8- The Red Gaia
#13 of The Legend of Rift Book III: Downfall
"Please no, I really don't like this." Sithris whined as Rift and Kara polished his scales. "I'm supposed to be stealthy. Shiny scales are not stealthy, they are in fact the complete opposite of stealthy."
The orange drake smirked at his mate's complaining, finding it as payback for all his teasing. "Think of it this way hon, you get to look fancy, and goofy, at the same time." He produced a top hat and placed it atop of Sithris' head, goggles wrapped around it.
Sithris huffed, turning to Kara to see the wind dragoness finish cleaning his tail ring, the gold sparkling in the morning sunrise. Moving back to Rift, the drake was already polished, orange and silver nearly bright enough to blind anyone that stared at him. He was affixing a black and white bow tie around his neck, signifying his two mates.
A flash announced the arrival of two dragons, walking through a portal. Silvus walked to Rift and gave him a hug. "That hecking dragon did it." His head pointed the dragons to the culprit.
Zapras grinned widely with pride. "I finally got kissed by Rose! We're a couple now!" He saw the irritation on Silvus' face. "And Silvus actually likes to cuddle his mate!"
Silvus growled softly. "While I can accept Rose having a mate, that doesn't mean you can just walk into my home unannounced." He growled more. "And there are things that you saw that I was not ready to be known to anyone." He closed his eyes and materialised a stick. "If you say anything, even your feathers will be black and blue."
"Uncle Silvus, Uncle Zap!" The Light Messenger's irritation vanished instantly at the sound of his little niece. Neala bounced around and wiggled. "Are you both watching me today?"
The silver drake shook his head. "Another time young one, Zap will keep an eye on you. The gaia will only be a few hours, You can show me then how much you've improved your elemental control."
With the four attending dragons ready. Rift, Kara, and Sithris kissed Neala's forehead, walking through a new portal courtesy of Silvus. He glared at Zapras one last time before the portal dissolved.
Zap chuckled and hoisted up Neala. "I've got a new lesson for you young one, one that dragons enjoy very much. Victory."
Unknown to them, a red dragon was slowly making his way right to them.
The group of dragons arrived just outside the city, in a cluster of large covered trees. Silvus looked at the three mates. Kara and Sithris looking confused, Rift knowing what was up.
"Shara is definitely up to something, I just don't know for sure." The silver drake looked at his cousin. "I need you three to try and enjoy yourselves. As the head of the Warfang Guardians, everyone will pick up if you're acting off. I'll sneak around with Sithris and see if we can find anything."
He noticed Rift walk up to him, nostrils flaring as he picked up a scent. Silvus blushed as he realised what it was. He whispered to his cousin. "Kardia told me she's gravid last night. Do not let anyone know." A nod from the fire drake eased his nerves, and the group made their way into the city and Palace.
The Palace was completely different from when Rift nearly burned it down. Royal blue carpet covered the floor with silver paint coating the walls. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and the middle of the large room sat a tall ice statue of the new queen herself.
"Oh, you're finally here!" Said Queen bounced over and pulled an uncomfortable orange dragon into a hug. "I'm sorry for the other week with Carmine. I should have taken your history into consideration."
Rift pushed the dragoness off him. "Don't apologise to me, apologise to Sithris. He was the one that got tortured." He turned to both of his mates and smiled.
Shara looked at the black drake and shrugged. "Anyways, I'm glad you're here, many of the Messengers and Guardians are here. I've got a really exciting announcement today."
Silvus tapped Sithris' shoulder and motioned him away, making sure they weren't being followed. "She's been a bit obsessed with Rift. Better find out what she's doing before anything happens."
The electric dragon shivered. "A bit too friendly towards him. I haven't seen him that uncomfortable since the last time Ferossa got drunk." He followed Silvus through a curtained off doorway, shutting it very carefully. "What are we looking for? Mushrooms, shinies? Please let it be shinies."
Chuckling, the Messenger shook his head. "Not quite, Queen Shara has an air about her that your mate and I are getting a bad feeling about. We'll head into her private quarters and see what we can find."
Rift and Kara were shocked at the number of dragons present. All the Warfang Guardians were in attendance, along with Kravgi of Fear, Vafi of Poison, Mavros of Shadow, and Tozzan of Nature, along with their Messengers. The Fire Guardian sighed at the lack of his own Messenger, with former Fire Messenger and close friend of Silvus, Kafto, leaving years before he retook the mantle.
Cloudia, the Messenger for Wind, ran up to Kara, the two hugging. "It's beautiful! And they have refreshments." She produced two glasses, with an almost violet coloring to it. "Have some!"
After taking the drinks, the dragoness bounced away, leaving the two mates to chuckle. Kara took a sip and smiled. "All this time of knowing her and this is the happiest she's been since Hadriel passed away. Guess my sister was right, alcohol makes everyone loopy."
Rift nodded in agreement before a stinging pain hit his neck, bringing a paw to the area. The wind dragoness looked at him in concern, only for Rift to wave his paw dismissively. "Must have just been a sore muscle. It does take its toll trying to please two dragons in silence in the morning."
Kara laughed and pushed him. "A fine job indeed pet, one that shall be rewarded later." She winked and the two began talking with the other Guardians, none noticing a Panther putting away a blow gun.
"Come on Silvus, think, where would a Queen hide her hidden agenda?" The Light Messenger paced back and forth, claws impatiently tapping on the ground.
Sithris stopped and put a claw against the side of his head. "Have you checked under her bedding? Neala likes to hide coins under her's."
Silvus shrugged and began rummaging through it. "I must be desperate if I'm checking the bedding because my hatchling neice does it. Why would any self-respecting dragon hi- hello there..." With a grunt, he pulled out a small chest.
The black drake smiled smugly as he watched Silvus break the lock, opening up the container. "I am not just Sithy the Tinkerer, but also Sithy the Sticky Snooter."
"Yeah yeah yeah, you guys are just weird." The silver dragon lifted up a vial, a sickly green in coloration. He set it down and picked up a note. Sithris walked up behind him, both their faces dropping in fear.
"We need to get everyone out of here." Silvus panicked! "You grab Rift and Kara, I'll see you all outside the city." They both began to head towards the door when a group of heavily armed Panthers blocked their escape.
"You have committed crimes against Queen Shara and the City of Warfang. You have no idea what kind of trouble you are in."
"Are you alright Rift?" The concerned look on Terrador's face looking a bit blurry to the fire dragon. He shook himself and smiled back, trying to reassure the growing crowd of worried Messengers and Guardians.
"I'm fine guys, I just feel a little tired, that's all." Rift's eyes drooped as he yawned. "I felt fine a few minutes ago."
The turquoise Queen joined the group and frowned. "If you're not feeling well, we can get you into a bed until you feel better. I don't mind at all."
"No, really, I'm good. A bit of food should get me up and run..." The fire drake collapsed, unconscious. Kara nudged him and sighed as the male was breathing normally.
A large Panther came up to the group and looked at Shara for confirmation. "Yes please, get him into a bed. It's time I made my announcement." She smiled once she was sure the Fire Guardian was carried away.
Walking up to her throne, the Queen sat down and watched the Guardians and Messengers sit down. She grinned evilly and cleared her throat. "Hello everyone, I am pleased to have you here today. As the new Queen of Warfang, it is now my duty to ensure justice to the citizens. I promise that it will begin immediately."
The dragons cheered. Shara smiled at their response. "Three decades ago, my parents were wrongfully murdered by dragons that believed they were supporters of the Dark Master, Malefor. I came here to put them to justice."
The room went silent. Terrador, Cyril, and Volteer shared glances at each other, the Guardian of Earth growing substantially with concern. "That can't be her, can she? The last we heard of her was right before the death of... oh Ancestors!."
Shara stood up, face half smiling, half in disgust. "Cyril, Volteer, and Terrador ordered the slaughter of the parents of a hatchling. I learned then that the only way to prevent that from ever happening again, is for the Guardians to no longer exist."
All of the dragons got in fighting stances. Kara sneered at the dragoness. "Do you really think you're gonna be able to get away from that? Give us one reason not to finish the job?"
The Queen said nothing, simply snapping her claws. A door burst open with the rune covered scales of Carmine. In one paw was a chained up Zapras.
"Observe, my faithful servant discovered two dragons with unique elements. No other dragons currently exist with the same elements. Surely this would guarantee them a potential Guardianship. This one here is a nature-life dragon, the last of a species believed to have died out a millenia ago. And this one..." Shara grinned as a Panther dragged out a flailing Neala. "Is a plasma dragon, created when three dragons mated."
Kara looked in horror, her little girl and her friend both in custody of the crazed Queen. "You release them or I swear to the Ancestors that I'll dye this carpet with your blood!"
Shara simply smiled, walking over to Zapras and licking his chin. "You Guardians think you know what's best for the Realms, you know nothing! I hereby condemn all Guardians and their Messengers to death." She lifted a claw, placing it to the fluff dragon's neck whispering in his ear. "Ironic, is it not? You can bend the laws of reality to create life, even bring back dragons from the dead. But not yourself."
Trying to hold back tears from his eyes, Zapras looked to Neala. "Remember little one, you must fight for what you believe in. Do not let your family lose you. And don't forget the ones that love you."
Recommended Song: The Rolling Stones- Paint it Black
"That's sweet." Shara growled and dug her claw through Zapras' throat, tearing it open in a painful yank, watching as the last living nature-life Dragon took his last breath. He went limp, blood spurting onto the Queen. She smiled at the fearful faces of the Guardians, giving a nod as a cue as Panthers and Wyverns began to drop from the ceiling.
The Messengers were the first to fall, not reacting quick enough to avoid axes and daggers dropping down through their skulls. Cloudia screamed in horror as her fellow companions dropped instantly, too occupied to notice a Wyvern tackle her, quickly killing her with a swift crunch of her neck.
The Warfang Guardians all grouped into a circle, fighting back against waves of enemies. A roar and crunch alerted them of Mavros falling from the air as a pile of Panthers overwhelmed him. Volteer yelped as a Wyvern tail slammed into his jaw full force, breaking it before a spear lodged itself through his chest. The Guardian of Electricity fell, lifeless as electricity bounced around the pool of blood.
Cyril screeched in rage at the loss of his friend and bickering rival, freezing the Wyvern as Terrador shattered the ice statue with his tail. A small Panther took advantage of Earth Guardian's opening, throwing a knife successfully into one of his eyes. The large drake roared in agony and slammed his tail into the ground, launching the Panther directly into the waiting jaws of the snake-like Poison Guardian Vafi.
Fear Guardian Kravgi had Vafi's back, deflecting any attacks until a sword found itself plunged through the back of his mouth. Vafi turned around to swipe at his friend's killer, only for multiple Wyverns to land on his back, breaking it as they tore through the scales and bone.
Neala cried as she watched her friends fall in front of her. The evil turquoise dragon was a monster. She trembled as the Panther that held her was given the kill order. In an instant of panic, she released a large beam of plasma at the Panther, melting its face. She quickly dodged multiple blades and clung to Kara. "Mommy, I don't want to die."
The Wind Guardian held her tight, ignoring the stinging pain of blood dripping from multiple wounds. She swiped at a bunch of Panthers, cringing as Nature Guardian Tozzan was pushed into a spike on one of the marble king statues. She was scared, not for herself, but for her companions and family. She hadn't seen Silvus or Sithris since the start of the gaia. She placed Neala on her head and found herself separated from the remaining Guardians.
Cyril panted as one of his wings was only held on by a flap of skin, Terrador having his back as blood continued to pour from his eye. "While we survived longer than anyone expected after Malefor returned, I must say I would have preferred passing in my sleep."
Terrador forced a small chuckle. "In the end, we'll be with our fellow Guardians again. It's been an honor serving with you Master Cyril."
The Ice Guardian felt a tear fall from his eye. "Likewise Master Terrador. May the Ancestors watch over us. May they watch over all of us."
A wall exploded and two dragons sprinted to the Wind Guardian. "Sithris, now!" Silvus quickly created a portal behind Kara while he and Sithris tackled her into it, the portal closing immediately behind them.
Shara snarled in frustration. "How did they even survive? I had my best men go take them out!" Her attention was turned to the green Earth Guardian, the only remaining survivor of the battle.
He laughed painfully, blood pouring from his mouth. "Silvus and Sithris are the greatest minds in the realms. And Kara is a mother that would do anything to save her child, there was no way you would take them out."
The Queen closed her eyes and slowly began to laugh. "I still won dragon. I hope you enjoyed your gift I sent some time ago, your brother and his son were some of my favorite kills." She picked up a dagger. "And the dragon I really wanted is tucked in a bed and unknowing of what has happened." With a grunt, she shoved it through the jaw of the drake, smiling as the Earth Guardian lay dead.
Kara yelped in pain as a cobblestone road broke her fall, Neala landing safely on her chest. Sithris quickly tended to her wounds, licking them worryingly. Silvus repeatedly looked at the dragons and where his portal had been. Warfang was out of sight. Fear quickly filled his mind.
"Where's Rift?"