FSE

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Chapter 60

"That's it guys, next time I'll see that bitch she's dead" a gazer of water poured forth from the crunched like a volcano's neck black lips "This one time I think that provoking my trauma will be therapeutic" black wings flapped, scooping up the water they sent the floating on the back black body into a gentle swish across the pool's surface.

A heavy gust of air pushed from the purple nostrils with half of the body it belonged to submerged in water while the other was leaning against the edge of the pool. Crisscrossed forelegs holding a chin of the same hue on top, amethyst eyes were scanning the glowing, green bars with the attention of a scientist observing the effects of his work morphing before his eyes.

No matter how long he stared, lost in thought with logic sitting on one side and clumsy attempts at trying to explain it all to himself on the other, he couldn't find any visible opening between the bars, not even one where a speck of dust could squeeze through.

And he knew that, even when nobody was familiar with their powers in this time line, Iris made sure to explain to her mother the best cell that would hold them when paired with Cynder's talent of avoiding obstacles and Sparx' skills of squeezing into the tiniest of holes.

"I'm with you on that one" hovering near the draining ceiling Sparx shrugged "Dude, I can't even find a small crack in here. I suppose projecting the state of your locked brain runs in the family, no wonder those chicks are crazy when they suffocate in their own insane sauce for so long"

"There has to be a way out" the bars flashed green when a delicate stream of fire hit them.

"Bro, I know you have a soft spot for crazies, but you gotta finally admit that Cyn is out of scale here even in that department. You won't find a second, clingy girl like that"

"I'll take that as a compliment" Cynder giggled.

"Take it however you want" a broad smile stretched the yellow lips "I've just compared you to Iris so...you know, the competition didn't put the bar very high"

"Still counts!"

Spyro huffed, wishing that he had the tendency of his friends when it comes to approaching life and especially failure with such a dose of humor and lightheartedness. He couldn't do it though, his own naivety wasn't really bothering him that much, especially not in the face of the almost depressive sense of loss he currently felt. He met bad souls in his life, could guess with a high chance of probability who is beyond changing, beyond his influence.

Iris wasn't someone like that.

He could see something break in her, noticed her change in behavior, basically saw what he never truly appreciated, that trust and good pays off.

And look how it all ended.

It was his own personal failure, he put his friends in danger only to help someone he believed could be saved, acting on his instinct that never betrayed him before. What kind of role model he is, what kind of idol and a leader people expect him to grow into when he cannot control a single, perhaps tarnished, but still a single soul?

What kind of leader cannot accept that some living creatures in this world defy good will?

One might think that he would get rid of naivety after so many years of fighting for your life.

However the perspective of just letting it go could rival the day when he lost Ignitus.

"I'm sorry guys, it's all on me" purple head smashed into the crossed forelegs, body heaved so much that one could think that it just exhaled its final breath.

"Dude, from what I remember, and I'm not blind, it was our big ass princess that locked the bars" yellow finger tapped an ironic melody on the chin.

"You know what I mean" purple head turned from side to side, its forehead in desperate search of a spot in the paws where it could bury itself.

"Don't sweat it bro. I also didn't see it coming so you had no chance to know when she surprised even me, BUT!" Sparx raised his arms in the air, silencing a public that was nowhere to be seen "But I was aware that something like this could happen and that counts for something, right?"

"Even if you're not joking that doesn't change anything. Iris betrayed us, it's a fact, and not counting that one shout from earlier, I cannot stay angry at her. How can I possibly meet the population's expectations when I cannot even rule out obvious flaws from this little group?

Sparx and Cynder exchanged glances, it was the first of them who sighed and dropped his arms.

"Because you're a pussy bro, you gotta man up and make the big balls move of admitting failure and squashing the bad apples. There is no other way around that"

"No" Sparx' eyes widened at the sound of the feminine voice, shoulders popping up in a gesture of complete, disappointed loss.

"Spyro doesn't have to do any squashing, as long as he got us for that" she raised her paw, watching as water dripped from her extended leg, a flow as swift as that of a cut open vein "You make one step in that direction and there is no turning back anymore. No matter how much you pretend that you changed, the moment when you started to see others like a hate worthy liability, that feeling stays with you forever"

"Come on Cyn, no one is asking Spyro to gut anybody. One, solid kick is enough to make that fat ass fly away"

"Little things like that matter. Go back to the day when we first met how many times you wanted to crack my skull with a rock?"

"Who says I stopped?" yellow shoulders shrugged.

"Exactly" Cynder giggled "You joke about it, but this is what I'm talking about. You don't necessarily want to do it, but the thoughts alone at least paint such a chance for it to happen, no matter how miniscule. We think exactly like ninety nine percent of all sentient life, why sacrifice something that makes you special? I would be dead if not for Spyro and his heart, I'm not much of a treasure, but what if there is someone out there truly worthwhile that will miss his chance because we decided that extraordinary is too volatile for us?"

Spyro's heaving chest stopped its painful ordeal, relaxing, it made enough room for the heart to snatch the reins of leadership and it spoke of nothing but its total devotion to the love of his life.

What a beautiful feeling it was.

"Well, well" Sparx folded his arms "So many pretty words that if not for the fact that we're friends who have no secrets between each other I would say that you really sound like Spyro's mate"

The heart that so happily raced in the purple chest not so long ago now stopped its movement entirely, as if trying to slink away from existence like a thief avoiding the sight of guards.

This comparison also caught Cynder off guard, she was lucky though that her body was flattened against the water's surface because otherwise the bolt of guilt that crossed her spine would make her body jump when it tugged at the wings. Not to mention the toes, crunch of which didn't seem too odd considering that they were busy keeping her afloat.

"It's serious Sparx and you're making fun of it. Try acting like an adult sometimes, this trap we are in is very real so it might be useful" Cynder surprised even herself with the way she spoke, words floating so unhindered from her mouth that for a moment even she believed that there is no romantic connection between her and Spyro.

And if this dodge, lie, or whatever someone wants to call it is not a sign that maintaining the purity of the golden heart she adores is so crucial, than she doesn't know what is.

"Fine" even though the sound that left his mouth was clearly a whine, the smile stretching his lips was far from being supportive of it "Spyro points and we do the beating. Got it"

Spyro couldn't stop smiling when listening to all of this, it was kinda weird to have someone else discussing your affairs for you, where basically they carved a path in your own way of life for you to follow as if both were his parents. Many would find it intrusive most likely, for him however it was like listening to his own soul debating and the fact that he could put a face on it that either belonged to his brother or mate, both of whom he loved unconditionally, made it all that much more sweeter.

If only the damn bars would also think like that all would be good.

"Hey Cynder, you think we could blast our way through with Convexity?" claws attached to the purple toes tapped against the ground, playing a rhythm that wasn't much different than that of a drum of an encroaching, motivated army.

"Maybe? Last time when this thing was draining us it sucked away even that"

"But we were touching it, even if they prepared it for a purple dragon, I don't think they expected someone like you to be able to do the same thing since Iris, assuming she told on us, isn't aware of your true potential"

"Sounds logical" Cynder rolled around, wetting her lips with a tender scoop of water "You want us to double team on it?"

"Not right now, just be prepared in case I'll do some...pointing"

"So what's the plan big brain bro? We're smashing the daughter or the mother? I'm up to play with either of them"

"By the Ancestors Sparx" grumbling bubbles popped across the surface of the pool "Can you stop sounding like a drooling uncle?"

"Oh relax Cyn, I know that with those black scales of yours you're attractive like the next pool of tar, but I'm sure there is someone out there with standards so low that he might actually swallow all that yucky feeling of selling your own soul to a monster or something"

"If you only knew" she snorted, her voice suffocating under the water, spilling only rows of aggressively popping bubbles.

The grin that stretched the yellow lips was big enough to even make his own wings patted him on the back. It was way too fun to let irritation take hold of the moment. No wonder Malefor enjoyed manipulation so much, if you don't have plans for destroying the world, pulling on strings someone believes to keep hidden is a pinnacle of annoyance.

Though the years will push him more in the background, who said he can't make his last stand with some sort of a blast?

"I hope we won't be attacking anyone" Spyro tried to enjoy the little poking, but the perspective of rising his paw against the one who, even if betrayed them, belonged to their group still felt like some sort of heartless murder "Athron after that show to the public can't afford to simply wipe us out, but if things go bad we try blasting our way through the back wall here. If we need to make a hole somewhere, I would really like for it not be in a draconic body"

"So what bro? We just wait?"

"Yeah" amethyst eyes traveled across the bars, their pale, green energy that not so long ago tied the necks of a pair that changed the fate of the world served a different purpose now. Served a purpose that of a blockade.

"Cause this time, we are not the ones to decide how the future will play out"

*

Wave of paw dismissed another messenger, a leg that when smacking against the cold floor made such an unlucky hit that it stirred a chilly bolt across the nerves, a freezing sensation that didn't even made an impact on the whitish body so used to it.

Athron yawned, another vermin trouble would irritate her in any other day, but right now this particular nuisance was turning to be quite a perk indeed. Inviting a purple dragon to her home was the last thing she would ever think dof doing, while she didn't really believe in the fairy tales about them she lived long enough on this wicked world to understand that speculations, no matter how far fetched they might seem, aren't born on groundless rumors.

And rumors in a war torn land are as crucial as honest information.

Currently however, this particular limitation was working in her favor, despite the fact that she had to make some rather radical changes in her standard approach to matters at paw, the advantages she gained were more than worth it.

Not only the purple dragon wasn't as deadly as stories told, he even came here with two other freaks and all of them are now her possession. Not to mention that in the meantime one of her main enemies revealed itself and got evaporated from the face of this world, while she didn't even need to get her claws dirty.

This is my dear fools how a true queen rules.

A familiar click of claws echoed throughout the room, flicking up a pair of ears up in attention.

Speaking of fools.

"Do you feel any better darling?" a smile that could topple the statues of goddesses stretched the white snout.

"Yes" orange head dropped immediately, the voice that came from behind the veil of spiked, citrus hair would even put the whizz of a crushed throat to shame.

"Don't keep that head low then, modesty is a travesty of a social standard. Accept confidence, you won't find a more loyal and empowering companion anywhere. Let the idiots bang their heads over meaningless idioms and feelings they throw about as a desperate demand to lower everyone around to their pitiful levels of quality"

"Yeah, sorry about that. My brother hates me for taking that stuff" the head sprang up at the command, paw however kept the veil in place, doing its best to not show any wrinkles to the queen "It grew on me. Just don't tell him I said that"

"There is no better fuel than hate" red tongue flicked over the full, alluring lips "A final stage of desperation that to the ears of those confident sounds better than a deafening cheer after a round of standing ovation, without even the fools being aware of its effects. There is no better feeling than that of seeing your foe impaling himself on his own weapon. Embrace it, it means you are doing something worthy"

Cellsa nodded, putting all the effort she could muster to keep her claws on the ground and not let them raise to scratch a head that suddenly started to itch very badly. She wasn't stupid, as an electric dragoness her mind usually worked in par with the flicking tongue, but there were moments where both slowed down considerably.

For all the great things the treats offer her, they had several disadvantages after consumption. One of the most crucial, and due to that fact, the most annoying one was the general slowdown of her thinking prowess. Not only the poor brain was unable to process the world using its natural tempo it also murdered any ability of thinking outside the box, unable to grasp meanings of the more advanced sentences.

Like the one she just heard for example.

She nodded nonetheless, what else could she do in the presence of a queen, royals speak the same language after all.

Athron snickered, scratching the side of her head she offered her guest a smile worthy of a divine pedestal. Cellsa couldn't do anything else but to blush, something that happened to her very rarely, but she doubted there was anyone in the world that could react differently to such an allure.

For a second there she completely forgot that the dragoness in front is the most powerful being in Skyward, one that had killed more to get in this position than many put actual meals in their mouths.

In fact, she wouldn't be surprised if many of those lives would end themselves by their own just to impress her. Hell, she feared she might have done it herself if Athron only asked.

Especially when the other downside of the treats is boundless playfulness.

"So many unexpected things happened lately, so pleasant in fact that it even surprised me. It might have been my ingenuity finally paying of, or perhaps something completely random. Whatever it is though, in put me in a really good mood. So good that I want to let you in on a little secret of mine"

"You want to tell me a secret?" her voice found its sizzling tempo, pumped harder and harder by the violently swinging tail. Secrets were here favorite, hearing and especially playing on them were the best fun of all. This whole time she had to deal with the meager, common ones of all the lowlifes she had to deal with, a Queen's secret however? It must be a work of dreams no doubt.

"Oh yes" keeping the smile Athron leaned closer and even though she was quite far away, leaning over the edge of her podium, the cold touch of her scales reached even here, the chill being as enticing as it was bloodthirsty "You remind me of myself"

Tail dropped against the floor and with it was gone all the previously reached speed.

"M-me?"

"Why the surprise darling? Have you never felt that you were being choked by mediocrity of those supposedly protecting you? This is dangerous..." the queen's voice faded into a high tone of a child standing at the brink of crying "Don't do this. Everything will work itself out. Not worth the risk. We need to be cautious. You are only going to cause trouble" red tongue made a swish against the succulent lips, their bloody tone a near perfect reflection of a boiling vein "Familiar rattle, hmm? How little is required to put chains on someone with no notion of metal in sight is almost comical isn't it?"

Electricity cracked all around the young body, rising sharp strands of hair like feathers of an annoyed bird. Constantly darting colorful eyes pounded against the cages of their eyeballs as if sniffing for their prisons weak spot.

"Yes" a shallow crack appeared on the surface of the cold floor after it was hit with the weight of the exhaled breath.

Years spent under the claws of her parents and brother flashed in between the slits of the cracks where she always was the problematic one. No matter what she did it was always wrong, even when Orbis started to jump around her in so called protection, in the end making it all worse cause then the yank of the chain came so much quicker.

If only they could see her now, Athron, a natural highborn sees in her the potential she so desperately tried to prove before her own family. A highborn so fluent with the rules of Skyward was willing to break them sooner than her own mother.

And to think that all of them made fun of her when she kept saying that she doesn't belong in the pits with them.

Athron brushed her claws against the sky blue of her scales, reflecting the grinning teeth from their pristine polish which made them look as if they were projecting a smile of their own.

The cracking ice seemed to hum under their alluring pressure, singing a sweet song.

A song titled Satisfaction.

"You and I are no different little troublemaker. I have been noting your many...exploits, you know how to go against the rules and yet have enough cleverness to understand that to avoid consequences gaining certain favors is necessary. Just like me when I was aspiring for the throne, so very like me"

"Really?!" Cellsa kicked her head up, havoc made of hair splashed in uneven curves across her head "But Ignus said-"

"Na-ah!" Blue paw jumped in the air, claws dancing icy veins in the air "We do not pollute our minds with opinions of those who do not differ much from thrash. They don't understand us, never will, and serve all their life only as unnecessary blockade. Especially when they are family"

Cellsa could feel like her entire body was doubling its size, every limb raising as if there would be strings attached to them, pulled by a puppeteer flexing his muscles.

Holy shit. She knew that she hatched in the wrong place!

"And when I said that my brother is an annoying douchebag nobody believed me! I could feel that this idiot was holding me back, dumb, little shit!" then like a thunder struck her the echo of her voice, bouncing freely off of the frozen walls it sounded as if it would be yelling curses of its own.

Ugly, ugly words right in front of the Queen.

"Sorry!" paw covered the reckless mouth with a slap, smashing against the lips so hard that a fang nipped the startled tongue.

A melodic laugh filled the halls, the walls went silent the moment the first note left the slender throat. Time itself seemed to freeze in the building, holding back even the tiniest whisper of air, knowing just how badly beaten everything is when compared to the giggle.

Cellsa was no different, feeling hair standing on their end she became certain of one thing, in the future she wanted to command the same authority. How wonderful it would be to turn the tables and see everyone else tremble before her.

"Anger is the heart's most trusted advisor, there is no shame in subjecting to it, it feeds on our favorite fuel so well. It's anger that forces us to strive forward, no matter how we might see our actions, this wonderful seducer whispers in our ears in all shapes and forms and all we need to do is to listen" white paw tugged at the ear, the way it opened reminded Cellsa of a feather tasting wind.

Orange head started nodding, contemplating on words where truth be told, true meaning escaped her. She wasn't bothered by it however, because the world she dreamed of, world she felt that was so close just opened the doors for her when everybody tried to trample her in the ground.

The first steps on this memory lane already stirred the seductive whisperer, it told her of one thing she was certain already. She won't allow this day to slip away, she is where she always belonged and there is no way she will let it go.

Athron drummed her claws against the pedestal of her podium, no matter how much aware she was of her talent for bending the will of strangers she still couldn't admire herself enough. Especially when realizing that all those others that ever tried it required the assistance of magic to do so, and here, in her case, charm itself was only needed.

Potential, what a delicious thing it was, hidden under an invisible cloak it tempts unbeknownst to many your very existence with its ample touch, just waiting to be grabbed. Many do not even realize that such a delightful thing is boiling inside them, luckily, the world is walked also by those that are not so blind to opportunity, naturally she was one of them.

And there were no universal laws stating that the spotted potential must belong to the soul it circles around.

"Are you ready to prove your worth to me? Are you ready to begin the race for your identity? Are you ready to turn your blood royal?"

"Hell yeah!" Cellsa bounced, paws returning onto the floor with a joyful tapping of claws, a melody to which even the magic inside the walls reacted offering a wink in return.

"Splendid" Athron smiled, her teeth accepting the flash of green with pride, it mixed itself with her pearl whites so perfectly that it was impossible to tell where the Binding force had truly its origins.

One thing that Cellsa knew for sure was that Athron looks really good in green.