Hello everyone, and today, our draconic hero will be facing off against an interesting foe, one not connected to Hawk Moth or Chrys. Plus, we'll be seeing someone familiar again.
And before we start, I want to address something real quick.
Dragonvanguard: Those questions will be answered in due time, but for the last one on who gave Chrys her powers and if we'd be seeing them, will be answered in this chapter.
Anyway, let us begin!
Season 3.5 Opening (Caught in a Dream by All Insane Kids/Dial Zero)(I don't own the song)
It was late at night, and we see the figure walking through the halls of the Louvre.
She then stops at the exhibit displaying Eldritch's skeleton. "So your the infamous Eldritch..." She then takes out the skeleton's former spell book. "And the one who wrote this."
"Indeed."
The figure jumped at the voice that spoke up. Looking around, she tried to find the source of the voice, only to find nothing.
She then hear a creaking sound. Following it, she saw the skull looking directly at her, two orange orbs glowing in the eye sockets.
Seeing this, the figure jumps back in fright as a dark chuckle rings through the air.
"It's seems that I have a sister, who would've thought?" The voice said in a amused tone, coming from the skeleton.
"Are you... Eldritch?" The figure asked in a slightly nervous tone.
"Indeed I am." The voice answered, revealing it to be Eldritch. "So tell me, what brings you here?"
"Just came to see if anything in your exhibit could make sense of your spell book." The figure answered, holding up said book. "Though, may I ask, why are you still here? Shouldn't you have departed?"
"Oh, just the two classic reasons why a ghost would stay in the mortal plane." Eldritch said in a bitter tone. "Reason one: I wasn't given a proper burial. I mean look at me! Strung up like a puppet show!" A growl then rang through the air. "As for reason number two... Well, I have unfinished business..."
"You're talking about Dragnarok, right?" The figure asked.
"Yes! That little whelp!" Eldritch shouted in anger, his skeleton rattling a bit. "I gave him a chance to live alongside me in my new world, only to throw it back in my face!"
"Well, from what I gather, you did try to destroy his friend's world out of spite." The figure said, crossing her arms. "Plus, telling your story in a out of order fashion from the mouths of others will only gather a small amount of sympathy."
"Bah!" Eldritch spatted. "And to think we were brothers..."
"You're right, you're not brothers... Not yet." The figure in amusement.
"What do you mean by that?" Eldritch asked, raising a invisible eyebrow.
The figure said nothing as she takes out her phone and shows him a video of Dragnarok fighting Cerebro Beast.
Or to be more specific, the part were the draconic hero gains his new muzzle.
Eldritch stares for a bit before bursting out laughing.
"As you can see, he is becoming like us." The figure said as Eldritch calms his laughter down. "This is even effecting his regular self, as he scales growing on his body, as well as forming claws and fangs."
"And how is he taking it?" Eldritch asked in a amused tone. Though, he had idea on what the answer will be.
"Not well." The figure said, putting her hands on her hips. "He's wearing heavy clothing to hide the scales while trimming his claws short."
Eldritch snorted at that. "Fool. He should embrace his true nature."
"Well, there will be a point where he could no longer hide his transformation." The figure said.
"Indeed, as it will be quite difficult to hide his horns, wings, and tail." Eldritch said with amusement. "Though, it will be quite painful."
"It will indeed. I remember my transformation quite well." The figure said with a flinch.
"I must ask, where did you get your powers?" Eldritch questioned.
"The same source you got yours." The figure said before pointing to the papyrus on the wall of the Egyptian exhibit, showing a depiction of Malefor. "Him."
"Aw, of course. Him." Eldritch said with understanding. "You know, I just realized that I never got your name, dear sister."
The figure gave him a smirk. "I used to go by Crystal Daka, but now... I am Vipedra."
Morning soon came, and we see Drake in his room.
It was the weekend, so he didn't have to worry about school.
What he was worried about right now was the scales growing on his body, with the scales on his arms now connecting to the scale on his chest.
And just to make things more annoying, they were now itchy!
"Ancestors dammit!" Drake swore as he scratched his body, or to be more specific, the areas where skin and scales meet. "Am I shedding?! It feels like I'm shedding!"
"You're not shedding." Spyro said in a reassuring tone.
"Not that we can see at least." Sparx added.
This earns him a smack from Cynder.
"Anyway, scratching will only make it work, just try not to think about it." Spyro continued.
Stopping his scratching, Drake took a deep breath. "Don't think about it, don't think about it..." He stood still, though he did twitch slightly. "...don't think about it, don't think about it..." The twitching increases. "...don't think about it, don't think about it..." The twitch increases even more. ""...don't think about it, don't think about-AW DAMMIT!"
Drake drops to the ground, scratching himself all over.
Spyro, Cynder, and Sparx just sigh at the sight.
An hour and a half later, Drake, wearing his long-sleeve sweatshirt was walked out of the bakery with a few boxes of baked goods.
After his scratching episode ended with him putting on medicinal ointment to ease the itching, he decided to get something to distract himself with, as well as introduce Sparx to the world of baked goods.
As he was walking down the sidewalk, the front of his left foot hits something, nearly causing him to trip. Straightening himself up, Drake looked down at what he stumbled upon, and was surprised by what he saw.
It was a rather big, red with white polka dots mushroom poking out of the sidewalk.
"A mushroom?" Drake muttered to himself as he plucks the mushroom out of the ground. "Mushrooms don't grow here..."
Pocketing the mushroom, Drake continues on his way, not noticing a figure standing in a nearby alleyway, surrounded by a small cluster of mushrooms.
A while later, we see our hero at Jardin des Tuileries, sitting a bench that was out of the way. Next to him were the boxes he bought, one of them opened, with Spyro, Cynder, and Sparx inside, eating macaroons.
"Oh man!" Sparx shouted gleefully as he eat a macaroon. "You Ape lookalikes sure know how to make food!"
Drake didn't seem to hear him though, as he was too busy staring at the mushroom he found.
"Drake, is everything alright?" Cynder asked, getting her human friend's attention.
"I'm fine. It just this mushroom has been bugging me." Drake said as he held the mushroom to the dragons and dragonfly. "I'm no mushroom expert, but I'm certain they don't grow here in Paris. At least not naturally."
"Maybe someone was growing mushrooms and some spores got loose?" Spyro suggested, giving a logical reason to why a mushroom could grow in Paris.
"If I found it in a grassy area like here, then yeah. But through a sidewalk made of concrete?" Drake asked as he gazes back at the mushroom.
"So you think a akuma might be loose?" Cynder asked.
"Possibly." Drake said, not taking his gaze off the mushroom. "Though, if that's the case, they're being awfully quiet."
"Should we get the others involved?" Spyro asked in a slightly concern tone.
"No. For now, we'll just keep our ears to the ground." Drake said as he puts the mushroom away.
"But we don't have ears." Sparx cheekily said, getting a laugh from Spyro and Cynder.
Drake playfully rolls his eyes." Yeah, yeah. And you guys better saved a few macaroons for me!"
A bit later, Drake was walking home when he noticed something.
There was a group of people entering a building. Someone else then taped a sign to the window that said:
EETT meeting is now in session, do not disturb!
Guilt filled Drake's body when he saw that sign.
After the Eldritch Event, people all over France have set up centers that helps others deal with the experience, as many have lost their friends and family.
Friends and family that Drake failed to save.
Every time he sees a Eldritch Event Trauma Treatment Center (Or EETT Centers for short), Drake is remind of those he failed.
Upon learning that he, inadvertently, released Eldritch onto the world, Drake felt that the blood of those who died during the event were on his hands.
He tried to distracted himself with all the akumatized villains Hawk Moth creates, as well as burying the memories of the event deep into his mind, but is met with limited success, as when he closes his eyes, he sometimes has flashbacks.
Flashbacks of the destruction, flashbacks of the lives that were lost.
Lives his failed to save.
Letting out a dejected sigh, Drake continues his way home.
What he didn't noticed was that a familiar pair of purple eyes watching him.
Nightfall soon came, and we see the figure with the mushrooms from before standing in a alleyway.
"Yessss..." The figure said in a raspy, masculine voices as he raises his arms up, releases spores into the area around him. Suddenly, mushrooms began sprouting out of the ground and walls. "Grow my pretties, grow!"
He then let out a raspy laugh as mushrooms began to cover the alleyway.
We then jump to morning in Drake's room, where we see him snoozing on his bed, with Spyro, Cynder, and Sparx sleeping on his stomach.
That's when the alarm clock blares, causing our hero to slowly open his eyes. Shutting the alarm off, he sits up and stretches, he lets out a long yawn.
"Ugh, watch where you aim that!" Sparx complained as he, Spyro, and Cynder woke up, with the dragonfly taking the brunt of the yawn. "You certainly have the breath of a dragon, that's for sure!"
"Well good morning to you too!" Drake sarcastically replied with a playful eyeroll as he got out of bed and stretched some more.
He then flinches before scratching himself. "Dammit! My scales are itchy again!" He then marches to the bathroom. "Where is that ointment?!"
Once he exited the room, Spyro faces his mate and brother.
"Guys, I think something is wrong with Drake." He said with concern.
"No... You mean to tell me the scales, claws and stuff were normal before?" Sparx asked in a sarcastic tone.
"Don't start." Cynder said in a annoyed tone. She then gets a worried look. "Still though, something is happening to Drake, and we don't know what it is."
"And it's not just him changing physically that concerns me..." Spyro said. "I think these changes are also effecting Drake's behavior."
"Again I ask, was it normal before now?" Spark asked, which earned him a smack from a annoyed Cynder.
"Actually, his behavior was concerning before the changes." Spyro stated. "He's been having visions, as well as having a VERY bad temper."
That's when Drake returns, having finished putting on the ointment. He then noticed the worried looks the three where giving him. "What?"
"Nothing." The three said quickly.
Drake raised an eyebrow at this, but just shrugs his shoulders.
Later the day, Drake taking a walk through the city when he noticed something.
Mushrooms the size of trees were growing out of the streets, while bush sized ones grew out of the walls of nearby building.
Close by was a forming crowd, with Nadja and her crew standing in the front.
"Don't be bemused, it's just the news! Mushrooms have taken over the neighborhood!" Nadja announced. "Could this be the work of a villain Hawk Moth made?"
"Incorrect." A raspy voice spoke up.
Following it, everyone saw the figure standing on the cap of the tallest mushroom. He then jumps down, allowing everyone to get a good look at him.
And boy, it was NOT a pretty picture to say the least!
He was on the short side, being only 4'1", and was wearing a gnome based costume. He was bald, and had unhealthy pale skin. However, the most notable, and disturbing, thing about him was that his body was covered in various mushrooms. One was growing out of his right ear, another growing out his left nostril. A small cluster of lion's mane grew out of his bald head, giving the vague resemblance of hair. Growing out of his cheeks were small oyster mushrooms. The tips of his fingers had mushroom caps, and his eyes were puke green in color.
"Ah... Who are you?" Nadja asked in a freaked out tone.
"Fungi Funguy is my name, and the power of mushrooms in my game." The stranger rhymed in a Swedish accent. "Seeing that you're all meek and yellow, I'll spare you if you tell me where to find this Dragnarok fellow."
"And why are you looking for him?" Nadja asked.
"Why would I give away info carelessly?" Fungi Funguy replied with a taunting smirk. "Tell me where he is, and I'll use my powers sparingly."
"We'll never tell you where he is!" A civilian spoke up.
"Yeah! Get lost you little gnome!" Another shouted.
The crowd then shouting at Fungi Funguy, who frowned in annoyance.
"So, that's how you want to be? Well, I have a surprise for you all, you see." He rhymed as he stretches his arms out. "If you're all going to be a pain in the ass, then perhaps some cordyceps will teach you all some class!"
A cloud of spores the erupts out of his palms and sprays the crowd, causing them to going into a coughing fit.
They then stood still as their eyes fog over, cordyceps mushrooms sprouting out of their foreheads.
Fungi Funguy cackled that the sight. "From this moment on, from night to day, you are all my puppet slave, dancing to the tune of my play!"
Drake, who was a distance away and thus was spared from the spores, ducked into a alleyway.
"At least I know where this came from." He said into himself as he takes out the mushroom he found earlier before tossing it aside. As Spyro, Cynder, and Sparx fly out of his fanny, Drake peeks from the alleyway to see the brainwashed people shambling around like zombie. "Mushrooms turning people into zombie-like creatures... I think I saw that in a video game."
"Forget about that! We could be next!" Sparx shouted, panic on his face and voice as he held his head. "Don't let him into my brain!"
"Sparx, relax. Those mushroom aren't going to hurt you." Spyro said, trying to calm his brother.
"Actually, those are cordyceps, which can very much hurt you." Drake said as he recalls something. "I remember a kid back at my old school giving a report on them. Cordyceps are a type of fungi that are parasitic to insects and other arthropods." Sparx lets out a fearful yelp before flying around in circles screaming. Spyro and Cynder just gave their human friend flat, annoyed looks. "Should've kept my mouth shut..."
"Anyway, you better tell the others to get ready." Cynder said before smacking Sparx as he flew by.
The dragonfly rubs his head in pain before looking at his brother's mate. "Thanks, I honestly needed that."
Drake then took out his phone and texts Ombra a message.
Ombra,
If you haven't seen the news, then some mushroom themed weirdo named Fungi Funguy is reeking havoc, and we need to deal with him. You have my permission to get the Miracle Box of Life from my room and give the Miraculous to the others. Hurry!
Drake
"And send." Drake said as he sends the text. He then takes an stance. "Now then... Henshin!" Once Spyro and Cynder were absorbed into his wristbands, Drake let's out a roar as he turns into Dragnarok. "Unleash the Dragon!"
Ready to go, Dragnarok and Sparx flies out of the alleyway and releases a stream of fire from his mouth, burning most of the mushrooms down.
"What the-?!" Fungi Funguy shouted before seeing the draconic hero land in front of him. "Ah, the mighty Dragnarok, standing before me. Though, you look different from the pictures, I see."
"I been going through some changes." Dragnarok said with a glare. "Now then, why are you here?"
"Someone powerful had heard of your fable, so they're giving out a huge reward to see you on a operation table." Fungi Funguy answered. "Seeing a change to make some big cash, I came to Paris for a grab and dash."
"So your being paid by some sicko who wants to cut me open." Dragnarok said with a growl. "And I can assume that whoever hired you also sent Dreadrock?"
"I don't know, as it doesn't ring a bell. But if I did, I certainly won't tell." Fungi Funguy said with a taunting smirk. He then looks at his brainwashed victims. "Get him!"
The victims then started marching towards the draconic hero in a zombie like manner, only for our hero to take off into the air.
"Aren't you gonna do something?" Sparx asked.
"Can't. They're victims under his control." Dragnarok said with a growl.
"He's right, you little bug." Fungi Funguy taunted with a cackle. "Now then, why don't come down and give them a hug?"
"Do you really have to speak in rhymes?" Dragnarok asked in a annoyed tone before throwing an ice blast onto the ground, freezing it and everyone's feet.
Well, almost everyone, as Fungi Funguy jumps onto the cap of nearby giant mushroom to avoid the ice.
Oh, such a chill! Though, I must say, fighting you is instantly turning into a thrill!" Fungi Funguy said with a excited smirk. He then started firing mushrooms into the air in a similar to missiles, which exploded into clouds of spores, forcing Dragnarok to make some aerial maneuvers to avoid getting hit. "If you're going to face your doom, might as well go out with a boom!"
That's when the mushroom themed villain had the back of his head hit by a hammer, knocking him off the mushroom and having him skid across the ice covered ground.
Getting up, Fungi Funguy saw that it was Grizzly who hit him. Standing alongside him were Miss Barb, Swallow, Siorc, Ladybug, and Cat Noir.
"Glad you guys could make it." Dragnarok said with a smile as he lands.
"So these are your friends? Well, they're about to meet their end!" Fungi Funguy shouted as he started firing more of his mushroom missiles at the heroes, forcing them to dodge.
"Watch it Toad! I know you're trying to build the Mushroom Kingdom, but yeesh! Tone it down why don't ya?" Cat Noir asked in his usual joking manner.
"Looks like we've got a funny cat." Fungi Funguy said with annoyance. He then summons a long, thin mushroom with two giant mushroom caps on the sides, making it resemble a hammer. "Lets see if you'll be laughing when you go splat!"
The feline hero let out a yelp as he dodges out of the hammer's path. The mushroom villain then tries to smash Cat Noir again, only for him to continually dodge, making it a game of whack-a-mole (Or a game of whack-a-cat in this case).
As Fungi Funguy was distracted, Dragnarok walks up the Ladybug and whispers into her ear. "Quick! Use your Lucky Charm while he's distracted!"
"Got it! Lucky Charm!" Ladybug shouted, throwing her yo-yo into the air, summoning... A spray bottle of fungicide. "A bottle of fungicide? Sweet!"
"Thank the Ancestors it's something straight forward this time!" Dragnarok cheered as he grabs the bottle before spraying some nearby giant mushrooms, causing them to rot away.
Fungi Funguy, who was still in the middle of his whack-a-cat game, saw this out of the corner of his eye. "Hey! You better stop that you freak! If you don't, I'll blast you into next week!"
"Okay, I'll stop." Dragnarok said before tossing to Miss Barb. "But you didn't say anything about them not doing it!"
"So long, disgusting mushrooms!" Miss Barb shouted as she sprays more mushroom, causing them to rot away as well.
"Stop that!" Fungi Funguy shouted as he charges at the spined hero, only for her to jump out of the way and toss the fungicide to Siorc.
"I never got the appeal of mushrooms." The shark themed hero said as she sprays another patch before passing the bottle to Grizzly.
"This is for being on pizza along with pineapple and sardines!" Grizzly shouted as he sprays with aggression.
"Stop It! Stop It! Stop It!" Fungi Funguy ranted with indignity as Grizzly passes the fungicide to Swallow, who flies overhead.
"This is Swallow-1, calling to all ground units. Please keep cover your eyes, mouths, and noses. Thank you!" Swallow shouted as flies in the air, spraying the fungicide in a similar manner to a crop duster airplane, decaying a lot of mushrooms in the process.
Fungi Funguy was now raving mad, as he was practically foaming at the mouth. When he sees Cat Noir being given the spray bottle, he charges at the feline hero with surprising speed.
Startled, Cat Noir sprays the fungicide into Fungi Funguy's face, causing the mushroom villain to let out a bloodcurdling scream as he covers his face, which was now steaming.
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry!" Cat Noir shouted as he drops the bottle.
"What the hell did you do?!" Swallow shouted as lands next to the feline hero.
Fungi Funguy then lowers his hands, revealing his was now burned and rotten, causing everyone to gain disgusted looks.
"...Your luck is now worse than bad." The mushroom villain said, gritting his teeth as he raises his arm up into the air. "As you all made me beyond mad!"
He then thrusts his arms out, releasing a huge cloud spores, which hits everyone expect Dragnarok and Sparx, who fly out of the spore cloud's range.
Once it dies down, Ladybug, Cat Noir, Miss Barb, Swallow, Grizzly, and Siorc had cordyceps growing out of their foreheads, their eyes fogged over.
"No..." Dragnarok whispered in horror.
Fungi Funguy cackled in triumph. "I am now the master of your friends! Now give yourself up or their minds will meet their individual ends!"
Dragnarok's breathing became heavier by the second, as anger bubbled inside him. Darkness begins to cover his body as his eyes began to glow white.
Fungi Funguy, upon seeing this, gains a fearful look. "S-stay back! Or else, I'll paint their brains on the tarmac!"
That only seemed to make Dragnarok angrier as he snarled loudly, embers and smoke coming out of his mouth.
Now Dark Dragnarok, the corrupted hero lets out a roar before lunging at Fungi Funguy.
He then begins beating and clawing at the mushroom villain, tearing out the stalks in his ear and nostril, which lead to blood leaking out.
Off to the side, Sparx watched in horror, unable to speak.
Backing up a bit, Dark Dragnarok saw that Fungi Funguy was in VERY bad shape. Numerous bruises and blood claw marks covered his body.
"P-p-please! H-have m-m-mercy!" The mushroom villain pleaded before spitting out a few teeth that were knocked out.
Dark Dragnarok, sadly, had no mercy as he grabs Fungi Funguy by the neck and, with a demonic glare, unleashes a Fire Fury.
However, this Fire Fury was different, as it was bigger and hotter, an absolute inferno that shot into the sky.
And with the inferno, was Fungi Funguy's pain-filled screams.
As this goes on, the screams slowly ceased, and the mushrooms that Fungi Funguy made disappeared, including the cordyceps on people's forehead.
Ladybug, after shaking the cobwebs out of her head, looks at the inferno in shock. "Dragnarok?"
Once the flames died down, Dragnarok, with the darkness fading away, was standing in front of Fungi Funguy.
Or should I say, what's left of Fungi Funguy, as what was in his place, was a skeleton, scorched black.
"You... You killed him!" Swallow shouted in shock and horror.
Regaining his senses, Dragnarok looks around for second before spotting the charred skeleton. Shocked, the draconic hero slowly walks up to the blacken bones and taps the skull, only for the whole thing to crumble into a pile of ash.
Backing up, Dragnarok notices the horrified looks everyone was giving him, causing the draconic hero to looked down at his hands in horror, seeing that there was blood on them.
Clenching his hands, Dragnarok flies off, with Sparx quickly flying after him.
The other heroes watched the retreating draconic hero with concerned looks.
What no one noticed was that Vipedra was watching from the shadows.
Later that day, Drake was at his desk, watching a video on his phone.
You see, while Nadja and her news crew were under the cordyceps' effects, their news camera, due to being a machine, was not, and kept rolling.
And it caught everything, including the part where he went berserk and incinerated Fungi Funguy, and all of Paris saw it.
As he watches this part with a glum expression, Spyro, Cynder, and Sparx watched with worried looks.
"Drake... Can we talk?" Cynder asked, getting her friend's attention.
Drake raises an eyebrow as he turns his desk chair around to face them. "About what?"
"Listen Drake, we've noticed that something is wrong." Spyro said.
"You think? I mean, look at me!" Drake stated as he gestures to himself.
"It not just your physical changes that concerns us." Cynder said. "Your behavior is worrying as well."
"You seem to gain a violent temper that made you make... questionable decisions." Spyro explained. "Such as helping Silencer, being on the verge of exploding when you heard about Bruiser, you've almost going through with Malefor's idea of destroying the Miraculouses when your identity was exposed, and now you've just killed someone!"
"Okay, I have no excuse for the Malefor thing nor the killing Fungi Funguy thing other than I was currently in a bad spot, but I had every right to mad during the first two things!" Drake growled in anger. "My friends were being plagiarized and threatened, then there is the fact Ombra was akumatized!"
"And we understand that. But you need get your anger under control." Cynder said in a steady tone.
"Since when you guys become therapists?" Drake asked, his voice laced with annoyance.
"Actually, that's not a bad idea." Spyro said, rubbing his chin in thought. "Perhaps you should see a therapist."
"And tell them what? That I'm Dragnarok?" Drake asked in dripping sarcasm. "Look, I appreciate the concern, but I'm fine." He then glances at his scaly arm. "Fine-ish. I'm pretty this just the work of Malefor's dark magic, and I can work through this like you guys did."
"Okay, first off: Even if Malefor's magic is involved, this is something we've never seen before!" Cynder stated. "And second off: We were able to get through the influence of Malefor's magic was because we had our friends who helped us out!"
"So this is just a roundabout way of saying that I should tell the others about my condition?" Drake asked in a upset tone. "Well, I'm not telling them!"
"And why not?" Sparx asked.
"They wouldn't understand." Drake answered while crossing his arms.
Spyro and Cynder had looks of disbelieve when they heard that answer. "That's your answer?!"
"They wouldn't understand because you're not letting them understand!" Spyro shouted. "So tell us, what is the real reason?!"
"You want the real reason? Fine! It's because I'm scared!" Drake shouted as stands up before pulling down the sleeve of his sweatshirt, revealing the scales. "Physically and mentally, I'm becoming a monster!" He then sits on the floor in a fetal position. "A monster that could hurt everyone I care about..."
What Drake and his friends didn't noticed was Hestia was listening in.
"My baby..." She quietly muttered as a single tear goes down her right cheek.
Spyro and Cynder fly down and gently caress Drake's head in comfort him.
"Drake, listen to me. You're not a monster." Spyro said in a reassuring tone. "Like you said, we've managed to work through the corruptive effects of Malefor's dark magic. But you need to remember that we did so because we weren't alone."
"Promise us that you'll tell the others about you're condition, alright?" Cynder asked.
"I... I'll try." Drake said as he sits up.
Hearing enough, Hestia begins to walk away, but stops and faces the door to Drake's room.
"You're no killer, you're my son. And I'll do what I can to help you." She quietly vowed before walking away.
We then cut to the Louvre at nightfall, where we see Vipedra showing Eldritch the video of Dragnarok killing Fungi Funguy on her phone.
Something that Eldritch couldn't help but laugh at. "Hahahaha! That was excellent! Perhaps I misjudged you brother."
"Indeed." Vipedra said as she puts her phone away.
"I'm curious though. What is your end goal?" Eldritch asked.
"When Drake's transformation reaches the point where he can no longer hide it, I'll come in and teach him how to control it. Once he learns to control it, we'll destroy the Order before leaving to the Dragon Realms with him." Vipedra explained.
Eldritch's skull just looks at her for a while. "...That's it? You just want to destroy the Guardians before going to the Dragon Realms? I get the idea of destroying the Order, but there has got to be more, so please elaborate."
"You see, unlike you, who was sealed away and got to see the world change around you, I was put in a state of suspended animation, making me wake up in a almost alien world." Vipedra said. "It was thanks to my ability to quickly adapt and learn that I managed to not draw too much attention. But anyway, while the present is exciting with it's numerous advancements, I just don't feel like I belong here, especially with my new, draconic body."
"Understandable, but why bother with Drake? Why bother trying to bring him along?" Eldritch asked, though it quickly came to him. "Are you... in love with him?"
"...Yes." Vipedra said as she looks away with longing look. "He... reminds me of a old friend. He's like him in so many ways, yet is unique in his own way. Adding in the fact he was willing to help me adjust to a world, and my heart couldn't stop beating."
"So you want to two of you to go to the Dragon Realms and fly into the sunset like some sort of fairy tale?" Eldritch asked, raising a invisible eyebrow.
"In a sense. I did grow up listening to those kinds of stories, and I guess my inner child had always wanted her own happily ever after." Vipedra said, sounding slightly embarrassed.
"Even if you're the knight in shining armor and Drake is the damsel in distress?" Eldritch asked in bit of a joking tone.
"Yes. Plus, he'll make great additional muscle for when I attack the Order's base in Tibet." Vipedra said before shrugging. "Besides, there is nothing left for me in this world, as any friends and family I had are now long dead. Same with my enemies, including that harlot Scarlet Fate..."
"Scarlet Fate? You mean Joan of Arc?" Eldritch asked, getting a angry hiss in response. "Wait a minute... Vipedra... Vipedra... Yes, now I know why that name sounded familiar. You were the hero who fought for Wales, using the power of both the Dragon and Snake Miraculous."
"If you recognized my former self, then how come you didn't recognize my current self?" Vipedra asked with a raised eyebrow.
"The crystal I used to view the outside can't view everything at once, and I was more focused on the French side of the war, so you were more or less a footnote." Eldritch stated. "By the way, you do know that the French won the war, right?"
"Don't remind me...!" Vipedra hissed.
When she found out that the French won the war, she was NOT happy in the slightest.
"Anyway, I really hate to tell you this sister, but Joan of Arc actually managed to escape her fiery fate." Eldritch said.
Vipedra just stared at the skeleton. "...What?"
"Her famous burning at the stake? Faked. The Order slipped her out and put a fake in her place." Eldritch explained.
"...So you're telling me that the woman I despise escaped her just rewards?" Vipedra asked, her right eye violently twitching. "Wait, what am I saying? Because of course she did! That spotted harlot just had to get the last laugh!"
The sound of a hundred snake hissing rang through the air.
Eldritch, for once in a good long while, felt very unnerved. "Are you okay sister?"
"Oh I'm fine!" Vipedra angerly hissed.
"Your tone suggests otherwise." Eldritch said before his gained an idea. "You know, why not destroy the Ladybug Miraculous? The thing that gave Scarlet Fate her existence?"
"Yes... I like that!" Vipedra let out a dark chuckle. "In fact, I'll have Ladybug take her predecessor's place, by burning her at the stake!"
"A delightful idea!" Eldritch agreed. "And I am willing to help, but on one condition..."
"Let me guess, you want a new body?" Vipedra asked while crossing her arms.
"Correct."
"It'll not be easy, because unlike you, I don't have 5000 years worth of experience under my belt." Vipedra said. "I do have some idea on how to improve your current situation slightly, but it'll take some time."
"Do what you must." Eldritch said. "Until then, I wish you luck, my dear sister."
"Same to you, brother."
Meanwhile, in Drake's room, we see our hero tossing and turning in his sleep.
We then zoom into the deepest depths of Drake's soul, where we see Malefor, who was sporting a twisted grin as he watches the memory of Dark Dragnarok killing Fungi Funguy.
"Beautiful. Simply beautiful." The Dark Master said in a tone of dark joy. "Soon, it'll just take one bad day, and you, Drake Firstbourne, will be just like me."
Malefor then lets out a dark cackle, which rings through the area.
And that's that!
Oh man, that took longer than I wanted, but with me going to a dentist's appointment, FanFiction's servers going out, and my recent yearly physical, I have been very busy.
I would also like to say a Happy Birthday to Cristina Valenzuela, who is Marinette/Ladybug's English voice actor. She is also the voice actor of Verosika Mayday from Helluva Boss.
Imagine that, sweet Marinette sharing the same voice as a naughty succubus pop star... Aw Dammit! The image of Ladybug singing "Vacay to Bonetown" in now in my head!
But yeah, we now know Chrys/the figure's real name, got to see Eldritch again, see Dragnarok fight another mercenary based villain, and we see our hero cross a line that can't be uncrossed.
Also, here's a fun challenge: List the number of times Mushroom has been said.
Anyway, I hoped you all enjoyed, and I'll see you all next time! Bye!