Hey everyone! Well, this is it...the final chapter. I'm a little happy that this fic is finally complete, though I feel it could have been much better.

Anyways, since I'm so sure of making a sequel, there is actually *gasp* a sneak peek to it in this chapter. Do you dare read it? It's up to you...

Also, just be warned. This chapter will also contain some heartbreak, so be ready...

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Spyro characters or games. They belong to their respective owners. I do own Selema, Aragon, Aurona, and Matt.

Aurona didn't know how…but she knew. It was as if her heart had sensed it from a mile away.

Aragon…her mate…was gone. She refused to believe it at first, unwilling to admit that the fire dragon was no more. However, when he hadn't returned for many days was when Aurona had to accept the truth.

The ice dragoness had cried for as long as she'd possibly could that first night. She'd given up everything she'd ever known to be with Aragon. Though when she asked herself if she'd do it again, Aurona already knew the answer. The proof was in the little dragon that now was her sole responsibility.

Selema. She was the only thing Aurona had left now to remind herself of her lost love. Their only child. Did Aurona have the strength to keep going? Could she raise Selema on her own?

I will… Aurona swore to herself. Aragon would've wanted me to…no matter what happens.

However, the hardest part was telling their little girl the truth. It was bound to happen eventually…and eventually came sooner than Aurona had hoped.

Selema had noticed her Daddy hadn't come back yet…he never was this late. "Mommy…?" she piped up one morning. "Where's Daddy?"

Aurona gasped and turned back to her child. "Oh, sweetheart…," she said, hiding her sobs. Aurona then took hold of Selema and held her close.

"Mommy…?" Selema asked curiously. "Why are you sad?"

It took several minutes for the ice dragoness to gather the courage she needed. "Selema…," she choked. "Daddy…he's not coming back."

Selema's eyes went wide. "Huh?" she asked. "Why not?"

Aurona bit her lip to keep going. "It's not that he doesn't want to, sweetheart. Your Father loves both of us very much."

"Then why?" Selema asked.

Aurona sniffed hard. What could she possibly say? "I'm sorry, Selema…but…I can't tell you until you're older. Just know…he's gone to a better place, one where he'll wait for us to get there too."

Selema remained very confused, as would any hatchling who couldn't understand this sort of thing. "Will I ever see him again?" she asked.

"Of course you will," Aurona replied. "Of course." She kissed her child on the head. "Selema…you know how much Mommy loves you right?"

"Yeah…"

"Good...because you're the most important person in the world to me. I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you."

So it was from that point on that Aurona and Selema were on their own. The next day, in which both were very hungry, Aurona finally took her daughter out on a hunt for the first time. The ice dragonesses' skill hadn't diminished completely in her time in the wilderness, as on occasion she would bring the family their meal. However, Aurona knew better that now was the time to teach Selema as well.

Over next several weeks, Aurona taught her daughter as much as she could about how to catch game for herself. Of course, this meant that Selema could really only catch rodents due to her still being a young child. To Aurona's surprise though, Selema was able to pick up being patient and striking at the right moment fairly quickly. In just a couple weeks' time, the pink hatchling was able to catch a squirrel of her own for the first time. Aurona couldn't have been prouder.

You would've made a most outstanding student, Selema…Aurona thought. I have no doubt you would've gone to the Temple just as we did.

Teaching her daughter was a great distraction sometimes for Aurona, who at night still grieved over the loss of Aragon. It was something she knew she might not ever get over, but somehow she still managed to press on.

Aurona also still had trouble figuring out what kind of element her daughter possessed. She still hadn't shown any signs of producing fire or ice. Most hatchlings would've produced at least smoke for fire or a frost for ice at this stage in their lives. Still, Aurona didn't try to pressure her daughter into using her power just yet…they had plenty of time for that.

No…for now all Aurona just wanted to make sure her daughter was as happy and healthy as she could be. When they weren't hunting or eating, the two would often be either playing to stay active or just relaxing outside their 'home'.

Of course, when it came time to sleep, Aurona was usually still busy as she continued to tell Selema stories about the world. The favorite was always the one about how her father had met and saved her mother. At the end, Selema would always talk about how her own 'hero' would come one day and protect her from any danger there would be. Little did she or Aurona know who that 'hero' would eventually be…

The day had started as normal as it had been those last few months, with Aurona taking Selema with her down into the brush below to hunt once more. Selema had kept pleading with her mother to teach her to fly, but Aurona had insisted that now wasn't the right time yet.

Selema sighed in defeat before looking and spotting a small rabbit about twenty yards away. Her eyes immediately widened in excitement. "Oh…Mommy! Mommy! Can I catch it? Please…"

Aurona had noticed the rabbit as well, and after pondering over it a few moments she made up her mind. "Alright, Selema. Just remember what you've learned. These creatures are much faster than they look."

"Ok…" With that, Selema quickly sunk to the ground and slowly crawled towards her prey. She'd been told to make herself as quiet as possible if she wanted to catch anything. The little dragoness licked her lips in anticipation of trying a freshly caught treat like this would be.

However, Selema was so excited, that she didn't notice the small twig underneath one of her back paws. A small, snapping sound was heard, causing Selema to gasp. The rabbit quickly turned it's attention towards her before sprinting off into the brush.

Selema grunted before she took off in pursuit, hearing her mother's scream to not run off too far. The pink hatchling was fairly fast for her age, but nowhere near as fast than the rabbit in front of her. It was taking everything she had just to keep the furry animal in her sights. Within seconds, she began to pant out of exhaustion. However, she refused to let the rabbit get away that easily.

I can do it…Selema thought. I…will…catch you!

Suddenly, for just a brief second, Selema felt herself sort of lunge forward. To her amazement, she was able to reach the rabbit as though it had been right in front of her. She quickly took it into her jaws and snapped it's neck to kill it as her mother had shown her. Once she did, the hatchling let it go to catch her breath.

"Whoa…," she said. "That was cool! How did I do that? Mommy?" Selema looked around and didn't see her mother in the area. She must've gone farther than she originally had thought. No matter, her mother would find her eventually, having not gone too far. In the meantime, she would endulge on this very tasty looking being before her…

Aurona called for her daughter after she hadn't heard from her in a couple of minutes. She cursed herself for being so careless as she sprinted off in the same direction Selema had ran, calling her name as she went.

Suddenly, Aurona heard a sound that made her heart stop in her chest. It was a high pitched scream…from Selema.

"Selema!" Aurona screamed back. She rushed as fast as her body could take her in the same direction. When she finally found her daughter, she gasped at the sight.

Selema was cowering in fear in the wake of two large furry animals that stood on two legs and covered in armor. They both held their swords high as they advanced towards the shivering hatchling. They were apes!

"Can you believe our luck?" one of them asked his partner. "Think of how much we'll be rewarded for bringing this little lizard in to the boss?"

"Aye," the other said, grinning from ear to ear at the idea. "I think we should shut the little bugger up first don't you think?"

"I like the way you think…" They both raised their swords high above their chests waiting to strike.

"NO!" Aurona roared. "Selema, get down!"

The little dragoness immediately obeyed, dropping her entire body to the ground and covering her eyes. At that same moment, her mother quickly opened her mouth and breathed a powerful blast of ice towards the two apes, immediately freezing them solid. She then roared in rage before using her tail to shatter them both completely.

"Good riddance," Aurona exclaimed. She rushed over and nuzzled her still quivering daughter. "Selema, are you alright?"

"I…I think so…," Selema stuttered. "What are those things, Mommy?"

"Bad people," Aurona replied, turning to inspect the damage she'd caused. "But you don't need to worry, they can't hurt you now."

Unfortunately, Aurona soon heard the whizzing sound of an arrow coming their way again. She quickly covered her daughter again and forced them both down, the arrow just missing into the tree above them.

"Don't move, dragon," Aurona heard another ape behind her say. "We've got you now. You're surrounded. Now turn around and surrender before you and your little whelpling get an arrow to the face."

Aurona gritted her teeth. She then pulled her daughter in close to her body. "Close your eyes, Selema." Selema obeyed without a word. Aurona then heard a number of footsteps approaching them from behind.

"Are you deaf, dragon?" the ape asked again. "I said turn around and…"

To their amazement, Aurona suddenly jumped high into the air and hurled herself backwards. She then pointed her head downward and fired off three icicles down towards the ground, watching as she nailed all three of the apes who'd surrounded her. Each let out a surprise of pain before falling to the ground dead.

Aurona didn't have much time to admire her work though, for the sounds of death had reached even more of the furry mongrels.

"Over there! Men down!"

"It's a dragon! Attack!"

Aurona gasped and soon began sprinting off into the brush to try and outrun her foes. After several minutes of running, she knew that there'd be no way she'd outrun them. She would have to fly.

"Selema, hold on tight!" she exclaimed as she beat her wings hard and took off into the sky. Aurona looked down and saw several of the apes who'd been following her raise their swords in frustration.

"Take this, you animals!" Aurona cried as she let out another breath of ice from her mouth, sending the apes below scattering in every direction. The ice dragoness then took off in a direction she didn't know.

How did they find us? Aurona thought. I'm sorry, Aragon, but I don't have a choice. I've got to get Selema somewhere safe and fast!

With that, Aurona turned and started flying towards what she believed would be civilization and safety. She didn't get very far…

Several loud shrieks filled the air, causing Aurona to turn backwards and gasp in horror. Several of the apes had resorted to using the vile creatures she knew to be dreadwings. They were very ferocious…and faster than they looked.

"Mommy…," Selema said. "I'm scared…"

"Just close your eyes, sweetheart," Aurona said. "Don't look back." The adult grunted as she stressed herself to fly faster. However, though she wasn't heavy, carrying her daughter was keeping Aurona from going faster than she wanted to go.

For minutes and minutes the chase continued, with the apes gaining on Aurona by the foot. She considered using her breath attacks to fight back, but that would only make her daughter more vulnerable. Selema's safety was all that she cared about now.

"Ready…," she then heard what sounded like a commander say. "FIRE!"

Aurona then heard the whizzing sounds again before she felt a burning pain in each of her sides. She roared out very loudly as the pain was immense. She quickly glanced and found she had not only been struck down by one, but two arrows in each of her wings, causing the membranes to slowly tear in the sky.

"We've got her now!" One of the apes in the back yelled.

Aurona could only grit her teeth in agony as she tried to flap her wings to keep going. However, the arrows had already done their job, making them useless to her. Within seconds, she began to fall, taking Selema with her.

"Mommy!" Selema screamed.

"Hold on, Selema!" Aurona exclaimed. She then curled herself into a ball as best as she could, hugging her daughter as close as she could to shield the hatchling from harm. It took only seconds before Aurona suddenly felt herself crash into the trees below. The ice dragoness was beaten and battered by several branches before she landed very hard on the earth below, skidding through the dirt and causing it to spread before she finally came to stop.

Aurona whimpered in agony. She had felt at least one or two of her legs break during the fall. However, that was the least of her worries. After coughing up some of the dust that had come up, she uncurled herself to let her daughter go.

"Selema…," she choked. "Are…are you alright?"

The pink hatchling looked extremely shaken, but she looked ok from what Aurona could deduce. "I'm ok," Selema whimpered. "But…you're hurt."

Aurona sighed a breath of relief before her mind returned to the dire situation at hand. After trying to stand, she found that she had indeed broken one of her hind legs, making it impossible for her to move without pain flaring through her body.

Aurona then heard the shrieks and hollers of the apes from above, who were no doubt searching for them at that very moment. It was only a matter of time before they were found.

The ice dragoness grimaced and bit her lip before doing the hardest thing she'd ever had to do. "Selema…listen to me. I want you to go and find a good hiding spot."

"Huh?" Selema asked. "But…but what about you?"

"Don't worry about me! Go and hide right now, dear! Hurry! There isn't much time!"

"Mommy…" Selema cried. Her eyes began to fill with tears. Aurona could see the confusion in her daughter's eyes, which only made it harder to go through with what she had to do.

Aurona stared into Selema's eyes and smiled as best she could. "Just know sweetheart…I love you with all my heart…and I always will…" She choked on the last statement before continuing. "NOW GO!"

Selema gasped. She then nodded and turned away. Looking around as fast as she could, the young pink hatchling climbed into one of the biggest tree trunks she could find and wiggled her way inside. She used a hole in the side to keep an eye on her mother.

Aurona then knew what she had to do. If she was right about these apes and what they were capable of, then she knew what she had to do so Selema wouldn't see it. It was the last gift that Aurona could give.

"Forgive me, Selema," Aurona whispered. She slowly closed her eyes and concentrated as hard as she possibly could on a spell she'd once learned several years ago. Selema was suddenly covered in a bluish energy from head to toe. Within seconds, Aurona opened her eyes again before she watched her daughter become frozen in place, her entire body covered in a block of ice.

It is done… she thought.

As soon as it had happened, the apes suddenly emerged from the bushes. They all had their weapons raised and were on alert. They crept closer and closer to the downed dragoness. Aurona could only brace herself for the worst to come

"STOP! DO NOT KILL HER!" came a cold voice from above.

Aurona opened her eyes to see one ape emerge from the group. He was easily one of the larger ones and wore the kind of armor that indicated he was their leader. He also held a long staff with a crystal at the end.

Aurona watched as he crept closer and closer to her until his face was suddenly next to her own, causing her to inhale one of the worst stenches she'd ever experienced. "So…," he growled. "You thought you could outrun us, didn't you? You should know by now that we are not to be trifled with…dragon." Aurona roared out in anger before several apes slammed into her injured wings, making her cry out in pain. "Stay quiet…," Gaul growled. "This is a fight you've already lost. Now tell me…where is the hatchling?"

Aurona did her best to remain silent and straight faced. She bared her teeth slightly, not willing to give an inch. "I don't know what you're talking about…," she replied.

"You lie! We saw you carrying it with our own eyes! Where is it?"

Aurona narrowed her eyes. She had never been more afraid in her entire life, but she still refused to speak a word about Selema's whereabouts. "Go to hell where you belong…," she managed to say.

The head ape chuckled. "You dragons are an ignorant race. It's no wonder you all will soon perish under our Master's will."

"Your Master is insane!" Aurona yelled. "I can promise you this, you monster! You and your Master will never rule this land. One day…one day you will fall."

"I give you one last chance, dragon. Tell us where the hatchling hides!"

Auorna winced in pain. She knew her last moments were upon her. Slowly, she closed her eyes.

"Very well…," he then spoke after a minute of silence. "We will find her though…with or without your help. It's only a matter of time." Aurona heard him unsheathe his sword from his belt, no doubt to deliver the final blow. "Until then…"

Please… she prayed. Please let Selema be safe. Please….!

Aurona opened her eyes wide once more, looking towards Selema once more before her vision suddenly became awkward to her.

*SPOILER ALERT* Proceed with caution.

Suddenly, Aurona began to see flashes. However, these weren't the flashes she was expecting.

To her horror, the first thing she saw was her daughter chained up on the wall, though at least slightly grown up. To her amazement though, she then saw someone come from the shadows that surrounded her. She didn't know what it was, but within seconds, it had pulled out a strange looking blade shaped like a key. It then cut Selema down from her place.

"Everything will be alright. I promise. Please…let me help you." Came a voice, a young voice that sounded like a young adult male.

A new vision. Selema was drowning at the bottom of a lake. However, the creature suddenly came from the surface and use his blade to save her once more.

Another vision. This time, it was in a room covered in stone. She saw Selema and this...boy…conversing getting along.

The next few seconds were filled with flashes of Selema and this boy together, with her being more and more happier with each one.

Who…who is that? Aurona thought curiously.

Suddenly, another vision. Selema and the boy were embracing tightly.

"I'll always be there if you need me, Selema," he whispered. "You can count on that."

"Promise me you'll come back…" she then said back.

"I promise…"

Aurona wondered to herself what was happening before she suddenly came back to reality and saw something unreal. The boy from before was standing just meters away from her, a smile on his face. He had brown hair and eyes and wore strange clothing she couldn't comprehend. He turned and looked right on the spot where Selema was hiding momentarily before looking back at her.

Please… Aurona thought. Help her…

The boy stood there motionless before Aurona saw one flash of light and vision. She saw Selema almost fully grown and the boy sitting on a bed, only now their faces were filled with a sort of confusion.

"I'd better go and get ready," he said blankly. "I'll see you tomorrow…good night, Selema." The boy then got off his feet and walked towards the door.

Selema looked on in horror. "Matt! Wait!"

The boy turned around. "I'm sorry, Selema, but I…" Selema had suddenly grasped hold of his shoulders, allowing them to look face to face. She then slowly moved her head towards his own…

*END SPOILER ALERT*

Aurona couldn't believe it. She then saw the boy again one last time. She then heard him mouth two words to her that managed to calm her very soul to the core.

'I will'

It was then and only then did Aurona give in to her fate. It took seconds for the sword to pierce her body…and a minute for everything to go black.

Selema had awoken slowly awoke from her apparent slumber in her hiding spot. She opened her eyes and shook herself awake, eager to find her mother again. Emerging from her spot, she could only look and see her mother just lying there.

Selema gasped hard. She moved forward slowly, her mouth trembling uncontrollably. She'd seen her mother asleep several times before, but this didn't look like this. Soon, she was right next to her mother's head, rubbing it slowly.

"Mommy?" she asked. "Mommy? Wake up!" She nuzzled her mother's cheek as best she could. "Please wake up! Please!" Her eyes were soon flooding uncontrollably with tears as they fell to the ground. It was no use.

"MOMMY!" Selema yelled out loud before falling over and resting herself next to her mother's body. For many hours afterwards, she would cry over it, never to watch her mother awaken again.

Ignitus slowly closed the page. He couldn't read anymore. A single tear had formed on his cheek before falling to the floor.

"I'm so sorry," he said softly. He'd already read how Selema had been captured just days later, unable to fend for herself until the apes had found her and captured her.

Why? Why did Aragon and Aurona have to suffer like that? Ignitus had only truly learned of their deaths when he'd first became the Chronicler, but the news had still shocked him to say the least. Aurona's family and Jaden's friends would never know their fates…or even that little Selema had even existed.

However, Ignitus still knew better. He knew that somewhere…somewhere out there the two dragons' spirits were at peace. Their daughter on the other hand, was finally safe and sound where she belonged.

And it was all thanks to one boy…one truly special boy.

Matt had finally rescued Selema from the apes' clutches, but he had done more than give Selema her freedom back. He given her something far more important. Sure the two had to suffer through their own trials, which included saving the Dragon Realms, in order to find it. But in the end, Ignitus knew that Selema now not only had the will to live…but she had formed a new bond with someone to which she held very dear to her heart.

Ignitus then grinned a little more at the knowledge he had read in the future of Selema's book. As he'd said before, Matt and Selema would soon need each other for what was ahead of them…

Boy would they ever need it…

The End

Well, there you have it. What lies in store for Matt, Selema, and co.? You'll have to find out in the next installment of this series...The Key to Destiny! Coming soon to the Spyro archive near you.

Again, thanks to all of those who've stuck it out through this story and more. I appreciate all the support and I hope you enjoyed reading this fic. If you want to make a comment or have any criticism, feel free to speak your mind.

Thanks and God Bless!

Peace out,

Biz