On to Chapter 13 and the penultimate mission for Spyro and Troy.

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… let's get cracking!

Chapter 13: Quantum of Solaris

After a long flight, Spyro, Troy and Cosmo arrived at a large field surrounded by towering blue crystals. Every now and then, a bolt of lightning flew out of the storm clouds and struck one of the crystals. At the back, they could see some gigantic black building and a tall tower in the middle, pointing at the stormy sky like a giant's finger. As they landed, Troy turned to Cosmo and asked, "Do you know about this place?"

"Only from what I've heard," the Psychic Dragon said grimly. "They say Cynder's Lair is where hope goes to die. It's a dark foreboding place in which Cynder broods and skulks and plans her next move. This place used to be known as Concurrent Skies, before Cynder and her soldiers invaded. Terrador says that some humans have been brought here and forced to become training dummies for Cynder's Armies. We must rescue them and then make our way to the fortress, where I'm sure Ignitus and Astral are being held."

Sparx gulped. "Next time I say I want to face Cynder, why don't you just go ahead and punch me in the mouth?"

"No problem," Spyro smiled.

As they set off, a loud screech suddenly rang out. They looked up in time to see a Medium Ape run off into the crystalline forest.

"Cosmo," Sparx scowled. "Everything you said made it sound like this place was uninhabited."

"Now what fun would that be?" Spyro chuckled.

"Come on, guys," Troy cried. "We've got to take him out!"

With that, the group set off after the Ape. Soon, in a large clearing next to a small building, they caught up with it, just as a whole troop of Small Apes came charging in, followed by a Large Ape who activated an electric barrier around them. "It's a trap!" Cosmo cried.

"Let's do this," Troy yelled, drawing his sword.

He and the dragons charged forward into the troop. Troy took out several Small Apes with his sword and knocked some back with his shield. Spyro blasted some Apes back with Earth Shot and sent the Medium Ape flying with a well-aimed Earth Tornado. Cosmo used a Psychic Beam to catch a Small Ape and sent it flying back into the others.

Just as it looked like Troy and the dragons were winning, a Dreadwing swooped out of the sky and dropped a large casket right next to them. It split as it hit the ground and a new platoon of Apes charged out.

"You've gotta be kidding," Troy groaned.

"Stand back, guys," Cosmo called out. "Let me handle these butt-ugly furballs!"

The Psychic dragon leapt into the middle of the clearing and closed his eyes. Troy and Spyro stared in horror as the Apes began to close in. Then suddenly, Cosmo's body glowed with an eerie blue light and his eyes snapped open. Before the Apes knew it, their bodies were glowing too as they floated up into the air and spun around Cosmo's head as he lifted onto his hind legs. Then he stamped his feet down and the Apes smashed into the ground around him.

"Whoa," Troy, Spyro and Sparx gasped as Cosmo looked up and smiled.

"That was my Psychic Fury," he proclaimed.

Troy then saw the barrier fading into nothing and then the door of the building flew open. "Come on, guys," he called out. "Let's get going."

Despite a few more attacks by Apes, the group passed through the building without incident and soon, they exited into another clearing. Sparx flew out a little way to scout the area, but as he did, Troy spotted something on the horizon. He turned round to see – and gasped. "Sparx, get back here! Cynder's coming!"

Sparx spun round in time to see the dragoness swooping down towards him, but it was too late to escape. He let out a scream as Cynder hit him with her wing and knocked him to the ground.

"SPARX!" Spyro cried, running up to his fallen brother. Troy and Cosmo came over too. "Are you all right?"

Sparx looked up weakly and raised a hand. "I can't talk," he groaned exaggeratedly. "Heart… breaking up…"

Cosmo shook his head with a chuckle. "I think he'll live."

"Come on," Troy said seriously. "Ignitus and Astral are waiting."

Sparx sighed and flew up. "You've got no respect for the dead, you know."

"No," Troy countered. "I've just got no time for silly jokes. Now let's get going."

But as they left, Cosmo looked up at where Cynder just left and frowned. She was carrying a vial of blood in her claws, he thought. She must have already taken it from Astral. Are we too late to save her?

After a while they came up to the largest building of all, in front of the tall tower rising up to the sky. Sparx let out a whistle of admiration. "Her architect must have been a beauty."

"We'll have to pass through this building to reach the tower," Cosmo explained. "Our friends should be there. Come on."

The group set off through the building, fighting off any Apes that attacked them, and soon they were out the other side, looking up at the tower that lay ahead of them. "Still don't like it," Sparx muttered.

"Still doesn't matter," Spyro argued. "Ignitus and Astral need us."

"I'm not complaining," Sparx retorted. "I'm just saying it would be easier if she were smaller… a lot smaller."

Just then, a loud cry of pain rang out. Troy gasped. "I know that voice," he cried. "That's my brother, Orion! Come on!" And he charged towards the tower, Spyro, Sparx and Cosmo close behind.

Soon, they reached a large clearing at the base of the tower. It was filled with Apes… and humans! The humans were dressed in flimsy leather armour and the Apes were attacking them mercilessly, slashing with their claws and diving at them, teeth bared. Troy's heart sank as he spotted his older brother being beaten by a Medium Ape.

"This is horrible," Spyro breathed sadly. "Those poor humans…"

"Forced into mock battle against those Apes," Cosmo agreed. "And those fleabags have an unfair advantage…"

"What do you say we even the odds?" Troy asked grimly.

"Right, let's go!" Cosmo yelled. And they leapt right into the clearing.

"Alright, you ugly furballs," Troy yelled. "Let those humans go!"

The Apes spun round and screeched angrily, but the humans let out a cheer. Orion looked up in surprise. "Troy?!"

"I'm coming, brother!" Troy charged right in and took out the Medium Ape. Spyro and Cosmo launched into a flurry of elemental attacks; the Apes were burned, shocked, frozen, blasted and flung about - all at the same time!

Soon the Apes were defeated, and Troy quickly ran to his brother's side. "Orion!" he gasped, seeing how badly wounded he was. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Orion grunted, getting stiffly to his feet. "Training certainly didn't prepare me for this. Troy, our mother, she was captured too…"

"It's okay," Troy interrupted. "She's safe. I rescued her too, thanks to my friends."

Orion turned and spotted Spyro and Cosmo. "I saw them fighting the Apes. Are they friendly?"

"I can vouch for them," Troy replied.

"Greetings, brother of Troy and other humans!" Cosmo spoke. "I am Cosmo, and this is Spyro and Sparx. We have aided the Dragon Rider in his quest to save you."

"Dragon Rider?" Orion asked.

But before Troy could reply, the ground began to shake. Seconds later, the tower's doors were violently flung open and a massive figure stomped into the clearing. It was the same size as the Ice King from Dante's Freezer, but its armour was black and its body seemed to be made of purple lightning. It flung its arms back and let out a gurgling roar.

"It's the Electric King!" the other humans screamed, fleeing from the clearing. "Run for your lives!"

"Oh no!" Cosmo gasped. "He used to be the ruler of Concurrent Skies. Looks like Cynder corrupted him somehow!"

"Come on, guys," Troy cried. "We'd better take him out!"

"Wait, let me help you!" Orion struggled to get up but he fell back down with a painful cry.

"Thanks, but you'd be better off staying here," Troy replied. "Sparx, stay with him!"

"Finally, something I can do," Sparx replied.

The group charged towards the Electric King, who drew out a black sword and shield. Troy drew out his own sword and swung it forward, locking blades with the Electric King. With a growl, the King swung his other arm out and knocked Troy into the doors. Spyro charged forward, firing an Earth Shot at the King. The King simply raised his foot and stomped hard, throwing Spyro back with a shockwave. Cosmo then leapt up to attack only to be smashed backwards again.

As the dragons fought against the Electric King, Troy struggled to his feet. "Hold on, you two," he called out. "I'm coming!"

Just then a faint, yet familiar voice called from behind the doors. "Troy, is that you?"

Troy gasped in amazement. "Astral, you're alive! Where are you?"

"I'm trapped in this tower," she replied. "Help me before the King gets back!"

With renewed strength, Troy pushed the doors open and dashed inside. And there, chained to the floor, was Astral!

"You're okay!" Troy ran over to Astral and hugged her neck tightly. Then he noticed the great gash on her back leg. "You're hurt…"

"Yeah, you can blame Cynder for that." Astral looked up with tears in her eyes. "Oh Troy, I thought you'd forgotten me."

"No way," Troy said. "We're a team. I wouldn't get far without you."

Astral's smile grew wider, and then her golden scales began to glow brighter. It was almost dazzling and Troy had to shade his eyes. Just then, Spyro, Cosmo and Orion came flying over their heads, crashing into the wall.

"Guys!" Troy gasped.

"I'm sorry," Orion groaned. "The King grabbed me and threw me into your friends."

Then the Electric King himself came stomping into the room, laughing in triumph as he approached the group.

"We can't defeat him," Cosmo grunted. "The darkness inside him is too strong…"

Astral raised her head and scowled. "Then I think it's time he saw the light..." With that, she opened her mouth… and let loose a powerful beam of energy, brighter than the sun. The Electric King let out a roar of pain as the light swept over his body. Seconds later, his armour caught fire and began to dissolve into ash. When the light faded, the King's body had been completely vaporized.

Troy's mouth dropped open. "What… was… that?"

"That was the Solaris element," Astral said smugly as her scales faded back to normal. "It's the rarest and most powerful element of all. It's only released when the owner's joy and hope are at an all time high. When you came and rescued me, my hopes went so high the power was unlocked."

"Well, let's get you out of here," Cosmo stated. Then he used a Psychic Beam to unlock the chains round Astral's neck and legs.

Once free, Spyro gasped in shock. "Astral, what happened to your leg?"

"It was Cynder," Astral told them. "She cut me with her tail-blade, then collected my blood in a small vial before leaving me to die at the hands of that horrible Electric King."

"I saw it back when she knocked Sparx out of the sky," Cosmo cried out. "But what did she need it for?"

"She said she needed it to release someone called the Dark Lord from the portal, as well as the Dark Master."

"Who is this Dark Lord?" Orion asked. "I heard the Apes mention the Dark Master, but nothing about the Dark Lord."

"I have no idea," Troy admitted. "But whoever they are, it can't be good for the world."

"Hey, guys," Sparx called out. "There's an elevator over here. I think it goes all the way to the top."

"Ignitus must be up there," Spyro reasoned. "Let's go."

"You and Troy go ahead," Cosmo said. "I'll stay with Astral and teach her how to use her Psychic element."

"I'll stay here too," Orion added. "I'm too weak to be of any help to you."

"Right," Troy said. "While we're gone, I want you, Astral and Cosmo to lead the humans to safety. Come on, Spyro, let's go save Ignitus."

And they set off up the elevator towards the roof.

And here ends the chapter.

Next time, Spyro and Troy face up to Cynder and learn an incredible secret.

So until then….