Forgetting Who You Are
Chapter 12
As they strode the halls toward the council room, the dragoness sparked conversation between the two of them. "I'm Ember by the way".
Spyro smiled. "I was beginning to wonder that. You already know who I am. And probably all my friends too".
"Most likely. Well, except your thrask friend. Mysterious people they are. Did you know those baths they have change them the more they use them"?
Spyro was curious. "Change them how"?
"You've already seen what it does to them. The 'Nomad' as they call it. Really is just a thrask corrupted by the old magic".
Spyro stopped walking. "The corrupted are thrask"?
Ember nodded. "Yep. The healing goop awakens power buried deep inside. Like time magic. You know what that's like mister 'dragon time'. I'm kinda jealous that the purple dragon can control all four elements AND time. All you gotta learn is light, gravity and convexity, and Bam! You got them all".
"I could learn gravity magic"?
"Well so far you remember fire and kind of dragon time. So maybe talk to the guardians about that and relearn before you try something new. After I'm done that is. It shouldn't take long".
Spyro thought through about what was said as they reached the council room. Inside Volteer, Cyril and Terrador snored the song of sleep. Spyro crept up to Volteer quietly. He pushed him gently. "Hey huh, Volteer? Wake up". He turned to Ember. "I don't think they're gonna wake up".
"Oh we'll see about that". she leapt onto the large table in the center of the room, pulled out her scrying stone, and uttered a few words. "Emit loud noise". It began to glow a bright orange, and an unbearably loud bell chime rang through the room.
The guardians stood at blinding speeds, looking around only to have their gaze land on Spyro and Ember.. "Spyro?! What's wrong?! What was that noise?! He asked in a panic.
"Calm down you three. It was just Ember. She wanted to talk with you".
Ember held her head high as their eyes fell upon her. "Hello guardians, I am Ember, and I requested an audience with you. Spyro merely made certain that I made it to you safely".
The guardians looked to Spyro, stern eyes glaring him down. They turned their attention back to Ember and smiled. "Alright. Since you're here and there is no danger, what have you brought for us young one"?
"Well, I Ember, offer you a service guaranteed to keep your future bright and organized". She reached into her bag. "I give you".. She held the scrying stone up, at which the guardians stared in awe. "The future"!
"Is that... a scrying stone"? Asked Volteer, amazed by it's brilliance.
"It is indeed! And it holds the ability to see the past, present and future. And my ability to read what sight it gives is unmatched! Just ask Spyro. I learned a lot of him in mere minutes"!
They looked to the purple dragon, "More than I'd have liked. That's for sure".
"And how did you manage to acquire such a stone"? Questioned Cyril, unconvinced of it's authenticity.
"My sources must remain secret for their own protection, but I guarantee you it is genuine".
"And what would you have us do with it"? Asked Volteer, looking it over vigorously.
She pulled it from their gaze, and held it behind her back. "You would do nothing. I would see and tell you of what is to come".
Terrador chuckled. "Why should we choose you over all other 'fortune tellers'? You aren't the first to ask for this position".
She smirked. "Oh I know. And I also know that I am the only one to have a scrying stone. The only one to own an item that can tell the future with absolute certainty. No card tricks or guessing. The only to offer the truth".
The guardians exchanged glances, convinced by her pitch, but not on the legitimacy of her stone. "We would need a demonstration first. To see if it truly is a scrying stone".
"But of course". She pulled the candles, incense, bowl and brass stand from her bag, and set everything up the way it had been at her stall. She held a candle to the guardians. "Who wants to light this for me"? They looked confused. "Just cast an element on it. It'll light no matter what you do".
Volteer nudged Cyril, and Terrador shoved him forward. Cyril looked back to them, angry. They merely smiled and pointed to Ember, who held the candle patiently. He blew an ice crystal onto the wick, which lit with a beautiful blue flame. She used it to light the other candles. Next was the incense, which brought forth blue ash.
"Normally I'd ask you questions, but I don't think that it's very necessary for such a short reading. I am just demonstrating what I can do, right"?
"Yes. And if we find that you are adequate, we will consider conscripting you into our council as seer". Volteer stated.
"Ah yes, the title of seer. It seems many thrask have shared this title as well".
"That's fairly common knowledge".
"It is! But what about the one Malefor killed? That's a pretty big secret. So big even I didn't know it. Well, until now that is". She picked up the ashes in the bowl, and placed them onto the stone. They melted into it, and it began glowing a vibrant blue. She looked into the stone, fixating her eyes on one spot. "After it tells me a secret, I can continue the reading. Until it does, it hasn't pulled everything from your memory".
"My.. memory"? Asked Cyril, nervously.
"Awww, you're not worried are you"? She teased.
"Of course not! I have no secrets worth hiding"! Insisted the ice dragon.
As she stared into the stone, her eyes widened and a smile spread across her lips. "Then what's with you taking part in a production of Night of Stars"? She waved upward at the stone, and it showed Cyril singing a line of the musical in a skin tight, bright blue outfit with frilly accents on the shoulders, winds, head and ankles. "Never took you for an Ice Prince kind of guy".
"Alright I've seen enough"! Exclaimed Cyril. "You've made your point. You can use your stone. But it is in no way accurate".
Terrador came to his side. "Oh come now, even you can't deny that was you. So you were a little... different. It's nothing to be embarrassed about". He struggled to keep a straight face. "She has quite the gift. And one that could benefit us indefinitely".
"As much as I hate being made a fool... Even I can't deny her abilities". He looked to Ember, who stood straight and proper. "As leader of the dragon elders, I Cyril, grant you the title of seer. A room for you will be made available here. May you use what gift you have to further benefit all of us".
Ember jumped in joy. Thanking them beyond necessity and hugging each of the guardians. "I'm gonna go pack my things and bring them back here right away"! She began putting away what she had brought.
"Not just yet young one". Said Volteer. "We require time to clear a room for you. Pack your things tomorrow. After the party".
Still rushed with energy, Ember agreed with Volteer with a nod. "Now then", started Cyril, "we have many things to oversee for the celebration tonight. So go enjoy the rest of this beautiful day. If there is anything urgent, you have free reign to come and go as you please. So do not hesitate to ask us".
"Thank you, master Cyril. But I don't think I'll have need to ask for your aid today". She looked to Spyro, who was examining a large vase. "But if I remember correctly, Spyro had something urgent to ask of you".
He spun around, knocking into the table and rocking the vase. It fell to the floor with a crash. Spyro gritted his teeth as he looked at the shattered pottery. "Sorry about that". He said sheepishly.
"Forget about it". Cyril said with a sigh. "Now what is it you wanted to tell us"?
He looked to Ember, whose eyes darted between him and the guardians. "Well", he choked out, "I've had some trouble recently with my elements. And was wondering if I could get a quick refresher on using them? I manage fire fine. It's just the others".
"But of course"! Exclaimed Volteer. "What kind of guardians would we be if we couldn't aid the purple dragon with his elements? Not very good, that's for sure"!
"You seem to forget our schedule, Volteer. We are very busy today".
"Come on, Cyril. Aren't you just a little anxious sitting around here all day, devoted to study? Wouldn't you enjoy the thrill of a good sparring match? I know I would. And Volteer's definitely excited".
Ember jumped in. "Besides, you didn't look very busy when Spyro and I arrived. Unless you were dreaming up new ideas for party games".
"Alright. You may have a point. Maybe I do need to relax. Okay Spyro, meet us in the training yard. We'll see if we can't get the last three elements out of you".
As the guardians stepped out of the council hall, Spyro found himself walking out at Embers side. "Why did you do that"?
"You weren't going to. And don't tell me you would have. Sees all knows all. Remember? Now get going. I'll meet you at the training yard when I'm done packing. Have fun"! She darted down the opposite corridor, leaving Spyro to walk alone.
A breeze rushed past from behind him, and he spun around to be greeted by an empty hallway. "Now I'm imagining things". He turned back around, and found himself nose to nose with Ash, a wicked smile on his face. Spyro reared up on his hind legs, and fell to his back.
"Whatchya doin"? He asked childishly.
Spyro clutched his chest. "Having a heart attack! Why do you do that"?
Ash straightened his posture. "The same reason anyone does anything. It's fun". He turned his head. "No". He turned back and gave a smile.
"Okaaaayy. What are you doing here"? He asked as he stood slowly.
"Just come to watch you train. One can only handle so much, 'relationship'. And trust me, those two have it down to physically sickening".
"How did you know I was going to train"?
"Let's not worry about that. We need something to do".
Spyro looked behind the thrask. "We"?
Ash shook his head. "Me.. I. I need something to do. Now let's go"! He grabbed the drake by his horn, and dragged him outside.
The training yard wasn't as impressive as Spyro had first thought it would be. It was a bed of sand inside a stone rectangle. Straw dummies sat in a corner, charred and worn. The guardians stood in the sand, awaiting Spyro's arrival.
"I'm just gonna watch from here. You have fun".
Spyro stepped into the sun warmed sand. Terrador stepped forward as the others left the sand pit. "Alright Spyro, let's see if we can't get your earth element first. Are you ready"?
"As I'll ever be". Spyro got into a fighting stance, staying low to the ground.
"First things first, I want you to relax".
He raised an eyebrow. "Aren't we going to fight"?
Terrador chuckled. "I don't think that will be necessary. If it does become necessary, then we'll deal with it as it comes up. But first, I want to see if we can't get it out of you through meditation". Spyro got out of his fighting stance. "Now close your eyes". He did. "Now feel the earth. Feel the sand under your scales. Feel it shift and change under you. Do you feel it"?
"I feel something. I think".
"Now channel that feeling. Move it to your will".
Spyro willed it. He thought hard for the sand to shift. Yet nothing happened. "Don't stop. Keep trying. You are the pruple dragon. This should be nothing for you".
Spyro kept trying for nearly an hour. Cyril and Volteer had fallen asleep, and Ash had grown impatient. At some point the rest of the group had arrived. They watched with the thrask.
"I can't do it". The purple dragon admitted, giving up, defeated by the earth element. "I just don't feel it".
"Keep trying, Spyro. You can do this".
"No I can't. I only managed to use fire when I was faced with a fight. So maybe I need to fight to get back the other elements".
"If you think it's necessary, we can try. Get ready". They each stepped into a fighting stance.
Ash turned to Ember. "This isn't going to work. He isn't willing to actually fight. Give me your stone".
"No! I don't even know you. Why should I"?
"Because I could just take it. Not much you could do as a bloody pulp to stop me".
She frowned. "Ass". Ember pulled the stone from her bag, and held it up. "Just don't break it. It's very expensive".
He took the stone. "Please, you can't break a scrying stone. It wouldn't allow it". He walked into the sand pit, stone in hand. "Hey earthy"! He exclaimed. "Touch this orb would you"?
Terrador looked at him, orb in his outstretched arm. "Why"?
"Someone needs to fight for real. You won't actually try to hurt him. But I will". Terrador shook his head. "Come on! He learns through adrenaline fueled fights. Knowing someone won't hurt you, doesn't get you into the fighting spirit".
Terrador stared at the stone, taking in his words. "Fine". He reached out and touched the stone, which glowed a bright white.
As the light died down Ash shook his body and stretched. "Oh, this is going to be fun". He tossed the stone back to Ember. "Thanks"! She caught it in a frenzy. Ash turned to Spyro. "Get ready, oh great purple dragon". He slammed his fists into the ground. The sand coiled up his forearm and hardened into stone fists. He smiled a wicked smile. "Fun. Begin".
Ash reared his left arm back, and launched the rock fist forward like a missile. It clocked Spyro square in the side of his face. He stumbled backwards, dazed and confused as to what just happened. His head cleared long enough to see Ash, skating across the sand as though it were ice, arm cocked back, ready to deliver a blow.
Spyro launched himself upward with a flap of his wings. "Oh come on, no flying". Ash raised his stoneless arm and punched the ground. Stone pillars came from the ceiling and slammed the purple dragon into the ground He stood slowly as he shook the dirt from himself. "No flying. Now that we have a rule going, next rule, no fire. Earth only"!
"But I can't use earth yet"!
"Then let's hope you're a fast learner". Ash threw the stone fist on his right hand at Spyro, who side stepped it effortlessly. It seemed that as he did this, Ash was upon him yet again. Now with stone armor on his shin, he delivered a kick to the purple dragons side. The impact sent him flying a few feet, but he managed to correct himself and land properly.
Ash slammed his foot into the sand with a mighty stomp, raising a rock wall easily ten feet high and wide. He delivered a forward kick into the stone, launching it at Spyro.
The legendary hero ran to the side, managing to avoid getting hit, but Ash was waiting for him. He delivered a stomp to the area right in front of the purple drake. The shockwave sent him through a pillar at the edge, and out of the sand pit.
As he laid there, dazed and pained. He could make out the taunting coming from the thrask, as he stepped closer overwhelmed by a condescending tone. "Oh mighty purple dragon of legend, please don't hurt me"! He laughed. "If this is all you're capable of, I'm amazed it took a prophecy for Malefor to be killed".
Spyro could feel his rage building. "Kind of sad really", Ash looked to Cynder, "I bet watching you lose makes Ciezan look that much stronger in her eyes. How could you protect her, if you can't even protect yourself"?
Spyro felt something snap. That was it, he had had enough. "Shut up"! He screamed as he slammed into his adversary. The purple dragon managed to push him back into the sand pit. But Ash soon threw Spyro away by his horn. "Such perfect handles. I can see why dragons would be fun to"... an earth missile slammed into his face, cutting him off. He turned his head slowly. "Ow". Ash spit out a bloody tooth, and locked eyes with Spyro, a fire behind each of their eyes. "This is going to hurt, lizard".
Ash slammed his fists into the ground again, and launched the stone missiles at Spyro, and followed up with a rock wall. As the wall went forward, Ash launched himself into the air with a stone pillar, and brought a much larger stone fist down onto Spyro. He timed it so the missiles, wall, and thrask were going to hit at the same time. And as they were going to, Spyro screamed.
A sphere of rock surrounded him and exploded outward, breaking Ash's attacks and sending the thrask into the pillar he used to fly. He sat up with a grin. "Hehe. Not so bad. But I'm still not having fun. I wonder if Cynder would make a better punching bag"?
"You won't touch her"! He lashed out, a platform of stone carrying the purple dragon forward. Ash stopped him with a rock fist to the face. He then separated the earth, leaving a deep chasm that Spyro fell down in his dazed state. Ash slammed his hands together, and the chasm rushed closed in an instant.
"I have to move faster"! Screamed Spyro's mind as the chasm shrunk. He felt a surge as the walls closed in on him. The sudden energy coursed through his body, and accelerated him up and out at a blinding speed.
Ash stood, tired and injured from the explosion. "Told you it would hurt". He mocked.
"Oh really"? Laughed Spyro.
The thrask spun around in under a second. He had not even seen the purple dragon escape. "What? How? You were".. He pointed to the shut chasm. Ash shut himself when he noticed a spark around Spyro's legs. A smile grew over his lips. "I see. What a time to remember. Very convenient of you".
"I guess you could call it that. If it makes losing more appetizing for you". He lowered himself into a fighting stance again. "Now get ready".
Ash held up a finger. "Hold on. If you get two elements, even though we agreed on earth only, I at least get to use my strongest". He looked to Ember. "Stone me"! He ordered.
"Trust me, there's nothing I'd like more". She removed the scrying stone from her bag and tossed it to him.
"Thanks". Ash walked to Terrador. "Touch it". The earth dragon did as instructed, and the scrying stone glowed a brilliant white. when it died down, the thrask shook and stretched himself. "Much better. Thanks greeny". He tossed the stone back at Ember, who caught it in a panic. "Now where were we"?
They stood at opposite ends, Ash with his arms raised, protecting his face. And Spyro, low to the ground, ready to go in for the kill. Terrador looked between the two, "Begin". And so they did.
Ash launched himself forward, inverting his gravity towards the wall behind Spyro, fist cocked and battle ready.
Spyro charged his body with electricity, moving beyond what the others could see. He readied an explosive earth missile and aimed for Ash's head.
As they clashed, a shockwave spread across the arena. Strong enough to clear the area of all it's sand, and leave a flat sheet of obsidian. The onlookers protected themselves with their wings.
Ash charged a ball of black energy, and launched it at the purple dragon, who shot them down with flawless accuracy. The thrask clenched his teeth in annoyance. And fired a different ball of darkness at Spyro. Instead of the earth missile shattering the ball of condensed mass, it was absorbed by it. As the ball expanded to double it's size, it created a vacuum, and began sucking all the sand and loose chunks of earth from the surrounding area.
Spyro fought against it's immense power, but could not stay planted on the ground. He tumbled through the air toward the mini black hole. As he made contact, it exploded outward, sending all the debris it had collected to collide with Spyro alone.
The purple took no time to regain himself, and launched multiple projectiles at Ash as he flew through the air, who knocked them from the sky with his own. After Spyro landed, and they began realizing it was pointless, they moved in to fight close quarters. Spyro charged himself, and easily evaded the thrask's attacks.
Ash on the other hand, was getting beaten fairly badly. Every swing was dodged and countered. When he had had enough, he wrapped his hand in a black hole, and punched the ground at his feet, sending Spyro backwards.
Shards of obsidian shredded through Spyro's scales, leaving deep wounds that bled heavily. As the sand ground inside his eyes and cuts, the purple dragon felt one last snap. The final stepping stone on his pond of rage. He let it out in a guttural roar. So loud it forced Ash and the others to cover their ears. The purple dragon before them, now had a much darker tone to him. He now hovered several feet off the ground, glowed with a dark aura, and his eyes a bright white. As he spoke, his voice sounded demonic. Evil. "You can't defeat me". He launched forth a beam of purple energy, which Ash managed to absorb into a black hole.
"Spyro no"! Screamed Cynder from the sidelines. She tried to get into the arena, but was stopped by Ciezan. "Let me go! I have to help him"! She begged.
"Trust me, Ash can handle this. He still has a few tricks up his sleeve". Cynder looked the thrask over, who was worn and beaten.
But she trusted Ciezan. She knew he wouldn't say something if he didn't believe it. "Okay". She stopped pushing against him, and instead looked on, worried for the purple dragon.
Ember stared in awe. "What's happening"? She asked Cynder.
"It isn't good. Trust me". They couldn't take their eyes off of the darker version of Spyro.
Ash smiled. "I haven't used this for a while. But for you.. I'll gladly make an exception". He launched forth multiple black holes, which Spyro shot down with easy. While busy with that, Ash raised his hand in the air. "May gravity take hold. May you come crashing down from the sky. You have been held high for far too long. It is time you realized, that all thing fall to earth". He slammed his hand into the ground, creating an impact crater as he did so.
Spyro did as Ash commanded, and fell to earth. The pressure was greater than anything he had ever felt, yet still he fought it, and managed to stay upright on his hind legs.
Ash had made his way to the far end of the arena, and turned to face Spyro, trapped by gravity. He covered the thirty foot gap between with runes in the shape of arrows, all pointing at Spyro. The thrask charged a solid piece of matter around his fist. He spoke quietly as he placed a foot on the first arrow. "This is a Singularity Punch. I've won". He moved forward at a speed beyond comprehension. Each of the thirty arrows quadrupling his speed. He reared his arm back, then carried it forward, slamming into Spyro's face, and knocking him back to his original color.
The thrask conjured a black hole to slow himself, then released Spyro from his gravity field. The onlookers rushed to Spyro, unsure whether he had died. Thankfully he was breathing, and fully conscious.
As Ash placed a hand on the purple dragon's head, smiling. "That was a good fight. But if we were in any other room, you would have died".
"How fast were you going"?
"Too fast. I would have gone faster, but I ran out of room. Again, you'd be dead if not for the enchantment in this room". He looked him over. "What was that? Convexity? Didn't know you could us that".
"I didn't either". He looked down. "But even with all that power... I still wasn't strong enough".
"Hey". He looked up to Cynder, who was smiling at him. "What matters is you can use your elements again. I think you're a winner". She hugged him tightly.
"Th-thanks, Cynder". He smiled.
"Now", she started. "let's get this dirt out from under our scales. We want to look as nice as possible for the party tonight".
He nodded. "Definitely". As the group left, Spyro was pulled to the side by the guardians.
"We're proud of you, Spyro. But you have to be careful with that power. Don't let it consume you". Cyril sounded worried. Worried that Spyro might turn out like Malefor.
"I will, Cyril. Don't worry". The ice dragon nodded, and the three large dragons left the training yard, leaving Ash and Spyro alone. "So... That was fun".
Ash chuckled. "It was. We really kicked your scaly rump. Didn't we"?
Spyro cocked his head. "We"? He questioned.
"I. Sorry. Slip of the tongue". Ash glared down at the purple dragon. "I might be going away for a while. I have some business I need to take care of".
"What kind of business"?
"Something's coming. And I hope I can stop it before it gets here. If I can... then nothing will happen. And I might not come back".
"What's coming"?
"The corrupted".
"But we left them in Lourndas! They have no idea where we are".
"Desmios did. And if what I saw when I touched the scrying stone is right... He told them".
"Let me help you"!
"No"! He shouted. "You're unstable. You can't control what could be your only hope in defeating them. But I might be able to".
"Ash, listen to me". Ordered the purple dragon. "I'm not letting you do this alone. So either you take me with you, or stay here and defend the city. We have an army. We have a scrying stone. And with your help, I think I could control my power".
"You know I can't risk the lives of Warfang".
"Then we tell them! We tell that those who wish to fight can do so. All those who don't can go to the temple and wait it out. The only lives we'd risk are the ones that are willing to die for Warfang".
"I don't know".
"Ash please. We stand a greater chance with you here. If we stay together, nothing can stop us".
The thrask smiled. "Alright. We tell everyone after the party". He turned his head. "I never thought of that". He waited. "I like it. Good plan". He turned back to Spyro. "We...I would love to stay".
Spyro looked behind Ash. "Yeah... Okay. Great". He said, unsure how he should feel. As Ash walked away, Spyro caught a few whispers spoken by the thrask. Never coherent, as though speaking to someone else. Someone only he could hear.