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

Chapter 6

Messy

Zaze sighed as he walked down the now busy halls of the Temple. It was no longer quiet as it used to be, as moles were running down the halls, left and right carrying supplies and whatnot. Most were carrying food item and others were carrying kitchen equipment. They must have been preparing for the feast that was going to happen later tonight. Zaze shook his head.

"I hate parties…"

Currently, he was headed to the library, out of all the places in the area. Unlike Spyro and Cynder, he wasn't exactly a hero so he wasn't needed to be out there, showing himself. Likewise, Spyro and Cynder were the heroes of this age so they were kind of required to show themselves. It was for the main reason of quelling obvious rumours that they had died and to no doubt give the faces behind the saviours of the Dragon Realms.

And Zaze…Zaze was nobody in particular.

Zaze was so lost in his thoughts he hadn't realized he was already in the library. Sitting down at one of the chairs, he slumped on the desk lazily, trying to quell his boredom. This time, Sparx wasn't here with him to keep himself entertained. The dragonfly had chosen to stay with his brother, and that he understood clearly.

So here he was, bored to death, just staring at the walls.

"What kind of main character am I?" he asked himself, looking down at the table. "No cares about me! No one even knows who I am!" He threw his paws up, emphasizing his point. And just before the reader could realize that Zaze was breaking the fourth wall, something caught Zaze's attention.

He heard something.

"Huh?" he asked, paying attention this time. There it was again. It was the sound of someone…or something banging something against the bookshelves? He wasn't sure himself, but since he had nothing better to do, he decided to check it out. Walking about, he peered at the corner and saw something he didn't expect. It was Volteer. The Electric Guardian was slumped across the bookshelves, his head resting against the walls. And was he…crying?

"Huh…wh-who's there?!" the Guardian demanded seeing someone peering at the corner. Volteer wiped his eyes and coughed slightly as he regained his composure. Zaze went out of hiding, a look of concern on his face.
"Volteer?" he asked, not really knowing what to do. "Are you okay? …Are you…"
"Yes…" he sighed. "I guess there's no point in hiding it…Yes young dragon…I am crying…"

Dang…and here Zaze thought that the Guardians were emotionless.
Zaze scratched his chin. Then he decided to comfort the poor guy with whatever problem he had. "Uh…want to talk about it? Talking is the best way to close wounds…non-physical anyway."
"Talking is the best way I suppose…come sit here young dragon, beside me."
Zaze nodded, feeling glad that now, he had something to do. Resting beside the Guardian he leaned back the bookshelf and looked at him.
"So what is it?"
"Well you see…I cannot believe I am going to be talking about something abstract like love to a dragon like you."
Zaze chuckled. "I think I can manage." This was Zaze's forte after all. He loved solving other dragons' problems.
"Remember Pyre?"
"The leader; that dragon you were childhood friends with? Yeah, why?"
"And you also remember that dragon that walked up to him?"
"That fire dragon that was doing the head count? Yeah…"
"That was his son…his name is Flame."
Zaze raised a brow. "That was his son? But he had no one by his side. Shouldn't his mate be—"
"By his side, yes…I thought she was just somewhere else, probably doing something."
Zaze kept quiet, listening intently. This was getting rather interesting.
"But I was wrong…I had learned later on when I asked him…that she…died…" Zaze had to strain his ear to hear the latter word. Volteer face was clearly showing the expression of sorrow.
"Volteer, is this dragoness somehow related you?" he asked. Volteer sighed, before continuing.
"Zaze, being a Guardian is a very big responsibility. The honour of being a candidate is enough of a bragging right. You have to devote time and effort to all your studies to become the best you can be in order to earn the title.  And once you decide to walk the path of becoming a Guardian, you have to sacrifice a lot of things…family and your loved ones are one of them."

"Oh…I didn't know…"

Volteer was staring blankly at the floor, his mind clearly basking in the memories of the past. Zaze had never seen the Guardian be so…so…sad. He was always energetic, and was always optimistic. But he was clearly seeing another side of the Guardian he had never expected to see.

"She was beautiful…" he said trailing. "The most beautiful dragoness I had ever seen…we were set to become mates that day…however fate had other things planned. That was also the day the letter came to my parents. Telling them that I was a candidate to become the next Guardian; clearly they were ecstatic. Even I was. It was everything I ever dreamed…but…I also realized the consequences if I were to do so."

Zaze glanced and saw tears welling up in the Guardian's eyes.

"Pyre…Pyre was—you could say a rival of mine for her affections…unlike me, it was unfortunate for him to be not selected. And seeing that I was chosen…I had to let her go…" A small tear dropped down the side of Volteer's face.
"I made him keep a promise. To keep her safe…and as the days went by…and days became weeks…weeks became years…I felt contented to just see her from afar, playing with her hatchling…playing with Flame…he takes so much after her mother."

"Do you hate him?"

Zaze's voice cut through the Guardian's depressed state. "Huh?"
"Do you hate him? Pyre I mean; for failing to keep his promise."
Volteer stared at him for quite a while, clearly thinking deeply about his answer.
"…no. It would be wrong for me to think so. He did his best…"

There was a silence between the two of them, as Volteer wiped his cheeks.

"I don't think I could ever become intimate with anyone ever again…"
Zaze sat up and looked at him. "Why do you say so?"
"I am already alone in this world. I don't want to risk the chance of putting myself out there, only to lose them afterwards."
"But right now is the perfect chance. Peace is evident! Heck we're celebrating it!"
Volteer chuckled. "Ah…youth," he said looking at Zaze. "Something I don't have anymore."
Zaze snorted. "Just because you're old doesn't mean you can't get some."
Volteer raised a brow. "Who are you to say that to me? You have no memories, and you're not even old enough to know how I feel about age; so clearly you cannot be drawing from experience."
Zaze scoffed. "That's beside the point. The point is it's never too late for anyone."
"You think so?"
"I know so. Now come on Volteer; it's best to look ahead, and not backwards."
Volteer smiled at him. "For a dragon so young, you seem to know the right words."
Zaze chuckled. "I try my best."

Then to his surprise, Volteer pulled him into a hug.

"Thank you…talking does help close wounds."
"It does. And you're welcome. Glad I could help a fellow dragon."
Volteer smiled, and then took on the familiar face Zaze knew all too well. "I'll be heading out now." Volteer approached the door and was about to leave but stopped. "And Zaze?"
"Yes?"
"Can we keep this to ourselves? I only share personal things with dragons I consider close to me."
At that moment, Zaze felt special. "Sure."
Volteer smiled back at him before leaving.

Zaze smiled to himself, watching the Guardian leave through the door. He saw a side of the Guardian he never expected to see, or ever thought he had. It made him wonder what the other Guardians past lives were.

"Maybe coming to the library was a good idea…I wonder what the others are doing now? Ah what the heck…" Zaze ran to the door, and saw Volteer halfway down the hall. "Hey Volteer! Wait for me!"
0 0 0 0 0

"Zaze, I overheard you earlier today. Do you really not like parties?" asked the electric guardian.
Zaze scratched his chin. "Yeah Volteer. I don't really like parties. I don't know why, but I feel that I'm not inclined nor excited about it."
"That's too bad. There will be a party tonight."
"The feast? I'll go to eat, but after that, I'll probably head to my room."
"A young dragon such as you shouldn't seclude himself. You should socialize."
"Speak for yourself," said Zaze, glancing up at him. "I'm not good with strangers."
Volteer raised a brow. "Yet you were there earlier talking with me."
"That's a different case," he said. "I'm good with helping other dragons, even if they're strangers. But in terms of attending social gatherings, I'd rather not. It's the gathering that deters me."
"You're not good with crowds then?"
Zaze nodded. "To sum it up, yes. I am not."
"I see."
Zaze looked around and his curiosity got the better of him. "Where are we going anyway?"

They had now reached the large double doors that led outside to the open space outside.

"Warfang Square; you could either help me set the decorations there, or you could go and frolic around with Spyro and Cynder, until later tonight, where we gather there to feast and celebrate."
Zaze looked at him with a dumb stare. "I'd take the latter option."
Volteer chuckled. "Suit yourself then. You know where to find me."

And with that Volteer took off, spreading his wings, and gliding off to his destination.

0 0 0 0 0

Zaze sighed feeling himself bored again. He gave up. Tried hard as he might, he couldn't find Spyro and Cynder outside, or even Sparx. Maybe they were busy doing something; either way, he was tired. Since the feast was later this evening, and it was only a few hours from now, he decided to the best thing he can do.

Take a nap.

Rounding around the corner, he entered his room. But he stopped in his tracks, seeing as something was clearly wrong.

The place was a mess. The cushions where everywhere and the tapestries that hung at the corners of the room, either looked lopsided or were…

Zaze approached the piece of fabric, and examined it. It was burnt. He hummed to himself, thinking deeply and considering everything that has happened. No one in the right mind would mess up a room with no clear motivation.
And the last time he checked, these tapestries and his bed was clearly in perfect order when he left this morning. Some dragon clearly came in, and decided to mess up his room just for the heck of it. He chuckled, realizing who it was.

"I guess I deserve this," he said, gathering the cushions and putting them back in place. He would confront the culprit later, but right now, he wanted to take a nap.

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Author's Notes:
The Volteer Social Link has now been established!

Yes folks; I went there. I really wanted to make this fic different, and I made it different by fleshing out almost all the characters. What do you guys think? Didn't expect that from Volteer now did you?

Cookies to the reviewer who gets the 'Social Link' reference.

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