Hello everyone! IllusionMaster17 here!
Well, first off, I'm reaaaaaaally sorry fot take so long in publish a new chapter. Honestly I expected that in vacations I was going to have more time for my story, but no. Also, one and a half month I returned to university, but I still try to work in my stories (this one and my new one The Legend of Spyro: Rising Tempest)
So, I beg you pardon for this delay. And I hope you enjoy the chapter. :)
Oh! One more thing, this chapter is dedicated to my fellow writer friend KaiserTheArmed, who is in a really predicament where he lives. And while the chapter doesn't reflect the situation, is for a reason here.
Enough talking, now for the story!
Training time
In the Elder temple…
In the middle of a field surrounded by water far from the town, attached to a bridge, is a big building, a little bigger that the dragon dojo, of a crimson red with golden pillars of spiral design and silver details, and the walls that had decorative glasses which has pictures of the elders. The door was double and is made of oak and birch and had carved the symbol of the dragon realms that covered most of the door.
While there was some birds passing by the temple, a wave of light appeared from nowhere scaring the birds and making them fly away. When the light vanished, in its place there are Tomas and Spyro.
"We arrived Spyro." Tomas observed the purple dragon who was wobbling and has the eyes in spiral, as if the travel left him dizzy.
"Hey, how do we get here with no portal?" Spyro asked trying to maintain stand and spinning his head.
"Well Spyro, that's an advantage from a perfect domination of magic. Normally we use the portals to transport ourselves without consume it, but this time I wanted to show you a demonstration of my own. Also I don't believe if using the portal could have been less showy with those young ones still there."
Spyro still was dizzy but managed to understand what Tomas said, passed some seconds he recovered stability.
"So here I'm going to train." Spyro said some impressed, the temple was so big, he wondered how much dragons could enter until totally fill it.
"That's right, are you ready?" Tomas asked smiling to the little dragon.
"Of course." Spyro said some excited, deep inside him he felt the same because he was interested in use magic, also he promised his friends to do it.
"Then let's go." And both them went inside the imposing temple.
"I could do a really good party here." Spyro said once he saw the temple's inside.
From decoration to space that has was amazing. The floor was covered of silver polished ceramic with a wide carpet in the middle that had golden borders; the walls are made of a kind of wood very resistant painted of yellowing orange; the ceiling has a spider chandelier in the center and glass lamps in the corners, and in the background it could be noticed a depot, a dining room, a bathroom and a rest room.
But that really took Spyro's attention was that lies at the end of the temple, seven seats of different colors with a red cushion in each one.
"Surprising right?" Tomas commented smiling seeing the surprised face of Spyro who is running from a place to another to see the entire temple closely. "How and when did you do this? It's amazing!" It was hear in the distance.
"We build it two weeks after the Sorcerer was defeated." Tomas mentioned him "While we were repairing the remaining damages, I and the other elders decided to use the dragon temple to train and teach the young growing dragons. With that we started the construction this temple for us; also, it would be a good place to train you."
Spyro kept seeing the place while hearing Tomas, although it looks like he's giving more attention to the temple that Tomas' words.
"Spyro" Tomas called the dragon, who finally listened "Come here please" He indicated him with a slightly serious tone, as if he was about to tell him something important.
Spyro went towards him and sit, waiting his speak.
"Spyro, as you know, not only did you rescue Red, you also defeated the sorcerer, the responsible of the disaster a month ago." He said making Spyro smile proud of his work "But that doesn't mean that everything is already done. The Sorcerer is still free, and he's out there, preparing himself for his revenge." At that Spyro's smile was gone and a serious face appeared.
It was so right, he managed to defeat the Sorcerer, but it was just that, a temporal victory like with Red. He's still free, and he could be anywhere ready to trap everyone again in the shadow realm.
"Now you see it Spyro." Tomas continued "That warlock is still a threat for the entire world, not only for us. Who knows what he is planning this time to defeat us, that's something that we just can't allow to happen, not even the smallest detail." He knelt to be at the same level as Spyro and pointed to the stone that Spyro hangs on the neck "That's why your training of magic requires all your concentration and ability, until reach the point of not needing the shadowstone to domain the magic inside you."
Spyro grabbed the stone and stared at it. It was a circular stone with two dragons engraved, one red and the other blue. One upside down on the other. He still remember when he entered the shadow realm many times to rescue the trapped dragons and his friends, and when he faced the Sorcerer. It was a very different experience compared to when he confronted Gnasty Gnorc, Ripto, the Sorceress and even Red.
"If you remember the talk we had a month ago, just after you freed me from that pile of wood…" Tomas continued "…I told you that you were the only one that could save the imprisoned elders. And that you magical energy is very strong. Actually, the power of your magic inside you is simply overwhelming Spyro." Spyro kept watching the stone, but still listened everything that Tomas said.
"What do you mean about my magic is overwhelming?" Spyro asked some confused "As an elder, I can feel the energy of the many creatures, and yours is immense Spyro. Not many dragons at your age can have such level of magic contained, even the amount that I had at your age is significantly lower." Tomas laughed remembering his childhood, and Spyro laughed too.
"Returning to the theme, you have a great potential Spyro, not only in combat, also in magic, but we must train you so that you can master it and thus be ready for any danger." Tomas get up looking at him "The Sorcerer will return to take revenge, he will come with more power to reach his goal. We must prepare for his arrival, we don't know when or how much we have to wait, but I'm sure…" Tomas smiled to him "…that we will be ready."
Spyro felt how his fire burnt with passion, and presented a determined face showing that he is prepared for everything "We will be ready." Spyro repeated, showing his smile.
Tomas felt so proud seeing Spyro's determination, it made him feel that there's no reason to be afraid, that everything will end well.
"Good Spyro. Now, are you ready to train?"
"Of course!" He said excited.
"Excellent! Let's start with…"
He paused his speech at the sound of the temple door opening. From there a tall green dragon appeared, wearing a kind of dark green coat with rolled white sleeves that only covered part of his chest, and a brown belt that carry many artisan artifacts, like a hammer, a wood carver, a pick, a drill and a brush.
Tomas was about to welcome him, until Spyro ran to the dragon before Tomas could.
"Nestor!"
The big dragon saw how Spyro get closer until stay in front of him, shaking his tail showing his joy of seeing the artisan leader. "Spyro! How have you been hero?" Nestor knelt to look at Spyro's level "It has been a long time since I saw you. The last thing I remember from your visit was that you defeated an ugly red dragon." Tomas couldn't help but laugh when he hear that.
"Yeah, exactly." Spyro winked to him "Hey, how did you know I was here? And how did you get here? And do you know each other?"
Tomas joined them "Answering your questions in order: I call him Spyro. I contacted him using my mind in the dojo and I told him to come here when he could; he get here in one of the hot air balloons; and while I and the elders were building our temple I went to find one of the artisans to help me with the decoration, and Nestor was the one who I met." Tomas explained before shaking hands with the artisan "Greeting Nestor. I'm glad to see you again good friend."
"Same. Being leader from a big homeworld is hard to go out and explore. After the defeat of the Sorceress, the Forgotten Realms and Avalar were able to be inhabited by dragons again. And I was so interested in giving them a good visit, but the duty sometimes compels." Nestor ended laughing.
Tomas shared his humor "I know how it feels. Well, leaving the formalities aside, I suppose you're wondering why I called you." The elder inquired.
"Actually yes. But let me guess, does it have to do with Spyro?" Nestor asked and Tomas nodded "That's right. As part of his magic training I thought that you could help me with his progress, as you were the one who raised him since baby, you know more about him than me and I believe your contribution may be so helpful."
"Of course I'll help. Unless as long as I can." Tomas felt happy with the cooperation of the artisan. At that moment Spyro jumped among them "Then both will train me?"
"Something like that." Nestor responded.
"Well, what are we waiting?" Tomas said ready. Spyro responded with the same feeling. "Nothing!"
"Well Spyro, this is the last one!" Tomas exclaimed to the purple dragon who looked tired. Apparently Spyro is practicing his fire breath against some mannequins as the ones from the dojo, but these ones were made from a kind of strong material, as metal but different.
"Remember Spyro, with this one you must weaken it using your breath and then directly attack it of front. You have to think fast to plan your move." But Spyro wan not one of those who plan, he jumps directly to the action.
That's his style.
Spyro ran to the dummy, horns in front, ready to tackle it, getting closer to reach it and once he made contact…
Spyro flew out as if he was punched by a rhynoc just in the chest, and fell back on the floor.
"I told that you had to weaken it with your breath, not attack it directly." Tomas went to where the purple dragon was still grunting from the blow.
"What is that thing made of? It was suppose that thing flew out, not me." Spyro said as he got up slowly.
Tomas helped Spyro to get up "These dummies were specially made to resist massive attacks and repel them. An alloy of metal to resist and crystal to counter."
"How that thing was able to punch me hard until make me fly away?" Spyro looked at Tomas waiting for an answer.
"The dummy will return the attack with the same force that received it. That's how counters without moving." Tomas explained.
"I would like to fly, but not like that." Spyro commented making Tomas laugh. "Better rest for now." He suggested while he and Spyro headed towards Nestor is who is carrying a feather and paper.
"So impulsive as always Spyro." Nestor laughed rubbing Spyro in his horns "I wonder what it would have been like if I had hit it, although I don't have the strength I used to."
Spyro grinned a little imagining it, Nestor flying to the opposite wall, or just receiving a weak push. "Well, who knows?"
Tomas watched through one of the windows that the sun was at few hours to hide. "It should be like 3 hours before sunset." Tomas thought "The lessons are surely over."
"Spyro" He put his attention in the little dragon. "Let's finish for today. Rest well the rest of the day and tomorrow we continue at the same hour."
After hearing that the next thing he did was lay off in the floor, with the tongue out "Finally. I was getting tired."
Nestor grabbed the purple dragon and put him on his hack "Even after many adventures you throw yourself to the ground. Who would say that the hero of the realms is only a child?"
Spyro laughed at his comment. "Unless I was not trapped in crystal."
"Well played Spyro. Well played." Nestor commented laughing at such memory "But I can promise you that it won't happen again. Unless I have a good reason to."
"And which reason may you have to let you turn into crystal?"
"One that is worth it."
"It would be good that doesn't happen again." Spyro ended, still being carried in Nestor's back.
Tomas looked at the scene with such nostalgia, as if the scene just brought back an old memory of his childhood. He couldn't help but let out a sigh of melancholy. "Wow, time has passed."
"Tomas! Are you coming?" The elder was snapped out of his thoughts after hearing Spyro's voice. He turned to see that he and Nestor are already in the door.
"I'm coming." Tomas went to where they were, and once there Spyro asked him "Where are we going now?"
"To the dojo, where else?" Tomas answered him "I must see how my elder partners are, and if the lessons went without problems."
When they left the temple, Nestor put Spyro back in the ground "Well, it was interesting this show of your power but I must go back to my home." He said looking at Spyro, until he realized. "Spyro, where is your dragonfly friend, Sparx?" He said trying to find the bug.
Spyro got tense after hearing the name of his little friend, but still he said to him about the dragonfly "Sparx is not with me." Nestor stopped searching and heard him "Today in the morning he went with the others. He wanted to pass more time with other dragonflies."
Nestor already heard from Spyro when Ripto captured many dragonflies for his plan, and that he could understand Sparx. It surprised him that the dragon and the dragonfly can understand each other.
"I suppose you felt some sad when you said goodbye to Sparx, right?" Nestor said, and Spyro just nodded slowly. "It seems that spending so much time with Sparx made him get used to never being alone."
The artisan could notice the sadness in Spyro's eyes, normally those eyes always shown sincerity, curiosity, joy and even pride, bur sadness was something unexpected.
He thought in how cheer up the little dragon, but he doesn't know what to do, until he finally had an idea, simple but effective.
He knelt to be at Spyro's level, put his hands on Spyro's shoulders, and gave him a short hug. Spyro was confused and some uncomfortable, but suddenly all that turned into calmness, and an odd familiar feeling…
Nestor stopped hugging him, and looked at him "Spyro, I understand that being without Sparx may let you some depressed, and that makes you feel alone…" Spyro listened closely at what the artisan leader was saying "…but that doesn't mean you're alone. You have so many friends that you've met in your many adventures, the cheetah, the bunny, the fauns, the satyrs, the elders and even us. We all are with you, and you know that you can count on us in everything, because that's what we do and how we do it, as family."
Hearing those words made Spyro feel better, and it was true. He has many friends around the realms, and all because he helped them.
"What he said is true Spyro." Tomas joined the conversation "Don't believe for a second that you're alone, because it's all the opposite. You will never be alone."
Spyro smiled, he had worried too much about that, and he had to stop doing it. He didn't want the great and adventurous Spyro to become a weeping and distressed one.
"I must have seen myself as a crushed rhynoc." Spyro commented, causing that Tomas and Nestor laughed, at least his sense of humor was still intact.
"Well, it was enough talk for today. I must come back, I have new ideas for my craftworks." Nestor commented as he got up "I hope to see again, Spyro and Tomas." Extended his hand to say goodbye.
Tomas did the same "Same, take care Nestor, leader of the Artisans."
"Just Nestor, Tomas."
"See ya later Nestor" Spyro said.
"See ya later Spyro. Remember visit us occasionally." And then the artisan left the place.
Tomas got in front of Spyro "Well Spyro, ready to go?" Spyro nodded.
"Are you sure? You will get dizzy on the trip." Tomas joked, making Spyro stick out his tongue.
"I can handle it." Spyro said very confident.
"If you say so." Tomas made the same signal with his hands and both were enveloped in a pillar of light.
Once the light was gone, only the wind was heard, and a strange sound...
From the ground, just where the light appeared, a kind of shadow emerged, but just the head, or so it seemed, to later disappear again…
Someone expected that Nestor appeared here?
Since Regnited Trilogy, I really loved the work they did with everyone! From all the dragons to the rest of characters, and here I tried to describe Nestor in his Reignited style to give the idea.
And one more thing, I will try to reunite most of the characters from the whole Classic Spyro series in the story, such as Elora, Sheila, more dragons from the Dragon Realms, Bentley, Byrd, and more. So if you want to see a specific character appear, I may do it.
That's all. Until we read again!