Shadow's Origins Chapter 16

Look at yourself Shadow, you used to hate other people, avoid them like the plague. Now look at you. He'd completely changed my outlook on life, made me welcome when I felt like an outsider. Been my shoulder to cry on when I was vulnerable and weak. The blanket to warm the cold bitterness of my soul. I had to help him, time to show him how much he means to me. 

I raced after him leaving Spyro to grieve with Cynder, they'd catch up. My feet pounding on the dead ground below, scorched by Malefor's hate. It took me a long time to find him 

"He will pay!!" He cried out, sorrow crackling in his voice. 

"If you go on like this your no better than he is!" I called out "look at what his hate has done! Don't you see, this is just what he wants!" I screamed  

"What do you know, you haven't lost anyone!" He cried turning to me, his words hit me hard. He's right, I don't know what it feels like to lose anyone. 

"I may not, and I don't want to... please Ronco... don't give in to him, this isn't what Ignitus would want." I started getting closer to him, I could see the hate burning inside him "I know you've been through some rough things but... I want to help you..." I continued to get closer. 

"I lost Scaver to Shayla, now Ignitus..." he lowered his head, I didn't know where to put my face. My sister killed someone dear to him... no wonder he's acting out like this. I sat beside him and pulled him close

"The people we care about are never gone, in fact they stay with us." I put my paw on his chest and felt his heart, steadily beating. "They're always with you Ronco, and I'll always be here too." I said gently rubbing my head next to his. I felt his heart thump faster and faster, I then felt him nudge me back for comfort. 

Our moment was soon interrupted by a groan, a tall figure emerged in front of us made up of twisted vines and stone, it's eyes a fiery red. I didn't waste time grabbing its Shadow and threw it into a wall, 

"It's not safe here, let's keep moving" I herd him say as he got back up, he was back on his feet. 

"We need to head for the volcano, just up from that is where we need to go." I confirmed I saw he wasn't to his fullest but he was at least calmer now. 

We ran but not without challenge, every corner something awaited us. More giant monsters at every turn, it was never ending. I felt exhausted, there was nothing nearby to gain some of my energy back so I just kept swinging, we both began to feel the strain. The heat didn't help matters, it just made our exhaustion worse. 

"We should get to higher ground, it's probably cooler than down here." I said looking at the creatures that used their flesh like gliders. 

"Good idea" he confirmed and we both took to the sky. 

The air was warm but not as much as what it was on the ground, and the breeze we got when we flew cooled us down a little. 

"We have to be getting closer by now" I mumbled to myself looking around. Ahead of us we're Spyro and Cynder, and nearby were crystals we could use. I pointed it out to Ronco and we dived to recover our strength, we had a big fight ahead of us. 

"You should have said something" I commented thinking back on what he said about my sister 

"I didn't know how to tell you, it's still painful to bring up..." he sighed 

"My sisters aren't themselves, I didn't realise this was how far they were willing to go." I replied watching as my body was restored by the crystal "you don't have to bare it alone, isn't that what you taught me when I refused to be anything but alone?" I reminded him 

"Your right... I know they're your sisters, I didn't know how you'd feel about it... it's why I kept it to myself." He replied 

"At the moment they're puppets on a string" I commented watching his head sink "I think a lot of us have been there, it's a horrible feeling. But, we can free them and that bloodthirsty side will die. Allowing her to be herself." I stared for a while thinking about my sisters, how different they'd be. 

"You really have changed" he smiled 

"And that's all thanks to you" I smiled back nudging his cheek. 

We started flying again after we recovered and soon caught up to Spyro and Cynder, we'd all had the same idea, get to the volcano. 

"You survived?!" They both yelled in unison

"I don't know how but I did, let's just leave it at that" I replied feeling the guilt rush over me. We walked looking to the fortress ahead of us.

"This is it, there's no turning back now" Spyro boldly stuck out his chest, we were all fearing what was coming but there wasn't anyone else to do this for us. We all had reasons to be here. Mostly for freedom, some felt it was their destiny. My nerves kicked into overdrive, moments away from an insanely powerful dragon and my two sisters as his guards. This wasn't going to be easy.

"My sisters are mine to deal with," I started as I felt their gaze "it's only right I deal with them" I stared at the ground, my sisters had done some cruel things while under his influence, I couldn't allow anyone to try to fight them. I knew better than anyone I could over power them. 

"You need to be careful, your all he needs for an army worth of power." Spyro commented 

"You think I don't know that?!" I barked "this is my fight, do not intervene" I growled flying up to the volcano, I didn't pay much attention to them while flying, I was focused. This fight would be hard, the toughest we'd face. 

There was broken up chunks of land all around the fortress, broken buildings scattered around. The wind up here was cold and stole your breath. I landed in front of the doors staring up at it, there was yet another puzzle to open it. 

"Looks like we have to light some torches." Cynder commented examining the door. 

"Looks like it's up to you boys, I don't have a fire breath at my disposal." I replied feeling Cynder's glare as she was tied to Spyro. 

"Then let's get going." Ronco said taking off to find the torches. 

I sat and watched as they lit up, one, two, three, two. Wait. One went out, someone was interfering and blowing them out. Shimmer... I heard a crash behind me. 

"Having trouble little sister" I heard a familiar voice say sarcastically 

"Shayla, so he sent you after all. I was beginning to think it was a bit too easy" I replied turning to her, I suddenly felt a large amount of pain in the leg I'd previously injured. I roared out in pain, she had me pinned. While I wasn't looking she'd used her steel to go underground and through my leg. 

"It was hard to master I have to say but it worked like a treat." She smiled and whipped me with her tail. 

"Your pathetic, this is how you take me down." I commented watching her face, but she didn't bite. 

"No, it's how I'm taking you in" she smirked stabbing through my wings as a roared feeling the bitter pain. My wings were tied she leaped up and snatched me her claws sharp as razors in my sides. I couldn't grab her shadow from so high. 

I refuse to be a puppet! 

I turned my head and sunk my fangs into her leg and she dropped me like a rock. The ground hurt but considering this isn't my first crash landing I felt fine, I tried to get up but my leg was weak. I limped away, this was all I could muster. It's sad really, this is how it ends. I saw her bolt back for me and I waited. Unleashing my shadowed flame as she got close, she stopped in her tracks and flew off. 

"Shadow?! Are you okay?!" I heard Ronco call as he raced to my aid. 

"Nothing a tough girl like me couldn't handle" I smiled, masking the pain I was in. He shook his head, 

"I shouldn't have left you on your own." He noticed the wedge of steel binding my wings together. "This will hurt" he sighed pulling it out I grunted feeling the sting. As I looked up I saw Shayla was carrying a growling and biting Shimmer. I limped back towards the door and noticed six were lit. 

"I'm not going to be able to go any further..." I sighed "my leg and wings are done for I'd be a sitting duck." I lowered my head and felt him nudge me. I just hope three is enough to stop him...