Chapter 7

Spyro soon came to the throne room door. He sighed as he forced any thoughts of Cynder out his mind completely. This was no time to show any signs of weakness in front of his master. He pushed the doors opened and walked towards the throne. The Dark Master's shadowy form was floating there as usual, this time with his eyes closed. Kel'thuzard stood by his master's right; his eyes met Spyro's almost instantly. The young dragon ignored the gorgon and turned to his master.

"You called me sir?" he asked.

"Yes, I have something to ask of you." The shadowy being replied.

"What is that?"

"When you fought Cynder, did you see any remnants of my influence in her?"

Spyro stood still in shock, how did he know that Cynder had just tapped into the power she had before again? He looked up at the shadow's eyes, unable to look away from them.

"H-How did you know about that?" he asked.

"My power still flows through each of my generals," The Dark Master mused, "even those generals who have turned their backs on me. Cynder's power has become as much a part of her as the blood coursing through her veins. While my influence is no longer there, in times when her heart burns blackest, it will awaken once more."

"That explains why she seemed so focused on trying to bring me back." Spyro thought to himself, trying to avoid the Dark Master's eyes.

"Due to this...development, I believe you need assistance," The Dark Master muttered, an unpleasant edge to his voice, "Get the girl."

The gorgon nodded his head and looked to his right, pulling a chain that he had in his hands. Spyro noticed something or someone behind Kel'thuzard. He frowned and pulled the chain again. This time whatever it was walked forward, Spyro was able to get a good look this time. It was a young tiger; the dragon's eyes seemed surprised to see a rare species.

"Glacia," Kel'thuzard said, "my prized possession."

Then name already told Spyro that the tiger was female. She had a sapphire coat that seemed to shimmer even in the dark light that filled the room. Her dark blue eyes seemed to be sunken with sadness, as if she had seen a horrible tragedy with them before. The chain that Kel'thuzard held was attached to a metal collar around her neck, so it would make it easy for the gorgon to control her.

"A tiger as my partner?" Spyro asked, he turned his attention to the Dark Master, "you can't be serious."

"I am," the shadow said, "with the experience Cynder has with her powers and the white dragon's physical strength exceeding your own, you will need all the support you need now."

"But…"

"That is final," the shadow snapped, "do not argue with my will." The Dark Master's eyes glowed with a hint of danger in them as his voiced seemed to boom across the room, Spyro did not argue with him anymore. He knew well when he had lost an argument, he nodded his head once. Kel'thuzard looked down at Glacia, who did not look back up at him.

"You shall work with him and do whatever he says," he said coolly, "or I shall break your legs."

"…Yes Master." Glacia said quietly.

Kel'thuzard touched a spot on the chain, which seemed to retract into the collar around her neck. The tiger quietly walked up to Spyro's side, barely making eye contact with him. The purple dragon noticed the sadness in her eyes; he knew that feeling all too well. Before leaving the room with her he bowed before Kel'thuzard and the Dark Master, turned, and walked out of the room. Glacia followed closely behind, trying to avoid the gorgon's deathly scare.

The forced duo walked in silence for a long time. Glacia looked up a couple of times at him; every now and then she would look at him before he turned to look at her. She did it more then once and it was getting really old for him. Finally he got too angry and glared at her in a threatening way. The tiger pulled back a bit from him when he glared at her. She may have been a tiger, but she was very timid.

"Why do you keep staring at me like that?" he growled.

"I…I…" the tiger stammered, obviously scared at his temper.

"Answer me you little moron!" he roared at her, the young girl laid completely on her belly, showing that she knew who was in charge. It was a long time before either of them spoke, until finally the tiger opened her mouth.

"You…you look like someone I know…that's all." Glacia finally admitted.

"I remind you of someone?" Spyro mimicked her, he snarled baring his teeth. "Don't ever say stupid shit like that ever again, understood?"

"Y-yes sir…I know my place." Glacia said, not arguing back like the rest would.

That was one thing that surprised Spyro, Glacia seemed completely obedient to whoever was in charge. Something he hadn't seen much around here, minus the loyalty that everyone showed the Dark Master. He began walking again; Glacia quietly got up from lying down and followed him. The sadness in her eyes was easy to see, though what had happened to her before was a mystery to Spyro. Why was a tiger working for a gorgon? A creature that was considered beautiful and elegant working for a hideous monster like him? The dragon was confused, what past did the two have?

"Um…sir?" the tiger said with caution, Spyro rolled his eyes as he didn't turn his head to her.

"What is it?" he asked, a little annoyed.

"Did you…encounter someone with one horn?" She asked.

Spyro turned his head this time, his eyes seemed a little threatening, but he didn't attack her. He sighed as he pulled his head away from her view.

"Yes I did…do not bring up the topic." He ordered.

"Y-Yes sir." Glacia said; obeying the order he gave.

The pair continued down the hall to the entrance to the Dragon Realm. A couple of the soldiers and Bat Riders where there, however what caught the young dragon's eye was the brute force of the Dark Army. There were about five ogres were as tall as the giant stones lining the portal to the dragon realm. Their shoulders were broad and powerful looking. However their heads were able the size of a medium sized rock, so that indicated to Spyro that the creatures were dumb. They also were hunched over so their broad shoulders looked like a bunch of boulders while their backs were covered in warts. Glacia scrunched her nose; obviously she did not like the sight of them. Spyro turned to his new partner, somewhat amused that she hated the monsters.

"What are these brutes?" he asked.

"They're called Abominations," the tiger replied, "they were brought to the Dark Master for power since they were originally goblins," The Abominations grunted as they seemed to play a game of chance with dried up and broken bones, "now they've become disgusting creatures."

"Hmph," Spyro snorted, "they look pretty stupid to me."

The group of Abominations heard Spyro and turned their heads towards him. The young dragon just glared at the ugly monsters with no fear in his eyes. The first giant walked over to him with his hand raised in the air, as if he was to slam his fist down on him. Spyro didn't move, Glacia moved back a few steps as the ugly ogre slammed his fist down at Spyro. The dragon just stepped dodge the hand and grunt in annoyance at the stupidity of the clumsy monster. He opened his mouth and a dark flame shot out, completely engulfing the arm.

The ogre yelled in pain as he held is arm in the air. Both scared at the sight of his arm on fire and feeling such pain it had never felt. Spyro's eyes glinted as he blasted the arm with an ice breath, freezing the arm completely. The Abomination looked confused at first at his frozen arm, but then the dragon jumped up and slammed his tail on the arm hard. The ice cracked and the frozen arm was shattered completely, causing icicles to shoot out everywhere. Spyro landed in front of the Abomination, a look of disgust on his face.

"You stupid creature, you should know better then to mess with someone who is a higher rank then you." He said, puffing out smoke from his nose, "Do not challenge me again do you understand me?"

The ogre looked up in fear at the small dragon, his eyes full of terror. But he knew his place well now, the small dragon gave the orders and no matter what they were his group was to obey him. He looked at Glacia, who did nothing but stare back at him. The stupid monster went to attack her as well, but a blast aimed at his feet by Spyro made him stop. The Abomination looked at the small dragon in confusion, why did he attack him again?

"She is my unit," he told the giant, "you and your ugly kin are not to harm her do you understand?"

The giant did not argue with him, turning his back from Glacia he rejoined his group. All of them looked down at his arm, completely shattered from Spyro's attack. The all gulped at the thought of what would happen if they ever made him mad enough. The group backed away from Spyro as he walked by them, the timid Glacia following close behind him.

"The only ones they respect are the ones who can cause them harm," she said quietly, "you, Kel'thuzard, their Captain, and the Dark Master."

"As far as I'm concerned they're just as useless as the rest of the army." Spyro said as they walked towards the portal. "We're heading out, be on your guard and follow only me."

"Y-Yes sir."

The duo entered the portal, warping them to once again the dragon realm. They were miles away from the elder temple or the ones who were looking for him. Spyro looked at Glacia who stood quietly beside him before moving on, the two looking for the next assignment.

Miles away Cynder, Sparx, and Cryo were traveling their long hard road to find the deity Ignitus spoke of. Cryo and Sparx were surprised at Cynder's tale about her powers returning, it was something any of them did not expect to return. Cryo looked at Cynder, who kept to herself for a good five hours. Then tension between the three was extremely delicate, if anyone said anything about Spyro Cynder would break into tears. Sparx however felt that the silence was pointless; he turned to the black dragon who kept looking at the ground while she walked.

"Listen Cynder," he said, "you still can't be down about this can you? I mean we can work this problem out, it always works out!"

Cynder just kept silent, her mind on too many things to listen to Sparx who just kept rambling at her about the stuff she already knew. The main thing on her mind was her dark powers, they had returned and she could feel them coursing through her veins. It felt as if the Dark Master was still beside her, although she could no longer hear his voice the power he had bestowed upon her gave her a numb feeling. Sparx flew up into her face now, this time she saw him clearly could see him now.

"Earth to Cynder! Hellooo? Anyone home?" he said.

"W-What?" Cynder asked, raising her head up. Cryo was looking at her as well; Sparx gave out a sigh of relief.

"Finally!" he said, "I've been trying to get you to respond forever!"

"Sorry Sparx," she said, "I've been thinking a lot lately that's all."

"About Spyro again?" Cryo asked, sitting down this time.

"That and what happened when I fought him…" Cynder said, her voice trailing off, "I don't understand it…he drove the power out of me but I could feel it rise up again."

"Well maybe you can't always erase evil," Cryo said, which got him a look from Sparx, "think of it this way sure you can take away the evil in a power source, but the power is still there. It's like a river filled with garbage, you can take the garbage out of it but the river still flows. Just like Cynder's old powers do now."

"But the weird thing is the only time I felt the power is when I was yelling at myself to get up and save Spyro," Cynder explained, "I don't get how come I can use it now."

"That doesn't make sense at all," Sparx admitted, "how can she even know that it's there if she can't use it or call upon it?"

"Her power must respond to her desire or will," Cryo mused, "apparently fragments of it still remain but there is so little that it hides away, trying to rebuild itself into a stronger force."

"I think I get it now," Sparx said, "the more encouraged she gets or the more her desire grows…"

"Her old power shall return." Cryo said, "However I doubt that it'll always be helpful."

"Cryo's right," Cynder said, "it's been too long since I used my old powers for anything so I can't control it as well as I could before. It seemed only when I have a huge desire that it focuses on only that."

"So it's like a double-edged sword," Sparx mused, frowning to the idea, "that sucks then what if we needed it to get us out of a jam?"

"Sparx we shouldn't worry about that now," Cryo said, "what matters now is that we find shelter for the night."

"Oh yeah like we're gonna find some place to sleep here." Sparx said sarcastically.

"Sparx don't start now," Cynder groaned, "you know that attitude gets old."

"Oh hush up." Sparx said, yawning in the process.

The trio kept moving on as the night got darker and darker, which made them all tense. At night anything could happen and with the Dark Master's forces growing anything could come out. The silent night kept on as the trio moved, each step becoming harder to take as their eyes slowly got sleepier. Cynder's mind still on the thought of her old powers in her again. No matter how many times she tried to shake the thought of the Dark Master's influence on her she couldn't get away. She looked up as something caught her attention; it seemed like some kind of party going on in a nearby village. She ran ahead of the other two, who followed her as soon as she began to run.

The black dragon skidded to a halt as she reached a cliff. Below her in a small valley was a village surrounded by trees and a river. For some reason it looked like they were celebrating a part of some sort. Cryo and Sparx caught up to her and noticed that she had found something. The trio smiled to each other, perhaps this was a place for them to finally get some rest from their long and hard journey. What they didn't know was that in the shadows, a guardian of the village was watching them, preparing to strike at any moment…