So, I gather you are wondering to yourself what is this story about. Heh heh... well, if you know about Spyro the dragon then you have probably guessed that this is a Spyro fanfic story. This is my first Spyro fanfic so I may not get the characters or places exactly correct so please bear with me until I get use to writing these characters.

This story is an AU aka Alternate Universe that uses my own special unique version of the video game storylines. Everything before Spyro: A Hero's Tale will more or less stay true to the original universe in a lot of ways but there will be some differences. While everything afterward gets totally modified to work better in the context of my tale.

Oh, as for the disclaimer, I don't own Spyro or any of the characters in the Spyro the Dragon game universe. So if you are a lawyer working for VU aka Universal don't waste your time trying to sue me because I am broke. I do however own the new characters that will be introduced and created specificly for this story.

Now lets get this story started... shall we.

Spyro: Dragon of Destiny: Rising Destiny
Episode One - Shadows Rising, A Hero's Awakening

"Chaos and order shall collide once again,
Bringing evil and fear to bear,
But fear shall not last as hope will show,

A bold hero will rise and bring about a new day,
This young hero will be born of mystery and ancient lore,
Powerful and courageous the young one will be,
Bringing back hope from despair,

The young hero shall bring the light of peace,
Even so the dark ones will try to carry out their goals,
And Ancient rivalries and hatreds will arise again,
But still the chosen hero - the Dragon of Destiny - will arise,

To bring these quarrels to at long last an end,
Who is the chosen one you may ask?
The answer you seek will one day be revealed at long last,
So be patient and await,

The coming of the chosen one,
The one chosen by fate.
Oh, Dragon of Destiny who will you be?

The answer to the ancicent mystery will soon be revealed for all to see,
So prepare yourselves for the coming of the chosen one,

- The Destiny Prophecy as written by Talus of the Cloud Dancers
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In a dark realm known as the Shadow Realm, a large black citadel hovers silently above the bleak, black and lifeless ground. Within one of the black corridors of the dark citadel, a large dragon with scales as black as night watches in silence with green eyes as a dark portal opens slowly in front of him. The portal distorts for a brief second before it opens wide to allow its passengers to crossover from the Dragon Realms into the Shadow Realm.

A large elder dragon of red scales walks through the large glowing portal accompanied by another smaller black dragon. The black dragon is female and her scales resemble the black male dragon. The difference between them is that she has white scales running from her throat down her chest and to the very tip of her long tail. The male black dragon, on the other hand, has all black scales. He wears a silver sash around his waist to hold his special weapon. His weapon was a Ha'to, which was a magic-infused shadow dragon weapon that could be altered into many different shapes according to the thoughts of the shadow dragon who carried and wielded it battle.

The female smiles as she sees the other larger black dragon standing in front of her and her traveling companion.

"Greetings, brother," she said as she walked over to the other dragon. "I see you have been waiting for me and my 'traveling companion'. I hope you haven't been waiting too long."

The black male dragon smiled. "I haven't been waiting long, Ryua. I knew you would be back soon because no one is as quick as you at accomplishing important tasks."

"Thank you, Reeco." Ryua said as she looked over at the red dragon with an expression of irritation. "Although, I still don't know why we even bothered to release this old fossil of a dragon from his prison. He was defeated three years ago by a mere dragon child who had no magical powers whatsoever! How pathetic!" As she said these things, the older red dragon growled angrily and dropped his head in shame.

"Now now, Ryua, I know this dragon may have lost but we still need him." Reeco turns his gaze from his sister to the red dragon. "Well, Elder Red, I see that my sister was successful in returning you to your normal size."

Red growls and looks at the younger dragon in disgust. "Yes, Reeco, your sister did okay." Although I could have done much better by myself. He mumbled to himself as he glanced around the corridor. "Well, now that I am free, I want revenge. I think I'll return to my lab and..."

Reeco smiled, revealing his lethal fangs as he interrupted Red. "I am afraid your lab was dismantled after your capture. I guess someone wanted to make sure that no one else would try and get their hands on your equipment and use it for evil purposes again. Care to take a guess at who it might have been? Hmm..."

Red's expression darken as his mind came up with the only dragon who could be responsible for that happening. "Spyro!" Red roared in anger as smoke started to billow out of his nostrils. "I will kill that little pain in the ass dragonling. No one humiliates me and gets away with it!"

"Calm down, Red." Reeco said as he patted the elder on his shoulder gently and then step away from him. "I promise you that, in time, you will get your chance to take revenge as we all will. But first I want you to contact a few other individuals to assist us with our plans."

"Wait one minute, Reeco, I never agreed to work with you, Shadow Dragon!" Red growled angrily, spitting out the 'Shadow Dragon' remark like it was something that tasted foul and disgusting to him. "I have my own plans and they are all that matter to me at the moment." Red started to turn to walk away from Reeco and his sister. Unfortunately, he found that he couldn't move. "What the..!"

Reeco laughed as he stepped close to the stunned elder dragon again. "Oh no, Red, I think it is you who don't understand!" Reeco's green eyes began to glow blood red as he roughly grabbed Red and held him with his clawed paws. When Reeco spoke again Red's eyes went wide in shock. Reeco's voice had deepened greatly and taken on a darker more sinister quality. "You owe us more than a simple 'thanks'!" Reeco's claws suddenly lengthen and dug into both of Red's shoulders. "You owe us your life!"

"Ahhh, stop it!" Red growled out in pain as tears began to fall from his eyes. "What do you want, Reeco?" Reeco said nothing and Red noticed that Reeco's size had changed. The younger dragon was now taller then he was by two feet with a much greater muscular massive body. What the... Red thought in fear as he looked at the now much larger dragon. How is this possible? How did he change his size like this. I don't understand... Red suddenly felt a dark energy pulse he hadn't felt in over three years. He looked at Reeco and saw... A dark aura! It can't be... Red's mind screamed at him but yet it was. Somehow Reeco had become one with the dark energies of a dark gem. How did he... Red started to think when Reeco roared and Red felt Reeco's claws grow larger. Red's eyes widened in shock and the pain in his shoulders intensified making him gasp.

Reeco smiled at Red's expression before he jabbed his long sharp talons even deeper into Red's muscled shoulders drawing more blood. Red screamed and tried to sink to his knees but couldn't because Reeco was holding onto him. "Remember I said you owe us your life. What I want you to do, Red, is join me! I want you to help me and my clan conquer and rule not only the Dragon Worlds but all the other worlds as well. Do this for me...us and I'll help you get the revenge you so desperately want on those who cast you out from your rightful place. I'll even help you kill that little annoying purple pest of a dragon who defeated you three years ago." Reeco said, his voice was so deep that it was almost a roar. "What do you say?"

Red opened his pain-filled eyes, looked up into Reeco's red eyes and nodded his head silently. Reeco retracted his claws and stepped back away from Red letting the elder fall to his knees. Reeco's body flashed white for a minute and then reverted back to his normal size. "Good, very good, Red. I knew you would see things my way with a little persuasion. Now, as I was saying I want you to contact a few individuals to assist us with our plans."

Red slowly stood back up and as he did he felt his shoulders tingle with what felt like healing magic. He looked over to Ryua and saw that she was the one who was healing him. He frowned and did something he hated to do. "Thank you for healing me." There, I said it. Red thought with disgust. I thanked a retched shadow dragon for helping me... me a Artisan dragon elder. I'll never live it down.

Ryua finished her task and smiled. Red noticed that the smile wasn't a sincere one but a grim one that was filled with anger. What is her problem? Red thought to himself.

Ryua laughed. "You are my problem, Red." Red's shocked expression made her bear her fangs in a sinster smile. "Surprise, old one. I can read minds if I focus hard enough. By the way, save your thanks for someone who really cares." Red growled and Ryua looked him in the eyes and gave him a cold, unpassionate look. "Ah, what's wrong, Red? Let me guess, you being a proud Artisan elder makes you feel like it is wounding your pride to thank a hated 'shadow dragon' for helping you! Don't worry about it because I don't want your thanks! I hate you and all the other dragon clans. I am only working with you because it helps farther our clan's plans and my brother's cause. Otherwise, I would have gladly left your worthless hide in that glass jar in that stupid mole's lab."

Red looked at her and then her brother and a thought came to his head that he really didn't like. Was it really so bad to be stuck in that jar? He saw Reeco smile again and came to the realization that the young dragon was indeed quite insane. What have I gotten myself into? Red sighed. "I understand, Reeco. Who do you want me to contact?" Well, at least I'll get to take care of Spyro. I don't mind assisting Reeco with his plans if it helps me accomplish my own.

Reeco gestured with his right paw and a magically powered viewer appeared displaying the faces of people he and many other dragons in the Dragon Worlds knew all too well. "I believe you know who these people are, Red?" Red frowned but nodded. "Good, now I want you to contact them and have them meet me right here in this citadel. Understand?"

Red nodded and Ryua opened a portal back to the Dragon Realms. Red entered the portal and the portal closed as soon as he was through it. "Do you think he can be trusted, brother?" Ryua asked. Reeco looked at her and from his expression she got her answer. "Right! I promise you that if he even tries to betray us I'll kill him and take great pleasure in doing it."

Reeco looked at his sister and smiled because he knew she would do it. The smile faded as his eyes flashed red for a brief instant. "And so it begins..."
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Windy Woods

A gentle breeze blew through the beautiful sunny forest of endless breezes as two young dragons raced toward their destination. Artisan City. The dragon village had once been known as Artisan Home but the name had changed two years earlier as the population had increased slightly. The two young dragons were heading to this loacation because it was where the head Dragon Elder, Nestor lived. It was also the home of their best friend and they wanted to get there before nightfall. The main reason they were in such a big hurry was because they had learned that their best friend was returning home after being gone on a month long vacation at Dragon Shores.

The young one leading the dragon duo was a dark pink dragoness. Her companion was a much heavier bodied male red dragon. Both of them ran on silently with the lighter weight female dragoness widening the gap between the two of them. The red male dragon growled and slowed his run down. "Hey, Ember, would you please slow down!" the red dragon yelled as his run became walking. The 28 year old dragoness looked back at her friend and sighed as she slowed down to let him catch up with her. Walking beside her much larger male friend Ember took a good look at him. Flame was staring at her with a look that made her shiver because she understood that look. Flame liked her but she didn't like him in that same way.

Ember sighed and turned away from him with a frown. Oh Flame, I am sorry but you are not my type. Flame noticed Ember's change in attitude and he sighed. "Let me guess, you do like me as a friend but not a boyfriend." He growled.

Oh boy here we go again! Ember thought as she stopped walking, closed her eyes and shook her head. "Look, Flame, we have been over this so many times that I have lost count." She growled as she looked up at him then with a look that made him backstep away from her. "I only love Spyro. I am sorry but you will have to find someone else to..."

"To what, princess?" Flame yelled as tears started to fall from his eyes. Ember noticed his tears and she placed her right paw on his shoulder to comfort him. Flame growled and stood up on his hind legs knocking her paw off his shoulder as he walked over to a rock and sat down on it dropping his head into his front paws as he did. Ember stood up and walked over to him and started to repeat her earlier attempt at comforting him. "Don't!" he cried out. "I don't want your pity, Ember." He looked up at her and sighed. "I can't stand it! I know I am not as couragous or adventurous as Spyro but would it hurt you to at least give me a chance. Why don't you like me?"

Ember sighed and started to walk away from him. She hated seeing him like this because it made her feel guilty about her feelings toward their friend, Spyro. "I like you, Flame, but in my heart I love Spyro. I am sorry but that is just the way things are. Please respect my wishes. I want you to be my friend."

"Oh, really, Ember!" He yelled as he gave her a very intense look that showed off his deep emotions. "So that is it... huh! I was right when I said that I was only good enough to be your friend but not your boyfriend!" He growled as he felt his heart shatter and anger... pure anger began to rise within him as he jumped to his feet and folded his arms across his slightly muscled chest.

Ember had had enough of Flame's attitude and she was going to put a stop to it. Ember looked at Flame and her eyes narrowed dangerously. "ENOUGH!" She roared. Flame's anger seem to evaporate in the face of Ember's roar. She started slowly walking toward him with smoke rising from her nostrils. Flame frowned as he watched her usual sweet personality quickly vanish into a puff of smoke as her anger come raging to the surface. "This conversation is over, Flame! I told you over and over again that I have already made my choice but you just want to keep pushing it." She walked up to him and gently poked him in the chest with one of her clawed fingers. "Flame, I have always tried to be nice and polite to you but you always ruin my intentions. Do you want to know the truth? I think you are slow and clumsy. You need to get more exercise and stop eating so much. You already have great strength but you are slightly overweight and you know it."

Flame looked at her and sighed as his anger continued to drain away to be replaced by more sadness because she was right and he knew it. "So that is what you think of me. I am unattractive to you and..." Ember put a claw on his lips to silence him.

"Flame, despite what I said I also know that you are very handsome for your age but you are too impatient and want someone to love you. A relationship... a true relationship is never like that." Ember said as her anger vanished and her usual happy personality slowly returned. "A true relationship takes time to develop between two people. Be patient and I have a feeling that in time you will meet the right person. Understand?"

Flame looked at her and smiled. "But Spyro hasn't ever said he loves you. Has he?" Ember sighed and shook her head. Flame nodded and she noticed that a little smoke was rising from his nostrils indicating that he was still very unhappy with the current situation. He understood her advice but that still didn't change the fact that he loved her and she knew it.

Is that so wrong for me to love my best friend? She asked herself. She looked at Flame and noticed that his expression was one of confusion. "What's wrong?"

Flame rolled his eyes and walked past her still standing on his hind legs. "Like you don't know, princess." He whispered as the smoke rising from his nostrils ceased indicating to Ember that he was starting to calm down but he was still upset.

Ember grabbed his arm gently and spun him around to face her. "Wait, Flame!" Flame glared at her and she dropped her head in shame. "I am sorry! I didn't mean to..."

"To what, Ember? To offend me! To be honest!" Flame said as he gently yanked his arm free of her grip. Ember raised her head and looked at him before nodding silently. The last of Flame's anger faded and he patted her on the shoulder. "It's okay. You are right. I need to let my jealousy go and work on improving myself in many ways but I don't think it will be that easy."

"Why do you say that, Flame?" Ember asked. Flame smiled and took a step back away from her to show off his body. Ember finally realized that he hadn't been slowed down by just his increased weight but his total size. He had grown over the last three years like she had. His body had more muscle to it then before and despite his pot belly she was right about him being very handsome. "Nice..." She said. "I never noticed before how much you had buffed up."

Flame sighed and laughed. "Gee, I wonder why. Hmm, I know... I bet it has something to do with a certain purple dragon that calls himself..."

"SPYRO!" Ember screamed and ran to the dragon who had appeared behind Flame. Flame spun around and looked at his buddy. Like I was saying. Flame thought to himself sadly as he laughed a laugh that sounded more bitter then happy.

"Hi, buddy!" Flame said as he looked at his friend. Ember was nearly struggling the purple dragon hero. "Hey, Ember, I think you should let Spyro breath or the Dragon Realms are going to need another dragon to be their guardian."

Ember grinned and let go of Spyro. "Sorry about that, Spyro!"

Spyro coughed and took a deep breath before responding to his friend. "No problem, Ember, just don't do that again because I don't think I'll survive." Spyro said with a laugh. He then pulled himself up into a crossleged sitting postion before looking at both Ember and Flame. "What's wrong, guys? Both of you look like you have been having an argument."

Ember frowned and Flame sighed as Spyro gazed at his friends in concern. "Well... I guess you could say that if you heard us." Ember said as she noticed Spyro's serious expression. If there was one thing about Spyro that both she and Flame had had to start getting use to was the fact that he was more serious now then had been before. His maturing was becoming obvious and he had changed quite a bit from his younger happy go-lucky personality days. Ember had also noticed that he had developed a slightly more arrogant personality since his battle with Red three years ago. This change in her friend worried her because she didn't want him to get careless and do something stupid that could get him hurt. "I guess you heard us arguing."

Spyro nodded his head. "You and I wll talk about this later, Ember." He said in a serious deep tone of voice. Ember nodded and reached out her paw to help Spyro to his feet. After he gotten on his hindfeet he looked over at Flame. "Hey, Flame, you look like you have been putting on a little weight since I have been gone." Spyro said as his serious expression changed to his usually calm and friendly one.

"You do too, buddy. I guess someone has been busy eating too much of Bianca's cooking." Flame said as he returned his older friend's smile as he looked his friend over. Spyro laughed. Spyro, he knew was a year older then he was and two years older then Ember was and it had started to show after Spyro defeated Red three years ago. Spyro had grown slowly after his battle with the banished elder. Then he had gone on a mission to a world outside the Dragon Realms. When he had come back he had started to grow like a weed. His youthful body had filled out with muscle. He had started learning how to walk on his hind legs but he was still unsteady and chose to often walk on all fours. Nestor had made Spyro a staff to help him get use to walking on two legs. Flame smiled and suspected that Nestor had done it mainly as a way to encourage Spyro to start walking around like the adult dragons so that he could strengthen his back leg muscles. Poor Spyro, Nestor always tries to get him to act his age and be the proper role model for the much younger dragons but Spyro has always been hardheaded. Flame thought.

Spyro looked at Flame and sighed. "What are you thinking about, pal, if you don't mind me asking."

Flame continued to smile and started to walk away toward Nestor's home. "It's nothing, Spyro. Nothing at all!"

"Yeah, right, Flame and I am as blind as the professor." Spyro said as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Come on, Flame, you can tell me."

Flame stopped walking and turned to look at both Spyro and Ember. He grinned and said as he started to run from Spyro and Ember. "I was thinking about how cute you two look together. You know like boyfriend and girl..."

Spyro took off after Flame leaving Ember standing and watching the resulting outcome of Flame's teasing.

"Take that back, Flame or I'll..."

"You'll do what, Spyro. Kiss me."

"Oh, you just wait until I catch you, wise guy!"

"I would like to see you try, hero!" Flame laughed as he continued to run as Spyro chased after him.

Ember shook her head and smiled as she looked at her two friends. She knew that Spyro could always catch up to Flame quickly if wanted to because he was faster but he didn't want to. Spyro and Flame always made a game out of insulting and competing with each other. Males. She thought to herself. I can't believe that I actually love one of them. She sighed sadly as she remeber the argument between her and Flame. "I just wish Spyro would return the feeling. I know he knows by now how I feel about him but its as if he is afraid to actually tell me how he truly feels about me. I wonder why?" With that said Ember sped up her walk so that she could catch up with her friends.

Unfortunately, the answer to her question was watching from nearby with a very annoyed expression on her face. "Good question, powder puff. I'll be very glad to answer it for you as soon as get the chance." The female growled. "But first I have other business to tend too." A white portal appeared behind the female and she entered it silently. As the portal closed another one opened a few seconds later and a white furred dragon appeared. He flapped his large feathered wings and quietly followed the three young dragons until they exited the forest and entered the dragon village.

The white dragon quietly landed and looked at Spyro and his friends from the cover of the forest. "Is he truly the one that was mentioned in the ancient prophecy?" He asks himself and then his eyes widen as he notices a golden aura that briefly flares up around Spyro causing the young dragon to stop walking and start rubbing his arms as if he was cold. The aura vanishes quickly as it had appeared leaving the young dragon rubbing his head. His friends looked at him with obvious concern written in their facial expressions. Spyro looked at his friends and rubbed their shoulders to show he was okay. Afterward they continued on to their destination.

The white dragon turned with a gentle smile and walked back into the forest. He had seen the confirmation with his own two eyes and he was convinced. "Yes, I believe the search is finally over. Spyro, your true destiny, along with those of your friends, is about to begin. Prepare yourselves young ones because your choices will determine the fate of us all." Waving his right clawed paw in the air, the dragon called upon his magical abilities. A portal suddenly opened in front of him and the white dragon entered it leaving the Artisan realm behind... for now.

"This is only beginning..." Said a sinister voice as the screen goes dark.
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