Hotakata just entered the valley when a purple object flew into the air and headed north.
Hotakata cursed himself for being so slow and entered the valley. He came across Delrothban's form and drew his sword.
Delrothban regained conscious a short time later only to find a katana pressed against his throat.
"Peace warrior I wish no harm to you," Delrothban said.
"Unlikely," Hotakata replied, "You betrayed our cause and my friendship."
"Hotakata?" Delrothban asked, "Is that you my friend?"
Hotakata pressed the tip of his blade against Delrothban's throat harder, drawing blood and scowled, "You have no right to call me your friend. Not after what you did."
"Marthaeter tried to kill me," Delrothban explained, "He has forsaken me and now I see what he truly is after taking the purple dragon."
"Then your powers of observation need to improve if you wish to survive," Hotakata replied, "I take it that you are no longer the evil creature you were."
"Aye," Delrothban said, "I must tell Shadedulath what is going to happen. I know Marthaeter's plans."
"Head south to the Celestial Caves in the White Isles," Hotakata instructed, "Shadedulath should be bringing his forces up through this land towards the Shadow Vale. Tell him that Hotakata believes you to be of use."
"Thank you my friend," Delrothban said bowing to Hotakata, "How can I repay you?"
"First take these," he said. Hotakata pulled out two katana and a shorter katana and handed them to Delrothban, "When I took these from you, you were my enemy. Now I give them back to you as a friend."
"Thank you," Delrothban said as he placed the swords in the appropriate spots.
"Never fall to the dark again," Hotakata added, "It devastated all of us and especially your brother. May his soul be with the Ancestors."
"Aye," Delrothban said, "I'm sure he is watching us at the very moment."
Delrothban headed south towards the White Isles in search for Shadedulath while Hotakata pursed Spyro northward.
Hotakata was given a special mission from Shadedulath and from Cynder. Shadedulath's mission was to spy of Spyro while Cynder's mission for him was to tell Spyro that she still loved him and was waiting for him anxiously to return.
Hotakata now needed to remain wary due to Spyro's fall to Marthaeter and the fact that he was pressing into enemy lands, but also needed to continue at full speed so he wouldn't lose Spyro.
He hoped that Spyro did not know the way to the Shadow Vale or else Hotakata wouldn't catch him in time.
Shadedulath spotted a figure on the horizon. His forces just made camp and the sun was beginning to set. He took four warriors that made up his personal guard and went out to see what was traveling towards them.
They were half a mile away when the figure waved both arms in the air and called, "Shadedulath, son of Katsumoto is this your army that marches to fight Marthaeter?"
"It is," Shadedulath replied as he approached, "And who might you be?"
"You already know me," the figure replied, "But you don't know the new person I have become."
Shadedulath stopped as he closed the last hundred feet, "Delrothban," he growled drawing his katana and dagger.
Delrothban held up his hands in a sign of summiting to him, "Peace, I mean you no harm any longer."
"How am I supposed to believe that?" Shadedulath asked as he swung both blades at his enemy.
"Because I have these," Delrothban replied as he dodged the attack. He drew a katana and a shorter katana. "I met Hotakata while I was on a mission to kill Spyro. I realized that Marthaeter was using me to get Spyro enraged enough for him to take over. He nearly killed me. Hotakata saw that I returned to the light and returned my weapons to me."
"That doesn't fix what you have done," Shadedulath noted.
"I know, but my service will hopefully make up for the problems I have caused," Delrothban said kneeling, "I offer these blades in your service if you would have them."
Shadedulath looked down on his mentor's brother, the traitor of their cause. He didn't fully trust him, but he needed every sword he could find and Delrothban knew many secrets of Marthaeter and the darkness that would come in handy later.
"I will accept these swords in the manner that they are offered, but you must provide us with information first," Shadedulath said.
"And I'm willing to tell you all that I know," Delrothban replied.
"Good," Shadedulath smiled, "We will meet in my tent in an hour's time. Sharlad, Yariv, show Delrothban to his tent, use the empty one near mine."
The two Shadows of Katsumoto bowed and led Delrothban towards the tent city.
"You trust him my lord?" asked one of Shadedulath's guards.
"If he provides use with the information that we need then yes, Catyris, but not at this moment," Shadedulath stated, "How do you feel of Delrothban, Olerp?"
"I feel that you should just executed him here my lord," Olerp replied.
Shadedulath turned and asked, "Why is that?"
"When the men find out that the traitor is here they will attack him and your credibility will be questioned," Olerp explained.
"You don't remember what I said many months ago though," Shadedulath replied, "He has a part in this war that must be fulfilled. I see now that his purpose is for our benefit and not a hindrance. He will save many lives with what he is going to share with us."
Hotakata ran on despite the fatigue of his limbs. He had been chasing after Spyro for a few days since the valley and meeting with Delrothban. Hotakata though pushed on keeping an eye on the purple blur that was only a few miles ahead of him.
He knew that the Portal of Shadows was less than two days from his position and soon his chase would be over. At least his equipment was lighter since he gave Delrothban back what was once the traitor's.
He put more energy into his efforts in hope to catch up with Spyro before he entered the Portal of Shadows.
Cynder was greatly depressed. She felt something had happened to Spyro, but she couldn't tell what had happened. She hoped and prayed that Spyro was all right. She could stand to think of what she would do if she had lost him. Word had reached her that the traitor Delrothban has defected Marthaeter's service and regained his status of a Shadow of Katsumoto again. If anyone knew how to free her love from darkness it would be him. She sent out to find him.
"What do you know of Marthaeter?" asked Shadedulath.
"He is a creature I know nothing about. A creature that no human has met before. He has incredible mental powers. With those powers he can do nearly anything he pleases. Typically he corrupts his servants so they can do his dirty work for him. He has several different worlds under his control and draws upon them to serve in an army he calls, 'The Purgers'. He sends in this force when shadow spawn and zek fail to control the land. He is gathering this host to assault the realm."
"How large is this force?" Walker questioned.
Delrothban looked at the ceiling of the tent for a moment and said, "If I had to guess about thirty times larger than the force you have gathered here."
Walker cursed to himself as Shadedulath asked, "Have you seen this force?"
"No," Delrothban answered.
"How do you know such a force exists then?" asked Walker.
"Because I have seen smaller portions of this army come through the Shadow Vale. My estimate is simply based on what I have seen come through that dark realm. I know that there are more since I was able to work it out of some of traveling forces."
"If you had to guess," Shadedulath began, "How many do you think there are total?"
"At least…" Delrothban started as he tried to remember the information he gathered, "Double or triple the original total."
Walker cursed again only worse than before and broke a chunk of his edge of the table as he pounded it.
Shadedulath's face showed worry and concern now as he tried to fathom how he could hold back a force that large with only twenty thousand warriors, not including though the injured.
"How long do we have?" he quietly asked.
"Two and a half weeks," Delrothban answered.
"That will give us time to gather more recruits, but it won't allow us to hold them back for along than a week at most," Shadedulath said, "Walker I want you to send out all of our messengers to gather more warriors from anywhere that will support our cause."
Walker bowed saying, "Yes my lord."
"Delrothban," Shadedulath continued, "You can go back to your tent. I won't need anymore information from you for a little while."
He bowed and left for his tent that Shadedulath had sent up for him. He entered and found it to be simple as everyone else's was. He lay down on his bed. He never needed sleep when he served Marthaeter, but now he felt tried and welcomed the sleep that he had not had in over ten years.
He had just gotten comfortable when a blade was pressed against his throat.
"If you make a noise I'll slit your throat you beast," a whisper sounded.
"Ah, it's nice to see you as well Cynder," Delrothban whispered.
"It's going to be nice to see you dead in a few days," Cynder replied with a soft growl.
"So tell me," Delrothban asked, "Why have come to me in such a kind manner?"
"I need to free Spyro," Cynder replied, "And you're going to help me."
"I can only tell you how to help him," Delrothban informed her, "But you must be the one to save him."
"Fine," Cynder replied, "Tell me how to save him."
Delrothban smiled and said, "You are the way."
"What," Cynder asked.
"You are the way to free Spyro. If you go to him you'll show Spyro what he means to you, which will weaken Marthaeter's hold on him," Delrothban said.
"Do you think that we didn't do that to prevent his fall?" Cynder growled in frustration, "It didn't keep him from the darkness so why should it work to get him out of the darkness?"
"Only from the shadows can you see the light," Delrothban replied, "You and I know that from experience."
She punched him in the face and roared, "Don't you ever bring up my past again. I was tainted from birth, you chose to leave for it."
"It makes no difference since we are both free of it," Delrothban replied, "Forgive me."
"How do I know that this isn't a trick," Cynder questioned.
Delrothban eyes widened in shock. "Marthaeter tried to kill me. I fled with my life. I willing gave Shadedulath the information he needed."
"So you could be lying," Cynder said.
"I have my swords again!" Delrothban shouted.
"How gives a shit if you're armed again or not?" Cynder roared.
Delrothban looked appalled, but quickly realized that she wasn't familiar with their traditions. He calmed himself and explained, "Cynder when I was given my swords back it meant that I was who I use to be. I have my soul back. I have my honor again. The sword holds the souls of the Ancestors before us in them. We pledge our sword in turn we pledge our soul once we die."
"Your souls and swords won't get Spyro back," Cynder replied as tears gathered in her eyes.
"No, only you can," Delrothban said, "You are Spyro's light. You are the beckon in the foggy night that will guide him home to you."
"Shut up!" she screamed, "It hasn't worked. Tell me how to save him!" She threw another punch that connected with his jaw.
"You are," he said.
"Stop lying," Cynder thrashed her tail against him.
"I'm not," Delrothban replied, "You are the only way."
"Tell me how to save him!" she roared in misery as she continued to beat him.
Shadedulath burst through the tent entrance and shouted, "Cynder leave him alone!"
"Not until he tells me how to save Spyro!" she returned as she glared at Shadedulath.
"It is you that he needs to be saved," Delrothban repeated.
She was going to strike him again when she saw Shadedulath make a move to stop her. She fired a stream of shadows at him throwing out of the tent. She went back to strike Delrothban. After a second someone dove and tackled her to the ground.
Walker quickly grabbed Delrothban and pulled him from the tent and brought him outside with four Shadows of Katsumoto surrounding him.
Shadedulath had pinned Cynder to the ground and demanded that she looked at him. She cried with her eyes sealed shut.
"Cynder look at me!" Shadedulath yelled.
After a second she complied and looked at him. He had a drained look to him, which was caused by the powers of shadow that Cynder used on him.
"Cynder, we are going to get him back," Shadedulath spoke in a softer voice, "I swear by my sword and life."
She was about to tell Shadedulath the same thing she said to Delrothban about the sword, but she realized it was their way of promising her.
"I'm sorry," she sobbed, "I need him back. I can't stand to live without him."
"We know," Shadedulath said, "That's mainly why we are going to the Shadow Vale."
"I thought we are going to the Shadow Vale to defeat Marthaeter's forces," Cynder spoke gaining more control over her emotions.
"We were, but Delrothban has informed us that the army that Marthaeter sends is to large and powerful for us at the moment," Shadedulath replied, "We need Spyro to help us."
"How are going to get to him?" she asked.
"I'm putting together a strike force to infiltrate the Shadow Vale with me to convince Spyro to come back with us or capture him. I'm putting you on the strike force with me. Delrothban will be joining since he knows the lay out of the realm. Can you bare three more days?"
"I'll try," Cynder replied.
"Thank you," Shadedulath said letting her up.
The next day came as Hotakata was within a few miles of the Portal of Shadows. He knew Spyro had landed, but he knew that Spyro knew not where the portal was exactly. When came to the last hill before the portal he felt a disturbance in the air.
"The portal," he whispered.
He dropped his equipment and sprinted over the hill to see Spyro standing before the Portal of Shadows.
The ancient archway was made of rock and stood only ten feet high and thirty feet wide. The ground around the structure was barren, voided of any and all life. The grey dirt below told all that this structure was evil and unnatural. All that were wise avoided it.
Spyro looked at the portal as the wormhole formed inside the rocks. He stepped through and Hotakata finished the distance and entered the Shadow Vale. Hoping that he could stop Spyro before it was too late.
Hotakata found himself in a bleak, mountainous land. Different shades of grey, and black were the only different colors in the realm. Even the sky was a dark grey. The only color was the purple dragon that had taken off a few moments before Hotakata came through. Spyro again had already taken to the sky and was flying southwestward. Hotakata sighed and ran after the fleeing purple dragon.
"By the Ancestors," Hotakata said, "Can he take at least one break?"
After a short time Hotakata saw large collection of spires in the distance. The clouds above the spires were lit with flashes of lightning. Hotakata knew were to go and took an alternate route to avoid detection.
As Shadedulath's forces advanced closer to the Portal of Shadows, the number of recruited soldiers increased. There were about five thousand new recruits that joined the march against Marthaeter. Still twenty-five thousand men wouldn't hold against a force sixty to ninety times larger than there own. It was necessary though. Who would stand against Marthaeter if not his forces? The dragons certainly couldn't by themselves. They were now two days from the portal and the strike force was getting ready to leave. They would immediately depart once they arrived to get Spyro. As they were retrieving Spyro his engineers would inspect the portal for weaknesses to destroy it. He hoped it would be that simple.
Hotakata climbed a stonewall, using only the cracks and fissures in the wall to pull himself up to his destination. It took him a full day to safely maneuver through the rocky terrain of the Shadow Vale, avoiding enemies. There was a window about twenty feet above him. He pushed himself harder and was just under the window when he heard movement inside the window. He waited for the sound to subside before moving up to the window.
He pulled himself over the ledge and through the window. Luckily no one was in the hallway. He quickly dashed across the hall to where there was a door. He opened it and slipped in. Inside there were weapons and armor. Hotakata realized he had little armor on and snatched several pieces of armor and placed them on. Though he strongly disliked wearing helmets, he wore one so it would conceal his identity.
He exited the room and walked down the hallway towards the center of the fortress where Spyro should be. He found it hard to restrain himself from drawing his sword and cutting down the creatures that passed him by. He eventually found Spyro walking down the hall toward him. He quickly moved aside so the dragon would think suspiciously of him.
Spyro passed without a second glance at him. Once Spyro rounded the corner Hotakata stopped and headed the direction that Spyro had gone. He glances down the corner before walking down to make sure Spyro didn't see him. Spyro was about halfway down the hall when Hotakata began to follow.
Spyro stopped three quarters of the way down the hall and opened a door, which Hotakata assumed was his quarters. He made his way down the hall and came to the door.
He knocked twice and there was a deep growl followed by, "Who is it?"
"I have a message," Hotakata replied.
Spyro opened the door and let him in. Spyro then closed the door after Hotakata came in.
"I know your not one the creatures of this realm. You're a Shadow of Katsumoto aren't you?" Spyro asked.
Hotakata removed his helmet and bowed to Spyro, "I am indeed. You are gifted."
Spyro looked at the ground and said, "That is why I'm enslaved like this. I wish I could have just been normal."
"You are to save the realm though. No ordinary dragon can do that only you the purple dragon can," Hotakata responded.
Spyro turned to the human and growled, "And saving the realm has caused me so much trouble and pain. It can burn in hell for all I care. Along with you and your kind."
"What about Cynder?" Hotakata asked, "You're just going to let her die then?"
Spyro pinned Hotakata to ground and pressed his tail spike against Hotakata's neck, "Don't you ever talk about her."
"I'm sorry, but I was given strict orders to give you a message that concerns her," Hotakata replied.
"Tell me then," Spyro roared, "If anything has happened to her I must know."
"She is losing her mind," Hotakata answered.
"Damn it Marthaeter," Spyro cursed, "You promised to spare her!"
"She is not corrupted," Hotakata said, "She is losing her personality since you are not with her. She is in desperate need of you."
"As I," Spyro said, "You've followed me since the valley have you not?"
"Yes," Hotakata replied, "I have. I have a message from Cynder for you."
Hotakata pulled out a sheet of paper with strange markings on it. He showed it to Spyro.
Spyro growled, "I can't read your language."
"Forgive me. I have forgotten you don't know our runes," Hotakata said, "It says, Spyro. I have missed you and everything that you are. I have realized that you are the source of so much happiness in my life and now that you are gone, the happiness left too. I'm cold at night without near and the days are not what they use to be. I need you back are I fear that I will lose myself. Your love, Cynder."
Spyro felt a tear fall from his face and stared at the ground where the tear made the ground darker colored. He closed his eyes knowing what he had done. His love was suffering again. He hated that. He hated the entire situation. He hated most of his life in fact. The only times he like his life was when he was with Cynder.
He opened his eyes and looked towards Hotakata saying, "Go back to her and tell her exactly this. I longed to be back with her, but Marthaeter will corrupt her if I do return. I must kill him before I can return. I love her and will be with her soon. Now leave. If I see you back here again I may not be so kind."
Hotakata bowed and left his room, heading back Shadedulath and Cynder to share what he had.
