On to Chapter 3 and the real action begins!

Disclaimer: This story has nothing to do with Eragon, How To Train Your Dragon, Dragon Booster or any other stories involving humans riding dragons. Also, I only own my OC's and nothing else.

So now… here we go!

Chapter 3: Battle for the Temple

As Troy and the dragons reached the back buildings leading to the Temple, another metal ball crashed down on the high podium and split apart, revealing three sinister Apes, two Small and one Medium. The Ape Leader spotted them and snarled, "The Purple Dragon, and the Dragon Rider."

"Hey, ugly ape guy," Sparx called out and then started hooting like a monkey. "Now that we've exchanged some pleasantries, can we fight? Or at least, you lot can fight and I'll watch."

Troy drew out his sword and turned to the dragons. "You ready, guys?"

"Always," Astral replied.

Spyro's body burst into flames as charged into one Small Ape, sending it flying back. Astral launched a Fire Stream at the other Small Ape, taking it out quickly.

"You got your powers back!" Troy gasped.

Before Astral could explain, another ball landed on the ground. As the dust settled, two vicious reptilian dogs ran toward the group, growling and baring their teeth.

"Death Hounds!" Astral gasped.

One Hound lowered its head and charged with incredible speed, knocking Spyro off his feet. Astral pounced onto its back and bit the back of its neck, killing it. The other Hound dived at Troy, its teeth bared. Troy quickly blocked the attack with his shield and then stabbed the Hound in the chest.

With an angry roar, the Ape Leader jumped down from the podium and threw a bluish orb at Troy's feet. Before he could react, the bomb exploded, trapping Troy in a layer of ice.

"Troy!" Astral cried, running to his side.

The Ape Leader swung its blade out, blocking the dragons' path. Desperately, Troy started to struggle in the ice until it finally shattered and he charged at the Ape Leader. Before he could swing his blade down, the Ape Leader spun quickly round, knocking Troy down with his sword. As Spyro charged at him, it jumped aside quickly and landed close by. Astral launched another Fire Stream at him, but he avoided her in the same way, throwing down another bomb that the dragons both dodged.

"It's no use," Troy grunted, getting painfully to his feet. "That guy's too fast for us."

"Not if we use this!" Spyro focused his power and suddenly the world around him slowed down, except for Astral and Troy.

"What the…?" Troy gasped. "How did you…?"

"No time to explain, literally." Astral launched into a Comet Dash and took out the Ape Leader just before time restored itself.

"Where did you learn to do that?" Troy asked. "And what was it anyway?"

"It's called Dragon Time.," Astral replied. "We learned it in our dreams. We'll tell you later." As Troy joined them, she saw that his arm was badly scratched. "You're hurt."

"I'll fix that," Troy said, placing a hand on the wound. "Curaga…" Then he removed his hand, uncovering a completely healed arm.

"How did you do that?" Spyro gasped.

"Like Astral said, later," Troy said, sheathing his sword. "Right now, we've got a Temple to save. Come on."

They entered the building and passed through to the other side. As they came out, Troy looked up to see the Dreadwings flying towards the Temple, but he also saw some dragons with humans on their backs flying towards the Dreadwings. Seconds later, a bomb blew open a wall next to them and some Apes charged out. But before they could even strike, a swarm of Jeweled Spiders pounced upon them and took them out. Troy and his friends ran past and set off again.

After several more attacks from Apes, Death Hounds and some of the nocturnal wildlife, they passed through a tunnel and found themselves on a cliff overlooking the Temple's balcony. They looked down and saw Ignitus, Cosmo and Troy's brother, Orion, battling an ever-increasing army of Apes. Watching the scene was an armoured figure on the back of a purple Dreadwing. Ignitus was keeping the Apes away with a series of blows and some Fire attacks. As an Ape tried to pounce on the Fire Guardian, Cosmo caught it with a Psychic Beam and flung it back into the armies. Orion was killing the approaching Apes with his sword, but still they kept coming.

"IGNITUS!" Spyro and Astral called down.

The Fire Guardian looked round and spotted the group. "Get down here, young ones," he shouted up. "We need your help."

Just then, some Apes tackled him to the ground. Cosmo and Orion turned to help, but the Apes held them back. Troy leapt onto Astral's back and they followed Spyro onto the balcony. As they landed, the armoured figure shouted to the armies in a muffled voice, "Focus your attention on the purple dragon and the Rider!"

The Apes immediately turned to the little group, leaving Ignitus panting on the floor. As Troy, Spyro and Astral tensed themselves for battle, the Fire Guardian stood up, focused his energy and unleashed a Fire Fury that knocked the Apes flying, but also broke some masonry down, cutting the group off from Ignitus and the others.

As the dust settled, several more Apes jumped onto the balcony and attacked them. Working together, Troy and the dragons were able to quickly defeat them. As they killed the last one, a screech made them turn round. They saw the Dreadwing hovering before them, the Assassin on its back.

"You're on your own with this one, guys," Sparx trembled.

"This one?" Astral asked. "How's that different from the last one?"

"Or the one before that?" Spyro added.

"PREPARE TO DIE!" the Assassin yelled incomprehensibly.

"What did he say?" Troy asked.

"He said something about preparing to die," Sparx replied confused. "Either that or he wants you to repair a pie… yeah, no… yeah."

With a loud shriek, the Dreadwing swooped down towards them, its claws raised. Troy ducked down, narrowly missing the attack, but Spyro wasn't so lucky. The Dreadwing grabbed him around the waist and then took off into the sky.

"Spyro!" Astral gasped.

"Quickly, let's get after him!" Troy yelled, leaping onto her back.

"Here we go again," Sparx sighed, grabbing onto Troy's shoulder.

Astral spread her wings and took off after the Assassin. They chased each other around the Temple's rooftops, swooping around the towers and the battling Riders, before Astral finally caught up with the Dreadwing. The monstrous beast turned its head and launched a blast of dark fire at them. Astral quickly went into a barrel-roll, avoiding the fire, then beat her wings harder, drawing alongside it. "Now, Troy!"

Pulling out his sword, Troy plunged it into the monster's leg. It screeched out in pain and released its grip on Spyro, allowing him to escape.

"Don't you dare hurt my beast!" the Assassin snapped.

"Why's he talking about burning his feast?" Sparx asked.

The Assassin drew out his own sword and swung it at Troy, who blocked it with his shield. Astral then pulled back from the Dreadwing and shot out a fireball, knocking the beast down.

The Assassin pulled his reins up, allowing the beast to recover. "You haven't seen the last of me!" he called out, before leading his Dreadwing away from the group.

"I'm just going to assume he said, it was great meeting you and have a nice day, in which case we thank you," Sparx misinterpreted.

Troy then looked around and saw the other Dreadwings flying after the Assassin. "The Apes are pulling out!" he called. "The Temple is safe."

"For now," Spyro muttered. "Thanks for the help back there."

"Not a problem," Astral replied. "Let's head back to Master Ignitus."

The group flew back to the balcony where Ignitus, Cosmo and Orion were waiting for them. "Is everyone alright?" Ignitus asked.

"Yes, Master Ignitus," Astral replied.

"Some wake up call, uh?" Orion sighed.

"Well, we were awake before the attack hit," Troy replied. "How did you get prepared so quickly?"

"I had a vision that the Temple would be invaded," Cosmo explained. "Ignitus was the one who ordered us to ready for battle. Good thing everyone listened, otherwise we would never had survived the invasion."

Then a look of concern crossed Ignitus's face. "Where's Cynder?"

Troy, Spyro and Astral cast sheepish glances between them, each one unable to decide who would break the news first…

Sometime later, Troy, Spyro and Astral met up with the other Guardians in the Grotto. Orion, Cosmo and some of the other Riders were there too. Once they had gathered, Troy had explained that Cynder had left to find her destiny in the world. Cosmo, Orion and the Guardians were saddened by the news, and eventually the others felt guilty about the cruel things they'd said to her. Ignitus then turned to the Pool of Visions, determined to see where she's going. That had been about an hour ago and nothing had come up.

Troy then came up to the Fire Guardian. "See anything, Ignitus?" he asked.

"No," the larger dragon sighed. "I can't see where Cynder has gone… just darkness."

"Wait a minute," Sparx murmured, scratching his antennae. "Cynder, darkness… aren't they the same thing?"

Troy turned to berate the dragonfly, but then Ignitus spoke up. "What's this? Something's coming into focus…" His scaly brows creased in confusion. "This is peculiar… I see you, Spyro and Astral, at the base of a great tree, amidst a lake of mist and gloom…"

"A tree?" Astral cried out. "I've seen that tree… in my dreams…"

"So have I," Spyro put in, before murmuring, "Only they usually feel more like nightmares…"

"You've seen it too?" Troy asked, before noticing the others looking crossly at him.

"Young Rider, you and your friends have been keeping secrets," Ignitus chided. "What is it you see, in these dreams of yours?"

"I'm sorry, Ignitus," Troy sighed.

"Me too," Spyro mumbled. "I thought they would go away…

"So did I," Astral admitted. "But they keep getting worse…"

"Relax, young ones," Ignitus said soothingly. "Think…"

Troy closed his eyes and struggled to remember. "I keep seeing…"

"A mountain draped in shadow," Spyro put in.

"A face of stone beneath two moons," Astral added.

"And darkness," Troy finished.

Botanica, a young Plant dragon, and Hydrus, a Water dragon, both gasped in horror. "The Mountain of Malefor!"

On cue, a burst of lightning flashed across the window and there was a loud crash of thunder. "Whoa," Sparx cried out. "Am I the only one who thought that was weird?"

"There was another dream," Astral said slowly. "Spyro and I had the same one, but it was more like we were seeing into the past and the future all at once…"

"And there was a voice, calling himself the Chronicler," Spyro added. "That's when we saw the tree…"

"Really?" Troy asked. "Because I also had another dream: I was in a place called the Hall of Rider Heroes and there was a human there called the Sentinel. I saw the tree then too."

"Impossible," Terrador grunted.

"I know," Sparx stammered, still thinking of the lightning strike. "There isn't even a storm…"

"The Chronicler?" Cyril asked, puzzled.

"What?" Sparx spluttered. "Don't encourage them!"

"I don't believe it either," Volteer agreed, equally perplexed. "I've not heard that name in ages…"

"Nor has anyone," said Ignitus. "But there is no way that Spyro and Astral could have known. This is… fascinating."

"Who is the Chronicler?" Troy asked. "And this Sentinel?"

"I'm not sure who the Sentinel is," Cosmo replied, "but the Chronicler is an ancient dragon of immeasurable wisdom… though I've only heard stories. In fact, I've had my doubts as to the legitimacy of the tales… yet now, I'm left to wonder…"

"As are we all," said Hurricos, a young Wind dragon. "But if it's true, then it's rather unsettling that the re-emergence of the Chronicler should coincide with an attack on the Temple, not to mention these other visions that Spyro, Troy and Astral are having…"

"Yes, very," Ignitus agreed. "Tales of the Chronicler are often interwoven with tales of doom."

"Oh goody," Sparx sighed exasperatedly. "I was afraid we might have to spend the rest of the night without any more doom."

The Guardians and the Riders then left the Grotto and went out onto the balcony, looking up at the predawn sky and at the moons still shining above.

"It was only a matter of time, Ignitus," Volteer said grimly. "We all felt it; a great evil is on the horizon…"

"Perhaps," Ignitus sighed. "But we mustn't rush to judgment… this evening has brought about many unexplained things."

"We may not have time, Ignitus," Cyril said darkly. "The Celestial Moons are almost at an eclipse, this we know for certain. We must prepare for the worst… the Night of Eternal Darkness draws nigh."

"If 'nigh' means soon, I'm outta here," Sparx piped up nervously.

"Your instincts, though faint of heart, are true," Terrador said gruffly. "We are no longer safe here. This recent attack is likely the first of many. The forces of the Ape King know of Troy and Spyro's existence and will not rest until they witness their demise…"

"'Demise'" Sparx mimicked Terrador's voice then giggled. "Hate to be either of you…" Then he realized the dragons were glaring at him crossly. "What? You guys need to lighten up."

"I'm afraid Terrador is right," Ignitus sighed. "As uncertain as things are, none of us can remain idle and… watch our worst fears unfold before us."

"Exactly," Sparx cried. "We need a good hiding place."

Ignitus turned to the other dragons and gave them orders. "Volteer, you and Cyril must go to the mainland to learn what news you can. Take Tesla and Botanica and their Riders to aide you. Hydrus, Banshee, you two will take your Riders across the islands and tell the inhabitants about the dangers. Terrador, you and Hurricos must make haste to the Shattered Vale and warn the inhabitants of that region that darkness is spreading in Malefor. Cosmo, Orion and I shall stay here and search for Cynder. These are dangerous times for a dragon to be wandering about…"

Spyro, Troy and Astral looked at each other with melancholy glances as Ignitus prayed, "May our Ancestors watch over us and keep us safe in these dark times."

"What should we do, Ignitus?" Spyro asked.

"Young dragon, you, Troy and Astral must travel by another path and seek out the tree from your dreams," the Fire Guardian replied. "If the stories of the Chronicler are true, there may be hope for us yet…"

"Good idea, Master," Astral spoke up. "And I think I know where to begin… Near where I went into hiding, there is an Ancient Grove within the forest at the end of the Silver River, a secret place untouched by civilization. The waters there are poisonous as well as the creatures who are nurtured by it, but we shouldn't encounter any real danger."

"Sounds a good place to start," Troy said. "Let's get ready to leave."

Soon the dragons, the Riders and the Guardians were ready to go. Astral was dressed in her Rider Steed armour and Troy had donned his armour and protective cloak. He climbed onto the saddle on Astral's back and she took to the air. The Riders climbed onto their steeds and were airborne too.

"Good luck, everyone," Cosmo called out.

"Orion, until I return, you're in charge of the Riders," Troy told his brother.

"I'll take care of them for you," Orion promised.

"Trust your instincts," Ignitus called up. "We shall be waiting for you here at the Temple, when your task is complete."

With a smile, Spyro, Sparx, Troy and Astral set off downstream, heading for the Grove, unaware that this would be the last they would see of their friends for quite a while…

I think that's a good place to end, don't you? Okay, my task for this story is choosing three more skills for Troy to learn from the Sentinel. Give me your ideas and I'll choose the best ones.

So next chapter, the group arrives at the Ancient Grove, where a surprise lies in store for them.

So until then…