I'm sorry to everyone who has been waiting for me to update this story. I had a lot going on and I was focusing on another story. I am back though with chapter 10. I also had to take my time with this one since there are several key points that I didn't want to mess up since they in turn would mess up the rest of the storyline. But here it is. Enjoy and please R&R.
Chapter 10: Retrieval
"Hotakata's belongings my lord," Walker said as he picked up the equipment Hotakata left when he followed Spyro through two days earlier.
"Search the area for him," Shadedulath ordered, "I want the area around the portal searched and secured for the engineers. I'm leaving with the strike force in an hour."
Walker gave the orders and Shadedulath walked back to the camp that was just behind the hills a couple hundred feet away. Delrothban, Cynder, Shadedulath's guards Sharlad, Yariv, Catyris, and Olerp, along with three other veteran warriors were waiting for him.
Shadedulath just made it to the group when Walker shouted out to him from the portal, "My lord come and see this!"
Shadedulath and the party ran to the hill that Walker was on. They looked to were the portal was. Half a dozen warriors were gathered around the portal with weapons drawn.
After several moments Hotakata ran out of the portal and fell to the ground. Shadedulath and Delrothban were the first to charge down the hill with swords drawn. Followed by the other members of the strike force.
Two of the warriors began to pull Hotakata away from the portal, but Hotakata threw them off and stood up slowly.
Two large vicious dragons exited the portal. The two glared at the warriors and roared as they charged at them. These dragons were at least fifteen feet tall and walked on fours. They had two massive wings. The body was covered with small scales and had hundred of spikes protruding from all over their bodies. They were black in color like the shadows and had sickly green colored eyes. Multiple pairs of horns sprouted from their heads and jawbones. They had look, but beefy tails with cruel tail blades. Their claws and teeth were of a dark steel color matching their dark characteristics.
One warrior with a spear like weapon thrust it into the chest of the dragon. The dragon screeched and swung its claws at the warrior who was able to evade the swipe. Fire gathered in the dragon's mouth and was about to breath fire when a shadow mist blinded it. The shadow fog ate at the skin of the demonic dragon, chewing through the scales and spikes.
The dragon flapped its wings a few times and cleared the shadows from it. The creature now sported a large bloody gash on it chest. Cynder used the opportunity to blast some of her poison into the wound, killing the dragon a few seconds later.
Hotakata ducked under a swipe of the other dragon's tail and swung his sword at its back leg, cutting deep into the leg, causing the dragon to fall over onto its side. Another warrior with a sword bladed spear stabbed the beast in the chest where the heart would be. The dragon howled in pain as the blade pierced its black heart.
By that time Shadedulath and the others had made it to the scene after trailing Cynder who took flight to engage the dragons.
"Hotakata," Shadedulath addressed him, "You bring good news I hope."
"Not exactly Spyro will not return until he has killed Marthaeter. He sends his love to you Cynder and he hopes to be back soon," Hotakata informed.
Shadedulath looked to Delrothban and asked, "Do you think Spyro can kill Marthaeter?"
"Not at the moment," Delrothban replied, "Marthaeter still has too much control over Spyro."
"Hotakata getting bandaged up and meet back here in ten minutes," Shadedulath commanded, "We're leaving in a few minutes to get Spyro back."
Spyro was in his chambers preparing for something that he might not return from. After hearing how desperately Cynder needed him he concluded that he could no long wait to confront and kill Marthaeter. He may have enslaved the Dark Master, but he wouldn't enslave this purple dragon. His love and future life with her depended on him doing this. He began to focus his energies so he could summon them at any given second. When he thought he was ready he took a deep breath and headed for Marthaeter's chambers.
As he headed towards his master's chambers he noticed a large host of warriors that he hadn't seen before.
"He must be preparing for the assault," Spyro thought.
The rest of the walk to the chamber was annoying for him. Random creatures of Marthaeter were I his way to getting to his master. They demanded to know why he wanted to his Marthaeter and he simply would reply with that it was message strictly for Marthaeter. The guard would think for a moment before they let him pass.
He approached the doors to Marthaeter's chamber, opened them, and entered the chamber. Marthaeter was nowhere to be seen.
Spyro looked around for a moment before he called, "Master?"
Spyro felt the air around him shift. Above him was a smoky ball. The ball descended to Spyro's eye level. At that point shadows began to fall to the floor. Legs and arms were created from the smoke, but still remained liquid like. The dark ball that hovered in front of Spyro began to morph until a black version of his face was looking back at him.
"What do you need?" the shadow hissed.
"I have a question that I need answered," Spyro replied.
"And what question might that be?" Marthaeter inquired.
"Are you a t all afraid of death?" Spyro asked with a smile as he brought his Convexity powers forth.
"No," Marthaeter replied as he assault Spyro's mind, preventing him from using his Convexitial powers.
"Now tell me Spyro," Marthaeter mentally asked, "Do you fear death?"
"No," Spyro replied.
"That's right we have already gone over this," the shadow said in a humorous manner, "You fear losing Cynder. Shall we see what happens when she is reunited with the dark powers?"
"No," Spyro cried with his mind, using the emotions of rage and hate to repel the mental assault. Spyro had managed to make Marthaeter loosen his hold on his mind.
Marthaeter was greatly surprised by the display of power Spyro had placed in the attack. He knew that Spyro wasn't one to play with. He renewed his efforts determined to gain total control of Spyro's mind as quickly as possible.
"You can't win," Marthaeter said, "I have corrupted your kind plenty of times before. I know what I'm doing."
"I won't fall," Spyro protested.
"Oh, but you will, just like ever purple dragon before you," Marthaeter said pressing his mental force deeper into Spyro's weakening defenses.
"What?" Spyro asked confused, providing the second that Marthaeter required.
Spyro fell to his knees and roared as Marthaeter began to regain control of him, "No, Cynder, I have failed!"
"Spyro's eyes closed as Marthaeter whispered, "Yes remember how you have failed her. Use the anger against your enemies. They can't stop you." Spyro's eyes snapped open to reveal dark grey eyes, lifeless and cold. Spyro had lost his freedom to Marthaeter.
"Go and rest," Marthaeter said, "You'll need it in the next few days."
Spyro silently left and went into his room. He entered it and went straight to his bed where he curled up, trying to find sleep.
Something didn't seem right though he opened an eye and scanned the room without moving his head. His eye stopped when he saw Cynder. She took a step back. She wore a frightened look on her face. Spyro raised his head and looked at her.
Cynder moved forward this time asking, "Spyro what happened to you?"
"I have been given all the power I need to enslave the realm," Spyro coldly said.
Cynder closed her eyes and a several tears slid down her face, hitting the dead grey stone below. She wished she didn't hear that. Spyro was for sure now under Marthaeter's complete control.
"Spyro please, come back with me," Cynder pleaded, "Leave this darkness and share your life with me, just like you said you wished you could."
"That's impossible now," Spyro replied, "I'm committed to the darkness."
"I was once too," Cynder argued, "But you saved me. I can save you from this. I have to."
"You don't have to do anything," Spyro replied, "You have no purpose in the realms."
"I did have a purpose," Cynder said, "When you were with me, but I guess I mean nothing to you now."
"You meant a lot to me, but I have found a life that does require fear of evil and war, or losing those you love," Spyro responded, "I have found a live of conquering, free of all fears and loses."
"Spyro this isn't you," Cynder cried, "Break free, please."
Spyro leapt from his bed and pinned her to the ground, growling and glaring at her, "I'm tired of being counted on by everyone. It's time that I did as I pleased."
"Don't you love me?" she questioned, hoping he would give into her pleas.
Spyro growled, "No."
Cynder began to weep more. The tears marked her face with lines where they flowed down. "Please Spyro, kill me then."
"No I still have questions for you," Spyro replied, "Why have you come?"
"To free you. Spyro I love you and I can't stand not being with you," Cynder said.
"Love," Spyro spat, "Love is the weakness of all. Luckily I have purged mine."
Cynder let her head slowly lower to the floor in defeat. She lost him, forever.
Suddenly Spyro roared in pain and fell over onto the floor. Cynder turned and looked at the window to see Shadedulath with a bow in hand. He drew another and was about to fire it when Spyro began to laugh.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha…you think you can kill me like that?" Spyro asked getting up, "I see exactly why you are here Cynder. You brought them to kill me and to actually think that you loved me."
"No Spyro they are here to help you," Cynder argued, "We want you back to your normal self."
"Not going to happen," Spyro replied getting into a fighting stance.
Delrothban stepped forward from a shadow saying, "Spyro don't be foolish, don't be blinded like I was by his evil. Break free, you regret this life later."
Hotakata entered the room through the window and stood next to the Shadedulath's guards.
"I thought you would at least have the sense to listen to me when I said never to come back here," Spyro said as he saw the Shadow of Katsumoto, " SO which one of you has the guts to try and kill me?"
Shadedulath stepped forward arguing, "Spyro we aren't here to kill you, we are here to…"
Spyro interrupted him shouting, "Do you think I'm stupid? I know you aren't here to free since that's impossible."
"Spyro if you believe us to be here to kill you," Shadedulath stated, "Don't you think I would have brought a larger force? We can't kill you."
"Aw but I can kill you," Spyro simply replied.
Sharlad, Yariv, Catyris, and Olerp drew their swords to defend their leader. Shadedulath raised a hand, signaling for them to stand down, "If he wants to fight me, then he may," Shadedulath said. He turned to Spyro and asked, "If you kill me you must promise to let them go unharmed."
"Fine," Spyro growled.
Shadedulath drew his long and short katana and prepared for the duel.
Spyro dove at Shadedulath with his horns aimed at Shadedulath's chest. Shadedulath just managed to move out of the way as Spyro flew past him. It was dark, making it harder for him to fight. On top of that Shadedulath was trying not to kill Spyro while Spyro was trying to kill him. Thirdly Spyro had enough power to destroy an entire army with nothing more then a blink of an eye.
Spyro swung his tail at chest level forcing Shadedulath backwards. Spyro pressed forward against Shadedulath with horn, tooth, and claw. Shadedulath countered this by kicking Spyro backwards. Shadedulath moved forward to restrain Spyro, but the dragon was already repressing his assault. Shadedulath was forced to drive his short katana into the side of Spyro's right horn, preventing it from entering his stomach. The sword slipped from Shadedulath's grip as Spyro threw his head at him, trying to stab him with his other horn.
Shadedulath caught the side of the horn in his hand. Spyro pushed towards Shadedulath with his horn, but Shadedulath's strength held, not allowing Spyro to gain an inch. Spyro took advantage of the opportunity and stabbed his tail into Shadedulath's side.
Shadedulath grip weakened and he threw himself to the side. Spyro smiled and approached Shadedulath who was on the floor gasping for breath. Spyro was about to stab his tail through his chest when Shadedulath's legs knocked out his own and the four foot long katana was against his scaled throat.
"You move and I cut your throat," Shadedulath threatened.
"Did it!" Spyro roared, "I dare you. You would be doing me a favor anyways." Spyro pressed himself up allowing the sword's sharp edge to cut through the scales and dig into the flesh below, letting blood flow from the connection.
Cynder gasped and yelled, "Shade! Stop he's going to kill himself doing that!"
He motioned for Hotakata to throw him his short katana. Hotakata presented it and Shadedulath gripped it strongly. Cynder began to worry what was going to happen.
Spyro looked at Shadedulath with surprise, "So you have what it takes do you?"
Shadedulath looked at Spyro and said, "Our mission was to free you…" Shadedulath slowly brought the short katana across his body and swung it at his head and with a sickening thud Spyro fell to the floor.
Shadedulath knelt down next to the body and whispered, "And it still is." He looked at the large gash that was on his forehead where the pummel struck him.
Cynder knocked him to ground and roared in pain when she saw Spyro. She scooped up his head and gently stroked it. Cynder then glared at Shadedulath and warned, "If he's dead, pray to the Ancestors that you die before I can get to you."
"He should be dead Cynder," Shadedulath said, "I knocked him unconscious for the trip back."
"You better be right," Cynder growled.
Hotakata approached Shadedulath and asked, "Should we bind him encase he awakens?"
"Yes," he replied, "Let's getting moving. I don't like being here. Every second we are in this realm the more likely Marthaeter notice we are here."
Who thought I killed Spyro? I liked the idea of making it seem like Shadedulath kill Spyro. Little twist. I can't for sure say when the next chapter will be up, but it will be up before the month is over. R&R.
