Sorry for not updating quickly again. I've been extremely busy with volleyball at the moment. Luckily I'm close to finishing next chapter thanks to the late night work I did on it. Yeah that's pretty much it. Please R&R people.
Chapter 13: HeirThe battle had finished as the last of the creatures from the former Shadow Vale were killed. Spyro and Cynder had arrived only twenty minutes earlier just before the Chronicler had wiped out most of the enemy force. The dragon armor took a great deal of time to get on and flying to the battle once all armored up was no easy job. Shadedulath understood the situation.
Spyro though felt something pick at the back of his mind after the battle. It was familiar, but a lot weaker then before. He then placed the feeling, Marthaeter. He prepared to mental defend himself, but as he tried the force that poked at his mind just stabbed him with razor sharp claws. The force at which his mind of assault was incredible, Marthaeter was truly desperate now.
Spyro feel onto his knees as a way to alert Cynder of what was happening. Cynder froze with fear that Spyro was injured as she heard his armor suddenly rattle and hit the ground. She spun around to him cringing and growling.
"Spyro!" she cried, "Don't give in. Just remember what happened earlier today."
Spyro's eyes opened and where black colored. He blinked and they were back to the normal purple color.
"Cynder, he's trying to retake me," Spyro cringed again, "He's much more powerful than last time…I…don't think I can hold him back."
"Don't say that of course you can Spyro," Cynder argued, "Hold on, for me."
"I'm trying to," Spyro replied, "You know that Cynder."
Another long minute of struggling went by and Spyro began to tire and Cynder could see it.
"Don't give up Spyro, please for me don't give up," Cynder begged.
Spyro roared as the pain in his mind became unbearable. Cynder wept seeing that again she would lose the one she loved.
Spyro growled, "Cynder I need you to do something for me."
"What is it?" Cynder asked.
"Kill me," he replied.
"No Spyro I'm not giving up on you," Cynder argued.
"It doesn't matter," Spyro countered, "I have given up. I don't want to live like this. I hate this duty I was given. I hate that everyone wants me to fight for them. I hate how I'm unique. I just wish that I were born as a normal dragon. I need this Cynder."
"I can't Spyro," Cynder cried, "I love you too much. I could never kill you."
Spyro closed his eyes and Cynder saw a single tear fall escape his eye. His brow furrowed as the pain increased again and Spyro roared. His eyes shot open this time black again.
"So you fail to do your love the ultimate favor?" Marthaeter spoke through Spyro, "You must not care about him. He is better off dead and you know that."
"Only if he is under your control," Cynder growled, "He deserves the chance to live a normal life after all he has done for the realm. Let him go."
"No," Marthaeter continued, "Your Chronicler just tried to kill me and now I must make sure I don't lose. Spyro is the only key."
"You can't keep him," Cynder replied, "If he belongs to anyone it's me."
"So protective of him you are Cynder," Marthaeter continued, "Did you ever think that Spyro could use less of that crap from you?"
"He knows it's only because I care not because I want to annoy him," Cynder countered, "Unlike you."
"Funny, Cynder, very funny," Marthaeter laughed, "It's too late Spyro is mine again and this time for good. I have place my soul in him this time where I merely placed my mind in him before."
"I will free him," Cynder growled.
"Then you must kill him," Marthaeter said.
Cynder eyes narrowed at Spyro who was under Marthaeter's influence. She knew that she would have to fight. Hopefully she could convince him to stop before it was too late.
Spyro growled as he readied himself to fight her. She did like wise and was ready to use her dark elements. Spyro dove at her with his claws and fangs ready. Cynder unleashed a blast of her fear element at Spyro. The blast stunned him for a moment, but Marthaeter's force overpowered that fear. Cynder didn't want to use her more dangerous powers, but she saw no other way to fight.
Shadows flew from her mouth and enveloped Spyro. Spyro felt his strength leave him and his legs began to shake, as it was hard to keep himself on his feet. The will of Marthaeter was not so easily thrown aside. Spyro felt his strength suddenly grow and his scales turned black as his eyes glowed red.
Cynder watched as the shadowy mist began to dissipate and she retreated a few steps when she saw the red eyes of Spyro. Cynder knew that she couldn't beat him with elements seeing that he was able to resist the effects of her shadow element. She knew the only chance was to fight him, claw to claw.
She prepared to pounce on him, but Spyro had beaten her to it. He pinned her to the ground and growled at her. His mouth had small flames that flicked out of his mouth. He was about to exhale when Cynder swiftly bit into his neck. Blood filled her mouth, the blood of her love.
He roared in pain and stabbed his claws into her right shoulder, causing her bite down harder. Tears came to Cynder's eyes. She never would have thought that she would ever be fighting Spyro ever again especially since they had been in love for several years.
Spyro brought his tail around and stabbed it into her side. She released her jaw's grip and yelled in pain. Spyro's dark smile grew on his face at the sound of this. He slashed his claws at her, cutting her body badly in many places. When he felt that he had caused enough damage he stopped to examine Cynder's condition. His smile disappeared when she struggled to rise and fight.
Spyro stopped her attempt by bring his tail down on her back, forcing her body into the hard ground below. She tried again and received the same punishment. She had the same happen the third time as well.
Spyro grew angry with this and cried, "I will finish you. You are a foolish dragoness to stand before me."
Spyro positioned his tail spike above Cynder heart and glared at her as she cried with a slight smile on her face.
"Why do you smile?" Spyro demanded, "You are going to die."
"I died though trying to save you," Cynder replied, "And that's exactly what I said I would do. Marthaeter can't control you forever Spyro. I know that. If you do kill me then I must tell you that I still love you despite what you have become and may do. I will always love you."
Spyro was thrown off by this statement and was confused, trying to figure heads and tails of the situation. His train of thought was disrupted when Delrothban leapt in front of Spyro. Delrothban picked up the startled dragon and threw him several feet away.
Spyro got up and growled at him, "You will wish that you never did that."
Delrothban drew both katana and mocked, "Let's see you try to stop me from doing that again."
Spyro dove at the warrior with his claws ready to dig into his flesh. Delrothban evaded the rash attack and rammed the pommel of the katana against the back of Spyro's head. Spyro hit the ground, but recovered quickly and assaulted Delrothban ruthlessly.
The dark purple dragon swung his tail at the man, which Delrothban duck under. Spyro followed up by thrusting his horns forward. Delrothban reacted by forcing the horns to his left with his swords. Delrothban then kicked Spyro so he fell on his side. Delrothban wasted no time and placed both swords against Spyro's throat.
"Give up this evil life Spyro. It's not yours, but Marthaeter's," Delrothban said, "Look at Cynder. She is your life and yet you have nearly killed her. You are the only thing she has and the same goes for you. You know this to be true Spyro. Search your heart and you will find the truth through the darkness."
"So you think," Spyro growled, "You also think you have beaten me that to is wrong."
Delrothban suddenly felt something sharp enter his back. He looked down at his chest and saw the gold tail spike of Spyro, piercing his chest. Delrothban looked back at Spyro who smiled in the pleasure of killing the traitor of Marthaeter.
Spyro withdrew his tail and Delrothban fell backwards onto his back looking up at the sky. Sunset had quickly made its presence during the battle. The sun's beauty was the last thing that Delrothban saw before his time on this world expired.
Spyro stood and shook off the dust and dirt that had collected on his dark scales.
"So you have yet survived," a voice said from behind which startled Spyro.
Spyro turned and saw the Chronicler standing a good ten feet from him. His look was sad and one of disappointment.
"Yes and you will not be able to kill me," Marthaeter replied speaking through Spyro, "I have taken the strongest in this realm and made him my own."
"No you haven't," the Chronicler stated, "It's not your body so he is not yours. There is still a way to free him and so I shall perform this act to spare him from your evil."
"NO!" Marthaeter roared, firing a beam of Convexity energy at the Chronicler.
The Chronicler did nothing to stop the destructive beam from ripping through his chest. He fell to the ground and began to laugh weakly.
Spyro approached the old dragon and asked, "Why do you laugh? You are dead you fool."
"Yes," the grey dragon answered, "That is why I am laughing. Marthaeter did not realize that his power had no effect on me and that once I die I must pass my title and power to another dragon. You are that dragon Spyro."
Spyro stepped back yelled, "I don't want your power, I have my own power which is superior to yours!"
"It doesn't matter," the Chronicler replied, "I have chosen you and you will forever be free of this dark power the taints your mind now."
A white mist came from his body and drifted towards Spyro. The mist cloaked him as he struggled to get out of the mist. The mist seeped into his body and his scales turned white like snow.
Spyro felt the darkness within him weaken. Marthaeter was being ripped from his being freeing his enslaved mind. He fell to his knees due to the lack of energy from the process. When he gained the strength to stand he did and examined his surroundings.
A large black dragon was lying on the ground where he last saw the Chronicler. The dragon was old and had ice blue eyes.
The dragon coughed and whispered, "Spyro, come close so I may tell you what you must know."
Spyro did as instructed and the Chronicler smiled, "I'm glad you have returned. You know that you are now to record all the events of the dragon race until you pass on. My element was the element of time that is after I took this position. Use this power carefully; if you use it wastefully you will die. One can only give so much life before there is lost."
"Marthaeter is gone then?" Spyro asked.
The Chronicler closed his eyes and exhaled deeply, "His doom it yet to be witnessed, but the time shall come soon when the mightiest in the realm must destroy the haunter of his mind. With all at stakes is not what drives him, but his love who will be lost if he shall fail. The light that has brought life shall also end the lives of some, but ultimately to save the most important one."
With that said the former Chronicler drew his last breath and passed on.
A large crowd of conscripts and Shadows of Katsumoto had gathered. They all lowered their weapons and bowed before Spyro as if he was a god or something. Shadedulath approached and stopped as he saw Spyro and fell to his knees, bowing.
"Hail the Lord of Time!" Shadedulath shouted.
"Haza!" the Shadows of Katsumoto shouted.
They all rose to their feet and looked at Spyro with wonder and awe.
Spyro looked down at himself and was shocked to find that his scales were white colored. His horns were a metallic gold color now, but his amethyst eyes remained and stood out.
Spyro looked around the battlefield taking in the carnage and destruction that had taken place. His heart stopped as his eyes fell upon Cynder's battered form. He rushed over to her body and knelt down. He nuzzled her hoping to get a response. She groaned in pain and opened an eye.
That eye looked over the new Spyro. She was uncertain who this dragon was, but all doubts were put to rest when her eye locked with the purple eyes of Spyro.
She smiled and whispered, "Spyro." She slipped into unconscious and Spyro placed her on his back and ran to the camp to get her medical care.
Shadedulath walked the battlefield and found Delrothban's body. Shadedulath bowed his head and a tear slipped from his eye.
He spoke out so his guards Sharlad, Yariv, Catyris, and Olerp could hear, "It is sad that you didn't understand until the end. Thank you my friend. We will always remember your pain and sacrifice. Rest in Heavens with your brother."
The guards bowed their heads in respect. They carried the body back to the camp for the burial.
Cynder was treated as best the medical experts could do. Spyro caused major damage to her and they believed it would a lengthy time before Cynder would wake up again.
The new Chronicler couldn't believe that he caused this, but the evidence was before him, marking his love. Spyro had severely punished himself for these afflictions by refusing to eat or drink, leaving her side, communicating with anyone save for ordering them to leave, and even self-caused pain by claw, tooth, and tail. He went as far as to stab his tail spike into his side, leaving a large wound that would later match the scar on his side.
"I'm so sorry Cynder."
