~Backstage~

Alec: This chapter took me a while.

Sienna: Well, don't worry about how long it took. It's a great chapter.

Zayril: Hey, where's Ember?

Sienna: Well...she didn't like the chapter that much.

Zayril: Why?

*Sienna whispers into Zayril's ear.*

Zayril: *shocked* OH!

Alec: Yeah, that scene was of a graphic nature. So I edited it out. The unedited chapter will be posted exclusively on DeviantART. Anyway, it...

Sienna: *interrupting Alec* It's disclaimer time!

Alec: ...right...

Disclaimer:

Volteer and Sienna: Alec and Zayril do not own any canon Spyro characters.

Cyril and Xander: They only own their OCs.

Terrador and Kayla: And if you don't like their story, then don't read it.

Alec and Zayril: Mogguth is owned by the Wyrm twins, Stephanie and Sinrah VI, and Holly (AKA Ortinbras Itrenore and Ashkor).

~Chapter 9: The Truth About Ember's Phobia~

"He's been alive this whole time," Cyril said, "Where has he been staying? How did he survive? Was he taken care of properly? Why haven't I seen him until now?" Cyril was trapped in his own thoughts. His grandson was alive and well...Or at least he was alive. But there was one question on his mind, "Who did this to him?"

As Cyril was focused on the subject of his grandson while he sat in his room, Terrador and Volteer were trying to figure out how they were going to get Spyro and Cynder, who were frozen in time, to the White Isle to see The Chronicler.

"This sure is a dilemma," Terrador said, "How are we going to take Spyro and Cynder to the White Isle?"

"Normally, we'd request that Spyro take's on a task like this," Volteer pointed out, "However..."

"However, they're a little...held up at the moment," Terrador said, finishing Volteer's statement.

"What about our visitors?" Volteer suggested, "Perhaps they'd be willing to take on the task."

"I don't know if we should make them do anything," Terrador said, "They are our guests here. They have no obligations with us."

X~~~~~X

Alec was in the infirmary watching after Sienna. Ember was a bit weary about him being there. She kept her distance.

In the infirmary, Sienna was sitting up as she watched Alec trying to draw. She wasn't that injured. Other than a some scrapes that had been covered with bandages, Sienna just needed some rest from having carried the cyan dragon. Her scuffle with the Predator just made it so that she needed that rest.

Sienna's bed was next to a window where the sun shone through brightly. This allowed her to gain power from the sun itself. And because of her becoming energized from the sun, she should be completely healed by the end of the day. Her coloration at this point was completely golden yellow. Although Sienna was well, her little sister, Ember still wanted to look after her until she was fully healed. But she was extremely reluctant to go near Alec. And him being so close to Sienna made it so that she wouldn't really come near

Alec noticed that Sienna's coloration was slightly different, "Is it me, or are you a different color than earlier?" Alec asked curiously.

"You aren't from around here, are you?" Sienna asked.

"You'd be surprised how far away I'm really from," Alec said under his breath.

"I'm a sun dragoness," Sienna explained, "Sun dragons' scales reflect what time of day it is. Because the sun is at it's peak, my coloration is golden yellow. Now only is my coloration determined by the time of day, but my power is determined by the sun as well."

"So, that means that you're weakest during the nighttime?" Alec asked.

"When it comes to physical strength...yes, I'm the weakest," Sienna said. Alec was curious what she meant by what she said though. But decided to continue trying to draw.

As Alec tried to think of Sienna, an image came to mind. However, Sienna was not in it. Alec began drawing almost as if he were in a trance. When he was finished, he looked at the picture. But he didn't like what he saw.

It was a horrible scene, so he slashed at the picture. This sudden act of aggression made Ember suddenly run out of the room in terror. There was something bothering Alec. And it wasn't just the picture. So he went out for a walk.

Sienna got out of bed and went over to see what Alec had drawn. She had pieced the shreds together and was shocked at what she saw. The scene was one that she recognized from long ago. It was Ember as just a youngling of about five. And there was a dark dragon. The scene was that which caused Ember's phobia.

Sienna checked on the cyan dragon. The healers had finished with him about an hour ago. The poor dragon was a mess. His front left paw was crushed, his back left and front right legs were broken, his right wing was broken in three places, he had four broken ribs, and his tail was almost completely shattered. Also, his right horn was completely broken off.

The healers with earth abilities and ice abilities worked together to put casts made from permafrost on his broken limbs. The weight was going to hinder his movements greatly and would probably be a major annoyance to him for the next several weeks. But as long as he knew not to struggle with them, it won't be a problem for his healing.

His ribs had been realigned and cast together with ice. It was to big of a risk to use earth elements inside one's body. But because they couldn't do permafrost, his ribs would need to be re-cast constantly.

His cuts and lacerations were taken care of. Most of them were stitched up. Those that didn't require stitches were bandaged up. From all of his stitches and bandages, he looked like a cross between a dragon, a mummy, and Frankenstein's monster.

He was out cold. White dragon roses caused dragons to get drowsy and usually fall asleep. So healers used the pollen from them to use as an anesthesia.

As Sienna was checking on the dragon, Cyril came into the infirmary to check on him as well, "It seems that you made a good recovery," Cyril pointed out as he looked down at Sienna.

"All I really needed was rest," Sienna replied, "As long as I don't overexert myself, I should be healed by either the end of the day or tomorrow morning, depending on how much sunlight I get. So, are you here to check on him?" she added as she motioned to the beaten up dragon.

Cyril looked down at the cyan dragon, "It really is him!" Cyril said, tears coming to his eyes, "It's my grandson...Liquis!" Cyril knelt down to nuzzle Liquis, being careful not to aggravate his injuries. He then began crying.

"Are you okay?" Sienna asked in a soft tone to comfort Cyril.

"I thought he was dead," Cyril cried, "I thought he was killed by the child-like demon fifteen years ago! I thought was lost!"

"I'll let you look after him," Sienna said, "I'm going to go check on that dragon that was in here earlier." With that said, Sienna left the infirmary.

X~~~~~X

Alec was outside the temple by a nearby river. He seemed disturbed about something. Part of it probably had to do with the picture he just drew. But considering that his attention was constantly in the direction of Mount Malefor, it probably had something to do with that.

Alec opened up his wings and readied himself to attempt to fly...again. He started off by getting used to the feel of his wings and how to move them. As he was doing this, Sienna came and saw the display.

Then he started flapping. After a few tries of unsuccessful lift offs, Sienna walked over and gave him a few pointers, "Here, try cupping your wings like this," She said as she created pockets in her wing membranes.

Alec followed Sienna's lead and cupped his wings like hers. Sienna then started flapping her wings and took flight after a few wing beats. Once again, Alec followed her lead. It took him a few more tries than Sienna, but it was a success. Alec was airborne.

Alec had always been pretty good at picking up on things. And often he manages to do it on his own. So with Sienna's help, flying was no exception. Sienna instructed Alec how to maneuver in the air and the other basics.

Then Sienna taught Alec how to land. Sienna landed gracefully. Alec on the other hand was anything but graceful. It was more of a thud, and he stumbled on impact. But Alec did make a successful landing...so to speak.

Sienna giggled as she watched Alec's less than perfect landing. But then she padded up to him, "I don't think we properly introduced each other," Sienna said as Alec regained his land legs, "My name is Sienna. I'm Ember's big sister. What's your name?"

"My name is Alec," he replied, "And your little sister is extremely afraid of me."

"Actually...that's something I wanted to talk to you about," Sienna said, her expression being less than enthusiastic, "It also involves the picture you drew. How did you know about what happened?"

"You mean that really happened?" Alec said, startled but not surprised, "I don't know. It's just that I was...That image just came to me."

"But how could you know about that?" Sienna said, becoming a little accusing, "Were you the dragon in that picture? Were you the one who caused Ember to have her phobia of dark dragons?"

Alec became aggressively defensive at the accusation, "That's impossible!" He snapped, "That's impossible because I'm not even..." Alec ended up blowing his cover.

Sienna looked at Alec inquisitively, "You're not even...what?" She asked.

Alec realized he almost revealed his secret. But that wasn't what distracted him. He was still wondering where that sudden burst of aggression came from, "It...It's nothing," Alec said, "What exactly happen to Ember?"

"Well...she wasn't just attacked," Sienna said. But she was reluctant about telling him, "I don't think you want to hear it."

"Yes I do," Alec said, "I want to know what happened so I can understand her better."

"Well...okay," Sienna said defeated, "It all happened when she was only two...

X~Flashback~X

Sienna: It was about thirteen years ago.

A young pink dragoness hatchling was in a cave with her older sister and mother. They were in hiding from the destruction that Malefor's general had caused, "You two stay in here," Their mother told the two younglings. Then she went out to see if it was safe. After she left the cave, the pink hatchling's curiosity took over and she followed her mother

"Ember, come back!" Ember's older sister, Sienna called out. But she was to weak to follow her.

Sienna: I remember it was the middle of the night because of how weak I was. I would've followed, but I was to weak to.

When Ember reached the entrance to the cave she got there just in time to see a dark dragon giving her mother a fate worse than death. His claw became enshrouded in shadows. He jabbed his claw into the chest of Ember's mother. Ember then gave off a sudden gasp as the dark dragon pulled his claw out and and was holding a glowing orb. Then the dark dragon crushed the orb into nothingness. The orb was in fact the dragoness' soul. She was worse than dead. Her soul no longer existed.

Alec: That's horrible!

Sienna: And that's nowhere near the half of it.

The dark dragon then turned his attention on Ember. He then advanced on the pink hatchling. He had dark intent, "It's been a while since I've seen a hatchling squirm in pain while they die," The dark dragon said.

Sienna: I don't know if you want to hear this.

Alec: No...I don't. But I do want to understand Ember's situation better.

Sienna: Alright.

Ember then began to run away. But it was to late. Dark energy began to enter her body. Then she began to cry out in pain as the dark energy began to tear her apart from the inside out.

After a few minutes, dark energy began to seep out of ever opening it could, tearing the areas as it did. Then, blood followed. When it was all over, Ember laid on the ground in a heaping mess in a pool of her own blood. Then the dark dragon turned and left. Ember was left bleeding. She was in so much pain that she couldn't even cry.

Sienna wanted nothing more than to comfort her little sister. But being the middle of the night and her strength coming from the sun, she couldn't even sit up, let alone stand and walk.

Sienna: She wasn't just attacked by a dark dragon, she was torn apart from the inside out.

The next day, as soon as Sienna could get up, she took Ember, or rather carried her to the nearest healer, "Well, the injuries will heal on their own," The healer said after she had checked over Ember, "However, the damage was extreme. There will most likely be permanent scarring. Chances are that when she grows up, she can't have children from how torn up her insides are."

Alec: Come to think of it, I have noticed that Ember has either been standing, laying down, or sitting on the side of her hip.

Sienna: That's because even to this day, she still feels discomfort.

"She also seems to not respond to anything I say or do," The healer continued, "I believe that she may be in serious shock. Never in my forty-seven years as a healer have I even heard of a case of someone so young being attacked in suck a manner. It's just unimaginable that someone could be that cruel."

Sienna: Day after day, I've tried to get her to respond to...anything. But I got nothing.

X~End Flashback~X

...And that's what happened," Sienna said after telling the story, tears running down her cheeks, "She was in a state of shock, unmoving and unresponsive for several weeks after it happened. And when she finally did come out of her shock, she acted like nothing happened. She had no memory of it. But subconsciously, that moment is still in her mind. I don't think you understand how it feels to see that happen to you little sister and not able to do anything about it."

"...That's...just...HORRIBLE!" Alec said, struggling to hold back his rage at the dark dragon who did such a deed to Ember, "That dragon had better hope that he never runs into me...OR ELSE!" Alec finished, saying the last with a partly distorted voice. Alec's anger at what the dark dragon who took away Ember's innocence combined with his already partly wild nature caused him to begin to lose control.

That's when they were attacked. They were attacked by a shadow dragon...or rather, a dragoness, "Oh no!" Sienna said frantically, "When we were attacked by the predators earlier, I remember seeing her with them!"

The shadow dragoness was large; about the size of Terrador. But she resembled Cynder's corrupted form when she was under Malefor's control. She had no horns, but had a wicked scythe-like tail blade. She had jet black scales with a navy blue underbelly and blank white wings. The whites of her eyes were black and her eye color was white.

This was a bad time to start messing with Alec. However, the shadow dragoness was powerful. As Alec charged toward the dragoness to attack, she breathed out a cloud of frost, freezing Alec in his tracks...literally.

Sienna ran over to Alec to help. But she was snatched up by the dark ice dragoness. Sienna was being held by the neck as the ice dragoness squeezed the life out of her. Alec could do nothing but watch. And he hated to see the innocent get hurt. But he was frozen solid and no matter how much he struggled, he would not escape.

But there was hope. Sienna was saved when the dark ice dragoness was attacked from above by...another shadow dragon.

The new dragon was gigantic. He was at least fifty percent larger than Terrador and three times as muscular. He was a black dragon with blood red wings and underbelly. He had four ivory horns. His tail blade was unique. It was a large silver spike with four smaller spikes surrounding it. He had sky blue eyes.

But the most noticeable trait of this new dragon was that he was battle scarred. One scar specifically stuck out. It was a large scar on his back that reached from his left shoulder to his right hip. He easily overpowered the dark ice dragoness. However, she just wouldn't give up.

X~~~~~X

Kayla was with Xander in the training room of the temple. She was teaching him how to use his elemental abilities. Even though her element was lava and not wind, the basic idea of using elemental abilities were the same.

"Okay, what you want to do is to find the element in the core of your being. Try to clear your mind to allow your instincts to help," Kayla instructed. She figured that it was the least she could do for helping her out with her aim earlier.

Xander had closed his eyes to try and focus on how to use his elements. He began to feel the sensation of a blowing wind withing him. He nodded to instruct Kayla to continue.

"Okay. Now try and push that energy up into the back of your throat," Kayla instructed. Xander followed her instructions again and nodded when ready, "Now open up your maw and release that energy!"

Opening up his maw, Xander released his wind energy...However, it backfired. Instead of releasing a gust of wind, Xander was instead blown backwards and hit the wall. Kayla began to snicker from the scene as Xander stood back up in a daze. But regardless, she went over to him to make sure he was alright.

Xander was a bit tipsy from the impact with the wall. He ended up falling back over, "I think that's enough for today," Kayla said with a slight giggle as she helped him back up, "Maybe we should go find your..." Kayla was cut off when they heard a bolt of lightning outside in the distance.

"Maybe we should go check that out!" Xander said. He had managed to shake off the dizziness.

"You go check on it!" Kayla said, "I'll go let the guardians know! I'll meet up with you ASAP!" Xander went to check out what had happened and Kayla went to find the guardians.

After Kayla got the guardians, they went to meet up with Xander. Then they headed to where they heard the lightning bolt.

X~~~~~X

When they arrived where the lightning bolt was, they saw Sienna thanking a large shadow dragon. Alec however was just glaring at the dragon. They headed toward the three dragons.

"What's going on here?" Terrador demanded an answer, "And who...are...you?" Terrador began to lose his cool when he saw just how large the shadow dragon was.

"I was on my way to see the guardians when I noticed that these two were being attacked by a dark ice dragoness," The shadow dragon said, "She has been trouble ever since...Well, it's the reason I came to see you. My name is Mogguth."

Sienna, being a sun dragoness, reflects the time of day by the color of her scales. Alec drew an apparently disturbing picture (not the first). And it has been confirmed that the young cyan dragon is Cyril's grandson, Liquis. Alec learned how to fly...and land. Xander learned how to use his wind element...sorta. And the group met a new...and LARGE...dragon, Mogguth.

But what happened during that fight? Where did that lightning bolt come from? And who is that dark ice dragoness? Please R&R

NOTE: *Mugguth is pronounced Mo-guf

(The unedited version of this chapter has a graphic scene that had been edited. The unedited version will be posted exclusively on DeviantART.)