FSE

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I got a lucky break at work and was able to work on this enough to bring it here two days ahead of my plans =D

If you're under 18, get.out.now. Or lock your door and hope for the best.

Chapter 2

Solar stood over the bed and the strange figure laid out on it, intermittently healing him with light from his paws and gauging his fatigue. Flare stood by him, so proud of her ice dragon's ability to heal others so quickly. Spyro and Cynder were talking quietly with Ignitus in the corner.

"He's definitely a dragon, but I've never seen anything like this," Ignitus whsipered.

"I kinda get the feeling he isn't really one," Spyro said, looking back at the bed. "I mean, the clothes he's wearing don't look like they're made for him. His tail ripped through the fabric, I don't think that's supposed to happen."

"I'm surprised you recovered from that so quickly," Cynder said, leaning against Spyro. "But I wish you didn't feel those transportations like that..."

There was a low groan and they all walked over to the bedside. Their guest was slowly waking up but he was still in pain.

"Can you hear or see us?" Ignitus asked.

"No...oooooooohhhhh my head..."

Solar put his white paw on their guest's head and put the fingers of his other paw over the newcomer's eyes. The newcomer opened his eyes and shouted in surprise as he saw Solar's claws mere centimeters from his face. Solar gently but forcefully clamped his mouth shut.

"Don't expend your energy, you might knock yourself into a coma."

"If you don't mind, who are you?" Ignitus asked. The guest forced Solar's paw off his mouth and slowly sat up.

"Alex...Alex Lorman."

"And what kind of dragon are you, Alex?" Solar asked.

Alex looked at him oddly. "What? Dragon? I'm not a dragon."

"Oh really? You sure look like one...a bit oddly-built but definitely a dragon."

"I'm a human being!" Alex shouted, frustrated and confused, and as his head suddenly throbbed again he lifted his hand to his head and stopped. He stared at his hand--it was covered in green scales, his shortened fingers tipped with claws, and on his palm and below each finger were tough fleshy pads. He looked at his arm, and suddenly began running his hands over himself. He gasped in shock as he realized he had a tail, scaled in green and tipped with a jagged bolt-like fin. He reached into his shirt and his jaw dropped as he felt wings folded against his back.

"I think you might want this," Solar said, and breathed ice on the floor, creating a perfect mirror. He held it up and Alex's eyes nearly popped from his skull. Instead of the typical 18-almost-19 teenage human boy he half-expected to see, Alex saw a green-scaled humanoid dragon sitting on the bed where he was! He ran his paws over his draconic face, feeling his spiraling orange-yellow horns and shocking-yellow jagged fin-scales along his head and neck.

"Wha...how..." Alex gasped. "How could this be?"

"So you're not really a dragon normally?" Spyro asked, and Alex shook his head.

"I don't get it...I've dimension-jumped before, but this..." He continued studying himself in the mirror in total disbelief. "This is impossible..."

Solar put the mirror down, his eyes full of interest. "Did you say you've travelled between dimensions before?"

"Yeah..." Alex said nervously. "Only my girlfriend and I can do it though...on our last trip she and I were attacked in the dimensional rift, and even though we fought, we got separated. We were trying to keep it from going to another realm..." He shivered. "Our battle has been raging for months..."

"What have you been fighting?" Cynder asked.

"A powerful shadow that seems to control the plagues of every dimension and parallel world," Alex replied, standing up and stretching his legs. "Oh man this shirt is killing me..." He took off his shirt, accidentally ripping it with his horns, and he sighed as he stretched his new wings and felt new muscles at work. He stared at his wings briefly before continuing. "The evil that Christine and I have been fighting is incredibly powerful...somehow we've withstood it but..." He walked over to the window and looked out. "Are...are those...mushrooms?"

"Yes," Ignitus said, walking over to the window, followed by Spyro and Cynder. "I assume this world is far different than yours?"

"By far...where I live, dragons are mere fairy-tales..." He stood back and looked at himself again. "But this...I must be dreaming or something, this is too unreal."

Alex stood at the window, scanning everything in sight before he breathed deeply and turned around with confusion hovering around him. "I don't know what I'm to do here, though. Christine and I were fighting the shadow and got flung apart...and there's something blocking me, I don't think I can easily jump home from here..." His face suddenly changed and he snarled. "Why the hell am I telling any of you any of this?!" he shouted, and they all backed away. "How do I know I can even trust you scalies? I'm leaving!" With that he stepped towards the window and pulled himself through, but he suddenly shook violently and fell back into the room, panting as if from a struggle.

"What was that?" Solar asked.

Alex slowly stood up in shock and confusion. "I...what just...I..." He stood up and leaned against the wall, steadying himself before he looked back at them. "I'm sorry...I don't know what that was..." He clutched his head and clenched his teeth as a sudden high-pitched whine shot through his mind. "Noo...not again...no...STOP!"

Solar rushed to him, stood on his hind legs, and placed his paws on Alex's head, searching. There was a sudden blast of light that surrounded Alex, and the green dragon slumped to the floor, exhausted. Solar stood back, his eyes closed as his mind raced.

"Solar?" Flare asked, walking up next to him. Solar opened his eyes and looked at Alex.

"How often has this happened?"

"Only once before now..." Alex groaned.

"And did it go away as swiftly as this?"

"No...it took me for a whole day last time..."

"I'm afraid something has planted itself in you...I sense a struggle in you."

"I was afraid of that..." Alex moaned, burying his face in his arms. "Oh Christine, we failed after all..."

"Failed?" Cynder asked, coming up next to Alex.

Alex shuddered, holding back tears. "Yes...it's obvious now our last mission failed...now it's only a matter of time..."

"Time for what?" Ignitus asked. Alex merely stood up and turned to the window, ignoring them.

"Let's leave him alone for a bit," Spyro said quietly, and everyone slowly left the room. Alex heard them leave and let a tear fall from his eye. That final struggle had been so painful...so horribly long and painful...and now he'd found out that his suffering hadn't done what it was supposed to have accomplished. Somehow, he knew he could trust these dragons with his problem, but he couldn't draw them into it. Even if his foes were advancing on the Temple, he couldn't let these creatures suffer because of him. He flexed his wings and looked them over, running his paw along the wingskin and feeling the smooth but still scaly texture. He went into a rapid series of punches and kicks, and found he still had his fighting skills even as an anthropomorphic dragon. Getting an idea he whipped his tail around, and yelled as the fin at the end caught him in the back.

"Boy, that was dumb," he said to himself, rubbing himself where he'd been lashed.

That evening, Spyro and Cynder were again by the river. Cynder looked up at Spyro with a warm smile and he kissed her.

"What's on your mind?" he asked, seeing a look in her eyes.

"Well...I think this time we finally succeeded. I've been trying all day not to accidentally stop anything...I think we've finally done it." She wrapped her arms around him and he returned the hug, and she murred as he squeezed her.

"But you still need to get through the night...it hasn't been a full two days yet."

"I think I can manage," she said, resting against him. He wrapped his wing over her and she sighed happily. Spyro loved that content exhalation of hers...she put her head against his chest and he bent his head down, holding her against him. After a few minutes he sensed something else on her mind, and let her pull away a bit. "Spyro...I'm worried about Alex...we don't know anything about him other than that he's not really a dragon."

"I know," Spyro said, looking off through the forest. "Somehow...I think we can trust him. I'm not completely sure, but there's...just something about him. Kinda like when Solar went nuts, I wasn't sure about him but there was something there I knew was good."

"But Alex...we don't know if he's good or bad. I mean, for all we know he might have been disillusioned into fighting alongside the shadow he thinks he's fighting against."

"And you said I worry too much," Spyro said, nudging her. She giggled and lay against him, wrapping her tail around his. "Well, if you're really worried about them, how about we sleep out here? You hardly move at all when we sleep outside."

It took Cynder a few seconds to realize he had changed the topic, but she didn't show it as Spyro flopped onto his back. Cynder fell back alongside him and draped her upper body over him, and Spyro slowly and tenderly massaged her neck and wing-bases, eliciting another content sigh from her as she slowly drifted off. He could feel her heartbeat against him, and he grinned to himself--even after two years, when at rest their hearts beat in perfect rythym with each other. He wrapped his arms around her and slowly lost himself to sleep.

Back in the temple, Alex and Solar were talking. Flare was out on the balcony staring at the stars--one of her favorite pasttimes. After a while, Solar again healed Alex and the green dragon-teen sat against the wall of the dojo to think, getting comfortable on the soft plants that grew along the edges. Solar walked out onto the balcony and lay down next to Flare with a grunt. She giggled and tented her wing over him.

"You sound tired."

Solar snorted. "I'm frustrated...Alex doesn't seem to want to give me straight answers, but in order to give him proper attention I need to know more about what's plaguing him. I might not be able to fully heal him, but without more knowledge I can't relieve any of his pain for long."

Flare giggled again and lay down next to him. "Oh Solar...you don't need to keep healing everyone every time they're in discomfort. You'll wear yourself out."

He half-smiled and kissed her. "Flare, how do you stand me?"

"Easily. It's a little thing called 'love', I know you know of it."

"Oh do I," he said with a grin, putting his arm around her. "How's my dragoness doing?"

She knew what he was really asking. "I think she and her ice monster have gotten lucky at last." She nuzzled against him and lay down with a yawn, and Solar put his long neck over hers and she murred under his weight, turning a bit to her side so she could put her arm around him. They gradually drifted off to sleep.

In the dojo, Alex couldn't sleep. He'd slept in harder places for three years, but for some reason his mind just wouldn't shut down. With a frustrated groan he yawned, stretched, and quietly wandered the temple, eventually ambling out into the underground tunnels leading outside. He didn't go very far, though--he wanted to make sure he had a place to run to if something happened. He came to a tall chamber with stone pillars that had been knocked down, and looked around. Years ago, Spyro had first seen Ignitus fight here, and the air still seemed to have a bit of the old dragon's Fire Fury energy hovering in it. Alex looked at the ceiling and figured he had enough room to try flying in here, but as he flapped his wings he swiftly grew exhausted.

"Crap...new muscles..." he groaned to himself, remembering the same soreness when he was training in martial arts. As he leaned against the wall and rested, he began remembering Christine...where could she be now? She was definitely out there...he heard her calling to him, but where was she?

****

Cynder woke up the next morning with a strange but not uncomfortable feeling in her midsection and she smiled sleepily to herself as she felt her mate's muscular frame breathing peacefully under her head. She slowly lifted herself off Spyro, tensing her muscles as she stretched, and with a little giggle kissed him. He smiled faintly and yawned, opening his eyes and smiling at her.

"Good morning," Cynder whispered to him, and he ran his paw along her face.

"It sure is...you seem happy this morning."

"I have you, why wouldn't I be happy?"

He smiled and pressed his fingers against her neck, rubbing her scales, and she sighed and put her head back down on him. "You seem different today..." he said hintingly, and she side-glanced at him with a wink.

"I feel different today."

Spyro wrapped his arms around her and she closed her eyes. "Looks like you're gonna hafta take it easy for a while now."

"Yeah...but I don't think right now I should start getting lazy. We've still got plenty of time."

Spyro slowly got up and after stretching his tired legs and wings he went off to find some breakfast for them. He came back dragging a large mushroom cap laden with berries, and Cynder ate more than half of what he brought back, highly unusual for her.

"Hungry much?" Spyro asked, surprised.

"I'm eating for more than one," she said with a sly grin. "I'm sorry...I didn't realize I was so hungry."

Spyro chuckled and ate the rest as she slid the mushroom-tray to him. They both took a long, slow drink at the river and flew back to the Temple. They passed Solar in the air and stopped to talk a bit.

"Where are you going?" Spyro asked.

"Well, Flare's hungrier than normal..." Spyro and Cynder looked at each other and Solar smirked. "Aaaahhh...you too, huh?"

Cynder smiled shyly. "Yeah..."

"Could you two do me a favor and stay with Flare? I hate leaving her alone even for a tiny bit."

Spyro and Cynder nodded and rushed off to the Temple as Solar dove into the forest. For a while, Cynder and Flare chatted, and Spyro just hung out around them, occasionally interjecting something when he was brought up or verifying a question from Cynder.

"Spyro, why don't you go and train for a bit?" Cynder eventually suggested, seeing that Spyro was a little uncomfortable around the two chatting females. He nodded and walked off, but stopped as he passed by the tall carvings along the ramp to the dojo. Something was nearby...

"You know I'm here, don't you?" Alex called down from where he sat. Spyro jumped and looked up with a laugh.

"Yeah I figured someone was around."

"Gets boring, doesn't it? Hanging around while your girlfriend talks?"

"Kinda...wait, how'd you get up there?"

"I climbed," Alex said, casually looking over his new claws. "I can't fly yet, my muscles aren't strong enough."

"Well, we'll just hafta get you strengthened up. C'mon, wanna try some elemental breaths?"

"Sure I guess." To Spyro's surprise Alex leapt off the tall stone carving and landed easily nearby, even though it was a very long fall for someone his height. Alex followed Spyro into the dojo, where Volteer happened to be waiting.

"Ah yes! Spyro and..."

"Alex."

"Alex yes of course, a green dragon named Alex. Astonishing!" Volteer's eyes were excitedly scanning over Alex and his mouth was doing quite a clip with his talking speed. "Such a mysterious physique and classification of dragon...Spyro, I assume he's harnessed the capability of aerial dynamics and elemental exhalation?"

"Wh...wha?" Alex asked, looking at Spyro.

"He's asking of you can fly or breathe anything."

"Oh...well, not yet. I've only been a dragon for a day by now..."

"Simply astounding...I must research into this intriguing matter later. Only been a dragon for a day, yet so advanced in years..."

"I take it he's a science freak?" Alex whispered. Spyro rolled his eyes as Volteer turned around. Alex jumped and steadied himself as the floor shook and watched as the huge statue began to sink into the floor. Volteer took his position in the doorway and proceeded to (very wordily) instruct Alex on harnessing elemental power. By the time they were done Alex was able to get a few sparks, but nothing significant. It was positive he was an electric dragon, though, as Volteer had guessed by the design of his tail-tip and the fin-scales running along his head and back.

"There is always tomorrow," Volteer said as the statue rose back into place. "Though I would enjoy learning more about this...you say you've only been a dragon for a day?"

"Yes," Alex replied, weary from the training.

"Volteer, not now," came Ignitus' voice as he entered the room. "Alex needs rest, I can see that even from here. Spyro, can you take him somewhere quiet? Keep an eye on him, though. Solar wants to keep that odd occurance in check."

"I'm old enough to look after myself...PLENTY old enough," Alex grumbled, but followed Spyro into his and Cynder's room. Cynder came in not too long after and leaned against Spyro as he and Alex silently looked out the window. Alex sighed a bit nervously. "It may sound awkward, but I assume you two are...mates or something?"

"Happiest ones ever," Cynder sighed, and Spyro rested his head on hers with a grin.

"And Solar and...what's her name...Flare?"

"Yep."

"Are there any other dragons around here?"

Spyro sighed. "No...it's just us. Technically Solar and Flare aren't even natives of this realm...they came from the parallel dragon world two years ago. Really long story."

"Why do you ask, though?" Cynder asked, looking over Spyro at Alex.

"Dunno, just...been seeing you guys together today." His brow furrowed and he looked at the floor, leaning on the wall and sticking his paws into his pants pockets. "This is all just so weird..." There was a long silence before he spoke again. "If you don't mind, may I ask what exactly happened two years ago? I heard Solar talking about it but..."

Spyro took a deep breath and stood back from the window. "You want the long or short version?"

"Short I guess, details will probably filter in while I'm here."

Spyro and Cynder then proceeded to give Alex the general ideas of what had happened--the new prophecy, the light crystals, Solar appearing and his search for Flare, Spyro and Cynder becoming mates, and ultimately their battle and victory over the Dark Master. They left out the details on the final blow to his power, but Alex didn't seem to notice.

"The Dark Master...all-powerful dragon gone corrupt..." Alex mumbled to himself, his eyes closed in thought.

"Do you know of him?" Spyro asked, cocking his head curiously at Alex.

"Yes, sadly, I know quite a bit about him..." Alex sighed and paced in a small circle. "I heard mention of him many times in my three-year adventure...him and many others scattered across the dimensions. The enemy I fought was himself in charge of the Dark Master...though I doubt your evil nemesis ever knew he was being remotely influenced. I had heard about Cynder before...any relation?" He looked at Cynder as he finished.

"The one and only."

Alex's eyes widened and he looked at Spyro. "You married the Shadow Serpent?!"

"Shadow Serpent?" Spyro asked, looking at Cynder. "Boy, you sure gained a reputation." Cynder giggled.

"Alex, I was under the Dark Master's control for a while, but Spyro freed me and I've been helping him ever since."

Alex looked at her oddly. "Shouldn't you be...well...bigger?"

"When I freed her, the Dark Master's corruption fell from her," Spyro explained. "And she became this cute little thing sitting next to me." He pulled her towards him and she rubbed her cheek against his with a laugh.

Alex was still skeptical, but he shrugged. "Now I'm lost...I know I'm here for some reason, but I don't have any idea what that reason might be. After hearing your story I'm starting to wonder if the shadow can even recover any of the Dark Master's power."

"When were you fighting it?"

"Christine and I were travelling between dimensions, pursuing it and battling it constantly for almost two weeks--luckily out in the dimensional rifts we don't need to eat or sleep... It finally blasted us and...well..." He looked down at himself, then sighed. "I sure hope Christine is okay..."

"Do you think she's here?" Cynder asked.

"I don't know. I really wish I did..." He slumped to the floor. "I was gonna ask her to marry me, too...even though we're both technically 18..."

"What's so bad about 18?" Spyro asked, confused.

"For humans, that's the youngest we can 'officially' be before...oh man, how to put it in your terms...before we can become mates." He didn't seem to like putting it that way. "Usually it's more acceptable when we're 21 or something...but I think three years without aging is still three years...more than long enough." His hand went to his head and he groaned.

"Alex, you should really sleep," Cynder said. Alex nodded and fell to the floor, his arms under his head. "Not quite what I meant, but..." She followed Spyro out of the room and the two young dragons hung out for a bit with Solar and Flare. Spyro and Solar eventually had to leave to get their girls some more food. Solar grunted with a laugh.

"They're not even three days pregnant and already we're doing food-runs..."

Spyro was a bit confused--this was all new for him and Cynder. "You mean this isn't some weird thing going on?"

"No, sadly...we're gonna be doing this for a while."

"But doing it for them, I guess it's worth it."

Solar half-smiled and gave a little nod. "By the way, how's Alex doing?"

"He's still getting used to being a dragon...and he misses Christine. Kinda reminds me of when you first came here."

Solar sighed, remembering that. "Yeah, but Flare was thrown here, I knew that for a fact. Alex doesn't know where his friend was hurled...she could be in the rift still for all he knows."

After a while they returned, nearly dropping the large mushroom caps they were using to carry the food. Flare and Cynder ate but insisted on leaving some for Spyro and Solar for their trouble. After much prodding the two males finally gave in and ate the rest, and Alex ambled outside as the four dragons sat down and talked. They noticed him and Cynder sat to the side a bit, leaving room for him. Alex shook his head and stood off a bit.

"Hey, come on, join us!" Flare said, beckoning him with her paw. He shrugged and sat down between Cynder and Solar.

"So, Alex, still getting used to being a dragon?" Solar asked.

"It's gonna take me a while...I'm definitely not used to having scaly skin. Or horns. Or wings."

"What do humans look like then?" Spyro asked. Alex whistled with a roll of his eyes.

"Oh boy...how do I explain this..." He looked down, thinking, and eventually shook his head. "I can't explain it very well, but humans don't have horns, scales, tails, wings, and they can't breathe fire...or other elements for that matter."

"Sounds kinda odd..."

"Yeah, well, to me dragons sound kinda odd...I mean, before Christine and I were hit by that lightning bolt, we never thought there were other worlds with creatures like you."

"Wait, wait, wait," Solar said, shaking his head. "Lightning bolt?"

Alex sighed. "Yes...I took Christine out to the local cliffside to look over the ocean on her birthday, and out of nowhere we were both struck by weird green lightning. When we were healed enough to leave the hospital, on the way home Christine suddenly disappears, then reappears mere seconds later out of breath and talking about being gone for days in another world..."

At that moment they all heard a strange, low moaning sound in the air that made their ears throb. Alex jumped to his feet and raced to the edge of the balcony.

"What's going on?" Cynder yelled over the noise, and Spyro draped his wing across her.

"I hope it's not..." Alex started, then surprised them all as he did a high backflip away from the railing. At the apex of his jump he was thrown to the ground roughly, but he landed on all fours and leapt back up to his feet as a figure swirling with dark energy materialized above them. Alex looked at him and snarled, baring his teeth. "I thought I had finished you off for good last time."

"Our battle is far from over, pathetic mortal," the dark enemy said, and in his hand appeared a long sword.

Instantly, all four dragons leapt at the shadowy foe, but their attacks went straight through him. He laughed, shaking his head, and flung them down with a dark blast. Before he could react Alex had leapt up, and with one swift, continuous motion somehow grabbed him and snapped his neck in a headlock, then hurled him back-first onto the edge of the railing around the balcony. Alex landed with a pained grunt and watched as the shadow re-configured himself with a groan.

"I told you never to harrass me again," Alex growled. The shadow shook its head, then suddenly flashed forward and held Alex up by the neck, choking him.

"I see you have gained new strength here in this realm, but even that cannot save you now."

Spyro and Cynder suddenly roared and the shadow dissipated with a loud wail of defeat as it was ripped to shreds by powerful beams of light. Alex fell to the floor, gasping and rubbing his throat as he struggled to his knees. He looked at Spyro and Cynder weakly.

"Thanks..."

"What was that thing?" Flare asked.

Alex sighed and sat back, still catching his breath. "I guess I should tell you about my last inter-dimensional journey..."

________________________________________

sorry guys, it's not hunter. though I think I've figured a way to work him in, seeing how at least three people wanna see him.

be on the lookout for some "reader participation" for future chapters but don't ask what it is, I won't tell :P all in good time.