Chapter 3: Breaking New Ground


"At First, he learned fire, which was odd because he was not a fire dragon..."

Chronicler to Spyro, September 22, 2201

-[]-

April 12, 1965 / 9:12 AM [Local Time] (0912 Hr MLTY)

Temple of Our Ancestors, Dragon City of Arcantheus

Subj. Malefor Age: 13 -3 Years Before Anomaly


Malefor slashed his claws, slicing in half another dummy that sat within the central dojo. The dummy was sliced by his sharp claws, falling in half and collapsing onto the stone floor. He panted, having just ruthlessly destroyed his thirteenth dummy this morning. It was all part of the training... He had to stay in top physical shape. The Guardians had been training him for some time, but the main goal of their training had eluded them.

Malefor still remained elementless.

After months of rigorous training, they had yet to crack at just what his element was. Aurelius had tried countless techniques to awaken his element, but nothing proved fruitful. Thaklor and some of the other Guardians began to wonder if Malefor was just indeed elementless and was to be skilled in martial arts. They did, after all, have a sub race of dragons who were elementless, it wasn't unheard of. They even had a Guardian for that talent. Malefor had shown great prowess in his fighting abilities, learning quickly and surprising the Guardians in that regard. It kind of gave him a bit of confidence, being able to at least be good in something, especially when he really had nothing.

"Well done young one, well done." Malefor turned, seeing Aurelius walk up behind him, smiling. He had just beaten his record for the course they had set up. He had decimated their small army of dummies in under thirty seconds. He smiled, nodding in acknowledgement. He would have said "thank you" but he was just too tired to say anything. Beside Aurelius stood Fayveer, the Ice Guardian.

"I'm very impressed with his abilities Master Aurelius. He is indeed performing well. In fact, Commander Larcius wishes to see him in action. We may have indeed discovered his abilities after all." Fayveer said, beaming slightly as Malefor could see that he was just bursting with ideas for Malefor. He was ready for anything they could throw his way. He didn't want to disappoint after all...

"Not quite yet. I still believe there is much more hidden inside of you, young Malefor. We just have to really crack at it. Great work, go ahead and take a break. Come back after lunch and we'll try again with the energy gems."

"Right Master Aurelius." Malefor said rather quickly, still short of breath. He bowed respectively, Aurelius returning it. The light Guardian walked off with the Ice Guardian, going to the edge of the room and disappearing behind two double doors.

Malefor let out a soft sigh, letting a bit of his composure slip. He had, up until now, been holding in the fact that he was EXHAUSTED. Yeah, he completed that course in thirty seconds, but it made him exhausted doing that. He made his way to the edge of the room, sitting along the stone floor. He pressed his back against the wall, breathing in deep. Man, this training was tough... but if he was fulfilling a purpose... so be it. If he was to really be the vanguard of the new age, he needed to be at his fullest.

Taking in a deep breath, he gazed around the room. The room was just enormous, spanning hundreds of feet. It was circular, being topped off with a massive glass dome with a hole in the middle of it. Light filtered in from outside through the hole, bathing the entire room in sunlight.

This is how he had spent many of his mornings here, training with the Guardians. He essentially lived here with them. It was... a very lonely life he had to admit. He didn't really get to mingle or meet with many of the other dragons who were here at the temple. The temple housed the most prestigious elemental academy ANYWHERE. The only better would be the Dragon Temple, where the Guardians were housed. However, only Guardian candidates were taken there to train and be observed to see if they were worthy... Here, young dragons were taught by the Guardians themselves every few years. They traded between residing here at the Temple of Our Ancestors and the Dragon Temple.

Malefor had seen some of the dragons who were here, but he wasn't allowed to speak to them. The Guardians felt that it might "interfere" somehow with his training or unlocking his abilities. Malefor hated it... He got so lonely sometimes and he just wanted someone to talk to. He didn't even get to eat lunch with them, he had special meals made for him by the finest chefs the realms had to offer. It kinda sucked.

The Guardians knew best however... he couldn't question their wisdom.

Malefor let out a soft sight, pressing his head against the stone wall, looking up.

Suddenly, he felt the wall give out a bit from behind him, making him jolt.

"Pssssst, hey! Over here!"

"Who said that?" Malefor said, looking all around. He could see a small hole in the wall where someone had removed a stone.

"Hey, come here! Yeah, you! Over here!" A voice called out from the hole, belonging to a dragoness.

Malefor lifted an eyebrow, walking over to the wall, peering inside.

"Hey, you're the purple one they keep talking about!" She said.

"Y-yeah... what do you want?" He asked, seeing her eyes through the wall.

"That's so neat! Hey, how come we never see you around the other parts of the temple? They keep you in here? What's up with that?"

"Hey, how did you get in there?" He asked, suddenly realizing she was in the wall.

"It's easy silly, go over there to where you were sitting." She ran off, disappearing from her hole.

He turned back to where he was sitting, seeing where he had left a small impression in the wall in the stones. He pushed in on the stones, seeing a few give and fall. These weren't even secured in place! He moved more, creating a hole large enough for him to slip through.

He leapt down, into the hole, seeing that the entire wall was hollow, creating a large space between the walls, wide enough for him to walk uncontested and as tall as the walls themselves. It was also well lit, some holes in the roof allowing for sunlight to filter in.

"Woah... " Malefor said, looking around.

"Cool isn't it? The Guardians have NO idea this place is back here." She said, trotting over to him.

"Yeah... This place is neat. How far do these go?" He asked.

"Oh you can find these almost everywhere in the temple. Most kids use them to hide from teachers and play during sessions. Some even go off into actual rooms. We think they were used to build the temple, like... worker rooms I guess." She explained, sitting atop a stone slab that had fallen over the years. looking down onto him. "So... you really are that purple dragon they keep talking about. What's your name?" She asked.

"I'm Malefor. Why, the Guardians keep talking about me?"

"Not just the Guardians, everyone talks about you. The Teachers, the students, everyone in the city. They say... you're supposed to be some special creature, right? That's so neat!" She said, leaping down to examine him closer. He backed up a bit, a little uncomfortable.

"I... I guess so... I don't feel special."

"But, look at your scales!" She grabbed one of his arms, looking at the purple scales.

"H-hey! Watch it!" He said, freaked out a bit as she eyed each detail on his scales.

"Oh relax baby." She said before setting his arm down. "That, is so cool." She said, smiling at him.

He dusted his arm off a bit before setting it down, seeing her look at him before smirking.

"What's your name? You a student here?" He asked.

"Oh I'm Vesinianne! You can just call me Vesi though, that's what everyone calls me. And yeah, I'm a student here. I'm a water dragoness, so Guardian Lietus teaches me and my class along with the other teachers. It's really fun, but we've never trained in the main dojo before, you're so lucky..."

"Yeah... guess you could say that..."

She tilted her head at him, seeing a frown creep onto his face at her comment.

"Hey, how come we never see you around the other parts of the temple?"

"The Guardians don't want me talking to any of the other students. They think it'll... 'interfere' with my training. Not sure what that means though..."

She frowned a bit, raising an eyebrow.

"Not seeing how a bit of talking'll kill you... man it must be lonely up there by yourself! You never get to see anyone, ever?"

"No, I just see the Guardians."

"Man, come on! I'll show you to some of my friends! You got to have someone else to talk to, come on!" She grabbed his arm, punching through any sort of protest Malefor was about to offer as she dragged him down the hollowed out walls to the other parts of the temple.

They passed through quite possibly the entire length of the wall to the dojo, before reaching a separate hallway that shot off in another direction. They took the hallway, it being dimly lit by some torches and lined by a few crates, covered in dust from years and years of no usage.

She lead him further down, this hallway going into one of the rooms she had spoken off with many more hallways branching off. The room had several crates and lamps that were overturned, but it wasn't those that Malefor was looking at. No, he was more interested in the three small dragons playing in the middle of the room with a small ball.

They looked no older then eight, and he assumed they would probably need to be in Academy.

"Hey Vesi, wanna join us?" One of them asked, all three stopping when the two entered.

"Not right now, I'm taking my friend here to meet some other friends." She said with a smile.

"Hey, shouldn't you guys be in Academy?" Malefor finally asked.

"Yeah... but it's boring in there! We only learn about math... and some magic things... Nothing fun!" Another one said with a groan.

"Yeah, but it's important that you guys learn that stuff. You'll need it growing up."

"You know, he's right. You guys should pay more attention in those sessions, and show up more." Vesinianne added.

"Oh alright..." One of them said in defeat.

"Killjoy..." Another said, walking off.

"Hey what about you? Don't you have elemental sessions right now?" Malefor asked to Vesinianne. She looked at him before looking up, thinking.

"Um... well... sort of..." She began.

"Sort of...?"

"Yeah." She said, walking up onto one of the crates.

"I'm taking a... short break."

He laughed at this, raising an eyebrow.

"A break? Really now?"

"Yeah! Besides, it was almost over. That and... I don't have another session until after lunch." She said with a sly smile. He laughed again, shaking his head.

"I guess." He said. This time, she laughed, leaping back down.

"Come on, you need to lighten up a bit." She said, motioning for him to follow. He shook his head again before trotting off after her.

"So... what's your element Malefor? Surely if you're purple you have this awesome element." She said, continuing on through the increasingly more narrow passageways.

"Actually, I don't have an element, I'm elementless." He said, following her every movements. She stopped suddenly, turning back to him.

"Really? You don't have an element?" She asked.

"No... Even after all of the Guardian's attempts I just haven't used any elements yet. They think that's just how I am, nonelemental."

"Wow, that kinda stinks. I guess that means you're really great at close combat?"

"Yeah, they say I'm learning fast in that regard. Guess that's what my 'element' is."

"Guess so, still kinda stinks." She said as she ran off, Malefor following just as so. They continued through the tunnels before reaching another room. This one was much larger, and had a wooden floor. Along the wall were windows that let light filter into the room. You could see the dragon city from within the room, and it was an interesting sight.

Inside the room were a few beds and crates, and two dragons who sat on the beds, looking at a few scrolls and books that were sprawled across the beds.

"This is our secret hide out, where we go between our sessions, come on!" She pulled Malefor down into the room, the other two dragons looking up as they entered.

"Hey Vesi, who's your new friend?"

"Oh wow, is he that purple dragon everyone keeps talking about?"

"Yep! His name's Malefor. Malefor, this is Nalus and Ulric!" She said, introducing them.

"Nice to meet ya Malefor! I'm an earth dragon." Nalus said, shaking his paw.

"I'm a wind dragon, hey, what's your element?" Ulric asked.

"Uh..." He said, looking away a bit.

"He doesn't have an element, he's elementless." Vesinianne said.

"Oh wow, that kinda sucks. Guess that means you have some killer moves, huh?" Ulric asked.

"Yeah I guess you could say that." Malefor said, nervously rubbing the back of his head.

"Hey, come one, show us some of them!" Nalus said, moving into a fighting position.

"I really shouldn't." Malefor said.

"Aww, come on man! Just one!" Ulric said.

"Go ahead Malefor, show them." Vesinianne said, backing up the other side of the room. Malefor chuckled a bit, remembering that she saw him train.

"Alright, if you want." Malefor finally said.

"Sweet, bring it." Nalus said.

Malefor took a step back, looking over Nalus as he stood in his fighting stance. Nalus stood in a classic pouncing position, his body tilted forward slightly and his rear end higher then his front end. His head was tucked low, with his neck extended out a bit and his wings folded against his body. Hmm... let's see...

Malefor quickly moved forward, anticipating his pounce, which he did do. Malefor pressed his body against the floor before rolling so his back was against the floor and his arms up to hit against Nalus's exposed stomach. He kicked him once, sending him in the air, which Malefor followed up immediately by finishing his roll, landing on his feet and propelling himself into the air to meet Nalus, grabbing him and bringing him down onto the floor, using his paws to subdue Nalus by holding him in key areas so he couldn't move. Nalus struggled, grunting as he found himself completely immobilized.

"That... was awesome." Ulric said.

"No fair, I want a rematch!" Nalus said under Malefor. Vesinianne giggled, laughing at her friend as she walked over.

"Hey, you did want to spar with him after all. Serves you right he kicked your tail." She said. Nalus scowled before Malefor released him, smiling to himself as he let a chuckle slip.

"Ow..." Nalus said, rubbing his neck. Malefor just burst out laughing now, unable to contain it.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah... laugh it up..." Nalus said.

"Hey guys, it's almost lunch, let's go grab a bite!" Ulric said.

"Yeah I'm good for that." Nalus said.

"Yeah. I think Alvise is already down there. Let's meet her there!" Ulric said.

"Yeah, let's go Malefo-... oh right..." Vesinianne said, remember what Malefor had told her,

"Yeah... I can't go with you guys." He said.

"Huh, why not?" Ulric asked.

"He can't leave the main dojo, the Guardians won't allow him to mingle with us." She explained.

"Oh man, that sucks! No, we gotta show you the others!" Nalus said.

"How can we sneak him past the other Guardians then?" Vesinianne said.

"Simple." Ulric said, going over and grabbing the sheets from his bed. He used a small rope nearby to form a sort of robe. He walked over to Malefor, tossing it over him and tying it up.

"Hey, what the?!" Malefor began to protest, feeling the dragons all over him.

"There." Nalus said, stepping back to inspect his work. He had managed to get the covers to cover every part of Malefor, forming a hood that would fit snuggly over his head too.

"Oh wow, perfect!" Vesinianne said, seeing the clever disguise.

"Come on. let's go grab some lunch!" Ulric said, going back to the tunnels.

They lead him down several passageways, going all throughout the temple. They finally reached the end of one, it dropping off into a dark hallway which looked to be part of the academy itself. They carefully removed a grate which separated the hallway from their passageway, each of them slipping outside. Malefor was the last to leap out, Nalus and Ulric closing the grate behind them.

"Man this thing's kinda itchy..." Malefor said softly, getting a "shush" from the other dragons. They continued down the Academy, the hallways lined with decorative pillars and brick walls. Malefor had never been down here... it looks so interesting.

They proceeded down many corridors, some containing dragons and some not. Malefor could feel each curious eye upon him as he ran to keep up with the others, the whole disguise rather itchy.

They arrived at the Main Hall, where all the food was served. It was just as enormous as the dojo. Tables lined the interior, each lined with dragons here and there who ate from various dishes, some Malefor had never seen or heard of before. A kitchen on the side served the students, passing out trays along the side with the various foods.

"Oh wow..." Malefor said softly. He was definitely not allowed here. He felt so guilty disobeying Aurelius like this...

"Come on, I see Alvise over there!" Ulric said, ushering them over to a table that was thankfully off to the side and out of the way. They sat down at the table, the dragoness in question eating with a few other girls who looked to be studying something.

"Hey guys! Who's your new friend?" The dragoness asked.

Vesinianne walked over to her, whispering something in her ear, making her head perk up.

"Wow, really? That's so cool!" She said, looking intently at Malefor as he perked his own head up to see better. Vesinianne turned to Malefor, smiling.

"This is Alvise, one of our other friends." She said.

"Pleased to meet you." Malefor said.

"Come on, I'm going to go get food." Ulric said.

"Yeah me too!" Nalus said, going with him.

"What's it like, being a... you know." Alvise said.

"Uh... alright I guess. I spend my whole time up in the main dojo, so I don't know what it's like here."

"Oh that sucks, hey, sit with us!" She said. She turned back to Vesinianne, talking in a low voice. "You know the Guardians'll kill us right...?"

"Only if they catch us..." She responded.

"If you say so..."

"Hey, eat this!" Nalus ran back over, dropping a tray in front of Malefor with a few foods Malefor was not familiar with. It looked like cooked sheep, but with a different kind of sauce on it.

"I topped it with my special sauce, try it!" Nalus said again, encouraging him.

"No way, you stole that from Ivor last week!" Ulric said.

"No! I made it myself! Go on, try it!"

Malefor looked over the sauce, it being a thick red paste with a bit of glossy yellow on it. He picked up a bit of the meat and took a bite, it being sweet and savory. The sauce added to the sweetness of it, but it quickly turned hot. Very, very hot!

"Oh God! Water!" Malefor said, covering his mouth as the fiery sauce ate away at his tongue.

"See, told you it's too hot." Ulric criticized.

"No that just means it's just right." Nalus said with glee.

"Boys, water?" Vesinianne said with a soft giggle, giving Malefor a bowl of water that Malefor quickly took and chugged. Vesinianne laughed at this, covering her mouth a bit as it fell into a snicker. Malefor panted, blushing a bit as he pulled the hood over him more now. Now he felt hot all over... that water was barely helping.

"What's the matter? Aww, now you guys made him shy." Vesinianne said, seeing Malefor take a step back. It wasn't that... well... the sauce... it was way too hot! Or... was it? He felt a fire alright, and it was rushing through him and he could not explain it. He didn't even notice the blush that had crept onto his face as Vesinianne giggled at him, feeling more ashamed of just that and letting the sauce getting to him... He had to calm himself, but...

Out it came, and boy, did it come out.

Malefor let out a small grunt, a burp if you will. However, when he burped, gas didn't come out, fire came out. A soft jet of fire rushed out, filling the air in front of him and making all the dragons near him recoil back.

"What the hell?! Did you just breathe fire?!" Nalus said, backing up.

"I thought you said he was elementless!" Ulric exclaimed.

"I thought he was..." Vesinianne admitted, looking at Malefor as he had quickly covered his mouth in embarrassment, looking all around as all the dragons within a 2 foot radius of him were now staring at him.

"Oh shit, I think one of the Guardians saw that..." Ulric said, motioning for them to start leaving.

"Oh great, no elements outside sessions..." Vesinianne said, recalling the rules.

"Wait, what?" Malefor said, confused.

"Come on, let's get out of here!" Alvise said, leading them towards the main exit. Malefor turned, seeing one of the Guardians looking around, definitely onto them as he spotted Malefor, locking onto him and marching faster through the lanes. Oh shit... now he was in for it!

"Come on, we have to get back to the passageways and loose him! They still don't know about those!" Nalus yelled as they left the Main Hall, now moving into the sprint.

They rounded several corners, trying to find their way back to the passageway. The entrance was just around the corner, they could make it!

They rounded the corner, running smack into Aurelius and two other Guardians. They had no time to react, smashing into the head Guardian's chest, rebounding back onto the ground. Malefor's cape flew off, fluttering onto the floor nearby as he fell on top of the heap of dragons that lay in front of Aurelius.

"Malefor...?" Aurelius asked.

"H-hello Master..." He said, a nervous smile on his face. Aurelius did not smile back, or give any hint of amusement. Oh boy... he was in deep trouble...

"I'm sorry Malefor..." Vesinianne said, frowning as she knew she just screwed over her knew friend. Malefor didn't respond, sinking his body into the others, hiding any way he could.

"Master Aurelius!" The Guardian who had been pursuing the group rounded the corner, almost trampling over them in the process.

"Yes Guardian Berylsythe, what is it?" Aurelius asked.

"One of these younglings, they used an element outside of session." He said, huffing softly,

"Which one was it?"

"The one with the cape... it was..." He looked around, seeing the cape on the floor nearby but not the wearer. He did catch Malefor, which made him stop in his tracks.

"It... it was me Master Aurelius..." Malefor softly said. Aurelius's eyes went wide.

"You? You breathed an element? What was it?!"

"It was fire..."

Aurelius looked at the other Guardians, motioning for them to head to the main dojo.

"Malefor come with me, quickly." Aurelius said, starting to walk but stopping and turning, his face saying he was deep in thought.

"Bring your friends too."

Connection Lost, reverting...

[Done]


Dragon Realms, Uncharted System

September 24, 2204

10:32 AM [Local Time] (1032 Hr MLTY)

Cave within Mushroom Forest


Malefor grumbled, feeling a foul taste in his mouth. He quickly recoiled up, finding himself inside the cavern. He breathed fast, almost in a pant as his head darted around the room. Oh yes... the cave...

He sighed.

Another one of these memories, and one that was fond to him... least he thought it was, he didn't have much to compare it to after all.

Though, it seemed better then... all of this.

He tried to move his leg, being quickly reminded that it was in no shape to truly move as it shot a massive amount of pain through his body.

He smelled something.. something... good! He spun his head around, seeing a piece of cooked meat on a leaf, laying nearby.

He quickly crawled over, feeling very famished. He hadn't eaten in... oh whatever that wasn't important. He grabbed the meat, eating into it. The savory taste rocked his tongue, giving him a temporary moment of bliss.

"Enjoying yourself?"

Malefor looked up, seeing Eatherine sitting on the upper level, looking down to him. She had a rather... how to put it... 'unamused' face on. Though, that was how she usually looked.

Malefor quickly swallowed, taking in a sharp breath from the rapid ingestion of the meat.

"It's... good... Did you cook this?" He asked.

"Uh huh... have to learn to cook when you're all alone."

"Can eat it raw."

"You get more nutrients if its cooked."

"If you say so... Thanks though."

"It's not free, you owe me for that. Though I can't expect you to hunt like that." She said, pointing to his ankle. She was right... He was in no condition to head out to gather food at all.

"It's getting better... I think..."

She leapt down, walking over to his ankle. She knelt down, picking up his leg and inspecting his leg.

"H-hey!" He said, highly uncomfortable with all of this.

"Oh quit crying." She said, continuing her inspections. Malefor let out a low sigh, relenting.

"Looks more bruised then anything. You should be fine in a day or so. Lucky it didn't break." She said, lowering his leg. "Eat these herbs, they'll help with your leg." She said, handing him some leaves.

"Thanks... how do you know so much about medicine?"

"That isn't free either, you're still going to have to pay me back."

He sat up more, sighing again.

"I'll pay you back, I promise."

"Actually, I think I know of a way for you to do just that." She turned to him, deep thought in her eyes. Oh, Malefor knew that look...

"How?" He asked, probing it.

"I'm... looking for somebody, and I could use some help."

"Alright, who are you looking for?"

"For someone who has wronged me. They're here, in this area. I want to... confront them. That's all." She walked towards the rocks, climbing them as she talked, turning to face him as she finished her statement.

"Something tells me there's more to it than that."

"That's all you need to know for now. Enjoy the lunch." She leapt up, going to the upper chamber. Malefor looked at the ground, shaking his head softly. Well, it was the least he could do for her providing the food... and the herbs...

He turned, eating the meat once more. Oh God it tasted so good... He wondered what the herbs tasted like... He took a few, crunching on a few of the leaves... It tasted... kinda hot! Oh shit, they were spicy! They tasted familiar... sorta like...

Oh God damn it, it was what was in Nalus's sauce!

/Transitioning.../

[Done]

5:34 PM [Local Time] (1734 Hr MLTY)

White Isle

Spyro flapped his wings, landing on the sandy beaches that lined the White Isle. It had taken him all day, but he had flown the distance here by himself. It wasn't that far from the temple to here, but Spyro would rather to not make the return trip for a little bit.

He walked along the beach, finding the oh so familiar entrance into the ruins followed by the familiar statues and broken pillars that lead to the interior of the island. He made good time, having taken this path a few times already. He arrived at the inner chambers where 3 years ago, he was forced to undertake four perilous tests with each element, beating each one in succession. He was then forced to confront the elemental dragon... before he was allowed entrance to the Chronicler's inner chambers. There he came face to face with the Chronicler, who revealed to him the history of the Dark Master.

Since then, the Chroniclers had changed, and now Ignitus stood as the Chronicler. He had helped him beat Malefor when he came again only months before. He was hoping he could do the same for him now... or at least give insight as to what was going on...

This time, the puzzles were all closed and locked away, like last time. The door stood open for Spyro to enter, inviting him in. Spyro did just that, entering into the Chronicler's massive library.

"Hello? Ignitus?" He called out, walking towards the hour glass that sat in the middle of the room, dominating the scene.

"Why hello young dragon. I expected you'd be giving me a visit soon." Ignitus walked around the hour glass, putting a few books away that had been floating in front of him moments before.

"I came because..."

"Malefor has returned? Yes... I know..." Ignitus said, cutting Spyro off.

"Yes... but he's returned in a... younger form. Like Cynder did when I defeated her."

"Yes, I know this too. This is especially troubling. I wish I could tell you what is going on but I am at a loss too. I've been spending the past few months delving over records pertaining to the Dark Master but I am having trouble. It appears as though the records are vanishing."

"Vanishing? What do you mean?"

"I mean, someone or something has erased information that had been made about the Dark Master."

"Do you think the previous Chronicler did this...?"

"No, I do not suspect it was him. This is much more recent. Just a few months ago, a library containing precious information on Malefor and his past was burned to the ground. It's as if there is an effort to hide this information, bury it."

"Why would someone want to do that?"

"Make people forget what happened. Forget history so they can rewrite it. Did you notice that Malefor was apparently ignorant to his past or to who any of you were?"

"Yeah... I noticed that... I was hoping you could tell me more about that."

"Alas I cannot. Whoever or whatever is doing this is indeed powerful, to be able to erase information from the great records within these halls."

Spyro sighed. This entire trip was a waste. Even Ignitus couldn't tell him anything about what was happening...

"I can however, tell you that it is imperative that you find Malefor, find him before others do. I suspect that only he himself can truly explain to you what is going on and if not, he may be key to what is happening. Regardless of what has happened, I think it may be beneficial to not let past feelings cloud your judgment and let reckless revenge guide your thinking."

"I know... it's just that..."

"That what, young one?" ignitus always knew when something was troubling young Spyro, and it wasn't hard seeing that there was something else bothering the young dragon.

"Malefor... when he... when I saw him at the temple he... "

"He resembled you?"

Spyro nodded, looking up to Ignitus.

"Young dragon, I'm sure you've heard many tales about Malefor from when he was young."

Spyro again nodded.

"I remember Chief Prowless referencing him, saying he was similar to me when he was young."

"Indeed he was. I remember in my youth I came across Malefor in a village far to the north. Me and Terrador found him defending a helpless faun who was being tortured by vicious thugs. He gave he could to protect this old faun, asking for nothing in return. When we talked to him, he seemed to have no aspiration for any type of power, just wanting to be able to help those who weren't able to help themselves. He did indeed, seem like you."

"That's... what worries me..." Spyro said softly, looking down to the floor.

"Worried that you might one day become like the Dark Master was?"

Spyro once more nodded, looking back up to Ignitus.

"Spyro, I remember when Malefor did turn evil, when he let loose his Ape armies onto the realms. I stood shoulder to shoulder with the great Aurelius with 10,000 dragons, poised to not let Malefor enter the realms. I saw what true evil looked like... what he had become. I do not believe you are capable of becoming that."

"But... you said it yourself that he was like me... in every way... How did he become evil? What did he do that I have yet to do that made him turn? I don't... I don't want to become like that..."

"Young dragon I understand your concern... I believe there was something that happened in Malefor's life, something that set him on a different path then you. It is interesting that he would return as a dragon your age. Perhaps this is related to a path he took, a turning point in his life. I've seen you though Spyro, you are driven by love, love for those around you. I don't quite know what Malefor had that set him on the different path, but I suspect it was a lack of something that drove him for a quest for power. You, you have Cynder. The two of you share a deep bond that has broken everything the darkness can throw at you two. This is why I don't think you'll ever become like the Dark Master. You have something to fight for."

Spyro smiled up at Ignitus, a tear in his eye. Ignitus smiled down to him, as a father would to a son.

"Earlier... you mentioned an "Aurelius". Malefor mentioned his name too. Who was he?"

"Aurelius was a great dragon, the leader of the Dragon armies and of the Guardians as they existed back then. He was the last of the light dragons, an ancient race of dragons said to have been direct descendants of our ancestors. He was also the main teacher and mentor to Malefor when he was brought to the temple for training, and I suspect taught him many of the things he knows now. Aurelius believed he was creating a beacon of hope in Malefor, that he was shaping a better future for all dragons in Malefor. He saw great potential in him... Though, I don't know what quite went wrong.

Aurelius made sure he would correct the mistakes he made... but he was never truly able to defeat the beast he made."

"What happened to him?"

"Nobody knows. it is said he defended the temple to his last breath from Malefor. He believed surrendering the temple to the beast would be a sin upon itself... and he probably paid with his own life. After his death, Malefor's reign was inevitable."

"What stopped him then?"

"After Aurelius died, it was up to a small band of fighters who were lead by Troy. They tracked down Malefor, much like you did, and fought him. I was one of the dragons, fighting side by side with Troy. We defeated Malefor, just barely. Unlike now, we had an entire army to help us. You were forced to take on Malefor by yourself with only the aide of Cynder."

"I've heard the name Troy before... I even saw a statue along the beach south of Warfang."

"I'm not surprised. Troy is hailed as being the one who defeated Malefor, and it really was because of him that we won. Aurelius trained him personally to make up for the mistakes he had made. Though Troy, he is a bit of a mystery, one I'm not sure I completely believe."

"Why is that?"

"It is said Troy arrived in the realms suddenly, and mysteriously. He had no home, no family. It's as if he just "happened". It was as if there was some force that planted him here to deal with Malefor, much like you were sent to help fight him in recent times."

"A force? I thought it was just nature's way of balancing itself."

"That may be, though nature is looking like it's acted a lot in the past. From what I've read in my time here, there's something to it." Ignitus said with a bit of a chuckle.

"So what happened to Troy then?"

"That is another mystery. Just as he came to deal with Malefor, so to did he just "Vanish" without a trace. Nobody knows what happened to him, but it is rumored he still walks the realms to this day, hunting down those who wrong the innocent."

Spyro sighed. He wished he could have Troy's help now, or at least more incite to Malefor's past. Any of it could be beneficial to him now. Wait, the visions! He had almost forgotten!

"Ignitus, these past few weeks I've been having visions again, much like on the Night of Eternal Darkness. Have you been trying to send me a message?"

"Visions? No young one, I haven't sent you any visions. What do you see in these visions?"

"That's just it, I don't know. I just see these... images of a dragon, they kind of resemble Malefor as he is now. I can also hear a voice... speaking to me but I can't make out the words."

"Other then being tied to Malefor's recent arrival, there's nothing else I can really make out of those... but I do know of a place you can go to explain those."

"Where?"

"Back when you fought Malefor the second time, you remember the ruins beneath Gale?"

"Yeah, that's where I remember a voice speaking to me, talking to me about the Final Solution."

"I've read more about that place, and I believe a powerful force resides there. Go there, and seek it out. I think it may be responsible for the visions you are having. Those ruins are older then all of the realms combined, and there may be a lot more answers down there then meets the eyes."

"Right, I'll head there. What of Malefor though?"

"After you investigate the ruins, find him. Find him before Cynder does, I think she may be more rash then you against him. She may kill him before anyone has a chance to speak to him."

"I know... I fear she is hunting for him right now."

"It is imperative that we talk to Malefor, learn what he has to say. He may not remember much, but I think it'll come back to him. Once he remembers, many more pieces to the puzzle will be solved, and we can begin to crack at this mystery."

"Right Ignitus, I'll set out right away."

"Good luck to you young dragon, and make haste."

Spyro set out once more, running towards the exit and towards the plains of Mandobar.

End of Chapter 3