Well this chapter is the "real" beginning of New Frontier. The first few chapters were actually just some background, since I'm pretty much completely departing from the original timeline, and I thought that I should explain what had happened (new ending to TEN, Spyro and Cynder getting back to the Temple, Malefor's darkness is still in Spyro but it's weakened). Anyway, there's my rant for now, on with the show!

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Chapter 4: A Midnight Stroll

Spyro walked down the forest trail, lost in thought. He stopped and looked up as something overhead caught his attention. He saw the silhouette of a large bat gliding across the night sky. He shook his head and continued walking. "I should probably get back and try to get some sleep. Tomorrow's going to be hard enough if I'm not half asleep." He sighed and was about to continue down the path when a high, ghostly wail reached his ears.

"Dreadwings!" the purple dragon muttered, glancing skyward to see about a dozen of the batlike creatures winging their way towards the village. Judging by the telltale humps on their backs, each one had at least one ape riding it. That was no scout party, there were too many troops for that. I have to warn someone! Spyro turned and began to run towards the village, but he had only gone a few steps when he heard flapping wings and a loud thud as one of them landed behind him. He let out a growl and was about to turn and face his attacker, when he heard a familiar voice…a voice that filled him with dread.

"We meet again, dragon."

Spyro whirled around, but the defiance in his face had been replaced with pure terror. "No, it can't be. You're dead!"

With a savage grin on his face Gaul dismounted and stood over the young dragon. His arm was missing, but he was very much alive. The giant ape laughed as he drew his large scimitar and stepped forward, raising his sword over his head. Spyro could only watch, rooted to the spot as the blade flashed down.

"Aaaaagh!" Spyro woke up in his bed in the temple, breathing heavily. Just a dream, it was just a dream. In the four months since he had returned to the Temple, Spyro had been having nightmares often enough, usually involving Gaul in some way or another. Still, something about this one was different: it had been too vivid, too real…

"Could you keep it down?" Sparx snapped from across the room. "Some of us are trying to sleep."

"Sorry, Sparx," Spyro looked out the window and saw that it was still the middle of the night. "Just another nightmare. I'm going to get some air. Don't wait up, ok?"

"Yeah, yeah," the dragonfly grumbled, rolling over to go back to sleep. "I finally get used to the idea of Cynder not trying to kill me, and now he's yelling loud enough to wake the dead."

"Waking the dead is just what I'm afraid of," Spyro whispered as he walked out the door and into the moonlit hallway. He glanced down and saw a patch of black over his forearm. The dragon paused and focused for a moment, and the scales changed back to their normal purple color. The residual dark energy was something else from his last adventure that he could live without. Spyro walked down the hallway to the balcony overlooking the forest.

He had been standing there for a little while, just staring up at the stars, when a voice from behind caused him to turn around.

"A little late to be up and about, isn't it?" Ignitus asked by way of a greeting.

"Just getting some fresh air."

The two just stood side by side for a while, neither one breaking the silence.

Spyro was lost in thought, clearly uncomfortable about something. Was it really only two weeks ago?

[flashback ripple effect]

A blast of flame, and the last of the target dummies went down.

"Good work, Spyro," Ignitus congratulated his protégé. "It seems that your fire has recovered well. Now, are you ready to try your Fury again?" The Elder dragon held offered Spyro a handful of glowing purple gemstones.

The purple dragon took the gems and absorbed their energy, feeling the power surge through him. He moved to the center of the training room as Ignitus activated the energy barrier to keep Spyro's attack from spreading too far. Spyro looked around the room, seeing that Cynder and Terrador had taken a break from their training session and were watching from the doorway. The purple dragon smiled and then focused his energy, building up the power inside him to max before releasing it the Fury wave. Suddenly, Spyro's eyes snapped open, and an expression of panic spread over his face. His power was surging out of control, and tendrils of shadow were staring to weave around him, mingling with the fire and turning the flames black. Spyro blacked out as the dark fire exploded around him, striking the barrier and trying to batter its way through as Ignitus poured more energy into the shield and Terrador moved to cover Cynder from the blast.

Spyro slowly woke up to find Ignitus standing over him, an inscrutable look on face. Groaning, he stood up. "What happened?"

"We were hoping that you could tell us," Terrador answered.

Spyro looked over at and saw the Earth Guardian standing nearby with Cynder next to him. The dragoness' expression told Spyro that something terrifying had just taken place, but…

"I don't know. I was charging my Fury when the energy got away from me, then everything went black. That's never happened before; even the first time I used Fury I didn't pass out."

"The first time you used your Fire Fury perhaps," Ignitus prompted, "but that was not Fire Fury."

"It was a Dark Fury," Cynder broke in.

Terrador looked down at her. "How can you be sure?"

"Because I used to be able to use that technique. I probably still could if I had the power."

"Spyro," Ignitus' voice was now accusing, "where did you learn to use that power?"

"Better yet," Terrador demanded, "where did you get enough dark energy to produce it?"

Spyro hung his head. "I don't know how to use Dark Fury, it was an accident. But the power came from Malefor."

"What?!" Both Guardians were shocked.

"When I was in the Well of Souls fighting Gaul, Malefor's power got into me. He was almost able to take over, and I nearly killed Sparx and Cynder. Cynder helped me break free, but some of the darkness stayed with me. I thought that it had faded by now, but…"

"But it obviously has not!" Spyro flinched at his mentor's furious yell. "You kept this, of all things, secret from us?! Do you have any idea the danger you put us in? You may as well have brought Malefor himself here!"

"You have no right to lecture me about secrets!" the purple dragon screamed back. "Cynder! Malefor! The Chronicler! When have you ever told me anything that I didn't need to know so I could go out and fight your war for you! I don't even know who my parents are!"

"Don't you dare yell at me, child!"

"No! Enough of this! All of your secrecy, your cryptic answers, why do you insist on keeping me in the dark about everything?!" Spyro stormed out of the chamber, seething.

[end flashback]

In the two weeks since then, the two had been avoiding each other whenever they could, and barely acknowledging each other's presence when they had to meet. Spyro's training had been stopped completely. Although the others had done their best to reconcile the pair, everyone knew that it would be up to Spyro and Ignitus to mend the rift themselves.

Good a time as any, Spyro mused, it certainly isn't going to get any easier.

"Ignitus, about what I said," the drake started, before the red dragon cut him off.

"I'm sorry."

"What?"

"I'm sorry, Spyro. I overreacted. I know that it's no excuse, but when I found out what had happened, I was frightened. I didn't want to lose you like I lost Malefor. Can you forgive me?"

"I should be asking you that. I said some terrible things. Even worse, at the time I meant them. But I was wrong; you kept those things from me to protect me. I would never have been able to fight Cynder like I did if I had known, and when I learned about Malefor, that he was also a purple dragon, it scared me."

"Spyro, of course I forgive you. You're like a son to me. And you were right, I haven't told you much about anything. Especially some things that you have every right to know."

The two sat in silence for a moment, but this time there was no tension. They were merely savoring the relief that their friendship had been saved. Eventually, Spyro broke the silence. "Ignitus, did you know my parents?"

"Yes," the Elder did not seem surprised by the question. If anything he had been expecting it. "Your father, Darius, was a close friend of mine. In fact, next to Terrador he was probably my best friend."

Spyro looked up when Ignitus did not continue, and saw tears in the elder dragon's eyes. "What happened to him?"

"The night Gaul's men attacked the Temple, he was one of the warriors who met them in battle. He took my place on the front lines so that I could get your egg to safety. I told him to save himself, that it was the Elders' duty to guard the Temple and the eggs, but he would not abandon you. He said that you were not just the purple dragon, you were his child, and it was his duty as a father to defend you. I returned in time to see Gaul cut him down. In all the time it took me to get your egg to the river and return, he had not moved from the gate. He fell amid a mountain of enemies, a smile on his face that he had died protecting you." Tears were now streaming down Ignitus' face. "That is why I was so glad to see you alive. I t meant that Darius' sacrifice was not in vain, that he had protected his son to his last breath, and died a warrior and a hero."

Spyro was silent. Truthfully, he was more moved by Ignitus' tears than by the story he had just been told. "It's strange," he said at last, "I finally know who my father was, but it's just a name. It doesn't have any meaning to me, even though I know it should. The first father I ever knew was Flash. Still, even though he raised me, I think that if I had to pick one person who that word makes me think of, it would be you, Ignitus."

"I suppose that I'm flattered," the Fire Guardian replied. "You know, you may have never met him, but yet you remind me so much of Darius. Your quiet strength, your courage, your compassion for everyone that you meet. I'm glad to see that his legacy lives on through the son that he never met."

"Ignitus, what about my mother? Did you know her as well? Is she still alive somewhere?"

"I only know that her name was Aseera. Other than that, I cannot say."

At that moment, Spyro yawned loudly, and Ignitus chuckled.

"Well, I suggest that you get some rest. You have a busy day tomorrow."

"What do you mean?"

"You have two weeks' worth of training to make up; this war of mine isn't over yet, and I need you able to fight it."

"Ha, ha," Spyro laughed ironically as he went back inside and to his room.

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Off to a slow start, I know, but I thought that some character development was in order. Also, the whole thing about Spyro getting mad at how the Elders never tell him anything, that's something I get miffed at in all of these 'Chosen One' stories, but somehow it just seems to be worse than usual in the Spyro stories. Maybe that's just me though.

Oh yeah, Spyro's father: made that bit up myself, so don't bother trying to look it up.

Expecting a little action next chapter, and will probably be introducing some of my OC's (ominous music). You've been warned.