Spyro touched down in the chamber. The purple column of energy in the center of the room commanded his full attention. He did not catch Sparx's comment. But this was short lived; dark, rough laughter erupted from a corner of the room. Spyro turned.
Green fires lit up in a rapid sequence, illuminating the group of Apes, and the monstrous creature residing upon the throne.
"Ah...The purple whelpling has come at last." The Ape King shifted forward in his seat; the better to look at him, Spyro thought. Gaul was much more frightening in reality than the dragon had anticipated him to be, dwarfing the Apes at his side in size and strength, clad in armor that was as ancient as his stench. In his right claw, he brandished a staff. Two eyes fixed upon him, one black, one green, both glinting cruelly in the unnatural darkness. "It's fitting that you should be here tonight, to bear witness to the dawn of a new age, and the failure of your pathetic race of dragons."
"I wouldn't miss it, Gaul." The ape's lips curled, baring teeth, gleaming with saliva.
"Of course you would not. You have certainly made a mess of my army, whelp. I will not discredit your power. But, as I cannot have you running amok on this night..." He raised the staff. A jet of green lightning exploded from the tip of the crystal and enveloped him. There was no pain, but instantly, Spyro felt the power of the elements drain from his body. Gaul cackled. "Foolish dragon! You are no match."
Spyro's limbs felt heavy, his mind clouded. He could no longer think as the Guardians had instructed him. But Spyro knew he could not show weakness. He forced himself to meet the Ape King's eyes.
"I've made it this far, haven't I?"
"You have proven to be quite elusive. If I had known that all it would take was a simple Siphoning Spell, and your miserable amity for Cynder..." Spyro saw the black shape move fast, too fast for him to react in time. The shadowy creature hit him and the two dragons were tangled up in each other briefly before Cynder eased off, blue eyes narrowed to slits. "Tragic, really, that she would be the one to destroy you."
"Aah! The nightmare never ends!" Sparx shrieked from within the clutches of one of Gaul's hench-monkeys.
"Just like old times, huh Spyro?" Cynder called out.
Spyro winced. Every breath was labored, every thought was exhausting. But he stood to face her. "Cynder...you don't have to do this."
Then Cynder did something unexpected; she locked her eyes with his, hissed, "I know. Line me up with his staff." They circled each other, slowly, waiting for just the right moment and...
Now!
Spyro reared up as if to strike her, the quickly dove aside as Cynder rushed forwards and leapt into the air. One moment she was flying straight at Gaul, the next, he'd caught her smoothly in an enormous paw.
"Defy us, will you?" He growled. "Then you may be the first to join him in oblivion." And he cast her across the room. She crashed to the stone and did not move. Spyro watched in horror. A cascade of gibberish caught his attention; the other Apes were advancing.
"Do not touch him!" Gaul snarled. "The whelpling is mine."
A/N: A three-part tale! First attempt at fantasy. Let me know what you thought, if you want. :)