LoS: Breaching the Darkness: Ch 45

A Purple Dragon's End


Cynder was focusing on Spyro, all her attention focused on her own strength and the estimation of his strength she felt through the necklace link. Though surprisingly little had happened since the initial point where she had truly given Spyro part of her strength, she remained alert. Because of this she was quit taken aback when a voice spoke next to her.

"How is the battle going?" asked the Observer as he walked up next to Cynder, appearing seemingly from nowhere.

Cynder looked at him shocked, her tail swinging towards him in reflex, but she quickly relaxed focusing on Spyro instead.

"I can't say, I can only feel Spyro's strength. I have no idea what Malefor is doing…" said Cynder slowly.

"To bad," said the Observer.

"Why the interest? Have you not already gotten what you wanted in Malefor leaving your body?" asked Ghronur firmly as he glanced towards him. "For that matter, what were you doing when you left us?"

"I was ending the war outside, making sure no one else was killed. Hazeri had already done much of the work though, to my pleasant surprise. He and the others of his species are pulling back as we speak, though not too far in case they are needed against Malefor," told the Observer quickly.

"As for Malefor, his death is essential to my plans," said the Observer firmly, "beyond the obvious fact that he would never help me achieve my goal, he has inadvertently created a situation where his death would be very desirable for me."

"What do you mean?" asked Ravina as she walked towards him.

The Observer said nothing, merely walking towards her as well, stopping before her even as she lowered her head down towards him. As she did, he smiled gently, his voice somber as he spoke, "Ravina, you are one of the few who I have told what I have been through, all the friends I have lost in the countless years I have walked this world. It is why I have always feared making friends, because I know I will see them die. You are one of the few who have seen me beyond what has been my mask for ages…and when Spyro agreed to aid me I hoped that for once I would be the one to leave this life before the one I have come to consider my friend."

His voice got a note of anger as he continued, "I lost a lot of hope with Spyro's betrayal of our deal…and I deeply regret the events releasing Malefor lead to, but I was not about to remain motionless as well as eternal." The anger vanished and he smiled warmly, "but Malefor made a mistake which reinvigorated that hope when he broke us free from the heart of power. Because in doing so he broke the bond tethering my life to the heart and instead bound it to himself."

"You mean that should Malefor die, you will be able to die as well?" asked Ravina surprised.

"Yes," said the Observer simply, still smiling.

"Could Spyro have done this when we were at the heart?" asked Cynder firmly from behind the Observer.

"Possibly, probably…but I knew as little of this possibility as he probably did and from the looks of it Malefor did not know or realize it either or he would probably have been more cautious with me," said the Observer with a confident smile.

The Observer then turned to Spyro who still lay unmoving, "now all that is left is for Spyro to win this battle and I think he will. Malefor has miscalculated this time even if he thinks himself prepared."

Throwing his head forward Spyro's jaws closed around thin air just as Malefor was able to move his neck out of reach just in time, leaping backwards. But Spyro quickly followed, leaping forward with his claws outstretched as he aimed for Malefor's chest. Once again Malefor pulled back, trying to get some distance.

Spyro attacked again and again, staying with Malefor as he tried to get some distance on him. Spyro knew he had the advantage and if Malefor had some way to change that he could not let him use it!

"Irritating pest! Be gone!" roared Malefor as a wall stone rose before him, flying outwards towards Spyro.

Spyro quickly lowered his head,  bringing his horns to bear even as his body was shrouded in flames. He then leapt forward, the flames propelling him forward and his earth powers protecting his head as he smashed through the wall  continued to run towards Malefor.

"Too late Spyro!" snarled Malefor whose claws were once again dug into the crystal beneath him, "now witness the…true…power?"

Malefor's expression became one of confusion as his voice trailed off, just as Spyro slammed into his chest horns first, smashing apart the crystal armor protecting him and flinging him backwards.

Immediately Spyro followed with several ice spears forming in the air around him before flying forward, aimed at the gap in Malefor's armor.

Malefor though visibly shaken at this point managed to throw himself out of the way and quickly got to his feet, his eyes going everywhere, confusion and anger in them. "Why, why is it not working!" he snarled angrily seemingly having completely lost it, the gap in his armor not even closing as it had normally done.

Spyro stopped for a moment seeing this, being more cautious, not sure if Malefor was playing at something or if it was real.

"They should not know…I planned for this! There is no way, no way…except…no, he is in my power, he has no control!" ranted Malefor back and forth, seemingly having lost it.
Suddenly Malefor stopped as his gaze slowly focused upon Spyro, a mad glint in his eyes. "What did you do?!" he asked firmly, his voice cold.

"I have no idea what you are talking about," answered Spyro firmly, ready in case Malefor attacked him.

"How can you not! What did you plan with the tower, what did you do to it!" continued Malefor a jet of flame erupting from his mouth towards Spyro, who blocked it with his crystal protected wings. Though now it also dawned on him what Malefor meant.

"Surprised that you can't use the tower as a power source?" said Spyro with a confident smile, "I guess that is the problem of you fighting me, you can't stop your own son from tearing the tower apart piece by piece, leaving you without power to draw upon."

"Demetrius…would he know…" said Malefor quickly, but soon shook his head in anger and leapt at Spyro, swiping at him with his claws even as his voice rose once again into an angry yell. "Destroying the containers would do nothing, I counted on you to be at least smart enough to figure that out! But as long as the tower stands I can draw power from the ongoing uses of elemental power in the vicinity!"

His rant was punctuated by a roar, the ground around him shattering and flinging upwards, forcing Spyro to leap away to avoid the shards of crystal which floated into the void.

It only took him a moment to process what Malefor had said though, "the battle, it should be feeding you strength through the elemental power used, that is why you did not attack us again, but waited for us…"

"You realize this now, yet the power I should have is not there!" snarled Malefor as he walked forward menacingly.

Spyro only smiled, a smile which soon turned into a chuckle, making Malefor stop in confusion. "What is so funny?"

"You really think we would just slaughter those you have tricked into following you when there is a chance we might make them see?" asked Spyro firmly, "we are not like you, we don’t just consider any life expendable. Instead we took steps to try and reach peace, to make them see you for what you really were. I guess it was a success."

"Impossible, they follow the Observer blindly, no one should be able to convince them otherwise," said Malefor firmly, "and I control…"

"Do you really?" interrupted Spyro him as he walked forward, confident in his advantage. "Then tell me, how did I recover the pieces of this necklace, do you think I kept them around as a trophy? And Demetrius, he mentioned you did not know of his survival despite the Observer knowing. Are you certain he is on your side?"

"You betrayed him, why would he help you!" snarled Malefor.

"Why would he help you? He knows you will never help him," retorted Spyro.

Malefor seemed taken aback, his gaze being lowered for just a moment. As he looked up again though he was smiling and even as Spyro watched he started tapping the crystal beneath him. "Well done Spyro, well done…truly it would seem I have been bested this time," he said in surprisingly gentle, creepily so, tone.

"But by beating me you have doomed your world and all in it," continued Malefor confidently, if still in that creepily gentle tone. "Surely you must have noticed the wave of elemental energy just a few days ago and the fact that the tower lacks its usual storm surrounding it. This is because I used most of the energy build up to set my true plan in motion."

"We can stop whatever you have planned Malefor!" said Spyro confidently.

"Not this time," continued Malefor with a smile. "Even I with my full power could not stop it now and if you have sabotaged the tower it will not be able to help you either…not that I think it would help. My plan was never to stop the destruction that is coming, only control it and insure that a new world will be able to rise from the ashes, one of my design."

"But without me there will be no new world. Well maybe there will be if you get ready," said Malefor as he watched Spyro, "but you won't be able to save everyone or even a majority. The world will burn and you can't stop it!" finished Malefor with a snarl.

Though Spyro was creped out by this declaration he was not overly worried. Malefor was not as strong as he and Cynder combined, they would find a way! "Same old song Malefor, we have stopped your plans before, I will do so again!" roared Spyro as he lounged forward taking Malefor by surprise as he drove one of his claws forward into the gap in Malefor's armor.

He felt his claw connect with flesh and clawed upwards, ripping open Malefor's chest even as Malefor reared back in pain, quickly retreating a few steps before collapsing on the ground, his crystal armor falling to  pieces around him.

"It is over Malefor!" snarled Spyro and then continued with more of a sigh, "it is finally over. And we will stop whatever you have planned."

"No you won't," said Malefor as he stood up blood dripping on to the crystal from his open wound, though he seemed unfazed by this as he dug his claws into the crystal ground, "while I may have lost, you will fall with me!"

Spyro leapt forward immediately, but Malefor was faster, a deep dark purple glow gathering in his claws and was then sent into the crystal like a pulse of energy.

Spyro immediately struck Malefor with his horns, knocking him to the ground, but Malefor merely smiled as he looked up at Spyro, a tremor going through the crystal ground beneath them even as he spoke. "It is finished! While my death is regrettable, at least I died in battle and not claimed by time…and soon enough the world will become my funeral pyre, a fitting if unwelcome end."

He then started laughing, the cold hollow laughter Spyro knew a little too well and as he laughed cracks spread out from the point where he had dug his claws into the crystal.

Spyro felt the cracks like a splitting headache in his own head and he desperately reached out with his own power trying to close them, but the headache which was growing in his head left him unable to focus properly, the crystal armor he had been wearing falling to pieces as well.

The cracks grew wider, a bright light building within the crystal and the headache grew worse. It soon became overwhelming in its intensity to the point where Spyro could not keep himself standing, falling over. Desperately he tried to pull himself together, to get back up and fight whatever was happening.

But even thinking a coherent thought got harder as the light from the crystal seemed to envelop him, his mind slowly going blank, the only sound being Malefor's now maniacal laughter. His last thoughts as he disappeared in the light was "…Cynder…"

A jolt went through the Observers body and for just am moment he faded away leaving just the crystal at the tip of his staff floating in the air, glowing softly. Then he was back, a smile widening on his face until it became a grin that went from ear to ear.

Stumbling a bit as he felt his hold on the world weaken he caught himself on his staff even as everyone's attention turned to him. "He has done it!" said the Observer slowly, shaking as he spoke, "Malefor is no more! I…can die…"

"Yes!" roared Ghronur immediately in happiness, Burnia joining in his happiness with broad grin. Volteer let a weak smile cross his face as well and Cyril turned his attention towards Spyro. "Thank the ancestors, well done, Spyro," he said as if talking to him.

All celebration was cut short though by a horrified cry from Cynder. "Spyro!"

She could feel his strength slipping away fast and even as they all watched Spyro who had seemed to be sleeping peacefully, slumped over on his side, the rhythmic breathing of before seemingly gone.

Cynder was by Spyro's side immediately, her claws rummaging across his body delicately and her head lowered to his stomach, desperately searching for life signs.

Ravina was also there quickly even as Cynder raised her head. "His heartbeat is slowed!" she said desperately and turned to Spyro's head, "and he is only breathing weakly!"

"What is happening!" yelled Ravina as she turned towards the Observer.

The Observer quickly ran over as well, placing a hand on Spyro's body. After just a few moments he stepped back again, shaking his head in confusion, "I…I don’t know, I have never seen anything like this…" he said quickly.

"Do you at least have an idea cause there is nothing physically wrong with him!" snapped Cynder in shock and worry.

"Malefor must have done something…but I have no idea what…" said the Observer quickly, "but maybe…"

The Observer quickly walked forward again, this time touching the crystal at the tip of his staff to Spyro's forehead. A bright light flashed outwards and the Observer recoiled, a horrified expression on his face.

"…I…could not reach him, I could not reach his mind…Malefor has shattered his very self…" said the Observer even as he leaned on his staff, seemingly exhausted.

"What does that mean!" snarled Ghronur having run over.

"I saw nothing in his mind, seemingly the only thing that is working is the most basic functions that keep him alive," told the Observer quickly, "and I think it is miracle even that much is still functioning."

"Can anything be done for him?" asked Cynder immediately.

"I don’t know…I really don’t know," said the Observer, "but I am not about to leave this world till I have done everything I can for him. After all, even if it was a bit late he has held up his promise to me now."

"We should get him somewhere more comfortable at the very least," said Ghronur quickly.
"I know a place if you can transport him," said Cynder the worry clear in her voice.

"I got it," said Ghronur quickly as a the floor beneath Spyro gently raised up a bit.

"Lead on," he said quickly and Cynder headed for the entrance leading down into the tower, Ravina walking alongside Spyro