The Legend of Spyro: Origins_Chapter 19
#19 of Spyro Origins
Author's notes:
Here we are! Chapter 19.
I took my time because I really didn't have that much writing spirit.
Right now, I have entered class again. This is my last semester, so I believe that my schedule will be tight with the things that I have, so you can expect delays.
As always, disclaimer stuff and copyright.
Enjoy.
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The Legend of Spyro: Origins_Chapter 19
The dragon continued to glare down upon the still downed human. Ramirez still saw how the anger was a fire from behind the dragon's eye. Just underneath the green dragon, half hiding and half interested on what was happening behind one foreleg of the massive beast, was the little red dragon that the apes had perused. He had finally stop the screaming when the parent, or whoever this dragon was related to the little one, arrived.
"Uhmm... hi!" Ramirez said in with his half working mind.
A formal greeting, or any way of greeting, would be a good to start friendly relations. But the dragon didn't seem to agree with him.
The green dragon gave a low growl deep in his throat that showed his displeasure.
"Uh-oh!" Ramirez muttered before the dragon slammed down a huge paw on his chest and pinned him to the ground.
Ramirez felt the pressure the dragon put in his chest. He felt his lungs start to compress and his breaths became more difficult and his movements were all but restricted by the scaly paw. He looked around and saw his pistol was too far away to take. He also saw his knife still buried in the body of the dead ape, also out of reach. Everything that could help him was out of reach.
'Why me?' Ramirez gave a despaired thought as he was underneath the dragon's paw.
It seemed that he had traded from being choked by an ape to being suffocated by a dragon. Neither was good in his opinion.
The pressure did not abate, but oddly, neither did it increase. Ramirez turned to look at the dragon, wondering why he hadn't crushed him. Surely a beast this big would not have any trouble turning him to pulp?
The dragon's eyes were fixed on him. They showed anger and hatred at the same time. But the thing was that the eyes never left Ramirez, never wavering. That made Ramirez gave an involuntary shiver at the intensity. The dragon's attention was solely fixed on the prey underneath him.
"Uhh... truce?" Ramirez asked hopefully with what little breath he had.
The dragon gave a snarl before saying. "The only reason you are still alive is because I saw what happened"
"Good, because..."
"Now I will ask some questions and you will answer" the dragon cut him off. "If I'm not satisfied, I will kill you" he threatened. "First, who are you?" he asked as he pushed down harder upon Ramirez.
The pressure was so intense on Ramirez chest that he could not properly from the words and speak. He gave a few tries to speak, trying to give a message to the dragon.
The dragon saw that he was having difficulty while trying to speak. He gave a light snarl.
"Don't try anything!" he warned as he released some pressure from the human's chest, but not releasing him.
Ramirez thought fast the answer to the question the dragon had posed. He could say he was a human, but what good would that do? No. First he had to convince the dragon that he was friendly.
"I'm... I'm a friend" he said.
"LIES!" the dragon shouted with his loud voice. "You are an ape and I am no friend of apes"
"I'm as much of an ape as you are a lizard" he shot back. He hoped this slight provocation might not be the end of him. That it might rouse his curiosity.
The dragon's response was a growl. Ramirez feared that he would crush him, but his fear was unfounded. The dragon's curiosity seemed to have emerged.
"If you are not an ape, then what are you?" he asked with his paw still pressing down.
"I'm a human"
"Never heard of them"
"I thought so. We never have left our home before, so not many know of us"
"You want to know what I think?" the green dragon asked as he pressed down with his paw again, his anger returning. "I think that you are an ape, and that you are inventing all of this to let you go. I won't be deceived that easily"
"I'm not lying! I'm a human"
"You are an ape!"
"If I were, then why would I be fighting that other ape?" Ramirez tried to reason with the dragon.
The dragon seemed to stop at those words. He seemed to ponder the question. To Ramirez dismay, he only shrugged after a few moments.
"I don't know and I don't care. For all I know, you challenged the dead one to a duel" he said in an uninterested manner.
"And spare the little red dragon in the process? Risk my life for his? If I truly were an ape, I wouldn't care for the fate of the small one"
"I saw how you threw yourself at the ape just as he was to bring down his sword upon the child"
"Yeah! I fought that ape to save the kid's life" Ramirez told the dragon.
"The child was spared. That's the only reason you are still alive" the dragon told him.
"Then why treat me as an enemy?" Ramirez inquired.
"For all I know, you are an enemy too. You may not have cared for the child's safety and used him as a distraction"
"I didn't. His safety was of my concern" Ramirez tired to convince him.
"Why would you do that?" the dragon asked.
"I am in a group searching for some dragons"
"To kill them, no doubt"
"No. We come from Warfang, searching..." Ramirez tried to explain.
"Warfang?" the dragon asked. "What has happened to the Dragon City? Has it fallen?"
"No!" Ramirez coughed. "It still sands. The siege is broken and the war has ended"
"The War has NOT ended!" the dragon growled. The dragon skepticism rose as he pressed down harder upon Ramirez. "The dark forces are still tracking and hunting the group of dragons I lead. The War has not ended"
The dragon eyes narrowed, suspicious of Ramirez and the whole story he had said. It bode no well for Ramirez.
"I... I didn't know" Ramirez tried other approach. "We can help you! That's why we came. Dragons are few in numbers and we are here to help"
"We don't need any help. We have always fended for ourselves and we will continue to do so. It has always been so. My clan has survived for many years without assistance and I will not start that now. Besides, why should I trust you, you worthless ape?"
Ramirez thought fast for anything to say that might appease the dragon. He could not start to blabber like a fool. That would surely make the dragon more skeptical and distrustful than he already was. He could not remain silent either. He had to say something, but what?
Then, just as he searched for a desperate answer, it came. Or rather, it was given.
He remembered the dragon saying 'we'... as in plural, meaning there was more than one dragon with him. He also remembered him mentioning of his clan.
Shockwave said he came from a clan of nomad dragons. He also thought they might be roaming around in the area.
Could this dragon be of the same group that Shockwave came from? Ramirez decided on his gamble.
"Because Shockwave trust me" he answered.
The dragon was caught completely off guard with that response because his eyes shot open in surprise. He also seemed to lose his balance with that response, releasing some of the pressure on Ramirez chest.
It appeared that Ramirez gamble paid off.
"How... when..." the dragon seemed at a loss of words. The green dragon shook his head, clearing away the clouds of confusions and asked this time for clearly. "How do you know him?"
Ramirez had the advantage for now, so he pressed on this opportunity.
"We met a several days ago. He was captured be the apes and we released him" Ramirez explained.
"That young dragon! He must not have escaped the clan like that. He could put us all in danger. And for what?" the dragon said more to himself than to Ramirez.
Just then, the flapping of wings could be heard above them. Both Ramirez and the dragon turned to look up, searching. But they needn't have concerned.
Thought the thick foliage above them, was an opening through which the sky could be seen. And thought it, a purple dragon came rushing down and leveling just mere centimeters from colliding with the ground.
Spyro opened his wing wide, creating a wind break and landing with a hard thump in the ground. Cynder followed suit mere moments after he landed. Both of them had a look of confusion in their faces. Apparently, they had not expected a dragon to be pinning down a member of their group.
"By the ancestors... the purple dragon!" the green dragon pinning Ramirez to the ground whispered.
Spyro turned to look at Ramirez, and asked. "Ramirez, are you okay?"
"Yeah! I was just making some new friends" he answered sarcastically.
The green dragon looked from the purple dragon to Ramirez and back again. Confusion could be seen clearly on his facial features.
"You know him?" he asked Spyro.
"Yes! He is a friend"
The green dragon looked back at Ramirez, watching with new eyes.
It was only a matter of moment before some rustling of leaves was heard, gaining everyone's attention. The rest of the team showed up, breathing heavily from all the run they had to make to get here as fast as possible. The marines held their weapons high and pointed them at the dragon.
"Let him go!" Parker ordered.
The green dragon tuned to look at Spyro and Cynder, as if waiting confirmation that they humans were indeed friends.
"They are friends" Spyro confirmed.
The green dragon slowly removed his paw from Ramirez chest and took some steps backward.
"Sorry about that" he apologized.
"Yeah!" Ramirez croaked from the ground.
"Ramirez, are you all right?" Parkers asked as he came closer to help him up, his weapon now lowered. "How do you feel?"
"Like if I had been stepped upon" Ramirez answered from the ground, not even bothering to stand up.
"I think I know what you mean" Parker replied with a smile as he extended a hand to help Ramirez up.
Ramirez accepted Parker help and stood up. He touched carefully some parts of his chest, wincing at the pain he felt. This would surely leave some bruises.
"I wish to apologize for my earlier actions" the green dragon spoke again. "I really thought that you were some kind of ape"
"It's okay" Ramirez said dismissively as he looked to retrieve his weapons.
"Who are you?" Spyro asked.
"I'm Boulder" he answered.
"Are you a member of Shockwave's clan?"
"Yes, I am! This... creature..." he pointed at Ramirez.
"Human... we are humans" Ramirez enlightened him.
"Right! Well, this human mentioned him earlier"
"Great! We have been looking for you for a while" Spyro exclaimed enthusiastically.
"Why would you do that?" Boulder asked.
"Because there are too few dragons left" Cynder answered. "We are under orders from the guardians to try and find dragon that are still in hiding. If possible, convince them to return o Warfang"
"That is bad news indeed. So few of us left" Boulder seemed genuinely troubled at this revelation. "My clan consists of some dragons. Personally, and I guess almost my whole clan, would not like to leave and go to the dragon city. But we know of several individual or dragons pairs that are hiding across the land that may wish to do so"
"That's better than none" Cynder said.
Boulder looked beneath him and proceeded to inspect the little dragon that was still hiding underneath him.
"Are you all right little one?" he asked with a caring tone.
The small red dragon piped up at him. Boulder smiled at the small sound the little one did.
"Good to hear!" he commented.
Ramirez looked at the small dragon that looking up at the protective Boulder above him.
"Your son?" Ramirez asked.
"No" he answered. "He is not my offspring, but I care for him as if he was. I care for all the children in my clan as if they were my offspring" he said somewhat lovingly at the small dragon.
Ramirez took some step forward, trying to get a better look of the small dragon.
When the small dragon saw him coming, he squawked in fright and proceeded to hide behind Boulder's foreleg. Ramirez stood still.
"What his name?" Ramirez turned to the larger dragon.
"He is called.... Torch" he said somewhat proudly.
Ramirez squatted near the Boulder, looking at the little torch. At the sudden movement, Torch half hid behind Boulder's foreleg.
"Come on! I'm not going to hurt you" Ramirez tried to encourage the little dragon as he extended a hand toward him.
The small dragon only tried to hide more.
"All right! Want something to eat?" he asked as he took some bar from one of his many pockets.
He ripped the end of the red envelope, revealing brown food. Ramirez moved it toward his nose and sniffed it.
"Hmmm... chocolate!" he said as he extended his hand with the chocolate, offering it to the little dragon.
Torch took a sniff from where he was, followed by one more and another. Still, he did not leave his place under Boulder.
Meanwhile, the rest were looking intently at what Ramirez was trying to do. Parker and Cynder looked with a smile in their faces. Spyro looked with interest the exchange, as well as Alec and Jason. Douglas looked as if he couldn't care less. Boulder looked at Ramirez, watching for anything that could threaten the small dragon.
The small dragon didn't move after some time. Ramirez then brought the chocolate bar to his mouth and gave it a bite.
"Hhhmmmm... delicious" he said as he made over exaggerated facial expression that indicated how much he liked it.
This time, when Ramirez offered the bar toward the small red dragon, he took a tentatively step forward. Ramirez only tried to encourage him some more.
Step by step, the small dragon left the refuge underneath Boulder. He looked both at the chocolate and Ramirez as he made his way forward. He was moving slowly and his body was tight, ready to spring away at any danger that might appear.
Little Torch was close enough now, but he was still wary. Ramirez lowered the chocolate bar close enough for the little dragon to take it. Torch stopped moving when he was very close. The little dragon looked at Ramirez, then at the chocolate and back at Ramirez. He did this a couple of times.
Suddenly the dragon moved his head forward fast, took the chocolate from Ramirez hand with his mouth, and proceeded to run back at full speed toward the safety under Boulder with his prize.
Torch dropped the food and started to tear away the envelope with his teeth, ripping it away. As for the chocolate itself, it disappeared in less than twenty second under the voracious appetite of the small dragon. The only remains were the many broken pieces of the red envelope that once covered the bar.
After he finished the meal, little Torch looked at the ground, searching for any piece that might have escaped him. When he found none, he turned back expectantly at Ramirez, as if waiting for him to take out another one.
"Looks like somebody likes chocolate" Ramirez chuckled.
The rest of the group gave a small chuckle at that. But some rustling of leaves was heard and both humans and dragons stood up alert. Out of the bush came a yellow dragon with an injury on his side.
"Shockwave! I told you would remain with the others" Parker exclaimed.
"I can still keep going on!" the stubborn dragon retorted. "Besides, you need me to find..." he trailed off as he saw Boulder
"Hello Shockwave. It's good to see you're and alive" he greeted with a small and genuine smile.
"Boulder!" Shockwave exclaimed, a smile of his own lighting up in his face.
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Warfang was being repaired at a fast pace. The moles tried to bring up to a decent state all the living quarters as fast as they could to give more living space. Trade was starting to flow in and out as well. The life was going back to its usual course in the city.
That is if it weren't for the humans.
The humans, although they had been in the city for some while, still caused amazement and curiosity for many. Although the initial tensions that had sprung with their arrival had died, the humans mostly kept to themselves. Of course, they had to sometimes to exchanges items or information, or any other thing that required them to socialize, but they kept mostly to themselves.
But not all of them were like that; some of them got out from their sector and helped when they could in the city like repairing buildings or helping in a store, or just to get along. And like some humans got out of their sector, other species also went into theirs. There were some members from both sides that actually enjoyed the strange, awkward and amazing interaction.
Incendio was such one of those. He liked to visit the human section and see what they were doing. Although there was no problem anymore with an exchange, it was still an odd sight: a dragon or a mole walking in the human section or a human walking in the rest of the city.
Incendio was having a break from the repair work he had been doing since morning and he decided to watch the human trying to go about their lives. He settled on a corner in a plaza and observed was the walked from one place to another. They seemed like normal people when they tried to live a normal life. Everything they did seemed so strange... yet so normal. They were so alien... yet so familiar.
He watched them for a while until he decided that he should return to work. But before he could get up and leave someone called his mane.
"Incendio" a deep and baritone voice called him.
He turned to look and saw Terrador was approaching him.
His step were purposefully and his posture proud. The only thing that was out of place was the long scar in his face. He had lost one eye in the last battle, indicated by the long scar that passed right through it. A grublin made a long gash on his face, catching the eye in the process. Now, with the removed bandage, Incendio knew that Terrador would never open the injured eye again.
"I thought I would find you here" Terrador told him as Incendio stood up. "You come to the human section frequently"
"Uhm... it's just that... I..." he stammered, as if he was caught doing something wrong.
"Find the humans fascinating?" Terrador asked with an amused tone. Incendio gave a small nod. "You are not the only one. Most of the city finds them fascinating to some degree. Especially dragons! More and more dragons feel at ease and inquisitive with the humans as the time pass, but there they are not yet to the point of your so natural behavior amongst them"
Incendio looked at the humans as they moved around, doing who knows what.
"Did you want something Master Terrador?" Incendio asked, turning to the green Guardian.
"Yes, yes! Come, follow me" Terrador said.
The Guardian turned around and started to walk away. Incendio started to follow.
"Terrador? Where are we going? Was there a reason you came looking for me?" Incendio asked.
"Patience! You will find soon enough" was his only response.
Incendio keep trying to find out about this mysterious visit, but he didn't get anything out of Terrador. Sighting, Incendio shut his mouth and followed the Guardian silently.
They walked for a while until they arrived at the city hall. Incendio could only wonder the reason Terrador had summoned him. They entered the building and walked among its halls until they arrived at some large door.
Incendio saw they were very nicely decorated with all the carving done on its frame. But he had not the time to wonder at this art, for the door swung opened as the two dragons approached.
Inside, Incendio saw a huge room that covered by a massive dome overhead. Painting of the foundation of Warfang could be seen in the walls. Statues and sculptures of dragons also could be seen.
Terrador continued his walking toward the only two residents inside this room. Incendio identified them s Cyril and Volteer. They were sited formally, as if something important was about to happen. Terrador walked to them and sat with the same posture as the others between them.
"Greeting Incendio" Volteer started. "I hope time has smiled upon you these days. May the ancestors blessing grace upon you in this new age."
"Indeed" Cyril continued on. "You have been summoned here, to the presence of the dragon guardians, to address a matter of great importance"
"Incendio" Terrador took the reins. "Do you know why you are here?"
Incendio shook his head, although he could fairly guess what was to come.
"We are the Dragon Guardians: leaders and protectors of the dragon race, as well as everyone in this world" Terrador explained.
"There are four Guardians... each one representing an element" Cyril put in. "Fire, Ice, Earth and Electricity are these elements. One element... one Guardian"
"With Ignitus, the Fire Guardian demise, the position to represent the fire element has left vacant" Volteer said. "In order for stability to be maintained and continued peace assured, it is needed someone to fill this post"
"We need someone who understands the element of fire" Cyril went on. "We need someone young and powerful who can take up the place"
"You are young, Incendio" Terrador said formally. "I know Ignitus taught you much about fire control. We, the three guardians left, would like you to take your uncle's place, and become the next Fire Guardian"
Silence filled the room as Incendio stood shocked. He knew this moment would arrive sooner or later since he learned of Ignitus death. However, all the mental preparation he did could not help. He was rooted to the ground.
"Well?" Terrador asked.
"I... I..." Incendio stammered, shaking his head.
"The position of Guardian is and honorable one" Cyril said. "Many dragons envy such position and would jump at the opportunity if it presented itself"
"I... me... Ignitus..." Incendio kept stammering. He took a few deep breaths to try to calm himself. "No!" he finally said.
"I beg your pardon?" Volteer asked, thinking he heard wrong.
"Sorry, but I do not want to take the position of fire guardian"
Terrador, Cyril and Volteer looked at each other with worried expression. Apparently, they had not expected this answer for Incendio. Terrador turned to look at Incendio.
"Young one, are you sure?" he asked cautiously.
"Yes" Incendio replied firmly.
"Surely you understand that we need someone to become a fire guardian"
"I know and I'm sorry, but I do not wish to become the next fire guardian. I'm afraid you will have to find someone else"
"There is no one else! We have considered this problem since Ignitus demise and we tried to find an appropriate candidate. All we found was fire elders that can't take the responsibility and dragons that can't harness the fire properly. You, on the other hand, are Ignitus nephew. He trained you on the usage of fire and its control and are acquainted with the responsibilities carried by the Guardians. You are the only candidate"
"I'm sorry, but I do not want that position. Why do you not ask Spyro? He is powerful with the fire and he is certainly young" Incendio tried to convince them.
"We thought that possibility, but we decided against it" Terrador said. "Spyro, although young, respected, and good at fire, can harness the other elements too. It would seem wrong that the Fire Guardian could use Ice control... or Earth... or Electricity. No, Spyro wouldn't do. And we would not ask this of him. He is the purple dragon, and he has enough responsibilities as it is. That is why it has to be you. There is no other!"
"But... I don't want to be a Guardian" Incendio pleaded.
"Young dragon" Cyril tried to convince him, "you are Ignitus heir. Everybody knows it. Everybody believes you are to become the next Fire Guardian"
"That's why I don't want to take it"
"Incendio, you are Ignitus heir and successor" Volteer tried. "He spend many days overseeing you preparation so one day you could take his place. Everybody looked up to you when Ignitus died. Everybody treated you as the Fire Guardian. And judging of what I saw... you will be a worthy dragon to take the void left by Ignitus"
"I know" Incendio was starting to get annoyed. "But I want to live my own life"
"Incendio, Ignitus trained you!" Terrador said a little forcefully.
"But..."
"People look up to you as if you were Ignitus" Terrador interrupted.
"Yes, but..." Incendio tried once more to voice his points, but was interrupted once again by Terrador's booming voice.
"Ignitus would have wanted it to be so!"
"No, he wouldn't..." Incendio was starting to get angry.
"You have a duty to the dragon race. They need you!"
"Please! I..." he began to lose control of his emotions.
"You will take the position of Fire Guardian as Ignitus did before you"
"I AM NOT MY IGNITUS!" Incendio yelled at the Earth Guardian. Shock crossed Terrador's face at the sudden outburst of anger "I can't be my uncle, Terrador, no matter how much you want me to be. Since his death, you have passed down his responsibilities to me, which I accepted out of need. I know people look at me as if I was the fire guardian... but I'm not! If I were to take the position, people would see Ignitus instead of me. People would compare my achievements with that of my uncle. I would be nothing more than a shadow, a small spec in the greatness that was Ignitus as a Fire Guardian. I want to be me"
A few moments passed in the silent room after the outburst. The only sound came from their breathing and from the city noise that came from outside. The guardians looked at themselves for a few moments.
"Incendio..." Terrador whispered loudly enough for Incendio to listen.
"I'm sorry Terrador, but I do not wish to become the next Fire Guardian. I can't become Ignitus"
And with that, he turned around and left running, tears leaking free from his eyes. He left the three remaining guardians that were still shocked into silence.
"Terrador..." Volteer tried to voice his opinion.
"I know Volteer. We are a bunch of old fools. We were blinded by desperation and grief with the loss of Ignitus. Everything pointed that Incendio was perfect to be the next Fire Guardian: he has control over the element of fire; he is respected people and look up to him. By being the nephew of Ignitus and being trained personally by him, made him the perfect candidate. Yet, for all his virtues and abilities, we committed a fatal mistake by ignoring and missing the most important thing. We did not see Incendio as himself, as an individual when we wanted to choose him as the next guardian. We wanted him to become the next Fire Guardian, but not as himself. We wanted him to be Ignitus... something that we should NOT have done"
As the guardians continued their conversation, Incendio ran out of the city hall. He ran blindly, passing thought moles, humans and dragons in his haste to get nowhere. The onlookers only stepped aside to let pass the running dragon.
His heart was full of grief with what he had done.
He had dismissed and ignored all the work that Ignitus had done: all the training he had endured... all the moments they had together... all Ignitus ever was... and hoped. It just seemed as if Incendio had just ignored and dismissed Ignitus, the last of his family. And by that action, he felt the true weight of his passing crash down upon him.
It stung his heart greatly. He was the only family he had left. But now, he was dismissing him. It hurt. He remembered all the moments he and Ignitus had ever shared. He just wanted a normal life... his life.
He didn't know for how long he ran, but when he stopped and looked up, he found himself at the entrance of the hospital where he had spent his healing after the battle.
Why should he come here of all places?
"Incendio?" he heard someone call him. "What are you doing here?"
Incendio turned to look and found Doctor Kelly. Her cheerful expression changed instantly when he saw Incendio expression full of grief.
"My god... Incendio, are you all right? What happened?" she asked as she quikly moved oward him with worry. "Come! Let's get you settled" she prompted him.
Incendio followed her without a question, not really thinking what he was doing. She led him into a room with a mattress. Incendio walked to the bed and collapsed on it, where he coiled himself, trying to isolate himself from the world.
"Incendio?" Kelly asked again. "What happened?"
Incendio turned to look at her. She held an expression full of worry for him. She moved closer and knelt beside him as she placed her hand upon his brow.
Incendio moved his head forward and placed it on Kelly's chest as he released the new wave of tears. Doctor Kelly, startled by this move, slowly moved her hand and started to pat his neck, trying to calm him down.
On Kelly's shoulder, Incendio wept for Ignitus death and because he felt he dismissed everything Ignitus had ever been and done... as if he never existed.
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The group followed Boulder thought the forest. Romeo, with the wound in his chest caused by the arrow, was cleaned and stabilized enough to continue the journey, although on a vehicle with Mike and his twisted ankle. They group walked at a leisure pace. Some chose instead to go on the vehicles.
Cynder was walking next to Spyro, and both of them were just behind Boulder. Torch was having a good time having an excellent ride with a nice view atop the green dragon's back.
"How far?" Spyro asked.
"We are near" Boulder informed them as they started to enter a more rocky terrain.
"Halt! Who goes there?" a voice came out of nowhere.
"It is I, Boulder" the green dragon answered.
"Boulder?" the voice said.
Then, a dragon with deep blue scales came out from behind some trees.
"Did you find little Torch?" he asked. He hadn't yet seen the rest of the group behind boulder.
"Yes, I did Blizzard!" Boulder answered as he turned to allow the blue dragon see Torch.
The blue dragon's face lit up when he saw the small red dragon jumping and running up and down Boulder's back.
"Marvelous! It is so good to see that you actually managed to find him. With the apes attack and all the confusion, we thought he might have slipped away from the battle zone. We feared the worse when we suddenly heard loud noises and explosions in the distance"
"I heard them too" Boulder said a little thoughtful. "Nevertheless, that that was what leads me to him"
"Well, no matter now. You have returned safe and sound with little Torch. It was lucky that you found him"
"That wasn't the only thing I found" Boulder proclaimed as he stepped aside, revealing the tired expedition of dragons and humans.
Blizzard looked very surprise to see the assorted group. But his face also lit up when he noticed Shockwave standing amidst them.
"Shockwave! Well, this days has been full of surprised, both good, and bad" Blizzard explained.
"Has something bad happened?" Spyro asked.
"We should not speak of this matter here" Boulder interrupted. "Come! Let us continue" he prompted the group.
The expedition followed him as Blizzard remained behind, standing as a sentry. The ground was starting to go uphill, and the terrain more difficult to traverse. The humans had to leave the vehicles behind and start climbing on foot. Unfortunately, Romeo had to remain behind due to his chest wound and Mike because of his twisted ankle. Jason and Douglas also remained behind to give them company.
They continued walking until they came across a dead ape.
"Whoa! Friend for yours?" Ramirez asked sarcastically, pointing at the ape.
Boulder looked at the dead ape with some disgust before continued his journey uphill.
"We were attacked by late afternoon by a large number of apes"
"Really?" Cynder asked. "Why would they want to attack you?"
"I would want to speak of it in a more private place"
"Very well then. How did the battle went?"
Before boulder could answer, they arrived at a clearing amongst the woods and it revealed a disturbing sight.
Signs of battle could be seen everywhere. There was a lot of blood on the ground from all the apes that lay dead on that clearing. The smell of flesh starting to rot could be picked up. Blast marks from the four different elements that a dragon could breathe were also present: chunks of ice, a rock that was out of place, a piece of burned land, and small deep charred holes.
"We have been victorious in our battle" he said with a tone that indicated strength and pride in his clan.
Cynder looked beyond all the corpses and saw some there were a few wounded dragons. These ones were being attended by other dragon, presumably some friend. Boulder shook his head as he saw the wounded dragons.
"We can't keep it up forever"
"You mean this was not the first attack?" Spyro asked, worry in his voice.
"We will discuss this once we are comfortable"
They passed the battlefield to get to their objective. They tried to give the corpses a wide berth, however. Their line of path brought them near the wounded dragons. They looked up with wide eyes as they saw the humans walking. Then, after the initial shock passed, they gave snarls.
'No doubt they saw them as apes... just like Warfang did' Cynder thought.
When they saw they were walking amongst dragons, they stopped their snarls and aggressive behavior, but they eyed them warily.
"Miller" Cynder herd Parker called for the healer's attention.
"Sir?"
"See what you can do?" Parker indicated the dragons. "Jason, you help him"
"Yes sir" both of them responded as they made his way to the wounded dragons.
When they were close to one red dragon, this one snapped at them and gave a growl from deep in his throat. The humans backed away a little bit.
"They are just trying to help" Spyro said to Boulder.
Boulder looked back at Spyro and began to stare into his eyes; searching from something. It was thus for a few moment when Boulder was satisfied with what he found. He turned to the injured dragon and gave a small nod. The aggressive display the red dragon had cooled down somewhat and allowed the humans to approach him.
The remainder of the group continued walking. Soon small squeaks were heard. They cleared a particularly big tree when they saw a group of three small dragons. They were all playing fighting a mock battle under the supervision of an adult female dragon.
Little Torch jumped up and down in excitement atop Boulder's body when he saw the other small dragons playing. He decided to have a little fun of his own and jumped from the high perch atop Boulder massive body and glided down. When he landed, he stared to run toward where the fun was. The other small dragons were somewhat surprised from his arrival, but soon enough, Torch was included in their game.
As for the adult dragon, she looked up when Torch appeared and saw Boulder with the humans. She looked confused with the humans, but a squeak from the fighting hatchlings brought her attention back at her task. With a smile on her face at the safety return of Torch, she kept her watch on the hatchlings.
They finally arrived at a cave in which Boulder entered. Shockwave entered without any second thoughts. Parker, Ramirez and Jackson looked hesitantly at each other at the mouth of the cave. With a little prompt form Spyro and Cynder, they stepped inside.
As they advanced, Cynder started to difficulty seeing what was ahead of her. Apparently, the humans also had problems because she heard one of them fall.
"Mierda!" she heard Ramirez say. "Anyone got some light?"
"Yeah! Here" Spyro answered before breathing some flame.
"GAH! NOT THAT TYPE!" Ramirez exclaimed, giving a jump backward to avoid Spyros fire blast.
In that brief time of lightness, Cynder saw that the cave was just that, a cave full of rock and earth on all sides. Fortunately, the tunnel they were walking they were in had only one direction, so there was no getting lost underneath the mountain.
"Sorry!" Spyro apologized.
"Next time, aim that fire breath of your somewhere safe before someone gets burned!" Ramirez admonished. "Now, Lieutenant, you got a flashlight? Mine got broken during the fight"
"Yeah! Got it!" Parker exclaimed before another source of light appeared.
Parker held some kind of black stick from which white light came out of one of its end. It provided good illumination to a very far distance. The downside, it was that only covered a small area. Jackson also procured another light device and with that, it was enough light to proceed safely.
They continued the tunnel for a while until they arrived at a large cavern illuminated by a big fireplace. Several dragons were already there, including Shockwave and Boulder. All new and dragons were around Boulder and Shockwave. They seemed very existed and asking every question that they could come up with.
The three humans and the two dragons went toward where the cheerful group was. When one of noticed the group of humans, he cried the alarm.
"APES!" the red dragon that had noticed them shouted.
Immediately, the rest of the dragons turned and regarded the newly arrived party with more surprise at finding the humans in the midst of the dragon clan, that in anger that they would show the battlefield.
But that did not last long. The one that cried the alarm took a deep breath and prepared to turn to ash the interlopers without any regard that Spyro and Cynder where there. Before he could release his elemental attack, Boulder smacked his head with his tail. The flame the dragon shot from his mouth went toward the ceiling where it warmed the cavern considerably.
"KNOCK IT OFF!" Boulder shouted at the group to clam them.
The assembled dragons looked at Boulder with surprise.
"Leader! Apes are here!" a yellow one tried to warn him.
"I know. They are here under peaceful intentions and shall not be harmed"
"Boulder?" other dragon asked.
"There strange apes are called humans. They got nothing related to the apes we fight except physical appearance. They come here in friendship, and I want them to leave as such. Am I clear?"
"Yes, Leader" the dragons acknowledged.
Boulder turned to the humans.
"I apologize for the reaction these dragons had toward you" he apologized.
"That isn't new" Jackson huffed. "That is becoming almost routine. Honestly, I think someone should have come up with something more original than APE to call us by now"
Boulder didn't know how to respond to that.
"Never mind" Jackson finished lamely.
"So... why don't you make yourselves comfortable" Boulder said as he sat neat the bonfire that stilled burned in the center of the cavern.
The dragons just sat where while the humans looked around to sit someplace. When they found none, they just sat on the floor next to Spyro and Cynder.
"Let's start by your names, shall we?" Boulder suggested.
"I'm Lieutenant Parker. The black skinned one is Jackson and the one you had fun with is Ramirez" Boulder nodded at each name.
"Spyro"
"And I'm..." Cynder halted the introductions.
Boulder looked at her curiously as Spyro looked at her with comprehension.
"I... I'm Cynder" she finished, waiting for their host reaction.
"Cynder? You mean... the Black Serpent? The Terror of the skies?" one dragon backed away from her.
Cynder sighted sadly. "Unfortunately"
At this, the dragons shot their eyes open with surprise before they had a chance to regain their senses and attack Cynder. Fortunately, Spyro arrived in her defense.
"She is not the same Cynder that hunted dragons in the past. She was corrupted by Malefor to do his bidding. She cannot be held responsible by the actions she couldn't' control"
The dragons stilled seemed reluctant to just let her be.
"You stole many lives. Killed innocent dragons, including children"
"I know I hunted and killed dragon without mercy in the past. That is something I am not proud of... and that is something I would like to forget. If I could change the time and avoid all of those deaths, I would; even of it cost me my life"
Cynder remembered all the dragons she killed mercilessly during her reign of Terror. She had killed many dragons that only wished to be left alone. She also killed families and lovers without hesitation. She remembered she used like to torture their prey by killing a dragon in front of their loved ones. Or a small child in front of their parent. Just for the sake of torture and pain.
She also remembered how much she enjoyed it when she was at the service of the Darkmaster. She laughed in delight at their prey's suffering. But now, she looked back at them with revulsion and disgust. How could she ever have enjoyed those things?
Cynder gave and involuntary shiver at the dark memories. Spyro leaned against her side and nudged her.
"Don't worry Cynder. You have already made this world a better place by getting rid of Malefor"
Cynder gave a smile at his attempt to cheer her up. Of all the things that had ever crossed her path, Spyro was without a doubt the best thing that has ever happened to her.
The older dragons gathered together and talked in low voices amongst themselves, no doubt deciding on what should be done with Cynder. Shockwave was also included into their conversation; most likely asking him if she could actually be trusted. From time to time, they turned to look at her and Spyro and how Spyro tried to console her.
Then, the dragons finally came apart.
"Cynder! We have talked and decided that you shall not be harmed" Cynder's face lit up at Boulder's announcement. "But you will have to remain here, under constant guard for the time being until we can gather some more information"
"Very well" Cynder sighted.
Spyro tried to protest, but to no avail. The older dragons had already made their minds. Still they reassured him that they would look at her case more.
After that incident passed, the normal reunion took place again.
"Now... Shockwave" Boulder turned to the young electric dragon that was a member of his clan, "why don't you start with your story after you left the clan. We were most worried"
"Well, I just flew away for some days searching for the city of Warfang. Nothing important happened until the apes captured me"
"The apes captured you?" Boulder seemed suspired at this.
"Yes. For days I was their captive, suffering all of their abuse" Shockwave trembled at the memories.
"And the crystal? Do you still have the crystal your mother gave to you before you left?" Boulder asked with almost a desperate tone.
Shockwave seemed very surprised at this.
"Yeah! I still got it" Shockwave said as he made the yellow crystal appear. When Boulder saw it, he let out a sigh of relief.
"That is good to know"
"What's with this crystal, Boulder? I thought it was just a family heirloom" Shockwave said.
"So did I. That is... until the apes attacked"
"What do you mean?"
"Shortly after you left, an ape party came and attacked us. We beat them back; but after they retreated, one of them shouted that they wanted the crystal. With the description he provided, we knew that it was the crystal you had. We said that we did not have it, but they didn't believe us and the attacks still came. We have been attacked for several times already"
"Do you know why they wanted it?" Spyro asked with an alarmed tone.
Cynder knew what he meant about it. Shockwave also looked at Spyro. Both of them had seen the transparent crystal that Spyro found. Also, both of them had heard his dreams about the crystals. They both crystals were somehow related and that the apes wanted such crystal was disturbing.
"Why do you ask?" Boulder looked suspicious.
Slowly, Spyro looked out the transparent crystal that he had found long ago. At the sight, Boulder eyes opened up with wonder.
"Incredible! I have never seen such a crystal! Where do you found it?"Boulder asked.
"In a buried and destroyed temple west of Warfang. I got reasons to believe these two crystals are connected somehow. If you know where the yellow crystal was found and take me there, we might be able to understand there gems better"
"Well, I wasn't alive when it was found; and no one knows where it was found" Spyro seemed dismayed by this. "However, when I was young, an elder who found it explained the place they found it"
"Could you describe it please" Spyro asked as he put away the crystal.
"When the elder was young, he and a friend of his found it during one of their explorations in their area. They found a large and strange opening in the side of a mountain near their camp. Curious about it, they entered. When they entered, they found themselves inside a building of some sort. Then, they arrived at a large room. It looked like a temple of some sort, or a very important place. Most of the place was destroyed purposefully or worn out due to time, but a few dragon statues and painting could still be seen"
Spyro and Cynder looked at each other, knowing it was the exact same description of the temple in which they had found their crystal.
"As they continued their exploration, they saw a strange dragon statue. They described it in detail, but I can't remember it. Anyway, this statue held the crystal Shockwave hold now. I recall the elder saying that the statue was damage somehow. So, they took the crystal and went home after their exploration finished. Does that description satisfy you?"
"Yes... it does. We found our crystal in a temple with the description you gave us. But it still does not answer the question of what are these crystals... nor its purpose. Hmmm... I wonder what the apes would want with these crystals."
"Well, they said that they wanted it for their master"
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An ape walked down the long tunnel toward his destination. Torches lit up the passage as the lone ape passed. He cared not for the scenery, nor the shadows that his body and the flickering flames did, nor of getting lost.
No, his mind was on the conversation he was going to have.
He arrived at an open cavern lit by many torches. Stalactites and stalagmites protruded from the floor and ceiling, like the pointy teeth of a huge creature. On the other end side of the cavern, black and huge chasm could be seen. Its darkness seemed to have the power to swallow or the light and goodness from this world. Several lights flickered further ahead, on the other side of the chasm.
But he cared not for the beauty of the cavern. His only object of interest was a dark crystal over a piece of carver rock near the abysm. It was just a piece of normal dark gem... nothing special about its looks.
He slowly approached it and when he was near, he knelt in front of the dark gem.
"Master!" the ape said humbly.
At first, nothing happened. But then, the dark gems slowly started to glow.
"Who disturbs me?" a cold voice that could not forgive the slightest mistake emanated from the dark gem. As he said this, the gem glowed with a faint dark light.
"Master... I bring news" the ape managed to say past his knot in his throat.
"At last! I was getting bored. What is the news from the surface?"
"Not good Master. Warfang... The siege of Warfang had ended"
"Has the city been taken?"
"I'm afraid not Master. The dragon managed to be victorious in the last battle, ending the siege"
"WHAT?!?!" the voice that emanated from the gem was so loud that dust fell from the ceiling, covering the cowering ape. The dark gem, and the rock beyond the chasm, started to glowed very bright, making the ape close his eyes at the intensity. "Why was the city not captured? I sent another army to deal with them! Why has the city not been razed to the ground???" the voice seemed infuriated, because small tremors could be felt all around the ape.
"The dragons received reinforcements at a critical moment after the walls were breached. They helped turn the tide of the battle" the ape all but whimpered.
"I shall crush them into oblivion! I shall grind their bones until nothing but dust remains!"
"Master... I'm afraid there is more!" the ape wished he didn't have to say this.
"What?" the voice said, with half his mind to rip the covering and weak ape before him as the light receded.
The ape could see some faint glow on the other side of the deep chasm. There were several apes with mining equipment digging a long tunnel in the rock, and they were looking in their direction with interest.
"We... uh... well... a few days ago, an ape arrived to our camp "the messenger brought recovered his attention. "We thought nothing out of it at first, but he slipped that he had captured a dragon"
"Get on with it!" the entity inside the gem threatened.
"Yes Master! Well, the ape told us we tortured him, that this yellow dragon that his company captured carried a yellow gem, just like the one you had us look in this nearby tribe of nomad dragons"
"The crystal? EXCELLENT! Give it to me" he ordered.
"Unfortunately Master, before the captain could return with your treasure, these same creatures that helped the dragon in Warfang destroyed the camp"
"And the crystal?" the voice sounded low and very cold.
If his master received the answer he didn't want to hear, the ape knew things would go bad. But the ape also knew that if he lied, things would go even worse.
"I´m afraid we lost it"
A huge roar resounded across the place, the limited space of the cavern making the sound deafening enough to make blood start to trickle out of the ape's ears. The small gem, and beyond the chasm began to glow with such intensity that one could even feel the heat emanated form it. Also, rock started to come loose of the ceiling. A particularly large piece of rock fell down and hit the ape directly in the head, killing it instantly.
When the roar died and the glow from the small dark gem and beyond receded, a seemingly deathly silence covered the cavern.
"Remove this filth form my presence" the gem ordered.
At his command, two huge apes armed to the teeth and wearing big and bulky black armor appeared form out of nowhere. They rushed to the body of the dead ape and lifted him up. Then, they left the hall at a fast pace.
The dark entity fumed. This was bad news indeed. Things hadn't gone as he had expected. The purple dragon had robbed his victory when it was within his grasp.
But that was nothing to worry about. Although he was not present with that little setback, he still could control his minions. He continued the siege of Warfang by sending another army. He was sure the city would be demoralized with the enemy reinforcements and the continued battle over time. But he knew that the blow would be when they knew that the purple dragon's victory would not be the end of the war. He chuckled at how foolish and naïve those foolish dragons were.
'As if such things could stop me'
He was so sure of his victory. With the reduced number in the stronghold of Warfang, and being demoralized, victory was certain. But then... these... these creatures... arrived from nowhere. With the first reports he heard, he thought nothing of them, thinking he would deal with them later. But they had proved a nuisance since the early days. They destroyed several of his scouts and regiments of apes. Then, they snatched the crystal when his forced had finally acquired it. And Lastly... they went and engaged his forced in Warfang to help the dragons, thus ensuring their victory.
It was just too many problems these creatures caused to his plans to ignore! How he despised them for hindering his plans to absolute dominion of this world. But he despised the dragons that had opposed him for too long even more.
But how could he defeat them in these circumstances? He had lost too many forces recently.
"Oh my. Pondering too much are we?" a new voice came.
"What? Who are you? Show yourself" the dark gem ordered.
"As you wish" the newcomer said.
Darkness started to move from the places where darkness was strong. These, shadows, moved as if they were liquid toward the center of the chamber. But out of this shadow, started to rise a hooded creature holding a wooden stick for support.
"Who are you?" the gem ordered threateningly. "How did you get past my guards?"
"Your guards are a bunch of fools, easily misled. As for who I am, let's say I'm an admirer. And let's also say that I have reason to see that you accomplish your task at world domination"
"Oh!" the dark entity inside the gem exclaimed interestedly.
"I have been watching you for a long time. I must admit that I had to address some issues and complication of my own, I skip a few months in my watch. I must say that I thought that you would have this world in your paws by now but, alas, I was mistaken. I must say that I'm a little bit disappointed in you" the newcomer said with a little competent.
The gem gave a deep growl at this.
"Don't speak to me with that tone. But to give you an explanation, there were some complications. Nothing that I can't handle"
"Anyway, I want you to succeed, as I said earlier. It would be in my interest if you destroyed the dragon race and all of its allies. Seeing as you have some complications, I am willing to be of some help"
"What kind of help?"
"Apart from being a good advisor, I have lived long to have acquired a lot of knowledge; knowledge in the dark matters that may be of great benefit to you. Like, for example... I have been doing some experiments with dark energy in a lair of grublins. I have infested their queen, allowing stronger, fiercer and a lot more resilient offspring that any other lair. As a token of mutual benefit, I shall tell you its location and allow you to use them as you see fit"
After the explanation, the dark entity inside the gem pondered the offer. He saw the benefit of such cooperation immediately.
The dark gem pulsated with every chuckle that its identity made. At first, they were weak and slow, but it increased in their intensity until it became full laughter; the laughter of a madman that appeared to have received the answer to all his problems.
As the small dark gem pulsated, so did the background... beyond the chasm. With each pulsating laugh, the rock illuminated the area, revealing that the rock beyond the chasm was not a rock, but a huge dark gem... the very same type that stood on the pedestal.
The pulsating light also revealed several apes with a lot of mining equipment. They were carving a long and deep tunnel in the gem, going toward its center, were a solitary, winged and seemingly muscular figure was frozen and trapped in the center of the earth.
The dark being that resided inside the crystal was waiting to be released... and ready to have his revenge.
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Author's notes:
Here we are.
It appears Ramirez had a soft spot for kids. I wonder the impression he will make to the small ones with all his contraband and smuggling? But at least he seems nice with them.
Incendio is in tatters! Ignitus death has finally caught up with him. The guardians asked of him to become the next guardian... but young Incendio refused. He wants a life for himself... to be seen as Incendio, not Ignitus. What will the Guardians do? And Incendio? I guess not many saw that coming. I mean... in every Spyro story I have read, dragon JUMP at the opportunity to be a guardian. I just wanted something different.
The group has found Shockwave's clan and the mysterious crystal that they found in the first chapter make their way once more into the story again.... But..... JUST WHAT ARE THESE CRYSTALS?
A dark crystal with a dark entity seemed to be very pissed with the humans for having unknowingly ruined his plans. And this dark entity was visited by an even more mysteries being that appeared out of the shadows and was willing to help. Who is he? Why does he want to help? At the last part, it is revealed that this dark entity trapped inside this gem is in fact a part of a bigger piece. The apes have uncovered a creature trapped inside a dark crystal in the center of the earth. (Guess who is it?).
Personally, I liked the chocolate scene. I have long waited to do that scene... where a small kid tries chocolate. Also, the 'Like if I had been stepped upon' speech sent me laughing. I would like you to tell what scene you liked and I will consider placing more of such scenes. (Any scene from the story thus far). Or, if you want me to put some kind of me, tell me!
Well, as always, I appreciate comments.