Legend of Spyro: Stormfront
Chapter 11
This is by far my longest chapter. Hope you like it!
Terrador simply stared at the black dragon beneath him, the once malicious and evil form of Spyro at his feet.
Spyro's inky black scales than began to recede once again into the line of black flames along his body. Once the final bit of darkness disappeared the helm of the evil dragon went with it; once again revealing the purple face and eyes of Spyro.
"Terrador you must decide quickly what you are going to do with me or the crowd is going to get out of control. If you don't put me in prison the crowd will have its own will, and I don't feel like dying again." Spyro told him.
This seemed to arouse Terrador, then with a forceful yet sorrowful voice he said to the Dragon Guard present, "Take Spyro to the prison and lock him in one of the cells with a constant guard."
A few of the Guard immediately came forth and grabbed Spyro by the shoulders and led him towards a rear exit of the courtyard. As soon as Spyro was led off, the crowd exploded. The crowd seemed to be split some yelling, "Hang him!" others yelling for a trial and still others wanted him freed.
Spyro was led quickly from the courtyard by the guards. They then reached a suitable spot where they could take off from.
"Can you fly, unholy beast?" One of the guards asked.
"I am no beast, but yes, I can fly." Spyro responded.
"You killed my friend you bastard, I saw you that night, where you mercilessly murdered them. You are no better than Malefor." The guard spat at Spyro.
"I will pay for my sins." Spyro responded and then took off into the midday sun the guards close on his heels.
Cynder was racing through the crowd trying to catch up to Spyro. The moment Spyro had been arrested and taken away chaos had ensued. Everybody was everywhere, dragons running frantically about, moles trying not to become stepped on, cheetahs dashing for safety from the brawl.
"Get out of my WAY!" Cynder screamed the last bit being a powerful fear screech. The whole crowd immediately stopped trying to cover their ears from the deafening blast. Cynder took the opportunity to lift off towards the prison. She was closely followed by the Guardians, as well as Flame, Flare and Quake, Terrador having ordered the rest of the Guard to disperse the crowd.
Spyro's prison was defiantly a prison. It was a floor or two underneath the city and was made of solid stone construction and everything was damp. A single torch provided light for his cell, and a few feet beyond the bars of the cell.
Spyro did not have to wait long for guests. He heard the pattering of paws running from down the corridor of the prison. Cynder soon came to a running stop in front of his cell.
Spyro got up and walked to the bars and looked into Cynder's eyes. He asked the guards politely, "Can we have a moment?" They grudgingly complied and stalked off towards the end of the corridor.
"Hi, Cynder."
"You come back from the dead and all you have to say is hi?" She responded.
"Well I didn't think you would want to be around me…" He responded.
"In the ancestor's names why not?" Cynder responded.
"Because I nearly killed you Cynder! Why would you want to be around an evil dragon?"
"You are not evil Spyro; it was all my fault anyway. I shouldn't have done what I did that night."
"It doesn't matter what you did Cynder. It matters what I did, and what I did is unforgivable. I must pay for my crimes."
"Whatever, I'm just glad I have the old you back." She said with a tear in her eye.
"I'm sorry Cynder, but the old me is gone, forever. He was innocent. I have blood on my paws."
At that moment the Guardians came around the corner of the corridor.
"It doesn't matter what he did then. It matters what he will do now." They heard Volteer saying.
"The Council won't see it that way; they will want judgment to be passed or some form of punishment." Cyril countered.
"Screw the Council!" Volteer returned. "They are just a bunch of pompous windbags anyways, and believe me, I can identify windbags."
"Silence, we will have this discussion later." Terrador told the other two gruffly. Then they reached the cell where Spyro was being held.
"Good afternoon Cynder I thought we would find you here." Volteer told her.
"Now, down to business." Terrador said. "How in the ancestors did you survive that blast? We didn't feel a pulse, you should be dead."
"Well, I didn't survive the blast, I died that day." Spyro stated.
"Then how are you standing here before us?" Cyril questioned.
"The ancestors saw fit to send me back, I don't know why, they just did." Spyro responded.
"That is marvelous, stupendous, wonderful, amazing… I'm ranting again aren't I?" Volteer said.
"Your improving Volteer don't worry about it." Cyril said kindly.
"Well this is beneficial news, if the Ancestors saw fit to send you back to us, and then who is the Council to put you to death and send you back to them." Terrador said.
Cynder's face was once again in shock. "You mean Spyro is to be put to death?"
"Well not anymore, we were just guessing at what the Council might do over this predicament. However, this news takes that power away from them." Terrador responded.
"Well that makes things a bit easier." A familiar yellow dragonfly said as he zipped around the corner.
"Hey Sparx." Cynder said.
"Well what about him? Is he going to say hi to me or is he still nasty?" Sparx questioned Spyro.
"Hey Sparx, good to see you are alright." Spyro responded.
With that Sparx flew through the bars of the cage and gave Spyro the biggest hug the little dragonfly could muster.
"It's good to have you back bro." Sparx said.
"It's good to see you to Sparx." Spyro responded.
"So when can we get purple boy out of the slammer?" Sparx asked the Guardians.
"Well first the city needs to cool down a little, and then it is up to the Council to decide." Cyril told the yellow dragonfly.
"Why does the Council have to decide? What about you three, can't you have Spyro freed?" Sparx responded.
"We are the military leaders of this city; we only have power in times of war or great distress. Otherwise the elected Council controls the city." Cyril replied.
"So you are telling me, Spyro is stuck in here?" Sparx replied.
"Well, yes, Spyro cannot leave unless the Council allows him, or if he allows himself that is." Terrador responded.
"What do you mean by that?" Sparx questioned.
"I mean Spyro could leave anytime he wanted to. This pathetic cage is no match for him; if he had wanted to get out he could have already." Terrador responded and then continued. "We all saw his powers that day; a few iron bars don't mean a thing to our friend here."
Suddenly a low grumble could be heard echoing out of the cell. "Ummm, sorry to interrupt, but can I have something to eat?" Spyro asked.
"Well look at that, the Dark Master himself defeated… by his own stomach." Sparx joked; a few chuckles came from the Guardians at this.
"Ya whatever Sparx, can I please have some food now, I'm starving."
Terrador banged his mace like tail up against the stone wall of the building; this made the two guards come running back from around the corner of the corridor.
"Yes, Master Terrador?" They asked together.
"Bring Spyro some food." Terrador ordered.
"Yes sir." They responded and then both went down the corridor.
A few minutes later they heard footsteps coming back down the hall.
"I hope that is the food." Spyro prayed. His stomach soon joined him with another loud grumble.
"In heavens name was that?" They heard a male voice from down the corridor.
"It sounded like an earthquake. Quake was that you?" A female voice questioned.
"No Flare, I didn't do anything." Quake responded.
"Well if it wasn't you then who was it?" Flare asked, with that question Flame, Quake and Flare turned down Spyro's corridor.
"I believe we can answer that Flare." Volteer responded. "Our friend's intestinal tract is apparently asking for nourishment."
"What did he just say?" Quake asked.
"I believe he meant Spyro is hungry." Cyril stated.
"If you put into simpleton's terms, yes," Volteer retorted.
"Wait, did you say Spyro? Is he okay? Is he back to normal? Where is he?" A flurry of questions shot off from the three young dragons.
"Why don't you ask him yourselves?" Terrador said before stepping aside to reveal Spyro in his cell.
"Well to answer your questions." He responded. "Yes, I'm fine. For the most part, and I'm right here." Spyro answered.
"Well he looks normal, but he still has that black stripe." Quake said.
"What does that mean?" Flare asked everyone as she stepped closer to get a better look at Spyro.
"Well I suppose I could shed some light on the matter." Spyro said. "While I was well, dead, I was trained to control the darkness within me, and I can now summon the power at will." With the last sentence he again transformed into the new Dark Master. His scales once again an inky black and silver helm glistening in the dim light.
Flare jumped back from the cell with a yelp.
"You mean you can choose to look like that?" Sparx asked.
"Well yes, scared Sparx?" Spyro responded voice a little warped.
"No… well yes. When you look like that it makes a cold shiver go up my spine." Sparx responded.
"Sorry, I'll go back now." Spyro said easing some of the tension in the room, and then his scales returned to their normal purple.
"Who trained you while you were dead?" Flame asked.
"I would prefer that question would go unanswered." Spyro said.
"Spyro if we are going to get you out of here you must be truthful with us." Volteer stated.
"You won't like the answer, but if you must know. My predecessor trained me. He gives his apologies by the way, especially to you Cynder." Cynder visibly flinched at the mention of herself. The others were simply astonished.
"You mean Malefor?" Quake questioned.
"Why would the big baddie himself train you?" Sparx questioned.
"Well he is just like me; we both have been infused with darkness. If he had not trained me and I was sent back I would still be… well you guys know what I was like."
"All about the doom, death and destruction." Sparx stated.
"To put it mildly, yes." Flame responded.
Spyro's stomach then gave another loud grumble. "When is the food getting here? I'm going to die… again… if I don't get food."
"That is the bro I remember always thinking about food." Sparx responded. Just then the clanking of armor could be heard coming around the corner.
"Sounds like it is here now, come let's give Spyro some room to eat. We will be back in the morning hopefully with news about what the Council plans to do." Terrador told everyone, and began to walk down the corridor towards the exit. Cynder and Sparx however stayed behind. The guards opened a small locked slit in the bars and passed the food through it. A freshly roasted fowl was on the plate, which Spyro quickly dug into and had consumed it if a few minutes.
When Spyro had finished Cynder finally perked up the courage. "Spyro do you still have feelings for me?"
"It is more than a feeling Cynder."
"Alright, I'm gone if you guys are going to get all gushy on me see ya later." Sparx said and then he buzzed down the corridor.
"You should get going to Cynder; you will catch something if you spend too much time down here." Spyro stated.
"What about you, won't you catch something Spyro." Cynder retorted.
"I lived in a swamp my dear, cold and wet I can handle." Spyro said.
"Well alright, you got me. You will be here when I get back right?"
"I don't plan on going anywhere Cynder. You have my word… whatever it is worth to you."
With that Cynder walked away. "Goodbye Spyro."
"Goodbye Cynder." He responded. He then turned around and went to the corner of the cell where there was a little hay on the ground for a bed.
"I have slept on worse." He thought to himself and he curled up for the night.
Spyro awoke the next morning to the clanking of the cell door opening. Terrador stood at the door with two guards still in full armor.
"I see that you are awake. Come with me the Council has made its decision." He told Spyro.
"What is it?" Spyro asked.
"They have agreed to set you free… under a few conditions." Terrador responded. "One Cynder, one of the Dragon Guard, or one of us Guardians must be present with you at all times for the foreseeable future. Two, they wish you to demonstrate ALL of your powers before them. And three, Raxius a member of the Council will look into your darkness. Also, of course, your teaching position has been revoked."
"That won't be too hard on the first and the second, but the third is a different." Spyro responded. "No mortal is meant to see that."
Terrador replied to the purple dragon, "Well if you want out it must be done."
"If I must, but if anything happens to him it is not my responsibility." Spyro stated.
Terrador gave a stern look to Spyro, "I assure you he is very skilled."
"If you say so, Terrador." Spyro replied. He then followed Terrador out of the cell and down the corridor.
When they reached the outside the sun had not even begun to crest the horizon. Spyro could only guess they were trying to get him out quietly without a hassle from citizens. They took off towards the Academy.
"Why are we going to the Academy?" Spyro asked.
"That is the only place with the proper training grounds for your… performance." Terrador responded.
"Who will be there?" Spyro questioned the large Guardian.
"The Council of course, the other Guardians and I, as well as Cynder and your favorite three pupils to confirm any of your powers should you attempt to skip any." Terrador responded.
"Why are they so obsessed with seeing my powers?" Spyro questioned.
"Something about wanting to see what they are up against should you go bad again." Terrador responded.
They then touched down in a large open training ground arena. Apparently word had gotten out somehow because multiple students from the Academy were present along with the main attendants.
"Probably Quakes doing." Spyro thought to himself.
A black dragon then strode forward from the crowd of large dragons, who Spyro assumed was the Council.
"My name is Raxius; I will be measuring your darkness Spyro."
"I warn you Raxius, no one is meant to see what is inside me." Spyro responded.
"I assure you, I am more than capable of handling what I find there." He retorted a little arrogantly.
The other Council members soon came over as well all introducing themselves. Magnus the fire dragon, Tremor an earth dragon, Lightnara an electric dragon, Frost an ice dragon, and Raxius finishing up the group.
"Let's get this show on the road." Spyro stated.
"If you wish Spyro." Raxius stated before walking up to him.
They were in the middle of the stone arena for all to see. Raxius then raised his forepaw and placed a claw on Spyro's forehead and closed his eyes. Spyro simply stood there waiting to see what he found. At first nothing seemed to happen, but then Raxius soon visibly flinched and began to pant. It was followed by a cold sweat. All of a sudden he was physically thrown back by an unseen force a few feet from where Spyro stood.
"I told you this would happen." Spyro stated.
Raxius got up with a terrified look on his face. "How are you still sane? I felt like a candle, before a massive wave of the tide. The evil in you Spyro is great, how can you possibly control evil of that magnitude?"
The other Council members looked over from Raxius to Spyro with disapproving looks on their faces. The Guardians did the same as well.
"Maybe he has changed." Cynder thought to herself.
The students simply were dumbstruck at the sight before them.
"Raxius why don't you have a seat until you have recovered yourself." Terrador suggested.
"That sounds like a good idea." He responded.
"We will proceed with the demonstration." Magnus announced. "If you do anything of the sort again Spyro I will not hesitate to keep you in prison for the rest of your life Spyro."
"I didn't do anything." Spyro responded.
"Nonsense you obviously used some dark power of yours to attack Raxius." Magnus responded.
"He didn't even move Magnus; you know he did nothing of the sort." Terrador said standing up for Spyro.
"You dare defend this monster? He is no longer your friend Terrador." Magnus responded.
"I have had enough of this, stop your bickering." Lightnara stated. "You may continue Spyro show us your powers in any order you see fit."
"I guess I will show the ones I demonstrated on the battlefield first then. I have to transform first before I can use my dark powers first though." Spyro responded.
"You may proceed." Lightnara ordered.
"Very well then." Spyro stated. Then transformed once again into the Dark Master. The Council had never before seen this transformation up close though.
"Is this what you fought before the walls of Warfang Guardians?" Lightnara questioned.
All three responded the same, "Yes."
"Very well demonstrate your first power Spyro."
"Well I can seemingly teleport, but really it is Dragon time, like this." Spyro said and then disappeared and reappeared a few feet in front of the Council. "So I'm not really teleporting but it looks like this to you."
"Intriguing." Volteer stated. "So really you are either moving at very high speeds, or we are moving at extremely slow speeds but the result is the same either way."
"Continue." Magnus said gruffly.
"Well the next is that my endurance and my overall power is greatly increased in this form." Spyro said. "Would you like me to demonstrate this, or do you like Warfang as it is now?"
"Is this true Guardians?" Lightnara questioned.
"Yes at one point in the battle Spyro threatened to blow up all of Warfang in one swift stroke." Terrador responded.
"How much area do you think you could destroy Spyro?" Tremor questioned.
"Well I have never had a chance to test it yet… but a small mountain maybe?" Spyro responded.
The whole crowd gasped at the amount of power.
"I see, you do not have to demonstrate this Spyro, continue." Tremor finished.
"Thirdly, I can summon." With that Spyro raised his paw high into the air glowing with purple energy. He slammed it into the ground. Four arms then sprung from the ground in front of him, one of a grublin, a flying grublin, an orc and lastly that of a troll. The group of evil creatures then climbed out of their respective holes and turned towards Spyro, each giving some sort of sign of subservience to the purple dragon. The grublins both saluted, the orc kneeled, and the troll bowed towards there master.
They all spoke at once each in a garbled form of draconian, "What are your orders my lord."
"You have already fulfilled them, you may return." Spyro told them.
"Yes my lord," they all responded and sank back into the earth from where they came.
"We might have to give him his training post back now; the students could fight and kill the real things." Tremor stated.
"NO." Was all they heard from Spyro. "I will not have my troops killed for sport. Terrador I'm sure you would feel the same way about the Dragon Guard. Am I correct?" Spyro questioned him.
"Well yes." Terrador said.
"Why are you so defensive about these creatures they are just mindless brutes." Magnus said.
"No they are not, they are each capable of free and independent thought." Spyro said. "And I will not have them slaughtered for training a few young dragons. Am I clear?"
"You are not the one to make demands here Spyro." Magnus retorted.
Cynder could take it anymore, "Why can't you see it you fool? If Spyro would have wanted to hurt anyone, he could have killed everyone in the city by now. BUT he hasn't."
Magnus was about to retort but Spyro got there first. "Cynder please stay out of this. I do not want to see your paws dirtied in this business. Now may I continue?"
"Yes Spyro, proceed." Lightnara said.
"Lastly I have one more power but I have yet to attempt to use it." Spyro said.
"And what might this be." Magnus asked haughtily.
"Well, I believe I have the power to corrupt other dragons." Spyro stated. Cynder flinched a little at this.
"Do you mean you could do what Malefor did to Cynder?" Tremor asked.
"I believe so, but it is only a theory." Spyro responded.
"Well unless you want to demonstrate this power I will not vote to let you out of prison." Magnus stated.
"You cannot do that Magnus." Terrador stated.
"Ohh yes I can, before this meeting the Council voted that it would have to be a unanimous to let Spyro out or prison." Magnus stated smugly. "So unless he corrupts someone here today, Spyro stays in prison."
"Come on Magnus do you really want to another Terror of the Skies around." Terrador stated. "No offense Cynder."
"Corrupt me then."
Everyone looked around for the source of the voice. Then Cynder stepped forward. "I'm the only one here he won't destroy by doing it too. That and I trust you Spyro."
Spyro stood mouth agape at Cynder. "No, Cynder I will not do that to you again."
"I'm sure you will be able to revert it Spyro. You are the Dark Master after all." Cynder stated a smug grin on her face, directed to Magnus. "If it means getting you out of prison then it is worth it, whatever the consequences."
"Cynder you can't ask me to do this to you. I would stay in prison forever for you." Spyro said.
"That is exactly why I will do everything to get you out of prison." Cynder said.
"I won't do it Cynder."
"Yes you will. If you ever want me to be happy you will do this for me."
The students were in shock of what was happening before them. They would actually get to see what the Terror of the Skies had looked like.
"Fine, but promise you will come back to me Cynder." Spyro said with a tears dripping down his eyes.
"I promise Spyro now get it over with so you can come home." She said as she walked up to him.
Spyro placed his paw on Cynder's forehead. He then channeled the darkness from his own body towards Cynder's. Spyro's paw then began to glow with more purple energy. Cynder's eyes again glowing yellow with the evil flowing through her veins. She began to grow. The holes again opened in her wings which were now substantially larger. She took on her more menacing appearance with her long snake like neck and sharp deadly blades. When the transformation was complete Cynder was once again the Terror of the Skies. She stood fully erect and looked directly at Spyro. She bowed.
"What would you have me do, my master." She said in the cold voice of her adult form.
"Nothing." Spyro responded. Seeing Cynder like this broke his heart. He then put his paw back on her forehead and began to draw the darkness from her. Like venom from a snake bite, he removed the darkness from her soul, and drew it back into himself. Cynder immediately began to shrink back towards her former self again. When the last of the darkness was purged from her she collapsed.
Spyro immediately jumped in and caught her simultaneously turning back into his purple form.
"Are you alright Cyn?"
"Ya, just tired is all." She responded weakly and out of breath.
So did you like it? Not to dramatic I hope. I would have posted this sooner but the motherboard on my brand new laptop blew. (Being born on a Friday the 13th I guess.) Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving Holiday.