[Closed] Belly of the Beast: The Final Stretch!

[holdyourhorns]

Who: Spyro, Noa Kaiba, Seto Kaiba
What: Off to meet the Ghost Dragon!
Where: The caverns beneath Magicademy
When: June (someday after the Twilight Ball)
Warning: Ghost derg may or may not be unfriendly, dunno

It’s right after Spyro gets Noa properly back to his cognitive senses when the golem forms from the cavern walls and attacks. As far as the tenaciously fearless dragon was concerned, the thing resembled one of the Earthshapers from Avalar. And while he charged forward to meet it head-on with his horns, the dragon’s companion wasn’t as equipped for what was obviously a fight, not enough to do anything else besides panic.

(Which is fair. Really.)

Luckily the fight didn’t stretch into an epic of the ages. Hits were exchanged and Spyro couldn’t afford to take more than one or two glancing blows, let alone get squashed into the ground, but his attacks were enough to make the being of rock stumble here and there. No more and no less, especially since the thing certainly was more sturdy compared to actual Earthshapers. The dragon minds where Noa (and the random penguins helping the boy) are running around because his horns pack a punch on lots of other stuff.

After they both slip past and when the dragon shoves the lumbering creature from behind with another charge, Spyro is left surprised and relieved when the golem falls inert. After all, he was under the impression it had to be entirely defeated, he totally had an entire plan and everything!

Not that he’ll complain about it.

Noa, after successfully making it past the Golem, is just a little stressed out. There's some heavy breathing. There's some need for calm. While he'll manage to collect himself by the time certain Errands are run, his state is exactly why errands are necessary.

Thus, the penguins are sent to fetch someone who can theoretically help calm the kid down.

By force, if necessary.

The elder Kaiba remains somewhere further back along the path. He remembers there's something...no, someone he sort of cares about down there. But he'd been walking away from something, and going back would be a fool's errand, wouldn't it?

But fools who dare are fools who win, and so a few traveling penguins descend upon him. He's obnoxiously tall and skinny as a rail, so it only takes one strong flipper-chop to the knee to ground him. They pounce, chaining him down and dragging him along the ground. He's too frozen to put up much resistance to their shenanigans, but soon. Soon.

He's silently fuming by the time he's seen again. But hey, the party is back together!

Comments

[blue_ice]

Kaiba is very much an unhappy camper. The blasted penguins finally see fit to untie him now that they've accomplished their task. He might not have been bitten, or chased, or faced any monsters of note, but being dragged across the cavern floor has left him quite the fuming mess.

He sits up and starts in on the first penguin he sees.

"What in the nine layers caused you to consider that acceptable? It'll take me weeks to repair these holes! I ought to make you pay---"

He looks up, spots the brother and dragon in front of him, and lets out a low hiss. They haven't been kidnapped, but he's missed something else, judging by Noa's expression. His expression is flat, voice a very controlled calm.

"What happened."

[noasark]

"...Something was affecting our minds," Noa notes dully, though his wide eyes speak of something else. "...That didn't work though...so they tried a golem..."

That was the something else. One of the penguins is presently trying to offer some vague comfort, patting at the boy's shoulder- he seems quite unaware of the motion however, or even of most of reality, just staring forward as he breathes in and out. Count to five, in, count to five, out...

This is supposed to work why isn't it working.

[holdyourhorns]

Spyro totally tried to offer some comfort earlier, but it didn't work either. While waiting for the small army of penguins to retrieve Seto, he's been busying himself with swiping his tongue across his scales in the manner resembling dog or cat behavior.

Because while fighting things without a certain dragonfly's protection happens when said magic gets literally exhausted without more butterflies to keep it going... it's still not fun, so Spyro pays special attention to the areas that feel absolutely sore and bruised.

But immediately after Noa speaks, the dragon ceases the grooming to cut in with his own piece on the matter- "I think all of this are tests! To see if we're worthy to meet with them?"

And he stretches just before he continues... ow. "I thought we had to smash that giant lug to bits, but whoever made it seemed pretty satisfied just when we got past it."

Which was mostly following after Noa's influence so that he could avoid the punches better.

[blue_ice]

Kaiba sucked in a sharp breath. That was right. They were tests. And this was their quest that he had unceremoniously butted in on, only to leave when it got difficult...

...oh, this was uncomfortable.

"I'll bring up the rear. You're the ones who earned the right. I'll wait...just in case."

He clenches his fist so tightly he draws a little blood, but that's no big deal. He'll shake it off and take his position, avoiding their gazes.

[noasark]

That.

Somehow that of all things catches his attention.

"...you're not coming with?"

Of course that's what catches his attention.

[holdyourhorns]

"You know there's a reason why I've been picking up the slack for the both of you right?"

Well okay maybe he doesn't have the implied camaraderie with Seto, but Noa cares and he considers the boy a friend- so it's enough.

[blue_ice]

"No. I'll be there. I won't leave you again...I'll fight it with everything I have this time."

His voice is tight. He really, really hates to admit to any of this. "But the most important thing is that this meeting goes well. I don't want my failing to drag you two down. I'll watch, but I won't take an active role unless the situation calls for it."

[noasark]

"Tch." Well. At least Noa is standing now. It's...something. "As if you're the only one dragging things down, with that logic..." Bahh, whatever.

... "Let's just finish this, shall we?"

[magicademynpcs]

So you passed my barriers.

Their surroundings melt abruptly, then blur away like a fresh painting dragged through the mud. In its place, nothing -- white fog, so thick they can barely see past each other... save for the two piercing blue lights, eyes staring at them as if from beyond the veil.

Kin of mine, know you this: your traffic with these humans is betrayal. I say now and without dissembling that humans are responsible for the death of dragonkind. Though you and they be- Even voiceless, the dragon pronounces a word that humans simply do not have the anatomy to replicate -- they will be forced onto that path as certainty. Knowing this, will you still speak of what brings you to transgress in my demesne?

[holdyourhorns]

"Is that what the Scourge of Gaole was? My friends aren't from here and things are different back at my home in the Dragon Realms."

Spyro stands tall despite the surrounding ominousness. Because he doesn't want to dare allow fear to show on his face ever again. Especially while he's in the middle of vouching for the Kaiba stepbros.

"Most of the natives haven't been that nice to us 'Sundered' anyway."

[blue_ice]

Kaiba watches the proceedings with clenched teeth. The sight of it is just as awe-inspiring as it was the first time, but the words he does understand cause the hairs on the back of his neck to prickle. How dare anyone call him a brute with incurable bloodlust.

He takes a step closer to Noa and glances at him briefly before lifting his head.

"He's right. We were brought here by a misfired spell, and it's our goal to return to our worlds, not to harm anyone. We won't raise our wands against you---we respect you too much for that, and logically we realize it'd be a fool's swiftly-ended errand to try."

It was largely Noa's idea to come here, so he'll step back and let his brother speak.

[noasark]

Ulp.

Noa is suddenly very aware of how small he is, particularly in all of this. And there were an abundance of reasons for him to come here- one, naturally, was curiousity. He couldn't help but know, and what stranger mystery than the dragon who fought the 'thing' in the sky and then hid beneath the school? He couldn't deny the other reasons of course. Was it injured? Was it waiting for something else?

Also, he sort of intended to stay in this world but,

"Perhaps a greater concern would be why you feel we would be forced onto such a path to begin with," he ultimately states. "Regardless of character, or intent. We were not even aware these chambers were properly your territory- what we saw was a great and powerful being fighting a monstrosity in the sky, before disappearing. With no indication of whether or not they were even unharmed. Whether or not they needed assistance themselves."

Noa swallows, and wills himself not to move. It's hard.

Frankly, he's a little scared. But he does manage to press on. "Why do you feel that those of us brought here, will inevitably fall to that path? Is there truly nothing we could do to instead achieve the reverse?"

Protect them, perhaps?

[magicademynpcs]

The dragon squeezes its eyes shut, as if this sudden flood of words is too much for it. Dragons live at a different pace than humans; speeding itself up to their brief, fragile flickers of life is exhausting even when dead.

So little you know of history. You wish peace? Assume your proper position now, then. Pledge your body and soul to service of dragonkind. Serve me and all our kind. You humans call it 'slavery', and welcome it not as a rule. Has that changed, in the years I have slept in death? Do you Sundered accede to your subservient place, will you allow dragonkind to reclaim you without quarrel?

[holdyourhorns]

Thank goodness for that because this young one wouldn't have had nearly the attention span anyway.

So with an internally strained level of care, Spyro listens intently as the spirit speaks and doesn't look immediately affronted or appalled by the talk of dragons ruling over humans. Anastara was his first exposure to non-Neanderthals and unintelligible druids.

"I'm willing to listen to a valuable history lesson. Because you're saying you want... them to serve... us?"

[blue_ice]

Kaiba feels his mind reeling, and he instinctively moves closer to Noa. He admires dragons as a general rule, yes, but...no, not like that. Definitely not like that. It's taking everything he has not to immediately lash out. The situation's too precarious for that.

He nods and takes his position behind Spyro...still standing, but aiming for a neutral expression

"I'd like to know more about the terms."

Kaiba's not entirely sure what he's doing here...but for now, he'll let the small dragon take the lead. His word undoubtedly means more than either of theirs. But from his place in the background, he'll observe and try to avoid the traps.

[noasark]

Noa narrows his eyes as the Dragon speaks, his own arms held stiffly at his sides. "Indeed- particularly since 'you Sundered' could refer to more than just the three of us here," he adds lowly. "And I refuse to speak away the rights of any other than myself, especially without their consent," the boy announces with a clear tone.

It is likewise clear to Noa that Spyro will need to take the floor for this debate. He'll remain quiet as the two dragons converse, at least for now.

[magicademynpcs]

Of course you only speak for you. One translucent head goes to its temple, rubbing at the pain growing behind it. How would that go? I emerge to the surface, inform everyone else that a human agreed to plunge his entire race back into slavery, and they just all go along with it? Let's dispense with the idea that I'm engaged in some foolish verbal chicanery, if we may. I don't need to do that sort of thing.

These humans are really hard on its air of implacable power.

Finally opening its eyes again, the ghost faces its living cousin. Have you not noticed they are our inferiors? In strength, in power, in lifespan, in magic. Pitiful flesh. Weak muscles. No flight. Inability to wield true magic. Foolish. Uninformed. They serve no value and no purpose other than as slaves to us. Though they escaped that fate once, they shall be bound to it once more. Whether they will or no. Willing would simply be easier.

[holdyourhorns]

"I have plenty of friends missing a few of those categories or all the above, true. But it doesn't mean they're worthless to me," he fires back indignantly. Which isn't making a good job of keeping all of his cool, but baring a bit of audacity here shouldn't be catastrophic if the spirit values him as a fellow dragon that much.

Because how dare this jerk indirectly insult beings like Sparx, his friends in Avalar, and fellow Sundered? HOW DARE.

"How about we let them think about it before tying up any souls? The three of us leave and they'll get back to you on that later." Not.

Spyro peers behind him back at the Kaiba stepbros, already making a small gesture that they really should find a way to high-tail it out of here. And directed still to the ghost he adds, "No need to jump straight into doing things the hard way, right?"

[blue_ice]

Kaiba makes a mental note to thank him later. He's doing a fine job.

This is one terrifying mess, and he's afraid for what will happen to Noa if he doesn't get them out. It's a terrifying thing, but he'll have to try.

Magic might be safer...but he'll be able to detect it, won't he? It's safer to get away. He rolls up his sleeves, looks as if he's being contemplative for a moment...and then reaches for Noa, prepared to sprint. Let's go.

Boy i hope we haven't been playing ghosts all summer

[noasark]

Noa, unfortunately, does not quite hear what Spyro is saying. After the Dragon's words his hearing was filled with the roar of his own pulse as anger built, the declarations coming far too close to words he had said as a supercomputer in the past.

Seto is reaching for him.

If he makes contact, Noa jerks back with clenched fists. "There's no need at all," Noa growls, catching the last of Spyro's words with little context or care other than a hook for his own. "Not for this. Perhaps humans were right to call your terms slavery!" He snarls, unable to care about shortening his words for the dragon before them. He has no patience after all, to spell it out for them over time.

"At the very least, you're not even fit to command one, let alone all! A ruler doesn't exist to be served and exalted! They exist to serve and care for the people they have come to watch over! They are someone to whom DUTY falls, not superiority! And if you think I intend to watch someone who claims such 'greatness' over me make the same mistakes I did as something other than human, you can think again! For while we are certainly flawed, at least I understood that there was hope among them!"

....Quietly, Adelai seems tempted to clap from where he's sitting on Noa's back.

He also hopes they don't get swallowed in mist.

[magicademynpcs]

The dragon tilts is head slightly at the younger boy's outburst.

Yes. They were right to call it slavery. It is definitely slavery. It blinks slowly. I didn't think I was being unclear on that subject. Humanity exists to be dragonkind's slaves.

Widening his regard to all three of them, the dragon then says, You are free to go as you desire. It does me little good to force the three of you into unwilling slavery at the moment. You'd be royal pains about it, with the rebelling and the disobedience and all. I prefer to deal with larger numbers at once. Enslaving this entire island would be ideal, which will incidentally catch the three of you as well.

[holdyourhorns]

With that, Spyro just puffs an offended snort at the ghost. How quickly the senile old spirit changes their tune when the young and living dragon disagrees with those views.

"You heard him guys, we're outta here."