Chapter Four: Shadow Forest

(Eighteen days prior to Spyro's death)

"Spyro, land just outside of the forest we're passing over." Hunter ordered as Spyro followed the Cheetah warrior's instructions.

"Where are we?" Spyro simply asked as Hunter examined the outside of the forest.

"This is the forest where I traveled to a short time ago, Shadow Forest, a place where the souls of lost idols reside and wander." Hunter's words chilled Spyro as he observed in awe at the forest's darkened color.

"I sense dark entities inside there, why did you want to show me this?" Spyro said as he looked towards Hunter.

"Enter the forest Spyro, you will learn soon enough," Hunter ordered as Spyro carefully walked into the darkened interior of the forest. "Don't fear the darkened surroundings; your heart will guide you where you need to go."

"Wait, Hunter—" Spyro was cut short of his sentence by a seemingly unlimited source of vines and tree limbs which blocked away the outside surroundings of the forest. Spyro stood completely motionless, unsure of what to do as his eyes adjusted to the darkness.

"Suddenly, I feel so weak," Spyro said to himself as he stammered. "Hello, is anyone there?"

"Do not reach for the darker sides of the forest my son," Spyro was startled when he saw the glowing spirit f Malefor standing before him. "My fallen warrior will overpower up in the moment's time, follow me young one."

"Why did you choose to search for darkness?" Spyro couldn't think of anything else to say as Malefor turned towards him.

The spirit paused for a brief moment and finally said, "Another time, right now you must train." Spyro knew he would have to wait for his question to be answered as he reluctantly followed his father's spirit, passing dark entities as they went.

"Where are we going?" Spyro asked, now at his father's side.

"To the only safe place in this forsaken forest," Malefor said, his voice was smoother and gentle than before his darker entity as it seemed to flow through the wind. "I corrupted the forest once a long time ago, I wish I never done such a thing. Now, every waking second of every day I am shown images of the dead which have been placed here for punishment, it is my punishment to bear as well."

"How did you return last time and how can you be my father, you've been on this earth for thousands of years." Spyro asked, demanding that his questions be answered.

'I returned last time through a forgotten spell I managed to cast just before I was trapped in the core," Malefor said as he stood in an open section of the forest. "I hoped the spell had enough time to take effect as it did. The spell had a price to pay, to kill another purple dragon so that I may live forever, you. When I failed however I was only able to appear in spirit form to a place of my fitting, here." A long pause settled before Malefor continued his speech.

"When I was banned to the Well of Souls, I managed to make a deal with our ancestors to give me another chance of life, to raise a family and start with a clean slate. I met your mother, Starflare; I loved her more than anything. We had an egg; it was purple as was our most precious gem… Then I felt the Dark Magic boil in my veins once more as I searched for its source, I found it. I believe the rest you've learned from Cripyro." Spyro allowed the information to soak in as he stood next to his father's spirit in silence.

"Tell me what I must do." Spyro demanded as he was ready to train side to side with his father.

"First, we test your adaptation to your hearing," Malefor said as he vanished into thin air, causing the forest to return to total darkness. "Concentrate your hearing on the slightest sound, any sound you concentrate on will sound as though it is right next to you. Listen for the Bowman Orc to hone in on and finish him."

Spyro closed his eyes and began to fall into a deep state of concentration. The sound of the wind rustling trees, the occasional moan or scream from the forest of souls, and the sound of his own breathing ceased to draw his attention as everything began to mute around him. Suddenly, a disturbing rustling sound behind him caught his attention behind him as his eyes burst wide open.

"Behind you, move!" Spyro's mind roared as he moved to the left and spun around, just avoiding the pestilent arrow fired from the Bowman Orc. Spyro fired a bolt of electricity from his mouth which disintegrated the Bowman Orc into ash.

"That's good my son, you haven't slowed one bit," Malefor said in Spyro's mind, causing Spyro to smile as he never once complimented by his real father. "Now, hone in on the group of Bowman Orcs and finish them before they have a chance to attack!" Spyro didn't hesitate.

"Spyro, can you believe this is happening?" Spyro thought as he focused on the darkness around him while honing in on the Bowman Orcs. Spyro used his sense of smell and hearing to accurately track two Bowman Orcs from his front and behind approaching him slowly. Pouncing forward, Spyro pinned the Bowman to the ground in the darkness and kept the warrior pinned down.

"Aim for the throat or abdomen," Malefor's voice rang in Spyro's mind as he glared into the dull red eyes of the forgotten warrior. "Critical bleed out areas are a prime source if wanting to finish off an enemy quickly and/or silently." Spyro drove his tail blade into the Bowman Orc's abdomen while sinking his teeth into its throat. The blood tasted sourly bitter in Spyro's mouth as he ripped his teeth and tail blade away, causing the Bowman to gurgle before dying.

"You are actually being taught by your father," Thought Spyro as he repeated the same process with the Bowman Orc behind him. "This feels… right."

"Now tell me my son," Malefor said as he reappeared, causing all the surroundings to be illuminated again. "What was the question you wanted to ask me before?

Spyro felt a knot build up in his throat as he barely managed to squeeze out his question again, "Why did you search for Dark Magic?" Malefor's smile faded quickly as it came as he stared at his son with his dark purple eyes.

"The power is unimaginable as you know," Malefor began as he explained his dark origin. "I search for a very long time for it because I wanted to be the most powerful dragon imaginable. I located the last remaining Dark Magic crystal still intact from the Dark Days War in the whole region. My only reason was to become more powerful than Cripyro herself, and to rule this world as my own, to have things go my way for once. Now, shall we conclude this training within the hour?"

"Yes father." Spyro simply said as his smile seemed to fade from view.

"Alright then my son, let's continue." Malefor said as he beckoned Spyro to follow him deeper into the forest.