Chapter 2

Leaving What Was and Going To What Will Be

3 weeks after I turned 16, rumors were going around that more dragons were needed in the war. To me, the war was nothing except a fight to prevent the destruction of our world, it seemed to me that we lost the fact that the purple dragon Spyro was the only one that could defeat Malefor. But we fought on anyway, hoping that Spyro would return. Our village later got a message that the Commander of Ft. Claw Shield was coming to pick possible recruits, all the young dragons were excited.

"They should be scared" I thought, "don't know they what they will go through if they are picked?"

I always had fascination with war and battle, ever since I heard my father was soldier. So I delved my mind into the study of something that never changes. I read every book we had about conflict: war stories, war quote books, combat skills, battle tactics and strategys. I soon understood why war and conflict affects life and how we adapt to it, but what frighted me was being in it.

The day that I would regret and later be thankful for had come.

The Commander came with two escorts, he was huge even for full adult (then again he was wearing armor that made look like a stone tower) I exepected no less that he would want to be intimidating. We all lined up waiting as he walked in front of us, inspecting us carefully.

"I am Com. Cylus, I'm here to see if any of you young pibsqueaks are worthy of joining in the fight against Malefor. The most noble duty any of you will ever do or might do in this case." he said rather loudly

This was getting annoying, we all knew why he was here, but what do we do to get into the war?! He came to that sooner than I thought.

"Now to prove you are worthy of joining us, you must first fight me in single combat and beat me to join, any questions?"

No one spoke. Perhaps they were suddenly to afraid to answer. But I spoke;

"Sir? Wouldn't that be unfair for us considering you are a soldier a commander no less and the size of a mammoth?" I asked as innocently as possible

I heard some chuckles and laughs escape from the throats of the others. Com. Cylus however was not amused.

"Well done you've just volunteered to be first one to fight me, come up here now!" he roared

I wasn't afraid of him. I didn't show the slightest hint ether, I just walked to the ring calmly (which was made prior to the commander's arrivel) and stood at the opposite end. We stood there for a few minutes staring eachother down, I took this time to plan my attack. He was obviously a big opponent and I was small, but being small gave me the advantage of being more quick in the battle. The only thing that he had on his side was his training and experience. I had natural skills and unique abilitys so the odds were even, now the only thing left was for one of us to make a move. He did. Cylus let out a roar and charged toward me, I roared an ancient war cry that hadn't been uttered in thousands of years and is still feared today;

"ELENDIIIII!"

Cyrus froze in fear for a mere moment, I dived under his legs, emerged from them, did forward roll, and turned around quickly to face him again. He snapped out of the trance and discovered that I wasn't in front of him anymore and he turned around. I leapt at his head horns poised, but he grabbed me and shoved me against a boulder. I grunted in pain as he pushed me up against the boulder, it made my scales burn.

"You think your smart eh?" he growled angrily as he smashed me against the rock again "Well I have the training to kill you and I'm not afraid to do it."

I looked at him with no fear or pain as I felt my eyes ignite with blue fire, he saw them burn and looked shocked as I said;

"It doesn't take training to win a battle, it helps, but the true traits to victory are courage, natural skill, determation, and something worth fighting for."

Then I kicked him in the chest with my foot claws and he kneeled over in pain dropping me. I then jumped and did a spin attack with my tail making him fall on his back, I was still in the air as I flew higher, then I dived down toward him horns poised to deliver the final blow. He looked up after recovering from the pain and saw me coming, he had no time to react when I collided with his body.

BLAMERUUUMMM!

When the dust settled I was standing next to him as he just lied there in defeat. I then remembered a quote from a combat manuel;

"Honor your opponent in defeat and/or death for he was worthy of you and your skills"

I kneeled down offering a paw up, Cyrus looked at it and took it grudgenly. I helped him up (yes a full adult dragon) and when he stood again, he walked over to the others. I followed and stood next to him.

"This young one has shown strength and skill that I haven't seen since I was a recruit. All of you should follow this one's example of that fact." he said to them with a proud tone in his voice which surprised me

I felt proud that I proved myself to someone who cared and I stood tall as the other dragons looked at me in admiration.

"So he will have the honor of joining the fight in this war." he proclaimed proudly

"Sir this is a grea...wait what?!" I said shocked

Before I knew it I found myself walking out of the exit gate of my village. I vaguely remembered Com. Cylus having one of his escorts take me to where I was living so I could pack my things.

"What I have I gotten myself into?" I thought as we began the journey to Ft. Claw Shield

But then I heard a voice in my head that said;

"You have begun the journey that will change your life and the lives of others." the voice said

"What?" I thought but the voice was gone and so was my village.