Disclaimer: I do not own any Spyro franchise characters. They are owned by Activision. I only own my own OCs.

If you don't like my story, then just don't read it.

Enjoy

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~Chapter 13~
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Krosus was looking around frantically for the missing cage of children, "Where'd they go?! They couldn't have escaped and taken the cage with them!" Krosus said in a slight panic, "I swear they were right here! Someone must have found them and rescued them! But how?!"

"Perhaps the deceiver was involved," Mal suggested.

"Give the dragon a medal. He managed to figure out the obvious," a figure said as they walked out of the shadows and into the light, "I believe there's a saying; 'know your enemies'."

The other wolves were surprised when they saw who it was, "Veega," the alpha said in shock, "What have you done?"

Veega seemed angered at the fact that she was being accused of this crime, "You actually think I did this?" Veega protested, "When I said 'know your enemies', I assumed you had figured out who it was. When I found out who it was, he trapped me in here."

I noticed that Veega was wearing something around her neck that had a snake design.

"I suppose you can't be the one who took the children away when you're tethered here," Alec said, pointing out Veega's snake-like necklace.

Mal looked around and saw a similar snake-like necklace embedded in the stone wall. Alec attempted to use his life element. But the stone was too strong for his vines to break through, "Hey Mal, remember how we were talking about combining our powers earlier?" Alec asked, "How about we test that now. Focus your earth element through my power."

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Mal asked.

"No."

After giving Alec a questioning glance at his statement, Mal began to focus his earth element through Alec. After a moment, a vine made of stones broke out of the wall, releasing the magic tether that was embedded in the wall.

"That was awesome!" Alec said, still playing with the rock vine. But then the rocks that made up the vine fell apart when Mal released his element, "It seems we have a new team ability. Do you think we should attempt contacting Spyro?"

"If there's going to be a fight, we're going to need the help," Mal agreed.

With that said, Alec began to focus his power towards the temple. The distance did stretch out his power, making him use more energy than what would be comfortable. But once he found the focus point he created, he was able to 'grab on' to it, and even use the energy to help lessen the amount of energy he had to use.

Next it was Mal's turn. Mal began to focus his convexity element through Alec, bringing his focus right to the focus point. Mal had to use a little more energy than he normally would have to. But considering the distance, it averages out to allot less energy. Mal then pulled up a convexity gem.

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"I can't believe they left without letting me know!" Spyro said in a frustrated manor. After Alec and Mal left, Ember had gone to Cynder's room. For a while, Ember was just in there enjoying their company. But when the topic of Alec and Mal came up, Ember told them that they had gone to check on how the guardians were doing with the negotiations, "If there's trouble, I could've been a great help! I've got more experience than both of them!"

"They said that they wanted you here to look after Cynder," Ember said, "And they said something about contacting you if they do need your help."

"But how would they contact us? Using the convexity gems takes up allot of energy! And over that distance would take far too much energy!" Spyro pointed out, "And even if he could focus that far, he'd still have to use that much more energy to focus on where I am specifically! So the gem could end up appearing somewhere where I wouldn't find it!"

Sienna however wasn't focused on Spyro. She was focused on Ember, and the fact that she could remember all of this, "How did you remember all of that?" Sienna asked.

"Remember what?" Ember asked cluelessly.

"How'd you remember what Alec and Mal said?"

"What did they say?"

"You just said it!"

"Say what?"

Sienna just sighed, her hopes brought down again, "Maybe her memory there was just a fluke," Sienna said as she laid her head on her paws.

Cynder then took notice of the vine necklace Ember was wearing, "Ember, where did you get that necklace?" Cynder asked, testing out a theory she had.

"Alec made it for me out of roots," Ember said, her memory seemingly back, "It's fun watching him play with plants!"

"Maybe it wasn't a fluke," Cynder suggested, causing Sienna to lift her head back up, "Maybe her short term memory is repairing itself. It's just not fully fixed yet. And perhaps her memory is somehow connected to Alec's life element."

"So...do you think Ember's short term memory will return?" Sienna asked.

"I can't say for sure. For all I know, this could have been a fluke," Cynder said, "I guess we'll have to wait and see."

"I wish they would've at least told me what they were doing instead assuming I wanted to come with them," Spyro said, still brooding over being left behind.

"But you would have wanted to go with them," Cynder said flatly.

Spyro then put on a sheepish grin, "Well...yeah...but..." Spyro stuttered nervously, "But they just assumed that. For all they knew, I would've said no and just stayed here."

"But you wouldn't have said no," Cynder said, glaring at Spyro accusingly, "You would've gone with them."

Cynder's glare caused Spyro's nervousness to grow, "B-but...my point is...they just assumed it!" Cynder's glare on Spyro did not let up, "OKAY! I ADMIT IT! Alec and Mal made the right call!"

Cynder grinned with triumph. But Spyro was suddenly distracted when he felt convexity energy in the ground. Spyro didn't know how he did it, but Mal had managed to reach his power all the way from the city to the temple. And even managed to get it where Spyro was.

Spyro used his power to pull up a convexity gem. When he did, an image of Mal appeared, in the crystal, "Mal?" Spyro asked, confused, "How did you-"

"I'll explain later. Right now, we might need your help," Mal explained, trying to make the message brief, "Go to the city and find the guardians. They'll tell you where to find us."

"What's the issue?" Spyro asked.

"Someone has kidnapped the kidnapped children," Alec said, his image appearing on the crystal.

"What?" Spyro asked, trying to figure out what was just said. But then the message cut off.

"Alec and Mal are in trouble?" Cynder asked frantically as she got up, "We have to help them!"

"No, we won't," Spyro said, "You are going to stay here. I will go help them."

"But Alec is injured! I specifically told him to stay off that paw!" Cynder argued urgently, "After we help them, I'm going to give Alec a piece of my-"

"NO CYNDER!" Spyro shouted, causing Cynder lay back down, shocked at the fact that Spyro shouted at her, "Even if you did come, you are in no condition to help! Don't forget that you have two eggs you have to keep safe! If you come, you would be putting yourself, and two unborn hatchlings in danger! You would just be in the way!"

Cynder obediently laid where she was as she watched Spyro leave to help the others. Having Spyro shout at her like that hurt Cynder's feelings. But what was worse was what he said. 'You would just be in the way!' Those words stuck in Cynder like a knife. It pained her to know that she was nothing more than dead weight.

No...it was worse than that. Something was wrong. Cynder was actually in pain. Her belly to be exact. Then Cynder noticed Sienna following after Spyro, "No...Sienn...rrrg." Cynder grunted in pain before she could stop Sienna.

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As Spyro was leaving the temple, he heard someone call to him, "Spyro, wait!" Spyro turned around to see that it was Sienna, "I'm coming with you!"

"No you're not!" Spyro insisted, "You're staying here with Cynder and Ember. You're too young for this."

"Answer me this. How old were you when you fought against Malefor?" Sienna asked rhetorically, "You were no older than me. And I think in comparison, a few wolves would be child's play. And I'd have you and the others to protect me."

"First of all, I was able to defeat Malefor because I'm the legendary purple dragon. Not only that, but I had Cynder's help to do that," Spyro pointed out, "I've also had more experience than you when I was your age. I fought against Cynder back when she was the Terror of the Skies. I fought several foes after that. I fought Gaul in the Well of Souls. And that's just to name a few. I've experienced things no dragon my age should have to go through."

"I may not have the same experience you do. But I do have the ability to take care of myself," Sienna demanded, "You forget that I'm the daughter of the guardian of fire after all. The same dragon who taught you how to control your fire element."

"Shouldn't you stay here to protect your little sister?" Spyro asked.

"I already know I can take care of Ember," Sienna said, "But I'm doing this to prove to myself that I can protect her in the face of danger."

"How sure are you that you can get out of this safely?" Spyro asked.

"Because I made a promise to myself that I would take care of Ember until we saw our father," Sienna said with a sense of wisdom, "And being the daughter of a guardians, I don't intend on being the type to break a promise."

"If I told you no, would that stop you anyway?" Spyro asked. Seeing the look in the young dragoness' eyes gave him his answer, "I didn't think so. Come on, let's go."

With that said, Spyro and Sienna were off towards the city to help the others.

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"I knew if I were to cause harm to the children, I would just be in more trouble. So regardless of wanting to just get rid of them, I chose to ignore that desire and just checked on them," Veega said as she explained her situations...

X ~ Flashback ~ X

As Veega was checking on the cage of young dragons, she heard something in the shadows. When she went to check on what it was, she was grabbed. And before she knew it, a figure put something around her neck.

"You know, Veega, you really should stay out of another wolf's business," the figure said, walking into the light.

"What are you doing here?" Veega asked.

"I'm here because I need bait to draw out the legendary purple dragon," the dark colored wolf said, "And since my plan for starting a war between the dragons and the wolves failed, I have use these children as the bait."

"You're plan..." Veega asked herself, "You mean the whole plan to attack the dragons was a hoax just to get to the purple dragon?"

"Do you think a dragon would've caused all of that destruction all of those years ago for no reason?" the dark wolf questioned, "Of course not. It was all me. But once I've got my paws on the purple dragon, I won't have a use for the bait anymore. So I'll just dispose of them."

"Once I get out of here, I'll tell the other what you did!" Veega said.

"It won't be that easy to get out of here though," the dark wolf said, "But if you think you can stop me, then come and get me."

Taking the bait, Veega charged toward the wolf. But she was suddenly held back by a magic tether connected to what was around her neck. The other end of the tether was embedded in the wall of the cave. As much as she tried to struggle, she could only watch helplessly as the dark wolf grabbed the cage, then magically vanished from the cavern. And she was stuck, unable to warn the others.

X ~ End Flashback ~ X

"Wait, does that mean he's gonna kill those innocent children for no reason?" Ferra asked urgently.

Wait, does that mean we just lured Spyro into a trap?

"If we have any say in it, those children won't be harmed," Alec said.

"I'm the one who gathered them up," Krosus said, "So I made their safety my responsibility."

"I'd suggest that you share the responsibility," Alec said as he walked up to Krosus, "I can help you by using my ability to sense energy. I'm sure I can sense a collection of dragons better than you can."

"I never thought I'd see the day when I'd join forces with a silver dragon," Krosus said, "Can you sense anything?"

"Well, I can sense their residual life force still here. I can use that to help me focus on them," Alec said. After a few moments, Alec found something, "I think I found where they are. But I'm not sure."

"What do you mean you're not sure?" Veega asked, "Do you mean you don't sense their energies?"

"Actually, that's exactly what I mean. But that's why I think that's where they are," Alec said, causing the others to question what he meant, "I found an area where I can't sense any life energy at all. It's a void, as if it's nonexistent to my senses."

"So, where is this 'void'?" Mal asked.

Alec turned his head to the floor, "It's right below us," Alec said, "And the entrance is here." Alec walked into the shadow where Veega was originally. Next to where the tether was embedded was what appeared to be a dark wall. But as Alec walked forward, he walked right through the wall.

"The wall is an illusion," the alpha realized before he followed Alec through.

One by one, the group walked through the wall into a dark pit. All of them except for Mal, who stayed behind to meet Spyro when he arrived.

The group walked down a corridor that made a U-turn part way. The downward slope continued into the cavern where the void was. Once they crossed into the void, Alec suddenly felt light headed.

"Ah, the silver dragons are a powerful race, their power being enhanced by the life force of their surroundings. But you see, that is also their greatest weakness," a dark wolf said as he walked out of the shadows, "You see, a silver dragon's power isn't just enhance by their surroundings, it is reliant of them. The stronger the life force, the stronger the silver dragon. But what if a silver dragon were to be brought into a void of life force?"

I must have been really light headed, because what I was about to do I knew wouldn't succeed.

"We'll see about that," Alec said. But once he took a step toward the dark wolf, he just collapsed onto the floor.

"Where are the children, Kore?!" Krosus demanded.

"They are safe...for now," Kore answered, "I still need them alive until the purple dragon gets here." Kore then turned on a light that revealed the cage of children, now hanging above a bottomless pit, "But once I get what I want, I'll release the rope, sending them to their doom."

X~ ~ ~ ~ ~X

Spyro and Sienna landed where the guardians were standing. Terrador pointed them into the cave. After a few moments of walking, Spyro and Sienna met up with Mal, who lead them through the fake wall.

What I love about cliffhangers is that you can do what is most likely obvious...or you can completely screw with people's heads! I'll bet you all thought it was Veega who kidnapped the children in the last chapter! But NO! I chose to do what I would like to call a "Fa Q" move and made Kore the kidnapper. Although it's not surprising that Kore would be the kidnapper, I did technically make it obvious that it was Veega...even though it wasn't her.

It seems that Alec's theory of combining his ability with Mal's power was proven to work. And it looks like it also make a good team ability. And it also seems there's an explanation behind Ember's short term memory repairing itself. Well...it is the "life" element after all.

And what's wrong with Cynder? This isn't just one of her blackouts. This is something different.

P.S. Did any of you figure out what "Fa Q" is supposed to mean?

Please R&R.