph...and who's your friend?"
Umbra said with a happy grin, "Wurble."
"She means Umbra," said Megan.
"Ah. My name is Noctus, oh lovely dragonesses," the dragon said smoothly. Megan's eye twitching before he continued, "And I couldn't help but notice your skills...such untapped power. With the right lessons..."
"I'm just taking a refresher course," said Megan, "I'll be up to proper training level in no time."
"Oh please. You have much better potential and I am willing to teach you," said Noctus, waving a claw and making several shadow constructs appear, some acting out her adventures, others just showing a fictional Megan as a hero.
Ok, how long have you been spying on me?" asked Megan.
"I know where all shadow dragons are," said Noctus.
Umbra's eyes widened. "Er...Megan?" she said.
"That just makes you creepier," said Megan.
"Megan? I think I know which Noctus he is." said Umbra carefully.
"What do you mean 'which Notcus'?" asked Megan.
"Noctus, the Prime of Shadows," said Umbra carefully.
Noctus nodded, "Ah. Someone does remember the Primes," he said.
"Wait, you have gods here?" asked Megan.
"We prefer to be called the Primes, the first element users," said Noctus, adding, "And who else can teach you about shadow element magic better than me?"
"I dunno, maybe Cynder?" said Megan.
"Cynder is not one of mine anymore," said Noctus darkly before he perked up again, "My offer: be my apprentice and learn true power, power to use as you see fit."
"What's the catch?" asked Megan.
"No catch, just lessons. Every night here. Your friend can come if she wants too," said Noctus calmly.
Megan narrowed her eyes. This deal sounded way too good to be true. If there was one thing she'd learned from Lady NegaMorph, it's to not immediately take up people's offers.
"I give you my word as a dragon, you will learn knowledge from me," said Noctus with a solemn bow of his head. There were plenty of unsaid things in that promise.
"Hey, this guy is one of the Primes," said Umbra, "He wouldn't even be one if he wasn't honorable."
Megan sighed before relenting. "Ok, but no funny business. I'm spoken for," she snapped.
Noctus chuckled. "I'm flattered by the hint from such a fetching dragoness but you're a little young for me," he said.
"And how old are you?" asked Megan.
"15,724 last month," said Noctus promptly.
"Oh," said Megan. That was quite a bit old. Gary's first life was only 300 years or so ago.
"If we are finished playing a rousing game of 'who is the oldest?' then let us begin the lesson..." said Noctus.
The next few days were...weird at first. Megan was sure that Umbra's posters of Spyro changed to a dragoness and back the next day but eventually put it down to the funny-tasting coffee.
Noctus was also strange...though he was a complete gentleman. She was definitely learning from him.
Xander nodded in approval as Megan made a perfect shadow construct shaped like a tiny Cynder, to polite applause from the students, though Frostra and her cheerleaders weren't among them. "You're making quite a bit of progress," said Xander.
"Enough to go up a rank or two?" asked Megan.
Umbra was already smiling, having gotten similar praise when she'd gone before Megan. She'd been taking notes as well and was proving quite the natural. "Indeed. Your ion blade usage needs work but the rest is going wonderfully," said Xander, a smug snort, barely heard coming from Frostra, which Xander chose tactfully to ignore.
"I'm not quite sure if the ion blade is really my weapon of choice," said Megan.
"There are other weapons, but a Shar needs a weapon for their anthro form, when they have to enter spaces too small for the feral," said Xander calmly.
"I've got plenty of other skills for my anthro form," said Megan.
"And what would you do if you were against a foe that was impervious to magic or in a situation that you couldn't use your shadow powers?" asked Xander.
Megan sighed, "Ok, I get it, but shadows are everywhere."
"A clever opponent would know how to keep you from calling them," said Xander, "Such as being in a very well-lit area." A buzz was heard. "And that is the last lesson for the day. Off you go, everyone," said Xander with a smile.
Megan and Umbra got together as soon as they were out. "Did you see Frostra's face? I thought she was gonna spit snowballs." laughed Umbra, the two's wings over each other's backs as they laughed.
"I'm betting it's taking all her effort just to stay in Rank 2," said Megan.
The two turned into an empty corridor and yelped as a thin wall of ice blocked their way, turning to see Frostra and her entourage glaring. "I want a word, girls," said Frostra, the foursome in their anthro forms and holding their training ion blades.
Megan shifted into her own anthro form and asked, "Do you really want to start this?" The fire dragoness, Barb, flicked a light on, light crystals brightening and banishing the shadows. "Oh, you've been paying attention in class, good for you," said Megan in a condescending tone.
Umbra gulped. "Megan? I think Frostra means business," she said nervously.
Frostra smirked. "That's right. There's no way some half-human...freak like you and some country bumpkin could do better than a high breed like me without cheating," she sneered.
Megan twitched a bit at that and said, "You're very lucky my uncle isn't here to hear that. Because if he did, you'd be covering this hallway more than the ice."
"Huh...and I think for that, unless you don't want to be arrested, you'll just leave. Maybe go to the bumpkin's little gem farm town? Nobody'd miss you," sneered Frostra, before the lightning crystals began to dim.
"You want to know how I'm doing better? It's because I study, practice, and seek help," said Megan, "I don't expect everything to be handed to me on a platter. Have you really ever earned anything or do you just coast through life because of who your parents are?"
"How...DARE YOU?!" snapped Frostra, an icicle forming beside her head and shooting at Megan, only for it to be blocked by a shadow construct, the foursome realizing the light crystals were coated in shadow energy
"I'm mostly here to hone my skills," said Megan, "When it comes to sheer power..." The floor suddenly became darkness that Frostra and her gang started sinking into like tar. "I've been holding back!" said Megan, her voice echoing.
"Megan? Megan, this isn't funny," gulped Umbra, shaking the sadistically-grinning Megan as the girls screamed, trying to fly free.
"I think I'd be doing the world a favor," said Megan with a sneer.
"Megan, stop! This isn't you!" yelped Umbra, shaking Megan before sighing and slapping her. Megan blinked before closing her extra eyes.
The shadows also retracted, the girls in the fetal position, their scales slightly bleached and shivering and mumbling. "Ok, maybe that was a little too far," said Megan.
"I think we need to talk to Noctus and I know how to summon him early. We need to get to the basement," said Umbra, dragging Megan sternly away before any staff turned up.
"Yeah, I think we do," said Megan.
Noctus seemed to melt out of the shadows, yawning before noticing the plate of roast mutton in the shadow in front of him. "Ooooh...been a while since someone gave me an offering," he said cheerfully, noticing Megan glaring at Umbra.
Megan said, "That...was the summon ritual?"
"The big ceremonial rituals went out of style ages ago," said Umbra.
"What are you talking about? That is the ritual," said Noctus, gobbling up the last of the mutton before he said, "Now then. What seems to be the problem?"
"I think you neglected to mention some of the side effects of this shadow magic you're teaching me," said Megan.
"Such as?" asked Noctus.
"How about I nearly flipped out and sent some girls into a world of darkness?" snapped Megan.
"Didn't they deserve it?" asked Noctus.
"Well...yeah but-" began Megan, Noctus saying "So what's the problem?"
"I didn't want to kill them!" snapped Megan.
"But they aren't dead," said Noctus.
"Stop avoiding the question! That dark power nearly made me go, well, dark!" snapped Megan.
Noctus frowned at that, "Hmm...it is true that we shadow dragons walk a fine line. Before I became the Prime of my clan, my people had a spell to help whelpings who had control issues."
Umbra said, "Yeaaah." only for Noctus to say "I'm sorry, were you around 15,000 years ago?"
"I had good control," said Megan.
"Up until you didn't," said Noctus. Megan sighed, Noctus said kindly, "Everyone has their upper limit when it comes to control. It's not a sign of weakness."
"So how is this spell supposed to help me?" asked Megan.
"It's nothing that can be really be explained," said Noctus. With that he took her paw, Megan noticing a glowing rune on his palm before he began to growl something.
It didn't take long for Megan to sense magic in the air, before Umbra yelled "Megan, let go!"
Megan tried to pull her hand back, but Notcus held her tighter. "Hey, let go!" snapped Megan. Noctus didn't seem to hear her, the shadows rising around to obscure the two, though flashes were seen inside, Umbra being blown back as it exploded out, a young shadow dragon being tossed out too.
The shadow swirled around a central point before falling down. Standing there was an anthro shadow dragoness who had the figure of a supermodel, a particularly busty one at that. Of course, she had more discernible traits such as four arms, five eyes, a head covered in long red tentacles with spiked tips, a pattern of scales on her belly that looked like an 'N', and the tip of her tail was shaped like a smaller dragon's head.
"Er...Megan?" said Umbra carefully.
The dragoness looked down at the N and snapping in a woman's voice "Really? An N? Why not include a big sign as well?" A shadow construct of the aforementioned sign appeared as well.
"Megan, how long were you in there?" asked Umbra.
"Only a second...BUGGER OFF!" snapped the dragoness, waving angrily through the construct sign which exploded into nothing, the N vanishing before she concentrated, some of her extras vanishing till she seemed like a normal anthro dragoness, albeit one that other dragonesses would kill to look like. "This part could be useful at least," she muttered.
Then some mad laughter got the two's attention, the young dragon laughing in a higher-pitched but clearly Noctus's voice. "Finally...finally, I don't have to put up with those idiots anymore," he giggled.
"Wait, what's going on here?" asked Megan.
"Ah, ah, ah...you're not Megan anymore. Oi, kid, say who she is," laughed Noctus.
Umbra said, "She's Noctus...I mean Megan...oh crud." covering her snout in worry.
"I can't be Noctus!" snapped Megan.
"Well, you can call yourself 'Nocta' if you want. It's not my business anymore," gloated Noctus.
"What did you do?" snarled Nocta.
Noctus said, "The name's Craiv...I think. I've been called Noctus so long I've forgotten. Umbra can tell you."
"Primes...pass on their titles, and everything related when they want...but someone has to agree," said Umbra nervously.
"And you didn't think to tell me about this before?!" snapped Nocta.
"You wouldn't have agreed. I never lied. I said you'd learn the ultimate knowledge of controlling your element. Now you do," said Craiv.
"Actually, that question was directed at her," said Nocta, glaring at Umbra.
"I didn't know he was gonna do that," said Umbra sadly.
Craiv said, "Course she didn't. I didn't let her realize. I was the Prime of shadow dragons. You think I can't make one little brat forgetful?"
"Then why don't I make you take back your godhood?" snapped Notca, holding out her hand.
Craiv didn't take it. He smirked. "One of the parting gifts from leaving the Primes," said Craiv, "I'm no longer bound to listen to the Primes anymore. Call it a retirement bonus. Now if you excuse me, I have a life to live," he said, trotting into a patch of sunlight smugly.
"You get back here!" snapped Nocta, reaching a hand out for him. However, as soon as it passed into the sunlight, it became an insubstantial shadow.
"Oops...did I forget that part?" sneered Craiv, flying up to a window, before pausing and landing, trotting over to a fire alarm, grinning.
"You're not leaving me like this!" snapped Nocta.
"Uh, pardon my ignorance, but what exactly are the downsides of this?" asked Umbra.
"Oh, she'll find out soon enough," said Craiv.
With that, Craiv punched the fire alarm crystal, the lights in the basement blazing into life before he flew out the window. Umbra turned to look at Nocta, who was now only a 2D shadow. "Oh, I guess that's one drawback," she said.
Nocta was yelling silently and, judging from the gestures, wasn't happy before she seemed to fade away.
Unregistered planetary chunk
Avalar
Nocta faded into existence, still screaming "-With a spiked barge pole!" before she paused, noticing several dragons and dragonesses, one of each flight looking at her, an almost black and fire orange dragoness saying cheerfully "Oh please. Don't let me break your flow, honey."
"Who the heck are you?!" snapped Megan/Nocta.
"My name's Pyraclast, or just Pyra if you want, Goddess of Fire dragons and volcanoes. The Ice queen over there is Glaice," said the fire dragoness, pointing to the only dragon not interested, reading a book who waved.
"Charmed," she said in a lofty voice.
"Oooh...a word, she must like you," said Pyra cheekily. "It's so nice to have another dragoness Prime, let me show you the others. That's Aqua over there," said Pyra, pointing.
"Let me guess, Goddess of the Sea and Water Dragons?" asked Nocta.
"Yeah, pretty obvious, but she's actually in charge of lakes and rivers," said Pyra.
"And I am Phobia, Goddess of Fear and Terror!" said a spindly dragoness with a very loud voice.
"Don't try to fool the newcomer, Sona," said Aqua, "We know you're just the Goddess of Sound."
"Scary and terrifying sounds," said Sona defensively.
A yellow dragon was lounging in the sun as they passed. "That's Fulgur, god of thunderstorms and electricity," sighed Pyra. Fulgur, eyes still closed, waved before dropping the hand. Two green dragons were sitting and giving each other a stare. "That's Toxainu and Geon, poison and earth respectively. They were twins when they joined our happy family. We still can't tell 'em apart," said Pyra
Then a silvery dragon flew up to Nocta and said, "Nice to meet you. I'm Ventus, God of the Wind, Air, Weather, Storms, Sky, Messengers, Messages, Speed..."
"Ok, ok, I get it!" snapped Nocta.
"Ventus, we're off to meet the big guy," said Pyra
"Ooh, no one's been over to see him for centuries. I thought we were giving him the cold shoulder over-" started Ventus.
"This is a different age," said Pyra.
Nocta frowned as she flew with Pyra across the island towards a small cave. "Hey, Autenum!" called Pyra.
Nocta counted on her fingers and asked, "Which element's left?"
"Pyra, you know I don't like visitors," sighed a cultured voice.
"But it's a new Prime," said Pyra.
"Ok...ok..." sighed the voice, a shape seen in the shadows getting closer, purple scales visible.
"Wait, there's even a god for that kind of dragon?" asked Nocta.
"Convexity is indeed an element," said Autenum calmly, looking like what Spyro might look like when he gets to the Guardians' ages.
"Huh, does that make you king of the gods?" asked Nocta.
"I suppose," sighed Aunetum.
"Good, then you can help me get that jerk who duped me into this job," said Nocta.
"Afraid not. You agreed to the spell," said Aunetum calmly.
"I had no idea what I was getting into!" snapped Nocta.
"Ever heard of reading the fine print?" said Aunetum, turning to go back into his cave.
"Oh no, you are not turning your back on me like that!" snapped Nocta, grabbing Aunetum by the tail.
There was a flash of convexity energy and she was thrown back, Pyra helping her up. "Easy, Aunetum's a bit moody at the best of times, comes from seeing all but one of your clan turn to the dark," she said kindly.
"I thought there was only one purple dragon per generation," said Nocta.
"That's enough." said Pyra, adding, "And most of them go evil."
"Thankfully, Spyro's proven too noble," said Nocta, "But I still want out of this scam."
"Yeah...no...the spell has to be passed on to someone willing," said Pyra sadly.
"And that jerk Craiv didn't tell me what he was up to. He just told me it was a spell to help shadow dragons maintain control," snapped Nocta.
"So that's what his name was. Well, shadow dragons for a while weren't popular, not the most thankful job," said Pyra.
"Yeah, not being able to walk under the sun is a pretty big drawback," snapped Notca.
"The sun's fine here in the Artisans. But the outside world, yeah. I can't even go into a forest without setting it on fire," grumbled Pyra, adding, "My hometown was in a forest. Everything was made of wood. Of course then those alien robots blew it up when the dragons hid their eggs there."
"Yeah, I'm not planning on staying here any longer than I have to," said Nocta.
"Now, now, there are advantages to being one of us," said Pyra, "You're completely immortal here."
"Yeah, an eternity with nothing to do," said Nocta flatly.
"You have company...and the boys aren't that nasty on the eyes," said Pyra.
Nocta sighed, "Yeah...but I've got someone back home."
"Oh, most of us did," said Pyra, "But we have to accept-"
"Nope, I'm not accepting," snapped Nocta, "I'm getting out of this apathetic pantheon ASAP."
Pyra froze, her smile getting an edge. "I know I didn't hear you say that," she said manically, a faint rumble from a nearby mountain heard.
"What good is being a god if you don't do anything?" snapped Megan, "It's no wonder I've never heard of any of you if you waste all of eternity here!"
"We literally keep the elements running..." snapped Pyra.
"That's it? The elements can't run themselves? No wonder Craiv wanted out of this dead-end business," snapped Nocta.
"Craiv was a jackass. The terror of the skies was able to steal elements from other dragons and give them to malefor. What if she'd gotten us?" said Pyra
"Hey! Cynder's a good dragoness! She had a rawer deal than people will admit, but she made the best of it and came out a success," snapped Nocta, "And I'm not about to settle for infinite ineffectualness here."
Pyra snarled. "You don't think we know that? But that doesn't change the fact that if Malefor had our elements, he wouldn't have needed the Destroyer," she snapped, gesturing around, "Look at this land. It's unlike anywhere on Avalar, yes?"
"How should I know?" asked Nocta, "I'm not even from Avalar, let alone seen all of it."
"This is all that's left of the last Avalar. It was all but destroyed when the Primes of the time had to fight," snapped Pyra.
"There's been more than one Avalar?" asked Nocta.
"Many versions..." said Pyra sadly.
Nocta sighed before looking at the assembled Primes. "Is this really all of you?" she asked, "Aren't there more elements?"
"There's one...new guy from about...10 years ago? Nice guy but his job keeps him very busy," said Pyra, adding, "He reminds me of my great-great-great-great-great-" Nocta raised an eyebrow as Pyra repeated herself like a broken record for a solid minute before finishing "-grandfather..."
"And his element?" asked Nocta.
"Time," said Pyra.
"Is that all? What about plasma or metal?" asked Nocta.
"No, those guys...left a long time ago. Look, for a happy life, don't mention it to Glaice. She had a...relationship with Plaix..." said Pyra.
Nocta nodded, "So...what's the time dragon's name?"
Pyra said, "He insisted on keeping his old name, Ignitus."
"Oh, good, not as far off the beaten path as I thought," said Nocta.
"Wait, you know him?" said Pyra.
Umbra was in a rather nervous state. Megan was one of the most noticed students in the Academy, for good or ill intents. So everyone was bound to notice when she disappeared.
"Shit, shit, shit," she muttered, walking through the corridor. There had been a few funny looks when Megan hadn't turned up. It was now lunch and she was sure other students were muttering, though what made her angrier was how smug Frostra and company were.
Of course, rumors were already starting to pop up. Megan had gone Virk again. Megan had been dragged off by demons. It was rumors undoubtedly started by Frostra that really got under Umbra's skin.
She needed to find help, people who knew how to deal with someone like Noctus...Craiv...wherever that little slimeball was.
But where could she find someone who would know how a devious, underhanded, double-crossing scumbag would think? Wait, what was Megan always saying about her uncle?
'Oh, he says he doesn't care, but I know he's the one sending me snacks.'
That probably wasn't it.
'You know, before he started reforming, he was a pretty nasty piece of work. At least he knows when to be nasty to people who deserve it. Or are annoying enough.'
Maybe that was it? She finished her meal before leaving and heading out. She needed to find a communicator. It shouldn't be that hard to get in touch with him. After all, he did have a rather unique name.
Morph yawned when the comm system in his room buzzed. "Is someone going to get that?" asked Morph. He sighed before activating it. "PlasMorph Pelakai...hello?" he said cheerfully
"Uh...I'm trying to reach a 'NegaMorph'," said the dragoness on the other end.
"Oh, easy mistake. This is 801, you want 802," said Morph cheerfully.
"Oh, ok," said the dragoness, "Is he at home right now?"
Morph said "One second," before he opened the door "NEGAMOOOORPH!" he yelled
"No need to shout," said NegaMorph in an annoyed tone.
"Call for you," called Morph.
NegaMorph phased in muttering. "What do you want?" he snapped.
"Uh, Mr. NegaMorph, I need your help with something," said Umbra, "You see, Megan's in a bit of trouble."
"Urgh. What's she done now?" sighed NegaMorph.
Umbra said, "You're not gonna like it."
"She was a supervillainess for months. What could be worse than that?" asked NegaMorph.
"Well, she was tricked into-" started Umbra before suddenly the connection was cut off.
NegaMorph paused, before tapping the controls, the words 'signal terminated at source' appearing. "Hmm...looks like I'm going to school."
Umbra gulped as the line went dead, looking to see Frostra holding a cut wire, Craiv next to her. "See? Told you she was reporting you," he sneered.
"Frostra, do you even know who this guy is?" asked Umbra.
"He's a proper dragon who knows who to side with," said Frostra, Craiv smirking.
"Did he bother telling you about himself or did he just shower you with compliments so you wouldn't care?" asked Umbra.
"He told me you were going to lie about me bullying you again," said Frostra.
"Believe it or not, there are events in this Academy that do not involve you," said Umbra flatly.
"Said like a true commoner," sneered Frostra.
Craiv saying "In my t...town, we usually dealt with traitors by seeing they could fly without wings." His eyes glowed blue for a second.
"You can't be serious," said Umbra.
Frostra's eyes glowed the same color before she got an evil grin. "Sounds like a plan," she said, reaching forward, only for her shadow to wrap round her wrist.
"Ok, not sure what's going on here, but we're not about to do something incredibly stupid," said a harsh voice as something emerged from the shadows. Craiv swore, lowering into his shadow, as NegaMorph rose out of Frostra's. To Frostra's credit, she managed to keep her usual attitude for a whole minute. "So, who is this snowflake?" asked NegaMorph.
"That would be Frostra, the self-proclaimed princess here," said Umbra.
"Uh-huh, the stereotypical spoiled brat with rich and/or privileged background who bullies other girls just because she can?" asked NegaMorph, "Has she been giving Megan a bad time? Why haven't I heard of this?"
"Oh, Megan was worried about what you'd do to her," said Umbra.
He turned to glare at Frostra's whose glare faded away and she began to shake, before NegaMorph said with glee, "She should be, especially if this little brat has something to do with her vanishing act."
"Actually not her," said Umbra, "That would be his fault."
"Who's he?" asked NegaMorph darkly, Frostra yelping as she was tossed aside.
Umbra sighing before going into the story of Noctus, NegaMorph's left eyes getting a strange twitch that got worse as she got further, before Frostra made a mistake. "You little freak. I'll have you deported!" she snapped.
There was one particular story that Megan told Umbra: how she and her adoptive uncle first met. How she had been hanging out with a gang of street punks. How one had made an extremely unfortunate mistake of calling NegaMorph the 'f word' and how she barely avoided becoming part of the carnage. If Megan hadn't told Umbra about that, she wouldn't have had the time to shadow-vanish out of harm's way.
NegaMorph turned slowly to look at her. "Pardon?" he said with a smile.
"You heard me, you disgusting, disfigured freak!" snapped Frostra.
NegaMorph grinned...rather like how a shark grinned, before he had Frostra's shadow suck her down, NegaMorph firing a few fangs in for good measure before counting. He was rather proud of his self-control right then. A few years ago, he would have literally torn into her and let the EXP virus heal her...if she made it.
He spat out what looked like a white version of Melty out. "Now, what were you saying about me?" asked NegaMorph, allowing his hat and coat to dissolve, displaying all his mutated, twisted, asymmetrical nightmare of a form.
The experiment Frostra had turned into staring with bug eyes before screaming, turning to see her reflection and screaming again before fainting.
"Now then, where is that 'his' that other young lady was referring to?" asked NegaMorph.
Umbra phased back in and looked at Frostra. "What in Nocta did you do to her?" she asked in a scared voice.
"What I was designed to do," said NegaMorph.
"Will she stay like that?" asked Umbra, prodding Frostra.
NegaMorph shrugged. "I dunno. I used the temporary shots but I've never used them on an avalarian before," he said, Umbra shrugged
"Well, frankly she was only here because-" started Umbra. "Look, as much as I'd like to revel in her approaching misery, let's keep to priorities," said NegaMorph.
"Yeah, this Noctus, he's one of the Primes...dragons...well our gods. They pass on their title to willing successors...and Noctus tricked your niece into being his,"said Umbra, bracing for the rage.
"And I'm assuming there's a reason he would want to give up godhood," said NegaMorph.
"I wouldn't really know," said Umbra.
NegaMorph glared, before Umbra gulped "Nocta..." she began before shaking her head, "Noctus can't be seen outside shadow. In the light, she's barely visible...and then something dragged her off when she was in full light."
"Ok, so where's a place that's dark enough?" asked NegaMorph. Umbra thought before turning off the lights. "Gee, I could have done that, "muttered NegaMorph.
"Nocta?" called Umbra, before thinking. "We need a plate of mutton and two candles," she said in a voice of authority.
"Dribbly candles and 2 cc's of mouse blood?" asked NegaMorph.
"Where did you get that idea?" asked Umbra.
"I think I read it in a book somewhere," said NegaMorph.
"Candles yes...and what's a mouse?" said Umbra.
"Either you live in an isolated place or... Oh, whatever, I don't have time for this," snapped NegaMorph.
Nocta was not a happy dragon. She'd tried to write her old name only for it to come out as Nocta each time and she was sloooowly losing her temper.
"You won't be able to write your old name," said Glaice calmly, reading another book.
"Well I'm not giving up my individuality that easily," snapped Nocta.
"Look. You won't be able to. It was before I was a Prime. One Prime got sick of his followers shortening his name to Carl and cast a spell that makes it so only our Prime names can be said, us included," sighed Glaice, Nocta noticing the book said 'Cyril' on the cover. Glaice noticed her gaze. and said "Just keeping tabs on a descendant."
"When can I go see the Chronicler?" asked Nocta.
"You can't see him yet," said Glaice. "Why? Because you want me to conform to this eternal background to the rest of Avalar and forget about my humanity?" snapped Nocta.
"No, because it's still daytime at the Chronicler's island," said Glaice.
"Don't you have some way to communicate?" snapped Nocta angrily. The Chronicler could tell the others of her situation and kick Craiv around Warfang till he agreed to swap back.
"You're smart enough to figure it out on your own," said Glaice.
"Glaice...has anyone told you that you're a complete bi-" began Nocta before twitching, the smell of mutton coming to her and the air starting to ripple.
"Ooooh...looks like you're getting a summons..." said Glaice a little smugly.
"It better not be some devout worshiper trying to garner favor," said Nocta as she started letting herself dissipate, "I am not in the mood for bowing and scraping."
Nocta shimmered into view. "If the first thing you ask has a question mark at the end, I will smite you." she snapped, before seeing NegaMorph and Umbra.
NegaMorph glowered. "What...did...you...do?" he snarled.
"Uh, for the record, it was not my idea," said Nocta.
"That's it. When I find the little weasel, I'll make a pair of dragonskin boots out of him," snarled NegaMorph, his eyes glowing red.
"As much as I'd like to see that, I still need him to get out of this," said Nocta.
"Like hell, he'll be immortal again. He'll recover," snapped NegaMorph.
Nocta snapped in an echoing voice "NO!" Her shout made Umbra cower.
NegaMorph was not so impressed. "Megan Roph, you will stop that now!" he snapped.
Nocta blinked. "Wait...you said my name," she said happily.
"Why shouldn't I?" snapped NegaMorph.
"Umbra? What's my na...stop cowering, for Pete's sake," said Nocta.
Umbra twitched and stood up. "You're Nocta," she said.
Nocta turned to NegaMorph and asked, "Now you tell me my name."
"It's going to be 'Mud' if you don't stop this posturing," snapped NegaMorph.
"I'm being serious," snapped Nocta.
"It's Megan Roph. I don't know what your middle name is, but if you keep acting like this-" snapped NegaMorph.
"Oh thank Prime it's just local," sighed Nocta.
"Maybe it's because he's not a shadow dragon," said Umbra.
"Maybe it's because I'm not religious," said NegaMorph derisively.
"But you're a de-" began Umbra, Nocta covering Umbra's mouth.
"No...just no," Nocta warned.
"So where is the creep who conned her?" asked NegaMorph.
"I was hoping you two would have found him," said Nocta.
"But you're the Shadow Prime," said Umbra, "Shouldn't you know where all shadow dragons are?"
"He said he's not controlled by me. Guess it includes lo...no, wait, he's in the cafeteria," said Nocta calmly.
"How appropriate. Let's feed him his own wings," said NegaMorph.
"UNCLE!" snapped Nocta.
"What? I'd leave him alive," said NegaMorph.
"Uncle, we probably need him intact too," said Nocta.
"Oh, fine," grumbled NegaMorph.
Craiv meanwhile was trying to get an idea of how time had changed. Food had definitely improved, though it seemed those aliens had survived. Avalarian society seemed to be in an upheaval. Not just because of the tremendous advances in technology, but also many Avalarians now had access to a bipedal form closely resembling the aliens.
He also noticed that some dragons had turned into complete ape-heads, like the fire dragoness currently talking about herself to him. Of course, if there was one thing you picked up from being a Prime, it was how to tune out someone prattling and only pay attention to the important parts. Religious zealots have a tendency to go on and on and on.
It was for this reason he noticed Umbra walk in, his replacement following in spirit form and...was that one of the Destroyer's followers? Craiv had no idea what kind of monstrosity that thing in the coat and hat was. But it was radiating malice and Craiv had a feeling that it was directed towards him.
"There he is!" snapped the shadow dragoness.
Craiv gulped before turning to Barb. "Milady...as lovely as hearing you talk about yourself was, I need to flap," he yelped, jumping on the table and running for it. Several needlelike projectiles shot after him. Quite a few hit the dragonesses who soon collapsed into boneless heaps.
"Crapcrapcrapcrap!" he snapped, skidding round the corner. A wall of shadow leapt up in front of him. But Craiv wasn't impressed. He may not be a god, but no wall of shadows was a match for him. He leapt through the shadows easily and the one after that.
He turned the corner to see another shadow wall. "Really?" he laughed, running full tilt at it
If he had paid attention, he would have noticed the corridor turned at a sharp angle from the shadow wall. But this didn't occur until after Craiv had run into the shadow wall. Unlike the others, the shadows were only a thin lair. The real wall behind it was made of thick steel.
NegaMorph smirked, walking round the corner. "You must be Craiv...the idiot who messed with my niece," he said with a evil grin.
"Your...niece?" asked Craiv.
"Oh yes," cackled NegaMorph, Umbra peering out behind NegaMorph. "Now, there's only one thing that's stopping me from seeing how many pieces I render you into while keep you alive," said NegaMorph, "You're getting my niece out of the shadows."
"I'm a little egg, rolling out of bed," gibbered Craiv, his eyes rolling.
"I think he hit a little too hard," said Umbra nervously
"Pity, that was a particularly good threat he missed," said NegaMorph.
"I can smell colors," gibbered Craiv, conspiratorially, adding, "The book dragon told me how to get out."
"Book dragon?" asked NegaMorph.
"He writes all our stories," gibbered Craiv.
"Why does that sound familiar?" asked NegaMorph.
"It's the Chronicler. How many times do we have to keep repeating this?" snapped Nocta in annoyance. She screamed as she realized they couldn't hear her in light, before joining them in synchronized 'wtf?' expression when Craiv, gibbered "I shall now only communicate in daaaance." and wobbled off.
"Just how necessary is this guy for getting Megan back?" asked NegaMorph.
"We'll need to put the powers somewhere," said Umbra.
NegaMorph glowered before grabbing Craiv by the throat with his mouth-hand and slapping him several times until he came back to his senses. "Ok, enough fooling around. You and Megan are switching back," he snarled.
Craiv glowered before laughing. "It doesn't work like that, blobby. Once you retire your title, that's it," he laughed.
"Oh, in that case, there's no reason to keep you alive, is there?" asked NegaMorph before he started squeezing.
Craiv gagged before his tail's shadow shot up and made a slash across NegaMorph's. NegaMorph raising an eyebrow. "Really? You think shadow puppets are going to stop me?" asked NegaMorph. A second later, his head fell off.
Craiv gasped as NegaMorph fell sideways. "Yes, I do. I didn't get the title of Noctus via lottery," he laughed, though his voice rasped a little, before he began to run for it.
However, NegaMorph's body wasn't useless without the head. He had one extra eye on it and it was enough for it to aim his right arm and fire several fangs at Craiv. Craiv yelped, narrowly avoiding joining Frostra in experiment land before scuttling round the corner.
"Ok, Umbra, we'll have to exact our revenge later. Right now, we need another way to get Megan out of- Oh, you fainted," said NegaMorph.
Plan B was to find Xander and Morgan, who once they heard the story, gave NegaMorph and Umbra skeptical looks.
"So you expect us to believe that Megan switched places with one of the old gods here?" asked Morgan, skeptically.
"Now that I hear myself..." began Nega.
Umbra snarled before making a shadow block the window, Nocta appearing and yelling "BOO!" in Megan's voice.
"Miss Roph, this is really unbecoming," said Xander.
"Oh thank me you remember my name..." Nocta said happily, pausing before she said "Did I just say 'thank me'?" in a dull voice.
"So, you're bound to be the goddess of darkness?" asked Morgan.
"It has a lot more disadvantages than you think," said Nocta, "I'm not even sure I'm a goddess, more like a...technician who keeps things running backstage."
"Hmm...rather like what happened with Mr. Ignatius," said Xander thoughtfully.
Nocta said, "Exactly...though by the time I can tell him of that little creep, he'll probably have hitched a ride on a trading ship."
"If the mantle can't be passed back, then Craiv is unimportant," said Xander, "It appears your only option is to pass it forward."
"Mr. Craiv sliced my head off with his shadow. We really want this guy loose? The Virks would love him," said NegaMorph pointedly.
"Unimportant in terms of getting Megan out of her current predicament," amended Xander.
Nocta glowered. "I am not letting that creep get away with this," she snarled, her voice dipping into a deep demonic voice for a second.
"You can pursue revenge at your leisure," said Morgan, "Your business right now is finding someone to pass on the mantle to."
"Except that little shit never told me," snapped Nocta.
Umbra chimed up, "It would take a few centuries to learn the control for such a spell." before wilting under the college's new 'synchronized glaring teams' opening show.
"And the other gods are unable to show you that spell?" asked Morgan.
"Oh, they keep going about the 'trial period not ending yet'," said Nocta in annoyance, "But I bet that creep's book on Chronicler Island will say how."
"That may be," said Xander, "Though you can't just walk into the Chronicler's chambers like it's a public library."
Nocta raised an eye ridge at that before gesturing to herself, "Ahem."
"Well, I suppose there are exceptions in your case," said Xander.
Ignatius sigheds, finishing changing the title on two books. "It's quite a pity. Megan's story as a dragon had barely begun," said Ignatius.
A wave of his claws and the altered books returned to the shelves before his attention shifted as he heard a hissing noise...shadow travel.
"You know, the common courtesy is to at least ask for an invitation first," said Ignatius.
He turned and a shadowed claw hit him across the face, his shadow suddenly more like a hole. "Sorry, Ignatius...but I need to do some editing," said Craiv calmly as the Chronicler fell into a shadow on the wall.
Nocta appeared from a wall shadow, folding her wings back to reveal Umbra, Morgan and NegaMorph, Nega being the only one not looking shaken, before he said, "Lightweights...hey, where's the librarian?"
"He must be busy in another part," said Umbra.
"Ok...we gotta find..." began Nocta, before frowning, "Something's amiss."
"Honey, we don't have time," said Nega
Nocta went over to a wall and shoved her paw into the wall's shadow, waving around in there "Hmm...aha," she muttered, before pulling, with some difficulty, Ignatius out, who looked worse for wear. Morgan ran up, pulling out a medical scanner only for it to explode. "I don't think medical tech can handle demigods or whatever we are," said Nocta.
Ignatius winced "He..." he managed before going to sleep again.
"Craiv!" snarled Nocta before getting a horrified expression.
"Why come all the way here?" asked Nega, "I mean, it saves us the trouble of hunting him down."
"What happens if a dragon's book is fried?" said Nocta.
Umbra said, "Legend says they...just vanish."
NegaMorph said weakly, "No...they're forgotten..."
"How would you know?" asked Umbra.
NegaMorph snapped, grabbing a book at random. "These things map out every Avalarian's actions throughout their lives," he snapped, noticing he had Zara's book before grinning evilly, "Anyone got a permanent marker?"
Just then, they heard a crash not far away.
NegaMorph sighed, "So much opportunity." before returning the book and following the others.
Craiv snarled, tossing another book aside. This should have been where the Primes' books went, including past ones. He'd found his easy enough, but where was that brat hybrid's? "All these hybrid books are cluttering up the place," he snarled.
A second later, an arrow made of water narrowly missed him, Craiv turning to see Morgan, and Nocta behind him. "Mr. Craiv...you have one chance," Morgan warned, igniting a red ion blade.
"To do what?" asked Craiv in a bored tone.
"Surrender" snapped Morgan angrily.
Nocta growled, "And turn me back."
Craiv noticed Umbra and NegaMorph now behind him. "Really? I told you, I can't be it again. Nobody gets to go back," he laughed.
"Then tell me how to pass it on!" snapped Nocta.
Craiv grinned. "Hmm...let me think. You hounded me. Set one of these hybrid freaks on me. No...I think..." he sneered, spotting Megan's book, "I'll let you experience everything I did the same way I did...alone.." getting ready to claw the book.
"You don't wanna try that," said NegaMorph, "Librarians get very touchy about people damaging their books."
"In a minute, you'll wonder why you're here," grinned Craiv with a mad glint, before getting ready to slash, before yelping as Umbra lunged at him, his hand slipping and a tearing noise heard before he sent Umbra flying with a crack. "You'll pay for that, you little...who are you?" asked Craiv.
"Oooooh crap," said Nocta weakly, looking down to see Craiv's book cut down the spine, pages flowing, before snatching one...the ritual. "Ok, now where am I going to find a shadow dragon to take my place?" asked Nocta, "I can't ask Umbra to do it."
She turned to see Umbra bent over a semi-conscious Umbra. She was not in a good way, one of her wings and legs clearly broke and bleeding. "Oh double crap," she muttered.
Umbra muttered, "I can...think of someone."
"Umbra, I can't force this on you," said Nocta.
"I'm an orphan...and I think most of my bones are broken..." pointed out Umbra.
"Morgan, tell me you brought some medical nanites," said Nocta.
"No...by the time we get her back..." said Morgan.
Nocta sighed, looking at her friend. "Promise me you won't become some insane shut-in like Craiv," she said.
"So long as I can visit," said Umbra.
"Oh...and get Glaice to get her snout out of her books," joked Nocta, gently taking Umbra's paw and starting to mutter.
The shadows loomed up around the two of them to form a thick shroud. Morgan and NegaMorph ran back as the shroud flowed before shifting to Umbra's side, a large adult shadow dragon sneezing before a smaller one was spat out.
NegaMorph quickly recognized Megan's dragon form. The only real difference was that her head spikes had grown out into tendrils. "You feeling ok?" asked NegaMorph.
Megan shifted back to human form and said, "Morgan, I don't care what the rules at the Academy say, I am not using my dragon form for a few days."
"Fine...after this, I can understand some days at home," he said, before they turned to the new Nocta who was still sneezing.
"Oh me, I really hope I'm not allergic to myself," she groaned.
"Still Umbra," grinned Megan before they looked to see Craiv, looking around in confusion. Megan looked at his book, which had split completely open, the pages scattered everywhere. "Can it be fixed?" she asked.
"Do we want to? He'll be destined for prison if he's lucky. I think trying to mess with timelines is a capital offense," said NegaMorph. Morgan looked at some of Craiv's pages. He'd not taken immortality well. Apparently he'd fallen for the same trick.
Ignatius came into view. "There is an alternative. His book may not be restored to the way it was before, but perhaps it can be rewritten," said Ignatius. Binding materials flew over as several pages came out of Craiv's old book and started being inserted into a new one.
The title was blank, Morgan suspecting only the very early pages were going in, also noting little patches of the same ice blue now on Craiv and spreading. "I didn't think there could be two Chroniclers," said Morgan.
"He's only an apprentice right now," said Ignatius, "He'll have an easier transition than most."
"He doesn't have a name," said Megan, looking at the book.
The young dragon looked around before noticing an untouched tablet on a shelf. "Tab...Tabula?" he queried.
The words 'Tabula Rasa' appeared in silver letters on the book at that. "You know...I think it suits him," said Nocta cheerfully.
NegaMorph nodded before he said calmly, "You got the feeling you forgot something?" A silence fell before he and Nocta screamed "FROSTRA!"
Megan lifted an eyebrow and asked, "What did you do to her and are there pictures?"
Nocta paused as NegaMorph vanished, the air echoing with "shit shit shit" which echoed away before Nocta whispered something to Megan, who began to laugh, the laugh getting a little disturbing by the end.
"I'm going to pretend I'm not hearing any of this," said Morgan before walking away.
Megan, still giggling a little insanely, reappeared in the empty canteen, to see Frostra, back to dragonhood and staring blankly ahead. NegaMorph panted, "Even as an experiment, she's a bitch..."
Megan thought over the runic alphabet until she calmed down. "So...how much does she remember?" asked Megan.
"I think she's actively blocking most of it," said NegaMorph.
Megan nodded, walking up and whispering in Frostra's ear, "You've met my uncle. Have you learnt your lesson or do you need to redo class?" Frostra's eye twitched. "You don't have to say anything, just nod," said Megan.
Frostra nodded weakly. "My...my...dad..." she managed.
Megan grinned and said, "Won't believe a word. Matt's gone to great lengths to not let my uncle's little trick be wide knowledge..."
"At least not on Avalar," said NegaMorph.
Frostra twitched more before nodding weakly. Megan said, "So...can you stay away from me or do I get the rest of my adopted family in on the fun?"
"There's more of you?" squeaked Frostra.
"Yup. That big battlecruiser? That's my home. You know who crews that," said Megan happily. Frostra twitched before nodding even more shakily
"Good, I'm glad we came to an understanding," said Megan.
Frostra stared straight ahead before falling sideways, rigid. "Hey, Uncle Nega. Can you give me a ride back?" said Megan cheerfully. She had a feeling things were starting to go her way.
This was a longer, but fun chapter. It's hard to say if the Primes truly are a pantheon or not, but I don't think they require praise and worship like other gods. We might be seeing more of them later. Keep an eye out for tomorrow's chapter and please review.