I don't have a whole lot to say other than thanking you all for getting this story to over 7,500 views.

Absolute insanity.

If you had told me that I'd be writing a story that would start becoming relatively popular with less than 20 chapters this time last year, I'd call you crazy and send you to prison. And now I'm the one in disbelief, watching as those numbers only climb higher with each passing day.

Tell you guys what, I'll make you a deal.

IF this story breaks 100 favorites and 125 follows by chapter 20, I'll plug the discord invite link into the author's note on chapter 21. The invite code/link will only be good for 3 days and then it'll go back to being paywalled.

If we can hit at least 250 follows and 500 favorites by… let's say chapter 30, I'll make the entire server open to the public while using the Ko-Fi memberships as an added bonus for sneak peeks and such.

If that sounds fair, let me know. Share this story with your friends, family, teachers and even coworkers who you think might enjoy this story. We have a long road ahead of us, and we're only just getting started.

With that out of the way… reviews.

Bladewolf101: I can only agree with you bro. Also, let me know more about what you think of each chapter that I put out, damn it! I know for a fact there are things going on in that thick skull of yours. Put those thoughts into your reviews! lol

Anyway…

This is chapter seventeen of Twisted Realities: Part One.

Enjoy.

Chapter Seventeen

Stargazer… wake up.

There was no response aside from a slight grumble.

"Stargazer! Get up!"

Nnnnngghh… Too earlyyyy… The male dragon complained, his metallic teeth flashing in the sunlight that streamed in from the cave's entrance as he yawned. He then proceeded to curl up around the warm mass pressed into his side, relaxing once more.

"I have to say, I never thought I'd live to see the day where Saphira would enjoy being held by anything or anyone against her will." Eragon admitted, the tired crystal dragon hearing Murtagh snicker in the background.

Said dragoness laughed at the humans while replying. Who says I didn't ask for this? And is it going against my will if I'm enjoying it?

That caught the male dragon's attention.

Huh?

Opening his eyes, Stargazer blinked his grogginess away… only to see a pair of glittering sapphire blue eyes peering into his own with amusement dancing within their depths.

Are you awake now? Saphira teased, leaning in closer to his face until their noses brushed against one another.

Smirking, the male replied with equal sass, firing right back at her. I don't know. This seems too pleasant to be reality. How do I know this is all real and not some illusion?

A flash of… something flickered behind her eyes for a moment, a stray thought briefly surfacing between her bond with her Rider, before being hidden behind her mental walls once more. The female then gave him a look with half-lidded eyes before slowly running her tongue up his neck, causing him to tense up as shivers wracked his body.

Did that feel real to you? The sapphire female whispered, placing her head on his neck once more.

They remained there in silence for a few moments before the male surged to his feet, launching Saphira off of him, making her yelp, and flinging himself out into the late morning sky to go for a hunt.

All to hide something he couldn't bear having anyone in that cave seeing.

The two boys looked at each other before Murtagh spoke, "Well that happened." Eragon nodded in agreement as they looked down at the elf who was still out cold, propped up against the wall. "What are we to do with her?" The son of Morzan inquired, gesturing to the elf.

The young Rider was about to reply when Stargazer's mind pressed against his own, politely asking for entry without words. Yes?

You need to speak with her, Eragon.

But how? She's–

Within her mind. The dragon huffed, amusement coloring his thoughts. Try the elven greeting while remaining on the outskirts of her mental barriers. Even weakened, she can overpower you, so be courteous and don't pry. I know Brom taught you their greeting, so start with that and then get the location of the Varden from her.

That made the boy pause in curiosity. How do you know she knows where the Varden are located?

He could almost see the large dragon rolling his eyes. Because she was Saphira's egg courier.

"WHAT?!"

At his vocal outburst of disbelief, Murtagh and Saphira gave him funny looks as the crystal dragon laughed in his head.

Yes, Eragon. She ferried your lovely dragoness's egg around Alagaësia for years before the tragic incident that landed her where she was. His tone then turned rather somber. I highly recommend asking about what happened to her, she may be poisoned. Also, I need you to remember that second to dragons, elves hold mannerisms and politeness in the highest of regards. First impressions mean everything to how an elf will treat you. For the sake of your sanity and survival, please be polite. Oh, and please don't mention me.

Very well.

Wait. Eragon paused, crouching in front of the elf so he could listen to the dragon. One last warning; do not follow the music of her mind. Stay focused and do not stray from the path. The boy's lips twitched as the crystal dragon grumbled. Saphira would have my head if her Rider went insane from melding minds with an elf.

Chuckling to himself, Eragon regained his composure and began to extend his mind to the elf's.

-x-

What did you discover? Saphira asked once she noticed her partner's mind leave the elf's. The dragoness then felt a light pressure on her mind, knowing immediately that her scaled male counterpart was listening in.

"Her name is Arya. She was poisoned, and she told me where we have to go." Eragon grimaced, remembering that she had just over a week to live.

Strap her to me.

Everyone's eyes snapped onto the crystal dragon now laying by the edge of the cave.

"Why wouldn't we just put her on Saphira?" The young son of Morzan asked, his brows furrowed in thought.

The dragon hummed, acknowledging the thought, before responding. For starters, my scales are smoother than the finest glass, so they won't shred the insides of her thighs like Saphira's did to Eragon's on their first flight. Said Rider shuddered at the memory while his partner felt a bit guilty. Secondly, I can replenish most of the energy that we expend during the day at night beneath the stars. This means I can keep us moving while you two get carried by Saphira. We could reach the Varden in about two or three days if we pushed ourselves and I intend to push us. When they were about to speak, Stargazer continued in a friendly tone. I also intend to funnel energy into Saphira so she can easily carry you both.

Are you insane? Saphira hissed, not liking the thought of carrying both humans while he got the lighter load.

This trip could help your strength and endurance, or stamina if you prefer to call it that. Stargazer calmly replied, locking eyes with her so she could understand that he was just trying to help her. Be grateful we have no horses to cart along. As Eragon was about to protest, the dragon continued. I sent them with notes offering mild explanations to Roran, so they're safe.

Placated, the boy nodded before the two humans got to work, finding a length of rope in Saphira's saddlebags and tying Arya to where a saddle would normally reside at the base of his neck.

-x-

It was halfway through their second day when the Beor Mountains came into their sights.

"They're pretty big." Murtagh hollered over the wind from atop Saphira's back.

"Much larger than any story or map could ever hope to portray." Eragon agreed, genuinely impressed and awestruck by their sheer size.

We're not there yet. Stargazer butted in while looking intently at something behind the group. We also have hostiles inbound from the northwest. I'd have to say several hundred Urgals are marching their way to us. They'll arrive when we do.

What do you propose we do? Their resident dragoness piped up, and all eyes turned to the male.

Stargazer mulled over the question, going through different scenarios in his head while the others waited patiently for his answer. After several minutes, he finally came up with a solution. Play it by ear. If we end up getting boxed in, and they refuse us access, then we'll fight.

He received three mental pulses of agreement and the four- not including the unconscious elf who was essentially just dead weight- continued their flight in relative silence.

-x-

"This is the place!" Eragon hollered over the pounding of the waterfall, making his way over to the stone wall behind it and shouting a phrase.

After waiting a few seconds with nothing happening, an arrow then suddenly whizzed past their heads and smacked against the stone, causing the group to look behind them at the battalion of Urgals.

Say the fucking phrase over and over while I deal with these assholes! The doors MUST open! Stargazer snarled as he jumped into action, defending the group by placing himself between the approaching army and his companions. Do not give up and stay behind me!

As he prepared himself, he felt the minds of those within, gently pushing through a familiar dwarf's mental barriers and speaking sternly.

If those mages don't open the doors in the next sixty seconds, I will tear down this here gate and slaughter all of you. Choose wisely.

And then he broke the contact, focusing on the enemies before him. As the Urgals gave roars of challenge, the dragon responded in kind, his body lighting up the valley in a vibrant, purple light. A humming sound then filled the air, pulsing and growing with both power and volume as the Urgals blindly charged the dragon. The crystal dragon's scales pulsed in sync with the noise, the light working its way up his chest, then up into his neck…

And then he arched his neck to form an "S" shape, darted his head forward while opening his jaws, and unleashed a ball of pure white light encased in a purple hue at his adversaries while the dragon briefly reared onto his hind legs from the recoil.

When the object slammed into the shield of the leading Kull, the explosion was unlike anything anyone there could imagine.

A purple shockwave blasted Urgals off their feet while those within a radius of fifty feet were immediately vaporized. The ground shook while nearby trees were either burned to ash in the blink of an eye or seared smooth from the intense heat. A plume of smoke in the shape of a mushroom immediately rose into the air after the initial impact, casting those beneath it in its sinister shadow.

As the surrounding area fell into an ominous quiet, Stargazer started at the sound of someone clearing their throat. Whirling around, his eyes landed on the same dwarf he had contacted earlier and looked behind him to see the doors were indeed wide open.

Touching the dwarf's mind, the crystal dragon expressed his thanks and gratitude with mere feelings before severing the connection.

Let us go and greet our hosts. Stargazer said softly, bumping his nose against Saphira's neck and following her in. As they walked past the two dozen or so archers, they could see that their eyes were flitting between the crystal dragon and the carnage he had wrought. Stargazer didn't care though. The male dragon felt utterly drained, as concentrating that much power into a single action required a lot of strength and energy as opposed to letting his elemental power run wild.

Once his tail had crossed the threshold, the doors slid shut once more with an echoing boom.

They had made it to the Varden.

Now the real tests would begin.

-x-

So for that attack there, think of the charging up sound of Godzilla building up his atomic breath and the plasmic discharge attack of the night/light furies in HTTYD. Also, if any of you know what movie I referenced with the quote "you're squeezing me too tight" in the last chapter, say it in the comments.

I'll catch you guys and gals in the next one.

Peace.