Chapter uploaded: November 7th, 2022
Last edited: August 29th, 2024
More Than One Heart
Chapter 1 - Mass Destruction
"Rarrgh…!"
A painful cry rang out from the dragon knight's mouth as his body smashed through the temple's outermost walls. His sight became flooded with streaks of red blood and black magic as the air was pulled from his lungs.
Time slowed to a crawl as he stretched a paw outward, clawing at empty space.
Entire minutes flew by in his mind before he felt his body slam down on the soil below, with the momentum dragging him down the dirty pathway.
Pieces of his heavily damaged armour flew from his body, and he lost grip of his longsword, the weapon falling aimlessly into the forest below…
Finally, it all came to a stop.
The young drake laid on his back and slowly opened his eyes. His gaze pointed to the skies above as tears trickled down the side of his face. The sound of sword strikes could be heard throughout the forest, accented by roars of pain and fear. On rare occasions, he saw the night sky ignite with flashes of elemental magic, but they were few and far between.
They were fighting a losing battle…
Suddenly, a black figure leapt out of the tower and landed a few paces behind him with a large two-handed sword in its grip. His attacker hadn't been satisfied with simply knocking him out and was coming to deliver the final blow.
The sound of footsteps drew close, though slower than expected. These strange creatures, while he had assumed them to be common apes, the main force of the Dark Army, at first, their behaviour was strikingly different. Apes, by nature, were barbaric brutes who always charged into a battle without any semblance of strategy. These fighters, however, were taking their time with a slow and calculated assault—all without giving off any emotion from behind those ridiculously coloured masks.
From the corner of his eye, the blue and black dragon saw the shine of a blade being raised, ready to take his life.
"No… Not yet!"
Quickly reaching behind him, the dragon drew the only other weapon he had. An ornate steel glaive that glowed with magical energy. The two weapons clashed together, forcing the two fighters into a power struggle, with the primate having a slight advantage.
The dragon's unusual weapon did little to even the odds. The weapon wasn't forged from the same durable metals as his issued armaments, and the blade's edges were dull to the touch. He never intended to use the glaive in a fight; it fulfilled a completely different purpose, outside of combat.
The knight gradually lifted himself onto one foot, the additional purchase letting him apply more strength, and the other leg followed behind moments later. A deep grumble escaped his throat as he summoned powerful mana from within his body, and the weapon in his paws began to shine even brighter. The difference in their physical strength was negligible, so he had to try a different approach.
Before he could put his plan into motion, the ape inexplicably seemed to vanish in a plume of vile black smoke.
"W-What was–!?"
Before the drake could fully process what he had just seen, the dark cloud suddenly burst forward and passed through his body, causing an intense wave of agony to overtake him.
Every instinct in his body demanded that he move out of the way as the smoke resolidified behind him. A follow-up attack from the ape was inevitable! But whether it be due to fear or from the pain of the vile energy now coursing through him, the young dragon stood still. Paralyzed and unable to dodge.
A colossal black blade struck his back, shattering his remaining armour, piercing the scales on his back, and drawing large amounts of blood. The pain was unlike anything he had ever experienced. It took every bit of control not to cry out in pain. His knees gave in, and he collapsed to the ground once again.
"You're young, but even someone like you was able to give me this much trouble." He heard the intruder speak in a calm yet distorted voice that almost sounded respectful. Reaching behind his back, the ape produced a small cluster of Spirit Gems. But unlike the brilliant red, green or blue crystals that dragonkind used to strengthen and evolve their bodies, these crystals were a hideous shade of purple.
"I'll admit, you proved harder to kill than some of your superiors. However…" The Spirit Gem began to glow a malignant shade of black. "It's too late for you now."
A wave of exhaustion befell the dragon, akin to the feeling one would have when using his element for extended periods without rest. While physically unharmed, he could feel the mana in his body being drained from him and into the crystal.
For a dragon, being completely deprived of mana was as good as a death sentence. Without the boon the great Ancestors bestowed upon their race, they would be as defenceless as any other species in the Realms.
The ape then placed a foot on his chest, pressing down painfully. Like before, the dragon refused to give his tormenter the satisfaction of hearing him cry out in pain. Looking up, he could almost sense the smirk on the primate's face, even if he couldn't see beneath the mask. His heartbeat began to slow down, each pulse being the only sound his brain could focus on.
This was his end… One more strike from that sword, and he would die.
.
.
.
He WASN'T going to let that happen!
Acting on pure instinct, he brought both of his arms up and caught the weapon during its descent, stopping it mere centimetres from his throat.
"You still have the strength to spare…?" the ape muttered irritably. Somehow, the dragon had not only survived having been stripped of his mana, but was still healthy enough to fight back. Were the gems ineffective on him, or were the knight's mana reserves that impossibly deep? The ape doubted even the Dragon Guardians, the symbols of power and order for dragonkind, and who bore blessings from the Ancestors themselves, boasted an ability such as that… Regardless, this lizard would still die, no matter how tenacious he was.
The dark creature began to add more force to the downward stab, ready to take the drake's life…
But the killing blow never came. Nothing did.
The ape's body hadn't moved at all, as if his brain had shut down. He could only stand in place and stare down at his target, unable to move a muscle.
Desperate to discover the cause of his petrification, he shifted his gaze toward his arm and found something unexpected. In the time he had spent pitying his opponent, vibrant chains of multiple colours had coiled around his body, each inflicting a different curse on him. The moment they became taut, he lost his physical and magical strength, and his body was rendered completely immobile.
While the curses took hold, the dark blue dragon beneath his foot had become enshrouded in a similarly brilliant golden-white light. Instead of weakening him, however, it was mending his wounds and returning some strength to his body. In addition, the glaive that had slipped from his hand earlier had lost its lustre… As if it wasn't needed anymore.
With a quick swipe, the drake knocked the demonic sword out of his foe's hands, leaving the primate defenceless for what was to come.
The ape could only stare in fear as the last image he would ever see was ingrained into his mind. A young adult male dragon with obsidian black scales and massive azure blue wings, cloaked in a majestic icy-blue aura, roaring into the night sky with a newfound drive. Prepared and ready to give everything to protect the sacred temple.
A scaled hand reached out and grabbed the primate by the face. A cold chill ran down its spine, growing colder by the second. Recognizing the imminent danger, the ape attempted to claw his way out, only for the glow of the ethereal chains wrapped around his body to remind him of his current state. While he might have been able to pry the dragon's hand off before, there was nothing he could do now until the curse wore off. And he wouldn't live long enough for that.
Thick layers of ice began to coat the ape's armour, and his skin dried out, turning a morbid white. The dragon then moved in close and growled in his ear.
"Return to Unconscious, you monkey!" He then launched the encased ape against the temple wall. The icy prison shattered upon impact, extinguishing the life inside instantly.
Satisfied that the threat had passed, the dragon breathed a sigh of relief and sat down. His frosty breaths crystallized the second they left his mouth.
"I'm still alive," he panted. Even if his wounds had healed, the adrenaline was still coursing through his system. It was impossible to shrug off nearly being sliced in half, and he desperately wanted to savour a few moments of peace before anything else.
He instinctively brought a paw up to run it through his silver mane, briefly forgetting about the helmet still covering his dome. His scaled hand rested against the cool metal as he reflected on his current situation.
It was a calm but eventful day, the same as any other. He and the other apprentice knights his age were training at the Emerald Falls Temple, testing their survival and combat skills in an environment they were unused to, far away from the dragon city. Not long after this, the entire world was made aware of the Dark Army's unusual movements, and appropriate measures were taken to fortify all the important strongholds throughout the Realms. Three of the six Guardians even left Warfang to help protect this temple, but as they would soon learn, not even their efforts would be enough.
None expected a swarm of supernatural monsters to appear at the temple walls, and their defences were completely overwhelmed. Within a few hours, countless knights and civilians had already perished.
Growling with frustration, the young dragon removed his helmet, the last piece of armour he wore, and threw it aside. It was worthless against these demons anyway.
He was broken from his thoughts when he heard a voice calling his name.
"Seiryuu!"
Turning to face the skies, the drake saw several adult dragons flying above the temple. Most wore armour not dissimilar to his own, while others wore clothing representative of different cultures. The defenders of the entire Dragon Realms, as well as his brothers in arms, the Peace Keepers. And judging from the variety in their gear, reinforcements were coming in from across many lands.
From within the flight, two younger dragons not part of the main group had broken off and were headed in his direction. Two dragons he knew very well. As they landed on the group next to him, a weak smile crept up his face.
"Luna… Kulbrin… You're the last people I expected to see right now… I'm so grateful you came for me."
The taller of the two, the female named Luna, cautiously approached him and helped him to his feet, wrapping an arm across his shoulders.
"I know. I… I can hardly believe I'm in a position where I need to say this, but… I'm so glad to see you alive, Seiryuu."
Luna was a tall, Light dragoness with rich white and golden scales, a pair of large, navy blue wings with numerous constellations inscribed onto their membranes, and two curved golden horns on the back of her head. She wore layered white robes that were accented with gold. If not for the look of panic on her face, her presence would give off a very graceful and calming aura.
"That's a bit of an understatement. That filth almost dimidiated him!" The younger male dragon picked up the depowered glaive resting a few paces away from the group. "He even forced Seiryuu to remove his inhibitor."
Kulbrin was a Wind dragon who, unlike his friends, was small for his age. He had forest green scales with brown-coloured wings and underbelly. Jagged black spines ran down his back and four crooked brown horns adorned his head. Unlike his female companion, he was dressed minimally, only wearing a torn red bandana, a leather belt and side pouch, and wrist and ankle wrappings. While appearing more composed than Luna at first glance, he, too, was showing signs of unease.
"I had no other option. These monsters… They have the ability to siphon mana from other us. If I hadn't pulled out my glaive, I would have died…"
"An ape was able to push you that far!?" Luna whispered in shock.
The young knight didn't respond. By now, he had gotten back on his feet but still hadn't fully recovered. Luna's spell earlier had only healed his physical wounds.
Noticing that the Ice dragon wasn't answering the question, Kulbrin opted to investigate the situation himself and moved over to where the dark creature was lying to inspect its body. Right away, he noticed many peculiarities.
'Is this thing really an ape? Its legs are too long, and its snout is so short… And it isn't bleeding at all!' As he noted, none of the wounds Seiryuu inflicted were stained red. Instead, a dark, wispy shadow was leaking out of his body as if he were nothing more than a ghost. 'And what even is this armour!? All of his vital organs are completely exposed! Are they that confident in their strength that they can ignore basic defence?'
There was one additional aspect of the armour that caught Kulbrin's attention, beyond the lack of protection it provided. There were multiple engravings of skulls across its surface. But rather than the skull of an ape or even a dragon, it more closely resembled that of a certain, well-respected species that has been extinct for countless millennia—A human.
"…And that confirms it," the young Beast Tamer muttered in disgust. "The apes are the only ones in the Realms that would use the image of the Predecessors so disrespectfully."
His musings were interrupted when he heard Luna's voice call out. By now, Seiryuu had regained his balance and slowly ambled back to the temple. But to their surprise, he was headed towards one of the service entrances meant for smaller species instead of flying back to the tower he had just come from.
"What are you doing? You'll burn yourself out if you keep fighting!" The white dragoness said while desperately trying to hold him back. But the urgency in his voice made it clear he didn't intend to rest just yet.
"There's more going on than you two realize…!" The dark blue dragon ducked his head through the doorway, barely giving his friends any time to keep up as he hurried down the narrow corridors. "You feel it, don't you? This never-ending feeling of nausea and fatigue?"
Neither of them was aware of it until Seiryuu brought it to their attention, but both Luna and Kulbrin were staggering in place just as he had been moments ago. Beyond that one instance, they both hadn't used any magical abilities since arriving at the temple, yet it felt like they had been fighting for weeks.
"This feeling… Have you and the other Peace Keepers been fighting under these conditions all this time?" Luna asked as the weight of this calamity started to dawn on her.
The Ice dragon grimly nodded in response.
"It's even worse than you may think. Whatever magic they're using, it's making them immune to anything that isn't draconic magic. Combine that with the dark gems they carry that absorb our powers, and even a lowly grunt can slay an experienced knight."
The group finally stopped at a smaller room isolated from the rest of the temple. Old boxes overflowing with used tools had no discernable use and had been shoved inside without a care, and every corner of the room was covered in dust and cobwebs.
"This is…?" Kulbrin said while fighting off the urge to sneeze.
"The moles around the temple are using this room to offload defective equipment," Seiryuu explained as he threw crates around in a hurry to clear up space. "But it was originally meant for the smaller, flightless species to access the underground before the main entryway was complete."
"The catacombs? What does that have to do with anything right now?"
"We thought the Dark Army's forces would only attack from above. Their goal this whole time is to lay waste to the nursery and kill off the next generation. But there was another layer to their plan we didn't anticipate." Seiryuu had cleared out most of the boxes in the room by now, revealing a large golden plate in the centre of the floor. He let out a deep sigh before continuing.
"Brace yourselves," he warned.
Once he was confident his friends were mentally and physically prepared, Seiryuu lifted the plate from the ground.
Instantly, any existing discomfort the Light and Wind dragons had was made even worse as the sudden surge of dark energy that erupted from the floor overwhelmed their bodies. Seiryuu himself faired slightly better, his icy blue aura dispelling once the cover was raised, but he was otherwise unaffected.
"This is why I was so concerned…" he hurriedly explained, "Whatever is causing this anomaly, it's down there. And not many dragons have the fortitude to survive being that close to it.
"The Guardians all agreed that one of them would handle the threats down below. Master Polaris disappeared a long time ago, but nobody has heard from him since. I don't want to assume anything dire, but it's been hours now…" The dragon's arms were beginning to shake. "I'm going after him, and I'll use this entrance to avoid detection for as long as possible."
"And you plan to do this alone?" Luna asked, "We really should come with you…"
The comment made Seiryuu's heart fall. While he knew Luna and Kulbrin would, at the very least, be able to hold their own for a short time, they wouldn't survive for long. They could barely stand up as it was! He didn't want them to die…
But she was right about one thing. He wouldn't last long, either. The Light Guardian himself had gone into the catacombs, with his current fate remaining unknown. His chances of survival weren't any better.
Seiryuu let out a sigh before eventually relenting. He slowly wrapped his arms around the dragoness, warmly embracing her.
"Luna… My instincts are telling me to reject your help. But… can I be greedy this one time and ask you two to navigate for me?" Luna looked down at him in surprise. Having grown up with the drake, she knew he would have sooner demanded that he handle this on his own than ask for help.
He continued talking as she was lost in thought.
"The three of us have been through a lot over the past century, and if I'm going to come out of this alive, I need someone I trust. I'd… feel safe if you both were there for me."
"Tsk… Okay, fine." Kulbrin spoke up from across the room. "Look, I'm honestly still hesitant about having you fly into that hellscape at all, but this is probably the only option that's going to satisfy us all… Well, mostly."
"Thank you. Both of you." Not waiting for Luna's response, Seiryuu climbed the narrow ladder leading down. He gave them both a firm look before making his final preparations. "Kulbrin, pass me my glaive."
The green dragon quavered in shock.
"Wait… This thing!? You know this won't do anything to those devils." He flicked two of his fingers across the triangular blade's edge repeatedly. Not a single bruise formed on his scales. "Shouldn't you bring something more practical?"
The Ice drake shook his head.
"I don't plan to fight up close. Their weaponry tore through ours like old parchment! Beyond that, I don't have the luxury of being selective at the moment. And I don't want to use one of those demons' weapons!
"Besides…" He ran a hand along the flat side of the glaive. Even while deactivated, the glaive still carried a large amount of his own mana within its metal exterior. "I have a feeling it will be useful down there."
"…Useful?"
"Never mind." He quickly fastened the large and heavy blade behind his back before giving both of his friends one final look. The urgency in his voice from before having returned. "The moment you start to feel overwhelmed, forget about me and head to safety along with the other civilians. Understood?"
Without saying a word, the two dragons agreed to his request.
"All right… It's time to finish this." With that, Seiryuu lept off the ladder, letting gravity carry him into the depths below.
An unnerving silence filled the room as both dragons waited for the signal to establish the telepathic link with their friend.
"What's plaguing you, Luna?" Kulbrin suddenly asked, noticing she hadn't said anything to Seiryuu before he left. "It's not like you to be this quiet."
The white dragoness was staring out a window from a room on the opposite side of the hallway. The night sky was clear, and she could see both celestial moons shining down on them. But something about the green and red bodies made her uneasy.
"Zella… Why– How is it larger than Adrano tonight?"
Seiryuu's vision grew dark as he sailed deeper underground and away from any light source. It didn't take long for him to hit solid ground.
The catacombs were a large and expansive maze. Long bridges coated in dew were erected above a dark void cloaked by a thick mist, with the sound of flowing water running in the distance. Very little light made it this far underground, making it hard for the average being to see clearly. But for a dragon with superior eyesight, it was only a minor inconvenience.
"Kulbrin, Luna can you hear me?"
The female dragon's voice responded a few moments later, her voice being projected directly into the knight's head, but not as coherently as he had hoped.
"Yes. There's a bit of magical interference, but we can still get a view of your surroundings. We'll do our best to navigate from here."
"Understood. I'm going on ahead."
Not wanting to waste any time, Seiryuu leaped off the main bridge, opened his wings, and began flying further in, taking the most direct path possible. The gentle breeze coming from below was just enough for him to maintain his altitude.
As he predicted, none of the Dark Army's fighters noticed his presence at first, and he was met with little to no resistance. A welcome change after everything that he had endured thus far. As he moved deeper in, however, he could feel that same overwhelming dark energy growing stronger, and he knew it was only a matter of time before he had to fight again.
"You're not alone down here," Kulbrin's voice cut in, "There are some ape grunts ahead of you. Do you need me to give a profile of their physical attributes?"
Far ahead, Seiryuu could see a formation of rocks peaking out through the fog. Several of those same apes were perched on small ledges, gazing off into the distance, looking for any stray dragons that may have wandered in. From the air, he could make out two small fries wielding bows and one larger ape with a massive two-handed battle axe.
The young knight nodded.
"I won't flare my wings to a Beast Tamer's advice. What are their weaknesses, if any?" One of the archers saw him closing in, taking away any hope for a surprise attack, and aimed at his head. The shadowy arrow barely missed the dragon, sailing off into the distance and striking the rock ceiling. It didn't audibly clank off the stone and instead pierced straight through it. "Also, keep in mind that I'd rather fight at a distance if I can help it."
"Well, I'd say you're in luck. The imps are weak to Ice. Try your Bufu skills on the small ones."
'Weak to Ice… That's very convenient!'
Drawing the smallest of drops of mana from his body, Seiryuu willed a block of ice over the closer of the two apes. It attempted to dodge out of the way, but the ice still hit its shoulder, freezing on contact. The ape fell off his perch and began crying from the pain.
"Ahh! My arm…! I'm dying!"
The instant the attack landed, time seemed to slow down around the dragon. Invigorated by the successful attack, he switched his attention to the other grunt. Another blast of ice killed the ape before it could retaliate.
'A simple Bufu attack, and they fall? If only they were all this weak…'
The burst of speed came again, this time he chose to launch himself at the larger ape with his glaive. The attack landed, but it was not enough. The ape leader, unharmed, swung his own weapon at the knight, who leapt out of the way just in time.
Falling back, Seiryuu took to the air once more and listened to his navigators' advice.
"This one's tough to pin down… I don't know if anything you have will so much as stagger him."
"What about Darkness? Is he immune to–"
"No, but keep in mind you'd have to strike up close for that."
The giant ape saw the hesitation in his movements and pulled out a small cluster of the dark crystals, daring him to come forward. Seiryuu growled in frustration at the taunt.
'There's no time to waste worrying over every little inconvenience,' he thought, 'I have to face those odds.'
The dragon rose high into the air before plunging back down. His body became intangible, disappearing into the floor beneath the primate as he used his second element. A shadow was cast on the ground as dark runes began to form, preparing to annihilate the ape in a single hit.
The glow beneath the primate's feet turned purple…
…And its life was snuffed out.
The dragon re-immerged from the floor moments later. His gamble had paid off, but not entirely without consequence. Seiryuu gritted his teeth together as the same draining sensation from before hit his body, only made worse by the magical anomaly present in the catacombs.
"No, not yet…!"
Out of desperation, he kicked the now lifeless corpse off the adjacent ledge and into the pit below, along with the gem that was still clutched in its hands. (He was really beginning to hate those things!)
"Are there any more nearby?"
"Yes… They're approaching from behind." It was Luna who answered this time, her voice calm but solemn. "You can avoid another fight if you leave now."
"All right. And just to be sure…" He stood up straight and summoned a massive wave of ice behind him, freezing over the ground and sealing off any passages the apes could enter from. "That should give me a little more time…"
Clenching his wrist tightly, Seiryuu's body glowed green as he channelled mana throughout his body, letting it re-stabilize. He did not want to be completely drained before he reached his destination.
Every encounter he faced from that point onward, Seiryuu made sure to end quickly and decisively, using his elements as liberally as he could without overtaxing his body. Eventually, he reached the source of the disturbance. Two large wooden doors barricaded the way forward, and the knight could already feel the evil magic leaking from the other side. The sensation was dominating his senses now.
He placed a paw over one of the doors and watched them glow pale blue in response to his body's latent magic, before slowly drawing open. Seiryuu didn't know what to expect on the other side, but he gripped his glaive in anticipation of the worst.
Whoever had passed through here before had apparently caused a lot of damage to this section of the underground. There was no pathway beyond the doors, with most of the footing crumbling into the abyss. Individual platforms were erected all over the area in seemingly random positions, making it nearly impossible for a flightless being to navigate across to the other side.
At the other end of the chasm, he saw what he was looking for. A massive purple crystal embedded into the ground with a hideous purple aura emitting from it. But as foreboding as the evil construct was, his attention was focused on what was standing at its base.
Standing many metres tall and wearing thick black armour that kept the human-inspired skull motif and a flowing black cape, was the most intimidating ape commander he had seen yet. Unlike his underlings, his armour actually covered most of his body, safe for his head which bore a white skull mask with an engraved numeral XIII on its temple. On his back was a colossal black scimitar that looked like it weighed several tons at least.
Taken all together, Seiryuu felt as if he was staring at Death itself.
"The Guardian of Light could not stop me, and what do they do in response? They send a poorly armed child…" The voice that rang out was loud and dominating. The young knight had never heard anything so malicious in his entire life.
Suddenly, the demon's words registered in his brain. "…Guardian of Light!?"
Turning his gaze further downward, he could see another figure lying unconscious on the floor… An Elder Dragon with white and gold scales.
"Master Polaris!"
Overcome by emotion, Seiryuu leaped across the small footholds without a second thought. In the blink of an eye, he had crossed over to the other side, but he was cut short when a large blade was pressed to his neck.
"It's over, Dragon. Drop your weapon and surrender. There is nothing more you can do."
Dread burned through his whole being. He knew death was an ever-present threat the moment he set foot into the catacombs, and he doubted he could defeat this foe even under better circumstances. But there was too much at stake to back down… On his honour as a Peace Keeper, he would see this through to his last breath! He didn't need any advice to know he had only one course of action.
Seiryuu took a deep breath.
"I won't hesitate anymore…!"
He let his mana flow freely, the space around him warping in a union of Ice and Darkness. With his weapon at the ready, the glaive glowing in response to his mana, Seiryuu took a mighty leap into the air and aimed for the devil's head.
The two began a savage dance with their blades. Each strike was delivered with the intent to kill, and every movement was so impossibly fast that they would have appeared invisible to any bystanders. As the two duelled, deep cuts appeared all over the dragon's body, while conversely, the ape was barely injured.
The clash finally ended when the Ape Commander delivered a powerful kick into the knight's torso, sending a shockwave throughout the entire room and launching him back. Seiryuu landed on one of the stone platforms in a heavy heap, barely holding on to his only weapon.
"Little dragon," the deep voice called out to him, "At any point, did you stop to consider why the Guardian of the Light element couldn't defeat me, let alone injure me?"
In truth, the thought had never crossed his mind. But thinking about it now, it didn't make sense why Master Polaris couldn't stop this devil. Both the Light and Darkness elements were highly lethal when used effectively. An Elder Dragon with many over a millennium of experience wielding either of them wouldn't go down so easily.
"Allow me to show you…" the ape chuckled cruelly, "The result of my kind's evolution!"
Seiryuu didn't know what to expect… Was he about to unleash a powerful explosion? Drain away his life aura instead of his mana? An infinite amount of possibilities flew through his head all at once.
To his shock and horror, the demon sank into the ground beneath him in a shadowy veil. It was the same Darkness spell he himself had been using frequently this entire night.
"No… the Dark Army can use draconic magic!?"
A cold chill ran down his spine. Even if this specific element flowed throughout his body naturally, it did not mean he was immune to its effects. He could still die to this attack, just like anyone else.
Acting fast, Seiryuu leaped into the air as high as he could to escape the runes' effects, soaring high enough to almost touch the cavern's ceiling. As if he knew this would happen, however, the dark ape re-emerged from the floor, ending the spell prematurely, and leapt after him.
Seeing what the ape was capable of firsthand, he didn't know what options he had left. Was it even worth using his elements anymore? From what he knew, it was the one thing that was effective against them to any meaningful extent, but this Ape Commander could not only match an adult dragon's might but likely surpass it.
He had to make a decision… Every second he spent contemplating what to do next, the more his foe drew close.
The only thing he had left to use was his glaive…
A cruel-sounding voice suddenly resonated within his mind, mocking him. "You plan to defend yourself with a blunt stick!?"
"It's not a matter of how powerful it is… only how I use it."
Seiryuu, knowing he had one attempt to pull it off, focused on this one action. As the two combatants intersected each other, he made sure to angle the glaive in his paws carefully. And with bated breath… He watched it sink into the white mask. The dull steel pierced through the primate's face, ripping through to the other side.
It was over…!?
The world around him faded away, and his mind grew quiet. The two of them slowly drifted down into the pit below.
He had defeated the ape, he tried to reason with himself. He expected to hear a loud painful cry or even a dry retort that it hadn't been enough. Yet, as gravity carried them further into the void, the ape did nothing.
His sight had completely fallen black before he regained his senses enough to let go. At some point, he had subconsciously opened his wings and was now rising out of the abyss. Or rather, he was being pulled out. A familiar green light had wrapped around his body, creating a strong but gentle wind current that carried him back to safety. He had forgotten entirely that his friends were watching him throughout the fight. It was likely that Luna had also healed him again at some point, explaining why he hadn't died.
The airborne Earth magic carried him back to the edge of the cliff. But just as Seiryuu's feet were about to touch the ground, the magic dissipated, knocking him forwards, off balance.
"Kulbrin… What happened?" he tried calling out, but the Beast Tamer did not answer. It was only then that Seiryuu realized that neither of them had said a word during the entire encounter.
"So, they both had to flee… It's all right. You two get to safety." He unfurled his wings and pointed his gaze to the last remaining threat to take care of. The dark Spirit Gem.
"I'll take care of the rest!"
With a thunderous roar, he began repeatedly casting potent ice spells on the vile construct. At first, his attacks dissipated the instant they materialized. But gradually, the crystal began to crumble under the pressure of the continuous strikes, breaking into large fragments that vanished harmlessly into thin air. Eventually, there was only a single cluster remaining.
"This… will… FINISH IT!" Reaching out with his claws spread, Seiryuu crushed the remains of the gem in his hand.
With the singularity finally eliminated, his sights began to grow clear… Clean air filled his lungs once more… And his muscles could relax again.
Finally giving in to his exhaustion, Seiryuu sat down on the stony floor and breathed a sigh of relief. His final efforts had been successful. Even if there was nothing he could physically do anymore, there was no doubt that the two remaining Guardians could finish the fight now that the biggest source of chaos had been taken care of.
.
.
.
Could they?
A single ape commander was able to defeat Master Polaris. What guarantee was there that Master Ignitus and Master Volteer would fare better? What if there were more apes up there just as deadly as this one!?
…Sol's warmth! Luna and Kulbrin had just retreated moments ago. The situation at the surface was still dire!
But… it would take too long for him to leave the catacombs now. Everyone would be dead by the time he returned. This was where his– no, their air current ended…
"Damn! …Why does it have to end like this!?" Tears began to fall down the side of Seiryuu's muzzle. Even without anyone present to see him at his weakest, he couldn't help but give in to his despair. "I… I don't want this to be it!"
…As if the universe itself was responding in pity, the ground beneath him began to rumble. Seiryuu panned his gaze around the cavern in anticipation of an earthquake. Several loose stones began levitating into place and formed a small archway as a gold script adorned the top, displaying the words "EMERALD FALLS". In addition, more Spirit Gems, this time being of a more comforting red and green, began to form from the dirt below. The Ancestors had felt his pain and were encouraging him to keep going.
Seiryuu stared ahead in disbelief. What made him worthy of these gifts? Contrary to all the admiration and grandeur thrown at him from a young age. He was just another dragon with an above-average upbringing. There were countless others just like him.
"Is it because I'm actually the only one left?" He posed the question to the coloured gems by his feet as if the Ancestors themselves would answer him. Their surfaces gently shimmered in the dim light of the underground. The nervous feeling still pounded away at his heart, but his fear had now been controlled, even if only slightly.
"All right, I understand."
Seiryuu tore one of the crystals from the ground as if plucking a fruit from a tree. With a quick clenching of his fist, he shattered it to pieces and let the spiritual energy flow into his body.
"Using a Spirit Gem to recover my mana… I don't think I've ever done this before." His body greedily accepted the power. He had to admit, the feeling was very refreshing. It was comparable to refilling a glass of his favourite beverage to enjoy properly after consuming one solely to quench an overwhelming thirst.
Rising up, he walked over to the portal and looked into the watery display to see what was on the other side. He could see that the outside of the temple had calmed down significantly. He couldn't detect any soldiers from the Dark Army or any Peace Keepers, but there were signs of movement. Whatever awaited him on the other side of that portal would likely not be friendly.
'This isn't over yet…'
Finding his resolve, he leapt through the portal and hurried to the egg chambers. The one location that mattered to him now.
As he left, an Elder Dragon lying on the ground slowly opened his eyes.
"Where… am I?" His voice was tired and ragged, and his body refused to move beyond a few basic gestures. But from his prone position, he spotted something from the corner of his eye.
A small pile of partially consumed Spirit Gems, still rooted in the ground.
To Seiryuu's immense surprise and relief, nothing slowed him down as he traversed the empty temple hallways. Occasionally, he would pass by the corpse of a dragon or ape, but the place was deserted otherwise. Eventually, he reached his destination, an egg chamber hidden from all the others. The entrance was unguarded but also undisturbed. Either the Dark Army hadn't found its location yet, or he was too late. The knight prayed it was the former.
Walking into the chamber, he was relieved to see no signs of anyone entering. Every egg looked to be safe and accounted for. But what he was really concerned about, was a specific egg that rested further in.
In the heart of the nest, he saw a magnificent golden statue depicting an unusual reptilian species. It bore many physical similarities to a dragon but stood on four legs and had no wings on its back. The statue's expression was that of a fierce glare, only made more frightening by its scarred right eye.
Not much was known about the mysterious species who walked the Realms before even the humans, but all of dragonkind knew of their fearless leader, whose heroic actions led to his ascension into godhood.
Zenith. Leader of the saurians, and the mortal who became an Ancestor.
At the base of his statue, cradled underneath his legs and wrapped in warm blankets, was a single, large purple egg. Its shell was hard and smooth, and it bore a mark that resembled a series of claw marks that collectively formed a dragon's wing.
Were it anyone else, would have been too intimidated to approach the egg that had been branded by the Zenith himself. Seiryuu, however, had long since gotten accustomed to the statue's intense presence, and he calmly walked over to its platform without fear.
"Hello… it's me again," he said faintly as he affectionately ran a paw over the egg's surface. "How many times have I abandoned my studies or other obligations to come down here and visit you? Too many to count… Even when I know you aren't going to respond…
"The chaos has subsided for now. You don't have to worry anymore. I'm here for you."
As much as he knew it wasn't the case, in his mind, Seiryuu wished this could be like any other day when he was visiting the Purple Dragon's egg.
His musings were cut short as he felt another being enter the room. Turning around, Seiryuu saw a large figure cloaked in a veil of flames so intense that only their eyes were visible. Another powerful opponent! But… they weren't attacking. The two stood on opposite ends of the room, looking into each other's eyes. Eventually, the taller of the two lowered their guard. Their expression softened as they spoke.
"Seiryuu, you're still alive?"
That voice…!
The inferno slowly died down as the flames withdrew into the intruder's body, revealing an Elder Dragon with red scales, golden armour, and a prominent mark on his shoulder that resembled a burning star. The Guadian of Fire, Ignitus, had returned.
"…Yes, I am," the young drake replied, "But I can't say it was due to my own skills."
He gestured to his back, showing that he was no longer carrying his glaive, his power inhibitor.
"If it weren't for my 'ability', I would have fallen a long time ago."
The Guardian gave him a warm smile, one that he was well-known for.
"Throughout your entire life, we have always told you that your latent power was no curse… Your mother and father would both be proud of your achievements tonight, young dragon."
The mere mention of his parents warmed Seiryuu's heart and brought tears to his eyes.
Ignitus' tone suddenly grew serious.
"But do not overestimate yourself. While it is true that your ability has gotten you this far, you are still showing signs of fatigue."
"And you, Ignitus? How are you fairing?" Seiryuu replied just as seriously.
The Fire Guardian looked over himself. Physically, he was in better health than Seiryuu, having endured more fights with minimal injuries, but the signs of exhaustion were still evident. The younger dragon didn't wait for a response, as his point was clear.
"Master Ignitus… What happened while I was underground? The entire temple feels deserted."
"Yes… I wish it meant the worst was behind us, but that is not the case." Ignitus paused to let out a sigh. "I'm afraid the temple is lost. Evacuation is now our highest priority. Every dragon is to return to their home kingdom. This extends to civilians as well as…" he then picked up the purple egg from beneath the statue, "Any of the unborn we can protect."
Seiryuu knew from the sombre tone in his voice what the implication of that statement was. He knew that it was their reality now. He had just been lying to himself under the illusion of hope.
"I see. So, are we returning to Warfang?"
"That was the plan should the other Guardians and I fail to protect the temple. However, I have received word that the dragon city is currently also under attack. The Dark Armies anticipated our plans to relocate the eggs, and launched a second assault while we were preoccupied."
"But that's…! Then, what about the Purple Dragon?" he asked, gesturing to the egg cradled in the Fire Guardian's arms. "We can't let them perish. Not like this!'
"For all my wisdom, I do not know. The Dark Master has eyes everywhere; he was able to see through our movements this entire time. I doubt there is any place in the Realms that would be truly safe."
"Nowhere in the Realms…?"
Another tremor hit the temple, and this one was much closer than before. Both dragons momentarily lost their balance as the ground beneath them shook.
"Prepare yourself, young dragon! The real threat is about to make itself known."
Seconds after Ignitus gave the warning, the ceiling of the chamber gave in. Large stones rained down all over the nursery as thick dust clouds blocked their vision. A sole figure slowly emerged from the rubble. Someone the Ice dragon was very familiar with and who had a particular weapon still firmly embedded into his forehead.
The same ape that he had just fought in the catacombs.
"…You!? How are you still alive!?" the young dragon yelled in disbelief.
The ape reached out and pulled the glaive from his face, unfazed by the action. As he did, the mask on his head seemingly repaired itself, morphing its shape until no damage was visible, his face and internals underneath also healing in the process.
"I will only say this once," the demon growled, now with both weapons drawn and ready to strike. "Hand over the egg!"
A wave of fear swept through Seiryuu's body, and it was becoming increasingly hard not to let it show.
"Ignitus…" he began speaking to the Guardian telepathically, "I'll hold him back to the best of my ability. You escape from the rear exit. No matter what, ensure that the egg is safe!"
"Seiryuu! Do you realize what you're about to do?" Ignitus screamed back, "You're willingly turning around to face your own death."
"Ignitus, I don't care anymore," he said cooly, "I've accomplished everything I wanted to tonight and more. All I want now is for the next Purple Dragon to survive."
The Fire Dragon stopped at his words. While it was uncommon for Seiryuu to speak out against his superiors, he did have a stubborn side that would manifest on occasion. Something he picked up from his father. Whether or not Ignitus could have convinced him to change his mind at this moment was something he would never find out.
Summoning his power, the Fire Guardian blanketed the room in a wave of flames, granting the two of them some added distance and opening a secret passage at the back end of the room. A thick forest full of large trees and overgrown fungus could be seen at the end of the corridor.
Turning around one last time, he offered a final farewell.
"May the Ancestors watch over you, young dragon."
"Same to you, Master Ignitus."
Without another word, Ignitus left the Temple with Zenith's chosen one tucked securely in his arms.
All that remained now was the ape demon in the room.
"We've been through this once already, lizard!" The ape growled, "You can't defeat me. Especially now when you're unarmed."
"I don't need to defeat you…" Seiryuu spread his wings open and gave the monster an intense glare. "I just need to distract you!"
The dragon lunged forward, wrapping his arms around the ape and lifting him out of the temple through the open ceiling.
Elsewhere in the temple, away from the ensuing battle, a third Elder Dragon was engaged in his own conflict. Like his fellow Guardians, Master Volteer fought valiantly against the agents of the Dark Army to the best of his abilities, his mastery over Electricity being more than the apes could handle. But just as soon as victory felt guaranteed, two more demons appeared, and he was hopeless to stop their combined assault. Now, as he lay on the floor, gripping his aching chest and praying to the Ancestors that this would not be his time to go, he stared up at his potential executioner in horror.
A tall female stood before him wearing a white skull mask and a long, hooded, black coat over equally black body armour, accented only by silver plating. An impossible number of large utility belts and leather straps overlapped across her body, many of which housed specialized weapons and ammunition, making it clear to everyone that she was more than well-equipped to eliminate any target in her sights. In each of her hands, she held an unusual but deadly weapon, one of which was aimed at the dragon's torso.
Embers of dark magic billowed out from the long steel cylinder. Volteer didn't even see the projectile before it struck him in the heart.
"Inconceivable…" he muttered as his eyes closed shut.
The hooded figure said nothing, tucking her weapons away before turning around to address her companion, speaking in a powerful yet eerie voice.
"Did you find it?"
A smaller ape with the same black fur sat on the floor beside her with a laid-back demeanour as he approached the female while holding onto a bundle of soft blankets. The younger male was dressed in thick animal furs and rags and wore a mask identical to hers. He was unarmed, safe for a single dagger tucked into his belt and some magic scrolls hidden underneath his fur cloak.
"Hm, you mean this little guy? …Girl? …WHATEVER! Yes, I found it." The male opened the bundle in his arms to reveal a dark-coloured egg. "Still young, and no traces of its element within its core yet. Hey, did you know how rare pure Darkness dragons are? I think there was only one in the entire clutch!"
The female brought a hand to her head and sighed in frustration.
"Of course I do." She began slowly tapping against the surface of her mask. With an armoured gauntlet covering her hand, this created a loud sound each time the claw-shaped digit struck. "Were you not paying attention to the king when he gave us our orders?"
"Gaul's monologues put me to sleep. I have better ways to use my time than listen to him preaching about his ambitions or our superiority all day."
She let out another groan as the two turned to leave the chambers.
"Hey, should we go back and help Sideon?" he suddenly asked, "The Convexity Crystal got taken out from the looks of things, so this place will be swarming with knights soon."
"Even if the crystal was destroyed, our objective is complete. Not even the Guardians, with their Ancestor-given powers, were enough to stand against us." She paused to kick the unconscious Electricity dragon at her feet. "We will return to the mountain for now. Sideon will inevitably return on his own."
"Ha! True enough!"
The younger ape pulled out one of his scrolls and let the magic contained within slowly envelope the pair. The two began to dissipate into the surrounding atmosphere, teleporting out of the temple.
.
.
.
"There isn't a dragon alive that can handle him…!"
By now, the dragon knight had carried the ape so high into the atmosphere that the air was beginning to grow thin. Once they had reached what he considered an optimal height, Seiryuu released his grip, sending the ape plummeting into the forest below, far enough from the temple that he could fight without restrictions.
'Well, I can't imagine a better time to use this…!'
Taking a deep breath, the dual Ice and Darkness dragon began channelling his elements one last time. His body was slowly enshrouded in an ethereal blue mist as he carefully spread his mana throughout the entire forest.
"Frigid Blossom!"
Everything ranging from the large plant life to an individual spec of dirt fell under the effects of the powerful magic. The surrounding temperature instantly dropped below freezing, and every surface became coated in thick layers of ice. And it only continued to grow colder.
Meanwhile, the giant ape had landed on the ground below, his fall broken by a stray tree branch. A wave of radiant blue blinded his field of view, and he could feel his own body crying out in agony as his organs began to shut down. The cold was too much for even him to ignore.
"This is… the Ice Guardian's technique?" He gripped his scimitar in anticipation. "Very well. I welcome the challenge!"
The dragon suddenly disappeared. His body evaporated into the air like a shadow. The ape forgot that, unlike Master Cyril, this dragon had more than one element at his disposal. It would not be the same attack he had to avoid.
Looking up, Sideon saw a massive beam of pale blue mana descending from the heavens in his direction. Reacting quickly, he jumped away as the large glacier manifested around him.
Another beam rained down. And another… And another… A seemingly endless flurry of ice encompassed the forest, with the dragon behind them completely out of sight. Each attack barely missed Sideon as he kept leaping between the frozen structures, but the intervals between them were beginning to shorten, and he was rapidly running out of room.
"This… is nothing–!"
He didn't get to finish his cry before one last ice beam, larger than all the others, came down. Unable to dodge, the ape commander was frozen within the massive glacier.
Seeing that his opponent was trapped, Seiryuu, under the haze of the Darkness element, drove in for the final strike.
'It's over now! He's trapped, and can't fight back–'
*CRASH*
The ice shattered to pieces, revealing a massive primate, bleeding that same black ether as the rest of his kind. The skull mask had fallen off his face, revealing a pair of yellow eyes that looked ready to kill anything, or any dragon, that stood in his way.
'No! I still haven't mastered it…!'
Despite his heavy injuries, Sideon lept into the air, ready to meet the knight for one last clash.
Then, out of nowhere, the ape's body was encased in a glowing white light as powerful binding magic enveloped him.
'This technique… Kulbrin!?'
Up in the airwaves, a certain green drake was flying back towards the temple, his arm reaching out as he tried to hold the ape back. However, against such a powerful foe, only one of the ethereal chains managed to ensnare the target this time. And it did nothing to slow him down.
Darkness-enshrouded claws met with cursed metal… and the momentum carried one of them to its target.
A state of euphoria overcame the dragon; his vision turned white, and his ears couldn't pick up the sounds of the many voices calling his name.
"Father… I'm sorry."
A/N (Stay tuned for the end-of-chapter scene!)
Finally… Years of attempts, and I finally posted a chapter to a story of my own on this site. Granted, it's not the same fandom I had initially attempted to write for and it's a crossover, but this is a great feeling for me!
To all the readers who have made it this far, I welcome you. I will warn you that I am not an experienced writer yet, and still have a lot to learn, but this story is something I am very passionate about and have put a lot of time into, and I hope you all stay and enjoy the journey.
As stated above, this is a crossover at heart, but I don't think you need to be intimately familiar with Persona 3 or The Legend of Spyro to continue reading. I'll be writing this assuming most readers aren't. Though I will say that, to anyone interested, I would recommend the movie adaptations over the actual game. I find they tell the story better.
Anyway, I won't have this A/N go on much longer. I hope you all enjoy More Than One Heart.
Special thanks to TheSilentInsomniac and Strykeruk for helping me develop my ideas and giving feedback. You two are the best!
Until next time, farewell!
-AzureDragonZX
In another part of Dragon Realms, there existed a kingdom encompassed on all sides by emerald green water, where thick vegetation could be seen in every direction. While many assumed this kingdom was nothing but a filthy swamp, unsustainable for life, this was far from the truth. One look at the land's inhabitants, the gnorcs, was always enough to convince someone of the contrary.
Despite their portly and imposing appearance, the gnorcs were a species that thrived on their ingenuity and tenacity. This, combined with their mechanical knowledge and physical might, allowed them to adapt to even the most unlikely of environments.
Within a small village of the kingdom, a small gang of gnorcs engaged in their usual late-night antics. From behind an alleyway, they exchanged crude stories, gorged themselves on snack foods, and listened to loud music blaring from one of their portable machines.
One member of the group, a purple gnorc named Flash, was leaning against a stone wall a small distance from the rest, enjoying the atmosphere and letting out the occasional guttural laugh.
Like the others, Flash wore clothing many would associate with a rebellious punk. He wore a torn leather jacket over his exposed torso, crudely patched black pants, thick black fingerless gloves, and metal-tipped boots. A pair of triangular sunglasses completed the look, complimented by his signature red mohawk.
By this point, the gang of gnorcs had already been partying for several hours, and Sol, the daylight's star, was beginning to set. Noticing this, Flash pulled himself up and announced his intention to head home.
"It's been great guys, but 'm turnin' in for the day."
"Already?" One of his friends asked, "Just like that?"
"Hey, next week's gonna be somethin', all right?" He pointed to the evening sky. "Plus, I did tell Nina I'd be back before either of the moons were awake."
That was all the explanation he needed to give. Of their group, Flash was the only one who had had someone special in his life, a younger female gnorc named Nina. Their relationship was known by everyone in the village, especially because Flash often embarrassed himself around her when the two were younger, so nobody had any objections to him wanting to be with his girl—even if they did tease him about it, as always.
"All right, dudes. Later!" he said casually before giving a backhanded wave with two fingers and heading out.
Even knowing that Nina was waiting for him, Flash decided to walk home using a slower, more scenic route by the waterfront. After a long night of reckless fun, the fresh air was exactly what he needed at the moment.
His stroll went on for a few minutes before he stopped to let out a loud yawn.
"Argh… It can't be that late already!"
Looking up, he was met with the sight of both celestial moons full in the night sky. In fact, both of them appeared to be shining brighter than usual, casting an ethereal glow over the shoreline.
As if the moonlight were trying to point him in that direction, his eyes caught sight of something floating in the water—an overturned mushroom top with something resting in its cavity.
"What in the…?"
Thoroughly confused, Flash ran over to the shore's edge and pulled the fungus out of the water to get a better look. He was able to identify the mysterious object as an egg. A purple egg with a strange mark on its shell. Something about that mark was familiar to him. World history was never one of his strongest subjects growing up, but it reminded him of the stories he read about the ancient world. More specifically, it looked like one of the marks of the Ancestors–
"AHHHhhh…!"
Flash yelled out in shock the moment he made the connection. He was barely able to react in time, and shoved both hands over his mouth to reduce the noise.
"Hey! Y'all right back there, Flash?" Apparently, he didn't react fast enough. One of his friends was still in the same general area and had heard him scream. And they were now walking over to check on him.
"Y-Yeah, dude! Just bit my tongue. D'worry about it!" He replied in a hasty panic. Thinking quickly, he bit down on said organ, forcing a painful expression to appear on his face.
"You yell that loud over a nip on the tongue!? Damn!" The excuse seemed to work, as the fellow gnorcs all turned around without asking any more questions after sharing a loud laugh at his pain.
Once again left to his thoughts, Flash returned his attention to the egg. His sunglasses were hanging low on his face, revealing his equally dark eyes as he stared at it in shock.
"I can't believe it… This is the Purple Dragon's egg! What is it– How'd it get here!? None of us have seen a dragon in years, let alone a few days. And I would know! A dragon sighting would be the talk of the town!" The gnorc tried his best to come up with a reasonable explanation, but nothing made sense. "They couldn't have dropped the egg off. The nearest dragon settlement is halfway across the realm! How long of a ride has this egg been on!?"
He reached out and carefully touched the dragon egg, checking if the being inside was alive. As expected, the egg was cold to the touch. The dragon inside was still alive, but if it didn't get continuous care for the next few days, it would not survive.
The fate of the Purple Dragon depended entirely on his actions in this moment!
Flash did the only thing he could think of and took off his jacket, wrapping it around the egg to give it some warmth.
Deep down, he knew that if he asked anyone for advice, the response would be the same every time. They'd all insist that he raise the dragon himself, claiming he's the most responsible gnorc in the village.
'Responsible'…!?
Sure, growing up, many people tended to look up to him, and he admittedly used to have a reputation as a den mother, putting everyone's needs above his own. But he was still a gnorc. He was as loud and reckless as any of them and far from a good role model for a dragon. A responsibility like this was better suited to the cheetah tribes of Avalar or the wolves of Lycanus.
…Yet the more he thought about the idea, the less scared he grew. To him, the fact that he was worrying this much seemed to prove that he cared about the egg.
"But is that enough…?"
Peeking under the makeshift blanket, he saw the smooth purple eggshell stare back at him. It was an identical colour to his own skin. Removing the jacket altogether, he exposed the mark of Zenith once again. Flash almost expected a great force to be exerted on him, as if the great Ancestor would curse him for daring to touch his still vulnerable chosen one. Fortunately, the only unpleasant feeling to rack his body was the cool autumn breeze.
The gnorc sighed loudly, running a gloved hand through his hair. Swallowing the last bit of self-doubt, he slowly wrapped the egg back up in the jacket.
"I'm really about ta do this, aren't I?"
With that, he slowly began walking back to his home deep within the village.
"Hoo boy, Nina's gonna love this," he rudded his temple in vexation as he pictured his girlfriend's reaction, "I don't think she was expectin' to be a mom just yet…"