"You took long enough." The Cheetah said, his voice cold and gruff.

"I still have a few hours to spare." the Dragon replied.

"Where are they?"

"There's an old, dilapidated building on the edge of the city. They've been hiding in some extensive dungeons underneath it."

"The old prison?"

"I couldn't say; I don't know exactly where it is."

"We'll follow you there."

"We have to go now."

"Now?" the Cheetah asked. "You came at an inopportune time. The Guards are switching shifts."

"They mentioned something about leaving town soon. We can't wait another second."

"Fine. Sirius!" He shouted at the Cheetah who had brought Spyro to his office. "Gather my squadron."

"Yes, sir." he muttered weakly and dashed off. Lucius got up from behind his desk and cracked his knuckles. Wordlessly, they left the room and went down the flights of stairs until they were in the lobby. Twenty-four huge, armor-laden Cheetahs awaited them, looking almost as fierce as the Mandar commanders.

"Take us straight there, Dragon." he said. "Make it quick; the sooner we get back, the less time this tower will be undefended."

They left the Tower and Spyro led them down one of the main thoroughfares of the city, Lucius practically breathing down his neck and the Guardsmen not far behind. After going for several blocks, Spyro stopped. He was in the dead center of the Main Plaza. He could see eyes on the rooftops and shadows pouring out from the streets and alleys. Luckily, the Guardsmen didn't seem to notice.

"What is it, Dragon?" Lucius spat.

"Hmm. I can't quite remember which street to take." Spyro feigned confusion. Lucius drew his sword and pointed the tip at Spyro's neck.

"Well, start remembering." the Cheetah muttered coldly. Spyro drew a deep breath and shouted.

"ATTACK!"

As the Dragon rolled backwards from the sword, the shadows around him charged forward. They Guardsmen turned to see the decorated Mandar warriors in a circle surrounding them, wielding spears, bows, axes, hammers, swords, and a variety of makeshift weapons that looked especially deadly. They stopped suddenly as more slid down ropes from the rooftops. There were ten times as many Mandars here as Spyro saw in the tavern. One from the roofs stepped forwards as the circle parted for him. The Cheetahs inside were still paralyzed with fright.

"Brother." the approaching one said.

"Brother." Lucius replied. The other looked up. It was the Chieftain. "The years have not been good to you." All who were present looked shocked, some gasping. It was true; Spyro could see their same blue fur and blue eyes, and aside from the piercings and markings the two of them had nearly the same face. They were certainly brothers.

"If not for whatever dark magic you use to sustain yourself, I could say the same." the Chieftain smirked.

"I suppose this is the last time we'll see each other then?" Lucius asked.

"Without a doubt." the Chieftain agreed. He shouted, "Mandars!"

"Guardsmen!" Lucius cried out. "Attack!"

"Attack!"

The Guardsmen rushed out towards those surrounding them and drew their weapons. The Mandars brandished theirs, staring the enemies down. One of the Guards plunged his sword into the chest of the Mandar in front of him, only to be greeted with a sharp "crack!". The Mandar smiled and pulled two curved swords out from sheathes on his back. The Guard's sword was broken in half. The Mandars were wearing armor of stone and metal beneath their clothes. The Mandars swung their axes and hammers into their armored enemies, denting the metal and crushing whatever was inside, head, limb or torso alike. Others expertly plunged swords and spears into the cracks between armor plates. Mandars on the roofs shot arrows straight into heads. With hardly any men injured, the Mandars seemed to be dominating.

However, bad luck seemed to come their way, in the form of more Guardsmen coming from the direction of the tower. Someone must have gotten away and called in reinforcements. Spyro noticed that less arrows were coming from the rooftops; the archers must have encountered their own foes on the roofs. When those in the middle of the ring were vanquished, the Mandars turned to fearlessly face their approaching enemies. They charged, shouting fiercely.

Suddenly, several of the charging Guards flew into the air. Pillars of stone had pushed them off the ground with explosive force. Spyro had to fight somehow. He dashed ahead of the Mandars and dove deep into the crowd of Guards, surrounding himself with a ball of flame and unleashing a Fury of fire that scalded the enemy and burnt some to ash. He turned quickly when he was done, throwing breaths of ice where the enemy ran, freezing some into blocks and making the others slip and slide. Thinking quickly, he shot a breath of lightning into the icy ground, where the electricity conducted towards the enemy and shocked several to death. Hardly any were left. He returned to the back of the pack of Mandars, where some lay injured and few lay dead. He could see the Chieftain, an arrow through his chest where the armor must have cracked, stumbling. He fell to the ground, and Spyro ran to him.

"Lucius got away." he said, sounding strained. Spyro could see that more blood was rushing out from both ends of the wound with every heartbeat. "Promise me you'll kill him."

"I will." Spyro almost whispered.

"Listen." the old Cheetah said, sounding weaker with every breath. "Many years ago, I had a son. His mother took him to live in Avalar when he was very young, where he could be safe. I have had many sons and daughters, but he was my firstborn, and he is the true heir to the Chieftain of the Mandars. You must find him and tell him what has become of me."

"I will, Chieftain."

"His...his name was..." he was struggling to breathe. "...It was...Hunter." He shut his eyes, and Spyro lay his head down.

Spyro made a mental note. Now, he thought, was the time to get back to the Tower. Then, he'd find Lucius, tell Hunter, and get back to Warfang. Priorities, priorities. He flew over the few remaining combatants and raced to the tower. He saw a hole in the roof, knowing that the Bandits had already entered successfully. He decided to go in through the lobby entrance, and as he did the four Dragons were just coming down the stairs.

"Good timing, huh?" Cyrillus laughed. "Come on, the basement's this way." He followed them down a hall to a locked door, where Arda shattered the lock with a flurry of stone. A long flight of stairs greeted them, and they all raced down to find a dimly-lit hall of stone, with iron bars forming cells. Mostly Cheetahs lay behind the bars, but some Atlawa, some Moles, and even a few Apes were held prisoner as well.

"How do we know which ones are imprisoned unjustly?" Amperion asked.

"Screw it, let's free them all." Blaine said. One by one, they melted, shattered, or broke the bars, freeing the very grateful prisoners. They descended another flight of stairs, and another, freeing every last prisoner. Finally, they were met with one last door, at the end of a dark, cold hallway. It was covered with numerous locks and was made of thick iron. The Bandits waited behind Spyro. He encased his clenched paws in rocky earth and punched the metal door with all his might. He punched it again and again, and finally it fell right over. He walked in to find the same dark, dank cell he was held in days ago. Instead of Cynder, he found a puddle of red liquid that he hoped was washed-off Pyrium, and a note. Upon inspection, it was hastily scribbled upon.

"Too late. Have Cynder. You've failed. -Lucius"

Spyro whipped his head around to see a huge hole in the wall behind him, where the sewer rushed by. Lucius was gone. He had Cynder. And he wanted to sacrifice her to get her dark energy. Before any of the Bandits could even say anything, he took off into the sewer and flew as fast as he possibly could.

Dun-dun-dun!

I'm still trying to figure out exactly what happens next!

Two updates, one day; it reminds me of the good old days.

Peace out,

SP.