Assemblage of Green
"Munitions Forge?!" Molly shrieked. "Isn't that where you told me you found Terrador and first freed our friends here?"
Spyro and Adir nodded. "Yes. We came here to help Terrador, but we also helped Mole-Yair and his Brother along with the others who were imprisoned and forced to mine for, Cynder." The Purple Dragon explained.
"It will be good to get back home." Mole-Yair smiled along with the rest of his kin.
"That does make me think why did you remain there after we saved you?" Adir asked the leader of the manwearesmalls. "After we freed you all the first time I would have thought you would have left the place when the Volcano started to go and with the apes in disarray as we left them it would have given you time to escape."
Mole-Yair looked down sadly. "It is our home, Adir I and my people have lived there for generations. We couldn't possibly leave the very place we made our domain. We had all that we needed. Plenty of resource to mine and use for forging. The Forest on the outer region of the volcano itself provided plenty of food to forage. How could we leave? Even when we captured for a time. What was left of the apes all left. From rumors I heard it was due to the defeat of Cynder. We were in the midst of rebuilding our losses then all those Skavenger ships filled the skies. I ordered my people to the safety of the underground caverns. But some of us didn't make it in time as you see how I and my friends here were caught." He gestured to the other moles who gave sad moans.
"It seems the Skavengers must have taken advantage of the situation at hand and tried to gain something while your defenses were down." Sid guessed. "That is if you had anything to defend yourselves"
"We did have weapons that were left laying about all from the apes, but I and my people are not warriors, Sid friend. We could swing hammers and forge weapons and armor along with most other materials we need for mining and our livelihoods, but we are not great warriors at all." Mole-Yair explained his tone not shifting from his sadness. Twice his people had been captured and forced to do the bidding of others.
"I've failed as a leader. All I have ever done is allow this to happen to my brethren." Mole-Yair moaned shamefully. But some of the other moles came up to him and gave gentle pats on his shoulders.
"You didn't fail." One of them assured.
"You kept our spirits high in every account." Another mole said before pointing at the dragons and the humans and dragonfly. "You found those that helped us. Thanks to you and especially them we have been free. We still have a chance to get home and maybe this time we can do something about it."
Sparx flew next to Mole-Yair. "Chin up there, pal! You still got it in you. And your friend is right when we're in town nothing can best us."
The Others behind him shook their heads and grinned. Their thoughts were interrupted when the ship they were still on was creaking and the fires upon it were starting to get intense.
"We got to get off of this thing!" Rai exclaimed running to the edge of the deck and looked down. "Its rather clear here. Come on!"
"Ill start carrying everyone off." Spyro said spreading his wings leaning down allowing two moles to climb on his back.
Adir ran next to his younger brother looking over. It was a rather dense forest with some clear spots. The Fires were getting heavy on the crashed ship as he watched the purple dragon flew two moles over him taking them a distance away from the burning wreckage.
"That's going to take too long! The Flames will reach us before even half of us can get off of here!" He huffed as he watched the fires on the deck of the ship work its way over to them. Everyone retreated to the stern, but the fire would be on them in a minute or less.
The Moles that were taken off the ship all hopped and waved in worry over the others still on board. Spyro got two more moles on his back and when he lifted off he grabbed Mole-Yair with his front paws. Spyro flew down as fast he could with his passengers but even he began to realize he wouldn't be fast enough.
Adir tried to think of something quickly. They were too high up to simply jump off and even if they climbed down it would be too dangerous if any were to slip and fall and they had to get away from the ship quickly as it was loaded with cannons which meant there had to be ammo stashes or at the least gunpowder in places where it would eventually cause explosions that would put them all at a great risk.
He looked at where the fives moles were placed at a good considerable distance from the ship then Adir had an idea. "Stand back guys! I hope this works!" He stretched out his arms pointing where the group on the ground was aiming just below where they were standing and shot out a streak of ice. The Ice collided upon the ground and formed up.
"What are you doing, Adir?" Molly asked as she nervously watched the flames work its way toward them. It would soon be upon them. With ability with Fire, it may not affect her, but she was worried for her family and friends that were still upon the ship.
"Making us a way off this thing!" Adir called back as the ice he shot continued to form up quickly. All watched from the ships starboard side seeing the ice Adir was shooting formed up into a flat surface with icy railings on the side.
Within a few moments the ice made it up to the railed of the ship and, Adir stopped. Everyone momentarily gazed at what the purple dragon samurai created. He made a long slide completely made of ice. The Railings on both sides of the slide would keep anyone from falling off and something to hold onto.
"Everyone! Get down that slide now!" He commanded pointing to the slide taking a step back from it.
Rai was the first to run for the slide jumping onto it. "Great idea, bro!" He said before sliding down the long slide laughing as he went.
What was left of the moles were next as they hopped on the slide, and all slid downwards. Molly and Sid were next with, Sparx holding onto, Sid's hair.
"What are you doing bug?" Sid seethed.
"Like I would miss a fun ride." Sparx chuckled as, Molly slid down followed by Sid who muttered crossly as, Sparx held on and yipped happily as the ride was actually joyful.
Lastly Adir hopped on and slid down just as the fire reached the stern of the ship and around the burning wreak explosions were started to surge. One followed after the other as, Adir slid his way down reaching the middle of it just as one final explosion came from the ship that blew so massively many of those at the ground had to look away and hold their ears as the light was too bright and the noise was too loud.
Adir was nearly to the ground before the ice below gave way and collapsed under him. "Whoa…oaf!" He landed with a hard thud on the ground just five feet above it and just within spitting distance of the others.
Spyro landed by the young warrior. "Are you okay, Adir?" He asked leaning down helping Adir to his feet.
"Yeah. I'm alright, Thanks Spyro." Adir replied giving the dragon a smile before his family and the moles came up to him.
"Clever idea, my friend." Mole-Yair complimented.
"Yeah! Certainly, puts the playgrounds back home to shame. Good thing you have that ice power." Rai smiled.
"Yeah…well." Adir sheepishly chuckled rubbing the back of his head. "Just something that came off the top of my head.
"Speaking of which…GET OFF SPARX!" Sid shouted upwards at the Dragonfly that still was clinging to his hair.
"Alright, alright…sheesh!" Sparx groaned letting go of, Sid's hair. "Can't a guy have some fun now and again?"
"Try it again and Ill rip your wings off!" Sid warning making Sparx back away from him with his arms off defensively.
"Jeez talk about anger issues." The Dragonfly grumbled.
"Ill give you issues, bug!" Sid seethed but Spyro stepped between them.
"Enough you two! Right now, let's get, Mole-Yair and his people back to Munitions Forge. When we arrive, we will figure out our next plan of action there."
Adir nodded. "I agree with him."
"Same here." Molly confirmed.
"Ditto." Rai raised his hand in agreement. The Moles too nodded and smiled. They desired to be back where they belong. Sid and Sparx folded their arms looking at each other gruffly before nodding as well.
"Then let's get moving. It shouldn't be too far of a walk." Spyro said as he began to walk into the direction of the mountain that was through the forest of tree's and giant mushrooms.
Everyone followed the Purple Dragon through the forest staying quiet. Everything around them was at ease. It seemed calm but with everything they had been through anything could happen at a moments noticed, and they stayed at the ready.
Spyro led them with, Adir following close behind with, Mole-Yair beside him with the rest of his kin. Rai walked between the middle of the group while Molly and Sid stayed in the back to guard the rear. Sparx flew around the group keeping an eye out.
They came across a small river that that they had to wade across. It was a bit too high for the moles to step through. Adir created an ice bridge over it to help the moles across again impressing everyone with his ingenuity. They took a few minutes to quench their thirst on the river before continuing on.
The Air around them was starting to get thick. The Tree's and mushroom were beginning to vanish and nothing, but dry land began to show.
"Quite amazing how you little guys can live in such a desolate place." Sid complimented as he carried his axe over his shoulder. Ahead there many hills that blocked much of the of the volcano that bellowed smoke from the peak.
"We've learned to adapt, friend Sid." Mole-Yair smiled. "Once we learned of the land and understood its value and figured out how to convert the flows of the lava by building special caverns underneath the volcano we lived rather peaceful lives until we were invaded. We can build weapons and armor with the use of our great forges, but the ways of war have never been the strong suit of our people. We would rather live-in peace than raise arms."
Sid nodded in understanding. "I get that but after what has happened you may need to consider your future. Think about it if Spyro and Adir or us were not around in your time of great need what would you be able to do? You need to develop skills to defend yourselves. If you can make weapons that is a start now you just need to figure how to use them in a way that can work for you."
Mole-Yair thought of what Sid had said. It was true if it wasn't for any of them they would either be still toiling away mining the materials for the apes to forge their own weapons or they would still be on the Skavenger ship serving grog to all the drooling mutts that fested on accursed ship they just escaped from.
The Moles were small and rather helpless. They never fought back against anyone as they were easily subdued which made it clear why should they fight back if it would only lead to their slaughter? But if they never take a stand what if comes a day when aid never comes? Perhaps there was wisdom in Sid's words but for now all that Mole-Yair could do was follow his friends who were helping him back to his peoples home.
They were making their way towards the hills. Once they started to climb up one ash began to fall around them. A Clear sign if the volcano on the other side couldn't be sign that munitions forge was close. After a good hour of walking, they would make it there.
But as they traversed over the first hill they could hear the shouts of what sounded like Moles. Terrified cries of fear and distress.
"Oh no! My People!" Mole-Yair cried as he stormed past the human and dragon scurrying up the hills as fast as he could. Everyone else picked up the pace as it sounded urgent. They could hear the terrified cries of moles. But something else was heard as well. They could hear the cackling of apes.
"They've returned! The Apes came back to finish what they started!" One of the moles yelled out in fright.
"Well, they're not going to finish it either!" Sid snorted as his hatred for the apes was boundless. For an entire year those cretins made a complete mockery of him. Humiliated him and kept him and his family locked away. Every one of those cretins would pay dearly for it all.
Everybody kept running keeping up with, Mole-Yair usually he was slow having to walk with his cane but kept going as his people were in trouble and he had to get to them.
Once they made it over the final hill the sight of the Volcano could be seen entirely. A Lone Mountain surrounded by a lake. They could see fires going about all over the bases of the mountain where many of the moles made temporary huts while they rebuild from below while the Volcano was inactive.
To everyone's shock they could see platoons of Apes running around going after moles that were desperately scattering. Some were quickly running into tunnels that lead into the mountain that were dug when they were once enslaved by the Apes.
"I don't understand! Why did they come back?!" Mole-Yair cried out as they thought they were done dealing with those apes.
Spyro shook his head. "I don't know but I won't let this happen again. Come on everyone!" He took off into the sky and stormed downwards at the apes. He refused to let the apes again take over the volcano and enslave the ones who dwelled in it.
Adir took out his sword while his family readied their own weapons. "Come on!" Adir gestured to them. "Let's get in there!"
His family nodded and shouted loudly as they ran down the hill with their weapons held high with Sparx flying close behind and, Mole-Yair and the others followed.
The Apes were dropped in just shortly ago were under orders to retake Munitions Forge it still provided a key position and with all its resources that were plentiful it would make good use again. They were to assault the mountain and retake the mines for their leader and people. The Manwearesmalls would make good slaves to again force to mine the materials needed to create suitable weapons and armor for an army that could stand against even what remained of their foes.
A Squad of apes had chased two moles into one of the huts they made and were about to ready their ropes but then coming from above, Spyro swooped down and breathed heavy flames on most of them before colliding his horns against the last one sending him flying a short distance before landing onto another ape.
The Apes heard the commotion turning their attention to the hills to their left to find it was the Purple Dragon and the Samurai along with some of the other humans from the Dragon Temple. Those that survived the failed attack were enraged at the ones that stopped them from destroying the temple that stood in their way of conquest.
They attacking Apes turned their attention towards the ones that were attacking them. "GET THEM!" One of the largest apes present shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Get Some!" Sid charged passed his family and delivered a heavy slash upon the first ape that was close nearly cleaving him in two. He then unleashed a Earth impowered punch on another ape send him soaring back into a group of apes that had yet to turn their attention to the ones who came to the defense of the Moles.
Adir swiped his sword out at every ape that came close to him. Shooting out a fire ball and ice shards in all directions every moment he got. The Apes had the numbers but he and those with him had their abilities.
Rai jumped over some toppled crates as Apes tried to grab him or land a blow. He ducked and dodged over any ape that tried their luck, but his small size was proving a challenge for the Apes. He was too quick and too small to grab easily. He was a lot more than what the Moles were.
The Youngest of the group couldn't keep up his dodging forever as the number of apes around him continued to grow. He would have to use his electric ability, but he needed a way to take them all out fast.
Then after rolling under the legs of a large ape, he nearly collided a against a wooden barrel that was full of water. He grinned as that was exactly what he need. "Looks you guys need a wash you feet!" He kicked the barrel of water down towards the apes in front of him as the water poured all around the rocky grounds.
The Apes chuckled in amusement. "Water?! Your stupid, boy!" The Closest ape laughed as he lifted up his sword at the young boy.
"You're the stupid one for standing in something that Electricity surges through!" Rai retorted before unleashed an electric streak from his right hand right onto the water where all the apes were standing in. They all painfully cried out as the electricity overwhelmed them as spark sizzled all over their fur and light armor before they dropped dead in front of Rai with their bodies letting out one last tingle.
"And once again science triumphs!" Rai cheered but the battle was far from over as more apes joined the battle. Rai had to retreat momentarily holding up his swords and moved around some of the other huts to take cover while he tried to come up with another good plan that could kill a bunch more apes.
Molly spun her spear around knocking aside one ape after another. Shooting a river of flames upon some many apes were nearly incinerated while she finished some off with her spear. She cartwheeled between two apes that tried to rush her at once but once she got behind them she cleaved them both in their backs killing them.
Spyro stayed up just above the huts providing support. Shooting fireballs upon one big group after another. Apes were everywhere. They came to Munitions Forge to reclaim no doubt. They wouldn't have such numbers otherwise.
Many Moles were becoming trapped and surrounded by the apes where, Adir and the others were nowhere close to help. Spyro dived down towards the ones that were in need of help and landing on the ground he growled at them before he swiped at them with his claws and leapt upon one biting it on the neck as dropped dead.
He conjured his tail into a blade of ice sharp ice and spun around as more apes came out him from all sides. They were desperate. They would not allow their mission to become another failure. Munitions Forge was crucial to their plan.
Adir kept fighting through the apes. Using both sword and magic he kept fighting through them. Many of the Moles he managed to get to he pointed them to the farthest area where the apes at to get towards.
Mole-Yair and the others who were rescued made it down to the tiny village seeing some of the huts enflamed. Again, their homes be it above ground and below were being invaded. Their homes and storages burning, and their people being taken. Sid's words buzzed in his mind like an angry bumblebee.
He couldn't stand this anymore. His people would not be oppressed again. They may not be warriors, but their homes were everything to them and they would not allow the ones who caused them such hardship to go unanswered.
"My Friends! My Brethren! We must act now! Our home is in peril and our people suffer. We have stood idly by and allow ourselves to be rolled over and taken time and again. No More! Our friends fight for us! They saved us once and to those of you with me twice. They need our help now as we need theirs." Mole-Yair huffed as his whiskers twitched in great rage seeing out in the little village watching as the Apes chased and trap their people while the Purple Dragon and the humans were doing what they could.
"We will show these desecrators that we are not slaves. We are not tools! We are manwearesmalls! We will fight for our friends and fight for our home! Are you with me?" He shouted raising his cane high.
Many of his fellows all cheered as their leader's speech made them realize that they must take a stand, or they will always fall every time. "Fight for our friends! Fight for our home!" Mole-Yair screamed loudly and pointed at the nearest ape.
They all charged past their leader who had already exhausted himself from all the running he did earlier. They all jumped upon the unexpecting ape as they brought him down all their collective weight and one took out a knife that he kept in his sheath and stabbed him through the heart.
The Mole's immediately jumped off of the deceased ape and ran for the next one. The Apes were now being surprised by the sudden offence the moles were doing. Seeing their own take a new valiant stand against their attackers more moles joined the fray.
Sid had knocked another ape dead with a mighty punch that sent it right into the corner of a hut breaking its back killing the ape instantly before he heard a rallying cry. He looked to see many moles were running around some of the apes causing them to be distracted while others hopped onto the unsuspecting apes. Either stabbing them with stolen weapons or piling on them so much that their weight made them topple to the ground where they could be finished off.
Sid saw Mole-Yair rallying more of his people to the cause. He gave a smile and nod proud to see them taking a stand. Sparx was surveying the battle as he normally would. He kept just out of reach of the apes and watched around to see how his friends were doing.
He was happy to see they were holding their own, but he was worried. There was no end to the apes. It looked to be they just kept coming. Many of them were coming from inside the tunnels of the mountain.
"Uh…guys!" He shouted. "I think they have already taken the mines again. Perhaps we should leave with what we got?"
Spyro shot him a glare. "We're not leaving Sparx!" He grunted as he uppercut a large ape with his head before spinning himself letting his back leg then tail him causing to twirl and fall onto his back before finishing him off with a bite to the neck.
Adir wasn't going to retreat and nor was his family and friends. He noticed the moles were starting to rally and fight back. This was good they needed all the help they could get but even, so the numbers of the apes were starting to be overwhelming.
The Apes were starting to push their way by the sheer numbers they still had. Even with the Moles finally taking a stand the tide was turning back into the favor of the apes.
But before they could start their push one group of apes that were coming out from one of the tunnels of the mines came flying back from a heavy blast. Then it was followed by one that was struck with something many sharp points that caught the attention of Spyro.
"What was that?" He asked as more apes tried to surround him. He growled and spat fire at them, but some had shields in front of them blocking his flames but then something was coming up from behind them knocking aside more apes until the ones with the shields were left.
They snickered as they had the Dragon of prophecy right in front them. One good swipe of their sharpened weapons and they deny the prophecy at least part of it.
But then a large hammer appeared over one of them and before the Ape could react it came down on him so hard it sent him to the ground as the hammer with nine pointed spikes on the face of it and one on the top and back of the head of it.
The Other apes turned to see who dared attack them, but they were met with one heavy hit with the hammer that destroyed what little armor they wore and pierced within them with its spiked face. Once they were cleared out, Spyro was met with a complete surprise.
A Human wearing greenish armor was standing in front of him. It wore a resemblance of what Adir wore but far different in design. The Human was gruff and firm. His Armor had two dragon headed pauldrons on them. He looked up to the humans head and he knew who it was.
"Is that you, Jim was it?" Spyro asked still in complete surprise seeing, Adir's Uncle and, Sid's Father was standing in front of him with armor that could mean he was a Dragon Samurai too. It was confirmed when he looked at his left hand to see a green dragon marking upon it. He like his own son had the Element of Earth for their power.
"How is…" Spyro was interrupted with a finger over, Jim's lips.
"Explanations later. Let's finish these rainbow faces!" Jim stated gripping his massive war hammer tight. He was equally surprised to find out that Spyro was there. He had been fighting in the mines for the past hour trying to keep them from taking over since he was brought there. After a brief scuffle with those that came the first time he happened to discover that he a power within him that he used in defense of the helpless moles.
When he was left to help the defense efforts the moles were grateful to give him a suit of armor forged from the materials mined from the mountain and weapon suitable for his use. Jim singlehandedly was trying to repel the next wave, but they came in greater number that cause him to fall back into the mines with what he could save but then the numbers began to dwindle and lead back outside.
He fought through the apes till he managed to get outside to find out that he had reinforcements of the unexpected sort. It was not those that brought him there, but it was his son, his nephews and nieces and the purple dragon.
Jim knocked another ape down before finishing it off with a heavy slam of his hammer on its head. Another ape came from behind, but he thrusted his hammer backwards piercing it with the curved hook on the back of his hammer.
Spyro was amazed as he watched Jim then unleash an Earth ball hitting one hit then spun it around knocking a group of them in various directions. It seemed like his own son he had learned very fast in the element power.
Many of the apes that were still in fight were starting to lose ground. Their numbers were dwindling fast. Their enemies were too strong what force that was once backing up their numbers from the mines was gone and the moles were rallying.
One ape took out a horn and blew into it as bellowed loudly calling for an immediate retreat. Every ape that heard the call all stopped their fight and took off in the direction of the hills. They couldn't stand against the might of everyone that came to the defense of the moles. They needed reinforcements.
Adir and the others continued what they could to bring down more of the Apes as they began their retreat they would not leave this fight not without any consequence for attacking the home of the manwearesmalls.
Sid lifted one ape by the throat as it chocked and kicked trying to get the human to let him go but he was slammed onto the ground hard and was finished off with a boot to its face shattering it.
He watched as the rest of the apes ran for the very hills they came down from earlier. "That's right! That's what you get! Run sniffling cowards! Ha!" He bellowed as the moles around him cheered in triumph. Their courage helped turn the tide of the battle.
Mole-Yair smiled as he walked up to, Sid's side tapping on his leg with his cane. Sid kneeled down to him.
"Thank you for your advice, my friend." Mole-Yair thanked very appreciatively. If only they did this long before.
"I only gave advice. It was you and yours that had the courage to do what I said. You did good. All of you did good." Sid said the moles that surrounded him and applauded him.
Sparx flew beside him and grew jealous. "Typical. They don't know of my heroic feats on Tall Plains. I'm god amongst them!"
Sid scoffed. "The Only thing you're a god to is the nasty butterflies you eat!"
"Tough guy!" Sparx seethed.
"That's right! I am bug." Sid grinned as, Rai, Molly and Adir came over to him as the moles clear their way.
Adir panted as the battle took its toll on him, but he was still standing while rubbing his face as the apes got a few hits on him. "Is everyone okay?"
"I'm good, Adir." Rai assured. "Gotta say some apes had a shocking good time."
"You and your bad puns, little brother." Adir smiled putting an arm over his brothers shoulders glad to see he was alright.
"Where's Spyro?" Molly asked looking around her. The Others got concerned when they too realized Spyro was not with them.
"Spyro? Where are you?" Sparx called out until they heard a rustle come from behind a half-burned hut with, Spyro stepping around it.
"I'm right here. Don't worry everyone." The Purple Dragon said shacking himself a bit as the fight exhausted him, but he was not injured.
"I'm glad." Adir sighed in relief along with everyone else.
"Not as glad as I am as we had more help than you believe, Adir." Spyro stepped to the side and coming out from behind the hut was, Jim wearing his new armor with a large war hammer he carried over his shoulders.
"Hey boys and girls. A little late to the party?" He chuckled earning a gasp from everyone.
"Pop? Is that you?" Sid marveled not wanting to believe that his own father was all the way out here at Munitions Forge. If not that he was outfitted in armor and he made out the green dragon marking on his left hand.
"Uncle Jim?" Adir stood in place like he was rooted there in great surprise over seeing another one of his family out in a place he never would have suspected him to be. His Brother and Sister were equally shocked by this as well.
"Wh..what are you doing here, Uncle?" Molly managed to ask.
"I could say the same thing about you lot. I thought you all were looking for a tree or something?" Jim pointed out as he put the head of the hammer on the ground.
"It's a long story, Uncle." Rai said taking a knee.
"How about we exchange our stories once we make sure everyone here is alright." Adir suggested.
Jim and the others nodded in agreement. Every Mole began to look over themselves and anyone else that could have been injured or even worse. Much of what they built was destroyed but thankfully what was lost wasn't something that would damper their rebuilding efforts. But if it wasn't for, Spyro and the others and even the one that was already at Munitions Forge they would have lost a lot more than just a few huts. Again, the Moles were indebted to their saviors and a lot was in need of explanation once everything was accounted for now that the apes had retreated and with such a loss of their numbers they won't come back anytime soon unless they have another force with them.
