Keeping close to the bank of the silver river, Spyro ventured further and further into the forest, and further and further away from everything he knew. Along the way, he tried to conjure flames again. He found he could do it in short bursts if he concentrated hard. He stopped when he heard rustling in the trees above him. He thought of the two creatures he had seen yesterday, Silverchaos and Grimblade, and then he thought of Cynder, and began to walk much more carefully and quietly.

Though the sun was now high in the sky, it was still gloomy and misty in the marshlands. Spyro wondered how far he would have to venture to find Ignitus, if Ignitus was even alive. He could have gone further than the swamp, and he was currently walking away from him. No thought that came to him seemed good.

He became aware of a strange feeling, like he was being watched. He looked around, looking for any sign of life. He heard a branch shake, a twig snap, and a foot hit the ground, and panicked. He began to run forward but was ambushed by more of the strange, hairy creatures, who charged at him with blades aloft.

He managed to keep some away with a few bursts of flame, but he soon realised there were too many. He turned frantically on the spot, and, without meaning to, knocked about four of their feet with his tail.

"How about that?" he said aloud. Then, he became a whirlwind. Spinning and knocking his attackers in random directions. He was becoming dizzy, and knew he had to think of something new fast.

He stopped spinning, but his head didn't. He stood, trying to find his footing, when two jumped at him from either side. As if on instinct, he threw out both his wings and hit both of them squarely in the chest, knocking them back and heavily winding them.

Still surprised to find this hidden talent for combat, Spyro continued to fight away the remaining creatures.

Soon, they all lay around him, unconscious. He made to leave, but one of them stood up, and began to speak

"Is that the best you've..." he stopped dead when a rock hit him on the head, knocking him out like his comrades.

"That's enough chat," said a very familiar voice. Spyro looked up and saw Sparx hovering above the creature, very proud of himself.

"Sparx?!" said Spyro, "What are you doing here?"

"Been chatting with the old man," said Sparx, "And we both agree, us two belong together. I'm coming with you."

"You can't," said Spyro, "It's too dangerous."

"Who just saved your neck?" asked Sparx.

"I was doing perfectly fine by myself," retorted Spyro.

"Yeah, I was wondering about that. Where the heck did you learn to fight?" asked Sparx.

"I didn't," said Spyro, "I just sort of… figured it out."

"Well, you did a good job," said Sparx, "Now let's get out of here before they wake up."

"Good idea," said Spyro. Both of them began to move again, getting as far away from the creatures as they could.

"I think we've lost them!" said Sparx. Then, without warning, a familiar sounding screeching roar sounded from overhead.

"Oh no," said Spyro, "Cynder!"

Both of them ran as fast as they could. Spyro looked over his shoulder to see her swooping down at them, her yellow eyes full of rage.

"You're not getting away this time, boy!" she yelled at them. Spyro ran faster, and Sparx clutched his hands around Spyro's horns to keep up.

"Spyro, look!" said Sparx suddenly.

"What?" asked Spyro.

"There's a hole in the ground, she won't fit down there!" said Sparx.

"Will I?" said Spyro uncertainly. The hole was very small. He gave it a try anyway and found he could just about fit. As he crawled frantically down it, he could hear Cynder scraping at the Earth behind him, screaming in fury.

"She's going to...WAHH!" the ground gave away before Spyro could finish his sentence. He fell into an underground cave, landing heavily on the stone floor at the bottom.

"Ow!" he said quietly, his face screwed up in pain as he slowly got to his feet again.

"Who's there?" said a stern voice. Spyro and Sparx snapped to attention, their receding fear shooting back up again.

"I know you're there," said the voice, "Show yourself."

From around a corner emerged a creature that looked like Spyro and Cynder, except he was bright red, with orange wings, and also much stockier and older. His eyes were narrowed as he searched for the intruders.

"We're friends," said Spyro.

"That would depend," replied the creature, "Who exactly are you?"

"My name is Spyro," Spyro told the creature, "We're looking for someone named Ignitus."

"Well you've certainly come to the right place," replied the creature.

"What do you mean?" asked Spyro, emerging from the shadow and revealing himself. At the sight of him, the creature almost lost his footing in shock.

"Y-you're alive?!" he stammered, "But how? I was sure Cynder's forces would have found you."

"What are you talking about?" asked Spyro, "Do you know me?"

"Forgive me," said the creature, "I am Ignitus, and I've been searching for you for a long time. I thought you were dead."

"You're Ignitus?" asked Spyro, "Then that means you can tell me where I come from, what I am!"

"You don't know what you are?" asked Ignitus.

"Does it sound like he knows?" asked Sparx from Spyro's head.

"Don't mind him," said Spyro.

"Well, you are a dragon, of course, as am I," said Ignitus, "One of the last surviving members of our race."

"What happened to the others?" asked Spyro.

"To explain that, I'll need to start at the beginning," said Ignitus, "The very beginning.

You see, long ago, dragons were the protectors of this world, defending the peace when and where they could, and keeping the natural balance throughout every species everywhere.

But someone decided to test that peace, and our will to keep it."

"Who was that?" asked Spyro.

"He calls himself the Dark Master," said Ignitus, "And he waged war against us in an attempt to seize control of the world. I duelled him myself, and ended up victorious.

However, he was far from gone. He somehow found a way to communicate with his armies, and mounted another attempt to attack, and let's just say the second try was much more successful. He desecrated the dragon temple and drove us into hiding. Me, and the other guardians managed to hold back the armies.

That was until the arrival of Cynder Blackhart."

"I've met her," said Spyro, "She was the one who chased us down here."

"You mean she knows you're alive as well?" said Ignitus.

"Yes," said Spyro.

"Then, I'm afraid it's already too late," said Ignitus.

"Too late for what?" asked Spyro.

"Let me finish," said Ignitus, "When Cynder arrived in the heat of battle, it marked the end of our defence. She took the guardians one by one, leaving us weaker and weaker. Now, only I remain, and she still searches for me, and I've been in hiding ever since."

"So why am I so special?" asked Spyro.

"What colour are you?" asked Ignitus.

"Purple," said Spyro, "Why?"

"I doubt you will ever meet a dragon of the same colour," said Ignitus, "Purple dragons are so unimaginably rare that many consider them a myth. In fact, there have only ever been two in existence, counting yourself.

You see, dragons have always had the ability to control specific elements. Red dragons control fire, blue are ice, yellow is electricity, green is earth, and white is wind. What makes a purple dragon so special is the ability to control all five elements at once, making them one of the most powerful beings in existence."

"What?" said Sparx, "Spyro can't be that special."

"And if I am," said Spyro, "Why does it matter if Cynder knows about me?"

"Cynder is trained to use unnatural elements other dragons cannot use," said Ignitus, "And as you have had no previous training, you really don't stand a chance."

"Then teach me," said Spyro.

"I can't teach you nearly as much as you ought to know," said Ignitus.

"You can't tell me I'm your last hope, and then tell me there's nothing I can do," said Spyro, "Teach me what you know, I can help find the other guardians."

"That sounds like an idea," said Ignitus, "But it's too risky. Cynder will realise what we're up to in a heartbeat."

"Do what she did to you," said Spyro, "Make her weaker, one guardian at a time."

Ignitus looked at him for a second, half frustrated, half amused.

"You have a way with words, Spyro," said Ignitus, "I'm up for your idea."

"What? We're going to intentionally annoy that giant evil dragon-monster?!" said Sparx, "Are you two crazy?"

"You should know that by now, Sparx," said Spyro. Ignitus laughed.

"If we are to go through with this," said Ignitus, "We'll need to find a way back to the dragon temple."

"Wouldn't the dark master find us easily there?" asked Spyro.

"That's what he thinks we think, which means he won't look there," said Ignitus, "And even if he eventually does, I can activate some emergency defences that will keep the apes out."

"I'm guessing apes are those hairy things that keep attacking me," said Spyro.

"You'd be right," said Ignitus, "We'll rest here for a while, and leave for the dragon temple in the morning."

"What if Cynder comes back?" asked Sparx.

"She hasn't found me in 10 years, I doubt she'll find me now," said Ignitus.