Chapter 5: Guardians, Warfangs Council, and Protocol
Flame walked out of the temple the sun radiating of his red scales he gazed around looking for something and there she was on the stairs waiting for him was a pink dragoness with golden belly scales as radiant as his and beautiful blue eyes. His heart fluttered as he neared her. Their muzzles met and both of them kissed. They then walked down the stairs towards Warfang.
"You look tired." Ember said with slight concern.
"I had to deal with those stuck up eastern desert dragons." Flame responded. "If things don't go their way they get pretty temperamental."
Flame snorted emitting small puffs of fire from his nostrils.
"They may be used to having everyone roll over for them where they are from but there they will have to learn to treat others with respect." He finished with another puff of fire.
"Something happen?" Ember asked.
"The dignitary's son, Hit on Volia and when she denied him his father got mad and insulted Volia in front of all of us." Flame Spat. "The other dignitaries were appalled at how he acted and when one intervened they got into a fight, luckily Volteer and Cyril were able to settle things before a war started."
Ember shook of the look of shock on her face.
"Is Volia alright?" Ember asked.
"She did not even flinch when he called her a whore, she just sat there with no emotion on her face, but at the end she shot a death glare at the son." Flame said in a calm tone.
"Volia always was resilient." Ember said as she sighed with relief.
Flame nodded in agreement. Flame turned to see Volia and Vinda The wind guardian walk past them both talking happily to each other.
"Just like nothing ever happened." Ember chimed.
A small group of Dragons shoved past Flame and Ember. Flame looked and saw the eastern desert dragons. Flame snorted in irritation. The youngest of them a dragon with beige scales gazed at them for a moment with a slight smirk before holding his head high and turning back around.
"like they own the place." he growled.
"That was highly rude." Said a dragon about their age, as he walked up beside them.
He had Yellow scales and an orange underbelly.
"You are one of the other dignitary's children?" Ember asked.
"Dernin." He said with a bow. "Son of dignitary Jolter from the mountain province of Thunder cliffs near Concurrent skies."
"ah yes I remember you were the one that tried to jump to Volias defence and your father stepped into protect you when things turned ugly." Flame said.
"Well it is impolite to talk to a dragoness like that." Dernin said. "Even if he was bigger than me a dragoness especially on that is in the position of Guardian should be shown respect."
A yellow dragon walked past his face had a kind smile on it. He nodded to Ember and flame before turning to Dernin.
"Warfang's Council has allowed us free reign of the City, you going to take a tour with us or spend time making friends?" He asked.
"I'll go on the tour with you." Dernin responded before turning to Flame. "See you later."
Flame waved as Dernin left with his father.
"at least some of them are respectable." Ember said with a smile.
"indeed, shall we head to the gardens?" Flame asked.
Ember nodded and they both proceeded to the Gardens of Warfang.
Volteer sat in his study behind him were the four other members that made up the Warfang council.
Among them were former guardians Cyril and Terrador. The other two were completely new one was a red fire dragon known as Incineric and a silver wind dragoness known as Lute.
"I am not sure why you chose my study for this meeting, would the guardian quarters not do?" Volteer asked.
"Your room is the most secure room in this temple." Cyril stated. "The delicacy of your rather cracked theories and buggered experiments make sure of that."
Volteer cast a glance at Cyril before Lute nudged him.
"Play nice you two." She said.
"anyways we are here because we need to discuss what happened today." Terrador said.
"Ah yes the rather unpleasant business with that rather dreary ruffian of a child and his rather displeasing father." Volteer stated.
"Exactly!" Incineric chirped. "The guardians cannot just be yelled at because of something as small as refusing a date; they have to be respected for their status, regardless of age."
"Now I know why Ignitus had recommended you all those years ago to become guardian instead of him." Lute said.
"He and I may be so much alike but you know he always wanted it more than me, and he earned it." Incineric said.
They all nodded in agreement.
"The place of the guardian is earned and the new ones earned their positions." Terrador said.
"On that we agree Terrador." Volteer chimed.
"We are getting off topic." Lute said. "If we let these diplomats fight each other the Warfang Province will be caught in another war."
"Which we must stop from happening." Incineric finished.
"We will bring this issue up at the next meeting then, for now we will observe and mediate." Lute said.
"Very well then, good luck with your studies Volteer." Terrador said as they turned to leave.
Volteer then began to search through his study looking through all his work, he began reorganizing it all then sat at his desk and used his tail to write down more theories.
Terrador separated from the other councilors and turned to see a dragon that resembled a younger him in all but his scales colour which was lighter and instead of a mace like most earth dragon had he had a spade on his tail.
"Master Terrador!" He cried giving a bow.
"You have no need to call me that anymore earth guardian Quake." Terrador said in a serious tone.
Quake shivered at the tone then gave a quick bow.
"Sorry Terrador." He said.
"I am guessing you want to study tactics some more?" Terrador asked.
"No Terrador I would just like to chat with you." Quake said.
Terrador nodded and followed Quake as he began to talk.
A crimson fear dragon trudged along outside in the garden. He was unique for the fact that he was the guardian of the fear element.
"Faintheart!" a voice called out.
He turned to see a dark grey dragoness approach him.
"Fade!" He called giving her a kind smile and nuzzling her when she got close. "How is the guardian of the shadow element?"
"I'm fine." She answered before pushing him gently away. "You know us guardians can't have mates, we have to keep this secret Faintheart."
"Would they really be willing to destroy the relationships of four dragons?" Faintheart asked.
"Four?" Fade questioned.
"Flame and Ember are in a relationship as well." Faintheart said.
Fade's eyes widened in shock.
"Flame does not know about the rule, he will be in trouble we have to find him!" She shrieked.
They both tore off down the road in a panic. They almost knocked over an ice dragon.
"Hmm must be something wrong." He muttered. "But I am busy."
His icy scales reflected the light as he walked to a stall in the market. The mole in the stall gave him a bow which he returned.
"do you need something ice guardian Frostbite?" The mole asked.
"you know what I want." Frostbite answered.
The mole bowed and handed him a wrapped package. Frostbite bowed and walked off.
"Flame." Ember said gently.
"yes Ember?" Flame asked as he looked at her.
"I am glad you chose me." Ember said.
Flame did not say anything he just leaned closer to Ember until his muzzle met hers. They we separated when someone behind them coughed. Flame turned to see Terrador, He made to say something but noticed Terrador had a serious look on his face.
"Breaking protocol already are we?" He asked His voice held a trace of anger and disappointment.
"what do you mean?" Flame asked innocently.
"Guardians are not allowed to have mates or form intimate bonds." Terrador stated.
Flame looked like he had been slapped while Ember began to sob.
"I am sorry but relationships never work for guardians you will find yourself away from your loved ones for most of your time." Terrador said with a frown.
Flame just tore off towards the temple with Ember close behind him. Terrador sighed.
"Did not go as planned as I expected it would not." Volteer said as he walked up.
"He took it so hard; this will be a difficult fix." Terrador said.
"You will not be able to tear them apart, and mark my words we will have repeats of this in the days to come." Volteer said as he turned and set off to his study.
Fade and Faintheart stopped him.
"Have you seen flame?" They asked.
"I assume you were going to warn him about protocol, He was found out by Terrador and it went down from there, rather tragic." Volteer said causing Fade and Faintheart to frown. "In happier news I congratulate you two on your own relationship, but I recommend keeping it a secret."
"How did you?" Fade began but Volteer held a paw up.
"You were not the only guardians who had relationships." Volteer chimed.
Both nodded in appreciation then ran off.
In Flame's room Him and Ember were locked in a tight embrace and sitting nearby was Lute.
"He knew we were in a relationship, before I was trained why did he not tell me." Flame managed between his tears.
"Terrador is the duty first type, it will be hard to sway him away from that." Lute said calmly.
"I don't want to be a guardian if I can't be with Ember." Flame said.
"It's a long and tedious process to leave the position, you need to train an apprentice to take your place and until then protocol still applies." Lute said sighing sadly.
Flame began to cry harder.
"I hate him!" Flame sobbed.
"I will let you two vent out your emotions, and leave you two alone, perhaps it will do you some good." Lute said as she got up and left.
Terrador was right outside the door. He moved to go past but Lute stretched out her wings.
"Leave them alone." Lute hissed.
"He has a duty to this city!" Terrador stormed but Lute was unfazed.
"A hollow shell of a dragon does not do well for anyone!" Lute retorted as she pushed Terrador down the hall away from the room.
She looked back and sighed as Terrador turned and left grumbling.
Authors note
So I decided that we should get away from Spyro and Cynder for a bit a turn to some issues in the city. Oh and yeah Terrador take Protocol very seriously, he is a soldier after all. Guardians not allowed to have mates, Harsh right but it adds a good spin on the story and allows me to put more emotions into characters. Oh and a snobby child from a rich family that spoils him, it makes for a good twist.