Chapter 25 Campfires

The crackling sound of a small inferno, amplified within the large cavern, fills the ears of a weary and tired black dragon. However, his eyes remain wide open, focused upon the dancing flames before him. Until eleven years ago, the shadow dragon hated this hot element, as it was nearly the polar opposite of his own cooler feeling powers. However, after a sudden strong bond with Spyro during the final battle with the Dark Master, Nightshade has found this element soothes him when he feels angered.

The long journey to the deepest catacomb nears completion, and is already more successful than Nightshade could have believed, as six small shards of clear crystal sit inside his satchel. But mostly, what surprises him is that he hasn't killed the two wolves he was forced to accompany.

"I wish I could understand why I'm here, Jordan," he says to the fire, waiting for a response, slowly nodding his head after hearing one from within.

"I know they are trying to make things right, but why did they have to do that to your grave..." he replies to the answer that was given, looking away as tears form in his green eyes. "...I was just getting over the pain..." his eyes then return to the fire, showing his friend the agony he feels.

"...and now it's like you died all over again!"

"Who are you talking too, Master?" A very timid voice asks from the adjoining cavern, and Nightshade doesn't move his head at all, knowing already who addresses him. Fang has not been able to talk to the black dragon without trepidation.

"None of your damn business...Dog!" Nightshade replies angrily, wanting one of his friend's grave robbers to just walk away.

However, Fang continues into the room where the black dragon lays, lowering a large portion of his dinner by his side.

"I was just wondering if you wanted what I didn't, sir?" He asks, knowing Nightshade has had the same portions they have, and with his size, believes the larger dragon is still hungry.

Nightshade looks down at the plate, untouched by the younger wolf, and though he is starving for more food, the black dragon slaps it away.

"GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!" he barks angrily, rising to hind legs to emphasize is rage. "I WANT NOTHING FROM YOU...YOU WORTHLESS, GRAVE-ROBBING BASTARD!"

Nightshade balks with shock as Fang shows no fear in his eyes, only depression and tears come from his broken stare, and slowly he walks away in shame.

Slate, standing by the cave entrance, waits for his brother to leave, before entering the dark dragon's room himself.

"You know that dog idolizes you?" the older brother remarks with his own anger, taking Nightshade's attention to him.

"Well...he has a hell of a way of showing it!" The young adult dragon retorts arrogantly, before lowering back down to his stomach, and returning his eyes to the fire.

"Yes he sure does," Slate replies without hesitation, striding between the fire and the Shadow Dragon to retake his attention. "And I'm surprised you didn't notice it either!"

"What are you barking about, you piece of sh..."

Slate angrily clasps his paw upon Nightshade muzzle, and yanks the larger dragon eye to eye with him.

"I'm barking about that scar under his left eye...do you want to know how he got that?!"

Nightshade becomes angered being held against his will, and with little effort, swipes his paw into Slate's exposed chest. The impact clears the air from the gray wolf's lungs, and drives him to the ground with great force. The dark dragon immediately pounces upon him and shows his fangs and claws.

"YOU THINK I CARE?!"

"Yes..." Slate struggles to answer, with the weight of a dragon on his already pain-filled chest, keeping his eyes focused upon the angry friend of one of their mistakes. "...because he was trying to do what you couldn't."

Nightshade, still enraged in the moment, becomes slightly confused, and releases his hold upon Slate's chest, allowing the smaller wolf to take in some air.

"You better start making sense."

Slate takes a deep breath, then looks upon his brother who has returned to the cavern entrance. He gestures a paw for the younger wolf to stay put, and slowly he strides to other side of the dark dragon.

"My brother was asked to help get one last dragon, and he was so afraid, because I wasn't there with him," he relates softly, making sure his brother cannot hear the confession he is making for him. "However, when he got to the site, he was no longer afraid...he was enraged."

Slate reaches into his small satchel, removing a tiny photo for Nightshade to see. It shows the two wolves together side by side in Fang's room, and both with the smile of happier days. However, what the black dragon notices most, are the posters of him lining the back wall of a young pup's room.

"He worshiped the ground you walked on. Read every single article that had to do with you. And when you were made the personal Valet of the Spirit Elder..." Slate pauses with a chuckle in his voice, recalling how geeked out his brother was to hear that news.

"...you'd think they named you King that day!"

The gray wolf looks at Nightshade for a moment, happy to see the dragon is not enraged anymore. In fact, Slate can see the slight regret he feels now for yelling at Fang. He then turns his eyes to his brother, staring upon the still healing scar under his left eye, and he lowers his head feeling the pain his brother does.

"He knew whose grave they were going to take from, and he stepped up to the Alpha in protest."

A tear falls from his eye, knowing how badly they beat his brother.

"They took turns punching him for nearly an hour, making sure he would keep his mouth shut!"

"I'm so sorry!" Fang cries out from the room's entrance, as he recalls the moment himself. He walks away in shame, knowing his effort stopped nothing, that Jordan's body was removed from its resting place regardless.

"He failed his hero," Slate remarks, getting up quickly to follow his brother, knowing how distraught he is, but looks back at Nightshade before stepping from the room. "I just wanted you to know that...before you decide to tear his head off again for trying to make things right!"

The Shadow dragon watches as Slate lowers to four paws and begins running after his brother. His eyes then return to the fire, and a subtle voice fills his head.

"I know...everyone deserves a second chance!" he says, hearing this voice scold him for his insensitivity.

However, this voice is not from the friend that was taken, but the friend who gave him so much power. A power that has allowed this dragon to excel in his elemental control, but mostly his mental control.

"I'll try harder, Spyro...I promise!"

Nightshade gets up from the fire, and pads over to the other room, looking upon the two wolves comforting one another. It takes a moment for the words to come from his mouth, but the dark dragon finally gets up the nerve to speak.

"Fang," he says with a lowered tone in his voice, and both wolves quickly turn their attention to him "Can you come over here for a moment?"

With fear in his movements, Fangs slowly gets up from his brother's side, and trudges over to the dark black and gray chested dragon.

"Yes, Master?" His voice shaky, his words soft and barely audible.

"Please...come in," the dark dragon gestures his paw inside the room he just kicked Fang from, and both return to the spot by the fire.

Nightshade takes his own guilt-filled breath, knowing how this wolf has tried to apologize dozens of times, and has been met with nearly the same response he got from the Alpha. His eyes then lock upon the gnarly red scar upon Fang's left cheek, and more guilt is piled atop his own.

"I'm sorry I snapped at you!" The dark dragon says, looking to the fire for support, and getting what he needs from the element Spyro has taught him so much about. Except how to make one. "And I also want to thank you for making this Fire for me."

"It's nothing great, Master," he begins to say, but quickly the dark dragon cuts him off.

"Please, Fang, I am not your master," he remarks, looking upon the eyes that turn towards his, showing him compassion for the first time ever. "The name is Nightshade. I don't ever want you to call me that again!"

"I'm sorry, Master..." The young wolf covers his mouth with a paw, realizing how fast he has disobeyed, and Nightshade smiles inside seeing him back pedal so fast. "I mean I'm sorry Nightshade...sir, ahhh... I... ahhh!"

A soft black paw is lowered upon Fang's head, and a gentle rub is given to comfort the terrified wolf.

"Settle down, young fool, I am no longer angry with you," he says, knowing that should help in lowering his tension, which it does as Fang begins relaxing in Nightshade's presence.

The black dragon's paw then lowers down to Fang's jaw, lifting it slightly so he can see the scar he had not previously noticed, and his heart fills with pain seeing the size of it.

"This is what they did for trying to help Jordan?"

Fang's eyes open wide and several tears fall from them in an instant as his tension returns tenfold.

"I swear I tried!"

Nightshade quickly stands on his hind legs and pulls Fang up with him. He embraces the broken wolf to his chest, and lets him hear the pounding of his heart.

"Easy now, Fang." he says softly, making sure to keep the young wolf calmed, as his body begins shaking uncontrollably.

"I'M SO SORRY... I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING!" Fang breaks down hard and begins crying as if he was confessing his mistakes to his own father.

Nightshade's eyes lock upon Slate's, as big brother keeps a vigil on little brother from the room's entrance. However, after only a moment, the wolf shows a great smile to the black dragon, and simply walks away, realizing Fang is in good paws already.

The Shadow Master continues holding the smaller wolf, allowing him to unleash the emotions he has never truly had a chance to, until now. His confessions of weakness and shame spew from the depths of his heart, and Nightshade suddenly feels the soul of his friend Jordan around him again. A loud crackle pops from the fire to his left, and Nightshade balks actually hearing words within the roaring inferno.

I am at piece my friend...let him be as well.

"I forgive you, Fang," Nightshade says calmly, continuing to hold the tween-aged wolf, knowing his regret is real.

Fang suddenly begins to breathe easier, though he still strains to take full breaths, as his emotions run adrenalin throughout his entire frame.

"You...do?" his shuddering voice asks, taking a tighter embrace of his hero's chest, overwhelmed by the support he is receiving by the one he caused pain.

Nightshade releases his hold, placing Fang upon his paws gently, then looks dead into his blood-shot eyes.

"It was wrong what you did, and you knew that from the start..." The black dragon pauses, looking upon the fire for more support, but this time nothing comes, and Nightshade nods his head towards the flames. He realizes at this moment, that this is his choice, and the Shadow Master looks within himself.

"...but you had no choice except do as told, or die. I have known that type of slavery myself."

Nightshade, once again, reaches his paw out to Fang's jaw, tilting his head to the right so he may look upon the scar left by his Alpha. He shows the younger wolf a look of disgust.

"I fought as hard as I could, Master... b -" the slightly calmer wolf begins to say, but Nightshade places his other paw upon Fang's jaw, holding it closed, and showing him an angered look.

Oh no...I called him Master again, he thinks to himself, as Nightshade lowers his head down to him, and once again, his tensions begin rising.

"I'm going to say this once...AND ONLY ONCE!" the black and gray dragon barks with anger, freezing Fang solid with his tone of voice. A chilling sensation upon his wounded cheek takes his attention, as well as the smile that suddenly returns to Nightshade's face.

"Never blame yourself again..." he says showing nothing but the same resolve a young wolf has seen on every single one of the posters that lined his childhood room. "...it was not your fault!"

Fang is left speechless for the moment, as idol worship begins sinking into his head, suddenly realizing he has his hero back. His eyes remain locked upon Nightshade's, as the black dragon removes his paws from his face, and sits back upon his hind quarters. However, the euphoric feeling leaves, as the Shadow dragon suddenly clocks Fang across the other cheek with a stinging backhand.

"And don't call me 'Master'!"

Fang rubs the spot that was just struck, and looks at Nightshade in a different way.

"How bout if I just call you an As..."

"I'm sorry brother...I should have listened," the large brown bear remarks to himself, looking upon the massive armada that leaves orbit, heading for a planet they knew nothing about until only a day ago.

His brother's fears only understood now, as he watches a single purple and gold dragon take down three crews of accomplished pirates with relative ease.

"The dragons are going to kill everyone, and it's because of me!"

Damian's eyes return to the swamp, and looks with fear upon the battle that is at hand, as Malefor continues making his Kodiak leader look bad.

"We're doomed!" he says to himself, watching several other dragons begin coming from the North, and that is when it happens.

A large spider pounces upon Damian's back, and a piercing pain stabs his neck. The needle-like stinger of the Araknoid quickly doses the young, but large, Kodiak until he stops moving, then begins wrapping hits kill for the incoming swarm behind, before heading to the next.

Damian's eyes watch with terror before being blurred out by a thick cocoon of web, seeing countless Araknoid's begin taking control of the battlefield.

"My friends...My family...My race...No one is going to survive, and it is all my fault."

Suddenly a tingling sensation over takes his entire body, beginning from his hind legs and quickly covering him to his nose. The large Kodiak is overwhelmed with pain at this moment as the swarm of spiders that just entered the cocoon, begin to feed on his live frame. Damian shudders for all he's worth, but the cocoon only tightens around him, causing even more pain.

"Cypher! Help me!"

The young Kodiak knows it is a request that cannot be answered, but continues to call for his brother, hoping his last thoughts will be of the one who always cared for his well-being. A sudden warmth fills his entire soul along with a pristine light that glows within his closed eyes, A Spiritual touch is felt at this moment, and Damian makes his last request

"Forgive me, brother!" he says with his dying breath.

"Hey...wake up!"

The voice is not understood for a moment, but Damian suddenly opens his eyes.

"Are you OK?"

He can hear the question asked, but his mind and vision remain blank for a moment. However, as the fog of poison absolves, and his dreary eyes refocus, shock fills his heart

"Are you OK?"

Damian's mouth shudders several time, but not a single sound comes out, seeing the green eyes of a black and red dragon staring from above.

"Are ... you ... OK?" Cynder asks, and still the large Kodiak remains confused about the question.

"I was dead...you're a dragon...what's going on?"

Cynder places her paws upon the large bear, gently holding him down as he tries to get up. She lowers her head down to his, giving him a very stern look, causing the defenseless pirate to stop scrambling.

"HEY! Does a Bear CRAP in the woods?" she asks with pure sarcasm in her voice.

Damian quickly snaps from his fear with complete confusion in this question, allowing her to ask the one she really wants answered.

"ARE...YOU...O...K?"

Damian finally nods, and Cynder quickly leaps from his side to the next bear that is suffering from toxic shock, and lowers her mouth down to his neck.

"HEY!" Damian yells in anger as the dark purple and scarlet red dragoness bites his friend, but quickly a strong arm keeps him from getting up to stop her.

"She's helping him, stupid!" a tiny green troll remarks with a very smug tone, then points at Damian's neck. "How do you think she healed you...with a KISS...HA HA HA!"

Damian's paw is quickly to his neck, and his eyes pop open as his pads come across the small puncture wounds on his throat.

"I don't feel them!" he says with complete surprise, and Boomer continues his laughter.

"Cause she's a softy, and don't want ya ta feel pain, my boy."

A powerful hand slaps down upon Damian's back, sending a new pain throughout his frame, and his eyes look back upon the small green troll with a bit of fear. He knows this tiny creature outmatches his strength with just that slap, and cowers to think if he becomes aggressive. However, the smile that appears glued to his face, allows Damian to remain calm, as does Boomer's jovial tone.

"Pain builds character, Shaggy!"

Damian rubs his shoulder several times to alleviate the pain, which doesn't work, then looks back to Boomer with his own smug grin.

"How much character does one need?" he snipes, however his attention is taken back towards Cynder as she revives the poisoned pirate bear, and quickly leaps to another.

I guess a lot, he says to himself, watching how fast she has moved to revive a large amount of his friends, some whom are now helping two younger dragons unsheathe the remaining trapped bears from spider cocoons. Overwhelmed with what his refocusing eye behold, Damian notices how many of his friends are being tended to, as Mya, young Malefor, and a host of rescued pirates clear the webbing from the last few bears. However, another hard jolt to his back snaps Damian's attention to Boomer.

"Come boy...I know the best cure for pain," the old troll bellows, turning the Kodiak's attention back to him with another solid hand across his back.

"What's that?" he gets out before become silent with shock in what he sees.

Dozens of the large Araknoids are now roasting on a spit over a smoldering fire, and Boomer simply grasps one of the larger creature's legs.

"Food, son... food!" he remarks, taking a giant bite from the perfectly cooked appendage. "And there ain't nothin' better than eatin' the one that tried killin' ya...believe you me!"

"Oh, that's nasty!" Damian barks out, however several familiar voices shout in unison from his right.

"Just try it, you coward!" a group of pirates remark, sitting beside a large pile of bones, enjoying the spoils of an odd but tasty meal.

Damian balks with surprise as his friends continue wolfin' down spider legs and his stomach churns as one bear actually grasps a smaller Araknoid, then tosses the entire thing in his mouth.

"Eww!" His paw is quickly to his mouth, keeping down the pile of fruits and vegetables he enjoyed earlier.

However, his condition only worsens as Boomer rips another leg from the roasting Araknoid, then holds it before Damian's nose,

The large Kodiak passes out and hits the ground to a chorus of laughter.

"HEY, CYNDER! I don't think you helped him enough! " Boomer barks out, taking the black dragon's attention from the last victim she is helping, and her eyes quickly focus upon Damian.

"What did you do to him, Boomer!?" She quips with an angered tone, flying back to a bear she already healed with her Spirit, and now concerned to how he is flat on his back again.

"I did nothin' but offer up some good food, Ma'am..." Boomer replies innocently, then pauses, taking another bite from the Spider leg and gesturing it at the unconscious bear. "...then he fell on his butt!"

"He's a vegetarian," A friend of the large Kodiak remarks, then looks at his buddies as he continue eating. "And we love teasing him about it as well, but that was classic."

"Ohhhh!" Boomer remarks, quickly pulling the large hunk of meat away from the sickly looking bear, who wakes at the smell by his nose again. "Sorry, Cynder...I'll go over there and finish this!"

The Spirit dragon shows him a stern look before shaking her head, and Boomer quickly slips away without harm coming to him. A smile fills her face watching the green troll back away fast, and again she shakes her head.

"Please forgive him, Damian," she says softly, shocking the bear as his name is used. "he has had way too many impacts to his head over the years to understand...anything!"

"And damn proud of it, Cynder!" Boomer replies, knowing he is out of her tail blade's reach.

The black dragon glares at her comrade in arms, and shows a very sarcastic smile. However, her attention is taken back to the young bear with an uneasy question.

"How do you know my name?" Damian replies, and Cynder slowly grasps his paw to help him up, making a connection for her to show her ability.

I have a unique way of hearing things. she says with thought, hoisting Damian back to his feet with a sturdy paw, and hearing his next thought with pure clarity.

"And no... we are not enemies!"

Damian again falls on his rump, but this time Cynder makes sure he remains upright with a stabilizing grip and a pulse of Spirit to ease his thoughts. The two stare at each other for a moment before Damian final realizes who she is.

"You are the one that my brother attacked...aren't you?"

Cynder's smile leaves for a moment, as the large brown-haired Kodiak shows an image of his Polar bear brother, however, that infectious smile returns in the next second.

"Yes...it was me your brother encountered," she replies, then steals several thoughts from the large bear, while still helping him remain upright.

Fear of whom he speaks to begins overwhelming his mind, but what Cynder can hear most is the shame he has for his brother and himself.

Don't apologize for what you have done. Just focus on what needs to be done now.

Her voice is carried on a wave of healing energy, helping a stranger to understand what she is all about. Damian's eyes remain focused on Cynder's, as the last of her message is made loud and clear.

"We have a war to stop and I am hoping you can convince your brothers here to help us."

Damian again looks around, getting nods from every bear he makes eye contact with, then looks back into Cynder's sparkling greens.

Not a word needs be said, as his expression answers the question, along with the strong thought Cynder can hear already. However, as a very vocal race, the large Kodiak rears up on his hind legs, towering several feet above the dragoness standing on fours. His eyes focus hard upon Cynder's and his front paws are placed strongly upon her shoulders.

"You have our support!"

Cynder suddenly rises to hind legs and places her paws upon the large Kodiak's shoulders. She raises up to his eyes level, though she could easily rise above him, remaining equal with the young bear.

"You are good soul and I would gladly accept any help you offer!"

It is at this moment, Damian realizes why his brother did not want this fight and it was not the reason he thought. Though his first fear is well deserved, seeing the complete mismatch between his race and the Dragon race, it is for another reason Cypher did not want a war with Avalar.

"You are a noble creature, Ms. Cynder," he remarks, as his thought is once again voice aloud, and Damain removes his paws from her shoulder, then lowers to a knee. "I offer all I have, if you can help me stop this war."

Cynder graceful acknowledges his kneel, feeling undeserving of it, but not wanting to insult him either. However, Boomer could care less about the moment, and barks out when he notices another Skylander approaching, startling both dragon and bear.

"Hey! Here comes the annoying little rodent!"

Cynder turns her angered eyes to Boomer, showing him complete rage in his outburst.

"YOU'RE ALREADY HERE, YOU IDIOT!" She yells, however, to her absolute amazement, Daxter runs up her back, and stop upon her shoulder.

"AND WHAT DO THINK YOU'RE DOING?!"

Unphased by her anger, Daxter simply begins whispering up to Cynder's ear, and quickly the black dragon's attitude changes. She shows the small ottsel a humbled look for a moment, then turns her attention back to the leader of this large platoon of pirates.

"We have a count now, Captain Black Claw, and I'm hoping it's not bad," she remarks with a strained voice, not knowing how many had been in the pirate landing party and showing true concern for what was supposed to be her enemy.

"How many?" A large brown Kodiak with black paws ask, slowly getting up as the look in Cynder's eyes become grave.

"Four hundred and seventy-three."

The large bear drops the half eaten spider leg in his right paw, and his eyes open wide with complete shock at that number. Cynder's shoulders slump, knowing as good as they could have done, there was only so much four dragons and two and half Skylanders could do.

"I'm sorry..." she begins to say.

However, a sudden bark of laughter comes from the black pawed bear, startling Cynder to his odd reaction.

"Are you serious!?" he yelps, looking at his first mate, whom nods his head to confirm what he knows. "That means we only lost...two!"

"THAT'S ZERO ACTUALLY!" A distorted voice barks out, and suddenly a large two toned blue and white dragoness appears from thin air. In Danielle's left paw, two web cocoons filled with the missing pirates. And in her right, another cocoon, holding a Skylander whose Peacemaker fizzled out at the wrong time.

"JAK!" Daxter barks out, leaping from Cynder's shoulder, and quickly ripping the webbing from his friend's body. "Are you alive in there?"

Mumbled noises and shuddering confirms his friend's life is intact and Daxter redoubles his efforts to tear the web apart even faster.

"I'm comin', Jak...hold on buddy!"

Suddenly the flash of reflecting metal and the sound of a blade passing in front of his nose stops Daxter cold. He watches in shock as Cynder draws her tail blade back to her side, after slicing the cocoon open with one perfectly precisioned swipe.

"Yikes, Shinobi!" Daxter barks out sarcastically, and Cynder chuckles hearing him call her by the name of a very accomplished, but retired, Skylander samurai.

Jak suddenly pops his head from the webbed coffin and takes several deep life restoring breaths, before turning his eyes to his rescuer.

"Thank you, Danielle...I thought I was a goner for sure."

The humanoid grasps his malfunctioning gun, then slaps it several times before the peacemaker returns to working condition, and he holds it out to show the blue dragoness.

"Sorry 'bout that my lady..." He says with an arrogant tone, recalling the way he left her to fight alone as his beloved gun stopped working suddenly. "...I would replace my baby, but this thing has seen some glorious action, and she's never leavin' my side."

Danielle, still recalling how the brave Skylander charged into a cave to rescue two bears he saw being dragged away, and with a gun that malfunctions from time to time, rips the aged weapon from the much smaller Skylander's grip. In one move, she hoists the twenty year old gun as high as she can, then slams her paw to the ground, smashing the peacemaker into a thousand pieces.

Her lavender blue eyes show the smug Commander a deep amount of rage before turning completely white like Spyro and Sparx's.

"GET A NEW ONE!"

A massive bon fire burns just outside the North gate of New Warfang, as nearly a thousand Dragons and two times that amount in Cheetahs and Manweresmalls, enjoy a festive meal before the impending battle. The fiercest and bravest warriors of all the clans and villages, gathered in one place on the eve of Avalar's defense.

Along with armor clad soldiers and volunteering clans, another small group of visitors stir within the party, as Gaven has now sent four of his finest Skylanders

Sonic, his brother Knuckles, and his non-Skylander best friend Tails, chat with the guardians about defensive strategies.

Crash Bandicoot, as a mute, continues to demonstrate his expertise in charades, as he hand gestures his way through a complicated demonstration. Showing several Cheetah warriors how to use a blast gun in a non-fatal way.

The last Skylander, an orange haired fox wearing a flight suit, walks along with his superiors, as the king strolls the battlefield on the eve of war.

"LET'S HEAR IT FOR SPYRO & SPARX!" A loud voice barks out, as the purple dragon and his son walk by, and the group begins cheering madly in support of their king and his Guardian Master.

"I hope they all know they're cheering a law breaker!" Sparx remarks smugly, knowing his father should not be outside the city walls, and Spyro laughs with his boy's somewhat annoyed tone.

"I don't think anyone cares at the moment, Son," he replies, and Sparx stops his feet, holding his father by his side

"I care!" the Guardian Master replies, turning his head sharply to show Spyro his sudden resolve. "I don't want you out here in the open, Dad, cause according to Cypher...you are the main target!"

The large purple dragon give a cackles once again, looking upon the ragtag crew of Skylanders that also walk beside them, knowing only the mentally unstable would try an assault now.

"I think I'm safe out here, Sparx," the king replies, unfolding a wing from his flank, and lowering it across his boy's back. "No one would be dumb enough to try something with this many warriors ready to fight for me..."

Spyro grasps his son by the shoulder, and stares deep into his soul.

"...especially when my boy is by my side!"

Sparx shows a very appreciative grin to the comment. However, his anger returns in the next breath.

"And what if they decide to bomb us from orbit?" he replies smugly, and Spyro's eyes pop open for a second, knowing the shield for the city extends only to the walls.

"We would be able to hold off any planetary bombardment!" The fourth Skylander's voice retorts, as concern is shown deeply from his two superior's expressions.

The short orange and white haired fox steps forward, and a proud and steady look fills his eyes.

"My wife Krystal has control of the strongest ship in the entire Starfox Fleet and I'm sure she would be able to intervene before a single shot was fired from the heavens."

Spyro nods to the Skylander's squadron leader standing by his side. However, Sparx still remains with heavy doubt.

"And what if five hundred ships arrive at once, or even a thousand. Is she gonna be able to defend the entire planet with her single cruiser, Commander McCloud?"

His voice, becoming more agitated, suddenly alarms Spyro to something else, and quickly his fatherly instincts take over.

"What's wrong, Sparx?" he asks with a concerned tone, intervening before the angered Fox could retort himself. However, both hold their tongue as Sparx explodes.

"EVERYTHING!"

The young dragon's reply takes the entire crowd's focus to the two purple heroes and Spyro quickly looks around for a place to be alone with his son for a second, knowing that something bothers him deeper within. His paw is then gestured towards the palace gate, knowing his next move is to please his son's wishes.

"I understand your concerns, buddy..." Spyro begins, as he and his son stroll towards a pair of large stone doors leading to the North side of the city. "...but you need to relax a little and just trust me."

"I trust you of course, Dad...but how in the name of the Ancestors can I relax?" Sparx stops his feet, then shows his father all the fear he feels with a stare from his unfocused eyes.

"Mom and Malefor are still missing. Uncle Malefor has not been heard from either. You can't tell me a damn thing about what you learned in the Library. And now, here we sit like a massive target, having a party, while our world is under threat of invasion from a ruthless race of pirates."

Sparx pauses for a moment, looks up to the sky, then returns his eyes to his father with even more rage within.

"Oh yeah, and to make matters worse, when they do arrive, and start attacking with deadly force, we can't even retaliate!"

Spyro understanding of his son's outburst, doesn't instigate him with a sarcastic comeback, though one sits heavy in his mind.

"Sparx..." Spyro pauses, making sure what he says is right, and with the proper tone of voice.

"...shut up and listen!"

The young dragon balks as his father becomes more rigid, then cowers down as Spyro's eyes fill with his own rage.

"I cannot tell you what I learned for a reason, and if that is not good enough for you...then too bad! You are the Guardian Master, and I am your King. You will do as instructed, or I will replace you with someone who will...do you understand?"

His remarks come quietly but sternly, making sure no one can hear the scolding of his Guardian Master and son.

"I was told not to harm them by someone who far outranks you, or I, in the grand scheme of things. So until otherwise instructed, you are not to use deadly force when confronted by them."

"Fine...Your Majesty!"

His voice again disturbs Spyro, as the same tone he's used in the past becomes apparent, feeling again as if his father cared more for others than his oldest son. Once more the purple dragon uses the right words and tone of voice to quash this moment before it escalates.

"Sparx..." he says softly, than pauses waiting for his son to look up at him. "...please don't feel this way, because I can't do this without my son fighting at my side."

The young dragon lowers his head, seeing his father holding back tears, suddenly feeling he is pushing a sour issue again.

"I'm sorry, Dad, but I'm just worried about you, and the fact that you will make no recourse if they suddenly over power the gates," he replies, looking around at a vast amount of warriors that would die for their home.

However, he also knows they would follow Spyro's orders without question, and those orders are to leave the cities vacant.

The purple dragon lets out a bit of a chortle before recovering his emotions. He can see his son become annoyed at his humorous take on his statement and quickly straightens that thought out in his head as well.

"I didn't say I would lay down and die if a Pirate points his weapon at me, Sparx," the King replies, reaching out his paw to lift his boy's chin, making sure he sees the smug look in his father's pure purple eyes. "I just said I was told not to kill them if possible..."

Spyro's eyes suddenly become stern and the grip on his son's chin, a bit more firm.

"...but if I am given no choice...then I will do what must be done...and you will do the same, understood?"

A simple blink of his eyes, and the feel of his son relaxing his jaw softly in his paw, allows Spyro to stop his stern stare. His proud smile returns, seeing his boy's loyalty is strengthening with every moment, and Poppa unfurls his left wing out to his son's side. Spyro pulls Sparx around, positioning him by his left flank, so both can stare out upon the massive fire burning in the North courtyard. Everyone's concern still focused towards them, as most know the ongoing struggle between this father and son duo.

"WHAT?!" the king barks out towards the crowd, then dramatically looks behind he and Sparx, before looking back at them. He then licks his chops even more dramatically and his voice becomes overly sarcastic.

"Is there something in my teeth?"

Sparx laughs as his father disbands the curious onlookers with a simple joke, then sits contently by his dad's side for a moment. He stares at the fire a hundred yards away, reminiscing about other blazes he sat and watched with his father, and nearly every one a pleasurable moment.

"Dad," the younger dragon remarks with a very calmed voice, resting his head against his father's side for support. "I'm sorry...I'm just worried sick about my little brother and Mom."

Spyro embraces his son with one arm, and leans against him for support as well. It allows the purple dragon a connection to give his mind-reading boy a small secret he is not too speak of, as the purple dragon knows all about what is going on with his youngest son and love of his life.

They are kicking some Pirate ass, buddy!

The thought perks his son's Spirit, and Spyro decides to lift it even further by gesturing his paw to the guard on the wall behind him.

"I will return to the castle as you instructed, Master Guardian. However, we have an hour before the first wave of ships arrive," he says, as the North gate begins opening.

Spyro's eyes focus through the door at the Dragon's Palace, and the large dome that he and his son have spent the last few days fighting.

"That is plenty of time for me to teach my son how to use his...Time."

Sparx' tail suddenly starts to wag uncontrollably, and he too looks back at the dome.

"What about my duties, Dad?" He replies, knowing he will be heading the group of warriors defending Dragoon Bay. His eyes look up at his father, who keeps his smug grin wide for his boy to see.

"Like I said..." he says, pushing his son with a gentle paw towards the gate. "...I am going to teach you how to use your...Time!"