Disclaimer: I do not own Spyro, or any of the other characters in this story that belong to Sierra. But I did create some of my own characters for the story.

Authors Note:

Some of the words and names in this are Welsh

Hey there my wonderful readers, sorry I haven't been able to update this story faster, I both lost my muse and had some real life important stuff to deal with. But what happened is in the past, and as I promised on my profile with the publishing date, here it is. I hope you enjoy this, and so, without further ado, on with the story amigos.

Chapter 10 – A New Page, A New Day

Location: The swamp

8:47 Am

"Alright then, are you sure you're ready to do this" I asked.

"Yes, the sooner we can figure this out the better, I don't want what happened the first time I used this thing, to happen again. And maybe this fire power might be the first step in discovering who I really am." Spyro sighed sadly, but then a determined look filled his amethyst purple eyes.

Morning, true it is a wonderful time of day, but it's like nearly ten to nine, the sun's barely even started to raise properly yet, this is way too early for my liking. But still, I am wide awake now so there isn't really any point in trying to get back to sleep, though my alarm clock could have been a little more tactful for, trust me when I say, having a lump of over excitable young dragon the size of a sheep dog, bouncing up and down on your chest with his front paws, trying to wake you up, is not quite as fun as it sounds; believe me on that one.

"Okay then, let's begin with a warm up, get all those sleepy muscles nice and lose" I stood up and started doing some star jumps.

"Hey, let me try" Spyro tried to copy me. But with his four legs, he fell flat on his belly in no time, much to Sparx's amusement, who couldn't help but snicker a little at his brother. Spyro blushed at Sparx's laughter.

"Hey Sparx, would you like to join us?" I asked.

"Nar, don't need to, unlike my…" Sparx purposely coughed, hiding the word fatso. "Brother, who can't really do much apparently, apart from burn things, I tend to get all the exercise I need from flying all the time, which big boy here can't" Sparx said teasingly.

"Sparx come on, I'm not fat" Spyro whined in protest.

I couldn't help but sigh a little "Come Sparx, that's not really helping."

"Hey don't shoot the messenger" Sparx held up his hands in surrender.

"Besides, I believe I remember catching a certain purple someone nabbing some of mom's fresh marsh berry cakes" Sparx said with a wink, which Spyro paled at.

Spyro's head dropped as he whispered quietly "B-But they were so good, I just couldn't help it"

"Yeah they were… before you scoffed the lot greedy guts, I only managed to have one before you and your belly got the rest" Sparx teased, a grin appearing on his lips, enjoying annoying his brother like this.

"Please Sparx, I'm sorry, I just could stop" Spyro cried, ashamed of what had happened, remembering his mother shouting at him, and his father's disapproval.

Having had enough, I got between the squabbling brothers "Okay guys that's enough. Sparx, say sorry to Spyro"

"Fine, I'm sorry Spyro." Sparx apologised, albeit begrudgingly.

"Okay, now both of you shake and make-up" I said to them.

Spyro and Sparx both held hands and shook, both looking better for it.

"There now, that wasn't so hard, was it guys?" I said with a smile.

Spyro smiled and nodded at me, while Sparx just grumbled a yes.

"So then, shall we continue guys?" I asked, trying to break the tension.

"Sparx, come on, it could be fun" Spyro smiled excitedly, almost bouncing with that energy he exuded all the time.

"Alright then, two against one, I give in, but it's not like I have anything better to do, but no group sharing okay?" Sparx sighed, grumbling a little bit.

"Yes alright then Sparx, now can we please start?" I said in a playfully whiney tone.

"Of course, since we've now got all the icky stuff dealt with. So where do we begin then?" Sparx said, rubbing his hands together.

"Okay then, as I was saying, let's start with some nice an easy warm up exercises"

Spyro stood facing me, and Sparx was hovering next to Spyro. Standing in front of them, I helped guide them through the various different exercises, although I had to figure out the different ways in which to modify them so Spyro and Sparx could do them. The breathing exercises were the easiest.

"So guys, how do you feel now, better I hope?" I asked.

"Yeah, you're right, it feels good" Spyro replied.

"Alright congratulations, you've got your batteries charged, and I did an exhausting and completely unnecessary amount of strenuous physical work. You two fitness nuts have a ball, I'm gonna crash over there for a while" Sparx dryly remarked, pointing towards a nice and dry looking tree branch.

Spyro looked a little deflated at his brother's dismissiveness and general disinterest in what he was putting so much effort into; I had to come to his rescue on this.

"Don't mind him Spyro, he's just a tad bit cranky with general grouchiness mixed in, not a really healthy combination you know, my guess is someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed." I light-heartedly joked, which brought a giggle from Spyro.

"I heard that" grumbled Sparx from his tree perch.

"Oh lighten up Scrooge, you're being all complainey and it's not even Christmas yet." My little random joke managed to bring a smirk to Spyro and Sparx's lips.

"Okay I have no idea what you're talking about, but whatever, I'm gonna catch a few Z's, night" Sparx grumbled, flying up and lying down on a nice and soft looking dry patch on the tree, then rolling onto his side on the tree, facing away from me and Spyro.

"Okay Spyro, how about we continue with some more nice good stretches and breathing exercises? It's definitely a good starting point to learn about your new found abilities, and if not, it's still a good thing to do. Helps keep your body in good shape" I asked Spyro, giving my arms, back and neck a little stretch.

Spyro beamed excitedly "Alright, that sounds great Cerith, let's get to it." Spyro and Cerith started doing lots of different exercises together, Spyro was smiling and giggling so much throughout it all, showing how much he loved it all.

As he watched, Sparx just grumbled to himself *Exercise nutcases*

P.O.V. Change

Location: Concurrent Skies – Castell Ddu (Black Castle) – Training Arena

9:23 am

General Rex was overseeing a training session for his men. It was a very important event for them, not only for sharpening their skills and learning new ones, but also for just blowing off steam and having fun. A much needed activity for the men; after all, it's a very tough and demanding job, defending one's kin and kingdom. So anyone who does, more than deserves some down time.

You see the training arena wasn't just used for training as it was meant to be, many apes did a lot of other things there too. It was all about either personal preference, choice or just what they felt like at the time.

Some of the apes preferred to just do nothing and relax, many enjoyed watching the arena training matches, drinking and placing bets on the sparrers, some just preferred the drinking.

There were others though, like General Rex himself, who enjoyed playing a very old game of calculating strategy, age old patience and chance called Taith yr Ysbrydion.

"Come on, how much longer are you going to take sir?" asked Rex's rather impatient opponent, with a slight hint of humour.

"Patience my friend, all good things come to those who wait" Rex replied, whilst he studied the game board and his pieces with a critical eye.

"Well then, how about I go get us another round while you think?" he asked, to which Rex nodded in agreement. But as the ape went to get more drinks, another approached Rex.

"General Rex, I have a report from the Plains" she reported.

"Can it wait Lieutenant, I'm in the middle of a very good game here?" Rex asked, not really wanting to have anything to do with the war at the moment.

"I'm sorry sir, but I was told that you need to see this. I really don't want to get in trouble" she tried to reason.

The General sighed, caving in "Okay then, let me see." The lieutenant smiled and handed the report to Rex, just as the other ape returned with two more drinks.

"Ah, Lieutenant Sasha, what a surprise, and here was me thinking all this time that you would never leave that precious desk of yours you seem glued to, and down to mingle with us… uneducated sloppy slackers."

"Well maybe that's because I'm actually trying to do my job for our kingdom, and care about doing it right Wonas. Besides, how could a lazy smelly slob like you even understand such things."

"S-Smelly slob, lazy I could take, but smelly, I'll have you know I wash regularly"

"Oh really, then what's that" She pointed to the matted fur on his head.

"Yeah real funny Sasha" Wonas grumbled, running a paw though his matted fur "Sure I may have matted fur, but you're not exactly little miss perfect yourself you know."

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean huh?"

"Nothing"

"You, you're just such an annoying irritating little…"

"Enough you two" Rex calmly yet firmly ordered, both tired of their bickering and knowing that there were now more pressing matters at hand.

Sasha blushed a little with embarrassment "Oh um, sorry General Rex"

"Yeah, I'm sorry too sir, that got out of hand," Wonas sighed.

"It's perfectly fine, a lot of tension comes hand in hand with what we do, normally I would say to have some tea and relax, but this is more pressing at the moment." Rex gestured to the report in his hands.

"So what does it say sir?" asked Wonas, both curious and concerned about the scroll's contents.

"It's the latest progress report from the plains, it says that General Zeltor has captured another farming village… but has also recaptured the former general of the dragon armies… Volteer…"

"So that mighty dragon is once again in our clutches" Sasha sighed happily.

Confused, Wonas asked "Wait a minute; you were the one who brought that report. Shouldn't you have already known about what was inside it?"

"You know full well that reports and messages for the Generals are only for their eyes alone, and no one else idiot… or a least you should." Sasha smirked.

Wonas scowled at Sasha "Why you arrogant little…"

"Wonas, Sasha, enough, both of you!" Rex scowled them.

"Sorry Sir" they replied together, feeling greatly ashamed.

"So what will happen to him then?" Wonas asked Rex.

"He'll be returned to his cage in the castle, to await further interrogation. He used to be the chief archivist of the northern dragon temple and one of the top instructors of electricity at the dragon school in Warfang, before he became a general of the dragon armies. So he possesses a great deal of valuable information that we can use against what's left of the once mighty dragon army; their strategies, weakness and various other kinds of useful information" Rex explained to his two colleagues.

"So who do you think will be put in charge of interrogating him?" Sasha asked. "Zeltor was the one responsible for that last time, and he's far too busy leading the plains campaign."

"On that I am just as curious as you are; Zeltor's methods, although they did bring results, always crossed the line, they were brutal and unmerciful. Whoever his replacement is, would have to be someone just as effective at retrieving information as him, but preferably without the same needless cruelty that Zeltor enjoyed so much" Rex explained, frowning at the memories.

"I heard rumours about Zeltor's past, but I never thought they were true" Wonas said, in a stocked tone.

"I'm presuming that you've never met him before?" Rex's question was more of a statement.

"Well I, no, you're right, I haven't" Wonas sighed.

"Good, you should consider yourself fortunate my friend, because if you had, you would have seen that those rumours were far from as untrue as most would have you, and themselves, believe." Rex's calm and truthful words made both Wonas and Sasha shiver at the truth they implied.

Just then another messenger rushed up to Rex, but unlike Sasha, he bore the mark of the castle's master on his leather messenger armour.

"I have an urgent message for General Rex, straight from Master Cynder." Rex waved him over and the young messenger ape handed Rex a scroll. As he turned to leave he bowed and looked at Rex with eyes filled with awe.

Wonas turned to Rex "Is something wrong Sir?" He said, noticing a troubled look cross the general's face.

"It's about Reskar's order of banishment, Cynder has made a slight revision to it." An unreadable expression crossed his features.

"What kind of revision sir?" Sasha asked, remembering what had happened to the one promising, now former commander.

"I have to go, perhaps we can resume the game later" Rex said, politely excusing himself, before heading to his personal quarters to retrieve something he'd been studying.

P.O.V. Change

Location: Concurrent Skies – Castell Ddu (Black Castle) – Central Courtyard

11:54 am

After having packed his bag with the bare essentials, and what few small possessions that he could not be without, Reskar sadly bid goodbye to his room and home that had been a gift to him from his late father, and left the only life he'd ever known behind.

When he finally arrived at the central courtyard, just in front of the main gates of the castle's outer defensive wall, or the first of the three defensive walls for the main castle, he was surprised to find that he was the only one there, perhaps he was early.

Reskar found a stone seat and waited for what felt like an eternity, but eventually he heard movement, and when he turned to the source of it, he saw General Rex approaching him, along with four others that Reskar didn't recognise.

"G-General" Reskar stuttered nervously.

"Relax Reskar, I thought that I would come and wish you luck on your quest" He replied sadly.

"I don't deserve…" he started to say, but Rex cut him off.

"Nonsense my friend, you served under my command, so this is a very important thing, not only for you but for me too. Perhaps this mess wouldn't have even happened if I'd trained you more, and for that, I am sorry I failed you," Rex apologised with a downcast expression.

"No Sir, you did the best that you could, I guess I just wasn't ready then… But I swear too you, I won't fail you again. I'll find that purple dragon and that strange creature that ruined everything" he promised to Rex, clenching his paws into fists as he remembered his fight with that creature that ruined everything for him.

Rex nodded in understanding, but then a sad expression crossed his face when Reskar asked his next question.

"So where are the others that were supposed to accompany me?" Reskar asked, looking around expectantly for those who were meant to accompany him, but he had a horrible suspicion that something was horribly wrong.

"I am sorry Reskar, But Cynder changed her orders of your banishment" Rex withdrew a scroll from his satchel, handing it to Rex, who as he read, felt his legs almost give at the shock.

"B-But I… how can this be?" Reskar stuttered in shocked disbelief.

"Former commander Reskar Clawfell is to remain banished until he can either capture the purple dragon and the strange creature he encountered, or die trying… but as he is no longer part of the Ape army, he is not permitted to have any of our troops under his command… there is no point on spending any troops on a… wild crow chase… " Rex repeated the orders that he had read from the scroll. "I am truly sorry young one"

The scroll fell from Reskar's hands, as the ape's legs buckled and gave way as he fell to his knees.

"No this, it's not right, how can I possibly do this alone" he covered his face in his hands, feeling hopelessness wash over him like a great and terrible flood, not caring if Rex saw him sobbing or not.

"No, you are not alone, and don't you ever think that way" Rex kneeled down and placed a comforting hand on Reskar's shoulder.

Reskar was stunned, he looked up at Rex who smiled at him "Even if all seems lost, never allow your mind to give in to that despair, or you truly will have lost. So instead, focus your mind and draw deep of your inner courage, and will yourself forward to victory over not only your enemies, but yourself. Then you will find the true ape within yourself." Reskar couldn't help but smile at Rex's iron willed words of sagely wisdom.

Then Rex pulled out a wrapped bundle form his satchel "But I suppose having these wouldn't hurt your chances either."

As Reskar started to take the bundle from Rex, the General's eyes widened "Careful though, it's a lot heavier than it…" too late, Reskar stumbled around trying vainly to hold the incredibly heavy bundle before he fell down backwards landing on his bum, and sending the bundle in the air, only to come crashing down right on top of Reskar's head.

"… ow…" he moaned rubbing his head.

Rex sighed and shook his head in exasperation "I tried to warn you, perhaps next time you should act with your head first before your muscles, and get a better grip and hold" he said, rubbing his temples.

"S-Sorry sir" Reskar apologised, lightly blushing.

"Anyway, aren't you going to open it?" Rex asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh yeah" Reskar grabbed the bundle and started unwrapping it, when it was fully opened, Reskar gasped at what lay before him;

A newly crafted full set of studded leather armour

A bronze shield with a dark crystal imbedded in it

A warm fur cloak with a hood

And a short curved sword in a sheath

Reskar looked up to General Rex with eyes full of both overwhelming gratitude and great shock and surprise at the Generals gifts. He didn't feel like he deserved such generosity and kindness.

"G-General I, I don't know what to say"

"Don't worry about it, you need them a lot more than who they were originally meant to be given to, considering the dangers and hardships for your quest, you're going to need all the help you can get"

"But doesn't this go against the terms of my banishment, since you're helping me?" Reskar asked, worried that the General could get in trouble because of him.

"Hm, true I am helping you. But you haven't officially begun your banishment yet, have you." Rex stated with an amused grin.

"Yeah, thanks so much sir" Reskar smiled, and Rex nodded his head.

Reskar looked at the sword and picked it up, taking a firm hold of the grip and sheath, he drew the sword. It was beautiful, the blade was engraved with circular and wavy patterns and shined like silver, Reskar could also hear a faint harmonic humming coming from it. He'd never seen anything like it before.

"Um, Sir, what kind of sword is this?" Reskar Asked.

"Let's just say that it's not exactly a dull blade, plus where you'll be going, you'll need it far more than its previous owner, and if you let it, it will serve you well and protect you" the General said with a slight grin.

"Th-Thank you again sir, I swear I won't let you down again, I'll find that purple dragon and the creature, and bring them back to the castle, you'll see." Reskar could feel the fires of his confidence burning furiously with steely determination as his words flowed.

"Well, I guess I better be going then" He said, as he packed his gifts from General Rex into his leather travel pack, and started toward the gate"

"OPEN THE GATE!" Rex's voice boomed up to the apes in the gate guard tower.

The heavy black gates began to creak and groan as they slowly opened, just enough for Reskar to leave. Before the gates closed, he turned back to see General Rex nod encouragingly to him. Then the heavy doors once again shut, marking the end of the life he had known, and the beginning of a new one.

Reskar turned to the path ahead, and began walking, starting his quest to get his life back.

On the other side of the wall, General Rex whispered to himself "Good luck" before turning around, and heading for the throne room for the next war council meeting.

The End

Authors Note:

And that's it for another wicked chapter, I think that this one is my longest and most diverse one to date so far, and I'm so happy with the way it turned out, I hope you guys feel just the same if not more so. Okay now with that settled, I'd just like to say how excited I am to hear your reviews for this. No flamers or trolls though, very bad and most definitely not fun to know, like Umbridge with an evil quill.

Okay and final thing, news time. I'm already starting to plan out the next chapter of the story, but I'm also drawing up several plans for other stories that I'm hoping to get started on soon, but don't worry, I will not give up on this one. So until either the next chapter, or a new story, adios amigos.

Translation:

Journey of spirits - Taith yr Ysbrydion