Hello, my little dragonlets! For everyone who's followed the Legacy saga so far, welcome back! And to any newcomers I may have found, welcome to the show! (And thank you guys SO much for your patience; I know I promised this months ago, but 2014 was a rough year for writing...) As sequels go, I'm obligated to warn everybody that this is a sequel, and anyone who hasn't read Legacy may want to go back and do that. Alternatively, if you've played the original Spyro trilogy, you should be alright; Legacy was just an enhanced novelization of the trilogy, so you know the story beats if you've played the games.
Also be warned that while Legacy strived to stay true to the trilogy storyline, I'm taking a lot more creative liberties this time around. Anyone who's played through Enter the Dragonfly, Hero's Tail, or Shadow Legacy can probably guess why; as far as intriguing plots and clever level design goes, there isn't much for me to work with. I don't think many of you are going to mind me fuddling with the scripts, but if you do, here's your warning.
Regardless, I'm going to do my best to make something fantastic out of what's available, so I hope you guys can sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. :) Let's game on, dragonlets!
DISCLAIMERS:
Spyro the Dragon, both the original PS1 games as well as the character (c) Insomniac Games
Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly, as well as all involved settings and characters (c) Universal Interactive
Spyro: A Hero's Tail, as well as all involved settings and characters (c) Vivendi Games
Spyro: Shadow Legacy, as well as all involved settings and characters (c) Sierra Entertainment
I am only saying this once, but the above disclaimers apply to the entirety of the fanfiction.
CHAPTER ONE: Enter the Dragonfly
"GAH! How difficult can it be to smite one tiny dragon?!"
"I know! Just a dumb dragonlet, all dumb and tiny and dumb!"
The smallest of the sorcerers rolled his eyes; he wasn't quite sure Spyro was the dumb one in that rivalry. "Well, that sad excuse for a purple dragon won't be getting the better of me this time! Of that you can be sure!"
"I wouldn't be." The trio looked up at the thunderous flap of wings, all cowering slightly under the sheer magical might of their new 'partner'. "You should watch what you say about the legendary purple dragons. They're no laughing matter, I assure you."
"If you didn't think we could handle the job, why invite us to try?"
"Because you all are hungry for vengeance, and I need that dragon out of my scales before my plans can commence. Why wouldn't I want to crush two lava lizards with one rock?"
"Heh. I like crushing lava lizards."
"Silence. Do we have a plan?"
"I think I have an idea. We just need to wait until dragonfly season."
ooOOooOOoo
As days in the Artisans often were, the sky was bright and the breeze was warm. The newest batch of Artisan hatchlings, just barely a month old, were scampering through the fields as they clumsily chased each other through the fields of fodder. After the stresses of "the Thousand-Year Kidnapping", as DNN tried to sell the story, the Artisans had finally returned to their trademark calm and pleasantness. The new dragon parents were able to breathe easy, knowing their children were home and safe. For once, the dragons could safely say that they were all safe from any-
"SORCERESS!"
Using his legendary catlike reflexes, Hunter bounded out of the way of the scaly menace, pulling out his bow and taking aim at the beast as she loomed overhead, closing in slowly on Spyro below. The Artisan hero waved in Hunter's direction, begging to be rescued from the horror. "Take this, evil witch-hag!"
"Hunter, wait!" But before Spyro could finish, Hunter let his arrow fly. With his perfect aim, it flew straight as...well, an arrow, soaring into the skies and striking the Sorceress right between her beady black eyes.
...Causing the scaly queen to deflate with a flatulent whistle that made all of the dragonlets giggle, before the remains of her stretchy skin crashed on top of Spyro. The purple dragon blew the "Sorceress" away with a hot flume of breath, pulling himself out from under it. "Hunter, it was a balloon. Relax."
Hunter looked back and forth between his bow and the deflated balloon before sheepishly putting his weapon away. "I knew that."
The Artisans were also decorated for the occasion, with plenty of snacks and fresh fodder to eat and lots of balloons around for the kids to play with. (Or for Hunter to destroy. Though to be fair, everyone agreed the stretched, grisled balloon was eerily accurate of the actual Sorceress.) Not only were they properly celebrating Spyro's defeat of the evil gemcrafter and the return of the Forgotten Worlds, but it was time for the final piece of the Dragon Festival: the coming of the dragonflies.
Zoe and the other fairies had just arrived with the Artisan dragonflies, but would take a little while longer to get settled. So while Hunter disposed of the balloon, ignoring the hysterical laughter of Bianca and Elora from the sidelines, Delbin took the opportunity to pull his pup aside. "Spyro, before the ceremony begins, may I have a word?"
"So long as I don't get pelted by any more balloons." As Delbin took a seat, Spyro hopped up on one of the Artisan steps next to him. "What's up?"
"I was just speaking to Nestor before the dragonflies arrived. Looking at all of the attacks that have happened the past few years and how involved you've been in all of them...We think it'd be for the best if you started your dragon-kata training early."
"Like...how early?"
"This year early. The second-ages will be preparing to leave not long after the Dragonfly Festival; you could go with them."
Spyro frowned. When he was younger, all he wanted to do was to train with the older dragons, who got to practice headbashes and breath abilities while he was stuck babysitting dragonlets. Now it was the last thing he wanted. Sent away to some strange island, forced to read and study all day, having no fun with the no-nonsense kata elders...and on top of that, he'd have to leave Elora and Hunter behind. And all for what? To perfect something he'd been reliably doing for the past three years?
Delbin got up after seeing the tell-tale look on his pup's face. "We'll discuss it after the festival," he dismissed.
"Yeah, yeah," Spyro grumbled, getting up as well and trotting off to meet up with Hunter and the girls, now that the balloon was discarded and the dragonflies were let loose.
"Aw, baby dragonflies are so cute!" Elora couldn't help but gush, cutely scratching one's antennae. The bright blue dragonfly gave a high-pitched buzz in delight.
"Yeah, then they grow up and just get kind of fat and lazy and snarky," Spyro snickered, clearly jabbing at the golden dragonfly over his shoulder, earning himself a whack in the horns.
"I still don't get the whole dragonfly thing," Hunter said, watching some of the dragonlets rush into the crowd, accidentally scaring the dragonflies off as they tried to play.
"How is there still so much you don't know about the dragons when one of them is your best friend?" Bianca asked.
"Because I have better things to do than read books all day." Hunter immediately regretted his words as Bianca took the very spellbook she was cradling and slammed all 879 pages of it on his tail. "Yeowch!"
"The dragonflies are guardians of the dragon realms," Bianca went on to explain, reclaiming her book as Hunter went to massage his tail. "They're the ones responsible for keeping an eye out on the hatchlings and making sure they don't get hurt or into trouble."
"Not to mention, they get a best friend," Spyro added. "Right, Sparx?"
"More like a pain in the tail we've gotta babysit for the rest of our lives." Regardless of Sparx's attitude, anyone who knew the duo for more than a few minutes could tell how close he and Spyro really were.
Hunter grumbled as he rubbed out the new kink in his tail. "Alright, alright, I get it. What're you carryin' that stupid book around for, anyway?"
"Apart from needing something to hit you with?" Bianca shot back. "I need to study. I start magic lessons with Elder Cosmo as soon as the Dragonfly Festivals are over. Or would you rather I move back to the Crystal Islands and 'find something better to do'?"
"Hey, hey, I didn't mean it like that! I just meant-"
Deciding to break up the fight, Elora stepped up and interrupted them. "Oh, come on, guys, this isn't the time. We're in the middle of a festival! The baby dragons are out having fun, it's a beautiful Artisan day, and-"
She paused as everyone looked up to the sound of thunder. Quite the contrary, it was no longer a beautiful Artisan day. In just moments, the sunshine and warm breezes were swallowed up by torrid stormclouds, prompting a bit of chaos to break out as the full-growns tried to herd their children and protect the dragonflies from any stray gusts of wind. While no rain fell, the wind howled and the thunder roared, making the Artisans darker and darker until only the occasional bolt of lightning and the dull glow of the dragonflies were left to illuminate the grassy plains.
Before anyone had time to assess the situation, a lightning strike came down right in the center of the festivities, only steps away from where Spyro and friends were seated. A dark, swirling portal tore out of the earth, filling the Artisans with a discomforting sense of dread and black magical energies. While the older dragons prioritized hiding the children, Spyro and Hunter stood their guard to tackle whatever threat would emerge to crash the party.
Unfortunately, nothing could've prepared them for what eventually stepped forth.
Pounding footsteps emerged from the dark and swirling magic of the newly-made portal, which eventually gave way to beastly silhouettes before the creatures stepped into view. The taller of the two stepped out first, a twisted blue dragon brandishing a spiked club with a mighty roar. The second, this one quadrupedal, followed close behind; this one was less draconic and more dinosauric in nature, shaking the Artisans with every mighty step he took and hungrily sniffing as much as he could for something - or someone - to eat.
Perched on the green lizard's back was a third, much smaller than his lackeys. A bright orange dino in a flapping black cloak, his face under-lit menacingly by a sparking, pulsing power scepter. The sorcerer cackled after looking out into the crowd. "We heard there was a party in the Dragon Realms today. I hope we're not late for the festivities."
Bianca and the dragons had no idea who had crashed their festival, but Spyro, Hunter, and Elora were quick to recognize the threat. "RIPTO!"
"Nice to see my subjects remember me," Ripto sneered. "Hunter, Elora, so nice to see you again. It's been a few years since I nearly conquered Avalar, hasn't it?"
"No way, how'd you survive the lava pits?" Elora asked, still trying to process Ripto's appearance. They were all there, they watched as Spyro sent Ripto plunging into the Winter Palace arena after the sorcerer's magic coated the entire area in scorching lava.
"Yeah, and how soon 'til we send you back?" Hunter added, arrow nocked and ready to fire the moment Ripto tried anything funny.
Ripto waved his new scepter. In a flash of dark magic, Hunter's arrow sprung to life, twisting into a snapping cobra and forcing Hunter to drop it with a scream. "Oh, don't worry, I'll be staying much longer this time around. I'm afraid I've got bigger plans than just conquering Avalar."
Not only was Ripto back from the dead, but Spyro could sense something different about the little sorcerer. His magic seemed far more powerful than it was when they butted heads in Avalar. Whoever saved him from the lava pits must have also thrown in a new power crystal for his scepter. That meant whoever "whoever" was couldn't be good news.
"What're you after, Ripto?" Spyro stepped forward. "You're crashing an invitation-only party. And last I checked, the dragons aren't your favorite people in the world."
"They aren't," Ripto was quick to point out, "but I learned my lesson after our last duel, Spyro. I'm done dealing with you dragons. I've decided to turn my attention to an...easier target."
With a wave of his scepter, dark pulses shook the Artisans. The full-growns struggled to keep the screaming, crying hatchlings under control as the wind continued to whip and howl around them. Spyro nodded for his team to join them; after all of the effort they put in to rescue the eggs just a month ago, no one wanted to see them hurt. He would deal with Ripto himself.
Amongst the chaos, black orbs appeared around the festival grounds. Each one burned with the darkest magical energy, and as they spawned, the orbs got their bearings and quickly began to hone in on the baby dragonflies. The little dragonflies shrieked in horror, flying as fast as they could to escape the attacks.
"Dragonflies are so much easier to deal with than you pesky dragons!" Ripto taunted over the noise. "And without them, you dragons are useless!"
Zoe gave a sharp whistle, catching the ear of all the fairies in the Artisans. "Girls! Don't let those things get the dragonflies!"
In a rush of sparkles and color, the fairies sped around the crumbling Artisans, zapping every dragonfly they could find, scattering them across the Dragon Realms. (Zoe had certainly learned her lesson the first time Ripto attacked.) Ripto gave a roaring snarl; as the dragonfly numbers diminished, he waved his scepter to redirect the dark magic onto the fairies. "Not this time, you little pixie brat! I'm not being bested by you rats with wings this time!"
"Zoe, look out!" As Ripto's attacks began to turn away, Spyro and Sparx rushed in to keep the danger away from Zoe and the other fairies. Before they could reach her, both heroes ground to a halt as a dark energy surrounded them, lifting them up and away from the battle. No matter how hard they struggled or beat their wings, neither could get loose from the constricting force.
Ripto waved his scepter again, dragging the two closer to him. "Ah-ah-ah, not so fast, dragon-breath! Can't have you two running around and ruining my plans again, can we?"
The tiny sorcerer wound up his staff, summoning a black orb larger and darker than any of the ones running rampant across the Artisan hills. Spyro and Sparx's eyes went wide, and both clawed and pulled at the invisible force with everything they had; it simply wouldn't budge.
Ripto let out a loud cackle. "Say hello to your ancestors for me, won't you, Spyro?" With one final laugh, he batted his scepter, sending the crackling orb shooting straight towards the trapped heroes.
"Spyro, Sparx, no!" In a bold flight of faith, Zoe rushed in, throwing herself into the line of fire. Before anyone else could react, Ripto's black magic struck its target. Smoke and dark energy poured out of the explosion, obscuring everything except Spyro's pained shrieks.
Pleased with his handiwork, Ripto waved for Crush to jump back through the portal. "We'll have to do this again sometime, dragons!" Ripto called back. "But for now, I've got dragonflies to squash!"
Hunter and the full-growns rushed for the portal, but by the time they reached it, Ripto and Gulp had passed through. The second they were gone, the portal sealed, leaving a crumbled hole in the ground where it sat. The winds began to settle, and any dark orb that hadn't met a target slowly dissipated into the air. Before long, the Artisans were back to their peaceful, sunny afternoon, with only the damage to the local scenery to show he had ever been there at all.
Except the Dragonfly Festival was now distinctly devoid of dragonflies. And a fallen purple dragon laid unconscious in the middle of the field.