Chapter 4: Evil Awakening

One fine morning, Collette was mixing some potions in her room. Her eyes scowled with concentration as she tried adding a blue potion into a bottle of red potion. She gingerly dropped three drops into it.

"Just a little more…okay, that should do it," she said happily.

The potion fizzled and became crystal clear. She placed it on a Bunsen burner and went back to doing some paperwork. At that time, Cynder came in.

"Can I help you my queen?' the vixen asked while lifting her head to face Cynder.

"Oh nothing, I was just…checking on things and so on," Cynder muttered.

"Uh…huh," Collette said, not believing what Cynder had just said.

Cynder smelled an aroma of lavender coming from the boiling potion and she went closer to take a look at the bubbling liquid.

"What are you making?" she asked.

"Just a little something for my furry little problem. During this time of year, my fur will shed and that always leaves a mess in my office. So I thought I came up with a concoction that can help stop my fur from falling," Collette explained while grabbing a handful of her neck fur to prove her point.

"So how can this help?" Cynder asked some more.

"It helps strengthen my fur and that prevents it from falling off. All vixen sorceresses must know how to make such a potion," Colette said.

Cynder stared at the liquid again and shrugged.

"Well, that figures," she said.

Cinder took some time admiring her Prime Minister's office. It looked like a typical witch's room, always full of mystic tomes, a skull with a candle on it, a bird stand for her pet crow and a whole lot of materials and apparatuses for potion-making and alchemy. The vixens of Avalar were pretty well known for their alchemical skills and many of them do a good business in selling potions that actually work (unlike placebos made by humans). However, they also had a nasty reputation for seducing males of all species. The dragoness had even seen hybrids because the vixens mated with species besides their own.

"Anything here that I can interest you in? Maybe you would like a potion to make yourself look more beautiful," Collette offered.

"No thanks, I'm happy with my looks," Cynder replied with a fake smile.

"Suit yourself," the vixen shrugged and went back to work.

Cynder sat down on a fluffy chair and tried relaxing a bit. The real reason she was here was to see if the vixen was up to anything. So far, she saw nothing suspicious and Cynder had to admit that Collette was rather smart and patient. She could even be masking he true self, waiting to strike.

"Or, you're just jealous because I look good," Collette said without lifting her head.

The answer took Cynder by surprise and nearly fell off.

"How'd you know what I was thinking?" she asked.

"I'm telepathic," Collette answered.

She put down her quill pen and walked to the potion that was done boiling. She turned off the burner and let the potion cool down.

"I knew what you were thinking ever since you entered my office. No, I'm not working with the Black Dawn just because I know a lot about them. I dedicated to serving the realms and that is all I have in mind. I do like your husband but I'm not going so far as to take him away from you so don't you worry. Besides, Spyro is solely dedicated to you and he won't simply leave for anyone attractive," the vixen said while stirring the now light blue potion.

"How can I trust you? I heard vixen sorceresses always have evil intentions," Cynder said.

"Ah, how naïve can you get my queen? Those are vixens who desire lust but I come from a noble family with good upbringing. Compared to my 'uneducated' sisters, I uphold moral," Collette said.

"I thought you were one of them," Cynder muttered through the side of her mouth.

Well, it was true that Collette came from an elite family and her parents were well-known archmages but Cynder wasn't sure for the 'uneducated' part. For all she knows, Collette was just as bad as the other so-called uneducated ones.

"Well, my queen, anything else I can entertain you with?" Collette asked kindly.

"Nothing much around here I guess. However, that doesn't mean I'm not keeping my eye on you. If you dare seduce Spyro I'll make sure that you'll be my lunch," Cynder growled.

"Rest easy, I have no such intention," she said.

Once Cynder left, the vixen took the potion and drank it all down. After a while, she pulled on her fur and nodded her head in satisfaction when no fur was present in her grasp.

"Well I'll be, it works like a charm," she smiled.

Suddenly, she heard a noise behind her and quickly brandished her crystal sword. Turning around, she saw the leader of the Wolf clan leaning against the bookshelf with arms crossed. In his mouth was a cigar.

"Wolfenstein," she muttered.

"Hello sweetheart, I thought you predicted my presence," the wolf said darkly.

"Not if I'm distracted. What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Oh, I'm just here to ask for a few things here and there. I hope you won't mind," Wolfenstein said.

"You're going to far this time, Wolfenstein. I won't allow you to continue with the Resurrection Ceremony. You've tricked me all along and I realized it," Collette growled and pointed her sword at his neck.

The wolf just gave a dry laugh and used the cigar to burn Collette's sword arm. She winced in pain but her hand didn't fall.

"Well, you're of no use to me anymore anyway. I already know my trickery won't get far so I thought I made a last attempt. Just cooperate and maybe I'll let you live. Where is the Ceremonial Dagger?" he asked.

"I'm not telling you a thing. I've betrayed my King by helping you in your devious plan just because you said you loved me. No more of that though. From now on, I devote my loyalty to the King and Queen," she snarled maliciously.

Wolfenstein just laughed and brandished his sword.

"You're cute when you're angry but too bad you're not my type," he said.

Wolfenstein slashed at her but Collette ducked and avoided the slash. She stabbed at him but the wolf sidestepped and kicked at her. The vixen brought up her blade and blocked the kick but it was strong enough to send her flying sliding backwards.

"Luckily I'm wearing a suit of armor underneath my robe," she thought.

Wolfenstein dashed at her with his blade glowing blue. With a mighty vertical slash, he cut down on her and broke her guard. Collette let out a cry of pain as she crashed to the ground and slid backwards, banging into her desk. Wolfenstein stood before her and stabbed the sword into the ground near her chest.

"Tell me where the dagger is. Argus isn't going to be pleased if he finds out that the dagger is not in his grasp," he said.

"Too bad for you and your friend because I'm not saying a word," Collette said.

"Then I'll enjoy slitting your throat," Wolfenstein muttered.

"Go ahead then," she muttered and stretched out her neck for Wolfenstein.

Wolfenstein raised his sword and tried to cut her but he couldn't find the will to cut her. He bared his teeth and kept his sword.

"You won this time because you know I wouldn't dare hurt you but mark my words, Collette Spellcrow, you'll never be that lucky if we meet again," the wolf said and leapt out a nearby window.

Collette let out a sigh of relief and got up from the ground. Her robe was slightly tattered but she was okay besides the cigar burn and injured arm. She wasn't built for sword fighting so Wolfenstein could easily beat her. Collette quickly healed herself with some healing spells but it would take a few hours to completely heal. For now, she just let it be.

The next morning, Collette was visited by Spyro after someone tipped him off of the attack.

"Collette, tell me the truth. Did Wolfenstein attack you?" he asked.

"My Lord, I have nothing to hide. Wolfenstein did not attack me, it was a bandit from Black Dawn," she lied.

"Are you sure? Someone said that Wolfenstein's voice was present in your office. You have nothing to fear if your life is in danger, we have guards that can protect you," Spyro said with concern.

"No…I don't want to burden you my Lord. I can take care of myself," she said.

Spyro gave up trying to persuade her so he shrugged.

"Very well but if you need me…I'll help you in any way I can," he said.

"Thank you my Lord," the vixen said.

At the throne room, Spyro was examining the chalice again after what the bandit leader had said. He tried scrapping the chalice to see if it had been painted on but the color refused to come off. He tried burning it but the chalice was resistant to fire.

"Perhaps there maybe another chalice," he muttered.

Suddenly, he felt drowsy and dozed off. No one was in the throne room so there was no commotion. Spyro found himself in the Chronicler's room and a smile appeared over his face. It has been a long time since Ignitus called for him. Out from the darkness, Ignitus came and greeted Spyro.

"You've grown a lot, Spyro the Dragon," Ignitus said smilingly.

"Ignitus, it's great to see you again!" Spyro said happily.

"Likewise Spyro, likewise. I'm sure facing a crisis, am I not right?" Ignitus asked.

"Yes and I'm not sure if the chalice is helping. I kept on dreaming of a chalice that looked like the Silver Chalice but it was said to have the power to revive anyone," Spyro said.

"It will if it is filled with the right ingredients. You see, what the chalice has been showing you were glimpses of the things it can do. It does have magical properties and only a skilled magic user can use it during the Resurrection Ceremony. Your dream of Malefor reaching the chalice is a bad omen indeed for it represents Malefor getting closer to resurrecting again," Ignitus said.

"How much longer?' Spyro panicked.

"I give about 5 months during the planetary alignment. While humans might enjoy watching such a thing unfold, others may use it for…certain purposes," Ignitus said.

"What do you mean?' Spyro asked some more.

"The Black Dawn, Spyro, the cult group who worships Malefor. The members are determined in resurrecting Malefor and they are trying to step up their efforts. Be on your guard, Spyro, for the lives of your family and ministers are in danger. If the realms fall into a war again, no doubt the humans will enter the war because of the effects. Malefor may not spare the humans of he rises," Ignitus warned.

"What should I do?" Spyro asked.

"You find a way to protect your family and the chalice," was all Ignitus said before he was thrown back to the real world.

Spyro awoke on his throne and looked at the chalice. It no longer was cold but it radiated some heat, as if it were alive. Spyro scowled and stowed it into his inventory and left the throne room, deep in thought. Just as he entered the courtyard, he heard Cynder scream.

"Oh no, don't tell me it has already happened," he muttered in horror.

He panted as he ran towards the location where the scream came from. He reached the base of a tower and to his horror, he saw Cynder lying on the ground with a sword stuck to her belly. A pool of blood surrounded her and she was gasping for air. Beside her was a guard with his helmet off, revealing an ape with a diabolic grin on his face.

"Hello purple boy, do you know who I am?" the ape asked darkly.

Spyro gasped in horror as an image flashed through his mind. This ape looked exactly like Gaul and just as crazy as well.

"Are you Gaul,' he asked.

"No but I'm Gaul's son, Argus. You might think you've destroyed my father's ambition but I'm sure you didn't count on his son in continuing it," Argus said.

"I never had the impression he had a son," Spyro muttered.

"That is why I have the advantage of surprise. Now if you don't mind, I'm here for your blood," Argus growled and pointed a gun at him.

Collette reached just in time and she gasped in horror as she saw Cynder hurt. She quickly ran up to Cynder and inspected her wounds. Argus eyed her for a moment and turned his attention back to Spyro, his thumb pulling back the firing pin.

"I'll deal with her when I'm done with you. Hopefully you've prayed to your ancestors before this because you're never getting such a chance again," Argus smiled darkly and his finger hovered on the trigger.

"You evil primate," Collette growled angrily and revealed her claws.

Her eyes glowed red and she bared her fangs.

"Collette…" Spyro muttered.

Argus smiled and fired the gun at Spyro.

A/N: Now this is a whole new meaning of evil.