I'm now on Chapter 12, so now we learn a shocking truth! Incidentally, I'm sorry if this is so late; the Internet wasn't working for me for days.

DISCLAIMER: This has nothing to do with Eragon, How To Train Your Dragon, Dragon Booster or any other stories involving people who ride dragons. Also I do not own Spyro, just my OC's.

So now… let's continue.

Chapter 12: Final Preparations

As the sun began to sink below the horizon, Troy, Spyro, Terrador and Cosmo arrived back at the Temple. Volteer and Cyril came running onto the balcony to meet them, but concern crossed their faces. "What happened?" Cyril demanded. "Where are Ignitus and Astral?"

Terrador bowed his head. "Cynder was waiting for them," he told them grimly. "After I warned Ignitus, he insisted on flying out to help them. Cynder was too strong for him, then Astral came after her. They plummeted into the smoke of the volcano. I can only assume that Cynder now holds them captive."

Swapping sad looks, the Guardians went back to the Grotto, Troy, Spyro and Cosmo following behind. The younger dragons were waiting for them, but as Troy and Spyro told them the whole story, their hopes fell too.

"… It's my fault," Spyro finished sadly. "I've failed Ignitus and Astral when they needed me most. It's just that the sight of Cynder so close just… just…"

"Made your heart stop?" Hydrus put in.

"Put ice in your veins?" Botanica added.

"Scared the crud out of you?" Sparx included.

"Yeah… something like that," Spyro muttered.

"You weren't the only one," Troy sighed, his head bowed. "I failed them too. When I saw Cynder back at the volcano, it reminded me of the day she attacked my village. I couldn't face her, she's just so… terrifying. And then when she knocked me out of Astral's saddle… I could've died out there…" He trailed off with a sob.

"I'm sorry, guys," Cosmo murmured. "If I'd come a lot faster, Astral would still be here… and so would Master Ignitus."

"All warriors feel fear at one time or another, young ones," Terrador said consolingly. "There's no shame in that…"

"Yes," Volteer interrupted. "It's a proving scientific fact that the quotient between adrenaline and trepidation-"

"Volteer, please," Cyril cried impatiently. "I believe our good friend here was trying to make a point."

"Thank you, Cyril," Terrador sighed. "What I was going to say is that all warriors feel fear, Spyro and Troy, but only the most valiant among us can face that fear and master it. From what I saw of you and Astral on Munitions Forge, you are such warriors." Then he turned to Spyro and continued, "Young dragon, the time has come to complete your training. Now is the time to face your fear. Come."

Terrador set off for the Dojo, and Spyro set off after him. Sparx followed too, muttering, "Am I the only one still petrified?"

Troy watched them leave, then turned and left for the garden. Cyril and Volteer swapped worried looks then they set off after Troy, and Cosmo followed them too.

They found Troy by the large tree in the centre of the garden. He was leaning against the roots, head bowed and sword lying in front of him. He didn't look up when the dragons drew near, but simply muttered, "What do you want?"

"Are you OK?" Volteer said. "We're terribly worried, anxious, troubled, concerned about you."

"What Volteer means is, whatever is the trouble, young Rider?" Cyril added.

Troy sighed and shook his head. "I can't do this…"

"What do you mean?" Cyril asked worriedly.

"Terrador's wrong, I'm no warrior," the young human moaned, fresh tears building in his eyes. "I couldn't save my family and I couldn't save my friends. Fighting Apes, Golems and Magma Worms are one thing, but Cynder's just too much for me. I don't think I'm worthy to be a Dragon Rider…"

"You can't just give up," Cosmo yelled. "Astral's out there; she needs you."

"She didn't even listen when she went after Cynder!" Troy snapped, raising his head. "I tried to warn her, but she went anyway! She didn't care how scared I was of Cynder, all she was worried about was saving Ignitus!"

"That's enough!" Cyril cut in. "Astral has always been quite stubborn, but I'm certain she wasn't just thinking about Ignitus."

"Yes, she most likely assumed that you would aide her in the retaliation," Volteer agreed. "It's another proven scientific theory that when one is angry, it often clouds their judgement, making them prone to error. If it weren't for your apparent cowardice-"

"There's a reason I was afraid!" Troy cut in sharply. "I had seen Cynder swooping down on my village, burning it to the ground and letting out that terrible roar! She killed my first good friend in the world and then took everyone else! I was outside the village the whole time, watching that battle and seeing everything happen right before my eyes! I could have run in and saved them, but… I froze up. I watched those Apes taking my family away, and I couldn't do a thing about it, all because of Cynder!"

"And yet, you went after her," Cosmo pointed out. "You sailed from your homeland, fought all those Apes, battled against powerful foes and helped Spyro and Astral free the Guardians. Like Master Terrador said, you faced your fears and conquered them. Now you must conquer them again if you are to save Astral and Ignitus."

"I…" Troy swallowed. "I can't…" He turned away, hiding the tears. "I'm sorry, but Spyro will have to do it on his own."

"So that's it, is it?" Cyril suddenly spoke up haughtily. "You're just gonna give up? Hang up your armor and stay with your people? That is what you wanted, right? And now that you've found your precious humans, I guess you're going to leave Astral to die out there!"

"What?" Troy gasped, jumping to his feet. "What do you mean, die?"

"I suppose you should know," the Ice Guardian continued. "When Ignitus told you about Cynder's plan, he mentioned that she was looking through the younger dragons for someone special. Astral is that someone."

"Uh, Cyril," Volteer spoke up. "I really don't think that Troy can handle the reality of-"

"Zip it for once, Volteer," Cyril yelled. "Troy deserves to know the truth!" With that, he turned back to the Rider. "Listen, Troy. We already know what Cynder's up to. As well as our powers, she needs the blood of a dragon bearing the mark of the Rider for that portal. After she get it, Astral will no longer be useful, so she'll kill her."

"No," Troy breathed. "She can't…"

"She can and she will," Volteer agreed. "Unless you recuperate from your depression and summon the courage to liberate Astral, I fear she will meet a terrible expiration."

"But never mind," Cyril finished with a sneer. "You got your humans, so nothing else matters, hmm?"

With that, the Guardians turned and set off back to the Grotto. Troy felt his legs beginning to shake and he collapsed to the ground. "What have I done?"

"It hasn't happened yet," Cosmo reassured him. "Listen, you weren't alone out there. Astral's been with you whenever you needed her. Now she needs you more than ever. Are you really going to leave her to her fate?"

Troy was silent, a look of fear across his face.

The next day, after Spyro had completed his training, he and the Guardians gathered back at the Grotto for a final meeting.

"You've done well, Spyro," Terrador said proudly.

"Yes, yes, pat on the back, good going, all that sort of rubbish but we've got to get moving here," Cyril cried impatiently.

Volteer let out a heavy sigh. "Cyril is terribly obnoxious, but in this case, he happens to be right, Terrador. Ignitus and Astral are the final pieces to Cynder's puzzle. If that last crystal is powered, and if they get Astral's blood, the portal will open and we'll all be done for."

"I know, I know," Terrador murmured. "When I was on Munitions Forge, I overheard the Conductor say that Cynder's final preparations will take place at her lair, where she lives in solitude among the clouds and the towers. I am certain that's where she taken Ignitus and Astral."

"We have to go," Spyro said, getting to his feet. "Come on."

But Terrador shook his head sadly. "I'd give anything to go with you, young warrior, but that crystal sapped the last of my will. I fear my fighting days are over."

"Every generation must pass the torch onto the next, Terrador," Volteer consoled. "Our time is done."

"Yes, it is Spyro's time to shine," Cyril agreed. "Now go to it, young dragon!"

"Yes sir," Spyro cried and headed towards the Dojo but then he paused at the door. "Wait, isn't Troy coming too?"

"I'm afraid not," Cyril replied, grimly. "No doubt he's back with his mother, making up for lost time."

"Not this time," a voice rang out.

The dragons turned to find Troy standing in the open doorway to the garden, Cosmo by his side. "I want to come too. Cosmo's right, I'm not leaving Astral to her fate. That's not what she would have wanted. And my brother's still out there; I'm not leaving him behind."

Volteer smirked at Cyril, glad that the Ice Guardian was wrong for once.

"I'm coming with him," Cosmo added, already dressed in a set of silver armor. "He needs a way to get to Cynder's Lair, and Astral's learned Psychic Breath. She'll need someone to train her."

"You're a brave dragon, Cosmo," Terrador beamed. "And Troy, you really are a valiant warrior. Now go and save your friend."

"I will," Troy cried. "Come on, let's get going."

"Right," Spyro nodded.

"Wow," Sparx smiled. "You guys make even me want to face Cynder." As they headed out to the balcony, he added quietly, "Did I say that out loud?"

As Astral slowly came to, she felt something was wrong. She opened her eyes and found herself in a dark unfamiliar room. She struggled to remember how she got here, then it all came back to her. She was trying to rescue Ignitus, when Cynder grabbed her and then Ignitus dived at them, they were falling and then… nothing.

"Master Ignitus?" she called out. She tried to stand up, but she couldn't. Then she noticed some large chains around her neck and legs, pinning her to the floor. "Master Ignitus, where are you?"

"Don't waste your breath, little one," said a silky whisper from the shadows. "Your master can't hear you."

"What have you done with him?" Astral called out. "Show yourself."

Seconds later, she regretted that last remark as Cynder herself emerged from the darkness. "Welcome to my lair, little golden friend," she hissed. "I hope you're quite comfortable."

"Not really," Astral said, trying to sound braver than she actually is. "If you could loosen these chains a bit, then I'll be fine."

"But you're not fine, are you?" Cynder sneered, swishing her tail-blade from side to side. "All this time, my Apes and I have been searching for you, hunting down the younger dragons looking for the mark of the Dragon Rider. Now at last, we've found you and I can release my Masters from their prison…"

Astral gulped. "What are you talking about?"

"I might as well tell you, since you'll die after we're done with you," the dark dragoness growled. "You see, the Guardians' powers are needed to open the main portal and free the Dark Master, but there is a greater prison inside. It was locked by the great Dragon Rider, Trafalgar, and it contains the deadliest force in the world, the Dark Lord. All it needs is the blood of a dragon bearing the Rider's mark…"

"Me?" Astral realized with horror.

"Yes, you," Cynder whispered. "Now this will only take a second…"

Astral tried to pull away, but the chains held down, so she could only watch in terror as Cynder raised her tail-blade and brought it slowly down towards her…

Freaky stuff! And that's where this chapter ends.

Next chapter, Troy, Spyro and Cosmo arrive at Concurrent Skies, but will they be too late?

So, until next time….