Disclaimer: I own nothing except my characters. Other canon characters are owned by their respective companies.

Exclaimer: To people who don't like the story, just don't read it.

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Legacy of Legends 2

Chapter 47

The Dark Dragon

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

The three dragons and cheetah all looked around to find the source of the voice. Their eyes traced over every nook and cranny; every shadow and cover but didn’t find anything. A cold feeling swept over Zaze. He had felt this familiar feeling over. And to top it off, the voice sounded familiar.

“Who’s there!?” Hunter called out, grabbing an arrow and readying his bow. Everyone equally prepared themselves, feeling the change in the atmosphere.
The voice scoffed at them from the dark. “Pitiful, I expected better.”
“Huh?”

But that was when he attacked. There was a flash of light that blinded all of them, seeing as they had been so used to the dark. Zaze reeled over, dazed from the bright light. He proceeded to rely on his other senses, which was his sense of hearing. But the only sound he could hear was Hunter’s screams. The cheetah didn’t know what hit him, as he was blinded as well. But what he did know was that, one moment he was standing, and then he was suddenly struck at his chest, sending him flying and hitting the cave wall at the far side. The pain registered only a few seconds later as his body crashed down to the floor.

“Hunter!” Zaze called out, but the cheetah didn’t reply. He blinked a few times; relieved that finally his eyes were adjusting back again.
“Where is he!?” Crombe called out, looking around frantically.
“Latis!” The ice dragoness turned her head and looked at Zaze. “Stay behind us!”
“Okay!” Crombe scrutinized the area. But the voice seemed to have just been bouncing everywhere. He couldn’t trace it. The three glanced at Hunter who looked like he was out cold behind them. Zaze mentally smacked himself for being caught off guard.
“It’s been a long time hasn’t it? Did you miss me…Zaze?” the voice spoke again.
The dragons glanced at Zaze who looked a little shock. He was right. It was him.
“How are you still alive!?”
“I am sorry to disappoint you…”

Crombe readied himself as a figure came into his view. His eyes narrowed as he recognized who it was.

“…brother.”

Zaze and Latis were mentally shaken as they stared at their mysterious assailant. It was none other than Zaze’s brother, Phase.

“Surprised?”
Crombe scoffed. “I never liked you.”
“Touche,” he replied before glancing at Zaze.
“We meet again, Zaze, how long has it been since you tried and FAILED to kill me?” he asked rhetorically.
“B-but…it can’t be,” he managed to sputter out. “You’re my brother!”
Phase blinked for a moment and then chuckled. “What’s so funny!?” Crombe asked.
“Did you all honestly think that was all real?”
“What are you saying?” Latis asked, finding her voice again.
“What I am saying is that, I was lying through my teeth. And you ate all that stuff like it was candy.” He smiled more to himself as he continued, “You should have seen the look on your faces. It was priceless.”
“Wait, so what you said about me was all a lie? About my past!? Everything!?”
“Yes, you imbecile; I thought you were smarter than that, Zaze.” Zaze looked down to the ground, unable to respond. He was still busy trying to comprehend what was happening.
“Why!? Why did you lie!?” Latis asked, feeling betrayed.
“Why?” Phase asked mockingly. He shrugged. “Simple really; I needed a good cover story. And making stuff up is a lot easier. Besides, you’d all believe me anyway. Seeing as I WAS supposedly the brother of Zaze,” he said with a plastic grin. “He came close though,” he glanced at Crombe, “at breaking my cover. I’ll give him that much.”
Crombe growled at him. “So that was you? I thought I was hearing voices.”
“Are you talking about the time where you went into that room?” Latis asked.
Crombe nodded. He remembered that all too well.

0 = 0 = 0

The three of them kept walking down the hall, passing by doors leading to empty classrooms and whatnot. There was one door however, that made Crombe stop in his tracks. He heard a voice that sounded familiar.

“What was that?” Ember said, looking around. “It sounded someone was shouting.”
“Yeah, I think so too,” Latis said, turning her head.

Crombe however, was focused on something different.

“But no. They’re still useful so I think I’ll keep them around for a while.”
“What about Spyro and Cynder?”
“I’ll—“

The door swung open, and Crombe glanced in. He saw…

Nothing.

0 = 0 = 0

Now he knew for sure he wasn’t hearing things. But that was when a thought crossed Crombe’s mind. But Latis got to it first.

“Where’s Celsius!?” Latis was getting worried about her other friend.
“Don’t worry about her,” Phase said, before he tapped the ground. The three of them turned their heads to see that something was floating towards Phase. Once it came into the light, they all saw who it was. It was Celsius! And she was tied up to what seemed like a floating rock, by a sort of greenish looking rope. “She’s still hanging around.”
“You backstabber!” she spat out, seeing Phase. “WE MADE A DEAL!”
“Correction, HAD a deal,” said Phase.
“You guys had a deal!?” Zaze was baffled. This was getting more convoluted as the conversation went on. Questions were being raised more than answers. He was getting confused.
“Celsius was working with you!?”
“What is going on?” Crombe added rhetorically

With that, Phase waved his paw, and Celsius was floated back into the corner. Her voice was muffled as ice went to cover it.

“What are you doing with Spyro and the others?” Crombe asked, wanting to get some answers.
“I needed them. All it took was to call forth the Behemoth, add in a few grublins, make enough of a ruckus, and they come running.”
“So you were behind those!” Zaze said. He could feel his blood beginning to boil. The idea of betrayal was tough on him.
“Like I said, I needed them. After our last bout together, I barely had power in me to keep myself in one piece. That gem of theirs isn’t any ordinary gem.” The three glanced back warily and looked at it. The gem did look like something they haven’t seen before. “That gem saps the energy of whoever is encased in it. The Electric and Fire guardian were a bonus. I only wanted Spyro and Cynder. But I wasn’t one to bypass opportunity when it presented itself. Plus, I think they would make good lawn ornaments. Don’t you think?”
“Not if I have anything to say about it!” Zaze said before turning back and charging at the gem.
Phase shook his head and sighed. “You know, you could just ask me nicely.”
Crombe smirked. At least he had a sense of humor. Albeit a horrible one; he decided to humor him. “Would you kindly please take them out then?”

Phase beamed. “There! Was that so hard?” He then proceeded to tap the floor with his paw.

Zaze, who was oblivious to this exchange, was running full steam ahead. He needed to get his friends out of the gem. He was so focused at what he was doing he didn’t even hear Latis shout at him. He only stopped, barely in time, as the crystal gem shattered into a million pieces; the shards disintegrating into dust. Five bodies crashed down to the floor with a loud thud. Latis immediately rushed over and checked on them. Zaze turned his head to see Phase smirking. Keeping his guard up, he glanced at Latis who was checking the dragons’ pulses.

“Thank goodness they’re okay,” she replied, shaking Cynder. “Wake up! Hey! Wake up!”
“See!” Phase raised his paws innocently. “I didn’t harm them at all!”
“Yeah, right,” Crombe replied, growling at him. “What do you want from us!?”
“Want from you?” Phase chuckled to himself. “As if I’d ever want anything from you; YOU on the other paw though.” Crombe raised his brow. “Last time I checked, you wanted something from me.”
His brows narrowed. “What are you talking about?”
“Back at the campsite?”

0 = 0 = 0

“All I ask is that, you let me help you.”
He’s brow rose. “And what if I do?”
“You could have all the power you could possibly imagine.”
“What’s the catch?”

The dragon chuckled. “Catch? It depends. How much are you willing to sacrifice in order for you to get the revenge you so wanted?”

Crombe closed his eyes, and thought this through. The question never really occurred to him. How much was he willing to sacrifice for his mission?

For revenge?

For justice?

“It seems you still have yet a decision. I understand. I shall leave you be.”
“And when I have one? How can I find you?”
The dragon smiled. “It is not a problem. You will find me, when the time is right.”

0 = 0 = 0

“And that time is now,” said Phase with a grin. “It all comes full circle.”
Crombe huffed. “In that case, my answer is no.”
The electric dragon visibly looked disappointed. “And to think, you had potential.”
“Whatever your plans are, I am not part of it! These are my friends! And I’ll protect them!” Crombe angled himself into a fighting stance, backing his words up.
Phase snorted. “If only you knew…”
“What was that?”
“If only you knew,” Phase repeated. “These so called friends you have. Well…friend actually. Tell me, can you still trust someone, even after knowing what they did?”
“I can,” answered Crombe. “I did it with Cynder. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t easy.”
“True,” Phase replied. “But how about the other one though?”
Crombe’s brow rose. “What are you talking about?”

Back at Latis and Zaze, the ice dragoness had successfully revived the five dragons, and even the cheetah that had passed out. Sparx was at the side, trying to make his voice sound normal again. Spyro and Cynder looked visibly tired, as well as the two Guardians who were there. The four dragons were in no shape to fight at all. Hunter on the other hand quickly stood beside Zaze, ready for action.

Phase ignored Crombe’s question and spoke to the group at the back. “Glad you six could join us,” Phase said, “How was your sleep?”
“Screw off,” Spyro replied, growling at him. Volteer who was behind them was a bit surprised at the language of the young dragon. But he wasn’t going to reprimand him now. He himself wanted the dragon to just disappear at the moment.
“Cranky in the morning eh?” Phase teased. “How about you kitty cat?”
“I admit, that hurt; but it won’t happen again,” replied Hunter.
“For someone that is outnumbered, you talk to too much,” Volteer spoke up.
“And for someone who is an old fart like you talk like that,” Phase spat back, “you speak as if you’re actually a match for me.”

It was one thing to be insulted for his age, but to be talked down with smugness was a whole new thing entirely. Volteer was the Electric Guardian for a reason. And he was about to show that reason to Phase when a paw held him back. He turned his head and saw Flare shake her head.

“Don’t. I have a bad feeling about this.” Volteer huffed and backed down. “And besides, we’re in no shape to fight him.”
Volteer gave Phase one last fleeting look, before backing down completely. Flare had a point.
Phase shrugged and shook his head. “Well, it was nice talking to you all. But it’s time for me to say goodbye,” he then gave them a vicious grin, “Because you’re all going to die down here.” He raised his paw and pointed at Zaze. “Starting with you.”

Zaze smirked. He was itching for a fight. He wanted to wipe that smug grin off his face.

“Have it your way then.” Zaze roared and charged at Phase, running at him, full steam ahead.
“Zaze wait!” Latis called after him, but was stopped as the ground shook.

Pillars of rock jutted out from the ground and emitted what seemed like an electrical force field that reached up to the ceiling. It crackled with live purple hued electricity that sparked with elemental energy. Every now and then, it would flash with a tinge of black that felt all too familiar. Crombe, Latis, Spyro and the others could only do nothing as they were separated by an electrical wall. Any attempts at trying to get through would only lead to electrocution.

“What are we going to do!?” Cynder shouted, angry at the fact that they were sitting out from the fight.
“There’s nothing we can do,” said Volteer keeping level headed. “This form of elemental energy is tainted with Darkness. This Dark Dragon is not someone we should trifle with.”
“Darkness?” Sparx asked, finally finding his voice to be normal again. “Now that you mention it, it does remind me of what Spyro looked like when he went all crazy.” Spyro huffed.
“But we can’t just leave Zaze in there!” Crombe added.
Flare sighed. “We know, Crombe, we’ll think of something.”
“ZAZE!” Latis shouted, grabbing everyone’s attention.
“What is it!?” Hunter shouted, before turning to look at what she was pointing at.

Although unable to pass through, they were still allowed to see through the wall of electricity.

And the sight wasn’t pretty.

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Author's Notes:
Yep. It was Phase.

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