Marshal woke...He had no idea as to why. It wasn't like that last few nights, him waking up from an odd dream. No, he was asleep one moment and awake the next. The sun was not even properly up yet. This puzzled him.
Properly puzzled, Marshal opened his eyes the rest of the way and looked around the camp. Cypha was sleeping on the other side of the burned-out fire, thought it looked more like he was napping. Moving his head a bit more Marshal quickly spotted Spyro and just Spyro.
Marshal smirked, looking around the rest of the camp. But no matter how much he looked, he could not see Cynder at all. This both confused and concerned him.
That is until he heard a noise at a distance, then he smirked and went to go check up on the producer of said noise.
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"Hey look out!" "Wh-OH SHIT."
"On your right...Your other right!" "That's my left, you idiot!" "It still counts!"
"D-Did you just breathe Fire?!" "What about you!? What the hell is that crap you used, it's making the ground steam!"
"Ohw, Watch where you swing that thing, you almost took my head off!" "Sorry! It has a mind of its own."
"Mind the wing! The Wings damn it!" "Then keep them out of my face!" "I don't care if you two can't keep your wings out or in, But stop trying to fight and stand at the same time, it's making it harder to survive here!"
"Where did that Boulder come from?" "I got a better one, All I did was yell at the...thing, and somehow it looked happy to be under the boulder." "HEY! IDIOTS, THESE THINGS ARE STILL TRYING TO KILL US!" "...Shit."
"You creatures don't know how to fight very well...sigh, Damn my lessons...Follow us; we'll help you. But you'd better learn to fight, we're ground lock here, and your enemies are just as mobile as you should be."
More have come, they must work together, or you will all fall. Trust the descendants, help them, guide them. As they learn from you, so too will you learn from them...Now, Wake up!
There was no subtleness from sleep to weakness. It was one of the more jarring wakings he had gotten, but it got the job done. One moment he was asleep, the next he was awake and looking at a camp with a smoldering fire and a dragon lying on the branch of a tree watching him with unblinking eyes.
It was kind of creepy.
"You, Speak, Sleeping."
The newly risen had to blink a few times before he responded, "Sorry...I don't normally do that. I was...having a strange dream."
The look on Darkly colored healing dragon gave him...It was almost like the dragon did not believe the speaker.
Thankfully he was saved from having to speak about anything more by the rustling of some bushes nearby. A quick look saw two familiar dragons entering the clearing, one looking slightly magically drained the other bigger dragon looking fine in that Deer pelt monstrosity he was wearing. The two quickly separated with the male heading toward the Healing Dragon and the female heading straight to him.
When a bit closer he noticed she was smiling lightly and he could not help but comment on it, "You look to be in a good mood this morning. Anything I should know about?"
She did a slight shrug before responding, "Kind of, Marshal was able to help me create a few ideas on how to use Sound."
"Oh?" He could not hide the curiosity from his voice.
Her smile widened and also got the hint of a smirk, "Yup. Basic things, I can affect Sound levels around me. If I want everything to be completely silent, I can do it, want a single sound to be heard above all, done. Also found out Sound makes EVERYTHING vibrate. Apparently if done right I can make something shake apart, though to get to that level So much magic was needed. I won't be breaking down rocks with it anytime soon, but hey it is something to shoot for."
He could not help but smile, "That's kind of cool."
"He also explained his actions from last night a little better, figured his reasoning was sort of sound. I couldn't stay mad him."
He nuzzled her before continuing, "It's good to see you in a good mood again."
She leaned into the nuzzle, returning it slightly. "I'm learning about my Magic, have friends around me, and you to support me. How can I not be happy."
It was very likely the two of them would have continued along those lines, if an elder dragon had not decided that, "They really should get a move on."
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Asses, they're all asses. How the hell could anyone look up to those idiots? Here we are, slowly starving, trapped, don't know hot to fight and they don't even want to TRY and find help.
Their all (Stick to the right of this tree) we're safe here, why would we need to move. And of course, everyone takes their words. Don't even try alternatives.
Oh sure, our hosts are helpful and all...sort of (I don't remember that rock being there, oh wait Yes it was the berry bush is still there.). But what if what happened to us, happened to someone else. Heck, we don't even know what happened. (That was either the wind or a deer...probably a deer)
We were all scattered at first, there might be more...heck there might be adults somewhere, or our parents wondering where we're at. But of course, they're happy where they're at; they got power, they got everyone looking to them for what to do. Why wouldn't they lord it. (And there is the rock that...Tatsu? Used to kill that thing. Now where is, Ah, there's the blood stain, now to walk this way and not get lost)
At least I got the group, can tell they're having issues too. If only...Wait, What was that?
OH SHIT...Okay, move left, roll away from you and don't get hit. Um, did I get hit recently cause I see six of them.
Down, nope that's not me seeing double, there actually are six. I need to...PAIN!
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Marshal could not help but chuckle as he watches Spyro and Cynder. They way they flew near each other, it perfect sync. It was something to see. They'd been flying for a bit now, Cypha had been leading them somewhere, the three of them had no clue.
While they flew the three of them sort of talk a little bit about Sound, but quickly transferred to Wind. They talked, and practiced a little, Marshal even got Spyro trying...he sucked, almost literally, he could draw the wind in and breathe it back out, but those were in large gusts, it would not affect much. But they figured, hey, at least he COULD.
The discovery that Spyro could learn the other elements made Cynder jubilant. There was something Spyro did not know on instinct, and as well as something she could help teach him, thus spend even more time with him. Though, in Marshal's opinion, she did not even need a reason. Spyro was more than happy to spend time with her.
That was fun, sort of peaceful...and all of that vanished in an instant, with a dragon's roar.
All Four of them put on the brakes, looked at each other, then looked around. Well, Spyro, Marshal, and Cynder looked around, trying to find the source of the Roar.
Cypha however sighed and watched the three of them; it was now going be even longer before he would be able to have his peace.
What eventually filled them in on the location of the dragon, was not another roar, but the screech of a Dreadwing. The screech was more than enough, and they were off the instant they heard it.
Marshal pulled ahead with a strong Wind Boost and soon saw the action.
A single male Dragon, Green on light green scaled, Dark Brown Wings, no horns or fins, and his tail end was a skinny pointed Cone with two prongs poking out of the sides. The dragon also had a large gash his side, it was coated in dirt and slightly running blood, but it was not too bad that it would stop his movements, just hurt. The problem is that the dragon was surrounded by six Dreadwings.
There was no fog this time; He knew what he was doing. This dragon was in trouble, and he could help.
With but a twitch, Marshal began to spin, called upon his magic and in an instant had a small Cyclone forming in his wake. His flight path had him pulling on an already old trick, ramming into a distracted dreadwing. Only this time, the Cyclone in his wake was new, and it was effective. The harsh winds buffed the hollow boned dreadwings and forced them to spread further out or kicked them off their feet, in one case into tree branches. But unfortunately, it caused no real lasting damage. And yet it had done it job: It gave Marshal room.
It was room he would quickly have to put to use, the dreadwing he had rammed was smarter than average, it took the hit and rolled with it throwing Marshal off of it and quickly right itself to face and just as quick on his feet dragon. But when the dreadwing went to attack, he got a direct hit from a Wind Blast, it was not an instant kill but put him out of the fight for a bit.
There was no time to spare for finishing; however, Marshal had to immediately throw himself to the side to dodge a piece exploding explosive. He saw the next one coming and with a sharp twist smacked it back to sender. The ape caught it, looked at the explosive, then at Marshal, then back at the explosive before shrugging and put the live explosive back into its pouch. It was reaching for another one when it realized its mistake. It was too late as the explosive went off.
The Widened Eyes of the ape, and its Dreadwing, as the mistake was realized almost made the opening Marshal had left worth it. Thankfully Marshal had his Wind sense up, it was almost up subconsciously by now, saving him from a dreadwing throwing its ape at his head, ape still hit, but it hit his horns, with its head. It did not survive.
Looked at the skulled cracked ape, before twisting backward while jumping, straight at the apeless dreadwing. The dreadwing jumped at him, but instead of ramming into Marshal as it wanted, it lost its head as Marshal continued his twist to bring his blade around and go clean through his target.
The next two were a little smarter; they tried to jump Marshal at the same time while he was dealing landing; however, their timing was off. Marshal's backup had arrived.
Spyro intercepted with a fireball, followed by a charged ram. The target was electrocuted to a nice burnt crispy.
Cynder opened fire with a Shriek, an actual Sound based Shriek, not a Fear Shriek. With her target disoriented she created a Cycle of her own, but her's was much damaging that Marshal's, her's was made up of blades of wind instead of brute force wind Like Marshal, The target was torn apart.
The last dreadwing to not be target tried to run...only to get hit by a Wind Blast, An Earth Bullet, and a Poison Shot. The explosion was pretty and left nothing behind.
The three of them then turned to what they saw was the last dreadwing, the one Marshal had first engaged, only to find a disturbing sight.
Cypha was there, one paw on the dreadwing the other on the ape. His horns were glowing, as was his body with the same lines as when he healed Marshal. But what he was touch was not being healed, quite the opposite. His targets were aging rapidly, their bodies breaking down, hair and teeth falling out, eyes drying with the skin soon following and soon were nothing but mummified husks. Husks that Cypha quickly destroyed with a swing of his tail. And in that instant, they were not but dust.
Marshal, Cynder, Spyro, and especially the rescued dragon looked at Cypha, horrified. He looked at them, took in the expressions, blinked, then moved toward to the still injured dragon. Said dragon tried to get away, but his legs had locked up, so all he did was fall onto his side allow for Cypha to quickly reach him.
Cypha's horns were still glowing, but thankfully when he put his paw on the injured dragon, and the glowing lines went over him, it went towards the gash in his side and only there. The wound quickly healed, with the job the glow retreated and soon vanished. When done, Cypha looked at the three of them again, before snorting, walking away with a smirk on his face. Like he was going to kill a dragon three naturally powerful dragons had just saved with them right there, he DID have a sense of survival after all.
The Earth Dragon looked between his previously injured gash and that Cypha, and then where he had killed the dreadwing and ape, then repeated. Several times.
Spyro and Cynder thought over the new information, while Marshal quickly shook loose his new cobweb and tossed the back. It was starting to get a bit crowded back there. But with the mind cleared again, he looked at the new guy.
"Hey, You alright?" He had to break the ice somehow, and that was the best he could figure.
The dragon looked up at Marshal, "Um…" He looked at himself one last time and proceeded to stand. "I think so. It doesn't hurt anymore...Thanks." He said the last word to the group at large.
Spyro nodded, "No problem, we heard combat and came as quick as we could."
"For whatever the reason, still thanks. I...Can sort of fight but six on one is Way beyond what I can."
Cynder spoke next, "Don't worry about, we all gotta start somewhere, Purple boy here started with one at first, and from what I hear it didn't exactly go well."
The new guy rose an eyeridge, "Really? Bet that didn't last long."
Spyro shrugged, "Yes...and No. First time I faced two of those things...I sort of cheated." Everyone looked at him, not believe it. "I electrocuted them over a cliff. In fact, I did a lot of that. It is amazing how satisfying it is to see your enemies, which regularly outnumbered you, start twitching as they fall down a chasm with no way to recover and get back."
Marshal smirked and shook his head, Cynder giggled lightly, Cypha rolled his eyes, and the new guy looked at all them like they were crazy.
Spyro shrugged again, "Well anyways these guys are dealt with. So we shouldn't have to worry about that."
Cynder looked at Marshal, "By the way Marshal, How do you Keep doing that?"
The new guy's head swung around while Marshal responded, "Do what?"
"Pull up your magic and annihilate your enemies so quickly. If I didn't know better, I never would have guessed you are relatively new to fighting."
Marshal scratched his chin slightly in a sort of thinking gesture as he responded, "I...Don't know how I do it so easily. It just comes naturally I guess. I mean fighting isn't all that hard, and these guys aren't actually all that smart. I suppose I've just been getting lucky."
Spyro chuckled and shook his head, "Whatever you say Marshal. If this is you fresh out of the box, I'd hate to see with more experience."
Marshal dropped his paw and shrugged, and then smirked at the look the new guy was giving him, "What?"
"Your name is Marshal?" The guys had a curious expression that also seemed to be trying hard to see something that could very well not be there."
Marshal was a little concerned but still responded. "Yes. Why, does it mean something to you?"
"I...just know a guy named Marshal, spelled with one L, he always emphasized it."
Marshal was definitely concerned now, "And that matters, how?"
"Last name of Fabree."
The reaction was instant: Marshal, was down and in a crouch, ready to act, his wings tensed causing the Wind to pick into a lightly Cyclone, one that only went up by about a foot. This reaction got the others to also tense, but more because they had no idea what was going on than because they were ready to attack.
Thankfully the cause of this was quick, "Woh! Marshal calm down, It's Josef! Josef Choof, From School!"
AN: Well at least it didn't take me over a year this time, but damn did this take too long. And to think, it was only the first part that kept stopping me. Once I got past that first section, it was smooth sailing...for the most part. A lot of this story is changing as I type, trying to get something that makes just that much more sense. But mostly I'm just having fun figuring out how the characters all react. I have found that listening to Professional Development Guide (aka. The Airforce PDG, aka. The study guide needed to promote, aka. A very boring textbook which both rehashes old info as well provide new in the most tedious methods possible, aka. An audio/manual that if you are having sleep issues it is what you'll use) mixed with a 5-hour energy (please don't use those things, they are dangerous, and the after effects can be nasty) is an excellent way of finally get crap done...though if I could just go with the PDG while typing I'd be alright, I really need to start either leaving the energy drink out or shift it to coffee...
Compared to the original this a good bit better. Like the last one, a lot of this was originally: they fley, worked on things and then shit happened. I spaced it more out and experimented with a few bits from time to time. Oh, and just so it's clear that second bit with italics was stream of thought, I wanted to try and it and NOT make it obvious. Then again those first Italics was meant to be vague as well. I hope I did it right. I probably won't use Stream of Thought much; it is not easy to. If I do use it, it will be exclusive to certain characters just to make things easier on me.
After this, I will quickly be jumping away from my original draft as I stretch out time and make events happen a little later so that it is a little bit more believe able. Though let us be honest, this is fantasy, Suspension of disbelief is damn near required but I still want to have a little bit realism in this. I'll also be chancing up set pieces, some because for flow, some believability, and others only because I think it works better. If I ever go too far, please let me know.
Characters:
Cypha belongs to Syphon Aura.
Tatsu belongs to Xer0ify. By the way, he and his brother were mentioned in the first Italics as well. I'll let you guess which one.
Also, a question for you all: A little bit ago, I had an idea. The Double-Jointed Dragon is a Human To Dragon Realm story, but it can be changed. Basic Rundown, All dragons are humans, but those with powers, Like the guardians, Spyro, Cynder Etc, are Called either Dragons or the Awakened, they get powers normally: they are born with it. But the charters I'm using for TDJD are experimented on to create a sort of artificial Dragon/Awakened. This new story would follow the same general path but would deal with different criteria and have its own issues. I've run a few ideas dealing with it through my head, and personally, I think it would be fricken cool/awesome, but also VERY dark and incredibly horrifying. Example:
His face was pale, his eyes distant and empty as he spoke, "I heard it all, I saw so much, I remember it all. Do you know what it is like to have your skin become as nothing, to have your blood seep out of your veins, to have your very organs exit your body from the center of your body and out through your skin? I do, I saw it happen, I heard the screams as it happened, a felt their pain, right up until their heart exited their body and their brains exploded..."
Let me know what you think of the idea, and if I get the time if I should go through it with. (Note: I do know how to be a dark and sadistic bastard, that little bit is only a taste)
So until we meet again, Happy Reading!