AUTHOR'S NOTE: As of 4/18/2015, this story has been discontinued, but I uploaded an old chapter (though it is unfinished, apologies!) for those to enjoy regardless. This story is incomplete, but I have no desire to continue it. I still hope you enjoy it, and feel free to review!
-Cranberry Knight-XIII
Wings of Fire
Chapter 1/2 - A New Crisis
"Spyro! I found it!"
Spyro's leathery ear twitched at the noise and used his acute nose to track down the speaker. He squeezed through a small divide in a bluff and emerged onto the other side, blinking in the harsh sunlight that greeted him. The light was so bright here! He inhaled the familiar scent of fresh grass and mystical dragons. To his right was a waterfall that descended the side of the bluff; at its base, a pool was built to catch the water for the sheep to drink. The sheep! Spyro snapped his head and searched for the goofy furrballs that lumbered around all day. He relaxed when he saw them cantering over to an apple tree.
Running through the middle of the central valley was a small river with crystal-clear water. Spyro could just imagine taking a running leap off the bluff and soaring just an inch above the water, dragging his claws along the surface.
His panther-like friend, Hunter, swung a defiant fist in the air. "Finally! I was beginning to think we'd never get back," he said.
"It's good to be home, again, huh?" Spyro replied. He spread his small fiery wings to soak in as much sun as possible. The warmth felt amazing on his purple scales.
They were back. The Dragon Realms were as peaceful as ever…or so Spyro thought.
"Hey…" Spyro began as he looked around. His eyes widened. "Where are all the dragons? Where is everybody?"
Suddenly, a blinding light flashed before Spyro's eyes. Spyro winced and covered his face with a wing. Then, the light dimmed, and revealed somebody Spyro never wanted to see again..
"Ripto?!" Spyro shouted. "What are you doing here?"
Ripto, in his pathetic purple cloak and thick eyebrows, merely snorted and laughed uncontrollably. Then, he drew from his pocket a glimmering scepter with an emerald stone on top. He waved it around, summoning five ugly brutes from the tip of his scepter, falling to the ground in a heap. Hunter yelped and tried to shoot one with an arrow, but the big oaf merely plucked his bow from his hand and snapped it in two.
"Aww, come on!" Hunter whined, "ya know how long it took me to buy that thing? Too long, pal!" And he rushed at the hairy enemy.
Unfortunately, Hunter wasn't very skilled with his fists and completely missed the enemy's jaw. The hairy thing just backhanded Hunter over the side of the hill. Spyro winced as a loud thunk! came from Hunter's impact.
"I did it once, and I'll do it again, Ripto!" Spyro snarled menacingly. "The Dragon Realms will never be yours! Get out of here!"
Ripto cackled and waved off Spyro's threat like an annoying fly. He turned to the five Riptocs and kicked one in the butt. "Come on, you good-for-nothing morons! We've got some Dragonflies to capture!"
His blinding portal appeared, waiting for Ripto to enter. His Riptocs pushed him aside and strode through first. Ripto huffed and jabbed one in the back who was trailing behind.
Spyro mustered up his strength and ducked his head down, then burst towards Ripto. Since the course of Spyro's previous journey, his horns had grown quite a bit, and now stood a full seven inches. At the last second before the purple dragon skewered Ripto, however, he stepped aside and Spyro ran right by him, leaving him dazed when he crashed into a rock. Spyro groaned in frustration as Ripto exited the Dragon Realms and once again, out of Spyro's clutches. Then, a strange buzzing sound came from Spyro's ear. He scratched at it furiously until it finally died away, emitting a faint cackle upon it ceased.
It was Ripto! How did he get in my head? Spyro thought.
You pathetic little dragon! I went easy on you before, but now I won't be so generous! Ripto's voice chimed. Spyro rolled his eyes in annoyance, but he froze when Ripto spoke again. Maybe I can't hurt you directly, but nothing will stop me from draining the power of the Dragons! You had the aid of the mighty dragons last time, but what are you going to do when they're all gone?
"Ha! As if!" Spyro scoffed, "like the Elders would ever lose to someone like you! Go die in a hole, Ripto."
Inside of Spyro's head, Ripto howled as his ego was slightly fizzled. But he continued on, as usual. Who said I was going to fight an Elder Dragon, pipsqueak? They get their power from the Dragonflies, and little did you know, I scattered the Dragonflies! The Elders can't last long without the power of the Dragonfly, and as the days go by, the Dragon Realms will fall!
Spyro was speechless. It was true! The Elders couldn't survive without the Dragonflies!
Ripto's voice began to get dim. We'll meet again, Spyro!
Besides the bad news, Spyro was still as snappy as ever.
"Yeah. Count on it."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story is only two chapters long, but I hope you enjoy it nevertheless. Review, if you feel so inclined!