"This place still gives me the creeps." Sparx whispered. "I remember when Spyro and I first came here to save Volteer. There were apes everywhere. And don't even get me started on the Ice King. I thought it was just a frozen statue, but no. It had to be a giant monster that wanted to kill us like every other force in the world."
"Will you keep it down?" Flame hissed. "They'll hear you!"
"Well excuse me! I ramble when I'm nervous."
"You ramble even when you're not."
"That's not true."
The bickering ended when they heard a growl don the corridor. Flame ducked into the shadows as much as he could. He and Sparx had emerged from the the tunnel leading in to the catacombs and had been exploring for several minutes. They had heard the sounds of wolves moving about but everything had quickly grown silent.
"Where the hell are these bloody dragons?" A deep voice grumbled. "I know they're around her somewhere." Sparx and Flame both looked at each other.
"I think it's a trap." Sparx whispered.
"Sh!" Flame hissed.
"Did you hear that?" One of the wolves stopped and lifted and ear.
"Yeah. It sounds like they're close." The lead wolf snarled and licked his lips.
Flame swallowed hard. He couldn't see very well in the darkness and there were hardly any lanterns around. He was about to turn and retreat back down the corridor when he got an idea.
"Sparx, I can't see. I need you to be my eyes right now."
"What? I'm not your own portable lantern." The dragonfly retorted offendedly. "Use your fire breath."
"If I do, then what if they have Cynder or Spyro? We can't risk hurting them to try and get at the wolves."
"Fine!" Sparx grumbled and fluttered out from their hiding spot. He took a deep breath and got up all his courage. "Here goes nothing." He puffed his chest out and took off down the dark hall, screaming at the top of his lungs. The wolves yelped and jumped in surprise, dropping the black dragon they were carrying. Sparx hollered in their ears as he zipped around their heads in dizzying circles, blinding them with his bright golden glow. The wolves snarled and swung at the insect, but Sparx was too fast and small for them to hit.
"Sparx! Move!" Flame shouted. The dragonfly ducked to the ground as a wave of fire rushed towards him. He covered his antennae as the tornado of fire burned the wolves above him. The canines howled in pain as they burned away. The roar of the flames died off and the dragonfly dared to open his eyes.
"Sorry about that." Flame apologized as he walked up. Sparx dusted the ash off himself and checked to see if anything was scorched.
"Oh no problem." Sparx waved a hand. "Glad I could be your decoy. Next time, it's your turn and I'll scorch you when you least expect it."
Flame chuckled. "Sure. Whatever you say Sparx."
"Flame!" Ember's voice called from down the corridor. A shower of sparklers illuminated the torches in the tunnel. The fire dragoness and Stella came bounding down the hall. "Are you alright? I heard someone screaming." She came to a halt in front of him and gave him a quick inspection.
"I'm fine." Flame nodded. "It was just Sparx providing a distraction."
"Like I do best." The dragonfly crossed his arms proudly.
"Liun!" Stella cried. Flame and Sparx turned around. The wolves had been carrying the black dragon and had dropped him when Sparx had surprised them. The dragon was unconscious and Stella nudged him with her snout. "Liun? Liun, wake up!" She pleaded. After several minutes, the black dragon groaned. "Thank goodness." Stella sighed with relief when his eyes opened.
"Wha-where am I?" He whimpered.
"It's okay now." Stella lay down and draped a wing around him comfortingly. "You're safe."
"Stella? What happened?" He lifted his head and clutched at it with his paw.
"You've been missing for a couple hours now." Stella stroked his head softly. "You disappeared after the first attack. We've been looking for you along with Spyro and Cynder."
"Spyro? Cynder?" The black dragon looked slightly dazed.
"We need to get moving." Flame said. "Stella, you take Liun back to the surface and wait for us there. Ember, Sparx and I are going to find Spyro and Cynder."
"Right!" Stella nodded. She positioned herself under Liun and helped him to his feet. The black dragon was a little wobbly but was able to stay on all fours.
"Good luck." Liun sighed as he Stella helped him down the hall. Flame nodded before turning back to Ember.
"We should hurry."
"Oh my god! You're hurt!" Ember gasped.
"What?" Flame and Sparx exclaimed together and glanced at one another. The fire breather checked over the dragonfly but found no sign of injury.
"I think Sparx is fine." Flame looked up to see Ember's face up close to his. "Ember?"
"You're wing!" She pointed at the long bleeding gash on his wing biceps.
"Oh that?" Flame looked over his wound. "I guess I had forgotten about that."
"When did that happen?"
"During the fight when the wolves ambushed us. I got nicked but I guess I just didn't pay it any attention."
"Flame, it's dangerous to leave a wound like that untreated in this environment!" Ember scolded. "Come here!" She wrapped her tail around his neck and yanked him close to her. She pressed her chest up to his and kissed him deeply. Almost instantly the wound sealed up. Sparx averted his gaze. He was surrounded by dragons who were in love with one another. It was almost too much for him to have to leave whenever Cynder and Spyro started kissing.
Ember released Flame and brought her tail spade under his chin. "Don't do that again, understood. I don't want anything happening to you and I'm not around to help you."
"Then I guess I'll just have to keep you at my side then huh." Flame gave his usual goofy grin. Ember gave him a look.
"You're lucky you're so cute."
"Hey, can we get going love birds?" Sparx interrupted. "We need to find Spyro and Cynder."
"Uh, right." Flame nodded. The three friends dashed down the hall with Sparx leading the way. As they moved along they lit the torches, to help guide their way. After a good half-hour of searching Sparx came to a halt.
"Hey, does it bother you two that we haven't seen anymore wolves around?"
Both fire breathers looked at each other. "Yeah, now that you mention it." Flame nodded.
"What are you thinking?" Ember asked with a raised brow. "You don't think they fled do you?"
"I don't see why they would." Flame shook his head. "They have the advantage in a place like this. They could easily..." His voice trailed off.
"Surround us? Ambush us? Kill us?" Sparx finished.
The two dragons didn't move for several minutes. At last Flame turned to Ember. "Go with Sparx back to the surface. If I don't make it back in one hour, I want you to leave without me. You may need to bring the other guardians back here if it comes to that."
"Not in your life." Ember shook her head violently. "We're a pair and a team. Not even the Dark Master could drag me away from you!"
"Ember..."
"No!" The pink dragoness pressed her nose to his and Flame saw a fire burn in her eyes that he had never seen before. It almost made him afraid. Ember placed a paw on his chest and let her talons dig into his chest scales enough to get the point across that she would not leave him.
"Alright, alright." He winced and drew away. He looked to Sparx. "You can head back to the surface if you want. You don't have to come with us."
"No I don't." Sparx shook his head. "But I wouldn't leave Spyro unless I absolutely had to."
The young fire guardian sighed. He continued down the corridor with Ember and Sparx at his side. The three friends proceeded more cautiously, expecting an attack at any moment. After some time they stumbled across the dungeons. Ember lit the torches and Sparx flew about the cells, checking for any sign of the missing dragons.
"Whoa!" He stopped when he came to a cell where the bars had been melted through. He waved a hand from the putrid smell. "Yeah, that's Cynder's work alright."
"Do you think she escaped?" Ember asked as she studied the melted metal.
"Sure looks that way." Sparx nodded. "Maybe she found Spyro and they made it out of here."
"I'm not too sure about that." Flame said from across the cell block. None of the other cages have been broken into. I'm almost guessing that she and Spyro were separated when she broke out."
"Then what are we waiting her for, playing detective?" Sparx exclaimed. "Let's see if we can actually find them."
Ember moved ahead to light the way down the darkened corridors. She spat another stream of sparklers. The light revealed a small chamber ahead. The fire breathers entered the room and stared into the darkness.
"It's cold in here." Ember shivered. "I don't like it."
"I know what you mean." Flame moved closer to her. "See if you can find a torch nearby." He leaned his head back and spewed a tower of fire. The flames illuminated the room in a bright orange light as they spattered against the ceiling high above.
Suddenly Ember screamed. Flame shut his mouth and the light died away.
"Ember, what is it?"
"S-S-Sp..." The dragoness stared into the darkness with a paw over her mouth. Flame followed her eyes and inhaled again. He fired a ball into the air. The fireball exploded drenching the room in a deep red aura. Sparx looked sickened at the sight before him and Flame's eyes grew wide.
Across the chamber was Spyro. His body hung limp in a crucified posed. His forearms stretched to the sides and were chained to a pair of spears that hung from the ceiling. His wings were torn and hung limp at his back. Blood trickled from his mouth and several open wounds across his body forming a small puddle beneath him. On the wall behind him was a message written in the purple dragons own blood: This is only the beginning of the end.
Ember turned and wretched all over the floor. As she continued to hurl, Flame slowly approached his friend. When he was close enough he fire a quick burst of fire, burning the spears. The weapons broke and Spyro fell to the floor. Flame placed a paw on his friend's neck, expecting the worst. Much to his relief he felt a pulse.
"He's alive." He announced as Sparx drew closer. The dragonfly was unsure of what to make of the scene. He had ever seen his brother in this sort of state before or treated so savagely. Flame looked back towards his dragoness who trying to get herself under control but wasn't being very successful. "Sparx, Take Ember back to the surface." Flame ordered. "I'll be right behind you guys once I get Spyro out of these chains."
"You got it." Sparx saluted. He flew back to the dragoness. "Come on Ember. We need to get you out of here and into some fresh air." The dragoness didn't argue. She staggered after him as he led her back into the hallway. Flame watched her leave and listened to the sounds of her chokes and gags echo down the tunnel. He bit down on the chains that bound Spyro and pulled them off. He could taste Spyro's blood on the metal and it left a bitter residue on his tongue. When he leaned down to hoist the purple dragon up, his body felt cold.
"Damn it!" He cursed. "Those wolves just left you to freeze to death. Damned savages." With a loud grunt he hefted Spyro up onto his back. Once he got himself situated he turned back to the hallway and headed for the surface.
