18- Through Fire and Flames
#23 of The Legend of Rift Book III: Downfall
"Sithy." Silvus knocked on the door. He paused for a moment. "It's time."
The black dragon looked at the dragonesses curled up next to him. Neala was fast asleep, while Kara looked at him with a mix of fear and hope. He kissed her softly and stood up.
"Please bring him home."
Sithris smiled softly and rubbed against her. "I will. I'll bring our pest back. You just make sure the city is safe."
Kara licked his cheek and smiled tiredly, slipping back to sleep. "Be safe, I love you."
Gently shutting the door, Sithris looked over at the waiting Silvus. "Are you ready for this?"
The silver dragon nodded slowly, using the tip of his tail to scratch an itch on his flank. "I'll follow you. We'll talk outside the city."
Sithris nodded and the two stepped into the street. The light grey cobblestone felt cold under his paws, the sun not yet having risen. They walked for several minutes before they reached a small gate. "Kara had this put in because this once led to their hidden play area."
They pushed through and eventually arrived in a small clearing. "Alright, we should be far enough from the city to avoid waking everyone." Sithris stretched and yowled softly, readjusting a small satchel on his side.
Silvus did the same and looked around. "I remember this now, Rift showed me this place when I was recovering from Cynder. A bit grown out, but mostly the same." He noticed a deep red fruit hanging from a tree and crunched down on it. "I forget the last time I had as good an apple as this one."
The black drake chuckled. "With how often you carry them, you'd think you live off only dragon fruit." He also grabbed an apple. "You weren't kidding, this is delicious."
The Light Messenger shook his head. "I always carry Frouta. It's a type of dragon fruit, but not the kind you're used to. The version you've had takes thousands of years to grow, and restores energy and sates your hunger for great periods of time. Frouta grows faster and more plentiful, but it restores a bit less and doesn't sustain you very long."
Sithris nodded in understanding. "Hey Silvus, when this is done, can you take me to Shimmering Shores? I owe Rose an apology."
Silvus smiled slightly. "That can be arranged, but we should get going, I think it will be a long day. Where to anyway?"
The electric dragon grinned. "I'm glad you asked. We are headed for my old abode. I have a few things I need to grab."
Shara sighed as she watched Rift push himself from their bed. She was a slight bit concerned about her mate's ability to kill her strongest opponents. Physically, her drake could win fairly easily, but his failure the other day brought some concern that there might be a bit of the old Rift inside.
She had hoped that she'd rid that part, and hopefully she would begin to swell with eggs. The Queen watched her dragon, admiring his bulging muscles as he cleaned himself. His horns still nothing but stubs, and claw and bite marks a symbol of who he belonged to.
"You're going to bring me Sithris and Kara's heads. Once that is done, we'll go after Silvus. We won't kill him just yet, we'll break him, force him to reveal the remaining Guardians. Then, we'll finish it all." The turquoise dragoness smiled, imagining the Realms free of the Guardians.
Rift walked back and kissed her, nipping her neck playfully. "No one will stop you my Queen." He lifted up a slab of meat, cooking it to his preference, and chewed it to bits. He rolled his neck and bowed. "It is time."
Shara nodded slowly. "Just be careful, they could always try a sneak attack like Carmine. Show no mercy, and fight for my honor."
Rift nodded without saying a word, pushing his way out from the Palace.
"Sithris, are you done in there yet?" Silvus asked as he sat by a wooden door. His companion has spent multiple hours in the locked room, beginning to concern the Light Messenger. "We still need to decide where we're going to wait for Rift."
A loud crash and a small "ouch" startled the silver dragon before Sithris finally called back to him. "I already know where to go. It's too ingrained in his subconscious. I'm just about... There, done."
A click preceded the door as the black dragon finally exited the room. He grinned with pride as he showed off a double sided axe head attached to the end of his tail, bronze in coloration. "Say hello to the Pest Whapper."
Silvus blinked in surprise. "Since we're trying to save him, wouldn't an axe be a poor choice?"
Sithris giggled. "I'm not gonna hit him with the sharp ends. The blunt sides are plenty. I just wanted something a little more useful than a club."
"Well..." The silver drake shrugged. "It is a nice design. Well done Sith."
Several hours they flew, the black drake thinking back as they passed one particular clearing where he had first met Rift, unconscious and facing death by ape. He was on a mission to save his pest once again, this time, from himself. He looked over at Silvus, just now noticing a look of fear. "You alright Silvy?"
The silver drake shook himself and waved a paw. "Yeah... Just thinking..."
Sithris frowned at his companion holding things back. "Spit it out, no hiding things right now."
Silvus sighed. "I can't stop thinking about my cousin joining Shara. She had to have done something so extreme to break him to the point his Guardian Orb went out. At this point, we might not have a chance to save him."
The electric dragon snorted. "You're definitely his cousin, always assuming the worst. Remember our first encounter? You were convinced he was going to blow up, and he didn't."
The Light Messenger smirked. "Instead he got himself killed. I guess we should be glad that Keltin didn't survive that, or I'm sure he'd be causing problems. I was there a few times when they were fledglings, bad blood from the start."
Sithris nodded slowly, unable to stop a smile as they reached their destination. His home for the last eight years, the lake. They landed and the black drake took in a relaxed breath. "Get yourself relaxed for a bit. We'll know when he's here."
Silvus tilted his head in confusion until he heard a small chink and felt some metal under him. "Ahh, of course the Master of Tinkering would have some contraption to warn of visitors."
Sithris smiled smugly and practically pranced his way inside.
"Why am I called so strongly to this place?" Rift pondered as he stared at the lake. "Guess my old self was always the sentimental one." With a few flaps, he landed at the end of the lake.
Images flashed through his mind, memories of his old self. One particular one saw himself years younger spending an intimate experience with the white dragoness he was now supposed to kill. Another one saw his lips pressed against a black dragon, his other target. He felt a small twinge of guilt. "I'm sorry Rift, this is my body now."
He padded his way around the sandy shore, shaking his head from more memories as they came. He growled softly. "Once I kill them, I can be free from these thoughts." He looked at the cave. He stared for a minute, before making his way inside. Soon, he reached the end, face to face with two dragons.
"It's good to see you again hon." Sithris smiled slightly. He finally had a good look at his former mate. "Darker colors definitely help with being discreet, but I prefer my pest bright and obnoxiously visible. Why don't we get you cleaned up."
Rift backed up for a moment. "Watch your mouth blacky."
"Ooh, back to names again my pesky pesty?" Sithris grinned. "Why don't we do this the easy way, you come with us, and later you lift that ta-"
"Do not finish that!" Silvus begged, face blushing. "Let's just get you home and find a way to fix you."
The dark orange dragon frowned. "Fix me? Queen Shara already did that. She rid me of my old self and made me her mate." He noticed a slight hint of jealousy on the black dragon. "Oh right, you were my former mate. Tough break blacky."
Sithris frowned. "I know the old you is in there. My pest may break, but he's pretty good at getting back up. Now whatever it is that took you over, that I will break for good."
Rift smirked. "Really, blacky with some goofy goggles, and whatever you are? You two are funny creatures."
Silvus growled softly. "Your cousin, that's what I am."
"Dead, that's what you will soon be." Rift shrugged.
"No, we're bringing you home. We're going to remove Shara from the throne. And we're bringing back the Guardians." Silvus stomped his foot.
Rift got into a fighting stance. "Not if I finish you first."
Sithris watched as the two cousins prepared for battle. He had a sick feeling in his gut as he saw the darkness emanating from his corrupted mate. Silvus struck first attempting to freeze Rift's paws to the ground.
The ice evaporated before contact, the orange dragon quickly slapping his tail spade against the ice dragon's face. He quickly took the momentary distraction to dash out of the cave.
Silvus and Sithris followed, both narrowly avoiding a dark fireball. Their distraction was just enough for Rift to grab both heads and smash them together. Sithris shook himself, slightly dazed. Silvus however snarled in pain, no horns to offer protection. He shot an icicle at Rift, successfully piercing through wing membrane. Not enough to cut off his flying, but enough to cause some pain.
The silver and black drakes jumped up and Rift growled. A dark ring formed behind him, and he disappeared. Sithris stared in shock. "Was that a Void Portal?"
Each dragon received a dark fireball, knocking them to the ground. Rift smirked slightly. "You did your homework it seems. Unlike the old Rift, I am full of dark magic, so I can use them plenty." Silvus groaned. "Overpowered."
Rift's eyes narrowed. "Keep up." With a flap, the drake took to the sky, grinning as both dragons followed. They sped to him quickly, unable to stop as Rift teleported behind them, using Sithris' tail to fling him away as he drug his claws down Silvus' back, forcing a pained scream from the messenger.
The fire drake grabbed him, holding on as he sped the ice dragon toward the ground. Silvus struggled to break free, getting close before Rift released, using his portals to shorten his opponent's fall. The ground shook as Silvus impacted hard into the ground, forming a small crater.
Sithris yelped and ran over to him, grimacing at the silver dragon's one natural wing being bent. He sighed in relief as he could feel a pulse. Silvus was alive, but unconscious.
The black drake looked up at the fire drake. "Your cousin will be fine. Do note that you only beat him because you caught him off guard."
"He's lucky he's needed, or else both of your heads would be presented to the Queen." Rift spat. "If you would so kindly make this easy, just use that axe on your tail to remove your head for me."
Sithris chuckled softly and shook his head. "As I said to Fes all those years ago; I do not wish to relinquish my head, as I tend to use it occasionally. Would you care for something else? Some venison, a warm bath, a nice romp in the cave?"
Rift snarled in disapproval. "Whatever my old self did means nothing now. I will kill you now."
"I can see that reason will not work now." The black drake sighed as he recited something he said many years ago. "So please forgive me."
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Sithris struck first, firing a bolt of electricity at the fire drake. Rift dodged and spat a ball of dark fire, exploding right in front of the black drake. He dashed forward and slammed his head against Sithris', knocking him down.
Rift slammed a paw, barely missing Sithris' face. His tail reached up and wrapped around Rift's, flinging him off. Rift grabbed his horns at the same time, flipping the black drake once again onto his back.
Sithris punched a paw into the fire Dragon's chest, hitting where scales covered his old scar. Rift couched and backed away, allowing Sithris to successfully hit him with some lightning.
The orange drake yelled in pain, fighting past his spasming muscles to charge and hook his head under Sithris, using his immense strength to throw the skinnier dragon over. Sithris landed painfully with a grunt, jumping up and flinging his tail under Rift's stomach, using the blunt end of the axe to slam hard into his gut.
Rift left ground for a couple inches as he gasped. He was too distracted to notice the blunt end of the axe spinning around to slam into the side of his face. The momentum sent him flying into a tree, groaning as it caught him.
Sithris shook himself. "Why don't we call it a draw and you come with me."
The dark drake snarled as dark flames surrounded him. He opened his maw and released a giant beam of black flames. He smirked as Sithris had no time to avoid it, taking the blast full force. He frowned as he saw the drake groan. Why didn't I use full power?
Sithris pressed a paw to his head, trying to overcome the pain, when he felt something missing. He looked at the ground and his heart skipped a beat. His silver goggles lay melted in a puddle on the ground, glass lenses shattered. "Y-you ruined them..."
Rift smirked. "So? They made you look ridiculous. Better I did that now than give your head to the Queen with them still on."
Red runes began to form on the black dragon's scales. "You had them made for me. You and our daughter."
The fire drake scoffed. "I won't even begin to try and understand how two males had an egg, but I'll be sure to deal with her later. You know, Shara wants an egg of her own."
Sithris clenched an eye, fighting himself as one turned a bright red. "Those words are not the words of my mate. I spent months in misery because I thought you were dead. It seems like I was right."
Rift rolled his eyes. "If it's any consolation, the old part of me died in a wonderful way, seeding the queen."
The black drake gave in. His red eyes shot open and without a chance for the fire dragon to react, slammed into him. He snarled as he stared into the fire drake's eyes. "You're going to die."
Rift flailed as Sithris held up the axe head and slammed the edge against his chest plate, leaving a large dent, fragments of silver shattering. Sithris snarled and yelled, continuing to slam the axe down, until Rift finally screamed.
The axe's consistent hitting of the same spot fully breached his chestplate, embedding itself in the flesh of the fire drake. He couldn't stop himself from tearing up at the pain. He finally angled his tail spade, thrusting it into the hind leg of his attacker.
Sithris screamed in pain and stepped off the drake, swinging his tail up to remove him, only for the axe, and Rift to slide off his tail. He inspected his wound and growled, blood pouring from it, definitely being a permanent scar on his flank.
Rift clutched his chest, fighting to grasp the axe. He found his grip, cutting his paws in the process as he slowly pulled the blade from him. He whimpered and heated his tail spade, running it along the wound to cauterise it shut.
He pushed himself up slowly, coughing blood, only to be hit from the side. Sithris used his full weight to hit Rift against the solid rock of the cave entrance. He slammed a paw against the enraged dragons muzzle. Rift started finding his way in the cave.
Sithris snarled as the impact to his muzzle sent his head against the rock wall. He retaliated with his own paw, claws fully extended as they dug deeply into the fire Dragon's neck. He found them stuck, pulling at them until his paw was finally free, forcing a yelp from his opponent.
Rift fell back, finding himself in what he would call a comfortable nest given the circumstances. He was losing blood, and fast. Sithris was not giving him a chance to seal his new wounds, and he was beginning to feel the effects.
Sithris was about to drop another clawed paw onto him when he quickly thrust his tail forward with his full force. The black drake screamed in agony as the tail spade pierced cleanly through his shoulder. The black drake blinked a few times, noticing his runes fading away as his eyes returned to their normal black.
The electric dragon felt excruciating pain. He watched the fire dragon remove his tail, and he collapsed limply. The dragon walked over to him and bowed. "I promise to make this quick."
Rift lowered his head to Sithris' neck, gently grasping it.
Sithris felt tears fall freely from his eyes. He didn't want to die, but he had nothing left to give. "Hon, I forgive you." He watched Rift's eyes flash blue.
The fire drake paused. "Wh- You what?"
"I forgive you. And no matter what, I love you Rift."
Rift stared at the black drake. How can he be about to die and still... His eyes started flashing between grey and blue. He tried to bite, to end the black dragon. The moment he looked into the drake's eyes and saw nothing but love, Rift released him and began screaming. Sithris struggled to turn his head and watch.
"Get out of my head!" The fire drake yelled. He clutched his head, claws drawing blood. He stumbled to a wall and bashed his head against it. "You will not take him away!" His scales slightly brightened. The dark flames around him vanished.
Sithris' eyes went wide. He's trying to come back. "You can do it hon, don't let him make you do those things anymore!"
The orange drake's chest plates regained their shiny shade. His eyes stayed in their original blue, albeit strained. He collapsed to the ground and curled in a ball. He screamed with all he had. "GET OUT!"
He gasped as a mass of dark smoke poured from his mouth, gathering into a ball. Rift's scales regained their original orange. His muscles shrank and the drake went limp.
Sithris gawked as he saw his mate free. His eyes turned to the ball and trembled as it began shifting to the shape of a dragon. The more it formed, the more it looked like Rift did during the fight, but with a slight transparency. It snarled at him.
"I don't know how that whelp regained control of himself, but I still have a job to finish." The dark dragon limped over to Sithris and raised its tail spade. "I still win."
A large orange fireball slammed into the dragon, followed by another, and another. Sithris stared in surprise as he watched his Rift slowly repel the dark drake away from him. He whimpered as he saw the poor condition of his mate. What did she do to you?
The dark drake snarled and backed out of the cave. "Next time we meet Rift, I will destroy you and everything you love." Another fireball hit him directly. He grunted and ran off.
Sithris watched the Rift standing right next to him. "I-is that you hon?"
The orange drake nodded weakly. "I'm so sorry, for all of this." With a groan, he collapsed unconscious. Sithris wanted to tend to him, but felt himself also slip away. Both dragons lay unconscious, heads next to each other.
Silvus clenched his eyes as he awoke to pain. He groaned softly, looking to his side. "Wing broken, lovely. Horns... Still gone, wonderful. Brain, still a bit of that left. How did I get here?"
The sky was dark as he crawled from his small crater. Seeing the shore of the lake brought back his memories. "Dear Ancestors No!" He looked around and made out a couple trails of blood. "No one could have gotten out of that last-second portal. I'm lucky I only broke my wing."
He dashed inside and stared in surprise. Two dragons, orange and black, on the verge of death. He noticed the black drake slowly inching his neck just enough so both muzzles were against each other.
Silvus groaned as he realized he lacked the energy for a portal, nor were the other drake's in any condition for transport. "Ancestors help me fix these two."