I apologize for taking so long to update. The reason is because my computer began freaking out and every 10 seconds a pop-up would say '49 infections found'. Well my computer began screwing up and a bunch of stuff began happening to it such as, viruses, Trojans, tracking cookies, malicious programs, backdoors, desktop background missing, desktop icons missing, 20 volume icons at the bottom of the toolbar on desktop, no internet access, (voice dies down.)

Chapter 20 Home Sweet Home

Flame battled his way back toward his companions across the scorched burning planes of what used to be a village. An enemy jumped toward Flame with a sword in hand. Flame looked and and dove out the way of his blow. Flame quickly turned around and slashed his leg. His enemy held his leg in pain and swore at Flame. Flame ran over to Ember who was battling against 2 enemies. Flame leaped onto one of them distracting the other long enough for Ember to finish him off. Flame quickly slashed across the enemy's neck ending his life.

"You ok Ember?",Flame asked over the clashing battle.

Ember made a looked at Flame and made a quick nod then returned her attention to the battle. The two of them ran toward the enemy in a attempt to stop them from destroying what was left of the city. Flame encountered an enemy with a shield and was equipped with an axe. He swung his axe at Flame, desperate to take him down. Flame quickly ducked his head and charged his opponent. The enemy huffed as the air was knocked out of him then thrusted his shield forward knocking Flame into a daze.

"Flame!".Ember yelled.

The enemy brought his axe down and sliced Flame across his back. Ember charged over and flamed the enemy. The opponent raised his metal shield and the fire scattered around him. Another enemy charged toward Ember to aid his brethren. He threw a hidden dagger at Ember in which she dodged by jumping to the side. The one with the axe swung his weapon at Ember, Ember ducked her head. The one with the sword ran at Ember and unsheathed his long sword and held the hilt with two hands. He charged at Ember with it raised high then brung it down. Ember rolled to the side then blew more fire onto her opponents. The one with the axe threw his shield at Ember knocking her in the head then the one with the sword thrusted his sword forward and stabbed Ember in the chest. A sudden cold rushed through her body as she looked down to see a bloody sword in her chest. Her enemy withdrew the sword then ran off along with the other one to continue the fight. Ember fell over out of pain. She was dieing. On the golden sand she looked across the battlefield and saw Flame dragging himself toward her.

"Ember! Stay with me!",Flame coughed.

"I feel cold Flame",Ember weakly said. Ember examined Flame to spot a slash across his back and a stab wound on his side.

"Flame, . . . I",Ember managed but gave up. She closed her eyes, hearing Flame screaming before her life gave way.

3:28 A.M.

Spyro shot up out of bed. He was sweating and panting heavily.

"Spyro! You ok?"

Spyro looked up to see everyone up trying to figure out what was happening.

"Yea, just had a nightmare",Spyro said then rubbed his head.

"What was it?",Flame asked.

Spyro thought then answered, "I really rather not talk about it."

Flame nodded, "You ok now right?"

"Yea, I'll be fine."

"Sweet dreams then",Sparx remarked then returned to his chair.

"Yea, hopefully",Spyro thought.

Everyone returned to their beds and Flame turned off the lamp. Spyro leaned back on the plushy white pillow thinking about that terrible nightmare. Everyone slowly drifted off into sleep leaving Spyro the last one up. He stared aimlessly at the rugged ceiling wondering why this was happening so suddenly. It never happened before. That is until they had to embark on an unexpected journey. Spyro guessed it was stress. Only time would tell.

25 minutes before sunrise

"Wake up sleepy head."

Spyro opened his eyes to see Ember standing next to his bed.

"Ember?"

"Everyone is downstairs waiting. We let you sleep for a little while longer because of earlier."

Spyro looked around the room to see she was indeed telling the truth. He looked at Ember again and slowly rolled over off the bed. Spyro yawned and turned off the lamp then picked up the room key. Ember and Spyro made their way out the door leaving Spyro to shut and lock it. They made their way downstairs to see Katrina sitting on a wooden polished stool behind the counter. Everyone else was standing in front of the counter except for Titan who stood next to Katrina. Cynder smiled as Spyro made his way over to her.

"Morning everyone",Spyro greeted still half asleep.

"Good morning Spyro",Cynder said.

Flame asked, "Ready to get going?"

Spyro nodded. There was a sudden noise on the stairs as if someone was coming down. Everyone turned their attention to it as Scylla made her way down.

"Scylla?",Katrina said with surprise.

"Yea?",she responded.

"What you doing up so early?"

"Just wanted to see Spyro and his friends off",Scylla said.

Spyro smiled at the gesture not knowing what to say. "Thanks Scylla."

"Actually I've got something to say",Titan said.

Spyro looked over to him in confusion, "What is it?"

"I've been thinking lately about my life. You know, what am I going to do with it and all? I've spent most of my life alone in a forgotten village fending for myself." Titan looked over at Katrina with a smile. "I've decided I am going to stay here in the city if thats fine with you."

Spyro looked surprised but quickly smiled, "It's ok with me. Cynder?"

"I don't see any harm in it",Cynder added.

"I'm sorry that it's such short notice",Titan began.

Flame interrupted, "It's quite alright Titan. There's nothing to be sorry about. It's your decision to make."

"Yea, if I was in your position I would probably stay too",Ember added.

"I would stay any day",Sparx remarked.

Titan smiled again, "Thank you all. If it wasn't for you I would still be hiding out in that cursed village."

"I say it was fate that brought you here",Scylla said.

"Maybe it was",Titan thought.

"Well we better get going before the storms hit. We're late enough as it is",Spyro suggested.

"Alright, I guess this is goodbye?",Titan asked.

"Remember? Friends never say goodbye",Spyro answered.

Titan smiled, "Well you better get going . . . Oh yea your gonna need these",Titan said then looked at Katrina. Katrina looked underneath the counter and retrieved their original jackets Elder Jensen gave them. Spyro put his on and nodded.

"Thanks Titan."

"No problem, now get going. I don't want to keep you."

"There was some old fruit in the pockets so we threw them out. It looked as if they were beginning to spoil",Katrina said.

"Oh yea I forgot we had those",Flame responded

Spyro laughed at the remark. "As did I."

"Bye!",Scylla waved.

"At least for now",Katrina added.

Everyone made one last wave before Spyro shut the inn door. Spyro looked toward the exit then began leading everyone there at a fast pace. It was easy to get to the exit tunnel for everyone was still asleep in their homes making the roads a little deserted. In a few moments they made it to the tunnel. Everyone looked at the city one last time then they entered the tunnel. Following the lanterns they made their way through it then got to the cave mouth. They exited the cave mouth and Flame looked up in the sky. It was still a bit dark but the sun was going to be up in just mere minutes. Spyro pinpointed where his home village was to bring the news of the chronicler's whereabouts to Elder Jensen.

20 minutes later 47 degrees Fahrenheit

The group decided to take flight while they could before it became too cold for flight. They were flying a few yards over the treetops at a fast pace.

"Agh, it's starting to get cold already! That storm seems to be getting here earlier than usual",Sparx remarked pointing out the obvious.

The sun was up bringing whatever warmth it had onto the lands. Unfortunately the heavy clouds was also bringing snow and Spyro knew that. There was still plenty of distance from now until his destination. Ten more minutes passed. More distance was covered, but less warmth they received. It was getting into the 30's now. It was rapidly becoming colder, faster than all the other times. Spyro guessed it was too late to turn back. The storms had already overtook the mountains behind them and was rapidly gaining on them. The colder it became, the more it hindered the groups progress.

"Spyro, what are we going to do?",Cynder asked.

"Still working on it."

A few more minutes passed and so did a few more degrees. It was 34 degrees now. Ember shivered in the cold but managed to keep up with the group. She also thought of Flame. What he did that night. It seemed as if someone gave him more power. It was obvious he did gain more power, but how? As Ember thought about it, so did Flame. He remembered, a voice in his head. You can do it Flame, it said. It was as if someone was speaking to him through his mind. He wasn't exactly sure what happened that night. Six more minutes passed. The storm had reached them and they were forced to land into the forest hoping the trees could provide shelter. It was 25 degrees and still declining. Spyro began to worry.

"I can't believe this",Spyro said.

"This storm is packing something fierce",Flame said as the winds blew threw the brussling trees.

"This is my fault, if only we left sooner",Spyro said.

"You can't blame yourself Spyro. It's not your fault. None of us anticipated that the storms would be here this early",Cynder responded.

They continued through the forest and the temperature continued to take its toll on them. Snow was beginning to come down now making the temperature 21 degrees. A few more minutes passed as they walked through the forest. The winds began to blow fiercely and a thick fog covered the forest. For all they knew, they could be going in circles for the fog was so thick. Ember began thinking of what to do when it suddenly hit her.

"Guys I know what to do",Ember said.

"What is it?",Flame asked.

Ember closed her eyes and began imagining a sunny day with clear skies. Spyro went wide-eyed for he knew what she was doing.

"Ember stop!",Spyro snapped.

"I must do this! Please Spyro I have no other choice. If I don't we will all die in this storm!"

"Elder Jensen said not to",Spyro began.

"Spyro",Flame started. "Let her go."

"You remember what happened last time. She passed out of fatigue",Spyro said as the winds began to die down.

"We all know that but we have to take a chance",Cynder said.

"I know, but what if",Spyro started but was cut off as the snow stopped.

"What if we die? What will become of our home Spyro?",Flame asked.

Spyro pondered on what Flame said. He was right. If their journey ended right now, the news of the chronicler's whereabouts would never be delivered. Then the enemy would appear and take the village and who knows what else they would do.

"I suppose your right",Spyro said as the temperature began rising.

"Man this is stating to feel good",Sparx said.

"Your telling me",Spyro said as he stared at the sky watching the clouds disappear before his very eyes. He turned his attention to Ember. She opened her eyes and staggered with her steps.

"You ok Ember?",Flame asked.

"Feels like I haven't got a good night's sleep in a while",Ember responded then smiled.

"Thanks Ember",Spyro said.

Ember smiled at her accomplishment. For once everyone was relying on her. It was usually her who was the damsel in distress but this time. Ember looked at Spyro as he smiled then leaped into the air and began flapping his wings flying over the treetops. One by one the others did the same.

Approximately 26 minutes later

The village was finally in sight. Spyro smiled as did the others.

"Finally!",Sparx exclaimed.

"We made it back home",Flame said.

"But for how long?",Spyro thought. He knew they would have to find the Chronicler so they would be leaving again soon.

The group landed in the middle of the village. Spyro looked around at the huts and scenery and noticed something wasn't right.

"Where is everyone?",Ember asked.

"Maybe they are in the Elder Hall?",Cynder suggested.

"Let's check it out",Sparx said as Spyro began walking in that direction.

Meanwhile just a few huts over a dark figure was watching. "I thought the mountains would dispose of them but it seems I am mistaken. Looks like I'm going to have to take care of this myself."

(voice comes back) Unable to open programs, sudden restarts, 4 BSOD's (blue screen of death), repeatedly virus scanning, unable to right click on desktop, computer running very slow,unable to make zip files, and last but most confusing unable to uninstall programs. Phew that was a lot but I did system restore which fixed it so I'm good now :D. Please Review people's! It's always appreciated. If you want me to read any of your stories and review just say so.