------------------------------

Chapter 10- A Quest Dawns

-------------------------------

Claws clashed and a great battle began. Spyro shot a jet of flame at Darkvoid who avoided it. It proceeded to break a hole through the wall of the cavern. Rocks and slabs of earth began falling from the ceiling. Darkvoid shot quick waves of dark sludge in Spyros direction and Spyro used agility he didn't even know he had and avoided the attack. The sludge exploded on contact with the floor creating a large hole which both him and Darkvoid fell through.

The continued fighting even as they fell, whipping attacks at each other so fast that when Ned tried to keep track of Spyro his eyes almost fell out. The hit solid ground and Spyro summoned a wall of fire to incinerate Darkvoid. The whole chamber seemed alit with flame and the temperatures rose above boiling. The battle still raged on as Spyro fought with large amounts of force.

Darkvoid was losing; down here Spyro had the advantage. Darkvoid knew that they near a sacred place were the power of the ancestors originated. He had to do everything in his power to keep Spyro away from that place.

Spyro looked around him and felt energy and power flow into him. It was as if the very source of his magic was somewhere nearby. Well he was in some ancient tomb, maybe there was a power source down here! He thought to him self and forced a wave of bright energy in Darkvoids direction. It was a direct hit and it sent Darkvoid spiraling backward. He then proceeded on landing on the flat rock face of the cavern.

"Huh…your good…but not good enough! It's time to unleash my secret weapon!" Darkvoid panted and he summoned up a dark energy ball and shot it straight at Spyro.

Spyro dodged it easily and looked at Darkvoid once again.

"You haven't seen the last of me you bastard!" Darkvoid yelled.

"Oh really?" Spyro laughed and snapped his fingers. A large boulder dislodged from the wall and fell on top of Darkvoid. There was an explosion and all was silent except the burning of flame.

Ned Jeb and Cid looked astonished when Spyro flew out of the hole and back into the main chamber.

"What j-just happened?" Ned stuttered. His friends seemed to be barely on their feet.

"Never mind that for now, we need to get out of here! The tomb is caving in!" Spyro exclaimed and as if mere coincidence rocks began to fall from above.

"Alright just get us to hell outta here!" Ned whimpered.

"But…what about the research?" Jeb stuttered. Ned turned to him with a look of aggression.

"Forget the damn research we've got lives at stake!" Ned yelled and then they followed Spyro to the exit. Once they got to the gate they soon realized it was caved in.

"Oh this is just great how the hell are we supposed to get out now?" Ned stated.

"I'll try moving the rock." Spyro said and he concentrated on it and tried using his powers to move it but he failed.

"It's too thick, we'll have to find another way out." Spyro stated.

"What other way? There is no other way! And may I remind you the tomb is caving in we don't have time to look for another way!" Ned yelled and than the tomb stopped shaking.

"Bad news guys…the tomb did cave in." Cid said timidly. "Were stuck down here now!" he continued and began to panic.

"Guys, lets not panic. Dragons always build back entrances to structures." He said remembering what his dad had told him many years ago.

"It was believed that all buildings had to have two entrances so the spirits could flow through peacefully. I remember learning that from my dragon architecture class." Jeb exclaimed.

"Alright, so there's a back entrance, how are we supposed to find it if the floor is busted?" Ned stated, obviously still doubting they would survive.

"That's perfect actually, were not going forward were going down." Spyro stated.

"When I was fighting that creature down there, I noticed a series of tunnels leading even more downward. Don't you see? That could lead to the second exit!"

"Well we might as well give it a try, what else are we going to do sit here and die?" Cid exclaimed.

"I agree. I'm in." Jeb stated and they all looked at Ned.

"Fine…you win but when we all get eaten by some huge underground worm nobodies going to blame me!" he snorted.

It had seemed like hours of walking deeper into the cavern. It almost seemed like it led to the center of the Earth. Finally they came to an enormous door and everyone yipped with glee.

"Ahh the door out! Lets go!" Ned yelled and scrambled his way to the door so clumsily that he fell over on his way.

"It looks like it needs a key." Cid grumbled.

"Wait a second, what is that pedestal doing in the center of the room?" Jeb asked and they all turned to look at it.

"I have an idea." Spyro stated and he climbed on the pedestal. He concentrated on his power and soon the pedestal lit with a bluish glow and the huge doors swung open.

"Walk now talk later." Spyro stated as all three of the men looked at him in astonishment.

Just like the doors, the room was very large and filled with glowing crystals. In the center of the room is what looked like the crumbling remains of a temple. It seemed familiar some how, which was odd because he had never been here before.

"Hey I don't see the exit! What a rip off!" Ned exclaimed and punched the air.

"Look over here! It looks like some sort of Sarcophagus!" Jeb said looking at a giant tomblike structure just below the crumbled temple.

"Hey Spyro do you think you can read this?" Cid asked pointing to an inscription on the Sarcophagus.

"Here lies our guardian, our teacher and our leader who died in battle against a great evil; Commandant. May he rest in peace forever." Spyro read.

"So this was a tomb after all! Fascinating!" Ned said scratching his unshaven chin.

"I have long waited for you to return, descendant of Spire…" a voice called from somewhere in the cavern.

"Were the hell did that come from?" Ned exclaimed and Spyro signaled that he should stay quite.

"Please speak to me Spire-kin, I long to hear your voice." The voice called out again.

"I am here. My name is Spyro. Who are you?" Spyro asked.

"Spyro, such an honorable name. After your great descendant." The voice said in a tone that seemed like a sigh. "My name is Commandant" the voice replied.

"Wait, is this your tomb then? Are you dead?" Spyro asked.

"My body died long ago, but my Spirit was incased in the crystals around the cave." Commandant said.

"I can still communicate from those in the outside world through dreams." Commandant said.

"So it was you who called me here! You were the dragon in my dream!" Spyro stated.

"That is correct. Now listen, there is much to tell and so little time." Commandant said.

"I was your great descendant's mentor, though I can no longer teach in the way of battle I must still tell you a few things." Commandant continued.

"There is a great evil approaching Spyro, greater than anything you have ever faced. If you want to defeat it and save your kingdom you must listen to what I have to say next." He continued and Spyro sat up listening intently.

"There are 8 pieces, scattered through out the worlds. Our only hope of restoring peace is by finding all of them and by utilizing their magic you can defeat the evil." Commandant said.

"How will I know were to look?" Spyro asked.

"The pieces glow when they are close to each other. The only way to track them is with another piece." Commandant explained.

"What are they pieces to anyways?" Ned asked.

"An orb, of great power and light. But that is not important right now, now I must come to my final purpose of this meeting." Commandant stated and suddenly dust fell from the ceiling and a crystal like shard fell down.

"A piece!" Spyro exclaimed and picked it up.

"That's right young dragon…use it to find the others and remember light is on your side, and the darkness will be thwarted!" Commandant said and sure enough a ray of light shined in from the opposite side of the room.

"The exit! Come on guys, lets get out of this haunted hell hole!" Ned exclaimed and ran for the opening.

"What if I need you Commandant? How can I speak to you?" Spyro asked.

"Dream Spyro…" Commandant whispered and the crystals lost their glow.

"Finally! Fresh air!" Ned exclaimed.

"Dude that was gnarly!" Cid yelled and jumped into the air.

"So what now?" Jeb asked and looked around.

"Well I definitely have to get back home…I'm in big trouble." Spyro said watching the sun slowly rise in the cool night sky.

"How about you shine some light on what the hell happened down there first?" Ned snapped.

"Well, I guess I might as well. You might want to sit down though, it's a long story." Spyro replied and ironically everyone seemed to stand up straighter than usual.

Little did they know that the whole time Spyro was explaining, they were being watched and strange ears were listening, and evil minds were plotting.