Thanks brother.
I've been really productive lately, so here's chapter five and six. Go me!
Chapter Five: An unsuspected gift
Flames was still kneeling in the alleyway, not being able to comprehend what had just happened. He had found his brother, but then he had been beaten badly by him, and was now looking down at a crystallized teardrop.
“How could this happen?†He thought to himself. “The once so gentle and loving dragon that he had loved as his brother. How could this be the same one?â€Â
Flames picked up the teardrop and inspected it closely, wondering what it was for before getting back on his feet again.
“But what could it be for? One teardrop that crystallized itself after being shed.â€Â
There were many questions that bothered Flames, but now was not the time. He had to find his brother again, and make him remember everything. All those times in their childhood that they had had so much fun together. Nothing being able to separate them.
But first, Flames had to find himself a weapon, or he would be defenseless if he had to face someone that had one.
He walked out of the alleyway, letting the sunlight warm him as it danced on his fur, making it glow all the more brilliantly. There has to be a sword smith somewhere in town he thought, so he started looking for one.
After a while of asking around, he finally found a smithy, and made his way inside.
As he stepped into the small smithy, he looked at all the swords hanging on the walls, showing the smiths talents in its full glory.
As Flames looked around, one special sword case caught his eyes. The sword was unlike anything that he had ever seen.
While Flames was looking at the sword, the smith made his way behind him unnoticed because of Flames' attention being on the sword.
“The X-sabre. Truly a piece of art wouldn't you say?†The smith grunted out from behind Flames.
Flames flung around in an instant as he heard someone speaking behind him, facing the Doberman that had been standing behind him.
“It truly is splendid.†Flames replied, trying not to sound too taken aback from the smith sneaking up on him. “Did you do this yourself?â€Â
“That I did. Greatest thing I ever did.†The Doberman looked down at the anthro standing in front of him. Taking a good look at him before continuing. “And I want you to have it. As a gift.â€Â
“What!?†Flames' burst out, not believing what he had just heard. “I can't take it. It is the labor of your finest work. I couldn't possibly...â€Â
“Yes you can. And you will too, before I shove it on you.†The smith started taking down the sword from its case as he spoke.
“But why?†Flames asked, wanting to understand why he was given this magnificent sword.
“Because a wise old fur once told me that I'd give it away to a young lad with fur like fire, needing help on his journey. Of course I thought that he was barking mad. But now I have been proven wrong.†He finished taking down sword, and offered it to Flames. “Here. Take it.â€Â
Flames could but agree to the smiths offer, because he was in the need of a weapon, he simply hadn't been thinking that he'd be given one as magnificent as this one.
“Thank you.â€Â
“Don't mention it. Just promise me that you help your brother, okay?â€Â
Flames looked up at the smith, hearing his words. “How did you?...â€Â
“It's a long story, maybe some other time. Now go. It's getting dark soon. You never know what terrors the night brings with it.â€Â
Chapter Six: A town ablaze
Flames woke up to the sounds of screams coming from throughout the town.
He had found an in to stay in the day before after coming from the smiths shop, and had been sleeping somewhat peacefully until now.
He sat up on the bed, wondering where all the screams were coming from, and made his way to the window, drawing away the curtains so that he could see outside.
As Flames looked out, he couldn't believe what he was seeing. The streets were filled with panicking furs that tried to run away from the town, while others tried to extinguish the fires. The whole town had gone into chaos in mere moments.
Flames quickly pulled some clothes on himself, and grabbing the X-sabre before running
out of his room, making his way out of the inn.
Wondering who in their right mind would do such a thing, Flames ran out into the streets, trying to find out who could do such a horrible thing. Putting a town full of innocent people ablaze with no apparent reason at all...
But as he ran for a while through the burning streets, Flames suddenly heard screams of pain, coming from somewhere nearby. He made his way towards the direction where he had heard the screams from, and before long, he found the reason for the screams.
Flames stopped in shock as he saw Vince cutting down other furs as if they were wheat, but before he could say anything, a dark and grim voice cut through the air.
“So you finally came... I've been waiting for you.â€Â
The dark entity in Vince had noticed Flames' arrival, and was now standing still, looking towards him.
“Brother... How... How COULD YOU!?†The shock in Flames had now turned to anger.
“Because it would draw you out. And frankly. Because you're not my brother.â€Â
“You!...†But before Flames was able to say anything, he noticed that there was something wrong with the whole picture. It was his brother all right standing in front of him, but something was wrong. As he looked at his brother, Flames noticed that his eyes were completely black, and not the usual fiery red that they used to. And that the dragon was emanating a dark glow that was hard to see with the whole town ablaze around them.
Before Flames could come a conclusion about what was happening to Vince, the dragon had lunged himself towards him with an incredible speed, so that Flames had mere seconds to draw out the X-sabre and defend himself. After that, the entity tried to deal a series of quick blows towards Flames, only to see that Flames was parrying most of them. After a while of swords clashing together, the entity saw its chance with Flames' defense growing weaker
while doing some things, so he took his chance and lunged himself towards the fox, making him lose his balance.
Flames stumbled backwards, landing on his rear end as he fell, but managed to keep his defense up while being on the ground, only to have the X-sabre to be thrown away by a powerful blow.
Flames was at out of options. He was both defenseless and had nowhere to run. It looked this would be where he would meet his end. In the middle of a burning town...
Vince raised his sword and aimed straight for Flames' heart, looking at the scared anthro's face with a devilish grin as a loud explosion went off somewhere in town, only making the dragon grin even more.
But as the dragon was about to pierce Flames with his sword, something started emanating a powerful glow from Flames' pocket, stopping the dragon in his attack.
Flames reached into his pocket and drew out the crystallized tear stain that was now shining blue and emanating a powerful light that was almost blinding.
As Flames looked closer at it, he could see an image inside the small crystal, only to regret looking at it and turning his head the other way, as a small tear formed into his eyes.
Inside the crystal, Flames had seen the image of a young dragon, being tortured over and over again, beaten half to death. The dragon, which was his brother no doubt, chained down in a cell.
The images continued, rolling on and on, one worse than the earlier.
Flames looked over at his possessed brother, seeing him stagger slightly backwards, his eyes starting to go back to their original fiery red, instead of having them filled with darkness.
“Brother. Run! I can't stay in control for long!†Vince shouted out suddenly, while fighting to stay in control of his own body.
“I can't just leave you!†Flames shouted back, sadness in his voice. “Let me help you.â€Â
“The only way of helping me right now is by staying alive. Malakar fears what you will become, so he'll try to kill you by any means necessary. So go already!â€Â
Flames let out a sigh before turning around and starting to run away, leaving his brother behind. He grabbed the X-sabre before running out of sight, and made his way into the dark night as an angry roar could be heard from inside the burning town.