The Journey Continues... here it is the next episode of the newest chapter in the Dragon of Destiny Saga... Here is the part one of the first multi-part saga of I.N.V.A.S.I.O.N. So let's begin shall we... But first before I forget...
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Spryo characters or their world. They are property of Universal Games. I only own the new characters and ideas that are being created for this series. Other fan characters are contributed thanks to their respective owners and are being used with their permission. Thanks guys! Anyway... Blah blah blah... etc... Heh heh, okay you guys get the point let's get this show on the road...
Enjoy!
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Li' zul ja z-il zuzi tai lizu'
Prelude to Invasion - Dawn of a
New Age
Life is never predictable...
So much has happened...
Spyro's horror filled eyes slowly blink as the sound of a clock is heard steadily clicking away in the background. As the screen goes black you can hear Spyro breathing hard as he tries to contain the sorrow in his pounding heart. What do I do...? Spyro closes his eyes as tears roll down his cheeks...
My heart is breaking...
So much has changed...
Hunter and the others stood at the door glancing in at Spyro in total silence for they each realized that nothing they could ever say could ever calm him. Spyro glanced back at them in silence, tears in his amber gold eyes as he turns back to the sight before him. His body shook as pain and sorrow shot through him making him feel numb as his mind fractured revealing all the various flashes of the recent events of the past couple of months, that had led to the current shocking situation, played back in his mind...
Flashback... (With a never-before seen scene!)
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" Spyro roared out in anger. The Dark Master's smug grin stayed on his face. Spyro swipped at the fading Dark Master's body. His large right paw going through his fading body. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE...?!"
"What does it look like I have done! I have gotten the last laugh... ha ha ha ha! See you later, hero...! I'll let you suffer for awhile before I return. But know this, Spyro, in the end... You... Will... Help... Me... Destroy... The... Realms... ALL OF THEM! Whether you want to or not! I will MAKE you fulfill the DESTINY that I have in store for you...! This is not over... Ha ha ha, no this is only the BEGINNING...!" He said, laughing, as his he finally vanished... Spyro grabbed his head and screamed as he collapsed to his knees and lost consciousness...
I have felt the icy hand of Evil...
Nothing is what it seems...
Spyro groaned and opened his eyes looking up at his gathered friends who looked down at him with facial expressions that told him that something was horribly wrong. He coughed, his throat dry from not having anything to drink for nearly a whole week. "How are they...?" He asked softly, his voice hoarse. Ember handed him some water which he took before glancing a little closer at them. Bianca and Ember sighed as tears rolled down their cheeks. Spyro glanced at Agent 9, Blink and the others in turn. "How are they...?" He asked again, his voice starting to show fear in it. Ryua, who had been sitting with her back against the wall stood up.
"Excuse me!" She said as she made her way quickly out of the room. Spyro saw the look on her face as she departed and realized immediately that his first suspisions were correct... Something was horribly wrong. Ryua's face was not only upset but very upset. She was on the verge of breaking down. Spyro glanced around at his friends and when no one answered him he sat up and fought to get out of the bed. Nestor held him down and shook his head as he glanced him in the eye. Spyro stopped struggling as he saw the look of pain in Nestor's eyes.
"Spyro, Hunter is okay. He is recovering from whatever the Dark Master did to him."
"Where is he?" Spyro asked. Nestor turned his head to the left of Spyro. Spyro glanced over at the bed next to him and gasped as his voice caught in his throat. Hunter was looking at him but the look in his eyes was haunted and not like Hunter at all. "Hunter... I am sorry! I couldn't stop him from hurting you or Flame. I screwed up again. I..." Hunter slowly stood up and with Bianca's help walked over to the left side of Spyro's bed. His face creased in a lopsided grin as he gently placed his right paw on Spyro's left shoulder.
"It's okay, pal." He said even as his face creased in a slight grimace of pain. "I'll be okay..." Spyro frowned as he nodded before he glanced back at Nestor.
Who is calling me...
What awaits us...
"What about Flame...? Is he okay? Where is he?" Nestor's and everyone else seem to become even more depressed. "Well..."
"Flame... Flame... is... oh god!" Nestor said a his voice suddenly caught in his throat as he tried to finished but instead broke down sobbing. Seeing Nestor break down in front of him made Spyro's face go slightly pale.
"No, this can't be happening. Not Flame... This is like losing Ember all over again. I... I... can't!" Spyro screamed and jumped out of his bed. His face tensed as his eyes took on a look of total shock and horror. He looked around the room at his friends... not really seeing them or hearing their shouts and cries of concern for him. His body tensed as his took off running for the open door, pushing Blink aside as he exited.
Something is coming...
Who knows but whatever it is...
"SPYRO!" His friends yelled as they followed him to Flame's room. Spyro realized at once where he was. It was the underground complex beneath the ruins of Willowbrook, Hunter's childhood home but it seemed like some work had been going on since the last time he had been here. The floors were cleaner and the walls seemed to have a shine to them that screamed out to any casual observer that the place was being remodeled or repaired. Spyro paid little attention to the renovations as he ran down the hall. He stopped suddenly grabbing his head in pain. He stumbled over to the left wall and caught himself.
'What's wrong with me?!' He screamed in his head. All of sudden he felt something strange occur around him. He glanced around and found that time had somehow come to a total standstill. 'A Time Freeze!' He screamed mentally as his eyes went wide and his jaw gritted open in a low growl, his teeth bared. He suddenly felt a slight gust of wind caress his scaled back as his face creased in a frown as he spun around and found himself standing face to face with a white cloak wearing black dragoness. "Who..." She put a talon paw on his muzzle silencing him as she looked him up and down before kissing him on the lips. Spyro's eyes went wide in surprise from her action.
She smacked her lips as she pulled back away from him suddenly leaving him dazed, confused and breathless. "Mmmm, you are so cute and you kiss good. Greetings, handsome!" She said in a soft sultry voice. Spyro blinked as his voice caught in his throat. His surprise at her actions before left him muted and in shock as he backed up slightly. He glanced at her keeping quiet as he looked her over. Her body was slim, her black scales shiny and her gauntlet bracelet arms and legs were muscular. Everything about her from her horned head and facial markings to her long and graceful tail which ended in a blade told Spyro what she was.
'A weapon... a dangerous one and she knew it by how she carried herself.' He thought, his mouth suddenly dry as he continued staring at her. He coughed, clearing his throat. "Who are you...?!" He growled. She yawned and gave him a bored glance. Spyro could also tell she was obviously older then him, Ember and Flame even if she was his height. Spyro's nostrils twitched confirming that his assumptions were correct. Her body was not only much more physically developed when compared to him and the others but also she had a much more mature smell to her. This smell when combined with her appearance and attitude screamed 'mature' to him. He, Ember and Flame were just starting to gain this air of maturity. He knew because Hunter told him one day that he had a different smell to him. He hadn't believed him at first but as time went on and others commented to him about his smell he realized that Hunter was right.
He took another small step back away from her and made no moves to do anything but just fold his arms across his chest as his tail did a lazy 'THUMP... THUMP...' on the floor behind him as he patiently awaited her response. The dragoness glanced at him in total surprise at his behaviour.
"Wow, I am amazed and quite impressed. You didn't try to attack me. My master told me you were a hot head who jumps into a situation first before taking the time to examine it. Hmmm... perhaps my master was wrong about you, Spyro. You seem more mature then I originally thought you would be." She said as her face creased in a toothy grin. Spyro's eyes went even wider, if even that was possible, in surprise as he tried to speak but she stopped him by suddenly appearing right behind him. Spyro's body tensed hard as she wrapped her arms around his muscular waist. "As to your question, my handsome young male..." She gently licked his right cheek making Spyro take a deep breath as his nostrils flared open releasing trails of smoke as he exhaled. "Who I am is none of your business and yes darling I work for the Dark Master." His mouth fell open in a dumbstruck look. She chuckled at his reaction before backing away from him. Spyro turned, his face slightly sweaty as he glanced at her, his mixed facial expression revealing to her his confused/dazed/tense state of mind when it came to trying to understand her attitude and behavior. She chuckled to herself, her green eyes sparkling. 'Heh heh, I think you and I are going to become very good friends, Destiny... Oh yessss, very good friends indeed!' She thought to herself as she felt how powerful he really was. 'My master has no idea of what you are truly capable of becoming. But I do know because I can see and feel your potential... You are destined for great things.' She paused and glanced around feeling the presence of another. 'I am right aren't I, Dragon of Elements?'
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Meanwhile...
Cailean's breath caught in his throat as his closed eyes shot open in surprised and then narrowed... "Cynder... no... Carla, Cynder's daughter!" His body tensed slightly as he growled. As he sat up in bed his human body shifted to its dragon form. "Sooo, she is awake." Cailean shook his head in disgust. "After all this time I would have thought that the Dark Master would have decided to use his brain and change his style. But no... the coward still uses the same old techniques he used thousands of years ago! How patheticly predictable...!" He pulled himself out of his bed, his tail twitching in irritation as he glanced out of his bedroom window. He sighed as the sight of the beautiful night sky, bright with sparkling stars and a full moon, slightly calmed his troubled thoughts. Cailean turned away from the sky and stretched pulling on a night robe as he walked out of his room and into his library. He looked around briefly at the slightly singed shelves. He rolled his eyes as he remembered what had happened a day earlier. 'I am going to have get these books fire proofed somehow. I can't have Kieran strolling around here sneezing and torching my collections to dust. That will never do!' He thought before glancing down at the glass case holding his copy of the Tome of Ages. His eyes narrowed taking on a slight glow as he gestured with his right paw... The glass covering on the case rose and gently landed on the floor. Cailean gestured with his left paw... The Tome of Ages glowed with a soft rainbow light as it lifted out of the glass case and floated over to him. He reached forward and grabbed it out of the air and then left the library heading for his office... "I have a bad feeling that things are about to get a whole lot more complicated." As he entered his office he glanced out the office window and sighed. "Be careful, Destiny, Cynder is more then she appears to be."
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Cynder chuckled to herself in silence at the other Legendary Dragon's annoyance before she winked and blew Spyro a kiss. "It is such a shame that next time we meet I'll have to kill you... Oh well... See you." She suddenly vanished and as she did time resumed its normal flow. Spyro stood rooted where he was, his mind in turmoil as confusion ran through it.
'Who is she...' He thought as he felt a strange feeling hit him. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and shook his head trying to clear it. "She did something to me." He said in a whisper as he stumbled forward holding his head. He fell to his knees as his head began to throb in an even worst pain. At that moment, Spyro heard laughter... the same laughter from that he had heard from the black dragoness. His body shivered as a strange new feeling hit him in the gut. 'What's wrong with me!' He screamed mentally. 'I feel strange... I feel...' His mouth twitched as his eyes shifted to an amber gold. He stood up ramrod straight and walked forward. As he turned a corner he finally found himself standing in front of Flame's room. He quickly pushed open the closed door...
His amber gold eyes narrowed as the pupil began to shrink to an angry slit. His mouth opened as his fangs seem to grow larger, sharper... "Flame... oh god... Flame... NOOoooo!" Spyro roared loudly, his voice cracking or shattering glass objects and containers in the room and echoing down the underground hallways of Willowbrook.
We will overcome it...
Cailean, who had been reading the Tome, felt Spyro's pain echo across the realms and as he felt it he dropped the Tome down on his desk. He sat back in his chair and closed his eyes as tears started to fall from them. "Oh, Destiny, I am so... so sorry!" Cailean felt Flame's lifeforce energy changing. He opened his eyes quickly as he looked down at the fallen book on his desk. The book he had been reading which was his copy of the Tome of Ages began to glow. He looked at the book before picking it up off the desk. As he did he noticed that a message had appeared on his desk. His face creased in fear as he felt an icy chill hit him. He read the message he had received in his mind:
The Past and Present will soon collide...
As Darkness Falls...
Heroes rise...
As the end of one Age draws near...
A New Journey will at last begin...
The Portal to Earth has opened...
Cailean sat back in his chair and sighed. "So, he is coming here. The war has begun... I must prepare!"
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The Dark Master reappeared in a swirling dark cloud that he materialized from inside his main chambers. He smiled as he found his young black dragoness servant waiting for him. She smiled as he glanced at her. "Greetings, Master." She said. The Dark Master grinned and chuckled under his breath. "I have done as you asked. Spyro will soon join us whether he wants to or not."
The Dark Master sat down on his throne as his dark white pupiled eyes glowed. "Excellent, my dear Cynder. Now onward to phase two of my plan. Soon everything will be as it should be. Now..., let's begin...!"
The Invasion has begun...
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"Spyro... Spyro... Dragon of Destiny..." (Echoes)
I.N.V.A.S.I.O.N...
Image of the 3d purple colored Spyro logo flies towards the screen and turns clear as the camera enters the Dragon Realms thru it. The camera flys along then comes to stop on Spyro and his friends standing on a cliff overlooking a valley below. Suddenly, Hunter and the others are force to jump back as a series of dark portals start opening all around them.
New song "MY BATTLEGROUND" begins playing
"My Battlegound is here now,
My battleground... my battleground! (Echoes with drum beats are heard)
I stand my ground because theres no way I backing down now.
I stand for hope and the light...
Image of a dark shadow appears overhead as more huge swirling dark portals open. "What in the..?" Ember screams. Spyro, Flame and their other friends stare on in horror.
"I must stand and fight
I can't be afraid no more...
I must stand and fight
To protect those I love
My Battleground..."
Image of Hunter shakes his head as a powerful dark beam of energy crashes down from the sky leveling homes, businesses... destroying lives as it rained down death and destruction. Tears fall from Hunter's eyes and roll down his cheeks as he screamed, "No... not again! This can't happen again. Not here!" The beam changes to red and changes direction heading for... them.
Spyro's eyes open wide. "Oh no!"
"And the fate of many worlds...
In our hands and we must be strong
If we fail...
Things will end...
We must be strong and keep on fighting on
No turning back no more,,,
The time has come
The battle has begun..."
Image of Sirius frowning as he watches Spyro and his friends facing the darkness.
"Fate... Destiny... Chaos... Hope... and Unity...
All fates are linked...
All Destinies are intertwined...
Even if Chaos falls and the darkness threatens to encompass us all...
Hope and Unity will prevail...
For true power is revealed only when the time comes and when heroes all rise to meet their true destinies united as one...
Even if the end remains yet unknown..."
"Seasons come and season go
But we keep on carrying on
Things are changing...
No turning back...
This is our battleground.
We must stand together and fight
Fight for the light.
We will fight on and save the world
Images of Amanda screaming as a portal jumper explodes one of the portal network doorways shatters sending out waves of magical energy that slice the jumper apart. "If these dark portals keep opening like this all over the realms then portal travel will come to an end."
Flame: "Get back...! The portal network is crashing...!"
Image of Ember screaming, "Father... no!" as she holds his head in her arms as tears rolled down her cheek. "Hold on. Please hold on!"
Image of the Vanguardian Tower of Lore collapsing as it explodes sending debris flying. As it happens Reeco watches with his father Drake in horror. Drake turns away from the explosion and closes his eyes as tears roll down his cheek. "What have I done...?" He whispers.
The screen darkens as Galen appears on screen walking through the wreckage of a chamber. He pauses as he hear a sound of running footsteps and turns to see Spyro, Flame and Ember with their friends. "GALEN," Spyro growls, "THIS MADNESS ENDS NOW!"
Galen laughs and with a sweep of his paw throws Spyro and his friends backwards into a wall. "No, Hero, this isn't the end for me but just the beginning... However, for you and your friends, Spyro, the end has come..." Spyro growls as he summons the Destiny Blade to his right paw and runs toward Galen slashing the air in slow motion as the camera changes angles to show Galen's reflection on the blade...
Screen flashes white...
"Spyro: Dragon of Destiny...
Keep on fighting on until the end...
Don't give up now
Keep fighting on..."
Moving Image of the Spyro: Dragon of Destiny logo reflects the faces of Spyro and all his friends and then cracks as the flaming red letters Invasion crash into it from above. Sinister laughter is heard as a black Dragoness and mysterious red eyed cloaked individual appear in shadow behind Spyro and the others. The images of Spyro and his friends from season one shift to their new season two appearances. Spyro now wears a new short sleeve white jacket with metal arm and leg guantlets. Ember is wearing a white robe of sorts. Flame has traded in his old black jacket for a black short sleeve one with silver stripes running down the sides. Both Spyro and Flame are wearing their new jackets unbuckled showing off their more muscular gold scaled chests. The metal buckets on the jackets hang off to the side flowing with the motions and dancing actions of the wind around them. The swords of Destiny and Chaos are gripped in their left paws. Bandit is packing a grapling gun and few other new toys in addition to his upgraded guns. Hunter and Bianca are both wearing greyish white battle vests. Bianca has a new metal wand in a white pouch on the left side of her waist. She has a blue backpacket on that contains her spell books. Hunter has let his headfur grow out somewhat. He is sporting a slight mane of spotted fur down his back which he has tied into a ponytail. Hunter's wristbows are now much smaller and have a built-in viewfinder and maginfier sight. Blink is still wearing his hat and goggles although the goggles now have a few gadgets built into them now. His outfit is now a white shirt with a dark green battle vest. Prince Lucas the Gryphon stands with his wings spread out wide. His beaked face is now lined with black battle markings and tribal white stripes. Two short double edged battle blades are strapped to his sides in sheaths. He has a metal white light gem tailring to match his old wrist gauntlets and his new leg gauntlets. The expressions on everyones faces are deadly serious as they stand in a dramatic pose over a battle field of Shadow Dragons. A dark shadow of dragon casts a shadow upon them as they look up...
The screen flashes and fades to black...
"Spyro: Dragon of Destiny...
I.N.V.A.S.I.O.N...
I.N.V.A.S.I.O.N... (Echoes)
Stop this invasion, Spyro..."
Siruis: "The journey has just begun..."
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SPYRO: DRAGON of DESTINY:
-SEASON TWO-
\ I.N.V.A.S.I.O.N /
Episode 02: Childhood's End, Part 1 of 7 -
Season of Change
"Hear me, Dragon of Destiny, the Circle summons you..."
"Who are you...?" Spyro asked shaking his aching head his amber gold eyes glancing around his brother's silent room. Hunter and the others looked at him worried by his actions and especially worried about his changed eye color.
'Something is very wrong with Spyro. His eyes have never done that before.' Hunter thought to himself as he reached out and gently touched Spyro's tense left shoulder. Spyro's amber gold eyes lock with his. "Buddy, you know who we are!" Hunter said, his voice full of concern for his friend. Spyro glanced at him and the others, his facial expression blank and a tad bit cold. Hunter's eyes widen as he realized something was indeed wrong. "Spyro... what is it? What's wrong?!" Spyro's head whipped around, his amber gold eyes taking on a strange distant glance.
"WHO ARE YOU...?" Spyro growled as he grabbed his head in both paws. His claws began to grow longer making him pull them back from his head and glance at them with a very worried expression on his face. 'What... what's happening to me! I don't understand... I am not doing...' Spyro thought as he heard the same chanting voice in his head again. His friends stared in shock at him.
"We are the Circle... the Circle... we summon thee! Come... come... come... come... come... come..."
"STOP IT...! LEAVE ME ALONE!" Spyro roared as his amber gold eyes shot open wide as his black pupils dilated even more then they had already taking on a totally different shape. He grabbed his head again and gritted his teeth as his amber gold eyes began to glow. As this happened his body stood up ramrod straight as he turned his glance to his worried friends. His friends frowned at the strange distant look in Spyro's glowing eyes. He looked like he wasn't thinking clearly. It was almost like he wasn't himself but someone else. "Please... Go away..." He said in a strange low and distant voice as his body began to shake as a strange white glow surrounded him. Ember's eyes went wide.
"SPYRO...!" She yelled as she reached for him. Spyro's amber gold eyes suddenly went totally pupilless as the amber gold color glowed even brighter. As that happened Ember was thrown backwards away from him by a pulse of energy. She slammed into the wall leaving a dent in the surface of the wall in the form and shape of her body. She groaned as she slid down the wall to the floor. Elora and Bianca went over to help her back to her feet as the whole room began to shake. "What's happening...?!" Ember screamed, a tone of fear present in her otherwise clear voice.
"I don't know!" Hunter growled as he reached out, in a blur of speed, and grabbed Spyro's shoulders with both of his paws. As he did Spyro discharged another powerful pulse wave of green energy... Hunter's eyes went wide and as they did he felt his whole body slowly start to go numb. He tried to scream mentally but found himself unable communicate with his friends...
As his head fell to the side as he felt his control over his body slip away. He tried to let go of Spyro but found himself unable to. His vision began to faded in and out and as that happened he felt himself beginning to slip away. 'NO... NOOOOOO, Spyro help meeee!' He screamed mentally as he fought with every single fiber of his being to stop whatever was happening to him. However, he discovered to his horror that he could do nothing...
Nothing but fall into the...
Unknown
Hunter groaned and opened his eyes staring up at the ceiling of... He eyes went wide slightly as he quickly realized he wasn't where he was before. He quickly sat up and as he did his stomach did a 180 flip making him almost throw up but luckily for him he his stomach was empty. He shook his head and as he did he felt himself fade away and reappear in a large chamber of some sort of meeting hall. He glanced around the hall at the hovering monitors that displayed strange information in different languages that he couldn't understand. As he did this he found himself staring at the at the cloaked faces of a group of seven cloaked beings that sat at a hovering table. Hunter gasped in surprise at them... He didn't know who they were or where he was for nothing around him looked familiar to him. 'Who are you? What are you doing to my friend?' Hunter asked, his voice strangely calm. The beings turned and glanced at him calmly and as they did one of the beings stood up from the table and pulled back his/her cloak revealing...
Hunter's eyes went wide in shock as his blue eyes saw who it was... 'What the...? Who are you?' The stranger walked toward him and as he/she moved toward him the cloak vanished revealing the muscular body of the male that lay hidden beneath it. This stranger, Hunter realized, was much taller then him. In fact as the stranger came to rest in front of him he did a rough estimate in his head of 7'5. The stranger stared down at him. Hunter's face stared up at him in awe and surprise. 'Who are you, sir?' The stranger's left eyebrow raised as a grin appeared on his face.
"I can't tell you, Hunter. But deep down you know the answer to the question even if you find it hard to accept it. The truth is, young Seer, that some things are better left unknown to those who aren't ready to understand their importance..." He paused and raised his left paw... A glowing ball of energy appeared and as it did the stranger tossed it at him. Hunter raised his right paw and caught the ball of energy and as he did he knew who this stranger was...
'How can this be?! I don't understand what is happening...' Hunter said. As he said that he felt the ground shake as the heavy footsteps of someone very large entered the chamber and stopped behind him.
"Your destiny is what awaits you..." He heard from the person behind him. Hunter turned slowly and as he did his mouth opened wide as he looked up at the tall regal dragon behind him. The tall dragon, clad in a silver and gold armored battle vest and glowing gauntlets smiled and nodded... "There is more going on then you currently know, Seer. May your coming journey be one of peace and hope..." The dragon then turned and as he did the whole chamber shook and the wall exploded... The gathered group dived for cover as the light gem walls flew in every direction. The large dragon shield himself, Hunter and the other member of the group near them.
"Go! Quickly!" The dragon yelled glancing down at Hunter before turning as to face his opponent. Hunter's eyes went wide as he saw who that opponent was...
'Nooooo...!' Hunter screamed in horror as his vision flashed and he fell backwards... Hunter opened his eyes and found himself next to a huge adult white scaled dragoness, who sat upright in a meditative trance, her massive clawed front paws folded over her large legs. Her long tail curled around her. Hunter glanced at her and looked her over careful. He started to slowly back up but found himself unable to move. His eyes went wide as he realized that the dragoness' long tail was wrapped around his waist keeping him in place.
"Don't be afraid, young one. I won't hurt you." She said in a gentle rumbling tone.
"Who are you?" He asked. She smiled and as she did she opened her eyes to look down at him.
His mouth went dry as he looked up at her and recognized her. "Ember..." She lowered her large horned head to look him in the eye. As she glanced at him she unwrapped her tail from around his waist.
"Yes, Hunter, I am Ember but not the Ember you know." She said cryptically. Hunter's face creased in surprise as the dragoness' body started glowing and as it did she shrunk down from her 30 feet tall height to her still tall 9'5 height. Hunter looked around in shock and fear at finding himself yet again in an unknown location. She noticed his reaction and said, "Don't be afraid, Hunter. I have been expecting you."
"Expecting... me... How?! Where am I?!" He asked, his voice full of shock.
"Calm yourself and come with me." She said as she sighed, raised her right paw into the air and as she did both she and Hunter vanished. A few seconds later they reappeared outside on a large balcony... Hunter first glanced around the balcony trying to figure out where he was before he turned and glanced down. He gasped in surpised... amazed at the amazing sight that he saw before him. Down below the large balcony, a strange very beautiful, unfamiliar city stretched outward toward the horizon. Hunter slowly turned to face her, his face a mask of total confusion. "Ember... is this the future?" She looked down at him, her face not revealing anything. "Please, I must know."
"I am sorry but I can't tell you when this is... The truth is Hunter that this place and time are not known. You will have to figure out the answer for yourself." She said softly as she looked up and as she did her eyes went wide. Hunter looked up as well and what he saw chilled him to the bone.
"It can't be...!" He said, his voice a haunted whisper. "What is going on here?" At that moment a huge muscular dragon landed in front of both him and Ember. The dragon laughed, insanity present in his deep voice. Hunter backed away from the dragon shaking his head as tears streamed down his cheeks. The male dragon advanced and as he did his mouth opened in a fearsome fang-filled smile.
"So, Seer, I see that you are here." The male dragon's nostrils flared as smoke trails started billowing from them. "However, I am afraid that I simply cannot allow you to interfere with my plans." As he said that his gold eyes took on a reddish tint. Hunter's eyes went wide and he shook his head back and forth not willing to accept what was happening...
"No no no no... this isn't happening...! This is all wrong! I am dreaming! I am dreaming!" Hunter screamed. Ember stepped in front of him, her face creased in an angry snarl.
"NO, I WON'T LET YOU HURT HIM!" She roared before turning her head slightly to look down at him. "Hunter, you must go now!" She said before turning back to face the much larger dragon. She opened her wings and flew toward him transforming to her full size as she collided with him. Ember roared as she slashed bloody gash in the male's chest. He roared out in pain and flapped his massive wings souring up into the sky. Ember followed him... The two dragons clashed in the air clawing, biting and unleashing fire, lightning and ice attacks at each other. The male dived at Ember. Ember dodged the dive and breath a powerful stream of fire into the other dragon's back burning his wings. The male roared, spun around and unleashed a wave of ice shards that hit Ember making her roar in pain. She tried to avoid the attack and instead ended up colliding with the male dragon's fist in her face. Ember roared out in pain as the jarring punch to her head dazed her. The male grinned and tried to follow his attack through but was stopped by a powerful left blast of golden flames that crashed into him and sent him spinning through the air out of control. The male dragon roared and tried to recover only to find himself face to beak with a large phoenix.
"YOU! Why do you always have to stick your beak where it doesn't belong?!" The male dragon roared and and sent a wave of ice shards flying at the fire bird.
"I guess it is just in my nature to do so!" The large phoenix said calmly as his beak curled upward in a grin. "Sirius wouldn't let you guys get away with doing evil things and neither will I!" The phoenix raised his left taloned paw in front of him erecting a flame shield that rapidly melted the ice shards. The male dragon snarled as he dived at the phoenix. The phoenix let the dragon get close to him before vanishing in cloud of smoke. The dragon collided with the smoke and found himself surrounded in the blinding haze.
"SHOW YOURSELF, YOU COWARDLY CHICKEN!" The dragon roared. He suddenly felt a talon tap him on the back of his right shoulder. The dragon turned just in time to see the quickly reappearing phoenix behind him. The male dragon's face creased in look of total shock and surprise. He raised his right fist and punched outward at the phoenix's head. The male phoenix caught his fist in his left taloned palm and held it there in a tight bone-crushing grip. The male dragon's eyes went wide in pain and horror as he realized that he had messed up. He attempted correct his mistake by using his right fist to hit the phoenix. The punch connected knocking the phoenix's head back and to the side with a loud audible... 'CRACK'. The dragon's face creased in a dark grin. "Not so tough are you, hot shot!" The dragon's cocky statement earned him a roar of pain as the male bird gripped his left paw harder, breaking his paw. The male dragon screamed and tried to pull away but the bird held own and continued to apply more pressure to his broken paw. The male dragon's eyes filled with tears as he felt the phoenix's powerful grip began to crush his paw. The male dragon reached out hit the phoenix in the chest with his left paw and in the process burned his paw. The phoenix sighed...
The phoenix, to the dragon's shock and horror, began to chuckle as his head came back forward as the bird turn his head slightly to the left and then right realigning his neck. The phoenix glared at him, his beak creased in a snarl. "You obviously have not fought one of my kind or me before." He screeched as his eyes narrowed. "You should know better."
"You don't scare me, bird!" The male dragon growled. The male phoenix's left fist hit him in a series of powerful jabs that was so fast that it was blur of motion. The dragon roared in pain as each punch hit him and after the fifth or sixth punch bones could be heard breaking.
"BIRD... Bird! Excuse me...! You are one pathetically arrogant dragon, Shamus! Oh, and by the way my name is Kieran, not BIRD! Make sure you get THAT through that hard arrogant head of yours." Kieran jabbed Shamus in the gut doubling the dragon over. Kieran followed the gut punch with uppercut to Shamus' chin. Shamus growled, unable to speak from having the air knocked out of him from the gut punch. Kieran grabbed Shamus' head and glared him in the eye. "You say you aren't afraid of me..." Kieran snarled. Shamus' face creased in look of pure rage at being so utterly defeated and beaten by a PHOENIX.
"I...won't...forget...this..., Kieran!" Shamus snarled in a low defiant tone. Kieran sighed and shock his head.
"I suggest you do forget this, Shamus! You don't want a rematch with me. I went easy on you this time but next time I will reduce you to ashes. Your master should have taught you better when it comes to fighting against a phoenix. I know of only a few dragons who are powerful enough to take on one of my kind and have a chance of winning. You, I am afraid, are out of your league. I could have easily killed you but I didn't. Be thankful that I am merciful. If you had encounter any other phoenix besides me and a few others you would be dead. Now, I suggest that you leave and don't come back. For if you do..." Kieran said and left the rest unsaid. The phoenix released the dragon's nearly crushed right paw. Shamus raised his left paw to punch Kieran and froze as the phoenix glared at him shaking his head. "Don't even try it!" Kieran said calmly. Shamus growled and lowered his head as he turned flew off in shame. Ember flew up next to him.
"Kieran, I thought you were away training." Ember said. Kieran glanced at her and smiled as they both slowly descended to the ground where Hunter had stood the whole time watching the battle in stunned silence.
"I was away training but I decided to take a break. I sensed that one of my friends were in trouble so I came as quickly as I could to help out." Kieran said. Ember smiled.
"Thank you." She said before they both landed softly on the balcony. She walked gesturing for Kieran to follower her. As soon as Kieran saw Hunter he smiled and bowed his head slightly.
"Greetings, Seer, I see my timing was perfect. I am glad to see you arrived." Kieran said as his large wings folded behind him. Kieran reached out his right hand to Hunter, who stepped forward and grabbed it in a firm shake.
"Who are you? I don't know who you are. Would you be so kind to tell me?" Hunter asked. Kieran sighed as his eyes creased in sadness. Hunter noticed and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Hunter, there is more things wrong here then you know. I know that you are confused and I am sorry but there are things I know that you wouldn't understand. All I can say is to have faith in yourself and your friends." Kieran said.
"Well, if you can't answer some of my other question could you at least answer one question for me?" Hunter asked. Kieran smiled.
"Let me guess... You want to know is this the future?" Kieran asked. Hunter nodded. "Who knows what the future holds, Seer. The future has yet to be written." Kieran started walk away but paused as he passed near Hunter's left ear. "However...," He whispered, "I will say that your destiny will be one of many choices. So chose wisely. Do that and who knows. Maybe you will one day know the answer for yourself." Kieran turned and glanced back Ember who had folded her arms across her chest. "Sorry, Ember, but I just couldn't resist giving him a hint!" Kieran's body began to glow and then he became a living flame. "Take care, Seer. See ya!" He screeched as he disappeared into a ball of flame that vanished. Ember came to stand by Hunter and shook her head.
"I swear he likes to show off way too much." She said before her face creased in a gentle smile. "But thanks to him and others like him peace and order are maintained." Ember's smile faded off her face as she said, "I just wish..." She stopped herself as she looked at Hunter. "Hunter, it is time I sent you back where you belong."
"So this is the future after all!" Hunter said with a lopsided grin. Ember rolled her eyes and chuckled.
"Maybe it is... maybe it isn't. Let's just call this a sneak peak ahead. However, trust me when I say that you won't remember any of this until the time comes for you to know." Ember said. "Now, away with you..."
"How do get back?" Hunter asked. Ember chuckled and as she snapped her talons and a portal appeared below Hunter.
"You fall back..." She said as he found himself falling through the portal as it closed giving Hunter one last look at Ember's grinning face and the face of...
Hunter's eyes went wide... "SPYRO?"
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Hunter threw back his head and roared as the energy from Spyro sliced through him. He tried to let go but found his body frozen. 'OH NO... WHAT IS WRONG! I... I... CAN'T MOVE!' At that moment Spyro glanced at him, his face creased in pain as sweat rolled down his brow in torrents. He gritted his teeth which now were very long as his body began to glow and pulse with even more energy. Spyro's tail swung forward, hitting Hunter in the chest. The hit knocked him away into the wall. Hunter groaned as he gently grabbed his head and slowly pulled himself back to his feet to glance at Spyro. Spyro's face was creased in a grimace of extreme pain. He tried to move but instead found himself locked in position. A deep-throated growl came from him as another wave of searing pain crashed over him like a tidal wave. His glowing body suddenly changed to his warrior form. Ember's eyes went wide in shock along with everyone else in shock as they all backed up slightly. Spyro body stopped glowing as he glanced down at Flame's unconscious form. Spyro's face creased in an unreadable expression as he reached down for Flame...
"What are you doing?" Ember asked as she tried to step forward towards the bed. Spyro froze and turned his amber gaze over at her and the others and as he did his eyes narrowed and he growled. Ember gasped slightly as saw in his angry eyes a strange wild look. 'Spyro... Oh, Spyro what has happened to you? Let me into your mind so I can...' She froze and grabbed her head, her eyes closing slightly as she gritted her fangs continued to walk forward despite the growl. Spyro raised his left paw and tried to use a newly awaken ability to throw Ember backwards. Ember raised her arms in front of her face and closed her eyes. Spyro's attack slammed into her but instead of doing as it was suppose to it bounced back in his direction and sent him flying into the wall shaking the whole room with the impact. Ember opened her eyes and glanced over at Spyro as he groaned and stood back up. She blinked once... twice and then just looked around the room. 'Who stopped Spyro's attack?' When no one stepped forward or said anything she realized that she had done it. 'But... how...? How did I stop his attack? I... I don't understand.' As she stood there in shock she didn't notice Spyro bend down and pick up Flame's unconscious form.
"SPYRO, STOP!" Bianca yelled. Spyro growled and before anyone else could make a move to stop him he rapidly turn and crashed through the back wall of the room and ran down the high ceiling hallway on the other side. Ember and Elora glanced at each other and nodded as they ran after Spyro. Hunter and Bianca, with Nestor and the others followed.
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Meanwhile...
Somewhere...
"SPYRO!!" Hunter and Ember screamed as the sound of the shockwave finally drowned out their screams. Both of them looked at each other and decided that it might be a good idea to take cover, but just as they started to move Ember grabbed her head and fell to her knees. Hunter frowned and reached down with his right paw to help Ember back to her feet. Ember growled and slapped Hunter's right paw away and started to drag herself away from the cheetah.
"Ember! What's wrong with you? Let me help you...!" Hunter yelled as he followed the white dragoness. Ember groaned and pulled herself to her feet.
"We have to help Spyro," She yelled as Flame body slammed Spyro into the ground. Spyro roared out in pain. Ember ran toward Flame and using her powers knocked him away from Spyro. She reached down and pull Spyro to his feet. "Spyro are you alright?" Spyro growled in pain and shook his head. Ember turned to Galen. "Galen, teleport us out of here." Galen nodded and closed his eyes.
Flame turned to face Galen with narrowed eyes. "OH NO YOU DON'T, TRAITOR!" Flame roared in an echoing double voice. The dark symbols on his body lit up as he unleashed a powerful fireball that flew swiftly across the ground ripping and incinerating everything in its path. Galen's eyes snapped open just as he finished his chant and teleported them away and not a moment too soon because the fireball had almost reached them. Flame cursed as he powered down. "Next time, brother!" He snarled as he raised his paw opening a swirling dark portal that sucked him in before vanishing...
----------------------
Meanwhile...
As they ran after Spyro, Ember kept yelling at Spyro to stop but Spyro kept running. Ember glanced at Hunter. "What's wrong with him. It's like he possessed or something. I have never seen this happen to him before." Hunter nodded before his face creased in pain and he gripped his head. Ember stopped running. "Hunter... are you okay..." Hunter gritted his teeth and nodded his head.
"I am fine... Go on and stop Spyro. I'll be right behind you." He said. The others all nodded, except for Bianca, and followed Ember. Bianca knelt down next to Hunter and gently touched his left shoulder. Hunter looked at her and tried to grin but as he opened his mouth he felt his body started shaking and he fell to the floor convulsing.
"HUNTER...!" Bianca screamed as she touched him. Hunter suddenly reached out and grabbed her left shoulder roughly. His claws started to extend and he released her shoulder quickly before he hurt her. He crawled away from her like a wounded animal as he continued to convulse and scream. Bianca's face creased in worry as she followed him. She tried to touch him again with her left paw but he knocked her paw away. Hunter's eyes snapped open wide as he looked at her.
"Get away from me... Bianca... Something is happening to me and I can't stop it... aahhhhhh!" Hunter screamed and then suddenly he vanished leaving Bianca standing there alone.
"HUNTER!!!" She screamed. As she screamed a flash blinded her and the next thing she knew she and her friends were standing before a gold dragoness. The gold dragoness smiled as she bowed to them.
"Welcome... welcome to the Hall of the Circle Council... We have been expecting you?" She said. Everyone glanced around in shock and awe at the chamber. "So are you ready to begin. Destiny?" As she said that they all turned to see Spyro back to normal. Ember ran and grabbed him in a tight hug.
"Spyro, what happened?" Ember asked. She glanced around the hall at the gathered dragons. "What is going on?" Spyro sighed, closed his eyes and took a deep breath before glancing down at her.
"Ember, I don't know. However..." Spyro said as his eyes narrowed taking on a feral look as he stared at the gold dragoness in the eye. "I assure you that fully intend to find out!" The gold dragoness cocked an eyebrow.
"Again I ask you, Spyro... Dragon of Destiny... Are you ready to begin?" Spyro's face creased in snarl as he started to shake his head but stopped as she glared at him. "I suggest you say yes."
"Or you'll do what?" Spyro snarled. The gold dragoness smiled.
"Nothing, Spyro. I am not going to threaten you but I will remind you that only the healers of the Circle Council can heal your brother. Otherwise, Flame will die..." She said in a matter-of-fact voice. "Now, I'll ask you one more time... Are you ready to begin?" Spyro opened his mouth to respond.
"Yes, I am ready." He said, his voice rumbling with barely contained anger. As soon as he said that Inferno stepped forward.
"I hope you are serious, Spyro because if you aren't then I guarantee you that you won't survive. So are you really serious? Will you chose to put your own life on the line to save your brother's?" Spyro's jaw locked in a serious expression as he nodded. Inferno smiled as he moved. Spyro's left eyebrow raised and the next thing he knew he was on his but electricity stinging him. Spyro glanced up into the blue eyes of a yellow dragon who grinned down at him.
"Well, hero, I'm am Volt, son of the Guardian of Lightning and I will be the first to show you just how far you have yet to go. Welcome... welcome to the end of your childhood, Spyro. The Rite of Passage begins... NOW!"
-------------
Meanwhile...
A young phoenix sits on a large boulder in a field of flowers. The wind blows around him gently soothing and caressing his feathers. Kieran lays back on the rock and glanced up at the blue sky. Cailean had sent him outside so that he could do some house cleaning with Aurora's help. Kieran sighed and closed his eyes as his beak creased in a content smile.
"Excuse me... but I am looking for someone named Kieran." Someone said. Kieran's eyes snapped opened as he sat up and turned to the figure behind him.
"Who are you?" Kieran asked as he stood up. The figure, who was wearing a cloak pulled back the hood revealing his face. Kieran's eyes went wide at the sight of the adult phoenix.
"My name is Sirius... I take it you are Kieran." He said. Kieran nodded just as Cailean and Aurora walked up. Sirius turned to face them with a grin. "Greetings, I take it you are the other one." Cailean calmly walked up to Sirius.
"You are Sirius of the Sky Phoenix Clan." Cailean said. Siruis nodded. "Why are you here?" Sirius turned and glanced at Kieran.
"I am here just to meet Kieran. I hope you don't mind." Sirius said.
"I don't mind." Cailean said as he gestured for Sirius to follow him. Sirius and Cailean stepped away from Aurora and Kieran and kept walking into they were out of their hearing range. "Now, Sirius, I know you didn't just make a blank trip here to just meet Kieran. Why are you REALLY here?!" Sirius chuckled.
"I see that I can't put anything over you, Cailean. Well, if you must know, I came here to meet both you and Kieran. I came to ask you when are you planning to start really training Spyro, Ember and Flame?" Cailean smiled.
"Soon..., Sirius. I am aware of Flame's current condition and the trials that Spyro is now going thru. I'll wait until after all other matters have been taken care of before I start training the others. Now, why are you interested in Kieran?"
"I don't mean to be disrespectful, Legendary One. But my interest in young Kieran is not your concern. I just came to see how he is doing. I will come by every now and again to check on him. Take care of him." Sirius said as he started to walk away.
"Hey, wait a minute! I know why you came here." Cailean said. Sirius paused.
"Oh really... Tell me!" Sirius said. Cailean folded his arms across his chest.
"Kieran's future is why! You want to teach Kieran how to control his powers." Sirius chuckled and started to walk away again. "Hey, I am right aren't I? If you want to teach him how to control his powers then you have my blessings!" Sirius stopped walking away and turned to glance at Cailean.
"Sorry, Cailean, but Kieran is too young for my style of training. In time, he'll be old enough but not yet. I suggest you fireproof your home and book collection in the meantime. Trust me, I know what I am talking about. Oh and be sure to teach him how to stay calm. You don't want an angry young phoenix who can't control his powers on your hands. That is an accident just waiting to happen. All I can do is wish you the best of luck. See ya." Sirius burst into flames and disappeared leaving Cailean to roll his eyes.
"Ha ha ha... very funny... you old bird! I hate it when a phoenix decides to be sarcastic." Cailean said. Cailean return to Aurora and found her alone. "Aurora, where is Kieran?" Aurora pointed back in the direction of Cailean's house. Cailean turned and ran back home with Aurora following. "KIERAN...
"WHAT?!! I DIDN'T DO ANY...THING..." Kieran yelled just before he sneezed setting Cailean's bed on fire. "OOPS, hehe, sorry about that, Cailean." Cailean sighed as he put the fire out and repaired the damage.
"Why me?" He said before gripping his head as Kieran and Aurora vanished... "What the..." He glanced around and found himself alone until someone knocked on the door. Cailean, still slightly dazed, walked over to his door and opened it letting Aurora in.
"Hi, Cailean, it's good to see you. I brought lunch for the both of us..." Aurora said before she paused noticing Cailean's stunned expression. "Cailean? What's wrong, Cailean?" Cailean's face creased in look of worry.
"Nothing, Aurora. Everything is alright..." He said as he felt a cold shiver run through him. 'Something very weird is going on here...' "Aurora..." Cailean said as he decided to test his theory.
"Yes, love." She said with a grin.
"Where's Kieran?" He asked. Aurora's facial expression became one of total confusion.
"Kieran? Who's Kieran?" She asked. Cailean found a chair and fell into it, his face creased even more in worry. Aurora sat down next to him putting down the food she had with her. "Cailean tell me what's wrong. You asked me about this Kieran person and I have never heard of him."
"Aurora, I don't know..." He started to say before everything around him faded out and he found himself in a dark meeting chamber standing face to face with...
"YOU..." Cailean growled.
The stranger chuckled... "Yes, Cailean, it's nice to see you again."
TO BE CONTINUED...
Oh, hi again, I am Rashelle the Mystical Dragoness of Time. Here is today's Vision...
I see pain and suffering...
Spyro, oh Spyro be strong...
The Trials of fate will be hard...
The Lessons of life will be difficult...
Honor and Glory...
Each has its rewards...
But nothing outweighs friendship or love.
And so the path ahead begins
As A Rite of Passage awaits...
CHILDHOOD'S END, PT. 2...
Next Time on Spyro: Dragon of Destiny: Season Two - I.N.V.A.S.I.O.N. -
I am Rashelle and until next time take care...