Soooo the main body of this chapter is significantly shorter than most chappies I publish, but don't get mad at me! I'll make it up to you guys and gals in the next one, ok? I just wanted this cliffhanger at the end, but I also didn't want to copy and paste some shit from the books.

That's direct plagiarism and that is a no no that I refuse to resort to just so I can fill in some gaps here and there for extra content. That being said, the main body of the chapter is only about a thousand words this time around. Shorter, but it is packed with content.

I hope you all like this one.

As usual, let's dive into chapter fourteen of Twisted Realities: Part One.

Enjoy.

Chapter Fourteen

It was the morning after the… chain of events that occurred following Brom's passing, and Saphira had been jolted awake by the sound of a roar of surprise, followed by a slight tremor as something heavy hit the ground nearby and then the snapping of trees. Getting up, she made her way to the source. When she came across the scene of what had happened, Murtagh and Eragon were quickly woken up from her roaring laughter.

Stargazer clearly hadn't been paying attention and had crashed into the trees where he was now helplessly entangled. A trench that was at least two feet deep stretched for at least forty feet from the initial impact crater.

Ow. The thoroughly embarrassed male muttered while everyone laughed at his expense. He then looked at the dragoness and smirked. This honestly went better in my head. There, I crashed into you. Here, I got the all natural experience.

The female chuckled before shooing the humans away and approaching the struggling male. Saphira placed a paw on his chest and ensured one of her talons was resting in a chink in the armor.

The crystal dragon immediately froze.

Now, you and I are going to have a talk. Saphira growled, pressing her talon into the gap in the armor that caused the being below her to wince. I understand your frustration, but you need to calm down and work with my Rider and our new companion. Be. Nice. Am I clear?

Indigo glared into sapphire blue until the male blinked and looked away in shame.

Good. Now that we have an agreement, I will free you so that you may rejoin us. The dragoness stated with a smirk on her muzzle before beginning the process of lifting the heavy trees off of her pinned companion.

-x-

"So how did you manage to get yourself in that mess this morning?" Murtagh inquired with a grin on his face as the group made their way northward to Gil'ead. Eragon and Saphira were currently flying in the skies above, so the crystal dragon decided that walking alongside the son of Morzan wouldn't hurt.

It would certainly be less boring for Murtagh, that's for sure.

A combination of negligence and a healthy dose of being interrupted mid-flight tends to yield such results. Stargazer grunted as he subconsciously rolled his wings, grimacing slightly as he felt the sore muscles protest at the movement.

Man that landing fucked me up pretty good. He privately thought to himself.

Murtagh nodded his head with a knowing expression on his face. "I remember when I was training under Tornac. His methods were brutal, but he was an amazing man."

The dragon turned his head to look at the young man, his eyes glazed as he lost himself in memories of the past. Lightly bumping the human's shoulder with his nose, Stargazer got the boy's attention. I noticed your look of longing whenever Saphira and Eragon take to the skies together. If you want, I will give you a few flights among the carefree clouds.

"B-b-but you're a wild dragon!" Murtagh exclaimed, stumbling over his words in disbelief.

Stargazer tilted his head, a small smile playing on his muzzle. So? I am simply offering a friend a chance to experience something they never thought possible. Is that really so wrong?

A roar of despair echoing nearby cut off whatever response the boy had, and Stargazer was off, crashing through the trees without a second's hesitation. Racing beneath the dwindling sunlight, he came across a distraught Saphira, her Rider nowhere to be seen or, when the male dragon stretched his senses outward, felt nearby.

Saphira!

The dragoness was on the cusp of insanity at this point, and it took the crystal dragon to do something rather… rash to calm her down.

He just hoped this wouldn't affect their friendship in the future.

Leaping atop the female, Stargazer pinned her down and rested the majority of his considerable weight on her back. Surprised, the sapphire female arched her neck back to attempt biting him, but was quickly subdued by him. He grabbed the back of the base of her skull in his jaws and wrestled it to the ground, growling rather aggressively. His eyes lighting up a fierce blue, a dark voice emitted within the human and dragoness's minds.

Submit.

Saphira immediately froze, her eyes wide with fear, while Murtagh stared with uncertainty.

Wha-what did you just say? The female under Stargazer asked, her voice wavering.

Blinking, the crystal dragon seemed confused, as if he hadn't heard himself say anything. Relax. I am not going to hurt you. Calm down so we can plan a rescue endeavor to get your boy back.

Murtagh raised his hands in a placating gesture, the sign of meaning no harm, as he approached the two dragons. "I'm not going to ask what happened, because you clearly don't know either, but you are correct. We need to get Eragon out of there."

Where did they take him? Saphira asked, rather enjoying the male's bulk pressing down on h–

The blue dragoness mentally slapped herself. Get a grip. She snarled to her instincts, which immediately vacated her mind.

The son of Morzan's face held a grim expression.

"Gil'ead."

-x-

Eragon woke up to a masculine voice some unknown time later.

"I half expected you to rise sooner, but maybe Riders have grown even softer in the century since their apparent extinction."

The boy rolled over, and his blood ran cold. The man standing before him had an evil smirk on his face, was garbed in all black robes, had pale skin and his eyes…

Those orbs were blood red, pulsing with cruel intent.

"Who are you?" The young Rider asked tentatively, rather put off by the aura of power this being was exuding.

The man's grin grew maniacal.

"I am a Shade, boy. My name is Durza. And you are my prisoner, Rider."