A/N: Hallelujah! Finally got this done. Sorry this took so long, some familial problems over spring break, hectic schedule, and a bit of writer's block made this take forever. On the upside, this chapter is longer than the others (just a bit…). Anyway, I hope I didn't disappoint!
Disclaimer: If you've seen it somewhere else, I don't own it.
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The trio of dragons and Riders flew without stopping over the sea of pine trees that made up the great elven forest. The scenery remained mostly unchanged for many leagues, only broken up by the occasion clearing or lake. The scenery, however, was not even spared a moment of thought by the two younger Riders, who spent their time going over every ounce of the ancient language that they had learned during their training. It took until late afternoon for the three dragons to reach the outer edge of Du Weldenvarden, where Oromis and Glaedr promptly said their farewells to the rest of them. Eragon and Saphira replied likewise. Ryan and Samanya, however, replied with a barely restrained forlorn tone. Their teachers picked up on the Sage pair's voices and asked them if something was wrong, only to have Ryan and Samanya shrug their questions off with a simple "Goodbye…and good luck."
Saphira and Samanya then continued to the southwest where they flew on without stopping for two days. The two dragons only stopped when Saphira finally couldn't go on any longer and Samanya was nearing the end of her strength as well, although Ryan could feel some magical energy sustaining her from within…but from where and why, he didn't know. Anxiety racked both Riders as their destination drew ever closer and it only worsened once the first signs of war, the long columns of marching men and the smoke rising above sacked and burned villages scattered around Feinster. The image did more than provoke bad feelings however…
For Ryan and Samanya the world flashed…
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The landscape changed into a world of fire and ash as the pair found themselves flying high above a massive battlefield. Bolts of light zipped from multiple directions between thousands of dark silhouetted figures on the killing fields below. Inhuman screeches cried out from the ground mixed with the cries of both living and dying. Dragons and what looked like futuristic gunships battled against grotesque flying creatures in the sky around pair. The ground was stained with the blood of millions of both the undead and living.
It was an image of total war…total destruction.
It was the picture of the end of all things.
Ryan and Samanya stared in horror at the carnage that surrounded them, scanning over both the land and sky at the skeletons of endless plains and once great megacities. Behind this great battle stood a giant black portal rimmed with a bright blue, sustained by a bright beam of energy from a spired building below…and high in the sky stood a massive ring structure.
"Halo"…a voice said in the pair's minds, "our last resort…and the tool of our destruction."
Dragon and Rider frantically searched for the voice's source, but they found nothing. They did, however, spot two easily recognizable figures on the ground below. The figures' armor were colored sapphire blue and emerald green.
Xytan and Sytma, the two thought. As they continued to look closer they could spot many other Neomorphs fighting around them with rifle and sword. Most of them only had a standard digital or forest camouflage patterns of Army or Marine units respectively, a few, however, bore the black armor and red eyes of the Assassin order.
"Brothers…Sisters…", the same voice from before said, its voice soft and taking a mournful keel. This time Ryan and Samanya just continued to watch the battle unfold below them. They noticed that for each Neomorph that died, fifty of the abominations below fell with them…but one hundred others quickly took their place. The defenders couldn't hold out forever…
The living tide was too great…
And both Ryan and Samanya could only watch as the world below them burned…
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Ryan and Samanya jerked back into the real world with wide eyes and gasping for air, feeling a massive lurch that brought them back to awareness. Ryan looked up into the sky had darkened with night starting to take its place over the horizon. The panic soon subsided, however, when Saphira spoke to them about their location.
"We just passed over the Jiet River, it should only be an hour or two now before Feinster is in sight.", the sapphire dragoness said.
"Got it.", Samanya replied.
"Once we reach Feinster follow my lead, the battle will be difficult enough without having to worry about you both getting separated from us and killed. Besides, if we stick together we will be far more effective.", Saphira added before closing the link between them.
Will do. Ryan thought back, redoubling his scanning of the horizon, trying to catch a glimpse of the city on the horizon.
Not until night had fully come upon the two Dragon Riders, however, did Ryan finally catch his first glimpse of Feinster. The city appeared to him to be naught but a red glow on the ground that only grew larger as Ryan began to stretch what on his body he could to prepare himself for what was to come.
As the city finally began to take shape both Riders and dragons gazed down on the land below with a critical eye. They saw fires burning, from lanterns to burning buildings, the masses of men, both Varden and Empire, and the plethora of siege engines, from ladders to siege towers.
"They don't seem to have noticed us yet.", Eragon suddenly said to the rest of them, "Shall we announce our arrival?"
The answer came with two deafening roars and two blue and green jets of flame. Silence reigned for a few moments until cheering started to erupt from the Varden lines, matched by the despairing cries of their Imperial counterparts. Ryan and Samanya smirked at the sounds, their minds changing, preparing for battle. Ryan let his instinct roam free within his mind, transforming his human mind into something else…something born and bred for the battlefield. Suddenly Eragon yelled out into Ryan's head.
"Arya, Blödhgarm, and Yamula are trapped on the other side of the walls by a large group of soldiers! Follow Saphira and I in, we need to save them!"
"Got it.", Ryan replied emotionlessly. The two dragons then dove towards the city gates, where Ryan spotted the three elves standing surrounded by a hundred or so soldiers. Samanya immediately fired off one of her exploding fireballs into the largest group of soldiers, instantly killing over a dozen in a single blast. It only took another split second for the dragons to hit the ground, killing another dozen with their combined efforts of fang and claw. The group of soldiers then dispersed into the myriad of alleyways and buildings that stood around them.
"Eragon!", Ryan heard Arya yell as he jumped off Samanya, crossbow drawn and eyes scanning for threats.
"Welcome, Shadeslayer. Welcome, Bjartskular.", came Blödhgarm's easily recognizable voice.
"Williamsson, Samanya.", Yamula added, appearing out from behind the other two, her voice as cold and critical as ever. Ryan only nodded in reply.
"Are you hurt?", Eragon asked.
"A few scratches but nothing serious.", Blödhgarm replied, while Arya shook her head in response.
"What are you doing here without reinforcements?", Saphira asked the three elves.
"The gates", Arya said, sounding winded, "For three days, we've…"
The rest of Arya's words were lost on the Sage pair as they gaze at the area around them, at the flames that danced between the buildings, at the bodies lying burnt and bloody on the ground…
The world flashed…
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The Sage pair reopened their eyes to find themselves back in the battle that they had seen before arriving, but this time, they were on the ground, a large, sharp looking yet aesthetically pleasing building dominating the view to their right. A great spire stretched forth from it into the heavens, a blue beam of energy surging from the spire towards the portal above, sustaining its existence…
The two quickly took stock of their surroundings, finding a few remaining Neomorphs and armored human-like figures before the building, well dug in and firing into the grotesque army of rotting bodies and defiled flesh that ran at them from the pair's left. The energy bolts from the defender's weapons cut down dozens…hundreds, but in the end it only served to delay the inevitable…
Eventually their ammunition would run out and the horde that only seemed to grow by the second would overwhelm them.
"Do not be afraid.", a mental voice suddenly rumbled, "I am peace…I am salvation." The voice sounded different than anything Ryan and Samanya had ever heard. It voice was very deep and hid behind it a feeling of anger and malice.
"Your time is at an end abomination!", the pair heard Xytan yell in reply, "You have lost! You have failed! And now you and all your kind shall burn for your sins!"
"Foolish being of flesh and faith," the unknown voice said while Ryan and Samanya rushed to the source of Xytan's words, "I am eternal! I have consumed all your empire of flesh and mind and bone!"
"Not yet.", came Xytan's final reply before the connection was cut and the Sage pair found him and Sytma amidst the defenders, surrounded by several of the remaining Assassins and cutting down as many enemies with their rifles as they could.
"Sir!", one of the Assassins yelled, trying to be heard over the whine of discharging weapons, "Overwatch reports the enemy has been reinforced to three times its original strength and all the other strongpoints are reporting that their weapons' batteries are almost spent!"
"Tell all forces to fall back here to the control installation and order all our remaining units to hand out their ammunition to our allies. Then tell them to prepare for close combat. We will make our stand here, for without this installation the enemy has won nothing!", Xytan yelled back. The Assassin nodded, then ran off to carry out his leader's orders. Xytan turned his attention back to the fight, scything down abomination after abomination with controlled bursts from his rifle. He sighed after a few more moments, finally coming to terms with the inevitable, and keyed his radio once again.
"Didact, status report.", the Neomorphian leader said with a calm like one resigned to his fate.
"Charging sequence has just been activated. Weapons diagnostics and purging protocols are running through the systems one last time. It should only take another hour or so for the installations to fire.", said another voice in reply, sounding deep in concentration.
"What's the situation in orbit?", Xytan asked...as if he didn't want to hear the answer.
"It's going much better than we feared it would. Offensive Bias is holding Medicant off rather well, considering the disparity of forces. How's it going on the ground?" Xytan turned his attention away from the radio for a moment, as he looked over the battlefield, watching as his men fired into the undead horde and as the enemy infected an unlucky allied soldier, the man screaming as an infection form morphed his body before Xytan's eyes.
"We'll buy you all the time you need.", he finally replied, his voice forlorn and saddened.
"It has been an honor working with you…", Didact said, mirroring Xytan's voice.
"…The honor has been mine.", came Xytan's final words as he cut the connection.
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The world changed, morphing until it saw the Sage pair standing at the mouth of a large cave, the blue and green forms of Patriarch and Matriarch standing at the entrance, staring at the sky. Matriarch drew her head down to look at her sapphire mate.
"It is time.", she whispered. A forlorn sigh was the only reply as Patriarch's head looked back down to earth. The two then stepped to the edge of the cliff on which the cave rested, revealing a beautiful green plain that stretched out to the horizon…the image of an innocent peace…a peace so easily lost due to the fires of war. The blue male gazed out at the view for a few moments before stretching his mind throughout all the lands of the world, connecting it with every dragon and Neomorph that listened for his call.
"This is it, my sons and daughters. All hope is lost. Our end has come…"
"…We have long hoped that this day would never dawn," Matriarch added, "but fate has forsaken us. The Array stands ready…and so do we…"
"…So long and hard have we fought for what we believed to be true," Patriarch continued, "sacrificing both blood and steel in pursuit of our goal. But it was not enough. Now, we ask for one last offering...one last sacrifice so that our dream might never die..."
"So we bid you to stand, here…at the end of all things. Now, we ask you for your sacrifice…" Patriarch and Matriarch then spoke together.
"Watchers…Protectors…Guardians…Reonas, it has been an honor to lead and serve you all…good luck…and may fate bless this great and noble undertaking."
Ryan and Samanya stared in amazement, not at what the two beside them had said…but at what was going on below. From forest trees to cliff caves they answered. Every last Neomorph and Reona dragon, from youngling to elderly, small to large, first to last…they came…
…to defy fate one last time…
…to face that which none else could…
…to save that which they could no longer defend…
It was an assembly for the ages.
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Ryan and Samanya snapped back to awareness, hearing a quartet of warcries approaching them. Ryan quickly snapped his crossbow up and fired, impaling one of the four Imperial soldiers through the eye while Arya, Eragon, and Yamula accounted for one each.
"Hurry!", Arya cried.
"And do try to keep up, Williamsson.", Yamula added to Ryan as she raced on in response to Arya's call.
"Ladies first, my dear elf.", Ryan shouted back sarcastically.
The group pressed on, withering the hail of arrows and groups of charging men that approached them as they neared their goal. As they drew closer the steady boom of the battering ram could be heard on the city's gates. The group stumbled upon three Imperial magicians, however, the mages fled upon sight of Eragon and the rest. Finally, the group reached the great wooden gates, only to find fifty enemy soldiers blocking their path.
"Never shall you pass, foul demons!", shouted one of the soldiers, "This is our home, and we shall not allow Urgals and elves and other inhuman monsters to enter! Begone, for you shall find nothing but blood and sorrow in Feinster!"
"The gears for opening the gates are hidden within there.", Arya whispered to Eragon, pointing at the guard towers on either side of the gates.
"Go," the rider replied, "You, Blödhgarm, and Yamula sneak around the men and slip into the towers. The four of us will keep them occupied in the meantime." Arya nodded, then the three elves disappeared into the shadows of the buildings behind the Riders and dragons. Ryan and Samanya continued to watch the group of soldiers during all this, crossbow and claws ready to go at a moments notice.
"Wait," Eragon suddenly said to the rest of them, "Let me try something first."
"If it doesn't work, then may I tear them to shreds?", Saphira asked in reply, licking her fangs in anticipation.
"Yes, then you may do what you wish with them.", Eragon responded before slowly walking towards the group of soldiers, holding his shield and sword to the side in a show of nonaggression. An arrow suddenly shot towards him from above, only to be stopped by the Rider's wards. Ryan jerked his crossbow upwards to kill the one responsible but a quick mental shout of "Wait!" from the Blue Rider stopped him from pulling the trigger.
"My name is Eragon Shadeslayer! Perhaps you have…", the Blue Rider continued, shrugging off the wayward arrow. Ryan and Samanya, however, soon stopped paying attention to the Blue Rider's words.
Their attention drawn to the shimmering reddish light glinting off the metal armor and shields of the soldiers…
The world flashed once again…
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Ryan and Samanya stood where they had in their previous dream, but an uneasy silence reigned over the land. It was the calm before the storm. On one side stood the great Flood, the consumers of flesh and mind and metal, while on the other side stood the Neomorphs and the remnants of a once great empire that encompassed the stars. The two sides stood in uneasy peace, as if waiting for something.
Xytan and Sytma stood forward of the rest of their forces, gazing calmly at the undead hordes that lay before them. They turned their eyes towards each other, their eyes locking to display the great emotion of love that they shared for each other. The sight, however, only lasted a few moments before they tore themselves away, their eyes hardening and turning to examine all that remained of their once great army. Then they spoke with great mental shout that radiated power and authority.
"Form ranks!", they ordered. The Neomorphs behind them moved as one, taking up positions as if the age of the sword and bow had never left. "Spears up front! Swords behind! Archers in back!", the two leaders shouted again. The body of grey warriors behind them marched with determination to follow their leaders' order, shoulders square, heads held high in defiance, the sound of their footsteps sounding like thunder on the wind. They drew up in ranks, weapons magically forming in their hands, some being spear-like, others swords from straight to curved, bows and crossbows as well of all shapes and sizes. The spear and swordsmen clenched their wrists and suddenly a round green or blue colored energy shield blossomed from a gauntlet that they all wore on their left wrists, the shields hissing as they heated the air around them. Magical energy crackled from the tips of swords, spears, and arrows. The swordsmen and archers drew up in loose rectangular boxes, weapons drawn and ready for use. The spearmen, meanwhile, drew up in a tight formation, shoulder to shoulder, spears pointing outwards like a Greek phalanx of old. The few dragons that remained hovered over the formation, standing ready to counter any breach in the ranks below. "Guardians…prepare for combat.", came Xytan and Sytma's final solemn words, sounding like a whisper of the wind in the minds of those around them.
The living tide began to push forward, creeping, at first, but then moving faster and faster…until they advanced at an inhuman sprint, their feral roars promising death to those who stood opposite them. Another great roar answered them, the battleroars of Neomorphs and dragons mixed in with the yells of their humanoid allies.
The distance between the two forces closed as Ryan and Samanya stood, eyes affixed on the scene in amazement at what was occurring. The gap closed to the last few yards…a few of the abominations leaping high to try and thread their way through the forest of spearpoints that hung in the air to prevent just that. Then the forces collided…
A few of the creatures impaled themselves on the phalanx's spears. Others had a spear driven into them as the owner jumped high and stabbed downward, impaling the corpse to the ground. In the backround archers and their allies fired into the mass of rotting flesh, explosive magic arrows and rifle bolts scything down dozens. The phalanx started to slowly push their way forwards, forcing their enemies to run their barricade of steel. An invitation that was all too happily obliged. Hundreds, thousands charged into the slaughter only to be decimated by the steel rain and wall that stood before them. Slowly, however, gaps started to appear in the phalanx where a Neomorph had fallen, forcing those inside to readjust their ranks to fill the holes.
Overhead the dozen remaining dragons dueled with dozens of winged abominations, assisted by arrows and bolts sent to ease some of the pressure placed on them.
Cries of anger, cries of pain, cries of defiance ripped across the skeletal remains of a once great city that had now become the graves of the millions that were scattered along her surface. The sky hovered overhead, red and choked with ash. To the Traveler and his companion, it was the demented image of hell. Something up in the sky, however, focused their attention. The great ring that hung in the sky was where their eyes drew. In the middle of the great structure a great ball of orange had begun to form…
The countdown to oblivion had begun…
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Ryan and Samanya's minds returned to the present, finding the guard captain still speaking, scoffing at the Blue Rider's efforts to pacify him.
"…as soon believe my brother's twelve-year-old son had killed a Shade as a youth like you and who is this whelp? Some poor sod that you duped into doing your bidding?", the captain was saying as he stepped closer to Eragon. The Blue Rider waited for a moment for the man to get close enough before lunging forward and stabbing him with Brisingr. Simultaneously, the great doors and chains of the city gate began to move, starting to open themselves for the invaders outside. Twenty war cries quickly followed as part of the group of soldiers charged the two Riders and dragons. Their ends came quickly, their bodies torn apart by the flawless grace of the Riders or the viciousness of the dragons. After the last soldier fell, Ryan saw a small line of kneeling soldiers who had decided to take Eragon's advice and surrender. The city gates finally began to split apart, dozens of Varden hands helping to pry it open as the defenders retreated to more defensible positions. Finally the gap grew wide enough for the Varden to flow through, shouting greetings at the Riders as they passed by.
"Shall we go hunting, Ryan?", Samanya suddenly asked, anticipation evident in her voice. Ryan smirked in response, some part of him feeling amused at Samanya's question.
"Soon enough, Samanya, soon enough.", Ryan replied, walking over to where Eragon, Arya, Roran, and Jörmunder stood talking.
"Good to see you again, Jörmunder, what do you need us to do?", Ryan asked as he walked up to the others.
"Good to see you as well, Ryan…", Jörmunder began to reply before Roran jumped in.
"So this is the new Rider I heard about, Roran Stronghammer at your service.", Eragon's cousin said, stretching out his hand in greeting.
Ryan grabbed it in reply, adding, "Well met, I am Ryan Williamsson, Rider of Samanya."
"Although introductions are in order I believe we have more pressing issues at present," Jörmunder interrupted, "as to your question, Ryan, fly around and assist our forces as best you can." Ryan nodded, acknowledging the order before running over to Samanya and jumping into her saddle.
"Let's go hunting!", Ryan yelled through their link. Samanya roared in excitement as she took to the sky, angling so that they could see the entire city from while they circled.
The pair continued circling the city for quite some time, swooping down occasionally to destroy a particularly large group of Imperial soldiers or help a pinned down group of Varden. They continued to keep their eyes open for the magicians that had escaped them earlier, just in case they might not have headed to the keep like in the books. In the meantime, though, the Sage pair tore through any that opposed them with ease, helping to drive the Varden ever closer to their goal. Until, finally, Varden troops reached the keep and the Sage pair rejoined Eragon and Saphira, helping Saphira clear the walls of men and catapults while Eragon worked on opening the gate. As the last catapult met its end at Samanya's fire and Ryan's magic, the gate opened, Eragon coming through first, closely followed by Arya, the other elves, and the Varden.
"Ryan!", Eragon yelled as he jogged up next to the other Rider, Arya following close behind.
"What?", Ryan snapped back, his mind still lost in its instinctual battle state.
"Saphira, Arya, and I are going to enter the keep from above and try to capture Lady Lorena. Do you both want to come?", Eragon asked, shrugging of the younger Rider's attitude. Ryan threw a questioning glance over at his green scaled companion who gave him a fanged smile back in reply, red blood marring her previously clean scales.
"Sure.", Ryan told Eragon, lips parting in his own smile.
"Then follow us!", Eragon said before springing onto Saphira's back along with Arya, Ryan doing the same. The two dragons then took to the sky, Ryan turning to see Blödhgarm, Yamula, and the other elves watching them fly upward, frustration evident on their faces. As the dragons rose higher Ryan felt something familiar touch his mind…
…it was Glaedr.
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Ryan felt the elder gold dragon's mind tug at his own, showing him everything that Glaedr saw and felt. The burning surroundings of Feinster were replaced by city of Gil'ead. He watched as the gold dragon peeled off away from the city, turning southwards where Murtagh and Thorn had made their appearance, Thorn's battlecry ringing out for all to hear.
Ryan fought against the feelings of dread and pain that threatened to surge to the surface. Samanya shared his feelings, regret at choosing to send the elder Rider and dragon to their fate pulling at the Sage pair.
Ryan felt Istarli as well, nestled in one of the golden dragon's saddlebags. The dragon Elder's mind was focused and ready, waiting for Oromis to call upon him.
Yet, as soon as the feeling of Glaedr's mind began, it ended, returning Rider and dragon back to burning city of Feinster…
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"It's starting.", Samanya said to Ryan after they returned to their bodies, her voice sad.
"I know.", Ryan replied, reflecting her emotions.
"We should have told them."
"I know."
"They don't deserve this.", Samanya added with a mental sigh.
"I know!", Ryan yelled, clenching his fists in anger at his inability to do anything about the Gold Rider's fate.
"Samanya, I am dropping Eragon and Arya off at a window here, I suggest you do the same with Ryan, then we find another way inside.", Saphira suddenly said, distracting the Sage pair from their depressing comversation. "…Is everything alright?", Saphira asked with concern.
"We're fine…", Samanya answered, "I'll drop Ryan off with the others."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes.", Samanya said, her voice neutral as she pulled up to the window and let Ryan jump off her and through the open window.
"See you soon.", Ryan whispered in farewell before disappearing into the stone keep, joining Eragon and Arya in what appeared to be some sort of armory filled with rows of crossbows and bolts. Ryan could feel odd currents of magic forming on the floor below as he glanced over to where Eragon and Arya crouched by the door.
"Do you feel that?", Eragon asked to the other two, his voice uneasy.
"Yeah.", Ryan replied, anticipating what was to come as he snatched a small quiver of crossbow bolts from the wall to supplement his fairly depleted stock.
"We should have brought Blödhgarm with us.", Arya said before the three companions started creeping down the stairs. They soon came to another room, lit by a lantern and much larger than the previous one. In the center of the room stood the three magicians from earlier with who was undoubtedly Lady Lorena sitting in a chair off to the side. Ryan focused his attention on the three magicians, lining up one of them in his crossbow's sights, finger twitching over the finger as they continued to chant the spell that would eventually spawn a Shade.
"They were trained well.", Arya suddenly said, frowning.
"Do either of you know what they're doing?", Eragon asked to his companions. Arya shook her head. Ryan, however, spoke up.
"They're trying to create a Shade.", Ryan answered, his expression grim.
"What!", Eragon cried, jerking his head around to stare at Ryan.
"How do you know this?", Arya asked, her voice betraying some of her fear.
"Because I know things! We don't have time for this, do you want to stop them or not?", Ryan snapped back before storming into the room and firing a bolt at the one closest to him, which bounced off the mage's wards
"Ryan! Wait!", Eragon yelled as Ryan continued into the room. Ryan quickly reloaded his crossbow and fired again, ignoring Eragon and with the same results as the previous time.
"Samanya! I need you in here! NOW!", Ryan yelled as he reloaded once again, not wanting to use what little pistol ammunition he had to kill the mages. Samanya's roar answered him as she landed on the balcony with a loud thump and dashed towards the mages fangs bared in anger. But, as both she and Ryan just reached the mages, Eragon and Arya speaking to Lady Lorena a few feet away, they felt another mind pull at them once more…
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Instead of the expected vision of Glaedr appearing, they found themselves back in the great battle in the devastated cityscape from before. Neomorphs and their allies stood scattered throughout the area, battling the monstrous forms that stood around them. No neat lines of battle remained, both sides were indistinguishably intermixed with the other. The clashing of metal and whine of weapons dominated his hearing as the Neomorphs desperately tried to hold the great Flood back. In the midst of them, surrounded by what few Assassins remained, stood Xytan and Sytma, their armor coated with blood and gore from the fighting. In the sky stood the great Halo, the great orange ball in its center growing ever larger…
The time had almost come…
Suddenly, as the great orange ball changed colors from orange to red, the fighting stopped. All the combatants stared at the great structure the hung above, all knowing what was to come. Xytan and Sytma, however, only stared at each other, their weapons cast at their feet, a hand held in one of the other's.
"Until the end?", Sytma asked her mate, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Until the end.", Xytan replied, a smile also growing on his face. His hand tightened on Sytma's as he pulled her closer before connecting their lips in a kiss. Up above the red ball of light flashed once before exploding outwards in a massive red wave of energy, which flew towards the battlefield in the blink of an eye.
Then the wave washed over the devastated land…
…and then nothing.
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Ryan reopened his eyes, finding himself staring at the ceiling of the room, the magicians chanting sounding out in the background. He quickly shook his head to clear the fog that hung over his thoughts. Ryan scrambled to his feet as Samanya did the same close by, drawing Garzjla and sprinting the last few yards to where the chanting magicians stood. Both Rider and dragon began frantically hacking at the closest one. Eragon and Arya soon joined them, Saphira as well once she also entered through the same balcony Samanya had.
'What happened?", Arya asked the two Riders as they continued to try to break through the mage's wards. "Eragon how can you know what Glaedr is thinking when he is so far away, and when his mind is closed even to Oromis? And Ryan, what was that that I saw? Forgive me for touching your minds without permission, but I was worried about both of your welfares. What is going on?"
"Later.", Eragon told the elf. Arya moved to say more, before being cut off by Ryan.
"Lady Arya this is not the time!", Ryan added as they continued to try to kill the mage. Finally Eragon managed to break through the first mage's wards and kill the man, allowing the group to move onto the next to repeat the process. It took another little while before Samanya managed to kill the man. They quickly moved onto the last, Ryan and Samanya hoping that they weren't too late…
Unfortunately, that wasn't to be as the glowing spirits appeared and wrapped themselves around a man that sat in front of the remaining spellcaster, turning him into the abomination that they all had hoped to avoid. Before they could do anything about it, however, the world faded away once more and they beheld somewhere else in its place…
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They beheld Glaedr's battle with Thorn once more. They felt his pain from the wounds that he had sustained in the fighting. Ryan watched as Thorn and Glaedr collided once more, fangs bared and claws slashing at the other's hide. He saw Thorn outmaneuver the elder dragon, only for Glaedr to turn the tables and manage to grab the Red dragon with his remaining foreleg, seeking to crush the youngling in his grip as they fell from the sky. But as Ryan well knew, it was not to be…
He watched with great sadness and regret as Murtagh and Thorn began to convulse, their minds being swept aside by the other watching from afar…the black king was making his appearance.
"Murderer…Butcher!...TRAITOR!...DEFILER!", a voice screamed in Ryan's mind. Ryan quickly clamped down on the voice before turning his attention to tracking down its source. He retreated by to his own mind, tearing through Duty, Truth, Wisdom, and many other cities before arriving at Hope, from which the voice's mental signature emanated. He quickly burst into his capitol building, heavily armed Marines following him, but no Assassins…for they could not be found. They finally reached Ryan's main office and found the door locked, a situation quickly remedied by an explosive charge. Ryan and his troops breached the room, weapons ready, only to find something unexpected…
…nothing. Nothing stood out of place. Ryan growled in anger, determined to find the voice, refusing to accept the fact that it had disappeared. He cautiously stepped towards his desk, eyes scanning for anything suspicious. At first glance, he saw nothing unordinary, upon closer inspection; however, he spotted a small piece of parchment resting on it that sat apart from all the others. He gingerly picked up the paper, which appeared to be ancient and was spotted with what appeared to be blood, and turned it over revealing the same symbol that Ryan and Samanya had seen on their chests. Below the symbol laid three words: Betrayed, Forgotten, Abandoned. Then the world flashed once more…
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Ryan reopened his eyes to behold the great plains of grass standing before him, where thousands upon thousands of Neomorphs and Reonas stood, their eyes all gazing skyward. Another pulse of light suddenly flashed into existence, Ryan jerked around to find that Samanya had joined him as well. The pair greeted each other with a small nod before turning their gaze to where Patriarch and Matriarch stood on a cliff nearby. They noticed the grim faces that the two wore, along with any others that seemed to be of the age of understanding. Then, Patriarch's booming voice spoke out throughout the plain and beyond, calling all who could hear.
"It is time.", he said. Ryan and Samanya stood silent as they felt the thousands of minds connect and gather, tethering their existence to the ones who led them, lending them such vast reserves of strength that Ryan couldn't even begin to comprehend the extent of such power. Even the Sage pair felt their minds connect with the others, although energy could not be shared between them. Ryan then felt something join with them…no…not somethings…someones. Millions upon millions of other minds joined their connection, surging from Patriarch and Matriarch, the souls of the long dead for one moment rejoining with those who still lived.
Magical power began to surge around the spectral blue and green dragons. The very air crackled from the charge. Bolts of pure magical energy surged around them, growing bigger and brighter with every passing second. Then, as a small speck of red appeared on the horizon, the magic surged upwards into the sky, the clouds parting to make room for it. The continuous beam of magic pushed higher and higher upwards until it was a mere dot in the sky before breaking and mushrooming outwards.
"It's a shield.", Ryan thought with wonder as the magic continued to spread at a remarkable pace, the edges soon disappearing over the horizon. He felt a few of the dead minds fade from the connection, their energy expended and who returned to their rest. The red speck in the sky grew larger and larger till it consumed the open sky, casting a damning red hue on the land below.
Then…for one moment…silence reigned…until the red wave made contact with the barrier. Instantly Ryan felt most of the dead souls vanish because of the energy drain. Another wave hit, this one taking out more dead ones…but also some of those who lived. Their passing hit Ryan like a hammer blow, he felt them die through the connection, his arms and legs shook from the feeling of their lives being extinguished. A third wave collided with the barrier, removing the last of the dead ones…and killing hundreds of the living that stood around the Sage Rider. Ryan fell to his knees, tears falling without restraint, his face expressionless, not knowing how to respond to such a vast feeling of death. Then came a fourth wave, more fell, pushing Ryan to the ground, clutching his ears and screaming in agony. Next to him Samanya did much the same, her tortured roars joining Ryan's cries in a melody of suffering and despair. Wave number five came all too soon for the two, sending them into an pain-filled frenzy, blood running from their nostrils and ears. Wave six followed soon after, wiping out all but a pitiful few. Ryan and Samanya's voices had begun to crack from the strain, blood from self-caused cuts staining the once pristine grass. One last wave finally arrived, for the Sage pair the world flashed white…
And then it ended, the red light disappeared, the magic barrier dissipated, and Ryan and Samanya's thrashing slowly ceased. Ages seemed to pass before Ryan felt the strength to stand and gaze upon the once beautiful landscape, now littered with the bodies of the dead. A few living still remained, pitifully trying to stand or crawl, but it seemed as if something were wrong with them as they moved around as if drunk, their mouths shut and faces expressionless as tears streamed down their faces.
Ryan felt something bump up against his foot. He looked down to find a young Neomorph, nothing more than a mere infant, lying near death by his feet, darkened eyes staring at the Rider. Ryan knelt down, holding the child's body in his arms, sobs freely flowing from him. He listened as the youngling's breathing slowed…before finally ceasing altogether.
"It is finished.", Patriarch's voice said wearily from where he lay, his strength drained, before his and Matriarch's forms seemed to dissipate into the air, the strength holding them together expended.
"No…NO!", Ryan screamed as the infant lied limp in his arms. Then the land blew away to reveal nothingness…
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A dark realm replaced what had become the mass grave of thousands.
"AH!", Ryan yelled as he pointlessly pounded the ground with his fist. Samanya lay nearby, soft whimpering still drifting from her shaking form.
"It puts everything into perspective, doesn't it?", a deep, mournful voice whispered from the darkness. "Even with all our power, all our knowledge, all our wisdom, we still lost. We still died. We still failed."
"Show yourself!", Ryan demanded from the voice.
"As you wish.", came the reply before a dark figure could be seen emerging from the everpresent shadows. Ryan glared daggers at the figure before it stepped close enough so that Ryan could recognize it.
"Reaper?", Ryan thought in shock.
"In a way, yes, but in another, no.", Reaper replied, his voice hollow and haunted as he spoke, "My true name was Vasir, Alyass Vasir, Grand Master of the Assassin Order, now, however, I am nothing more than a shell, a relic of a bygone era, a monument to the fallen."
"Why are you here? Why have you done this to us?", Ryan yelled in both anger and sadness.
"So you might understand.", Vasir spoke softly, "So you might know who we truly are. So you might truly comprehend what we stood for, what we lived for, what we died for. I did this so that, when the time came for you to make your choice, you might know your path…and what that path entails."
"What the hell are you talking about?", Ryan snapped in frustration. "Give me a straight answer or I swear I'll…"
"You'll do what?", Vasir said, chuckling morbidly all the while. "Kill me and steal the answers? Youngling, I lived long before your kind even had knowledge of fire. I, personally, can rip apart entire armies and fleets without suffering a single flesh wound. And besides…", Vasir's chuckles finally fell silent as his cold eyes stared at Ryan, "you can't kill that which is already dead."
"But I need…", Ryan tried to say before being cut off by Vasir's silencing hand.
"You possess questions, however, and I have the answers. You have passed through the greatest of our trials and survived…you are due some answers…", Vasir added before falling silent.
"What is this place?", Ryan asked.
"A sanctuary, a final resting place for those who watch from afar. It is the final remnant of our once great people…now nothing more than a whisper of myth and legend.", Vasir responded, gazing dreamily into the sky where dots of green and blue lights had begun to appear.
"And why…have you…brought us here?", Samanya asked, her voice still shaky and weak from the effects of what they had seen.
"To choose. To decide whether our cause is worth fighting for. Or to decided that our goal is hopeless and void, and to allow it to pass into oblivion with the rest of us."
"And what is your purpose?", Ryan asked suspiciously.
"To guide, to protect and defend, to speak for those whom the universe has given no voice, to bring light to the darkest shadows, to be a shield from the tides of evil. We are silent Watchers, vigilant Protectors, eternal Guardians and so we shall be until the fate decides it has no more need for us.", Vasir chanted, as speaking of a fond memory.
"Why…?", Ryan whispered, "Why me? Why us? What makes us so special? Why wasn't it someone else who was plucked from their bed and sent to this godforsaken land?"
"You were chosen."
"What?", Ryan asked incredulously. "That's it? I was chosen?"
"Yes," Vasir sighed, "You were chosen by a spell created in our final hours. A spell created so that, if the time should come that we would be need once again, we could return to the land we preserved at the cost of our lives. It is a spell that had sat dormant for millennia, waiting for the two who it believed to fulfill its purpose. I do not know why you were both chosen, but I can tell you that fate is a very fickle creature…and it rarely calls upon us at the moment of our choosing."
"So what? You whisk us away here and expect us to join you?", Samanya growled.
"No…we shall not force our will upon you and if you do choose to refuse us, then we shall faded away, lost forever more, and you may live your lives as you please. But, if you despise the cruelty and suffering that has consumed this land, if you condemn the murder, the slavery; if you stand against a world a man's life is no more significant than any other animal's, then I would ask you to stand with us, so that our light might shine bright once more."
Rider and dragon glanced at each other questioningly, an unspoken conversation carried out through the smallest expressions and twitches of emotion. The exchange stretched on for what seemed to be ages, all sense and feeling of time lost in this solemn monument that surrounded them, until, at last, they chose. Ryan turned to look at Vasir determinedly.
"What do we need to do?", he asked.
"Then I must ask you a question, one that has been spoken since the dawn of our kind. I must ask you because, before you join our military, you must take an oath!", Vasir chanted, his voice steely and strong.
"According to our station, completely and without exception!", Ryan and Samanya replied, their words seeming to come to them almost as instinctively as breathing.
"On the blood of your fathers, on the blood of your sons, do you swear to preserve peace and justice?", Vasir continued.
"Even to our dying breath!"
"Then those who stand against this oath are your enemies, worthy of neither pity, nor mercy! Even now they use fear, and violence to spread their taint!"
"We shall grind them into dust."
"And continue our march towards final victory…", Vasir said in conclusion, before walking up to Ryan and placing his hands on the Rider's shoulders. "Welcome to the world, Guardian." Magic flared over Ryan's form for a moment before it vanished, leaving the Rider staring resolutely into Vasir's eyes.
"Vasir, I need your strength, knowledge, anything. I have to help Oromis and Glaedr! I have to right the wrong that I have committed!", Ryan asked the old Neomorph. Reaper sighed in sorrow.
"Even if I was able to lend you my strength, young one, it would not be enough. The black king's strength is too great.", he said with regret.
"There must be something you can do!", Samanya pleaded.
"We saw the strength that your people wielded. We saw what you can do! And now you can't even help us preserve two lives that by all rights should be saved?", Ryan yelled, half at Vasir, half into the sky.
"I'm sorry, younglings, but I can't…", Reaper tried to say.
"He cannot…but we can.", spoke a multitude of joined voices.
"Our gift, in memory of the fallen,
In remembrance of our purpose,
In renewal of our bonds.
Long have we awaited another voice,
Our tongues silenced by the Great Cleansing,
Our legacy corrupted by dust and time.
No longer shall we wait and hide,
No longer shall darkness in its bastion abide,
No longer shall innocent blood be spilled without recompense.
For this is our creed,
This is our voice,
This is our will,
This is war!"
And with that final shout the souls of the dead surged outwards towards the Sage Rider and dragon, filling them with a magical power that felt as if it held no bounds. Vasir then spoke one last time, a fanged smile growing on his face.
"Go," he said, "and do what must be done.", and with that order Ryan and Samanya left, their minds soaring out of their own realms, stretching to the gold dragon and, through him, his Rider. Samanya quickly used her knowledge and newfound strength to push Glaedr's mind aside, easily taking possession of the elder dragon's body.
Ryan, however, found himself in a race against time as the possessed Murtagh swung his sword downwards to finish the elf off…
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As Ryan pushed Oromis' will aside the sword drew ever closer until, at the last possible moment, he flicked the blade aside with Oromis' arm, earning him a deep gash that healed almost as soon as it appeared, the dead Neomorphs providing their energy and knowledge to assist him. Then Ryan countered with a pulse of magic emanating from an outstretched hand. The resulting force broke the spell that Glabatorix had woven to keep the Gold Rider and dragon in place and sent the combatants tumbling away from each other. With a flick of his wrist and a thought Ryan called Oromis' sword back to its rightful owner, the sword obeying the answering the will of the Rider and those who stood behind him.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here.", Galbatorix said, his voice amplified through magic. "Still have some fight in you I see."
"Ryan, Samanya, what have you done?", Oromis, Glaedr, and Istarli yelled in their minds. "What are you doing?"
"Saving your lives.", came the pair's instant reply. A small probe then touched their barriers before withdrawing completely.
"Well, this is certainly unexpected. Another Rider and dragon…this is splendid! Perhaps I can persuade you to not throw your lives away in a war that you cannot win?", the black king said, laughing all the while.
"No.", Ryan said back, also amplifying his voice.
"Then at least tell me who you are before I have the pleasure of ending the body you inhabit.", Galbatorix added mockingly. Oromis-Ryan patted Samanya-Glaedr's neck softly, a smile of anticipation present on his face before speaking with barely restrained anger.
"We…we are a monument to all your sins.", Ryan said before Samanya surged back towards the possessed Red dragon, fangs and claws outstretched and ready to kill…
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So now you all know the secret…well, most of it…(Mwhaaaa!)
R&R!