Chapter 5 – Brief Chance for Victory
The dragons were puzzled. They had never expected Cynder to make such a proposition like that before.
"I beg your pardon, Cynder," asked Percival. "But did I hear you say what you just said?"
"I can assure you that you most certainly have," replied Cynder. "The only way we can be able to defeat the Dark Queen is if you, Jakkin, Lily and Torden give me some of your energy inside your respected Elemental Brooches, and then I use mine to collect it all. By doing that, my brooch will replenish me with enough strength to be able to help out Draco in stopping Vildouleur."
The other dragons were feeling unsure about the plan. "Are you absolutely sure, Cynder?" asked Torden. "If we do that, chances are that we will revert back to our normal selves, and then we will not be able to help you in the fight. Don't you remember what we've been told about friendship and teamwork?"
"Torden is right, Cynder," said Lily. "We know you're so hung up in doing things by yourself, but isn't that what caused you to have those nightmares? None of us would have come that far if it hadn't been for teaming up and working together. That's what friends are for, you know."
"Yes, I know all that," said Cynder. "But I just learned something today. Teamwork and friendship isn't just about fighting alongside each other, it's also taking in portions, no matter how insignificant, to complete an even bigger task. I really appreciate you all for the hard work and support you have given, but this is a fight that Draco and I can be able to manage ourselves, only if you all chip in a share with me the energy of your Elemental Brooches. This is the last chance we have at stopping the Dark Queen, and is the most desperate hour. I only hope you can understand that."
"Bravo, Cynder, well done," applauded Blaze.
"What you mean, Blaze?" asked Cynder.
"You have finally figured out more on what it means to rely on friends and work as a team," replied Blaze. "I once thought that relying on others meant to completely give up my independence, but during my battles with Eggman and Eggman-Nega, I learned that it can also mean doing one part on your own while another does his or her share of the large task. Cynder, trust me, even the smallest help can make a difference."
"I see what you mean by that," said Cynder. "I'm glad I have figured it out during my journey meeting my friends, and I have you to thank for teaching me everything I have learned then and now."
Blaze smiled modestly. She then turned to the four dragons. "Alright, dragons," she began. "You know what to do now. Give what energy you have left in your brooches so Cynder can make use of it."
"Understood, Blaze," said Jakkin. "But how do we exactly do that?"
"It's self-explanatory," replied Blaze. "Just hold up your brooches as high as you can, and then press on the jewels. Cynder will have to aim her brooch down to you and press on its jewel as well in order to acquire the energy extracted."
"Enough of this chit-chat!" bellowed Queen Vildouleur. "Whatever you wretched filth are planning, I will make sure you don't get the chance to gain the upper hand on me!"
With that, Queen Vildouleur raised her fist and pounded the ground in an attempt to crush Tails, Blaze and the dragons. They dodged her attack just in time and attempt to run to the other side, but the evil dragon stood right in front of them.
"Crud, there goes our only escape route," groaned Bowser.
"I'm afraid our time is up," said Queen Vildouleur. "Tails, Blaze, Bowser, Dragon Heroes, WELCOME TO DIE!"
Queen Vildouleur opened her mouth to let out a gigantic fireball powerful enough to burn the entire island to a crisp. Tails, Blaze and the dragons realised that they won't be able to deflect the attack. Just when it seemed that there was no hope, Draco appeared and kicked Vildouleur in the lower jaw. Then he let out a Fire Blast which struck her in the eyes, causing her to scream in pain as took a backward step, and then he used his Fire Spin attack to prevent her from moving.
"Cynder, hurry and get the others to release their energy to your Elemental Brooch, now!" shouted Draco.
"Got it, Draco!" called Cynder. Quickly she flew to the four dragons and poised her Shadow Brooch at them while pressing on the jewel. "Now's the time, guys!" she shouted desperately. "Give me everything that you have left, and as fast as you can!"
Jakkin, Lily, Torden and Percival nodded as they brought out their Elemental Brooches, and then, as they held them up high while pressing on the jewels, the brooches started glowing. Beams of light from the jewels started to trail upward towards the Shadow Brooch, which glowed as well while it absorbed the light into its jewel. Queen Vildouleur could only wonder what was going on as she remained trapped by Draco's Fire Spin attack.
"No, I cannot let this happen!" she shouted. "I will not let you regain your strength, Princess!"
"You are too late, Vildouleur," said Cynder as the last trail of light beams entered into her brooch. "Now that I have got all the energy I need, it is time for me to make use of them right now!"
Blaze, Bowser and Darky continued to look upward to the fight with anticipation while Tails watched the four dragons revert to their normal forms after they finished delivering their brooches' energy to Cynder.
"Hurry up, Cynder!" shouted Draco. "The Fire Spin will dissipate any minute now!"
Sure enough, the flames that were holding Queen Vildouleur were gradually getting weaker, and the evil dragon found herself being able to move again.
"Hang on, Draco," said Cynder. "I am now ready to use my fully charged up brooch."
Cynder attached the Shadow Brooch on her coat, and immediately it started to glow brightly along with her. All the energy stored up in the brooch began to make its course all over her body. Slowly, but surely, Cynder felt her strength rising back up. Draco waited anxiously, hoping that she will be fully charged before Queen Vildouleur gets finally broken free from the Fire Spin.
"Come on, Cynder," said Blaze. "You can do it!"
"Almost there," said Cynder as she felt her strength almost reaching towards its peak.
At last, the Fire Spin wore off completely, and Queen Vildouleur was about to resume her assault, when she got blinded by an extremely bright glow.
"What is going on now?" she groaned as she covered her eyes.
"Alright!" cheered Draco. "You have reached your full power, Cynder!"
In a few seconds, Cynder had stopped glowing, and she was feeling stronger than ever before. Her markings shone a bright purple pink colour. She was ready to fight once more.
"What? No!" snarled Queen Vildouleur. "I'm going to destroy you both if it's the last thing I do!"
"What do you say, Draco?" called Cynder. "Are you ready to put an end to the Dark Queen and restore peace to the world?"
"You bet I am!" shouted Draco. "It's just you and me, Mega Draco and Alpha Cynder, against Queen Vildouleur!"
"Go get 'em, big bro and sis!" called Darky. "I believe in you!"
"We're going to give it our all, Darky!" replied Cynder.
"Do not worry, little brother!" said Draco. "This battle will definitely be ours!"
"This battle will be mine, you two!" snapped Queen Vildouleur and she reached out to grab the Charizard and Twilight Storm. "Come over here!"
Draco and Cynder quickly dodged Queen Vildouleur's grab, and the two looked at each other, with Cynder giving him a nod as an indication of telling him what needs to be done in order to win the fight.
"This is it, Draco," she said. "We're going to have to deliver the finishing blow, and this one might affect us greatly."
"Wait a second," said Draco. "You don't mean…"
"Yes, I do," said Cynder. "It's risky, but will be the only chance we have to stop the Dark Queen."
"I'm not so sure, Cynder," said Draco. "The final attack of ours can really drain us of our energy. There is a possibility that we could die if we're unlucky, and I can't afford to lose you, after all that we've been through up to this point."
"Haven't we been through this before?" asked Cynder. "We have agreed to help protect the world at any price, Draco. It's what Blaze expected us to do, and I could feel it that it is something that we and our teammates have been destined for."
"But what will happen if we lose you, Cynder?" asked Draco. "What will Darky and I do if you end up sacrificing yourself?"
"You may have grown strong, but you're still as naïve as you have ever been," replied Cynder. "Trust me on this, Draco. Nothing bad will happen, as long as we stay together and believe in ourselves."
Draco hesitated, knowing how much of a risk Cynder's plan could be. Sensing the doubt within him, Cynder knew there was only one way to help Draco get back his resolve. She had been waiting for this moment for a long time as she felt something very special for her Charizard friend. As she gazed into his eyes, she knew all along that Draco had the same feeling for her, and this made her very happy, especially when they have known each other for many years. Judging her moment, Cynder grabbed hold of Draco's hand. Caught by surprise, Draco started to blush. He knew that the grip was not just casual or friendly. It was a grip that meant something much more deep. It was something very special, something that was potentially affectionate.
"Um, Cynder?" he asked.
"Draco, there's something I wanted to tell you for so long," began Cynder. "I love you."
This made Draco stunned with both doubt and delight, but as they drew nearer to each other, he dropped down his guard.
"I've been waiting for this moment," he replied, slowly. "I love you too, Cynder."
Slowly, Draco and Cynder drew even closer, and then their lips met as they gave each other a deep, long passionate kiss.
Lily and Darky felt sentimental at what they just saw above. They could tell that it was the beginning of something very beautiful between Draco and Cynder.
"Did you see what I see?" Tails asked Blaze.
"You are absolutely right, Tails," replied Blaze. "Draco and Cynder have found love within each other."
"It reminds me of how you and I came to be," said Tails as he felt a small tear in his eye.
Blaze could only nod in agreement.
After a short while, Draco and Cynder regained themselves as they parted from their kiss.
"Shall we end this fight now?" asked Cynder.
"Yes, now I feel ready to carry out the final attack!" said Draco, feeling much more confident.
"You think a kiss is going to solve your problems?" asked Queen Vildouleur. "Bah! You have made a grievous mistake, Cynder! An elite noble Twilight Storm kissing a low class common hybrid, that's just disgraceful!"
"Maybe not," replied Cynder. "But we have come to understand something about each other, and now, the time has come for us to stop you for good!"
Draco nodded to Cynder's response. Together, they readied themselves to deliver their final attack. Queen Vildouleur looked on unimpressively as Cynder prepared for an Ultra Dive Bomb while Draco began his Blast Burn. Once their attacks have reached full power, they were ready to release them. Cynder charged straight at Queen Vildouleur, delivering a crippling blow on her chest. As Cynder got knocked back from the recoil, Draco's Blast Burn went straight through Vildouleur's chest, destroying the evil dragon at last. The impact of the Blast Burn triggered an explosion which engulfed both her and Draco.
"You are a pair of fools!" choked Queen Vildouleur as she cackled. "You have both used up almost all of your powers, and for that, you are rendered helpless! My defeat hasn't ensured your victory as now you'll end up sharing the fate of the doomed island!"
Continuing her cackling, Queen Vildouleur's body collapsed on the Obsidian Tower, destroying it, and at the same time, creating a large hole on the island as she sunk into the ocean, resulting in a sudden earthquake.
At the mainland, the battle between the Anthro Leagues forces and the Obsidian Devourer troops continued to rage on. Many corpses of both parties were all over the battlefield. Sardius, who was commanding the attack against the Anthro League, sensed something disturbing. He turned around, and saw to his shock that Queen Vildouleur has been defeated. He also noticed that the Obsidian Tower was destroyed, and when he felt the earthquake, he knew that it meant that the island was starting to sink.
"Blast!" he pouted. "Those insufferable do-gooder dragons have defeated the Dark Queen!"
"What are we going to do now, Sardius?" asked Commander Desdemona.
"Our troops are now unsure of our next move now that Vildouleur is dead and gone," added Sergeant Drake.
Sardius took notice that now the Anthro League forces are starting to turn the tide and overwhelming the Obsidian Devourers.
"Pyre Squad!" he called. "Make sure they don't escape the island!"
"Affirmative, sir," said Ciara, and she with Scorcher and Cronk flew towards the sinking island.
"What about the rest of us?" Sergeant Drake asked.
"We're pulling out," said Sardius. "For now, the Obsidian Devourers will be disbanded until further notice."
"What?!" exclaimed the Obsidian Devourers.
"There will be a time when we finally come out of the ashes," said Sardius. "Then, and only then, will we avenge our fallen Queen and dominate the world! The Obsidian Devourers will be restored someday, and this time, a king shall lead!"
But there was no time for the Obsidian Devourers to celebrate the rousing speech, for right now, they were having a major setback. As more Anthro League fighters attacked them, Sardius and the remaining Obsidian Devourers fled for their secret hideout. The war was over, and they have lost.
Don't think that you have completely won this war, Anthro League, thought Sardius, as an evil smile crossed his face. Soon, the Obsidian Devourers shall rise again, and this time, we will be victorious! Queen Vildouleur may be defeated, but keep in mind that I am the second-in-command, so I shall be the new leader of the Obsidian Devourers! I will be the king of all dragons, and we shall not only rule this miserable planet, but also the entire universe! Just you wait and see! Your pathetic visualised utopia where dragons and non-dragons coexist will not come to fruition, for we, the master race, shall be the ones to dominate everything!
Sardius could not help but utter a malicious laugh as he thought about his plans. He knew that he cannot strike now, but he was certain that someday, he will return, renew the Obsidian Devourers, and become the supreme overlord. All he could do now is wait until the right time comes for him to pick up where Queen Vildouleur left off, only this time, he would be better prepared as he caught on to what ultimately lead to her downfall and vowed not to make the same mistakes as she did.
Author's Note: So the Dark Queen is defeated and the Obsidian Devourers are sent into hiding. Sardius' plans to return seem like a foreshadowing for a future story, perhaps. But anyway, I hope nobody minds that I have shipped Cynder with my Charizard character. After all, I have hinted several times in some of the stories, so far. And now, the end is near, so don't miss it! This is going to be one enormous finish!
Btw, hope you're enjoying the references I threw in, especially the "Welcome to die!" quote.