T
The pair was in shock, looking at each other before staring at Elder Thomas again. "Are you sure?" Spyro asked as the blue dragon nodded. "Now then, you're here to learn how to destroy these Dark Gems, correct?" He said, showing them a ledge to the left that had a massive gem sitting in the way.
"So, does he head bang it until it shatters or something?" Sparx asked as Spyro sighed, rolling his eyes. "No Sparx, just horn diving into the gem from above should do it." Spyro glanced at the gem before using his wings to give him a boost to reach the gem that pulsed darkness.
He looked at the wise dragon. "Will this hurt?" Sparx snickered. "Who's the wuss now?" Spyro glared at him. "Not unless you miss it and hit the ground." Spyro used his wings to lift into the air, after a second, he flapped again to get higher.
Curling into a ball, Spyro spun around before diving down into the gem, causing it to smash from the direct force. The purple dragon staggered around, his eyes spinning around in his skull as a bruise formed just in front of his spikes. "Ow." Sparx struggled to keep a straight face but burst out when Spyro took a wrong step and fell off the ledge, face planting into the ground.
Another muffled 'ow' could be heard as he pulled his face free from the rubble and spat the dirt out, Sparx hovering beside him. "Nice print." Spyro frowned in confusion until Sparx pointed. "-I think the nose is a little flat though." Spyro had a sarcastic grin as his eyebrow twitched while a sweat drop rolled down his temple.
"Why I put up with you, I'll never know." A whistled from the opening above them caught their attention as they looked up. "I believe someone is waiting for you outside." Elder Thomas pointed out as Spyro made his way to the top, gliding out to see Hunter leaning against the wall.
"Hey, 'Sup Hunter?" Hunter looked at the pair before grinning half-heartedly. "Hey guys, I picked this spot to help you with your training." Spyro frowned. "Training? What kind of training?" He grinned his usual grin. "Well, either how to jump or glide properly depends how you want to beat Red." Sparx rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah, he just learned to horn dive, so he planned on flying high and head butting him until he passes out. Then I just poke him with a stick for an hour or two."
They both gave him sceptical looks before he shrugged. "Whatever, I wasn't being serious…..anymore..." Hunter frowned. "Dude, sometimes you scare me." Spyro grinned. "Now you know what I have to deal with." "HEY!" The two laughed as Hunter turned serious.
"By the way, I found out some info on Red's plan from eavesdropping on Gnorcs." Sparx blinked. "What did you find?" Hunter crossed his arms. "He's planning to take over this world with the dark gems and to fill it with darkness."
Spyro frowned while his claws dug into the dirt, making Sparx back away. "Not if we stop him." Hunter got out an arrow and drew back his bow, examining it. "Yeah but there's a rumour that he's looking for a girl." Sparx chuckled. "Aren't we all?" They glared at him. "What? Can't you take a joke?"
Hunter continued. "Anyway, apparently, she has two forms and looks similar to BC." Spyro frowned. "Elder Thomas said that the last shadow creature here resembled BC too, it's starting to worry me…" Sparx crossed his arms. "But you heard what the old geezer said! They're not the same creature!" Spyro looked at him. "But Red doesn't know that."
Cloudy Domain
BC and Tanya came across a platform in a cave with an open room. "I'm guessing this is it?" Tanya asked as BC glanced over at a bush, seeing something move. Glaring, she pounced into the bush and came out the other side with a green Gnorc pinned.
It whimpered as she growled before slashing at its chest, resulting in a brilliant flash of light. "Whoa, I didn't even see him!" Tanya blinked as BC boarded the craft and sat down. "Are you coming?" She nodded and flew over to her side just as the platform began to rise.
After a few minutes, BC looked down over the edge, developing a slight fear in her chest. "That's a long drop." She mumbled as the wind blew at her fur and wings, causing her claws to dig into the platform, stopping her from being blown off.
Tanya blinked. "Well, if Elder Titan can help you to fly or glide at least, then you won't have to worry about falling." The wind blew fiercely, causing her to cling to the fur on top of BC's head as they waited to reach the top. Tanya stiffened as her expression became hallow. "I mean, Spyro can glide and his wings are smaller than yours." BC looked up and frowned.
"We're the exact same height but different species; I don't think comparing our wings will change that fact." Tanya sighed. "Can you just listen? Your wings are longer and pretty strong; you could fly around the world if you wanted to. You're worried about upstaging the famous 'hero' aren't you?"
BC frowned. "What do you mean? Spyro is a hero and don't you forget it. I'm not worried about upstaging him at all, why are you suddenly talking like this?" BC asked as Tanya's blank expression vanished. "I…I dunno, maybe I'm coming down with something?" She rubbed her head as the platform reached the Cloudy Domain. BC walked ahead, than noticed some chickens in a pen running around, startled by her presence.
"Whoa, I've never seen animals react to you like that before." Tanya mused as Black Cat just walked past them, jumping to the next platform and continuing towards the next building. Tanya frowned as she flew after her friend.
"Hey, um, Black Cat?" Tanya asked as BC landed on the next platform before looking over her shoulder with a curious expression. "What's wrong? Are you getting tired?" She asked as Tanya hovered beside her. "What do you think will happen?"
She fumbled with her hands as BC stared at her with a slightly confused and surprised look. "Tanya, you need to be more pacific. Is there something about this that bothers you?" Tanya flew so she was eye level with BC.
"I talked with Elder Astor a while back." She started, looking at her friend. "About the Dragon History and he told me about the creatures the fallen Dragon elder lost control of." BC grinned. "That one of them was a winged panther like me?" She nodded. "What if that nut thinks you're that same winged panther?"
BC flexed her wings. "Don't worry, if he somehow manages to catch me, he'll try reading my mind and find that I have no memory of then. Therefore, he'll realise his mistake and just try to use us as bait for Spyro. That's nothing to stress about Tanya, is that why you've been acting odd lately?"
Tanya rolled her eyes. "I still think you're not taking this seriously enough! You don't know what Red wants with that escaped shadow creature, he might try on you and you might end up killed and I'll be stuck alone!" She realised the last bit she said and froze but BC used her right wing to gently pull Tanya into a hug.
"Don't worry about that, I'll never let anything happen, we'll always be together so never think you're alone." Tanya grinned as BC smirked before nodding towards the building up ahead. "Now, let's go to that old geezers hut and hear what he has to say."
Tanya laughed as she followed BC over to the small structure and went inside. An elderly yellow dragon leaned against the symbolic Elder's staff, shaking from age as the two approached him.
"Hello Titan!" BC greeted, not sure if he could hear properly. "What's the nickname for? I ain't mellow!" He then noticed the winged panther and purple dragonfly. "Oh, Black Cat, I was wondering when you'd arrive! Now, if rumours are true that you're fighting Red, than Spyro's going to really need your help."
BC spoke up. "What did you need to teach me?" He frowned. "Oh nothing, my knee's fine but you're here to learn how to fly." BC blinked while the two tried to keep a straight face. Then BC realised what he said wasn't a joke.
"But I can't even glide! How can I fly?" She asked, sitting down as Titan took a deep breath. "Sliding has nothing to do with gliding or flying! Pay attention! Young kids these days…Now, you're going to go to the area set up outside and practice gliding.
Basically, lift your wings like this," He raised his wings high above him. "-then flick them down to give yourself a lift." He did and created a small breeze that almost blew Tanya away. BC blinked awkwardly as she followed Tanya outside to the fence area.
"I'm not sure this is such a good idea…" Tanya turned around and sighed. "Come on! You won't fall or anything! Just try it at least!" Black Cat sighed before shaking her wings and taking a deep breath. Stretching her wings out, they made an impressive flap sound, similar to a sail filling with wind quickly.
BC lifted her wings up to point at the sky as she let out a deep breath and flicked her wings down but created a powerful gust that threw her into the air. Giving a surprise yell, she started to panic.
Tanya flew in her view. "BC! Relax and stretch your wings out!" Black Cat did as she was instructed, causing the wind to catch and slow her fall, resulting in a soft float as she flapped her wings once, maintaining her place in the air.
"Oh my flipping god." Tanya was laughing in shock as BC slowly came down, touching the metallic ground. Tanya flew around her head a few times. "Oh my god! You actually maintained flight for a few seconds!" She looked back at the entrance they came from.
"Let's glide over there!" BC smirked. "Right on." She pushed off and flapped her wings, gliding into the entrance and walking around to Titan. "Hey, she learned to glide!" Titan blinked. "I said glide not guide!" BC sighed before gliding around the room.
"My damn hearing's going again. Now then, flying is a lot like gliding but before you reach the ground, flap your wings to lift yourself into the air. You shouldn't tire for a long time." Tanya frowned as BC was checking out her wings.
"Why's that?" Titan grinned. "Winged panthers have extremely powerful wings and plenty of muscle! If you start practicing now, you should be able to be an excellent flyer!" BC blinked. "So why can't Spyro fly?" Titan chuckled.
"Between you and me, he already can but he has a fear of heights." Their eyes went wide. "You can't be serious? Spyro's afraid of heights? I never would've picked it." The two said at the exact same time before staring at each other.
"Okay, well, thank you Elder Titan but we have to go now." He nodded. "Tell Spyro to grow some balls-" The two made gross protests about not wanting to hear about 'guy stuff' before taking off. BC skidded to a stop before facing Titan.
"Before I go, can I ask one last question?" BC asked. "Shoot." "Is it possible for me to learn an elemental breath?" He blinked as Tanya hovered beside her. "Well…I've never heard of a winged panther with elemental powers…but that doesn't mean it's not possible…if I were you, I'd talk to a fairy."
The two looked at each other before thanking the elder and leaving. Standing on the platform, BC kicked off and flew to the platform that would take them to ground level. "I just don't want to get tired and fall." She explained when she noticed Tanya's questioning glance.
End Chapter 3
