Chapter 9
Ancient Grove
After a few hours of flying, Torch, Damian, and Electra found the Ancient Grove. The sun began to rise as they were about to glide onto the edge of the Ancient Grove. When they got to the edge of it, they noticed the river purple and full of poison. They heard strange noises within the forest that made the three dragons scared. "I thought the Ancient Grove would be more…colorful and not all scary looking." Electra said while her legs were shaking. As soon as the three dragons were about to walk deeper within the forest, they heard a voice saying,
"Hey you three! Stop!" They all turned around and saw their uncle Sparx flying towards them. He was tired from catching up to Damian, Electra, and Torch. "(gasped) you guys…(gasped) shouldn't be here…(gasped) what are you…(gasped) doing here?" Sparx said while taking deep breaths. "We're sorry uncle Sparx, but had to come here." Torch said.
Before Sparx asked why, he lied down on Damian to catch his breath. "Why?" Sparx asked. "Because Torch had a vision of our mom getting killed by a General ape." Damian said. Sparx wasn't too sure about that and so he flew up to Torch's face. He then asked Torch a question. "Is this true? Torch?" Sparx said while giving Torch "The serious face". Torch nodded and said, "Yes, uncle Sparx. All of it is true. Last night, I had a vision of Mom being struck down by a General ape. It was horrible and scary." Torch explained while feeling upset. Sparx began to find. "Okay, I believe you all. Let's go find Cynder and save her before she finds this General Ape first." Sparx said. The three dragons nodded and they began to walk through the forest of the Ancient Grove.
As the three dragons including Sparx made their way into the Ancient Grove, they encountered many Grove mites that would always try to stick on Torch, Damian, and Electra. The three dragons shook them off and continued.
"You know, for an Ancient Grove this place almost looks like the swamp. With the beetles and the environment." Electra said. As soon as they made it through the pods with Grove mites, they heard a voice saying, "Help Me!" The three dragons turned around and saw blue light coming this way. "Don't worry guys. I got this!" Damian said as he jumped in front of them. The blue light was getting closer, and closer and then Damian shot out a dark mist at the blue light. The blue light dodged Damian's dark mist and said, "Hey! What was that for?"
The three dragons noticed that the blue light was actually a blue dragon fly, just like Sparx's father. "Oh, I'm so sorry my dear boy. These dragons thought that you were some kind of monster or something." The blue dragonfly became angry and said, "You want to see a monster? Well here comes one right now!" Then Sparx and the three dragons saw a giant growth marching over. The growth then threw a blue slime at the three dragons. The three dragons dodged the slime but it hit Sparx and the blue dragonfly. "Uncle Sparx! Are you okay?" Torch asked as he looked back at Sparx.
"Oh yeah, I'm fine. But you should probably take care of the giant monster first." Sparx suggested. "Can they even defeat that thing, sir?" The blue dragonfly asked. Sparx nodded and said, "Of course they can. Just watch." As Sparx and the blue dragonfly are stuck on the bark of a tree, they watch the battle between the three dragons and the Growth.
The Growth roared and Torch, Damian, and Electra went into their battle stance. The Growth pulled out its log and began to swing it at the three dragons. The three dragons ducked and managed to not get hit by the Growth. Damian charged at the Growth and hit its stomach. The Growth tumbled over and crashed onto its back. Electra then said, "Torch! Use your fire to burn the monster." Torch nodded and then the Growth got back up. Torch jumped towards its face and breathed out a fireball, which hit the Growth's face. The Growth cried in pain and then he ran off.
"Wow that was awesome. Could you guys help us out now? Please?" The blue dragonfly asked. Torch walked over to Sparx and the blue dragonfly and he burned the slime that was stuck on them. Sparx and the blue dragonfly were free. "Thanks, I guess I owe you guys one. I'm Blaze by the way." Blaze said. "I'm Torch, this is my sister Electra, my brother Damian, and you already met my uncle, Sparx." Torch introduced himself along with his siblings. "Those are nice names. Say, what are you three dragons doing here?" Blaze asked. "We're here to find some big dragons. One of them is our mother, she's in trouble." Electra said. "Hmm…are you talking about the seven dragons that flew by?" Blaze asked. Then Sparx along with the three dragons became shocked.
"Yes! We're looking for those dragons. Where did they go?" Damian asked. Blaze thought about it and then he said, "The last time I saw the dragons, was about ten minutes ago. They said that they were heading to the Underground Grove." The three dragons thanked Blaze and they all began to run to the Underground Caves. "Wait!" Blaze said, stopping the three dragons along with Sparx. "Is it okay if I join you guys?" Blaze asked. They all became confused and then Electra asked Blaze a question. "Don't you have a family to get to Blaze?" Electra asked. Blazes tilt his head down and said, "I actually…don't have a family. They died when I was only five years old." Then that's when Torch, Damian, and Electra became upset for Blaze. Sparx flew over to Blaze and hugged him. "I'm sorry that you lost your family. You can come with us if you'd like." Blaze smiled and said, "Sure, and just for the record. You guys are heading the wrong way. I know where the Underground Grove is. Just follow me." Blaze said as he leaded the way. The three dragons, including Sparx followed Blaze and hoped that they're not too late to save Cynder.
As they continued walking in the Ancient Grove, Torch walked up to Blaze to ask him a few questions. "Hey Blaze, where are you from?" Torch asked. "I'm actually from here. Ever since I was a small dragonfly, I lived here for the rest of my life. My family and I were living inside a hollow tree for as long as I can remember. But then…one day, I was out exploring the Ancient Grove when all of a sudden…a giant tree monster destroyed my home along with my parents." Blaze explained whiling feeling very upset. Torch walked up close to him and gave him a hug. Blaze hugged on Torch's nose. Torch then said, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked you that question." Blaze wiped away his tears and said, "It's okay. It's better if you get it out besides keeping it inside. Thanks…Torch." Then Blaze continued to lead the gang to the Underground Grove. At the Underground Grove, General Tuk was dragging Spyro across the grass. "Argh...Why must you be so heavy!" General Tuk said. He went through a gap and into a large area of the Ancient Grove. He saw his men waiting right next to a river.
"General Tuk! You're alive." Said Tuk's associate. "Of course I'm alive. I told you that my plan would work. Now help me put this dragon in the cage." General Tuk demanded. Turk's associate nodded and told the other apes to pull out the cage from a boat they stole from pirates. "Hurry, the boss needs it now!" Tuk's associate said. Then all of a sudden, seven dragons swoop down and landed on the ground. It was the Guardians. They saw General Tuk putting Spyro in a cage. "Let my husband go General Tuk!" Cynder yelled. General Tuk then said, "I'm sorry Cynder, but I won't let him go that easy." Cynder roared and charged at General Tuk. General Tuk whistled and then an army of apes started to come.
"It's an ambush!" Whirlwind cried out. The Guardians began attacking all of the apes that were charging at them. Cynder and General Tuk were walking around in a circle. "Give me back my husband…NOW!" Cynder commanded. "Sorry Cynder, but no means no." General Tuk said as he pulled out his jade swords. Cynder then shot out poison at General Tuk but she missed. She then began attacking Tuk with her tail and wings. General Tuk dodged all of her attacks which made Cynder very mad.
The three dragons along with Sparx have managed to get to the Underground Grove. "My friends, welcome to the Underground Grove. When they all looked up, they noticed that they were Underground and they couldn't see the sky anymore. Then they began to hear noises, coming from a far distance. "Can you guys hear that?" Damian said. Torch, Electra, Sparx, and Blaze listened and they heard roars from dragons. "It's the Guardians, including our mom." Electra said. "Then we better hurry! Come on!" Torch said as he began to fly. Damian and Electra lifted their wings and flew up to catch up to Torch. "Thanks for your help Blaze. It really means a lot to us. I have to be with them, since I'm their uncle after all. I hope that you'll be alright on your own." Sparx said as he began to chase after his nephews. Before he caught up to them, he turned around and said, "Blaze!" Blaze turned around and heard Sparx saying, "May the ancestors look after you." Blaze smiled and said, "You too." Then Sparx flew away and so did Blaze.
As the three dragons flew over the Underground Grove, they managed to find the Guardians in an open area. They then saw their mother fighting General Tuk. "Torch! Was this in your vision?" Damian asked. Torch nodded and said, "Yes! We need to stop General Tuk before he ends our mother." Torch, Damian, and Electra swoop down to go after General Tuk. Cynder and General Tuk have been fighting for a while which made them tired.
"Heh, come on Cynder. I thought you were better than this. Maybe my father was right about you all along. You are a weak dragon, just like your husband." General Tuk said while mocking Cynder. Cynder roared very loudly and charged at General Tuk. Torch saw his mother charging at General Tuk which made him fly faster towards her. As soon as Cynder got close to General Tuk, General Tuk created a small jade, dagger behind his back. Torch saw the dagger and then he used "Comet Dash" to stop him. As soon as Cynder was right in front of General Tuk, General Tuk was about to stab Cynder. Then "BAM" General Tuk was hit by Torch while using "Comet Dash". Torch pinned General Tuk onto the ground while saying, "Stay away from my mother, you hairy ape!" Cynder looked to her left and saw Torch on top of General Tuk. General Tuk kicked Torch away and Torch landed on the ground hard. Cynder ran towards Torch and said, "Torch, are you alright?" Torch nodded and then Cynder saw Damian and Electra in front of General Tuk.
"Argh! I forgot that you had children Cynder. No matter, we will continue our battle later." General Tuk said as he put away his weapons. General Tuk then made ape noises and more apes appeared around the area. "Have fun taking care of my men, Cynder." General Tuk said as he ran towards the boat. Cynder and her three dragons tried to get to General Tuk but they were surrounded by the apes. General Tuk laughed and managed to get on the boat. "Set sail for the Fellmuth Arena." General Tuk ordered. "Yes sir, General Tuk." Said his associate. Cynder and her dragons watched General Tuk sailing away the Underground Grove. Cynder turned around and saw the Guardians surrounded by more apes.
Damian looked at Torch and said, "Torch, you're going to kill me once I tell you to do this. We need you to use your Fury." Torch was shocked and said, "Damian are you crazy?! I can't use my Fury! Don't you remember what I did at the Dragon Temple?" Cynder got close to Torch and said, "Torch, your brother is right. In order to stop the apes, we need you to use your Fury. Please Torch." Torch nodded and then he closed his eyes and concentrated. He began to feel the fire burning up inside his body. He then began to levitate in the air. Before he unleashed his Fury, he thought in his mind saying, "Control your Fury Torch. Control your Fury." His body then went on fire and then Torch unleashed his Fury around the area. Cynder rapped herself around Damian and Electra to protect them. The Guardians gathered around each other and protected each other from the Fury.
When the Fury ended, Cynder turned around and noticed that all of the apes were burnt to death. Damian looked over and saw Torch on the ground. "Torch!" He cried. He ran towards Torch and put his head right next to Torch's face. Damian then became relieved that Torch was still breathing after that Fury. "It's okay mom. Torch is still alive." Damian explained. Then all of a sudden, Blaze appeared and saw Torch on the ground.
"Hey what's with Torch on the ground? What was that giant explosion that I just saw?" Blaze asked. Sparx came and said, "That was an elemental Fury. All dragons have it. They basically release a powerful energy on their enemies to defeat them. The fury can also drain most of your energy which drained most of Torch's energy." Blaze became shocked and asked, "Is he going to be oaky?" Sparx nodded and then the gang saw Cynder coming towards Torch. She put Torch on her back so he can rest. She then looked at Damian and Electra and gave them the angry look. Damian and Electra tilted their heads down. Then she looked at Sparx and said, "Sparx, why are my children here?" Sparx began to sweat and then he began to speak. "Okay, now hear me out Cynder. The reason why we're all here is because that we came here to save you." Cynder was confused and she wanted to know why.
"Your son, Torch, he had a vision of you. He said that he had a vision of you being killed by General Tuk. He stabbed you in the chest with one of his jade weapons." Sparx explained. Cynder looked at Torch and thought in her mind saying, "Looks like you have the same gift, just like your father." She then looked back at Damian and Electra. "I happy that you came here to save me, but you three weren't supposed to come here. The Ancient Grove is a dangerous place that is filled with horrible creatures." Cynder explained. Damian then said, "I know we weren't supposed to be here mom, but we made this choice. Plus, we managed to take care of the monsters that we encountered. When we're together, nothing can stop us." Damian said.
Cynder was touched by Damian's words and then she began to cry. She opened out her arms and hugged Damian and Electra. Damian and Electra hugged back and then Blaze became confused. He looked at Sparx and asked him a question. "Hang on, you weren't just here to save Cynder. Were you?" Blaze asked Sparx. Sparx tilted his head and said, "No…We're also here to find Spyro, the legendary purple dragon." Blaze then became excited after hearing that name. "Wow! So you're saying that Torch, Damian, and Electra are Spyro's children?" Blaze asked. Sparx nodded and said, "I'm also his brother. I may not be a dragon but me and him are brothers to each other." Blaze couldn't believe it.
Then Whirlwind came up to Cynder and said, "Cynder! We have a problem. Hunter is gone." Cynder became shocked and asked Whirlwind where he was. "We don't where he went, but Claudius managed to find Hunter's footprints. We should be able to find him as long as his footprints are on the ground." Cynder nodded and said, "Okay let's go." She then looked back at Damian, Electra, Sparx, and Blaze. "Alright you four. You can come with us but know this Sparx. When I'm not around, you're in charge of my dragons. Understand?" Cynder explained. All of them nodded and then Blaze said, "Wait, am I going with you guys?" Sparx grabbed his hand and said, "You sure are." Then he pulled Blaze to follow him. Damian and Electra followed their mother who was following the Guardians. In the lead, Claudius was staring at the trail of Hunter's tracks. "I hope we find Hunter before something else does."