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Following Uglamore's defection and Nyra's defeat at Mt. Hrath'ghar, the few remaining Pure Ones had set up temporary camp at a cave in Silverveil. Nyra and many of the surviving officers were out scouting for additional recruits, leaving Gebbles and Spyke behind to hold down the fort. It was an easy task, one which even the most bumbling of grunts should have be able to handle.
The duo looked at each other anxiously, then glanced back at a small, empty chamber within the cavern. It wasn't supposed to be empty. It was supposed to contain a hearty supply of various chips, stones, glass and all kinds of scraps. Where had all of the Pure Ones' remaining reserve funds gone?
Panicked bickering and talon-pointing commenced between Gebbles and Spyke, desperately trying to pin the blame on the other. But their arguing was interrupted by a screeching sound on the cave floor off in the distance. They flew over to see where the sound was coming from. It was Nyra! She was slowly shoving a huge, metallic object across the ground. "Well don't just stand there, you worthless fools!" Nyra yelled over. "Help me lug this thing inside!"
"Yes, General Mam!" Gebbles and Spyke replied, before flying over to help.
The three owls stared at the curious device, now positioned at the center of the cavern. It was colored black and had a sleek, glossy sheen, save for a few scratches. A pane of glass covered one side, and through the glass one could see similarly sleek surfaces covered with foreign etchings and indentations.
Gebbles broke the silence. "So... what is it?"
Nyra walked towards the machine and began her explanation. "When I was at Trader Mags, I heard her speak of this wonderful invention of The Others. She described a device that could sear prey without the need for fire, smoke or ash. Without... impurities."
After pausing for a second, she continued. "As Mags spoke, I came to realize the overwhelming power of such a contraption, and so I traded everything the Pure Ones had just to get my talons on it. For this invention is the key that will finally erase the dreadful mistake that is Nyroc from this world! With it, I will finally bury the Guardians of Ga'Hoole and the entire owl kingdom will be at the mercy of the Tytonic Union of the Pure Ones!"
Gebbles and Spyke's gizzards shivered with excitement as Nyra reached the curious machine. She turned to face the grunts and gestured both wings towards the device, striking a dramatic pose.
"BEHOLD! THE HEIR FRYER!"
The subordinates churred maniacally, spurred on by Nyra's infectious enthusiasm. But she wasn't done yet. "So Nyroc wants to give himself the ludicrous title of the Heir of Hoole? His deviance will be his undoing. In response, we shall simply enable the heir fryer to do exactly what it was designed to do, and burn Nyroc to the depths of hagsmire!"
"This is a stupendous opportunity indeed!" Spyke responded with excitement. "Why don't you show us the air fryer in action?"
Nyra strutted around the machine. She placed a claw on the hatch on the front, then open and closed the door enclosing the glass pane. "Mm, yes, quite" she mumbled, but with the intention of being loud enough for her subordinates to hear.
"You two, go fetch me some meat." she then told them. "Rodents, rats, whatever. They'll be necessary for my demonstration of the heir fryer."
"Right away, General Mam!" they said in unison, before flying towards the entrance of the cave.
Once they were gone, Nyra dashed to Stryker's quarters and retrieved the Book of Kreeth. She rapidly flipped through its pages, desperately searching for any kind of vague reference towards the air fryer or inventions of The Others. Failing that, she started reciting whatever spells and incantations she could read from the book at random. Then just as Gebbles and Spyke returned, the air fryer somehow came to life, emitting a dim red light and a dull hum. Nyra tried her hardest to suppress her excitement as she turned to face her subordinates.
"GREAT!" Nyra exclaimed. "Now you there, bring that vole here." she said while gesturing to the rodent Gebbles had in his talons. He dropped the vole at Nyra's claws, who then tossed it inside the air fryer and closed the hatch.
The three huddled around the fryer's window pane, watching the vole cook inside. Gebbles and Spyke saw its fur sizzle, curl and glow with a golden yellow shine. But Nyra perceived something more. Before her eyes, curious red blobs began to take shape beneath the glass. She blinked a few times to make sure she wasn't just seeing things, but the figures remained and became sharper. Foggy silhouettes gave way to intricate rock formations, and two particular figures transformed to resemble owls Nyra knew well: Nyroc and Soren!
Nyra gasped. Is this what they called... fryersight?
"Are you dullards seeing this!?" Nyra called over to Gebbles and Spyke, who shook their heads in confusion. It seemed like only Nyra had the prestigious gift of fryersight. She looked back at the fiery visions, and realized the surrounding rock formations looked identical to those a short distance away from the cave they resided. Nyroc and Soren were close by, and they had no idea the Pure Ones were right under their beaks!
"The heir fryer has revealed to me a most delectable opportunity" Nyra said to Gebbles and Spyke. "Grab some rope from the armory and let's set off!"
"A colonel?" Soren asked Coryn. "Would that not be a demotion of your rank, my king?"
"I told you not to call me that, uncle" Coryn responded, as he began to pace back and forth. "While I don't appreciate being referred to as 'king', I've no intention of shirking the duties that come with the title. The decision to become a military colonel comes from a realization made when focusing on the reality of the present day. We don't know for sure what my mother is plotting, or whether she's even alive. Perchance she is of no concern, but so long as a possibility of her vile return exists, we must treat it as fact. There will come a time when the might of the Ga'Hoole tree's search and rescue chaw will truly be tested in battle. And what then? Will we be primed and ready to face it head on? And who would lead the charge against the evil, or evils, that pose a threat to all of owlkind? As king my role is to lead, but I believe a good leader would not command from the back. Everyone at the Ga'Hoole tree works hard, and don't deserve anything less than the absolute best I'd have to offer. And that would be a bold colonel, who would confidently lead from the front. Perchance I could even set an example for the Ga'Hoolean forces to fight even harder. Evil never rests, and neither shall we. Make no mistake, I will diligently continue my duties as king as best I can. But while I was fated to become king; I believe it is to be a colonel, that which is my true destiny."
Sensing Coryn was done, Soren opened his eyes and regained attentiveness. "Your speeches have only gotten better with time, my king" he said. "I'm sure you'll be a great colonel as well!"
Before Coryn could respond, the two barn owls were alerted by the sound of nearby wings flapping. Coryn swiveled his head around, but wasn't able to see anything behind him. He turned his head back, but was only able to catch a glimpse of Soren being pinned to the ground, before he was knocked unconscious himself.
When Coryn came to, he was tied up and laying prone on the ground of a dank cave. He tilted his head up and looked around, spotting Soren nearby, who was also bound in a similar position. Nearby were two disheveled barn owls sharing a crispy roasted vole. Next to them was the terrifying sight of his mother, very much alive and well. And lastly there was a peculiar metallic machine, radiating heat and a devilish red glow from its open cavity.
"A sneak attack?" shouted Soren in disgust at Nyra. "You hag! You're just as cowardly as my brother!"
"Soren!" Nyra exclaimed. "You will be the first to witness to the final solution to the Pure Ones' troubles". Nyra began walking towards Coryn. "Watch closely as Nyroc here suffers the immense heat of the almighty heir fryer!"
The young king could only stammer as Nyra lifted him off the ground in her talons. His struggle to break free was futile, and he could only watch in horror as the demonic device got closer and closer.
"NYRA, WAIT! DON'T DO IT!" screamed Soren.
"Mother! Pl-" pleaded the terrified owl, but was interrupted by Nyra. "Don't you DARE call me mother, when it was YOU who chose not to be my son!"
"NOW BURN!"
Nyra threw the helpless owl into the air fryer and forced the hatch shut. Soren continued to beg for his nephew's life, but Nyra wasn't listening. Instead she propped her body against the window pane of the air fryer, relishing in the screams of agony that came from within. The Heir of Hoole's feathers seared, his talons frayed, but just as his eyes began to melt...
POOM!
A muffled explosion from within the air fryer silenced the owls. Even Nyra was apprehensive as she slowly opened the latch to the fryer. Steam and smoke pillowed out, leaving only the young king's corpse.
But there were no feathers, bones nor blood. Instead, there was only a puffy, fluffy mass with an irregular shape, colored a pale golden yellow. Nyra withdrew the bumpy solidified pulp from the fryer, finding it to be light in weight as well, and placed it on the ground.
"What is this? Fried Nyroc?" Nyra blurted in confusion. "That's not fried Nyroc!" Soren tearfully responded.
"It's Pop-Coryn".