Alright, this is the last chapter with Orion for a while. After that, Cynder's part of the story will be now in full chapter, not shared. Anyway, let's continue this, and hopefully finish it by July.

Disclaimer: I do not own Spyro.

"Are you dead yet?"

Draco laughed as he stood about six feet away from Orion, who was slumped against the wall of darkness. The right sleeve of his trench coat was gone, his sword was in two, and he was just…beaten. The X shaped cut of his chest was bleeding furiously, and his eyes were glazed over. Everything on his was just ruined. The once silver fur was now brown-red with his blood, while a piece of bone sprouted from his right shoulder.

But, to Draco's amusement, He slowly got back up and looked at him with fire still burning in his eyes. When Draco saw him stand up, he sighed. "You really need to learn to give up. I was planning to let you live, but now; I guess you need to die in order for you to learn that some battles you will lose." He said in an almost sarcastic way as he appeared in front of Orion and picked him up by his neck.

"You're right…but now some of…the blood that was rushing to…my head is gone." Orion replied weakly, not even lifting his hands to try and get Draco's claws off of him. "And you also need to live up to your statement…" He added as he kicked Draco's crystal with all of his remaining strength, making it come out his back another inch.

Draco roared in pain and released Orion, his armor starting to crack for some reason. More blood dripped down his mouth and onto the ground, but he stood up and wiped away the blood after a minute. "I was going easy on you…but now I think I'll take it up a NOTCH!" He yelled in rage as his swords disappeared and was replaced by a massive great sword. It was the height of Draco, and twice as wide. The blade had ridges on it, evidently made for ripping apart enemies.

He's let his rage get a hold of him, and now he will swing wildly….but if Orion gets hit, he's down for good. Starfire thought as she watched the battle. "Dad, do you think you can make a hole large enough for me to get through?" She asked Firestar, an idea forming in her head.

"I may be able to…but what about your ankle? It's not healed yet…" he responded as he looked at her swollen ankle.

Starfire sighed before something clicked in her brain. Duh…I can heal this! It'll take a lot out of me…but I can at least walk afterwards. She thought as she mentally slapped herself. She kneeled down and ignored the throbbing pain it gave her and healed her ankle.

"Can you now?" She asked her father wearily.

"I can try…but I don't know how long I can hold it open." Firestar replied as his right fist glowed and he punched the wall of shadow with all his strength, making a large hole. However, black electricity reached out from the wall and started to electrocute him. "Hurry…!" He yelled through pain.

At that same time, Orion was grazed by a swing by Draco, cutting at his fur and skin. He was looking blood rapidly, and it was starting to take its toll. His movements were jerky and slowed down, and he kept fading in and out of focus.

There was no way he could hold this up for long. Draco still seemed to be in perfect condition except for the fact that his crystal was out his back two inches from his attacks. However, just as he was about to strike, Draco seemed to anticipate his movements and swung all the way across his chest.

Orion was flung backwards, his trench coat shredded and on the ground, making him topless. "You fool! What made you think you could win!?" Draco laughed madly, his rage still over him. "Now, time to DIE!" He yelled as he swung his sword down on Orion.

However, before he could hit Orion, something hit him in the side and distracted him. Starfire stood there, panting from exhaustion, since it was all she could do to stand. This distraction was all Orion needed to gather everything he had and kick his crystal again.

Draco stumbled backwards again, but this time darkness was pouring out of his body chaotically and striking random things. One, however, went directly at Orion, who couldn't move. It went straight through his chest before fading, and he fell backwards in a spread-eagle way. However, there was no hole where the darkness had struck, and no other signs of damage appeared on his body other than the fact he was on his back.

Draco suddenly disappeared in a pillar of shadow and the altar in the middle of the room shattered, making the walls of darkness fade. Starfire rushed over to Orion, and let out a sigh of relief to find that he was still alive. "Next time…" She whispered as she held his bloody head, "You better not charge into battle without warning us…"

XXXXX

"We're here."

Cynder snapped out of her train of thought and looked at Wind, who was indicating towards a fortress. It was…huge. That was pretty much the only way to describe it. Rectangle in shape, it was made out of white stone and had little windows in it, the only being two large ones in the middle and a few smaller ones on the upper wall. There were patrols just about everywhere, making it almost impossible for anyone to get in or out without being noticed.

"About freaking time!" Koga almost yelled as Larka smacked him over the head with her tail.

"Yes, the walk was very tiresome and…" Klair began, but Cynder soon lost interest in what he was talking about.

"Yes, I apologize for the long walk, but at least we made it before the-" Wind responded as a figure jumped out of the trees and landed on his back while a faint snap was heard from his wrist as he growled in pain.

"Hypocrite." The figure on his back smiled. It was a black female wolf with gold eyes, and she looked in her late teens or early twenties. "You went and told all of us not to let our guard down even if we were here, and you go off and let yours down." She continued, her smile growing wider.

"Jin…" Wind growled dangerously.

"Yes dear?" She replied innocently.

"GET THE HELL OFF OF ME!" Wind yelled as he flung her off of him. She landed on her back in some shock but soon began laughing. The scene was comical, and it was kinda relaxing since after all that Cynder had gone through, she could finally spare a chuckle.

"You need to relax, Wind." Jin laughed as she brushed twigs and leaves off of her body. Then she noticed Cynder and the others, "Who are they?" She asked as she circled around Cynder, inspecting her in a wary and curious way.

"That is Cynder…my mother." Wind replied as Jin literally fell to the side. "I know it's hard to believe, but I'll explain once we get inside, ok?" He added as he continued walking towards the fortress, rubbing his wrist in pain.

Jin eyed Cynder for a few more seconds before stealing a quick glance at the others before following Wind, and Cynder followed her. She closed her eyes and then opened them again to check for any darkness, but found nothing dangerous besides the normal darkness that Fenris said everyone has.

Cynder blanked out for a bit, her subconscious the only thing keeping her balance. She recognized this area, and it pained her slightly that none of the people who lived here was alive anymore. This was the area where the temple that she first met Terrador, Volteer, Cyril, and Ignitus, the last one being corrupted.

She guessed that the temple had been ruined and they built this in its stead. But, couldn't they have just rebuilt it? She thought wearily, her back leg throbbing again, or was it just too ruined for it to be rebuilt?

"Cynder, wake up!" Larka hissed quietly as she nudged her.

Cynder snapped out of her thoughts again and saw that they were in front of the fortress….which was so much bigger up front than it was when she first saw it. Ahead of her, Wind was talking to two dragons, who were somehow standing on two legs, that held a large sword that resembled Xaldin's in size and shape, but the handle was different.

After a moment, Wind signaled them to follow and the two dragons put their swords down to let them pass. As Cynder walked by them, she noticed that both were expressionless and that the one of the right was much older than the one on the left.

Cynder stepped inside…and found herself lost in the scramble of people who were running around. In the midst of the chaos, a black bipedal dragon with a scar on his right eye ordering people around. However, when he noticed Cynder, he stopped and walked over to them.

Cynder instantly got a bad feeling about him.

"You must be Cynder…" The dragon said as he walked over to her, "My name is Xavis…and I am the leader of this…resistance." He added with some fatigue. His green eyes seemed to inspect them all before falling on Larka for a few seconds.

"How did you know my name?" Cynder asked bluntly. She couldn't understand why she was getting a bad feeling from him, but she preferred to keep her distance from him. There was something in his eyes that said he was hiding something…

"I sent out a few scouts, and they saw you. And I also know…" Xavis said as guards literally came out of nowhere and surrounded Larka with spears, "That she carries the taint of the corruption. She has to be….dealt with…" He continued as he gave some sort of signal and the guards lunged forward….

And I shall leave it at that. What will happen next will be revealed…next time….