Steam, Snow, and Smoke

Reena

We flew onto the last island of the Atoll, where the village of Habi encrusted the southern shoreline. The streets were very wide, even though  no large vehicles or dragons were anywhere to be found. There was the stray horse cart or rickshaw, but nothing that should have required so wide an avenue.

"Can we get to the warehouse any faster?" Spyro Prime whined, feeling the gaze of the villagers on him, watching from their windows and porches. "I feel like if I sneeze the wrong way I'll get twenty bullets in the back."

Nehi rolled her eyes. "Now you know that's not going to happen."

"True.  Twenty bullets plus ten arrows would be a better assessment. I haven't seen this many crossbows since- check that. I've NEVER seen this many crossbows." He retorted. "Now, any chance of getting there before the sun sets on us?"

"We've only been here an hour!" I noted. "Although an hour here is certainly quite enough."

"Now there's a woman with some sense on her shoulders. Go in, get the rotor-gear, and get out. You could learn a lot from her, Nehi."

She stared at him. "You're becoming almost as bad as the villagers — now would you please stop complaining? That incident earlier was just a really nasty example. The more urban they get, the less animosity they have."

"You expect me to believe that?" He stopped walking and stood up to her. "If this place is half as bad as you say it is, Reena and I will still be treated like pond scum just because our wings don't have a pretty gossamer look to them. And another thing—"

I stopped for a moment, waiting for Spyro Prime to finish losing his argument to Nehi. Suddenly, thoughts hit me like a hail of bullets, forming a slowly clearing picture. 

Spyro was here! He was in Habi! I set out at a run, knowing instinctively where to go, even though I had never set foot in the city before.

Spyro Prime began to run, too. "Hey! Wait!"

Nehi flittered up to me. "Reena! Slow Down! We need to catch up!" I neither waited or slowed down, but just kept running, leaping over carts and horses without a moment's hesitation. I was weaving a direct but tricky beeline towards the center of town for the others to follow.

Spyro Prime ran on all fours to get within a length of her. I was still running, paying him no heed. "Reena!" He shouted at me, and I did not answer him. "Reena!" He tried again, and I again did not explain to him what I saw. It shouldn't have needed an explanation.

I ran further still, the vision coming to me with clarity. Spyro was at the town center, chained there like some spectacle. I still could not see the center, but I knew it was there.

Spyro Prime tried to stop me one more time. "Reena! What's wrong with you? It's like you're possessed or something!"

"Stay back!" I called to him, tossing my hand out to help get the message across.

I didn't expect what happened next.

KRAK-KAK-KOW!

A beam of lightning erupted from my hand, shocking Spyro Prime and knocking him to the ground, extinguishing his flames as he hit the snow. What had I just done? More importantly, HOW? I knew dragons required no wands for magic, but I never learned how to cast lightning! It was impossible!

I tried to stop then, but my legs no longer responded. They just kept running, running towards the center where my vision had promised Spyro's location.

I reached the center of the village, leaving the others behind. My eyes saw Spyro standing there, chained down, but in the next blink I saw only a pair of poles with chains, the space between them empty. The same space I had seen Spyro chained to only moments ago.

What was happening to me?

I ran towards the posts, running in between them — and I trapped myself. The metal bonds whipped around my ankles and wrists, holding me tightly. I clasped my wings shut to keep them from being chained as well, but they next thing I knew they were spread as well, the wing thumbs strapped to the poles with metal clasps. I gasped, trying to break loose.

Suddenly, my 'vision' left me. I looked at my predicament again, cursing myself. All of the ADC protection measures Mai'ko taught me . . . worthless. I had been mesmerized by my own desire to see Spyro again, and once I gave into the vision, it took a life of its own. The lightning spell and the fact I couldn't stop running were all the vision's doing, and now that I was trapped in whatever goal the vision was intended for, it left me there, vulnerable to the first creature that decided to try something.

Spyro Prime and Nehi caught up a few minutes later — enough time for me to wallow in my own self-pity. Spyro Prime snapped at me. "What the hell happened, Reena?"

"Prima, Spyro was here . . . he was right here . . . I saw it . . . ."

He cocked an eyebrow at me. "Sure you did. You 'saw' Shadow here like I 'saw' a giant black horse at the ruins. You can't believe anything you see around here."

Nehi paled. "You saw a black horse at the ruins?"

"I already said that I 'saw' it. Why do you care?" He looked back at Nehi.

"That horse is no vision. It's—"

Rumble . . . .

The ground shook and trembled below me. I turned my head and gasped as the large avenue no longer seemed so large. A giant horse like creature walked leisurely towards us, with gaggles of followers right behind it. "What the . . . what IS that thing?"

"Hyksos." Nehi spat. "A 'pet' of Sakhmet originally, but I think it was the other way around. Sakhmet was all too mortal . . . Hyksos is three hundred years old and counting. More of a god than Sakhmet ever was."

"Why didn't you say anything earlier?" I looked at her.

"Why would I? He's so easy to spot around here it's not even funny. It's like saying 'Oh, there's snow falling.' Hyksos around here is a given." She shrugged. "Now, why YOU didn't mention it . . ."

"I knew what the ruins were, so I didn't even want to look at them. I missed Hyksos completely." I sighed. "C'mon. Find the keyhole on this thing, already! It should be easy enough to get out of as it was into . . ."

Nehi zapped the poles with her wand. "It didn't work. If it was mechanical, it would have let you loose. Whatever magic is on this machine is strong."

Of course the magic is strong. It is my magic.

I whimpered as I watched Hyksos shrink down so he could stand on all fours and still be as tall as I was on two legs. I could not see his expression on that dark face of his, except for his white eyes. He put a hoof on my back, feeling my muscles twitch.

"Sacrifice?!" I yelped, and tried to jerk free of the bonds again. "I refuse! Let me go!"

"Let go of her, Hyksos." Spyro hissed.

Do you truly think I am so easily scared, Warrior-beyond-his-years? If you want her freed, you will have to free her yourself.

He tested the bonds on my wing thumbs. "Now that's not fair. How am I supposed to get the kind of magic I need to do that?"

If you can prove that you are somehow better than I am, I will free her for you.

I snarled. "Just make me look completely helpless . . . Unf!"

Spyro Prime watched him carefully. "What's your challenge?"

He thought about this for a few moments, and then nodded. "Fair enough." He then turned to Nehi. "While I'm racing, go get that T-scale gear we came for. We'll be able to leave once I outrace him."

Nehi paled, and then walked Spyro aside and away from Hyksos. "Are you sure you want to do this, Prima? Hyksos never makes a fair deal. Even if you win the race, Reena's freedom may still come at a higher price." She warned him, with an unusual quiver in her voice.

"We can't just leave her here." He retorted.

"I was not suggesting that we do so . . . I just think that there is a better method than this."

He looked back towards me for a moment. "There is?"

"I have not figured out what that method is. Give me a few minutes to think of it."

"We don't have that kind of time! Now would you just please get the gear for me? I'm good at this racing stuff— I'll squash him."

"Very well, then. I will get the gear. Be careful, Spyro." With that, she ran off, leaving me alone with Spyro Prime and Hyksos.

Naven

"I can't believe this — we go to all that trouble and we get the wrong dragon? What gives?" I spoke to myself as Cairo sauntered into my office.

"You're the one with that special realm signature technology, you tell me what gives!" She glared at me. "How did you do it?"

"Well, let me explain the technology — it's only been developed recently, so bear with me on this one." I turned the flat screen to face her. "This map right here shows the entirety of the ShadowLands, as far as our signal can go. Each of those little dots right there represents a person's realm signature. There's quite a few of them around the place, as you can see. Most of those are signatures for this realm."

"How did you pinpoint Spyro before?"

"I refined the signature we were looking for— told it not to show signatures of natives and other signatures we knew weren't his. By doing that, we get a much smaller number of dots on the screen for unknown out-of-realmers. Refine it further to include only dragons, and we get 'Spyro'." I pointed to the screen. "See?"

She looked at it quizzically. "But there's two dots."

"There was only one yesterday when I did this . . . never mind, there were two. But they were both right around the area near the temple when I made the first scan, which is where we made the arrest. Apparently, the Spyro for this realm was there as well, and the arresting officer found him first." I shrugged. "A rare mistake. Would you like to cancel the trial until we catch the Spyro we were after?"

She shook her head. "No, no. Maybe if the trial continues as is we can lure the real Spyro to us. Make him feel that he has a duty to turn himself in and save his alternate."

"Interesting plan." I looked at the screen again. "The two that were spotted before have split up. Now one's still around there, while the other's at Floating Atoll."

"Floating Atoll?!" She blinked. "That has to be him. Only that dragon would be brazen enough or ignorant enough to head into Floating Atoll. I'll need to keep a close watch on him and those islands now . . ."

"Why are you so concerned about him being there?"

"Only because if I ignore it, the ADC gets bad press." She looked out the window as well. "In their Scripture, it is written: 'any dragon whoso enter the sacred islands, they shall be sacrificed; for they are foreigners and missionaries against Sakhmet.' Eastern, 5:11. It's been quoted so many times at me by those imbeciles; don't ask." She sighed. "If they succeed, the resulting frenzy of worshippers gives Hyksos a surge of power. It also sends the press howling and the police force hunting — for my blood, naturally. They think there's some connection between the ADC and the Cult of Sahkmet."

"There isn't?" I turned around my chair to make eye contact with her.

"How long have you been my tutelage, Naven? Of course there isn't!" She slammed a fist down on the table. "We both dislike dragons, certainly, but I can think of much better uses for a dragon than sacrificing it! Furthermore, I've worked too hard on this Spyro case to lose him like this."

I stood up, looking at the screen again and watching the little dot at Floating Atoll move. "You know they don't care how much work you put into this case."

"You're right . . . but it's all speculation. I'll worry about that later. They'll only sacrifice by the moonlight; if the dragon hasn't moved from the atoll by then, let me know. In the meantime, I've an appointment to keep." She turned to head out the room. "It does bring back some old memories, though . . .."

Spyro

One of the engineers pointed to the snow-trampled path. "The course around the island is the good ol' training track for skyboats. The start and finish line is just outside of town, and is marked by these wooden pylons connected together with cables. We charm the two of you up to the course so you can't stray off, and there's no inside or outside track to stay to. Run as fast as you can and please try not to knock the pylons down — it's a bitch to rebuild them."

Just remember who provides the wood for those pylons!

"Yeah, Tahla. Now are you going to race or keep bullying?" I snapped at Hyksos as we walked over to the first pylon arch. I heard a slight whump and felt a sheet of pressure as we walked inside the course. I tried backing up again and found that I couldn't — the track fencing did its job, even if it was invisible. Hyksos snorted at me as he walked in.

"Start running as soon as the ring in the pylon lights up green. Ready? Set?"

CLOPPA-CLOPPA-CLOPPA-CLOPPA . . . .

Hyksos ran when the ring turned yellow; that dirty horse bastard!

"GO!"

I charged down the track behind Hyksos, already having to catch up. Apparently having to always do the same to many an egg thief paid off — I trailed that horse's big black butt for at least the first two pylons. I say 'at least' because by the third pylon I had charged right into it. He whinnied in shock.

That hurt . . . you are a cheat, Warrior-beyond-his-years!

"Takes one to know one, Horse-with-massive-ego!" I passed him on the right, watching as his mouth still hung open from the pain.

I stayed ahead of him for the rest of the lap, until we reached the starting pylon again. He was right next to me, racing by, when he slammed into me — and I slammed into the wall.

WHUMP!

"Oww!" I hissed as I swore I left a few scales stuck to the invisible fencing. "Guess I'll have to keep you in line!"

Just try it!

I kept racing after him, but the trick did its work— I was about a pylon behind him. I didn't catch up until the lap was almost over. I zoomed in on that tail of his again . . . and this time, I grabbed his tail like a rope, dug my claws into his hindquarters, and then leapt onto his back!

No jockeying! No jockeying!

"Says who? besides, this is much easier than trying to force your huge self into the wall any other way . . ." I pressed the right side of his neck, trying to make him turn into the wall headfirst. He veered off course for a moment, but resisted and whipped his head to try and shake me loose. 

He ran through the first pylon to start the final lap,  and I ducked to keep my head from hitting a piece of wood hanging from the arch. Or at least I thought I did — the secondary horns caught the wood instead. I picked it up and looked at it. a nailhole, but no nail . . . just a small plank of brittle, dry wood.

I grabbed the narrow end with my left hand and flamed the wood, trying to make it catch fire. Hyksos saw my flame, and whinnied.

"What's the matter? Does Horse-with-massive-ego have a fear of fire?" I snarled at him as I jumped off and started running again, waiving the crude torch dangerously near his right eye. He turned left instictively and hit the wall. I kept running, tossing the torch behind me before I reached the next pylon, hopefully scaring him to step backwards before starting again.

I kept running on ahead, watching the pylons zoom by as I went through the last of the arches. I heard the small celebratory chime as I went by the first pylon again, winning the race. I stood a dozen yards away from the pylon, waiting for Hyksos to charge through himself. He slowed down after finishing the race and then stopped, glaring at me with an intense hatred, nostrils flaring. I backed up into the track wall, and then instantly felt it disappear. With that, I ran towards the poles where Reena was being held.

Reena stood next to them, rubbing her wrists and other various sore spots held by the restraints. "Thanks, Prima. Nehi's on her way here. I saw her."

"Sure about what you saw this time?" I smirked. She snarled. "Er . . . never mind. Of course you are."

"Found the right gear!" Nehi smirked as she flittered up to us. "I recommend that we leave before anything else happens."

"What else could happen?" I headed towards the slipstream of sparkles that would lead us out of here. But as soon as I took the first step, I noticed the sudden appearance of clouds in the sky. Dark, stormy, sky-covering clouds. Lightning flashed overhead, lighting up the sky.

Do you honestly think I let you go so easily? All dragons who tread on these islands are sacrificed to me on these islands. Your fate is no different.

Hyksos grew to his full height, walking right up to the poles. I looked at him incredulously. "Didn't I just outrace you so that Reena wouldn't be sacrificed?"

"I've pulled off much harder stuff to save myself. You're not worth it." I began to run for the slipstream, noting that Reena and Nehi had taken a head start. I watched Hyksos for a few more seconds, and I noticed him laughing just as I ran off.

Try all you will to escape your fate, Warrior-beyond-his-years! The sacrifice will be tonight, with the disciple of Anubis as your executor. He will find his way to you in time.

He's got to be lying. I said to myself as I dove through the slipstream. This is just a scare tactic, he has no such power . . .

Reena ran up to me as I glided out of the portal. "How'd you get away? I thought Hyksos said-"

"He's full of himself." I explained what Hyksos said to me after they left on the way to giving Moneybags the new gear. Nehi'nihil just groaned as soon as she heard it, however. "What?"

Nehi adjusted her feather as she spoke. "Only you could see a scaffold and guillotine, then mistake them for a table and knife. Spyro, take me seriously when I say that Hyksos is dangerous — he gave me hell and back six years ago, and all I did to make him mad was renounce the faith. What he did to me will be nothing compared to what is in store for you."

I shrugged, leaning against Moneybags's sky boat. "He has no power outside of the islands. All I have to do is stay out of the Atoll, and he can't touch me. Simple enough."

Nehi backed away from me. "Yeah . . . you say that . . .."