Warrior Rising
Chapter 8: Malefor the Terrible
Author's Note: Malefor belongs to his respective owners in the Legend of Spyro series. This story takes place in an alternate universe on a planet called Auru.
Malefor cherished power and knowledge. They mattered to him, and he would do anything to attain both, no matter the cost. He cared not what blood was shed, what life was lost, or what cost came. He wanted power and knowledge for his own purposes and dreams.
As he sat in a deep forest clearing, near a mountain range, the large purple dragon watched his three companions. The first was a sprite with tattered brown pants, shirt, and vest. He tended to a cook fire and a metal pot filled with a soup. The sprite stirred the soup with a wooden spoon and tasted the food every three minutes. His antennae twitched with each taste of the soup.
The second was a dragon that clawed and scratched at a old, large oak tree. Her movements were swift and relentless. She scored marks all over the tree trunk. She panted and growled with each action, as though she imagined the tree was an enemy that insulted her. Again and again, she struck the tree. Her pointed nostrils flared. Her pink body, splotched with black marks, heaved.
The third was an elf. He sat under a tree and watching the female dragon with an amused look. A small bag of coins lay beside him. His blond hair was cut short and messy, and he donned a leather armor, boots, and a belt with several knives tucked into it. As the elf watched the female dragon, he flipped a coin into the air, caught it deftly, and repeated the action. He did this again and again, still observing his companion.
Malefor chuckled at the sight of his companions, knowing their names. The sprite was Argus. The dragon was Zesu. The elf was Percival.
"You know, Zesu. You have to channel that anger a different way," Percival said. "Poor tree can't take much more abuse."
Zesu snorted. "You want to take the tree's place, fool."
"Maybe. Maybe not."
"Then mind your business and count your money."
"You're no fun." Percival looked over to Malefor. "So Boss, what exactly are our plans? I know we have been going around stealing and causing havoc, but there has to be more that you have planned."
"So much more." Malefor replied with a chuckle. "First, we shall build a dark alliance. Those who are misfits, outcasts, fugitives, pariahs, and criminals. A group of dragons, elves, sprites, and prowlers working together under my leadership, of course"
"Then what?" Argus asked, looking up from tasting his soup.
"Once our alliance is solid and complete, we draw up a plan to find artifacts, weapons, and relics that grant immense, forbidden powers. These items will also be worth keeping and guarding. With the items in our possession, we shall slowly but surely seek to take control of one of the capitals of the four Lands."
Malefor waited as Zesu, Argus, and Percival turned and watched him. They waited for him continue. "Once we seize control of a capital, we can continue building our alliance and aim to take over this world."
"And we can live out dreams too, right?" Argus asked. "Like you promised, right?"
"Correct, my friend. As of now, we are the World Shakers."
"I like that," Percival said with a grin. "Makes a statement for sure."
"And what if adventurers and warriors attempt to stop us and our goals?" Zesu asked.
Malefor smiled at that question. He expected it. "First, we persuade them to come to our side and join us. And if they do not, then we fight and destroy them."