Forgetting who you are

Chapter 14

When the night had settled and day took its place, some awoke to strange beds filled with familiar faces. Others to familiar beds filled with unfamiliar faces.

This was no different for Flame, Cynder, Ciezan, Spyro and of course, Ash. Who had all gathered in the council hall to attest to the coming enemy.

And it was Ash who woke them. In the only way he knew how.

He treaded softly into Cynders room first, an evil grin on his face. As he approached her bedside, he spoke quietly. "Cynder. Wake up". She did not respond. "Guess we do it my way". He lifted his arm slowly. "Rise from earth". She floated into the air, the sheets that cover her sliding off her body. "Now fall". He dropped his arm and she fell onto the bed with a screech.

She jumped from bed and got low to the ground, ready to pounce. Ash merely laughed at her as she glared at him menacingly. "What was that for"?! She asked angrily.

"You didn't wake up. How's your hangover"?

"Worse now. All thanks to you. Why are you so rude"?

The thrasks smile faded. "I'm sorry. I could have gone about waking you a bit better".

"Thank you. Now care to tell me why you woke me"?

"So you could testify to the power of the corrupted. I said something about this last night but you were tanked. You're a really fun drunk".

She clutched her head. "Why do I drink so much"?

"You don't drink a lot, you're just a lightweight. Now let's go wake the others".

"Can I just go back to bed"?

"Nope". He grabbed her by a horn, and dragged her to Ciezans room.

The gryphon was easy to wake up. Cynder merely spoke a few words and he was up. They then went on to the fire guardians chambers.

Creaking the door open slowly, they crept to the side of the bed where the red and purple drakes slept peacefully. Ash chuckled as he looked them over. He turned to the others and gestured at Spyro and Flame. "I guess the kiss worked, huh"?

Cynder was quick to hit him. "Don't say that. Even as a joke. It's just mean".

"Sorry".

"Now let's wake them up". She leaned in near Spyro's ear, and spoke softly. "Spyro. Spyyyyroooo. Wake up. We have things to do today".

"SPYRO"! Screamed Ash. No reply. "They're gone". He scanned the room until his eyes fell upon a basin of water. "I know". He raised his hand in the direction of the water, "Rise from earth". The water floated into the air and came to rest above the red and purple drakes.

Cynder hit him again. "No! Let me do this. No point in scaring the to all hell".

"If you think you can do better".

"I know I can". She leaned down and began whispering into his ear again.

Ash rolled his eyes as the water fell, sending the two drakes into a frenzy. Cynder glared at him as he placed a hand over his mouth. "Oops".

They explained themselves to Spyro and Flame, and made their way to the council hall, where they would tell the guardians of the coming threat.

As the group stood before the grand hall, Ciezan nudged Ash, gaining his attention, "The guardians are gonna chew you out for destroying the market. Get ready".

The thrask rolled his eyes. "I don't doubt that. But they're all talk. They might tell me to do something, but I doubt they expect me to do it".

They stepped inside, the guardians glaring down Ash the moment the doors opened. As he stood before them, Cyril huffed in his direction. "You have a lot to explain. Namely; why did you destroy the market? Who did you fight that made it so necessary to use that much force"?

"My inner demons".

"Of course, you can't take this seriously".

"Hey, I am serious. I was literally fighting an inner demon of mine. Geez, not everything I say is sarcastic".

"Well, since they were your demons, you get to help clean it up. Starting today you will help. Do I make myself clear"?

"I don't know. See I came here to talk to you about a threat that could very well put your race into extinction. So maybe you'll want to listen, and then punish me for saving everyone".

"Fine fine, explain yourself".

Ash told them what he knew. He did keep certain details a secret though. Afterwards the guardians fell silent, thinking over the tales of destruction and hatred. "So you understand the danger they pose, yes"?

"You are sure of what you saw"? Inquired Terrador.

"There is no possibility of doubt. They are coming. And if we don't prepare... Warfang will fall".

The four shared a worried look as Cyril spoke. "Then this is no time for half measures. We cannot risk writing this off as fabrication. We must let the city know".

"Where will they go? The temple as you suggested would not be safe. If the enemy is hunting for you, then they would follow your trail through the temple". Volteer spoke the worries of all present.

"What about the catacombs"? Interjected Flame. "Isn't it where everyone took cover half a century ago during the war with Malefor"?

Cyril nodded. "It could work. They could use the tunnels to escape the city, and take shelter in a city nearby".

"Then it's settled". Said Ash. "We warn the citizens that the corrupted are coming, and that those who wish to fight can stay. Those that don't can leave or take cover in the catacombs".

They gathered the city with a mighty bell. It's deafening chimes clustered the whole city in front of the templeary. At the top of the large staircase, those who rung the bell stood. And addressed Warfang with the new of the coming war.

As they told the city, many were outraged. Many were afraid. But many were also ready to fight. Ready to defend the city that had not fallen during the war with the dark master.

"And now, we will have the one that brought the coming danger to our attention; Ash. Friend to Spyro and Cynder". Cyril stepped down, and allowed the thrask room to speak.

"Thanks mister sing-along". Cyril gave a low growl. "The enemy is upon us! Soon we will be overrun by the creatures of your worst nightmares. We have a month at most. And in that time, those of you who wish to fight must be trained. It will not be easy. But it is far from impossible. We have with us a seer. One with a scrying stone. With her ability to read the future we cannot lose. So move out! Say farewell to those who are leaving. From now on, we train. Good luck to all of you". The crowd was split between booing and cheering. Ash stepped away from the stairs and rejoined the rest of them inside the foyer.

"Nice speech". Said Cynder. "Two problems though, no one knows where Ember is or how to find her. And Spyro broke her scrying stone".

"I know where she is". Ash gloated. "From what her first stone showed me, she should be back with a new one by tonight. Everything works out. Seemingly by magic". He turned to the purple dragon. "Now then, It's time for you to get ice back. And learn how to control convexity. It won't be easy. You'll have to want it".

"I do".

Ash smiled. "Good. We can do that after the evacuation. Make sure everyone else is safe first".

After they had evacuated those that were leaving, they found their way to the training grounds.

Ash stretched in the pit of sand before the purple dragon. "So I can't teach you ice, and Cyril's probably too busy. So we're just gonna go straight to convexity. Sound good"?

Spyro shrugged. "I guess. So how are you gonna get me to change"?

Ash finished his stretching. "From what I've seen, anger brings it out. And while I pride myself in how easily I can get others angry, that was mostly Koma. And he isn't here any longer. So instead", He pulled out a sharp piece of stone. "we're going to use this".

Spyro stepped back. "How are you going to use it"?

"From what I've read on dragon anatomy, there is a group of nerves right at the underside of your shoulder. And if anything gets someone angry, it's pain".

"Why do so many of your plans involve hurting someone? And why does it seem to be mostly me"?

Ash shrugged. "I guess we enjoy different things. Now get over here".

Spyro did as instructed. "So how do you know about it"?

Ash held the shard a few inches from the purple dragon's shoulder. "Knowing someone's weakness is never a bad thing". He plunged the shard into his nerve, Spyro opened his mouth to scream, but all that came out was a silent huff. "Yeah, it hurts. Now I need you to get angry over it".

"I can't feel my body. Why can't I feel my body"?

Ash raised an eyebrow, and inspected the area where he had put the shard. "Y'know what, I think this is the wrong nerve. This one might just for paralysis. Too bad". He removed the shard and Spyro released a breath of relief.

"So where is the nerve"?

"I don't know. I just read about that one I think". He chucked the shard to the side. "So let's try something different".

"Like what"?

The thrask thought for a moment, until an idea struck. "Flame must be a good kisser".

Spyro rolled his eyes. "Oh come on! Why are you bringing that up? It's more embarrassing then angering".

"Okay. What about that time with Ciezan"?

"Embarrassing".

Ash snapped his fingers. "Damn". He looked to Spyro, a toothy grin spreading across his lips. In an instant he brought his hand across his face, reddening his purple scales.

Spyro held the cheek that bore Ash's hand print. "Ouch. I get what you're trying to do, but don't go about it that way. I wanna get angry, not hate you".

"You're really stubborn. You know that"? Spyro rolled his eyes. "Don't give me your sass. I have another idea. But you can't tell anyone". The thrask turned to dust and materialized a few moments later, clutching a piece of paper and inked quill. He wrote down a word and spoke something in a language Spyro did not recognize. He outstretched his arm to the purple dragon. "Read it".

Spyro looked to the word, "Rage". He said in his mind.

As he read the word, he felt something. Deep in the pit of his being. Something hot, something painful. As it got hotter and hotter, he felt his anger rise higher and higher. "What's going on? Why am I so angry"? He fought it. It felt strange, unnatural.

"Forcing emotion through written words. Highly taboo. There's no point in fighting it. You can't win".

Spyro tried to fight the anger. "This isn't right"! He flickered into his dark state, then back to his normal one.

Ash sighed, and slapped him again, pushing the purple dragon all the way into his dark form. "There. Was that so"... Spyro slammed into the thrask, knocking him back several feet. Ash skidded to a halt. "Okay. Now comes the hard part". He clapped his hands together. "Let's get your normal self in control". He raised his hand. "All things fa"... A stone disk shot forth from Spyro's maw, severing Ash's left arm from his elbow up. His jaw hung open as he looked over his stump. "Asshole. I was gonna use that"! He ducked under another disk and watched it as it impacted with the wall behind him. "That was close". Turning his attention back to Spyro, who shot a beam of convexity at Ash. He only had time for a simple response. "Shit".

The beam collided with the thrask, leaving a large hole in his chest. Spyro then severed his left leg with a well placed shot. The thrask chuckled as he examined his wounds. "I guess you could say that I'm... All right"! Spyro did not hesitate to fire a third beam at his head, vaporizing it entirely.

The purple dragon, overcome by the darkness inside him, fired a volley of convexity at the thrasks body, removing it from existence completely. When he did stop, a noise came from behind him. A clap and a laugh. He spun to be gifted by the sight of the one he had just obliterated.

"Gotta love the training room. If it wasn't for that amazing enchantment, I would have surely died. Just like Ignitus". That name struck a nerve in the purple dragon. "Even with all this power, you just let him die. Pathetic".

"SHUT UP"! Wailed Spyro as he shot a convexity missile at Ash, who swatted it away like a fly buzzing around him.

"Fall". Spyro did just that. He fell from his feat and onto his stomach. He fought the magic with all his might. Ash stood over him and delivered a kick into his jaw. He then knelt next to his ear and spoke softly. "Now look, you're gonna get out of this little mood right now. You're going to control yourself. If you can't get in control, I can't promise the safety of your friends. You could lose control and kill Cynder. Do you want that"?

"NO! LET ME GO"! He fought harder, desperately trying to free himself.

"Wrong answer". He kicked him again. "I'm gonna keep dong that until you either lose consciousness, or get back in control. Do you understand"?

"Let me go"!

Ash sighed. "I guess you choose the former. Good. At least I can enjoy myself". A twisted smile spread across his face as he kicked him again.

This went on for nearly two hours. Ash had yet to lose interest and Spyro had yet to quit. "Give up"! He kicked him again, and he stopped fighting.

His body flickered to his normal color, yet his eyes kept glowing white. "You win! I give up". Spyro had regained control. Sadly, it was a short victory, and he was quick to revert back to his dark state, and kept fighting the pressure around him.

Ash clapped. "Very good. You can take over. Now it's time for you to stay like that. Don't worry, I'm not bored yet".

As the whole day went by, with Spyro dipping in and out of control for increasing lengths of time, Ash felt one final push was necessary. He had called Cynder to attack the purple dragon. He would release him, and if Spyro was truly in control, he wouldn't counterattack. If not, then Ash would force him back down again.

"Are you ready"? He asked the black dragoness, who stood in front of Spyro.

"Let's do this". She got into a fighting position.

"Rise".

Spyro stood, snarling as he did so. He looked around, before being struck with a blow to the head. He saw Cynder bring the spine of her tail blade down onto his skull, and follow up with a sweep at his feet, knocking him back to the ground. He shot a missile upward, blowing a hole into the ceiling.

The thrasks eyes followed the blast to the ceiling. "No more enchantment". He thought to himself.

Spyro bolted upright and dashed forward, giving the black dragoness no time to react. He tackled her to ground and began charging a beam of convexity.

Ash raised his arm and started his incantation.

"No"! Screamed Cynder, halting Ash from stopping the rage fueled purple dragon. "It's going to be fine". She smiled as a tear fell from her eye.

Spyro roared as he unleashed the beam directed at Cynder's face, point blank. They were enveloped in a bright purple light.

"CYNDER"!