Author's Note: Yo! I'm back. I've seen some previews for the next Spyro game and it's convinced me to start this next installment in my Spyro series. I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: As usual I don't own the rights to Spyro, or any other characters.

Chapter 1

Toils of the Young

"But why can't I fight?" Spyro asked.

"You're too young," Ignitus replied, not looking up from the pool of visions.

"You let him go to rescue all of the guardians by himself," Cyril huffed.

"Out of necessity," Ignitus said, glancing up from the pool with an irritated expression. "There was no one else to send, but now we have a whole army."

"But why can't I still fight?" Spyro asked.

Sparx shook his head. "What? Freeing four guardians, defeating the evil, sexy dragon, and then returning the whole dragon tribe back to their home wasn't dangerous enough for you? Yes, let's see if we can go out and cheat death again."

"Sparx is right… for once," Ignitus said, turning to face Spyro. "Spyro, you should wait a few years before you consider fighting, all of your powers still haven't returned and your training isn't complete yet."

"But the Dark Master is out there right now," Spyro said, looking at the other guardians to see if they could convince Ignitus.

Volteer looked away, while Cyril sighed.

Terrador glanced at the other three and then stepped forward. "Spyro is already a very good fighter."

"Yes, exactly," Cyril said.

Spyro tensed hopefully.

"But you should still wait until you're recovered your other elemental powers," Terrador said.

Spyro's shoulders slumped and his wings dropped to his sides.

"Well, that's good enough for me," Sparx said. "Now, let's go. There's an old rotting log I've found in the forest and if you flip it over, I bet we'll find all kinds of tasty treats under it."

Spyro turned and left the room, Sparx hovering at his side. Spyro was aware of Sparx saying something, but he was too interested in looking at the ground to really hear what he was saying.

"You aren't listening to me, are you?"

"Uh, no," Spyro said.

"Jeez, you've been such a bore lately," Sparx said. "Why do you care that the female fright is gone? She bit your neck and you don't seem to mind? Let me guess, there was a bug on you and she just got carried away when she tried to smash it."

"She couldn't control herself!" Spyro snapped. He turned and glared at his adopted brother.

"Yeah, okay," Sparx said, trying his best to sound placating. "But she's still dangerous whether it's her fault, or not."

"I know," Spyro said, looking at the ground again.

"But you want to bring her back here…" Sparx said.

"How's being by herself going to make it any better?" Spyro asked, flicking his tail angrily and bringing his wings back up, swatting Sparx, and sending him flying into the wall. "And there are all kinds of dangers out there. The Dark Master still wants her."

Sparx pushed himself back up and took to the air, staying away from Spyro, who was now pacing back and forth, swing his tail and fluttering his wings. "Well, there's nothing we can do about it."

Spyro glanced over at him and sighed heavily. "Yeah, you're right."

"Anyway, Kadie is with her at least," Sparx said. He chuckled. "She's probably more useful to Cynder then I am to you."

--

Cynder sat on the floor of the hut, her eyes squeezed closed, her wings folded and her tail wrapped around her front feet.

"Reach deep inside yourself," Jirin's voice had a sort of hypnotic tone to it. "Can you feel that seething mass of darkness inside of you?"

Cynder nodded. Her stomach felt like it was filled with a seething, heavy liquid. She felt sick.

"Seize it and pull it out."

Jirin had had her practice this part a lot. She was supposed to use the magical energy in her body to remove the pieces of the Dark Master inside herself.

Cynder focused her energy, feeling all of the warmth in her body being channeled toward her stomach. Now, for the hardest part, she seized the glob of liquid and pulled. A wave of nausea hit her instantly and almost broke her concentration, but she was prepared for this. She was also prepared for the pulling sensation as the piece of the Dark Master was pulled out, the nausea getting worse as it went. Finally, it was far enough and she could make the nausea work for her, rather then against her.

Her eyes snapped up and she leaned forward, opening her mouth as she vomited a thick black liquid into the wooden bucket in front of her. The liquid split and half fell into the bucket, while the other piece crawled back down her throat. Cynder chocked and coughed as it did.

Jirin stepped forward and tossed a lantern into the bucketful of darkness. The lantern shatter and the purple flames inside light the liquid on fire, the blackness screeched and several tendrils reached up and flailed as it burnt.

The llama passed another bucket, this one full of water, to Cynder. She nodded gratefully and lapped at the water, washing away the foul taste in her mouth. She could feel what was left of the darkness squirming inside of her belly.

"Why is it solid?" Cynder asked, once she had caught her breath and the liquid's screaming had stopped. "I thought a soul was supposed to be intangible."

"Normally, it is," Jirin said. "But the Dark Master's soul is so full of evil that it has become tangible."

Cynder glanced at the ashes that were left in the bucket. "It looks just like his body."

"That's not his body," Jirin said. "His body was destroyed, but his soul survived. If he ever regained his body, he would be many times more powerful."

"Hey, Jirin, I've found the last group of undead," Kadie said as she flew in through the window. "Ew, what's that smell?"

"Cynder managed to get some of the Dark Master's soul out of her," Jirin said. "Now, where are they?"

Cynder frowned. She couldn't smell anything.