The young heroes have arrived on Ancient Grove to find the special tree that Spyro has dreamt before. However, there are new dangers there as well and another training to unlock the new abilities of the heroes...
Ancient Grove
It took about hours to get to Ancient Grove, but the heroes finally made it and lands. They look around the new area. Everything through the woods is dark and spooky like. The water was the color purple with poison in it.
"...Well, this place seem... friendly." Mya spoke as she looks around.
"Oh yes, lovely. He always sends us to the nicest places." Sparx complained.
Spyro tries to reassure Sparx, "Come on Sparx, it's not that bad." Few seconds later, bright eyes shine from darkness in the woods as creepy noise follows afterward.
"Then again... maybe it is." said Topaz with unease.
Tyrone just gulps with fright while Mya's fur went poof. Lavender was hiding behind Topaz while Sparx did the same behind Spyro.
Sparx spoke with terror in his voice, "Well sure, if you ignore all the evil beasts and the visions of doom and eternal darkness, which sounds lovely by the way!" Sparx then flies in front of Spyro, "Oh, and the fact that we now get to frolic through the magical creepy forest in search of some stupid tree! ...What's not to love?"
Mya fixes her fur then glances at Spyro, "Well... he's psyched. Let's go already!" she walks ahead, "The sooner we finish, the sooner we can find this Chronicler guy..." the rest follows after her, making the dragonflies following behind them.
Sparx glances at Lavender then speaks to her, "So... Nice weather we're having, huh?" Lavender doesn't answer him. "...Come on, Lavender! What does it take for ya to forgive me?"
Lavender slightly glares at Sparx, "How about proving to me that you're willing to take risk for your friends?" then flies away from him. Sparx just sighs at Lavender. He started to grow fond of the female dragonfly since the meeting on Dante's Freezer. Now, he's having girl trouble and he's trying to impress her.
Anyway, the heroes runs through the woods, fighting against Grove Mites, jumps over the poisonous river, leaping branches to branches then lands on a pathway. However, suddenly, four dead trees fall down on the path blocking the way.
"Hey! What happened?" Tyrone exclaimed with surprise in his voice.
Spyro scans the area, "Maybe the trees just fell over..."
Then Topaz sniffs in the air, "...Or maybe someone or something had set up a trap." Suddenly eight Death Hounds jumps out behind them from the bushes and charges at them.
Mya hisses at the canines, "More of them? They're such disgusting creatures!" then uses her Stink Bomb to distract the Death Hounds.
The Death Hounds started to cough and hack from the smell then Spyro uses his Dragon Time to give him and his friends some time to attack the pack of Death Hounds. The heroes manage to defeat the hounds, then a bigger Death Hound charges in through the knock-down trees and tries to attack Spyro. However, the leader of pack was defeated as well. They continue through the creepy woods, knocking trees to get across and fighting more Grove Mites, Death Hounds and big, swamp monsters known as Growths.
About 15 minutes later, the heroes continue to walks deeper through the swamp. However, they seem to have problems to find what they're exactly are looking for...
"Are we there yet?" Tyrone whined.
"Will you stop whining?" Mya grumbled with irritations. "We just got here..."
"I know... But when we will find this tree? We haven't even found the way to it yet..." Tyrone exclaimed.
"Tyrone's right." Spyro spoke. "What are we doing here? I'm not even sure what we're supposed to be looking for." He and his friends stop walking.
Then Mya sighs, "In other words, we're lost."
"Now, now... I'm sure we can figure out what to do." said Topaz as she tried to reassure everyone. However, she too is unsure what to do next.
Then Sparx spoke, "Hey! Have you guys tried these yet?" He was eating butterflies. "Hmm... they're delish!" He's took each butterflies that flew in front of him and ate each one. "Mmmm...Come on, try some." then flies to catch another butterfly to snack on.
"Ugh... Not again." Mya groaned to herself with disgust.
"Sparx! Don't eat that..." Spyro exclaimed. "...you don't even know what it is."
"Don't worry, Spyro." Topaz reassured Spyro as she chuckled. "Dragonflies likes to eat small bugs; butterflies, bees, ants and mosquitoes. It's their very favorite dish to eat." The gem wolf watches Lavender eating some butterflies with glee. ((A/N: Dragonflies really do eat butterflies, but very rarely.))
"Mmmm... I haven't eaten butterflies since back at my old home." Lavender spoke with glee. "Though, I prefer bees instead. They're my favorite!"
Spyro stares at Lavender then at Sparx, "...I never knew dragonflies eat these things."
"And I think it's disgusting!" Mya cried.
Sparx flies up to his friends then belches out loud and say, "Nonsense. They're perfectly edible."
Tyrone just laughs at Sparx for burping, "That's was awesome!"
"Boys..." both Mya and Topaz sighed. Spyro just shook his head and walks ahead with the others in pursuit.
As soon as they started to walk, they heard voices nearby. "...Alright maggots, time to spread out."
Tyrone shouts out, "Who said th-!" Mya quickly covers his mouth.
"Shush, you idiot! ...We've got company." Mya whispered.
The heroes take a peek from behind a big stump and see four humanoid, canine-like pirates. Well, three pirates and one big pirate. "Don't bother snaring anything smaller than a scurvy wing... Skabb only wants prize fighters this time... and double the bounty for the one who captures Arrrborick!" the big pirate shouted as the three pirates cheered with greed.
Mya quietly humphs at the pirates, "Great... Pirates of Skabb."
Spyro glances at Mya with curiosity, "You know about them?"
Mya nods at him and explains, "Yep... The Pirates, sometime known as Skavengers, travel across the realms in massive ships, capture inhabitants to force them to fight in a gladiatorial arena on the Fellmuth for entertainment, and raid various locations and steal precious and valuable treasures in the world."
"Well then... I guess it's best if we just slip quietly before those pirates see us." Topaz spoke. Suddenly, she felt kind of dizzy and light headed. So did Spyro.
"All those in favor of turning back?" Sparx suggested then he and the rest heard some loud thump on the ground. They look back and see Topaz and Spyro on the ground, unconscious.
"Oh no...!" Tyrone quietly groaned.
"You've gotta be kidding us!" Mya whispered.
Unluckily, the pirates heard the thump noise as well. "Aye! It came from over there. Go see what it be." The big pirate, Captain, ordered. The three pirates walk straight to where the heroes are.
Sparx fly next to Mya's ear, "We've gotta wake them up!"
"Unless you have a better idea to lead those pirates away from us, I would love to hear it!" Mya exclaimed quietly.
Then Lavender groans as she holds her stomach, "Uh... Guys? I think I'm about to burp..." she covers her mouth.
"Hold it in, Big Gal!" Mya cried.
Lavender groans, "I-I c-can't!" then let's out a very belch through the woods. It made the pirates jump up in fright from the sound.
"Excuse me..." Lavender embarrassingly squeaked.
Tyrone takes a peek to see the pirates. The pirates were coming closer. "We're gonna get caught!" He whined. "What are we gonna do?"
"I-I don't know..." Mya stuttered.
"I didn't mean to burp! It was accident..." Lavender whimpered.
Sparx looks back and forth at his friend then at the pirates. Sparx takes a deep breath and suddenly flies in front of the pirates. "Uh... So... Uh... How is everyone today?" Sparx sheepishly spoke to the pirates.
Tyrone stares at Sparx then at Mya, "What is he doing?"
"He's trying to distract them so we can get Spyro and Topaz away from here." Mya told Tyrone. Lavender looks on at Sparx with worries.
Then one of the pirates snickers at Sparx, "Little bug isn't much bigger than a bog-rat."
That insulted Sparx very badly and Sparx insulted the pirates back, "Hey! Who are callin' a bug you crazy eyed, mangy drool mutt?" Which was a big mistake he did and Sparx realize it. "...Uh oh!"
"Get him!" The Captain snarled.
Sparx quickly flies away from pirates, screaming in terror, "Mommy!" with pirates in pursuit.
"Sparx!" Lavender cried as the pirates chase after Sparx far away from them. "Shouldn't we help him?" She exclaimed to Mya.
"First, we get Spyro and Topaz away from here... Then we'll go help that yellow dragonfly." Mya told Lavender as she and Tyrone slowly lifts up Topaz and Spyro to carry them away from the danger.
In Spyro and Topaz's dream...
Spyro slowly wakes up and see he's back to where he was before during his last dream. Spyro stands up then shivers, "...It's cold here."
Then he hears a groan from behind him and looks back to see Topaz on the ground. "Topaz? What are you...?"
Topaz slowly wakes up and sits up, "What happened?" she rubbed her head and notices she's in another realm. "Where am I?"
Spyro spoke to her, "In my dreams, well sort of..."
Topaz looks at Spyro with shock, "Spyro? Wait! Did you just say your dream?"
Spyro nodded, "Yes... But you're here as well. Maybe the Chronicler wanted to speak to you as well."
"The Chronicler? You mean this is where you meet or heard of him?" Topaz asked as she stood up.
Spyro nods, "Yes. We have to go over to that temple." he pointed to the temple ahead. "That's where I relearn my Fire element."
The two flies over to the temple and lands in front the Element Pad, however now it's glowing light blue instead of red. Spyro spoke at it, speaking to the Chronicler, "Chronicler? Are you there? I've done what you've asked of me. But I'm afraid I'm lost."
The unseen voice spoke out to Spyro, "...As long as the spirits of the ancestors are with you, you are never lost."
Topaz jumps from the voice by surprise, "I'm guessing you're the Chronicler that spoke to Spyro and Tyrone from before, right?" she shouted with awed. She knew about the Chronicler, but never thought she hear him and always thought the Chronicler was just a myth. She's amazed to hear the voice of the Chronicler.
"That is correct, Topaz... I've been waiting to speak to you for a long time... It's an honor to speak to a gem wolf."
"No, no... The honor is mine." Topaz smiled with modest then asks, "But, why did you summon me here with Spyro in his dream?"
"It is because you need to be here as well... to learn new abilities of Ice. Now... calm yourselves you two, and cool your thoughts."
Spyro jumps on the Element Pad, however Topaz was unsure what would happened. "Jump on, Topaz. It's okay." Spyro reassure the gem wolf. Topaz hesitant a bit then hops on the Element Pad as it shines through them.
"Do not let your fire control you. There are other elements at play here. The power of ice also moves through you, just as the chilled winds whip through your wings. Let it... expand!"
As the ice surges through their bodies, Spyro and Topaz rises up in air as snowflakes and icicles form around them. They then unleash a powerful blast of cold wind and lands back on the pad.
The Chronicler spoke to Spyro, "I knew you'd remember... Life seeks out balance, young dragon. And one who can master fire and ice is truly powerful in the shifting face of danger." Then he spoke to Topaz, "...And Topaz, you have unlock new abilities from within you."
"I have?" Topaz looked as her hands or paws.
"Yes... Gem Wolves are very powerful and full of mysterious. They can learn many abilities from within their gemstones on the heads, so they can help out the dragons to recover their strengths again. However, gem wolves can use their abilities for good or for evil. Remember, Topaz... only use your abilities for what you think it is right."
Topaz nods at Chronicler with respect. She knows her people, gem wolves, can use their abilities for either good or evil. She only hopes that she'll only use it for good for her allies in the future.
Spyro and Topaz then flies over to another platform with the statues of the knight again. "Now what?" Topaz asked Spyro.
"Now... We've use our Ice Element to defeat the knight in order to continue." Spyro explained.
The knight statues comes alive then charges at Spyro and Topaz. Like before, Spyro and Topaz fights back with combat skill by using the element of ice then Spyro blows an icy cloud; Polar Bomb at the knight, creating an explosion to freeze the knight. Topaz shoots out from her hand-paws a powerful icy beam; Frozen Beam at the knight to freeze them. The two then bashes the frozen knight, destroying each one.
They fly over to the next platform with more knights on it. Spyro's tail suddenly was cover with ice; Ice Tail and slashes through the knight into rubble. Topaz does the same when her fists are cover with ice; Winter Fist then punches the knight cold and destroying them into rubble. She then opens her mouth and her long fangs forms into tusk-like icicles; Icicle Fangs and crushes the rest of knights by biting down very hard.
Spyro and Topaz then flies up to another platform with water on it. It gave them some ideas to get across. They use Polar Bomb and Frozen Beam to make ice, stepping stone to get across to the side. They then lands on another platform with bigger knights and the knights charges at them. The two then raises up in the air then unleash a powerful blast of ice and cold wind, freezing the knights and destroying them. The two heroes then fly up to the last the platform and stops in front of the vision pool.
Spyro calls out to Chronicler, "Okay. Now what? What is it you want me and my friends to do? I think I'm entitled to know what's happening."
Topaz looks down at Spyro, "Spyro, I'm sure you already know that answer long before."
"...Topaz is right... You already know what is happening... of the great evil that is awakening. But there is more that you must understand. It is time to show you what your gem wolf friend has been seeing so many times from her dreams before..."
The image that Topaz and Spyro see in their heads is a head shape mountain, shooting a dark beam from the night sky.
"I've seen this place before. It frightens me." Spyro spoke with fear in his voice.
"So have I, Spyro." Topaz softly spoke. "No matter how much I sleep, I've kept dreaming about this dark, evil place."
The Chronicler explains, "This is an evil place young ones... It is called the Mountain of Malefor... asylum to the wandering phantoms and lost spirits of those who had turned to darkness. But to the spirits themselves and the black hearted, it goes by another name..."
A big, dark armor ape walks up, rasping saying, "...The Well of the Souls." The ape roars out to his army. He is known as Gaul, the King of the Apes...
Back with Mya, Tyrone and Lavender. The three manages to find another area near the poisonous lake and sets Spyro and Topaz down to rest themselves from all that running.
"There... Now, one of us can find Sparx while the rest can stay with Topaz and Spyro until they wake up." Mya told her two friends.
"And that someone is me!" Lavender spoke. "It's my fault for burping like that..."
Tyrone snickers, "It was a nice one anyway!" then shut up when the girls glared at him. "Sorry..."
Lavender sighs then continues, "...And I told him to prove to me that he'll risk his life to protect us. I'm going after him."
Mya slowly forms a smile at Lavender, "...You like him, huh? You got a thing for that gnat!"
"What? Wh-What are you talking about?" Lavender stuttered as she blushed.
"Y'know what I'm talking about! The Big Gal likes some yellow dragonfly." Mya smirked.
Lavender fully blushes with red, stuttering, "Y-You have no proof!"
"I do now~..." Mya singed.
Tyrone just looks back and fore at the girl, not knowing what's going on or what are they talking about. Suddenly, he heard moaning and groaning from Spyro and Topaz and looks back to see if they're waking up. And they are. Both Spyro and Topaz were now awake, sitting from the dreams they had.
"Spyro! Topaz! You're awake!" Tyrone cried with great relief, causing the girls to stop talking and see Spyro and Topaz awake as last.
"Oh, thanks goodness you two are awake!" Lavender exclaimed.
"Yeah... You do you two have any idea how heavy you two were?" Mya exclaimed.
Topaz rubs her head, "Sorry about that... I guess the Chronicler wanted to talk to him and me about what's happening so far."
Spyro shakes his head then notices Sparx isn't with them, "Sparx? Where's Sparx?" He asked Mya.
Mya looks away, "Well, about that..."
Right one cue, Sparx quickly flies over to his friends, panting with exhaustion from getting away from the pirates. "Uhh! Spyro!" Sparx panted then stops in front of Spyro, "I'm outta shape..."
Lavender suddenly, without thinking, hugs dearly onto Sparx, "Sparx! You're okay! I was so worry..."
Sparx looked shock from the hug, "...Does this mean you forgave me?"
Lavender let's go of Sparx, "...Yes, I forgave you. Just don't say those uncaring things again!"
Spyro and Topaz looks at Mya with confusions. "Care to tell us what happened?" Spyro asked.
Mya answers, "I'll be happy explain about this later..." then hears grunting and panting nearby."...Right now, we've got unwanted company." after that, the same pirates came in then see the heroes.
"What have we here? Arrr first catch of the day!" the Captain smirked with malice.
"What do we do now?" Tyrone asked his friends with worries.
Topaz and Spyro looked at each other then grins with no worries. "Just stand back and watch." Topaz told them.
"We'll take care of them." Spyro prepares to fight.
Mya, Tyrone and the dragonflies look confuse, but did what their friends said then watch to see what will happen. The small pirates charges at Spyro and Topaz. Suddenly, Spyro shoots out his Polar Bomb onto the pirate, turning into big snowballs and pushes them off the ledge and into the poisonous water. The Captain snarls with fury and tries to Spyro, but then Topaz swiftly charges at Captain then uses her Winter Fists to freeze the Captain and punches him into the water as well.
The rest of the heroes looked flabbergasted. "...H-How did you guys do that? Where you two learned that?" Mya exclaimed.
"Yeah, Spyro!" Sparx spoke as he flew up to the purple dragon. "You never used that ice power before."
"The Chronicler, that's what happened." Topaz answered.
"The Chronicler taught you guys to use Ice element again?" Tyrone asked.
Spyro nods at him, "Yes... But we'll explain the rest later. Right now, we have to keep moving before something else happens."
"Like what?" Lavender asked.
Suddenly, Tyrone starts to feel dizzy then collapse on the ground like Spyro and Topaz did before.
"Like that..." Topaz groaned.
"What in the world is going here?" Mya shouted.
"It must be the Chronicler." Spyro told Mya. "This is probably how he communicates with us."
"By knocking one of us to sleep when danger happens?" Mya exclaimed.
Topaz lifts Tyrone onto her back, "Look, let's just continue on and hope we'll find the tree before more of those pirates come."
In Tyrone's dream...
Tyrone wakes up and sees he's back to the realm he was before. He slowly stands up and looks around, trying to hear the voice of the Chronicler.
"Hello? Chronicler?" Tyrone called out then spots the temple ahead. The plant dragon flies over to the temple and lands in front of the Element Pad, which is glowing the color greenish blue.
"Chronicler? There are some things I don't understand what's happening so far... Why did you send us to the Ancient Grove to find this tree? And what happened to Cynder? Is she alright?" Tyrone asked.
The Chronicler finally answers, "You will know when get to the tree, plant dragon... And as for Cynder... She is well. You will find her later on where you at least expected."
"But... where? I mean, can I least get a hint?" Tyrone asked.
"The hint will appear soon, Tyrone... Right now, it's time to unlock another element from within you. Hop on, young dragon..."
Tyrone jumps on the Element Pad then it shine through him.
"Water is the most important thing to every living creature... Water is graceful and calm as rivers and lakes, but when combined with other elements it can be quite deadly as floods and tsunamis. Combined with Fire it becomes steam. Combined with Ice it become solid like ice. One who can master the shifting power of water will be powerful in the shifting tides of darkness. Water has the strength to grow plants and conduct electricity. Water is strong in the ever changing face in danger... Now, arise and unleash the true power of water..."
As he feel water surge through him, Tyrone raises up into the air as a stream of water flows around him very fast then unleashes a powerful blast of water everywhere that was just as powerful as the tsunami. Tyrone lands back down on the pad.
"Very good, Tyrone... You have unlocked a new element of water. With this, it will surely help your allies later in the future. Now, show what you can do with the power of water."
Tyrone nods then flies over to another platform with the same knights. The statue of knights comes alive and charges at Tyrone. Tyrone takes a deep breath the blows a stream of water; Aqua Blast, at the knights, knocking them off of the platforms. The water stream was too powerful for the knights as they fall over the ledges. Tyrone then flies up to another platform of water. Suddenly, his whole body forms into water and he dives into the pool and disappears into the water. This ability makes him almost impossible for anyone to see him, making a great advantage to hide or attack his enemies by surprise. Tyrone emerges out from the pool then forms back to himself again and flies over to the next platforms with bigger knights.
The knight charges at Tyrone once again then the plant dragon forms his body into water again and crashes down very hard onto the knights, creating a big wave of water; Aquarius Tsunami, destroying them into rubble. More knights appear then charges at Tyrone again, surrounding him. Tyrone then raise up as stream of water flows around him then unleashes a powerful blast, knocking the knight off the platform. He had just learned the Water Fury.
Tyrone then continues on towards the vision pool and stops in front of it.
"You are truly are the descendant of Fufluns, Tyrone. He would've been proud to have met you..."
"I doubt it. I'm still a naive dragon and I'm not sure how I can protect my friends from danger..." Tyrone muttered. He still believes he isn't as strong as his friends or his family.
Chronicler heartily chuckles, "That is what Fufluns said about himself when he was your age, but yet, somehow... He became the most powerful and wisest plant dragon. Now, it is your turn to be like your ancestor... Remember to focus on your abilities and believe in yourself before the worst is yet to come..."
With Spyro, Topaz, Mya and the dragonflies, they all managed to get across the poisonous water by using ice element, defeating more Grove Mites, Grove Worms and Death Hounds. They then stop near a bank with cages and wooden crates ahead then spots a pirate ship in the water.
"Things just got difficult, my friends." Mya spoke as the more pirates jump off the ship.
"Whoa! These guys look angry." Sparx exclaimed.
"We can't fight with Tyrone knocked out like this." Spyro pointed out.
"Well, we can't find any safe place for him and there's no way we could keep running away from those pirates." Topaz spoke.
Luckily, Tyrone slowly wakes and sees he's on Topaz's back, "Huh? How long was I sleep?"
"About 10 minutes." Lavender answered. "Now we're about to fight those pirates!" The pirates charge at the heroes when they saw them.
Tyrone jumps off of Topaz, "Let me try to get rid of them!"
"You? How?" Sparx exclaimed.
"Like this..." Tyrone said then uses his Aqua Blast at the pirates, knocking them into the poisonous water. He blows out his plant element to the ground then blows some water onto the ground, making the plant grow into trees and vines, trapping the pirates in place then the roots drag the pirates into the ground, destroying them.
The heroes looked shock of Tyrone's new ability. "Holy fish sticks!" Mya cried with shock. "He just used the element of water!"
Tyrone smiles at his friends, "Pretty amazing, huh?" then blows a powerful stream water at one of the pirate, pushing them into the poisonous water yet again.
At the same time with Cynder, the black dragon had just landed in Ancient Grove. Ever since she left the Dragon Temple, she can't help, but feel regret for leaving her own true family, especially Spyro. However, she felt she had to leave in order to protect her friends and family danger. Of course unknown to her, apes, order by Gaul, had already attacked the Temple after she left and she's now wondering if she really did the right thing.
"Spyro..." Cynder softly spoke. She then begins to walks forward but then suddenly starts to feel dizzy and collapse on the ground.
Unknown to her, after her collapse, a small yellow dragon was flying in the sky until he spotted Cynder on the ground, unconscious. The young electricity dragon, feeling concern, swoops down and lands next to Cynder, staring at her with worry.
"What happened to her? More importantly... who is she?" The young dragon pondered. Then he decided to lift Cynder onto his back and carries her off to somewhere safe until she wake up...
In Cynder's dream...
Cynder slowly wakes up, seeing she's back to into the realm where she just heard the Chronicler. "I'm back...?" Cynder groaned then stood up. The young black dragon looks around then spots the temple ahead and flies over. She landed in front of the Element Pad, which is now glowing the color yellowish green.
Cynder looks at the pad then shouts out, "Chronicler? Are you still there? I want to know what's happening to my friends and family!"
"...Your friends and family are growing worried about your disappearance... Your friends are out of the Temple, looking for you."
Cynder sighs with guilt, "They shouldn't be looking for me... I'm the reason since the horrible things that happened in the past."
"If you regret what you had done in the past... Then there are those who have forgiven you. For now, you must learn a new element to help you later on in the future..."
Cynder hops on the pad then it shines into her.
"Poison is truly deadly... It can kill many living things. Poison can also corrupt other forms of live but if one can master it then one can be truly deadly. Let it...burst out."
Cynder feels the new element surging through within her as she raises up. Yellowish green liquid swirls around her as droplets of it appears then Cynder release a powerful blast as the liquid of poison splashing out through the realm. Cynder lands back on the pad.
"I knew you could it... Poison is like a virus. It spreads onto you, if you touch it. It can slowly kill your enemies towards their death. Let's see how much you can do with it."
Cynder nods then jump off the pad. She then flies over to the platform where the knights are. Like before, the knight comes to alive and charges at Cynder. The black dragon then spits boiling green globs of lethal poison onto her foes; Venom shot. The poison soon spread onto every knight as it slowly kills them then Cynder puts them out their misery by using her combat skills.
After defeating them, Cynder flies over to the next platform where the bigger knights are. The knights charge at her as well. The black dragon then unleashes her element by spinning into her enemies while covered in lethal poison, cutting into her enemies with her deadly payload of venom; Scorpion Strike. Soon more knights appear and surround the black dragon as they prepare to attack. Then Cynder raises up into the air as yellowish green liquid swirls around her as droplets of it appears then Cynder release a powerful blast as the liquid of poison splashes onto the knights, quickly killing them to their dooms. She has just learned Poison Fury.
The black dragon continues on then stops in front of a vision pool.
"You have learned well, Cynder... Now, it's time for you to return so you can continue your journey to find your true path... But once you wake up, you'll gain a new ally."
"Huh? What ally? Who is he or she?" Cynder asked.
"He is known as Aristotle... the Great Grandson of Sun Tzu..."
Cynder slowly wakes up, groaning from the dream she dreamt.
"Ah! You're awake!"
Cynder quickly looks in front of her and see a new yellow dragon, a young male one. "I thought you would never wake up." The yellow dragon spoke then asks Cynder, "How are you feeling? Are you alright?" with concern in his voice.
It took Cynder awhile to respond the new dragon, "...I'm fine. Who are you?"
"Me? I'm Aristotle, the Great Grandson of Sun Tzu, Son of Plato and cousin of the Electricity Guardian, Volteer." The yellow dragon, Aristotle, introduced himself. ((A/N: Aristotle belongs to D.J Scales))
"Wait! You're related to Volteer, the one who talks too much?" Cynder exclaimed.
Aristotle chuckle a bit, "Yeah... That's him. He's kinda fun to be around... You know him?"
"Well... Yes, I do. My name is...Cynder and I'm from the Dragon Temple, but I ran away..." Cynder told him as she look down with regrets.
Then Aristotle says something shocking, "Let me guess, you still regret what you did in the past and decided to run away from everyone, thinking that they will be better off without you there?"
Cynder stares at him with shock and fear in her eyes, "H-How do you know about me?"
Aristotle waves his front claws, "Calm down... I actually heard a little bit about you from different places. Care to tell me how you're a little dragon instead of the big, black dragon from before?"
Cynder looks down a bit then takes a deep breath and explains what happened to her, about the raid on the temple in the Year of the Dragon, the Dark Master corrupting her with dark magic, using the Guardians' powers to release her master, Spyro and his companions stopping her and saving her from the dark magic after defeating her in battle. "...I am thankful and grateful that Spyro and his friends saved me, but no matter what I do, I still remember the horrible things I did in the past... Every day, I'm reminded of what I've done. I'm not proud of the things I've done, so I decided to run away from home after hearing that Gaul is still looking for me from the Chronicler... Please, I never meant for this to happen to anyone. I'm truly sorry..."
Aristotle heard every word Cynder had told him. He can tell Cynder fully regrets what she did and hearing it was the Dark Master's evil magic that did this to her, "...I may not understand what you're going through, but I forgive you and trust you."
Cynder stares at Aristotle with disbelieve, "What? How could you trust me? I did many terrible things to everyone!"
"But, you regret it and it wasn't your fault it happened... It was the Dark Master..." Aristotle growled at the last sentence then speaks again, "And if it wasn't for the purple dragon, Spyro, and his allies, you wouldn't be free from the dark magic."
"I guess you're right about that..." Cynder muttered then wonders about something, "Um... Aristotle, what are you doing here? By yourself?"
"Me? Well, I heard that Skabb and his gang of pirates, Skavengers, had taken a few inhabitants as prisoners for something big and they took some moles known as Manweersmalls." Aristotle explained.
"But why would those pirates do that?" Cynder asked.
"Don't know yet, but I'm not gonna let those mutts take the inhabitants from their home and get away with it. I'm gonna sneak on abroad, free the prisoners, and stop Skabb from taking more." Aristotle spoke with determination. "Hey! Maybe you can help me."
"Me? How?" Cynder wondered.
"Well, you did say that the Chronicler taught you to use Shadow and your new element, Poison better. Maybe those elements can help us free the prisoners." Aristotle explained.
Cynder took a moment to think then nods at him, "...Okay, I'm in."
"Great!" Aristotle quickly stood up. "Let's go and free the prisoners! I just saw some ship way back before I saw the ground." Then the son of Plato takes off ahead with Cynder in pursuit.
Few minutes later, the two dragons run through the dark woods then nine Death Hounds surround them from out of nowhere. Aristotle then blows out electricity at four Death Hounds. The five Death Hounds charges at Cynder to attack her but the black dragon then dives into the ground with a dark aura around her then sprang out as dark aura flung the Death Hounds into the air and Cynder attacks them with her melee skills. The Death Hounds were defeated and the two continues on. They stop near a bank and see two ships in the poisonous water. They also saw many pirates around on land guarded.
Cynder looks at Aristotle with worry, "Now what? There's no way we can't defeat that many..."
"Maybe not, but we can't lead some away from there and then try to get on one of those ships." Aristotle told her. "You use that Shadow Strike to get past them and attack by surprise while I'll try to get the rest. Once you attack them, the pirates will surely come out then you use the poison element on them to get rid them and distract them as well."
"Alright..." Cynder nodded then dives into her own shadow, moving slowly in the ground towards the first five pirates and strike out from the darkness with her shadow empowered claws at them.
The pirates see Cynder and charges at her to attack her. Unknown to them, Aristotle secretly jumps over to the ship, throwing most of the pirates into the poisonous water along the way towards the ships. Three big pirates, the Captains snarl then charge at Cynder with their swords. The black dragon smirks with no worries then unleash her element, poison by spinning into the Captains while covered in lethal poison, cutting into her enemies with her deadly payload of venom. The Captains groan with great pain and agony then collapse on the ground slowly dying as the poison kills them.
"So far, so good..." Cynder muttered. Another pirate charges at her, but she swiftly knocks the pirate into the poisonous pit before he could hit her. "Nice try!"
Unknown to her, another was carrying a big gun, a sleeping knock-out gun. The pirate aims at Cynder.
At the same time, the yellow dragon was already near the ships. Aristotle quickly hid behind the crates when he sees five guards at the entrance, "Perfect! ...First I'll take care of these goons then I'll call Cynder to come over once I-" he looks back to where Cynder then spots the pirate holding a gun at Cynder without her knowing it. "Cynder heads up!"
Cynder looks back, but it was too late. The pirate fires a sleeping dart at Cynder, making the black dragon feel sleepy then collapse on ground.
"Arr! We've got it!" One the pirate shouted.
"I bet this one will make a great fighter in the tournament!"
"Whatever... Let's just take this one on broad and head back to Skabb! He's probably getting irritated about us not getting back in time..."
The pirates tied Cynder's wings and legs up with the rope to make she won't escape when she wakes up and take her inside the ship. Aristotle watches the scene then quickly, but secretly gets on the ship before anyone saw him. The yellow dragon hid behind the crates and cages, waiting for the right chance and time to save Cynder and the prisoners...
