A Slave's Freedom Chapter 12: The Cure

The Cure

Back at the Country House:

“Take me with you, come on you know you need me” said a determined black dragoness.

There was still a debate who was going, but Fireball still said he, Nina and Ralf would go, no one else needed to go.

But Bruce said as he agreed with Seleena “if your gut is correct Corrobis will have more of those creatures out there”.

“Bring them on, I prefer a straight fight” said a bold Fireball.

“Moron!” said Seleena as she threw an apple at his head “think boy, think!”

Fireball rubbed his head and said “look if Corrobis is after Nina chances are his tracking us and he has already sent someone to locate Nina and get her, now I can protect her, but he may try and aim at my daughter to get to me and possible Nina, as he knows she cares for life over her's, if we all go charging off who is going to protect her?”

Bruce sighed and said “I stay like I agreed, but Seleena can go with you guys as she knows how to fight just as good”.

And so it was decided, Bruce was to remain in the house while Fireball, Nina, Ralf and Seleena would go to the Tribe Lands, Eddy would be dropped at the boarder to keep an eye from a far.

Later Outside:

Seleena was gathering a few things to get ready for the journey until this shadow like figure appeared behind her.

“Found ya!” said a childish female voice, as this claw grabbed Seleena and started attacking her.

Seleena knew who this was and said as she threw the female off her “Mirage you haven't changed”.

She began to fight back and the two fought each other.

Much later:

Fireball got outside and dragon transformed, lowering himself down to Ralf, Nina and Eddy as they climbed on.

But Seleena wasn't there and Fireball wondered where she was.

Until she came out from around the corner, brushing herself down, “that takes care of that” she said as she looked like she had a fight with someone.

“What happened to you?” Nina asked.

“Corrobis tried to send one of his fools against me, big mistake” she explained as she climbed on.

“Where is it now?”

“Six feet under” stated Seleena, in other words she had delt with the problem and buried it.

Fireball then asked her “are you ok to join us still?”

“Of course”.

Bruce came out of the house and said as he went to see them off “look I am not going to do the whole lecture of how you should becareful but well... just hurry back, ok?”

Eddy then said as he knew Bruce was trying to say take care “are you worried about us?”

“No... look... just get the cure for Isabel and make sure Nina returns safe” said the grey wolf while keeping to his none soft attitude.

Fireball then said as she smiled, knowing what Bruce was trying to say “don't worry we becareful, just you stay safe too”.

“Hey you are talking about Bruce here” said Eddy as he reminded him that he can use his fist if he wanted to.

“Of course, his the hero” said Seleena which was meant to be a jest, but to Nina it sounded odd, like if she meant something by it.

Bruce then said to them as he wanted them to get moving “look just shut up and go!”

“Yes sir!” said Seleena as she saluted him.

Fireball then said as he looked at Bruce “keep in the house, this house has been blessed so no evil can enter but however if one should challenge this go to the cupboard in the kitchen, there is three bottles of white liquid, use a small drop on your hands and rub it on yourself, it will protect you from the dark energy”.

Nodding Bruce then said “I'm counting on you aswell”.

“I know, I promise I'll be back, we will keep her safe, you have my word” and Fireball began to beat his wings, causing a gust that made Bruce back away abit and the dragon took off into the air, heading towards the desert lands of the Tribes.

Flying across the skies:

The group crossed the boarders between the Village and the Tribe Lands.

Fireball used his dragon sight to look for anything while Nina explained about the Tribes to the two from what she remembered.

As she explained Seleena then asked if there was any language they spoke and Nina told her they spoke in another language, but however she said that shouldn't be a problem.

Fireball then stated that he could understand those who speak in strange tongues, thanks to his dragon eye acting as a translator, but however wondered how they were with outsiders and dragons.

Nina then said to him that they should be fine, besides the tribes were long gone.

Seleena didn't act at all that surprised by this news, it was like she knew, which didn't make sense to Nina, how could she know?

But Fireball wondered what Nina meant by long gone and so Nina told him that they were no longer around, that they had been wiped out.

“The perfect army...” muttered Seleena.

Ralf who heard this and asked “for Corrobis?”

Seleena nodded and stated Corrobis had the powers of his father Anubis, there for could rise the dead to his own use.

Nina however shock her head and said “they would resist his power, if anything it would anger them, Corrobis be wise not to try to raise them”.

“I wonder this is why Corro was so afraid?” muttered Seleena.

Fireball then asked as he heard this “Corro is afraid?”

“Um...” Seleena stopped as she paused, looking like if she had said something she shouldn't have.

“You ok?” asked Eddy.

“Of course, just me thinking of my time in Corrobis cell and how I would hear things, and some of those are... well... very haunting”.

Nina wasn't buying the story and whispered to Fireball “land and watchout, something does not make sense”.

Nodding Fireball landed between the boarders and Eddy got down from him.

Eddy said he would let them know if he saw anything.

Seleena then jumped down, suggesting they go on foot.

Nina asked why all the sudden but Fireball told her to stay on his back as he would carry her, but Ralf got down and walked with Seleena.

As the four crossed the hot lands Nina looked around slowly and said as she had a bad feeling “I don't like this”.

Then Nina suddenly had a thought about the trap Corrobis had set and said to Fireball with warning “Fireball stop!”

But too late this large scorpion came out of the sands and had grabbed hold of Fireball's foot with it's large claws, flipping him over, forcing Nina off him.

It then pinned Fireball down while this large scarab surfaced from the sands also, spraying Fireball with this sticky slime that stopped him from flying.

Nina was going to call Azura but was knocked over by the scorpion's tail.

Eddy could see what was going on and said as he was afraid for his friends “oh man, this doesn't look good”.

“No boy, it doesn't” said a cold voice.

Eddy looked around slowly to see this bird woman stand before him, it was Siren.

Gulping Eddy made a guess and said “you set this up, right?”

Siren shook her head and said “no... my master however did and someone else”.

“Who?” asked Eddy.

In the sands Nina got up and said as she wondered where Seleena was “Seleena where are you?”

“I'm here Nina” said the dragoness as she stood there, looking at Fireball and the two monsters holding him down.

Ralf who got up from the attack brushed himself down and said “Nina call Azura”.

“I wouldn't do that! White!” said the Dragoness.

Nina looked at her, wondering why she wasn't helping until it clicked, she had this planned all the long “Seleena, why?”

“Your kind is so easily tricked and even Fireball and your friends were” she said in a sinister voice.

“You betrayed us?”

“I was never on your side in the first place, if that is of anything to you, infact why don't you watch as I show you my real form?” she then began to change into in a woman that was black cat looking with feathered wings, one that wore ancient looking robes, a golden like head piece and had golden like jewels on her.

She was one of Corrobis generals called Mirage, one with the ability to change her appearance to anything she chooses.

“So wolf girl, how do you find me?” taunted the woman.

Nina then asked “who are you?”

“I'm surprised you are not asking where your friend is” said the woman.

That was a good point, where was Seleena? Was she left at the house and this woman had taken her place? Or was this woman the one they rescued instead of Seleena? But surly Nina would of sensed something and Fireball would of realised.

“The silly woman shouldn't of gone out of the house for fresh air, then I wouldn't have to beat her to the ground”.

Nina listened as she told how she fought with Seleena and then buried her alive in the ground, without the group knowing.

Siren who was over hearing this asked Eddy as she got a bottle of this red liquid, mixed with feathers out “how fast can you run?”

Eddy wasn't sure why she was asking and said “very fast, why?”

Siren gave the liquid to him and said “run as fast as you can, tell Bruce to boil that till it turns black then put it in Isabel's mouth when cool, but a word of warning he will have to fight the curse as it will try and fight with him”.

Not sure to take it Eddy slowly took it and asked “why are you giving this to us?”

“It will save her life, what does it matter to why I gave it?” snapped the woman.

She then looked at the situation and said as she was going to do something to help Fireball and Nina “now go, I will take care of things here”.

Eddy looked at her with surprise and she then said as a request “tell that grey wolf, if I don't make it, that he is alright”.

She then walked on into the area where Nina, Ralf and Fireball were.

Looking at her before he ran Eddy smiled and said with a jest “Ralf was right, you are a crazy lady”, and he ran off at very fast speed.

Fireball was struggling with the two monsters and tried to fight them off him, but they had him pinned and at their mercy.

“Oh how it is a shame that your dragon friend is going to die painfully” mocked Mirage as she felt confident of victory.

“Scorpana's sting is more deadly, she would kill him with ease, not without letting him suffer first from the effects of the poison and then she will eat him alive”.

Scorpana was the Scorpion's name and Vandle was the Scarab's name.

“I am wondering if we needed the War Hawks to aid us? Vandle and Scorpana should be able to do the job” laughed the woman.

Nina then said as she held the pendent “you are too confident, Mirage”, she then went to call on Azura but Mirage forced her down with her power, interested in how she knew her name.

“Now now little girl, wait your turn... but you can tell me how you knew my name?”

Then this black wave struck at her, forcing her to fall over.

Nina looked as she recognised the wave and saw Siren standing their with her talon raised.

Siren saved her, why? She thought.

“What are you waiting for and invitation? Call the dragon” ordered Siren.

Nina held the pendent and called out to Azura “Azura!”, and with a flash this blue dragon appeared and flew down.

“Save Fireball, Azura” ordered Nina and Azura did so by attacking Scorpana and Vandle with his talons and large tail, forcing them away from Fireball, causing the sand to fly as he attacks.

Ralf covered his mouth from the dust of the sand raising due to the large creatures fighting.

The sand went over Fireball and caused the sticky slime to mix with the sand, making it easy for him to break free.

Mirage got up, angry of Siren's betrayal and even more angry to see both Fireball and Azura fighting.

“War Hawks, aid me!” she ordered as the two War Hawks that Corrobis had sent came down and attacked both Fireball and Azura.

She then looked at Nina, Ralf and Siren, pointing her claw at them “you both are finished when I am through with you”

Siren stood infront of the two and said as she was willing to take her on “come on little girl, show me how much you have grown”.

“And you! You betrayed Corrobis, how could you?” asked the woman.

Siren didn't answer and just said “are you going to lecture me little girl or do I have to get the ball rolling?”

“He will never forgive you, he'll hate you and see to it that you are stripped and are made to nothing, nothing but that slave you once were”.

“Talk tough little girl, just remember who it is that will beat you today”.

“Certainly not you”.

But there was this movement in the sand as something quickly moved towards Mirage and then came flying out of the sand at a fast speed, hitting Mirage across the face.

Holding her nose Mirage hissed and looked around, wondering what that was until this angry black dragoness appeared infront of her, grabbing her by the throat.

“Do me a favour” said the dragoness with an unfriendly tone “keep your filth paws off me and don't ever bury me alive again!”, and she punch her across the face.

Nina seeing this said as she was glad to see this dragoness “Seleena it is good you showed up”.

Seleena looked at Nina and said “get to safety, this pussy cat is mine”.

Mirage got up and said as she was insulted by her words “I'll give you pussy cat”.

“Get over yourself, you are nothing” said Seleena as she waited for Mirage to attack her, and she did but this time Seleena was ready.

Siren slowly moved Nina and Ralf away from the area and said to them to keep behind her “keep behind me, my power will protect you”.

“Why are you helping us? All the sudden?” asked Nina who was not too sure about Siren, as she knew how clever and cunning she was.

“Because a stupid wolf was right, I do have a heart” said Siren as she recalled Nina being kind to her, showing her compassion when she was thought to be dead, “even though you both should of finished me off there and then”.

“We thought you were?” said Ralf.

“Corrobis is the son of Anubis? Where have you been?” mocked the woman.

“What about those pets?”

“Sadly Corrobis controls those, not I”.

Nina looked at her and guessed that she could call up other beast herself “can you summon up a beast?”

“I can summon up some, yes but... I...” she lowered her head as she didn't want to fight with her master's creatures.

Nina could see that she didn't want to fight against her master, but told her “if you want to prove you are on our side then do so by fighting against him, you owe it to yourself don't you?”

Siren then said as she looked at Azura and Fireball fighting, seeing they were doing fine without help “those two dragons are doing fine”.

But Nina felt different as she guessed about Scorpana and Vandle “those two are not just any monsters, they are Corrobis's best elites, those two are powerful, too powerful for the two dragons”.

Commending her intelligence Siren smiled and said “very clever but you are missing one thing”.

She pointed to Fireball's star “you see that? There is a reason for that to be on his Dragon Eye, he holds a great power, one that is powerful it could even destroy cities, lands”.

Nina looked as she saw the two dragons fight and could see Fireball using different elements to fight against the beasts and the two flying War Hawks.

“Do you think they need my help?”

Firing a bolt at one of the Hawks causing it to crash into the sands and turning into dust as it crashed Fireball then whacked into Scorpana's body, almost forcing her down.

“You see, he is not just a dragon, not the ones you know of”.

Nina looked on at Fireball and Azura fighting the creatures, she could see an aqua aura surrounding Fireball and saw him destroying another War Hawk.

“Tell me, has he told you about his Chaotic Forms?”

Looking at her the wolf wondered what she was talking about.

“No? Care to hear the story about it? Care to hear why his daughter was really tooken away?”

Nina felt she was trying to make Fireball look bad, but however listened to her as the Chaotic Forms sounded like something she should know of.

“Ah good, you are listening, that is good”.

Ralf then said as he was listening too “yes but however if you are trying to make Fireball there look bad it will fail” warned the gerbil as he knew better.

“Oh come now, I can't be blamed for that, he had made himself look that way to almost everyone he comes in contact with”.

So Siren told them the story, as it turned out Fireball had two powerful forms known as Chaotic Forms, these dragon forms we very powerful and active when the Dragon Eye was fully active, if the seal was broken or removed.

The first Chaotic form was a white dragon man, with blue markings and red half way on the arms and legs, it was more slim, taller and the abilities where mainly light based attacks, mixed with dark matter, or gravity, even energy shocks, he was also very fast in that form and could use that speed combined with his wings to cut through objects or even creatures like if they were paper.

However the most strongest was his second Chaotic form, this was a very dark green, dragon form, with a lot more body mass, a lot more enhanced abilities, and a very menacing look to it.

In both of those forms he can be like a wild animal or very destructive, he could even destroy armies, even cities with those powers of his in those forms.

When done explaining about those forms she then said about how Fireball used one of those forms in the past on Nina's world.

She told that he got into a fight with the wrong crowd, got pushed to the limit and then because of that changed into his Chaotic Dragonman form, which he used and that took ages to calm down.

Not without attacking the child he cared for, his own daughter, forcing her to use her power and a Chaotic form of her own.

The two clashed like titans and caused a lot of concern back then.

But however his daughter used her power to calm him down as she had more control over her Chaotic form.

Everything seemed fine until someone saw this and told the soldiers, showed them evidence of the use of magic.

Fireball couldn't be proven as he was back to normal before anyone could prove it, but his daughter was caught.

Nina then asked about the people Fireball fought, surly they would have had evidence to prove that Fireball used magic.

But Siren smiled and asked Nina what she thought Fireball did to those people he was fighting in that form, and that's when Nina realised that they were killed.

“And so you have the story, the reason for Isabel being taken and of how you can't turn your back on him, as you never know... he may strike”.

Nina closed her eyes and then said as she guessed about Fireball's reasons for attacking those people “I am willing to bet Fireball had his good reasons, provoked is one but another is that he was most likely protecting his daughter from a group of thugs”.

Siren was impressed with her cleverness and said “ooo you are good, I like your intelligence... partly of course”.

“Also if Fireball was dangerous I think I would of easily known”.

“How?”

“Because I would” said Nina as she trusted her gut feelings, plus her experience with dragons tells her how powerful they were and how they could get stressed if pushed, Fireball was no different, just that he had different abilities compared to some dragons she knew.

“And as for accusing him for his daughter being taken away, that was not his fault and even so it is in the past”.

Ralf then looked at Siren, siding with Nina and said as a reminder to what horrible things Siren did to people, including Isabel “besides that is more then what could be said about you”.

Suddenly there was a howling sound, like something had be awaken, it sounded angry and upset.

Mirage wondered what it was until she saw these ghostly lights appearing and forming shapes of people, the people that used to live in the Tribe Lands, the Tribes themselves, but these were undead, spirits, angry spirits.

Fireball saw them surround Scorpana and Vandle, making noises and sounds, even speaking in a tone he was not familiar with.

Scorpana and Vandle soon quickly went underground, retreating.

Mirage then said as she was angry with the fact they ran away “come back you cowards!”.

The spirits surrounded her and Mirage looked at them, she could see the rage in their eyes and could hear the words they were saying in another tone that was native to their parts, it kept on repeating over and over again.

Seleena then said as she knew what it meant “they are saying you bring the cold, you are killing our lands, take it away, take it away!”.

“What is that suppose to mean?” asked the woman as she backed away.

“Your master is making this hot land cold, tell him to stop so these can rest in peace”.

“What do you know of these?”

“Before you and your people captured me an elder of the village told me a story about these people here, he told me what had happened here, what killed them”.

Mirage was getting scared by the spirits, especially by one that looked like the Chieftain of the Tribes, who stared down at her, angry and chanting words at her, raising his voice loader then the others, just so she could hear and feel not only his anger but his people too, so in the end she made her retreat.

As she made her retreat by changing into a flying cat Seleena looked at the angry spirits and said as she wasn't sure how to speak in their native tongue “spirits calm yourselves, those that bring the cold are gone”.

But even she was being yelled and growled at by the Tribes.

Nina approached them along side Seleena and place her hands infront of the spirits on both sides, she then spoke in a tongue that sounded like theirs, asking them to calm down.

But they kept on saying over and over again about the cold being brung to their lands.

So the White Wolf explained to them what was going on, she told them that she and her group were on a quest to stop the ones who were causing the cold to come to their lands and all the other lands.

One approached her as he recognised her and looked at her, he looked young but yet he was wise, this one was the Chieftain that confronted Mirage and scared her the most.

Nina looked at him as she recognised him and told him that she was sad that she couldn't help the Tribes, and for what happened to them, but she said with a vow she wouldn't allow anyone to suffer like they suffered.

But he looked at her still and then gave her bow while placing one fist on his chest.

Nina bowed back and said that she was sorry that things were different when they first met, she wished they could have been friends instead of one running and one pursuing.

The Tribe Leader placed his ghostly hand on her shoulder and nodded to her, to say he held no hostile aggression towards her.

The White Wolf then asked about a cure for Isabel's curse , she explained to the Tribe Leader what had happened and then he pointed to a desert plant.

Nina walked over to it and asked if this would help, the Chief nodded but also pointed to her, hinting that her blood would be key to saving her.

Understanding this Nina bowed to the Tribe Leader and said to him that she was grateful and also said to him and the rest of the Tribes to go and rest peacefully, she vowed she and the rest of the group would stop Corrobis.

With that said the Tribe Leader nodded and spoke to his people, telling them to leave and they did, disappearing into the dust, along with the Tribe Leader.

Fireball was impressed with what Nina did and said as he changed back into his dragonman form “Nina... wow... how did you?”

Nina gave Fireball the plant and said “you will need my blood for the cure to work”.

Nodding as he took the plant he then asked Nina with concern “are you ok?”

“So you think that you are heroes now?” said a voice that sounded angry, but yet calm at the same time.

The group looked to see this red glow that soon shaped itself into a jackal looking creature, but looking more beast like and intimidating, it was none other then Corrobis, giving them one of his personal messages from a far, using an image that wasn't real.

“This small little victory changes nothing, but however your little resistance against me is becoming an annoyance”.

Nina decided to say something to him as she felt she needed speak up to him, after all it was she he was after “you maybe powerful and are the child from a great God, but you should remember that even the mighty fall”.

“Foolish mortal, you know nothing of a God, you have lived a life in servitude and yet here you are, telling me the mighty will fall? But what should I expect from the dreams of a slave?”

“It is those dreams that make people like myself rise up and stand against people like you, so go on and send your monsters, go on and frighten us, but I can promise you we will stop you every step of the way”.

“You got a lot of courage White, but it will take more then courage to stop me, for I am Corrobis the...” he soon stopped talking when the Chieftain appeared again, only for a moment though as he then looked at the image that Corrobis was making of himself, while Corrobis was asking him “bah what do you want?!”, the Tribe Leader then waved his hand while chanting words and the image soon vanished, but not without Corrobis saying partly “don't you...”, the image was gone before he could say anymore and the Chieftain looked at the group, while doing the sign for when someone talked too much, which Nina smiled as she tried not to laugh, agreeing with him, and the Chieftain disappeared once more.

The sands began to blow and the temperature began to drop slowly. Nina knew something had to be done, more then ever.

So she said to Fireball as she looked at him firmly “promise me this, when all ends when we stop Corrobis... promise me none of this happens again”.

Fireball nods again and said “I intend to stop it and end it, this world is too beautiful and special, to know it is in danger is heartbreaking, so I will do my best to stop it”.

“We will” she said as she placed her fist on his chest, to say they were in this fight together.

Nodding once more Fireball then said as the group went to the boarder of the Tribe lands “of course, but let me do the fighting, you support if we become injured”.

Nina agreed with that idea as she knew Fireball had more training in fighting, but however she was best at healing and supporting so she knew she was best at support, but however would fight if needed to.

But attitudes changed when Fireball looked at Siren “you...”

Ralf stood infront of her and told Fireball to calm down “Fireball hear me out, she came here to give us the cure”.

“In return for what?”

“For her kindness” stated Siren.

“You lie! You care for no one!” said Fireball with distrust.

“What if I told you I could help you?”

“Oh that is cute, really cute, remind me to make notes on this” spoke a sarcastic dragonman.

Nina then said as she wanted to hear her out “tell us then”.

“I have a way of getting Corrobis back to where he came from, at lest there Fireball can fight him off, where here there is too many people who don't know of Fireball and his world, what chance do they have against Corrobis?”

Fireball stood still as he heard her speak of how she knew of a magic door way to Fireball's and her master's world, how she could use that to get him back, but however she would need the aid of a white, thee white, Nina.

Suddenly Fireball just walked up to her and said as he pointed his finger at her, feeling she was lying and was trying to get Nina into her hands so she could bring her back to Corrobis “why don't you go back to your master and tell him he ain't getting her or anyone, nothing?! He is going down so hard he is not going to be standing or knowing which way is up!”

“You be making a mistake not to trust me” warned Siren.

“I be making a mistake to trust you, you are backstabbing, heartless, uncaring and selfish, I will not trust or forgive you, ever!”

Siren then smiled and said to provoke him “want to change into that form and rip me in two, like you did to those people ages ago, or maybe you want to hit me, like you did to your daughter?!”, she was talking about what she told Ralf, when he went out of control in his Chaotic Form.

Fireball then grabbed her by her throat and was going to kill her, but Seleena and Ralf parted the two away, telling them to stop.

Seleena had Fireball grabbed in her arms and held him tight, while Nina was doing the talking, to get him to calm down  “ok just calm down, we have all had a rough day and things are a little stressed now, but fighting won't solve it”.

“Try telling that to her” said Fireball as he calmed down slowly and Seleena released him, “if you trust her, even once then you be a fool”.

“She could be telling the truth”.

“There is no magic door way, the only one is the one...” Fireball soon went silent as he had a thought, “ooo now it makes sense”.

Nina looked at him with wonder.

“Of course....” Fireball then looked at Siren and said as he had a theory “you are trying to get me to tell you where the magic door way is, Corrobis needs it to call forth his army”.

“Corrobis has one idiot but can not use it” stated Siren.

“No but you need two to open a door big enough for Corrobis army to come through, or even... to... merge this world and....” Fireball paused as he thought of the possibilities and said as he then knew what Corrobis was upto “so not only he wants to be free from his armour state but he needs Nina's power to open both door ways so it opens one big void, merging both this world and Wildra together, bring forth his army, making a new world”.

Nina thought for a bit and said as she wondered “is that possible?”

“It is but however it would mean both this world and the other inhabitants would be destroyed, making room for Corrobis to do as he pleases”.

Siren didn't say anything at this point but Fireball knew it was to be true “oh I am right, you scheming little wench, I cut your guts out you piece of filth”.

“Listen to yourself, thinking you know it all, I want to help because I owe it to the wolf, not to you, not anyone else but that wolf, understand?” Siren said with a stressed tone.

But Fireball refused to listen and just said “go home, play with your master, I'm too tired to deal with you”, he then walked off and Seleena did aswell, Azura waited for Nina who was kind of feeling sorry for Siren but understood Fireball's reason.

So getting up on Azura she then said to give Siren a chance “if you can prove you are willing to help us then prove that this plan of yours is real”.

Siren smiled and said “Fireball has a mirror, one that looks odd and different from any other mirrors, one that shows an image of another world or a world that it is linked to, that is one of the magic door ways, follow him you may just find it”.

“That's your proof?”

Siren flew off and said “I'll be waiting if you change your mind, counting how many people die till then”.

She then laughed madly, which made Ralf shiver as he heard everything she said “I hate that mad laugh of hers”.