Cynder let go of her purple dragon, sharing his sadness. "I'm sorry, Spyro. He was our friend".
Spyro stood straight. "We can mourn for him later. Right now we have to clean up the rest of the corrupted". Cynder nodded and went off to gather the forces that had scattered.
She found them engaged with a large group. While outnumbered they had not been outclassed. Her eyes trailed upward, where a single corrupted sat in a throne atop a pile of rubble. The vile creature kept itself well, and had no puss leaking boils like the others. Its teeth were clean and straight, and the blade on its tail curved into a scythe blade. The nomad even wore a set of fine robes, and a triangular bladed rapier on its hip. It smiled at her as she stared. "Do you like the chair? I found it in a store just down the way. The owners were... less, than cooperative. But they gave in in the end. They always do". The nomad pulled from under the throne two dragon skulls, skinned and cleaned to a bleached white. The nomad looked at her again, a tilt to it's head. "What happened to your face"?
"Hey! You're one to talk"! She said angrily.
"Actually it's telepathy, my dear. Such a useful skill. Too bad you won't be around long enough to learn its secrets". The nomad stood and crushed the skulls in its hand. It landed with grace, strange for such an ugly thing. It taunted her to attack first.
Cynder launched volleys of poison at her enemy. The poison seemed to do nothing. She switched to a shadow strike. Again, nothing. The nomad yawned. "So boring. Corrupted magic has no affect on us. You would know that if you paid attention".
She smiled. "No corruption, huh? I can work with that". And sent a gust of wind into the nomad, tumbling the corrupted through the air. As it flew upward, she charged forth and delivered quick strikes with her claws and tail. They both landed, Cynder with grace and safety, and the nomad with a thud and concussion.
"I did not expect that". It shook its head and stood. "Let's get serious, little lady". With a swift push the nomad was upon her before she had time to react. It threw her into the air, then chased her into the clouds. It swung around her and raised it's tail blade, ready to eviscerate her.
Cynder smirked as he stepped between her and the sun. As the scythe blade came down, she disappeared into the shadow the nomad was casting, avoiding his attack with little effort. He huffed. "That's hardly fair".
Sh laughed from the building where his shadow rested. "I'm sorry. Am I too challenging for you"?
He landed on the same rooftop and dusted himself off. "If not for that little parlor trick, you'd be dead my dear". Now then, let's continue". He lowered his body, and Cynder followed.
They circled eachother slowly, waiting for the first move. The nomad grew impatient and lunged forward with his rapier.
Cynder ducked under his first lunge, and sidestepped his second. As he wound up the third, she dove forward, rolling up his arm and over his head. Leaving him with a swift scratch to the face. He swung his tail upward which she deflected with her own.
As Cynder landed, the nomad clapped. "Not bad. Fancy. Much more nimble than the others. I underestimated you". He raised his sword. "En-guard"!
The nomad jumped in her direction, rapier at the ready. Cynder side stepped only to be met with the blunt edge of his tail scythe. She stumbled back, before falling to her stomach as his thin blade aimed for her throat. The nomad directed it downward, but she deflected it with her tail blade.
He gave her a wide girth, and raised his blade again. "I see now. I will defeat you with this last attack. I guarantee it"!
She rolled her eyes. "You're not the first to say that. And you won't be the last".
"Confidence. I like that. Now ready yourself"! He lunged forward again. Cynder sighed as she expected this. But was taken by surprise as he spun mid lunge, and whipped his tail low at her, she jumped over it of course, but as she was airborne, the nomads rapier pierced her left shoulder to the halfway mark. The corrupted smirked, and with a twist and a pop, managed to dislodged her shoulder from it's socket. He was quick to pull his rapier from her.
She screamed as she landed, collapsing when her leg failed to support her weight. A coin fell from her armor as she hit the ground, it landed between her and the nomad.
"Might not have killed you, but I bet that hurts. It was a good fight. You even managed to scar my perfect face". He scraped the tip of his tail blade down her body, coming to a stop at her chin. He pushed up lightly, forcing her gaze to land on him. "Quite the fighter. Much better at melee than magic. Too bad I was the greatest swordsman before my untimely turning. Still, I guess I found the good in it. Too bad you won't. Goodbye, Cyn"... His words stopped as his gaze fell to the coin on the ground. He removed his tail from her chin and picked it up. The nomad turned it over in his hand, a wave of relief washing over him. "Thank the gods. I thought it was an immunity sigil. I'd hate to have to let you go like that". He tossed the coin from the rooftop.
As he did, Cynder swung her tail at him, which he deflected with his own, and nailed it to the ground with his rapier. Cynder howled in pain as he twisted his triangular blade deeper through her tail. "Tisk tisk little lady. Don't you know you shouldn't play with knives".
The coin fell to the street below, where dragon and corrupted fought one another. It bounced around as they trampled near it. Until an earth dragon scooped it up with a pile of rocks, shattering the stone and coin on their enemy's face.
The nomad raised its scythe blade again, "This is the end"! The blade came down and Cynder closed her eyes. "What"?! Screamed the nomad, which prompted Cynder to open her eyes. Before her stood a familiar figure, he caught the scythe blade with nothing but his talons, and leaked blood over its smooth surface.
"Don't you touch her". He ordered angrily.
The nomad was dumbstruck. "Since when did a gryphon get here?! I should have seen you"!
"Well you didn't". He tossed aside the blade, still leaking blood from his palm. The nomad roared and charged forward, Ciezan pushed the tail swipe over his head and redirected it into the nomads side. It howled as the gryphon shoulder checked him off the rooftop.
Ciezan turned to Cynder, who lay there confused. "How did you get here"? She asked.
"You broke the medallion. It brought me here". He looked her over, and stepped to the rapier in her tail. "This is going to hurt. Are you ready"? She nodded, and Ciezan pulled the blade from her tail and tossed it to the side, freeing her. "Now let's get that shoulder back in".
After pushing it back into its socket, Cynder breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you". She said as she hugged him tightly, a hug that he returned. "I missed you".
"I missed you too". He looked into her green eyes, sharing a moment of happiness. Though it was not happiness he saw, it was shame. Regret. "Is something wrong"? Her eyes teared up as she thought to her unfaithfulness.
She swallowed a lump in her throat. "Last night, I"... Her words stopped as she saw the nomad leap forward, again armed with his rapier. "Look out"! She yelled as she pushed him to the side and ducked, catching the blade between two horns. When she felt it, she snapped her head to the side, breaking the blade.
The nomad kept going forward, and the blade piece flew behind Cynder's head. As it was airborne, she found it with her tail, and pivoted on her feet, flicking her tail at the nomad and sending the shard of metal into his heart.
He landed with a thud, and clutched his chest as blood pooled around him.
The two stood over him as he begged for mercy in his physical voice. "Please... Help... Me"! He coughed. "I... don't want... to... die"!
As they stepped closer, his tail snapped up. Ciezan pulled Cynder out of the way, and the scythe embedded itself into the stone right at the nomads face. The dragoness acted quickly before he could dislodge it, and brought her tail blade down like a guillotine, severing his head and scythe blade.
They turned to eachother, sure that their enemy was dead, and continued the hug that the nomad had interrupted. As they pulled away, Cynder couldn't look him in the eyes, she felt ashamed of what she had done. Even if it was what she wanted. "Ciezan... I have to tell you something".
"What is it"? He asked with a smile on his face.
She looked at him regretfully, unsure how he would react. "Last night, I"...
"Cynder! Ciezan"? Came a voice from above, the voice of Spyro. The purple dragon landed, surprised to see the gryphon. "You're back... early. Any particular reason for that"?
"Why? Aren't you happy to see me"? Asked the gryphon joyfully.
"Oh, of course! It's just... some things have happened recently".
"Well you're gonna have to tell me all about them! But right now we should get somewhere safer. No telling how many more are on the way". The three took to the sky, and Spyro exchanged a look of worry with Cynder.
Ciezan noticed the item Spyro grasped, the one Koma had given him. "What are you doing with that"?
The purple dragon looked to it. "Oh. I'm supposed to stab Ash with it if I find him. No idea where he is though". The item began to glow.
"I think someone already did". The light enveloped them, fading to reveal a large room, a staircase behind and in front them. Ash was walking to the on that led down, attempting to pull a similar item to what Spyro held from his back.
"I can't believe you stabbed me! Who does that"? He removed it and tossed it to Koma, who laid on the ground at his feet. Ash angled his head up, seeing the group of three. "Oh, hey. Can you believe this guy? Stabbed me in the back".
"What are you doing here? Where are we"? Asked Spyro.
"Look, we'd love to stay and chat, but there's something we have to do. It'd be best if you leave. Don't want you to see something you'd regret".
"No"... Choked Koma. "Stop... him". His body fell limp.
"Don't listen to him. He doesn't know us. He doesn't know me".
"What are you doing here? I'm not going to ask again".
"You're right, you won't. Kill them. Kill them all". From the shadows came a group of corrupted. Ash turned down the stairs as they lunged forward.
"Go, Spyro! We can handle them". The gryphon sounded sure of their abilities.
"Alright". Spyro jumped over the group and ran down the stairs, hot on Ash's heels.
The staircase was long, longer than any Spyro had come across before. The seemingly endless stairs opened to a room that was oddly familiar to him. It was less of a room, and more of the center of something. Something massive.
Stone archways connected the stairs to a giant purple crystal acting as a floor. Below was an ocean of lava. And all around fire raged. Spyro was sure he had been here before. As he scanned the area, he noticed the thrask stading in the center of the crystal, scrying stone in hand.
"Ash"! He yelled.
His friend rolled his eyes and groaned. "Did you really follow us? We told you to leave. You should have listened".
"What are you doing here? What is this place"?
"Do you seriously not remember it? It's the center of the earth. Where you pulled the world back together. And where you woke up before ending up in Lourndas. As for what I'm doing, well I can't rightly tell you. Taboo and whatnot". He raised the scrying stone. "I can tell you, that I will have revenge on the one who scared me so long ago".
"But Cynder's back there"!
Ash shook his head. "I should have figured you wouldn't get it. The walls are forward, the fruit is picked. This will be the last end of the beginning. And I shall unbind the eternal, and end my suffering".
"That's what the Chronicler showed me. What does that mean"?
"The wall of Warfang has fallen, the stone is in my hands. A new world will be born, and I shall slay the eternal". He laughed maniacally. "This is going to be glorious"!
"No it won't. Because I'm going to stop you. Right here. Right now".
"Big words from such a small dragon. You don't have the enchantment to save you this time. And I won't hold back".
"I wouldn't have it any other way".
Ash smirked, but was quick to lose his confidence when Spyro disappeared from sight, coming from behind him and knocking the stone out of his hand. "You little bastard! How the hell did you do that"? He got no reply. "Fine then. Let's dance". He went forward, stopping as Spyro faded from sight again. He checked every direction possible, but still failed to notice the purple blur coming from above.
The thrask was drilled into the ground, a series of cracks forming underneath him. With a push he was back to his feet, and roared. He threw out a fury of black holes. Too many to count. On top of that, he also increased gravity in numerous locations, hoping to catch the purple dragon. As he used his power recklessly, a small stream of blood trickled from his nose. He reached a hand to it, and puled back all of his magic. Ash looked physically exhausted. "To much magic, can kill anyone". In his realization, he calmed down, and waited. Listening for his enemy. *Clack* Ash slammed his hand into the floor at his feet, catching the purple dragon mid swing in an intense field of gravity. "Almost. Not quite fast enough though". He took back the stone, not letting up on his casting. "I'll let you watch the grand finale".
From the staircase came the others, finished with the corrupted. "Ah"! Screamed Ciezan, running to his friend. "Stop this madness"!
They made it to Spyro before being caught in their own gravity bubble. "Madness? This isn't madness. This is redemption. This is the end". He raised the stone into the air. "With the power of reality, I bend away death. Come forth! Resurrect, bound to me"! A bright light enveloped him, and a loud, evil laugh shook Cynder to the bones.
"No". She uttered. "Not him". She looked on as a great, purple claw reached its way out of the crystal floor.
"Reborn! Bound to me! Obey my will, and submit"!
The purple dragon before them scoffed. "Obey you? What a fool you are. I am Malefor! The Dark Master! I bow to no one".
"Then I guess I'll have to kill you".
Malefor raised an eyebrow. "Kill me? You resurrect me so you could kill me? Why would you go through the trouble"? Ash directed his gaze to his scars. "Oh... I remember you. You were one of the thrask that visited the temple. I remember you being much younger back then though. And then I had Cynder burn your land to nothing. Still not much of a motive".
"With your death, I will end my suffering! Now fall to earth"! As he cast his gravity, Malefor did not change his composure. The only thing he did way yawn in boredom.
"Is that really all? You do realize I've been gaining power this entire time, right? Half a century of meditation isn't the longest of time, but it's enough to gain considerable power".
"Fall"! Again Malefor's composure did not change. as cancelled his casting and jumped back. He raised the stone, and created thousands of runes between him and Malefor, stacking them on eachother over and over until there was only thrity between them. "There is one million runes between us! You will die here"!
Malefor laid on his stomach, narrowing his eyes and smiling. "Very well, I'm waiting".
The thrask conjured a massive singularity onto his hand. He sprinted towards the line of runes. He moved so fast, he was in two places at once for a moment. He had made contact with Malefor, and a loud crack was heard. He smiled as he looked up, the dark master flying through the air and landing with a thud. "So I can hurt you. Good".
The three looked on in horror as Ash closed in to his goal. "Ash! Not! You aren't strong enough! You'll die"! Ciezan sounded hopeless.
"Oh please. Do me a favor and shut up".
Spyro's head snapped to attention. "That's it". He said. "I know how to stop him"!
"Spyro... don't do it". The gryphon ordered.
"ASH"! Screamed the purple dragon. "Stop this! As a favor to me, stop this madness"!
The thrask laughed. "Oh please! You couldn't stop me by force, what makes you think begging will do you any better".
"Then I'm sorry. Ash, you are bound by blood, broken is your word, and now broken are you. May others learn from your dishonesty".
The thrask froze in place, a look of horror taking over his features. "N-no". He stammered. "I was so close". The scrying stone fell from his hand, a black line sprouting from his binding scar. The line trailed down his arm slowly, his heart its final destination. Ash sprinted at the purple dragon, who was still locked in the gravity field. He stopped half way, and fell to a knee, the line drawing closer. In a hopeless attempt to stop it, he tore at his flesh until his nails scrapped bone. The line did not stop. "WHY"?!
"It was the only way! He's bound to you. So you have to die. For the good of the world". Spyro felt a sharp pain in his own scar, a similar black dot had formed.
"You've sealed your fate. You knowingly committed suicide. I'm not the last that will try, and if the others aren't stopped before the resurrection, the world will fall".
"This death is absolute, Ash. You know that. Even a scrying stone can't bring back someone who broke their word. And if Malefor really is bound to you... he'll suffer the same fate as you".
Ash's eyes were wide. Tears streamed from them as he realized his failure. "Rise". The three stood, no longer held down by gravity. "I failed. I was always meant to fail. Now I face judgement. Necromancy, forcing emotions, all taboo". He looked up at them, true regret in his eyes. "I'm so sorry". He lurched forward as his heart was absorbed by the breaking ritual, then fell back, landing with a thud and releasing his final breath.
Spyro look to his line, halfway up his arm. "So this is it? I'm going to die".
"You don't know that"! Reassured Cynder. "There could still be a way to stop it. Right, Ciezan"?
The gryphon shook his head. "No. It's absolute. We can't stop it. All we can do is share a happy memory before it does happen".
Together they wept, saddened by the hopelessness of their situation. "Ciezan, there's something you need to know. Cynder and I... we"...
"I know".
He was surprised. "Y-you do"?
Ciezan nodded slowly. "Yes. Cynder told me".
"You have to understand, it was wrong and I know it"...
He held up a talon, silencing the purple dragon. "She already gave me this speech. And I forgive you".
"R-really"?
"Really. I know you love her, and I know she loves you. I knew it was going to happen, but I left anyway. I guess a part of me wanted you two together. So I can't be angry at want I desired myself".
Spyro embraced the gryphon. "Thank you, Ciezan. Your forgiveness means the world to me". He looked to his line again, now past his shoulder, closing in. "Is it painful? Dying"?
"No. It's quite peaceful actually". The voice came from beside the purple dragon, from behind the usual blank mask. "You're very brave. Sacrificing yourself like this. I wish I had the strength to stop him. My life isn't worth near as much as yours".
"You're okay"!
"Not really. I was bound to Ash, and so I have to die. Not my preferred method of going, but it works". From the thrask that lay dead, a piece of paper flew. Koma caught it and looked it over, a single word written on it in faded ink. "Rage". He uttered. "Ash did always love these things. You don't even have to read it to be affected, just around it". He turned it to the purple dragon, who looked away, not wanting to feel its affects again. "Don't worry, it's faded. No more magic power". He threw it into the wind, and reached up to is mask, a heavy sigh escaping his lungs. Koma grasped it, and pulled it from his face.
Spyro gasped at his complexion, taken over by a gruesome, glowing purple scar that ran diagonally across his face. "That's convexity. How did you get a convexity scar"?
Koma chuckled. "I helped someone. There are somethings in this world even I can't control". He looked down as his body began to fade. "Well, this is where I get going. It's been fun. I'm sorry for everything that happened. I wish I was stronger".
"It's okay, Koma. What matters is you didn't give up. For that, you've redeemed yourself".
Koma bowed to the purple dragon as he faded completely. "That means a lot to me. Thank you".
The world unfroze and Spyro faced Cynder and Ciezan again as the line drew closer. Cynder hugged him tightly. "I don't want you to die". She cried.
"I don't either, but if I don't neither will Malefor. I'm sorry".
"I promise to love you for the rest of my life".
Spyro broke from her hug. "No".
"What"?
"Don't love me for the rest of your life. Love me for the rest of mine. You have Ciezan. The dead have no use for love".
She nodded. "I'l try".
He turned to Ciezan. "Do right by her, okay"?
"You have my word".
Cynder leaned in before the line took his heart, in one last passionate kiss. She pulled away, and pressed her forehead to his. "I love you".
A tear fell from Spyro's eye, a tear of joy. "And I love you". For the purple dragon, the world went black. His mind eased into peace, and his life faded.