8 Years later

"Let's move come on keep your heads up and your legs moving!" Shaw shouted behind him were a few dozen dragon guards in the village of Saturn's bowl marching and training. The village was located in a valley surrounded by mountains and from above it looked like a bowl hence Saturn's bowl. The founder was Elisieia's grandfather Saturn who led refugees here when the dark armies were roaming and destroying all that was around them. The valley was secure and very few dragon know of this place.

"Sir my legs hurt" cried a young earth dragon "We need to be in top condition for anything so step it up" Shaw shouted over his shoulder.

"Ehh Captain?" said a wind dragon right next to him "What is it now?" He grumbled getting irritated.

"Isn't that your son up there?" The wind dragon pointed with the tip of his wing.

"What?" He looked around until he saw a small purple speck on top of a tree pawing at a birds nest.

"Spyro!" Shaw shouted with a little amusement in his voice.

"Whoa aah geez" Spyro slipped off and fell off the tree with a small shout and landed on top of Shaws head.

Shaking his head from the sudden fall he looked and down into Shaws eyes and gave a sheepish grin. "Uhh hey dad."

"Spyro, what were you doing up there?" He said with a grin.

"Well" he said looking around and at the ground. "Cynder and I made a bet to see if I can get those eggs up there she told me to try."

"Hey!" Spyro and Shaw turned their heads to see a small black dragoness with 6 white horns, black scales, red wings and under belly, and a knife like tail blade at the end of her tail.

"Thanks for ratting me out!" Cynder shouted.

Spyro stocked his tongue out at her while Shaw laughed "You two never seem to stop getting yourselves in trouble don't you?"

"Nope" Cynder and Spyro said at the same time both grinning at him showing their teeth.

Shaw and some of the guards behind him laughed "Okay you too go have fun, and try not to get hurt"

"We won't." Spyro jumped off his father s head and flew down next to Cynder "Don't get into trouble" Spyro looked up at him.

"We won't dad." He then ran away from Cynder. "Race you to your house."

"Hey that's cheating!" as she gave pursuit laughing.

Shaw just laughed at them and smiled. "Those two never stop."

"Sooo, are we taking a break?" The young earth dragon asked hopefully.

"You kidding we are doing this all day, let s move guards"

Grumbling and groans were exchanged as they all got up and followed Shaw continuing with their training exercises.

****LINE BREAK****

Spyro and Cynder were running after each other, pouncing and jumping around they were determined to best each other as well as win this race.

As soon as they saw the cave they both sprinted as fast as their little legs could carry. Spyro because of the head start and being a few months older then Cynder, ran in first and sprinted all the way up to his mother, who was talking to Cynder's mother as well. He jumped on her back and smiled down at Cynder who just entered.

"I win" he said triumphantly.

"Hey that's not far you cheated" acting angry but wasn't. Spyro stuck his tongue out at her, and laughed as well as she glared at him. Both mothers laughed at their children's antics.

"You know Spyro, cheaters never win." Eliseia said then picked him up in her jaws and put him down next to Cynder who was smiling devilishly.

"Mom, you can't just do-" "YAAA" Cynder tackled spyro to the ground, and pinned him down, smiling and looked at both mothers for their approval. They both laid there and laughed.

"Good job Cynder that's my girl" Lycia smiling at her child.

"Told you Spyro" Eliseia said laughing.

Cynder smiled at them both triumphantly, while Spyro turned red and looked at the ground embarrassed.

As soon as there fooling around was over they heard wing beats from outside then a large green figure entered the cave.

"Hey everyone I'm home."

"Daddy" Cynder jumped off Spyro and ran to hug her father s foreleg "Mokai! You're home." Lycia said as she walked up to nuzzle her mate and he returned the gesture.

"Mokai it s good to see you" Eliseia stood up and walked over.

"Good to see you too as well but where's Spyro?" He looked around "I'm here" he walked behind his mother s leg and grinned up at Mokai.

"Spyro how are you, has Cynder been treating you nicely?" He looked down at Cynder as she grinned showing all her teeth "She's ok."

"Hey!"

They all laughed at the two and then all sat down. After a few minutes of talking, Mokai finally clears his throat getting everyone's attention. He then looked at Lycia with seriousness in his eyes and she nodded in understanding.

"Spyro, Cynder, why don't you both go play outside for a while."

They both looked up then at each other and after a few seconds they shrugged and got up to leave.

"Your it" shouted Spyro.

"Stop doing that" she ran off after him both laughing until there laughter could not be heard from in the cave. Once it was quiet they all sat down with Lycia the first to speak.

"What happened?"

Mokai sighed and rubbed his head.

"I went to Warfang and spoke to Terrador. Things are not looking good."

Both females stayed quiet and gave their undivided attention to him.

"Apes are everywhere; the dark armies are stretched far. Gaul and his forces have massacred thousands. Terrador says they can hold them but soon they may have no place to go."

"Did you tell him about this place?" Lycia asked. Mokai just shook his head.

"No, he has asked me to tell him and I refused, he even tried sending me off with an escort back home but Insisted that it would not be necessary."

"He doesn't know about..." Eliseia asked but scared to finish. Mokai shook his head.

"No."

"Does Ignitus?"

"He has come up to asking if our village has any children. I told him no."

Eliseia breathed a sigh of relief "Thank you Mokai"

He nodded "He is searching you know."

Both Eliseia and Lycia looked up in shock.

"Not just Ignitus, Gaul too."

"I won't let them near my baby!" Eliseia said with a little anger in her voice "I know I know" Mokai sighed.

Lycia interrupted "Maybe we should not talk about this right now?" She said a little worried.

"Okay" Eliseia wiped a tear from her eye.

"We should just be thankful that we are safe here."

"Yea your right" Mokai said.

"Yea." Eliseia mumbled.

"I just hope it lasts" She said quietly under her breath.

****LINE BREAK****

Cynder and Spyro were climbing up the mountain trying to reach the top; Spyro was ahead eagerly jumping from rock to rock and climbing others.

"What are we doing up here Spyro?" She panted. "We aren't even allowed to be here."

Spyro looked down and rolled his eyes at her "Cynder we've been here all our life and we never seen what's over this mountain or better yet what s beyond our valley. I don't know about you but I really wanna know what s behind this."

"Ugh, why do you drag me on these adventures?"

Spyro ignored her complaining and kept on climbing. After a few minutes Spyro reached the top and when he looked over the horizon. Nothing could of prepared him for this.

"Cynder!"

"I'm a little busy here" she said as she just regained her balance.

After a few more minutes she finally reached the top and collapsed on her back with her wings spread out from exhaustion breathing heavily.

"That...was...a big...climb" she said in between breaths.

After a few seconds she looked to Spyro who was staring at the horizon with his mouth dropped.

"Umm Spyro...you ok" she started waving her wings in front of his face. "Hey purple scales wake up." No answer.

"What are you even looking at" She turned and her jaw dropped too "Oh..."

On the ground and beyond the horizon it was a barren wasteland. Dead trees were everywhere, the soil was a sickish grey, the skies were dark and far in the distance smoke was rising from multiple places.

They stayed there for a few minutes just caught in a strange trance until finally one of them broke the silence.

"What is this place?" Spyro asked.

"It's like everything is dead."

"Yea." Spyro whispered then looked at Cynder with a smirk.

"Wanna go check it out?"

"Are you crazy?! We have no idea what s down there. What if something tries to eat us?"

"Pfft we're dragons what could possible attack us."

"But...I...umm."

"Come on it'll be fun" Spyro jumped off the side and started gliding down the side of the mountain.

"Ugh, why am I even friends with him?" she jumped off and glided down after him.

They reached the bottom and began to explore, looking under rocks jumping in trees they even found a tar pit. Spyro tried tasting it but ended up spitting it all out with Cynder behind him laughing her tail off. Soon they've been out for almost an hour until something caught their eye. It was large and shining dark purple and it almost looked like a crystal but this one was different. It gave off an unpleasant, yet luring and comforting feel to them.

"Spyro what is that thing?"

"I have no idea."

They cautiously approached the object until they were a few feet near it and looking at their reflections.

"Wow."

"Cool" they both said at the same time.

They stared at it for what seem liked hours just mesmerized by this thing.

"Touch it" Cynder said excitingly.

"No way!"

"Aww is the big tough Spyro afraid of an itty bitty crystal" she said mockingly.

"I'm not scared." Spyro said nervously.

"Then prove it." she smirked.

"Let's both do it."

"Ugh fine if that will make you do it."

They both put their paws out hovering near the crystal.

"You ready" Spyro looked to Cynder and she nodded.

"One" Spyro said.

"Two" Cynder said next.

"Three!" They both shouted and as soon as they touched it they both screamed in pain. Dark energy in the form of electricity moved from the crystal all the way up through their paws into their bodies. They screamed in agony for what seemed like a life time until finally Spyro burst free, flying back and hitting a tree right in the center.

"AGHHH" he laid down with tears in his eyes clutching onto his paw. When the pain went away he heard something else.

"Cynder!" He jumped up and ran all the way back to find Cynder screaming in pain and trying to break free.

"Cynder!" He ran up to her and grabbed her by the waist.

"Hold on Cynder!"

"SPYRO P-PLEASE H-H-HURRY!" He kept yanking and pulling with off his might, pulling and struggling, his focus was on one thing and one thing only, saving Cynder s life.

"ARGHHH JUST...HANG...ON" and with one finally yank the dark crystal exploded and both were sent flying back into the trees.

Spyro got up immediately, bleeding from his head. He pushed the branches away from making a clear path for him. He looked around the area then shouted.

"CYNDER!"

He remained quiet for a few seconds then heard a moan. He sprinted with all of his might to the location of that sound, and found Cynder s body up against a tree bleeding from her lip.

"Cynder!" He ran up to her and removed what few branches were covering her and after a few seconds he heard her cough and open her eyes.

"Spyro?" She said groggily.

"I'm here Cynder I'm here" he said with tears in his eyes.

After a few seconds of looking at each other she jumped up and wrapped her paws around Spyro's neck crying hysterically.

Spyro looked up in surprise then returned the hug.

"Thank you Spyro" She cried into his neck.

"Shh, it's ok it's ok" She held her in place.

After a few minutes she stopped and looked up at him and smile" Thank you Spyro"

He looked down and smiled as well. Come on, let s go home."

"Well, well, well what do we have here?"

Spyro and Cynder froze upon hearing that voice, and slowly turned around. What they saw was the scariest sight they have ever seen. Small dark eyes, giant body's that are four times the size of them, blood stained weapons that can even make an adult dragon look at it in fear, and vicious armor that covers their whole body. They had dirty looking hair all over their body and two large fangs coming out of there bottom lip, but what was worse there wasn't one but six of them all wearing the same thing.

"Looks like we apes just found ourselves some dinner." They all looked at the two younglings with hunger in their eyes.

"Hey boss hahaha can we cook them alive like the last ones hahaha?" one of the apes said licking his lips.

"Quiet!" The lead ape said with anger then looked back at the two.

"Umm boss."

"WHAT!" The lead ape said pointing his sword at one of the apes.

"Isn't that the crystal we were supposed to pick up?" He said pointing at shattered pieces of a former crystal now looking dull and grey. The lead ape looked at it in shock then growled at the two young dragons, both shivering in fear and holding each other.

"Oh I'm gonna have fun killing you two." He roared and charged as well as did the others. Both Spyro and Cynder screamed in fear and ran in the opposite direction as fast as they can.

"Cynder run!" Spyro said sprinting as fast as his little legs could carry.

"I'M TRYING!" she said with fear clear in her voice "Run little ones run." one of the apes said mockingly. "You re gonna be mine soon."

Spyro and Cynder ran until they came near the side of their mountain, Spyro pushing Cynder up so she had a head start.

"Climb Cynder CLIMB!" He shouted.

Cynder was climbing as fast as she could. She was a tenth of the way up until she heard claws scratching against the rocks.

"SPYRO!" she shouted and saw Spyro fall down.

Spyro looked around clearly scared and hurt until he saw the apes emerge in front of him from out of the fog.

"Nowhere to run purple runt." The lead ape said evilly.

"Hey boss instead of bringing him back to camp why don't we just eat him here?" one of the apes said smiling.

"Might as well hahaha." Spyro gulped and cried a little as they surrounded him.

"I'm gonna enjoy this" the lead ape said.

Cynder looking down completely helpless on what to do.

The lead ape walked up to spyro with his sword raised.

"This is gonna hurt."

"So will this."

Before any of the apes could re-act a giant blast of fire rained down from the sky burning the apes. They all jumped away including the leader as a giant red, orange and gold dragon with a scar on his chest landed in front of Spyro. The dragons eyes were of pure anger and hatred toward the apes. He positioned himself protectively between them and Spyro then said in a heated venomous voice.

"Leave...my son...alone!" The apes laughed and circled him.

"What can you do dragon, there is six of us and only one of you excluding our meal."

Shaw's eyes turned to silts and he roared in anger charging the unexpected apes. He pounced on one and bit right into his neck killing it instantly. Then picked it up and threw the lifeless body at another ape. Spinning around he missed a slash from one of the apes then slashed back with his tail. He then stood on his hind legs and crushed two of the apes beneath him. One of the apes jumped on him and managed to slash his back. Shaw roared in pain the swung his tail behind him and knocked the ape off. He then turned his focus on two of the apes regrouping and charged at them.

Shaw unleashed a torrent of fire on them one, but had a shield and managed to remain unharmed, while the other was burning alive screaming. Shaw stabbed the burning ape with his tail and threw him into the mountain side. The last ape was now looking up in fear at the mighty fire dragon.

Shaw roared and ferociously pounced on it and ripped his shield off with his arm still attached. He then bit down on his head and crushed him killing it instantly. Shaw then looked around and gave a mighty roar seeing that he has destroyed his enemies. As soon as he turned around about to scold Spyro he heard laughing. He looked around until he found the source. It was the ape leader laughing and coughing up blood.

"What's so funny ape?"

The ape continued laughing then looking up at Shaw with an evil grin. It sent chills down everyone spine.

"You can't protect him forever..."

This suddenly sparked Shaw's interest. "What do you mean?"

The ape just continued laughing "Gaul knows." He said with a grin.

Shaw looked in shook and the ape continued laughing. Shaw then walked toward Spyro and picked him up.

"What does he mean?"

"Just be quiet."

"Dad what does he mean?"

Shaw remained silent and flew up to get Cynder.

"DAD"

"SPYRO SHUT UP, Cynder get on!"

She got on and sat next to Spyro. Then they flew off back to Saturn's Bowl hearing the apes evil laughing dying off in the distance.