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Siblings of Corruption Prologue Part Two - Breaking Promises

"Don't go too far, Lenai. It will be time for dinner soon."

"Alright! I won't!"

Watching as the silver dragoness ran out of the cave, Xale couldn't help but smile. Her bright silver scales reflected the late afternoon sun as she ran into the field and took to the air. It wasn't long before the girl was out of sight, heading off to her favorite tree. Heh... I still think she's hearing things. That thing doesn't make music. Even in the strongest wind, I've never heard a single note come from its branches.

Turning back to the table, Xale had just recently cleared it off for something he did on this day of every year. Letting out a sight, the gold dragon walked passed the long wooden surface and came to a bare area in the floor. Using his right claws to pick at the ground, Xale soon found the hinge to the hidden compartment his father had. After pulling up on the rusted latch, Xale forced the storage unit open and looked down into the hole. He saw the very battle armor his father used in combat. It was a complete set of crimson red plate armor, each unit with little blades coming off in various areas of the armor, from the helmet all the way to a tail blade. It was still rather large for him to wear, but that wasn't his intention.

Digging in passed the sharp blades and heavy metal, Xale soon grasped the object he searched for. Pulling it up, he gazed at the silver key in his hand. "...It's time Mom. Will you give me any answers this year?"

Xale lightly closed the small door and took the key up to the table, laying it on the wooden surface. Once he got himself positioned, he let out a sad sigh and brushed his claw lightly against its surface. The entire room flashed and turned white, Xale not even wincing as the bright light emanated the room. He soon saw what he wanted. The blue dragoness who he had missed and longed for.

"...My beautiful children... If you are watching this memory... I have gone off with your father to meet the rest of our Ancestors..."

Every year. The same message. Xale knew that he was clutching onto lost hope with it, but he believed deep in his heart that somewhere in this message, there was a secret that he was missing.

"...Xale. You're strong. You're heart has always been in the right place and you have been so caring... Please... Promise me that you will protect your sister and that key around her neck... That key will be your guide to true happiness that you deserve.."

What the hell is this key for?! How can it make us happy?!

"My sweet little Lenai. You have a bright power inside of you as well... Use its light to help you to live on. Help your brother along the way and take care of him."

Her magic has been starting to develop. I wonder if that's what Mom's talking about... But how is my little sister learning magic before me?!

"Remember to cherish every memory of our short time together in this world... Just remember, your father and I love you very much. We will be together again when it's your time too..."

...Sometimes I wish it was my time... Just so I could be with you two again...

"Stay strong, keep your faith, and never let go of hope. You will live to survive the times ahead. I believe in you both... Take care of yourselves."

The light faded from around him and brought him back into the small cave, leaving Xale sitting in his seat, pondering. Each year on the anniversary of his Mother's death he would pull out the key and gaze at the final memory Siiar had left them, just trying to find something to give them a clue on what she meant.

Well, one thing's for sure. I'm not letting this thing out of my sight until I figure out what it does. He grabbed the object off the table and walked back up to the small hole, putting the chained key inside just before his sister arrived back at the door. "Hiya."

She was giving him a cold look, which actually began to scare Xale, because her eyes actually started to almost glow as she walked into the home. "You did it again! I could feel it! Why do you keep seeing her without me?!"

Xale gave a wide smile, trying to cover the tears he had been holding back. "So I can see it twice! There's gotta be something in this that we're not seeing!"

With a sigh, the silver dragoness walked right up to her brother and reopened the hatch, only to pull the object back out. "I'm surprised you got it to work with how far away I was anyway. I didn't think my magic had that kind of range."

Letting out a small chuckle, they both walked up to the table and sat down. "Yeah, me too. Did you hear any music today?"

Lenai gave a nod as she put the small object on the table. "Yeah, but it was strange. It had a weird vibration at times, which made some really strange sounds. It's never done that before and I'm not sure what it means."

Xale only shook his head. "I don't know. Maybe it just wanted to make funny sounds."

"Maybe..." With a frown, she leaned forward on the table. "I'll think about it later, I want to see Mom." As Lenai's paw brushed the silver key's surface, the area turned white and the memory started all over again.

Xale didn't pay attention to her words this time, but was on full focus of her appearance. She looked normal, really sad, but there was nothing different about her physical self. He then started to look at the pieces of jewelry she wore. A pair of black bracers with a symbol on it. He knew it was the symbol for the city she visited, Warfang. His gaze lingered to her back piece and tail-blade, but those were the same as well. Xale then took a look at her neck at the golden band around it. The sapphire gem around it was glowing brightly, almost as if it was doing something at the time she was saving the memory. What in Avalar could she be doing with it...? How come I've never noticed that before?

As he began to ponder on it, he soon noticed her form fading and the cave around them reappearing. It wasn't long before Xale recovered from the magic's effects and was looking across at his sister, who was sitting with her head tucked down, crying. "...Ten years... and yet I still can't stop the tears..." She said, through a small hiccup. "...Why does it still hurt so bad, Xale...?"

Seeing this, he couldn't hold back the tear that had already threatened to escape his eye. He felt it roll down his cheek as he gave her a warm smile. "...It shows that you really care. It hurts me just as much as you every day, Lenai..." He had made his way over to her and gave her a tight hug. "Don't worry, we'll see um again. Just like Mom said."

The dragoness only gave a small nod as she wept, holding her brother for a second as she did. He soon pulled away from her, giving another smile and she couldn't help but give a small smile herself. "I'll be okay. I think I'm gonna watch the 'shower' tonight. You want to come along?"

Xale gave a nod after he quickly put away the small key back into its hiding place. "Yeah, why not?"

They both walked out of the cave and were soon running up the small grassy hill until they got to the very top, gazing down at the view of the Valley before then looking up into the sky at the rain of flaming rock above. They sat there for a few moments sielently before on of the rocks overhead flew by really close.

"Did you see that star? It flew all the way to the other side of Avalar!" Lenai yelled excitedly at the rock that had passed.

Xale let out a laugh. It did look pretty low in the sky... I wonder what the possibility is of it actually landing here? He then gave a nod, continuing to stare at the rocks above. "Yeah, I guess it did." He looked over to his sister, who returned the smile and then gazed back towards the sky. "You want to look for it tomorrow, Lenai?"

She looked at him excited, a wide smile covering her face. "Yeah! That sounds like fun! You know, this is the first time you've wanted to leave since Mom and Dad died."

He let out a sigh, thinking heavy on her comment. "Yeah, I know... I want to make it up to you. We'll find that Star tomorrow and I'll make you something nice out of it."

_"What is wrong with you?!"

"You're a monster!"

"Selling us all out, killing your own kind!"

"Why the hell you are helping the Dark Master?!"

"I will not let this young one become like you!"

"He'll kill you just like you did me..."_

The area turned dark. All Keith could see was the fortress in front of him as he walked in. He walked by a group of cheering apes and was even patted on the back by a few as he made his way deeper inside, standing in front of the head Ape, Gaul. Staring at his singe green gemmed eye, Keith let out a small grunt. "Alright, I've done what you asked, now where's my cut?"

"Your cut... Is RIGHT HERE!" Watching as the ape swung his arm down, Keith could see as one of his massive blades came down right on his head before everything went black.

"I forgive you, Keith..."

"AHH!" Sitting up suddenly, Keith was panting and lying in a cold sweat. That same dream again... Damnit, every year I see this thing! Slamming his clenched paw against the hard ground, Keith looked up at the darkening sky. Even after ten years of searching, I can't seem to find this lady's kids. Hell, even if I wanted to, I can't take this damn necklace off. Dragging his paw against the gold surface, he soon was rubbing over where he remembered the small latch to be, but found it was no longer there. ...Must have bound itself to me when I first put it on. Only explanation I can even think of.

Standing up, Keith stretched his aching muscles out and looked at the small puddle of water beside him. He could see his face in the reflection and his eyes went directly to his scar over his right eye, thinking of the vicious fight he had with the mysterious dragoness years ago. Taking his mind off the past for a moment, he then began to walk out of the small hole he had taken shelter in from the early thunderstorm he had. He rolled his eyes after his mind went back to his thoughts as he entered the cave. Yeah, a nap was a great idea. I had to do that today of all days. Now I'll get another glimpse of the same damn thing later tonight!

As he began to run through the grass, his mind began to linger on where he could be missing. There's got to be somewhere I haven't looked yet. I mean... Only place I haven't gone is the Dragon City, but if they even caught a small glimpse of me, I'd be dead before I knew it.

Jumping into the air, the black dragon spread his wings and began flapping them hard and fast, picking up a quick pace as he flew in the dry, breezy sky. ...And from what I can tell, they're not here in the Valley of Avalar either. Where the hell are these damn kids?! He began to fly close to a series of waterfalls, feeling the water spray off the hard rock and onto his scales as he passed. It felt good to him for a moment, but his thoughts soon interrupted the moment of pleasure. I mean, she didn't even tell me where the hell to go. How am I supposed to know what to do when all I know is what they kind of look like?! It's been YEARS Since that happened, they probably wont even look the same anymore!

As he began to fly into what looked like a small grove area, he began to hear a sweet sound in the distance. What is that...? I've never heard anything like it. Keith cautiously began to circle the area to find the soft music's origin, only to soon make his way to a small tree with odd looking leaves. Landing next to it on the small cliff it sat on, he leaned his ear close to the tree's branches and was surprised that the noise was actually coming from the tree itself. That's so odd... I've never known a tree to do this before... Huh?

Turning swiftly to his right, Keith looked at a thickly tree covered area, where he had heard a slight rustle from. After waiting a couple of moments, he didn't hear anything else and turned his attention back to the plant. ...Either I'm going crazy, or you're really messing with me right now. Either way, I don't like how things are around here... I might just go to that damn city after all.

"Xale! There was someone here!" Lenai was screaming as she ran back into the cave, almost running into her brother as he was setting up the table for their meal.

"Whoa, just calm down! What do you mean someone was here?!" Xale asked cautiously. He had never known anyone to come around the place except for one of the nearby Cheetah Village, but that was even a rare occurrence.

"It was another dragon! He was black and he had-"

Xale gave her an odd look. "Another dragon? Where did you see him?"

"Over by my special tree. He seemed to like it too, I think. But that's not important, Xale he was wearing-"

"SEARCH HERE! There's gotta be dragons close! I can smell um!"

Both Xale and Lenai turned quickly towards the mouth of the cave at the new voice. "What the hell was that?" Xale whispered lightly, but all Lenai could do was shrug. Xale then held his paw to his sister, telling her to stay there as he slowly and silently made his way to the entrance.

He slowly peeked his head passed the rock formation to see a group of Apes standing in a circle, each holding a different type of weapon. The biggest of them all seemed to let out a laugh to the others, but the smallest didn't seem enthused. "You better hope that the purple dragon is here. Cynder won't be too happy if she finds out we still can't find that bastard."

Xale got a questioning expression on his face. Purple dragon? Why the hell would they be searching for one of those?

As Xale began to turn his head back inside the cave. "We need to get out of here, sis! The apes are attacking and we're-"

he was soon stopped by a hard hand around his neck. "You think we didn't see you, boy?!"

Feeling as his body was lifted from the ground, Xale felt his weight smash into the center of their table, shattering it into pieces and scattering the food on it all around. Xale heard a small scream from his sister and quickly got up on his feet, watching as the Ape that had attacked him was walking inside with his four partners with him. "Lenai, we've got to get out of here! I think they want to-"

Before he could even finish, Xale had to dodge a thrown axe from the larger Ape in front of him. As he watched the blade bounce off the rock and fall to the floor, the gold dragon had begun to rush the now weaponless Ape and slashed its chest with his front claws. The strike was true on his aim, but the Ape only seemed to laugh at the dragon's weak attempt for an attack. He then backhanded the gold drake to the side, his head hitting hard against the stone floor. Two of the apes were quick to run up and began slamming their wooden clubs into the small golden dragon.

"XALE!" Lenai ran up and jumped in front of her brother just before the monkeys could get another attack in on her brother. As she stood there, she closed her eyes and a white barrier had formed over her, protecting them both from the Apes attacks.

"We got one who can use magic! Grab the dark crystal and use it on her!" Lenai let out a small gasp as she opened her eyes and watched as the smallest ape came up close with a dark object in hand and brought it up close to her. Almost instantly, she began to feel her energy being drained away, her mind getting more of a daze the closer it got. She tried to hold up the shield with all her might, but the strength of the crystal was just too much for her. Soon the barrier started to collapse, leaving Lenai feeling weak. "Alright, we'll take the girl. She's got some strange magic the Master might be interested in."

"What about the boy?"

The ape gave a cold smile. "Kill him."

Watching as a heavy club came from overhead, Lenai felt the force of the blow as it hit her shield and shattered it, causing her to collapse to the ground in pain. Her head burned with hatred as she felt herself being lifted by the ape with the crystal in hand. She looked down at Xale and reached down at him, but his eyes were closed tight as his unconscious form lay there. "Please! Don't let them take me! XALE!"

She tried to struggle in the ape's hold, but one of its companions had walked up and swung its club, hitting her right in the head. She let out a loud whine of pain before her vision seemed to fade away, her last glimpse of the four other apes smothering her brother's limp form.