Rise of the Guardians Book 3 Ch 2

                                     Rise of the Guardians

                                       Book III Awakening
                   
                                  Chapter II: Brygeon Returns

                    It has been at least 20 years since Spyro and Cynder started their family and a horrendous future was revealed to them. Vulgar was informed of the possible destabilization of their alliance and thought of ways to avoid war. It has Spyro and Cynder more worried about one of tier most threatening enemies rising from the dead. Across the planet, the Kreltarian Republic was celebrating the events of their victory in the old war. They went from a mass celebration to the memorial service of their fallen heroes.
            In the city center, peoples from all of the nations, who lived in the Kreltarian city, gathered to pay their respects. What they were unaware of was that they were about to meet a legendary dragon, who was presumed dead for over 3 centuries.
            City Councilman Herman Valdore made his speech, “Ladies and gentlemen, we gather here in Trean Park to honor those who gave their lives to ensure the conflict was resolved between the Vangaul and Kreltarian nations; and thanks to those brave souls, we are united as one. Among all of these soldiers, only one managed to do the impossible. He sacrificed himself to end Tyrant’s reign of evil and ended the war. But in doing so, he saved the life of the dragoness he loved. That dragon’s name is Brygeon Leo Kreyos; High Marshall of the Kreltarian Army.”
            He pointed back to the statues of the fallen Dragon warriors; the young Ulfheres from 2879, Barr Kreyos, Cycloness, and Brygeon. The statue of Brygeon stood tall with his nose pointed to the sky, as if he were looking to the heavens above. At the base of his statue was a red crystal husk from whence Devora slept in. But she was gone and no one knew where she was.
            Valdore ordered, “If you all would please bow your heads in a moment of silence.”
            As everyone bowed their heads to pay their respects, Brygeon’s statue began to shimmer with light. The light became brighter and brighter, burning the stone. Some of the citizens began to take notice. Valdore turned to see what it was, seeing that his attention was now drawn to it. The light spat out the legendary dragon himself and a loud gasp was heard. Brygeon was alive.
            “I can’t believe it.” Valdore said to himself in shock.
            Everyone crowded around the gold dragon to see if he was alive. The dragon groaned while waking from his sleep. His eyes opened to see a large number of people surrounding him in amazement. He jumped out of his skin and lifted to his feet. Brygeon looked around at the tall metallic sky scrapers and did not recognize the place.
            “Where am I? What is this place?” he asked while backing up to his statue.
           “You are in the Kreltarian capitol.” Valdore spoke as he introduced himself, “I am the main city councilman, Herman Valdore. I tell you what; it is an honor to finally meet you in person, High Marshall Kreyos.”
           Brygeon asked in suspicion, “You know me?”
           One person approached the dragon, “Know you? Why, you’re a legendary dragon warrior who fought and killed Tyverus.”
           “This can’t be home; I don’t recognize any part of the city.” Brygeon said, “It’s not the same.”
   Just then a familiar voice came from his left, “You’ve been gone a very long time old friend.”
           Brygeon turned around to see Drako approaching him. He was the first familiar face he’s seen yet. Only with time comes age, Drako wasn’t a teenager anymore; his facial spikes were longer, his horns larger and his body larger in muscle stature.
           “I’ll be damned, Drako. It’s good to see you again.” Brygeon spoke in a sign of relief, “What happened here? Where’s Devora? I want to speak to her.”
           “Let me explain it one thing at a time, Brygeon. To answer your first question; Peace is what happened here. Since Tyrant died Spyro and Cynder unified the eastern continent and now we live as one. Spyro is the planet’s main leader. And you ask where Devora is…” taking a deep breath, “No one knows. She disappeared after you died and again 20 years ago. She waited for your return.”
           Brygeon felt his heart drop when he heard that. He thought he royally screwed up as he placed the top of his head on the statue base.  
           “I made a promise to her. I blew it.” Brygeon blamed himself, “Twenty years she waited and I never came.”
           “She understood what had to be done, Brygeon. I’m sure of it.” Drako stated to cheer Brygeon up a little, “You had to sacrifice yourself in order to protect Devora and end the war.”
           Brygeon turned away from his statue and asked, “Is there any way I can get in contact with my friends and family.”
           Drako took the lead as he answered, “Follow me.”
           As Drako walked North West of the central park, the crowd parted out of his way. Brygeon followed behind, knowing that his return would be a little hard for anyone to take in. After all he has been ‘dead’ for quite a while.
           Meanwhile on the western continent, Barritan, Lesseras and Devora had unknowingly entered ground zero of the final battle site against the Dark Army. Devora was being a little defiant and for good reason too. Barritan ordered her to kill two of her cousins, Hydro and Cole. She refused to do so, mainly due to the fact that Barritan tried to pin Brygeon’s murder on her. The forest was back with soot and ash; the leaves were dark green and the air was dry. There still remained a scent of burnt corpses that hung in the air since the last appearance from the Dark Army.
           “I will not stand here and have you disobey my orders, Devora!” Barritan yelled, “You were brought up as a Vangaul dragon to follow the orders…”
           “I was never a Vangaul Dragon, Barritan.  If you haven’t noticed, the Vangaul Empire has fallen now, so that means I don’t listen to scum like you.” Devora yelled back.
           Barritan attacked Devora from behind and slammed the side of her head into the side of the ground. He pinned her body down with his to keep her from retaliating.
           “You listen here, you stubborn bitch. I call the shots here from now on. You will do what I say, when I say and how I say. You serve under no flag except mine.” Barritan growled, “If you dishonor me, I will kill you nice and slow.”
           Barritan got off as Devora slowly lifted to her feet. Lesseras walked up to help Devora.
   “Why in the hell did he wake me from my sleep?” Devora asked.
           Lesseras answered, “You know Barritan. He likes to screw up a wet dream. Let’s keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid.”
They followed the cynical lightning dragon into the clearing where the Hell Gate once stood. Most of the stone décor had toppled and fragmented with age over the years. The podium where the Generals stood was still intact; it’s just that most of it was covered in vines and weeds.
                   “Is it me or are you guys getting a heavy creepy vibe from all of this here.” Less spoke.
                   “Search the area.” Barritan ordered.
                   Devora, knowing the stories told by parents and relatives, warned, “Don’t touch anything.”
                   “Paranoid a little bit aren’t you, Devora?” Barritan smirked.
                   “It’s not paranoia; I just don’t like the looks of our surroundings.” She replied.
                   As they looked around at the demonic décor and structures, Lesseras came across what looked to be a blood stained dragon skeleton. Some of the bones appeared to be damaged a little indicating that this creature died in battle. The neck was snapped in two and 9 of the ribs were shattered. The skull itself looked ominously evil; from the horn/spike crowning all the way down to its teeth.
                   “Hey guys, any idea who this guy was?” Less asked loudly.
Barritan asked, “Who?”
                   Devora joined as she and Barritan looked at the skeleton. None of them could get any idea on who this dragon was during his life nor could they figure out his deformed skull structure. Devora was feeling a bad vibe when she spotted the skeleton. Almost as if she knew about its past and what it had done. Every female dragoness is capable of seeking answers from the past, present and future. Cynder possessed this power when she and Spyro were enduring an exhausting journey in the Lost Land. She could almost see the face of this dragon before it’s time of death.
                   “We shouldn’t be here. This place is heavy with pure evil.” She spoke in a dreadful tone.
                   “Oh please, don’t even start with that crap.” Barritan brushed off.
                   Lesseras knew Devora for a long time. Devora had somewhat of a fearful look on her face. She was still; already knowing that this dragon could very well be brought from the dead. Lesseras knew something was troubling Devora as he slowly lifted his left hand to poke her on the shoulder.
                   “Uh, Dev; you okay over there?” he asked as the tip of his claw made contact with her skin.
                   Devora jumped out of her skin from the sharp touch of Lesseras’s claw.
                   “Sorry.” He apologized.
                   Barritan had parted from the two dragons and headed to the podium. Resting on the head of the podium was the Book of Resurrection. It was to be combined with the Staff of Darkness to break the chains bounding Satan to Hell. But the only remnant of any pure-blood demon was the dragon skeleton so those plans are now ash. Barritan was about to unleash an evil that nearly killed Spyro and Cynder. He approached the book and gazed at the cover. It had the four marks of the forever dead Demon Warriors surrounding the symbol of Hell. However three of the marks were blood burnt leaving only Drakiyos’s mark. Barritan felt the need to open it and read what was inside the cover.
                   Devora looked to see the traitor tampering with one of the relics.
                   “Barritan, don’t!” she yelled.
                   But it was too late; he had already opened the book which released a surge of energy that spooled and spun to the dead skeleton. Once the energy came in contact with the bones, they began to regenerate living tissue. Lungs, the heart, blood veins and other major organs began form and operate. Muscle groups formed in place and then the skin began to form with its color dark purple. The eyes flew open but were not glowing red. Instead they were a brown color; indicating that his demonic soul had not yet been released.
                   “WHAT DID I JUST SAY!!!?”Devora yelled at Barritan.
                   Drakiyos stood up as his armor collected to his body. Barritan stepped away from the podium while Devora and Lesseras quickly stepped back from the demon. He looked around to see that the environment had greatly changed.
                   “Who is the one that resurrected me?” Drakiyos asked.
                   No one answered, they were too scared to even speak. Barritan however managed to get passed it.
                   He answered, “I did. If I am not mistaken you are supposed to serve me, right?”
                   Drakiyos looked to Barritan and began to walk intimidatingly towards him. When Drakiyos got within arm’s length from him, Barritan began backing off.
                   The demon glared at Barritan growled, “No; you serve me, got it. I will not lower myself to a pathetic mortal’s status by serving you. I am a god.”
                   “What do we call you?” Devora asked, “It is common courtesy to introduce one’s self.”
Drakiyos turned to Devora and Lesseras and said, “My name is Drakiyos; General Drakiyos of the Dark Army.”
                   Devora, once she heard that name and army, dread and regret washed over her. This was the enemy that nearly killed her mother in the past. Spyro and Cynder had destroyed him 300 years ago and now he has returned.
                   “First order of business, I want to find the dragons responsible for my death. I want to show them the true meaning of suffering and pain before I kill them.” Drakiyos growled.
                   Devora and Lesseras began to realize that Barritan had made a huge mistake by bringing him back to life. Drakiyos was on a revenge train to destruction, but for him to set his plans to action he has to start a conflict to blind everyone as a distraction; namely the foreboded war with the Maldorian Federation. On the other side of the planet, Drako had revealed to Brygeon a way to reach the other side of the world without the long flight across the sea. From there he was about to set foot into a land he had never explored before. As if the advanced Kreltarian City wasn’t enough, Brygeon was about to see that the planet’s capital was much larger than that…