(A/N: inspired by Her0ofwinds' Legend of Spyro: Truth and purpose)

Chapter 1

(Dante's pov)

Ever been...trapped...treated almost like a lab rat...and almost had no hope for freedom...?

I have...and it was not the kind of topic I wanted to talk about. They took me from our world and took me to what I believe is Spyro's universe. I wouldn't have been a mindless monster if it weren't for him...a man who looks like me and...claims to be me...or his other half he calls it. But...I suppose since you really want to know...I suppose I'll tell you once and once only. I don't like repeating my past again.

It all began when I was woken by a conversation going on that concerning about me. I didn't entirely open my eyes cause I didn't know what was going on. Now...you would call me crazy if I told you that I saw some apes in armor. I'll repeat that again. Apes in armor.

I discreetly look around my surroundings with my eyes and I find myself bounded to a table and in some dungeon looking chamber surrounded by some science experiments. So let me tell you what happened to me for those who are wondering what is going on. I was kidnapped while I was asleep, held in some sort of cell and my captors are apes. Got it? No? Keep reading.

"Yes, Yes. You'll get your payment." I hear an annoyed voice.

The sound of coins jingling were close and heard the ape order the mercenary to leave.

"Now...let's see here..."

I felt a nasty shock that made me scream in agony for a quick second as I start panting. You want to know who I glared at? Gaul. Yeah...that jerk...

"Ah...glad you're awake." He grinned.

"What do you want with me...? I haven't even done anything to you..." I said with anger.

"Oh I know that. Let's just say you're going to be our first test subject on becoming a corrupted soldier of your race. Took me years to find a suitable subject from your world and now...here you are."

I growled and he just chuckled as if I wasn't taking him serious. He takes some sort of syringe that had some dark substance in it. He injects it in me making me pass out. The only thing I heard was his dark chuckle and the words as if he talking to someone...

"Prepare the corruption. Let me know how the process goes."

Hours later and a group of apes in robes tried corrupting my mind of how I should submit to Malefor and Gaul...thankfully I had a strong will and was resisting the corruption. They would subdue me with shock magic to weaken me but always had difficulties of doing that.

Then he showed up...

As the apes were continuing their corruption magic on me, a silhouette...standing behind the apes unnoticed until he starts eliminating with some crazy assassinations techniques. I don't know...my vision was still blurred from the side effects of the syringe I was injected with. He kills the last ape and looks at me dead in the eye...he walks towards me and starts unlocking the chains with his lockpick.

"Rise and shine, Dante. We're getting out of here." He said as he finished unlocking the last chain.

I got up and started clutching my head a bit and started regaining my vision.

"You okay? Those apes sure did some nasty wounds on you." He said with concern.

"Not really. Ugh..." I groaned.

He had me drink some sort of red potion that had me recover quickly. I coughed a bit but swallowed the whole thing. It tasted...strange almost flavorless but not foul either. Just strange...

"Nothing like a good old red gem essence healing potion to heal you up." He chuckled.

I look at him and noticed that this dude looked exactly like me. Except with red eyes.

"Who-Who are you? Why do you look like me?" I stammered.

"Am I that obvious? You are me and I am you. I am your dark half of yourself. You may call me Dark. Now...don't think as me the bad guy here. I hate those apes as much as you do and I don't want them to turn you into some sort of mindless soldier who would willing follow Gaul's orders like a drone. Listen...we don't have much time for conversations. We need to get out of here...hold my hand."

"Wha-?"

"I said hold my hand. Trust me." He said a serious tone.

I held his hand and we suddenly warped into a very...very familiar swamp...I let go of his hand and stretched a bit and glared at Dark.

"Mind telling me what the hell is going on?" I growled.

"My...aren't you a hot headed one. The apes discovered a way to enter your world with some sort of portal spell and to find a suitable subject to try out some sort of potion that can corrupt the mind...just like...Cynder. fortunately for you, that seems to be a failure but...you have dark powers seeping in your blood and veins and can never...come out. That's where I come in...I exist in your very mind...I am that very part of your mind that gives you those dark powers."

"Then how did you kill those apes?"

"Magic...anyway, I leave the rest to you. Be sure the apes don't capture you otherwise you'll surely become a mindless soldier. Oh and one last thing...beware of the terror of the skies...she is dangerous and is best to watch out she doesn't get you..."

I blink and he's gone. Though I do know who he's talking about...Cynder. damn...now I'm scared out of my mind that Cynder might kill me if she saw me...Damn it...

"Ugh...what a messed up way to start my day..." I groaned.

Indeed...