(Chapter beta-read by Riverstyxx)

(Classic Loop 38.1)

A roaring fireball sailed through the air to land on the makeshift scarecrow test dummy, which burst into flames and sent hay flying everywhere.

Ember huffed, charging the next test dummy that was still standing, chi claws extended as she pounced. Slamming the claws in as far as they would go, she used the momentum to jump back and began to hack away wildly at the scarecrow as fast as she could. She let out a burst of flames, then flapped her wings once she'd broken off the attack, and landed a good distance away as the scarecrow fell to flaming pieces.

"Good," said a voice from behind her. "Now all you need is an enemy that will stay perfectly still while you flail around like a nutjob."

Ember flinched and glanced back to see Ragnar step forth with an indifferent expression.

"You're still falling back on your instincts too much. Chi is not about wild strikes and overpowering the opponent. It is like a flowing river, following a set path and keeping a cool aura," he said, resting his staff on his shoulder. "Until you understand that, you will never be able to use it effectively."

Ember frowned, but nonetheless stood firm, bowing her head respectively. "Yes, Sensei."

Ragnar smirked, gently moving his staff down and placing it under Ember's chin, raising her head back up to look at him.

"Now, now. Chin up. At least you're willing to admit your faults and try to improve past them." Ragnar paused, glancing back with a scowl. "...Unlike a certain other pupil of mine."

As if on cue, the air became thick as a low roar rang out. A bright blue glow began to shine throughout the area as Spyro stood on his hind legs, shouting at the top of his lungs, paws at his sides as a flashy aura of chi illuminated around him like a fireball. From the sidelines, Hunter and Sparx watched on with sunglasses over their eyes. After several seconds of his apparent fit, Spyro finally broke it off and fell onto all fours, panting heavily.

Sparx and Hunter proceeded to hold up signs with a nine and an eight on them. Spyro grinned.

"Hero of the realms, he is…" Ragnar muttered, letting out a solemn sigh and resting his head in the palm of his paw.

Ember giggled as Ragnar cursed something under his breath.

(Legend Loop 38.2)

Spyro sighed. Ignitus being his biological father was a loop variant that wasn't anything new. Honestly, it wouldn't have surprised him if such was the case in baseline, even though Ignitus himself frequently made it clear that he was far too old at the point to properly raise a youngling of his own. Still, it would have explained a lot about him, including the close, almost father-son relationship they shared.

But what this loop variant was trying to tell him was completely lost on him.

"Now then, Spyro, while you should be proud that the power of a purple dragon courses through your veins, you should be even prouder of your ice dragon heritage."

Spyro did his best to keep a straight face. The odd regal jacket designed for a dragon, which fit tightly around him, was only slightly less uncomfortable than the puffy shirt worn underneath it. He let out a breathless sigh, looking up at Cyril with a painful smile.

"Uh, D-Dad…" He cleared his throat, glancing down at his ridiculous getup. "Is this really…really necessary?"

"Of course! I'll have you know, this suit was passed down by our ancestors from generation to generation!" Cyril said, raising a claw with a proud look on his face.

"It's just… Dragons don't normally wear cloths, and since the temple could be attacked at any moment…"

"Now, now, son. Just because we're in the middle of a war doesn't mean we can't indulge in our own culture," Cyril said, placing his paw on his chest. "We ice dragons are far more refined and dignified than the other dragon races. These clothes help us exemplify that to those around us, and help keep our dignified air alive."

Spyro hunched over, a half scowl on his face. If that were really true, then why exactly could he hear the soft laughs of a dragoness and a dragonfly in the nearby hallway?

(Classic Loop 38.3)

Cleetus looked on with his head cocked, jaw hung limp and pupils shrunk. Things could get weird in the Beast Maker Realm, in no small part thanks to everyone being able to conjure up any creature imaginable. This was no less true with new Beast Makers, whose imaginations often went wild at the very thought. It wasn't usually too bad, though; nothing they couldn't handle.

However, they had never before handled anything like a four-headed, fire-breathing purple slug the size of their largest temple.

Spyro buzzed around the creature's head, firing bolts of magic that bounced off its skin and left nary a mark. The creature roared, and one of its heads smacked into Spyro. The impact caused a puff of smoke and the purple dragon was thrown halfway across the village, his crash-landing broken by a straw hut.

Spyro groaned. He pulled himself out of the wreckage…now adorned in a clown suit, a bushy mustache, and a blonde wig. Someone chuckled nearby and he shot the perpetrator a sharp glare, his teeth bared and a low growl coming from his throat.

"I must say, I never expected someone new to this to create something like this on their first try," Ember said, a smirk on her face.

"Oh, laugh it up, bunny princess!" Spyro said, his eyes narrowed while a puff of smoke escaped his nostrils. "For all your 'grand' Beast Maker experience, I don't see you trying to help!"

"What? You want me to summon Bunnyzilla to fight this thing?" Ember stuck her tongue out and giggled shortly after. She crossed her forelegs, a grin on her face, occasionally chuckling. "Besides, I'm not the one who caused this problem."

Spyro groaned and scowled as he glanced to the side. He narrowed his eyes and crossed his forelegs as he shook the wig off his head. "Neither am I, but you don't see me waiting on the sidelines!"

As soon as that was said, Spyro caught sight of a blur headed his way. His jaw dropped and his eyes went wide. He stumbled out of the way as straw kicked up where the blur smashed into the ground. There was a low groan before Cynder poked her head out of the mess. She was wearing a dress, and there was a bright yellow-and-pink polka-dot party hat on her head. She shook her head as Spyro stepped forth, a scowl on his face.

"Yo! Next time you'd like to learn some powers from our universe, mind giving us the heads up?"

Cynder paused. She touched her index claws together and blushed, a small, sheepish grin on her face.

(Fused Loop 38.4) (Feat: Masterweaver)

"...Uh, Cynder?"

"Yeah, Ember?"

"I just... There's something I've been meaning to ask."

"Yes?"

"...Okay, so you and your Spyro... You call each other mates, right?"

"Yes. Not in the way that weird Doctor human does, but we are mates."

"Which implies that you have...mated."

"...Yes...? It's perfectly natural."

"Um... Just so we're clear... In your baseline, you're both, uh...underage?"

"...OH! Oh, that's right, hahaha. Well, yes and no. There's no actual law about age limits in our loops most of the time—just that both parties have to be consenting and knowledgeable, and that they both have to take responsibility for it."

"But—"

"Ember, Spyro and I are stuck in a world at war, in a constant time loop, with no chance of eggs both because of the admin-invoked limitations and our own anatomy. We are, functionally speaking, adults in children's bodies. What we do in our private time is just that: private. I understand your concerns and I appreciate that you come from a world where it's taboo, and that's why Spyro and I are limiting ourselves to kissing while we're here."

"...It just weirds me out, is all."

"Well, we've had time to get used to it. And it's a great stress reliever, all things told—"

"Right, I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that and go do...something."

(Legend Loop 38.5) (Feat: Masterweaver)

Variants.

For most loopers, they were generally regarded with amused irritation. 'Oh, something new. Something unexpected. I didn't plan for this, but I'll enjoy it.' Of course, there were the horrible variants where everyone was evil and the world was built of terror, but, on the flipside, there were the amazing variants where cotton candy was handed out for free and the only thing the natives worried about was getting a stomachache. All in all, though, that only made up a small percentage of the unusual bits.

Spyro, for the most part, considered variants to be a blessing. True, there were some he didn't like—harem loops came to mind—but his baseline involved a genocidal war, his love being brainwashed, and, oh, let's not forget the potential end of the world. Granted, it was all becoming easier to handle, but a break was a break...even if it did come with dragonesses fighting for his attention like he was a precious pet or something.

This variant had started out that way. Well, Cynder was awake and, thankfully, not too affected by the harem curse—she was actually somewhat amused by the way the other dragonesses would set up their elaborate plots—and Sparx had, as always, taken picture after picture after picture. Spyro had endured the humiliation, confident in the knowledge that this would pass.

And then something went horribly wrong.

His first and only warning was a screech from the air before he was ploughed through the ground with enough force that, for a moment, he thought Malefor had escaped. He had just geared himself up to fight when suddenly a snout shoved against his lips, a forked tongue aggressively invading his own mouth as he felt sharp claws pinning his wings against the ground. It took him a few seconds to reboot his brain before he realized that his assailant had white scales; with that realization, he quickly kicked the dragoness away and rolled into a standing position.

"Flashwing, what—?!"

"You're going to love me."

It wasn't a growl, but a predatory hiss. Spyro took in the focused expression, the flickering lights in her crystals, the slow methodical swing of her tail. Something had changed.

"Look, Flashwing," he tried, "I'm sorry that I've been distant—"

He dodged as she jumped at him, but apparently she was expecting his move and spun in midair, clutching at him with her diamond-tipped claws and shoving him over. Flashwing's face darted at his again, but he grabbed it and smashed it into the ground, rolling out from under her as she let out a roar of pain. "Will you stop that?! You can't force me to love you!"

The crystal dragon snapped her gaze around, wings flaring wide. "No? No, no no, of course I can't. You've already made your choice," she spat, prowling toward him. "And you know, maybe I'd be okay with you and Cynder. Maybe, maybe if, you know, if you hadn't made that choice so long ago, hmm?"

Spyro cautiously circled around Flashwing, careful to keep her crazed gaze in sight. "I'm sure you can find a good dragon... someday," he suggested. "I mean, you've got the will, certainly—"

"Oh, but it's you I want," Flashwing purred. "And I don't mind sharing—really, I don't. Admit it, Spyro, some basic and carnal part of you wouldn't mind if I joined you and Cynder in the nest; I'll even try to make sure she's alright with it, hmm?"

He frowned. "The answer is no, Flashwing."

"Oh, yes, of course it's 'no.' You get to choose," she growled. "After all, you're Spyro, the legendary, conqueror of armies, slayer of Malefor—oh, and did I mention hero of the world?" She gestured broadly to the land around them. "All this is yours; all this is what you get. You get to exist."

Spyro tilted his head, trying to track her line of thought. "...So? You exist too—"

"NO I DON'T!" Flashwing snarled, stomping on the ground. "You made sure of that, you coward! You abandoned me! YOU ABANDONED US ALL!"

"...What are you talking about?"

"Cynder told me everything," Flashwing growled. "About the tree. About the loops. About the Skylands!"

Spyro's eyes widened as she pointed a claw at him.

"WE COULD HAVE EXISTED! It didn't even have to be you; it could be a new Spyro! Like that other one she talked about—or maybe somebody else, even! We could have existed, all of us! But YOU—you are so damn LOYAL that you can't let your heart out to strangers!"

"That's not why it's read only!" Spyro insisted. "There are other reasons—"

"Oh, yes, because you'll save your own realm so easily but, when it comes to others, obviously they're just GARBAGE!"

As suddenly as Flashwing's anger came, it vanished to be replaced by a seductive smile. "But you know, if I start looping... Maybe, maybe I can get it to work. Maybe I can solve all those little issues from the inside. But for me to start looping, I have to be loved by a looper." She sidled closer to him, manic desire in her eyes. "And you are going to love me, Spyro. I can feel it in my gems, you...are going...to love—"

Cynder descended like a meteor from the sky, knocking the other dragoness out with a single blow. She looked up at Spyro and gasped. "Your wings!"

Spyro glanced to his sides. "Huh?" There were, in fact, small gash marks where Flashwing had pinned him down. "Oh, that...that's nothing, it's fine—"

"Oh ancestors, Spyro, I'm so sorry! I just... She was going on and on about how she was going to steal you from me, and I snapped and went on a rant about the loops and, when I finished, she was just staring at me and I didn't mean to break her—"

"Just..." Spyro held up a claw. "Can we just... I think we need to take her somewhere. And then I...I need to think about this."

(Classic Loop 38.6)

Spyro lay down in the fields of Magic Crafters, a frown on his face as he stretched. He gazed up at the clouds rolling across the blue sky and forced his eyes to stay open, despite a sudden yawn of protest. He sighed, then crossed his forelegs and tilted his head. Sparx flew over with a raised eye-ridge.

"What's up with you?" he asked as he landed atop Spyro's forehead, a smirk on his face. "Shouldn't you be causing some poor elder to take out more life insurance by now?"

"I don't know, Sparx…" Spyro said, his gaze cast upward. "Something doesn't feel right."

"What do you mean?"

Spyro looked back up at the sky, his forelegs moved behind his head.

"Like...the previous loop was something serious, and anything silly you attempt the loop right after would just feel horribly out of place. Ever get that feeling?"

(Legend Loop 38.7)

The two moons merged in the sky and a purple beam of Convexity shot down into the Well of Souls. The Mountain of Malefor chipped away as the ground shook, collapsing in on itself as the sky took on an ominous purple hue. Then the light exploded, and boulders rose up into the air as a form materialized where the fortress had once stood. With a roar that echoed out across the lands, Malefor flew forth, his sharp teeth bared.

"I am freed!" he rumbled, dark tendrils sparking along his claws. "At last! Now, it is time for the prophecy to be fulfilled!"

"Mind if I have a say in that?"

Malefor spun around, his eyes narrowed and purple vapors of Convexity flaring out of his nostrils. Floating in the sky was a humanoid figure adorned in an orange karate gi, with black hair that spiked out in front and behind his head. The figure stared Malefor down, eyes narrowed and body tense. Malefor huffed and his scowl turned into a smirk.

"And who might you be, so foolish as to stand in front of me?" he asked, elemental sparks arcing all over his body.

The figure smirked. "A friend of a friend who you've been causing hell for over the past several thousands of years."

Malefor scoffed, fangs bared. "Nonsense. I've barely known anyone for a few years at most, and the only ones who incur my wrath are those who stand in the way of the purple dragon's destiny."

"You'd be surprised," the figure said, stance unfazed and expression unwavering. "You don't remember him, but he's had to deal with you plenty of times. More than anyone should have to, if we're being honest." He huffed. "I'll give you a hint. It's the only other purple dragon alive right now."

Malefor growled, but a second breath killed it as the muscles in his forelegs loosened. He grinned, his eyes still narrowed.

"Ah, yes… Spyro," he said, holding a forepaw up to his chin. "Such a naive whelp, attempting to fight alongside those who stand in our way. It would be so much easier if he accepted his destiny."

"It's only natural for beings who dislike their supposed destiny to rebel against it, and I can't say I blame him," the figure said, a frown on his face. "Destiny is more so a warning of things to come if no actions are taken, really."

Malefor smirked, eyes wide as his body jerked. His head snapped back and he let out a bellowing fit of laughter. The figure didn't flinch, even as Malefor glared at him once again, his sharp teeth showing in a fiendish grin.

"And who are you to make such a ridiculous proclamation!?"

"Someone who has smashed quite a few supposed 'destinies' in his time," the figure said, his lips curling into a smirk. "I've even subbed for a few 'chosen ones' who desperately needed a sick day, and, let me tell you, from what I've heard, there's no one who needs one more than Spyro."

"Bah," Malefor scoffed, his head raised as the grin never left his face. "Even if Spyro were to defeat me, it is still the purple dragon's fate to destroy and recreate the world." His head snapped down, his eyes narrowed. "Are you saying you'd be just as willing to stand up to him once that occurs?"

"Funny you should ask that. Spyro specifically requested that, should it happen." The figure crossed his arms, his head cocked. "Of course, I think he's just worried about nothing. Spyro doesn't strike me as the 'omnicidal maniac' type."

"It does not matter how he is now…" Malefor said, his eyes narrowed. "You'd be surprised at how easily dragons can change. One little snap, one thing the others won't understand, that only you can see…"

"People can also change for the better, see the error of their ways."

Malefor huffed, teeth bared as his claws danced with darkness. "I certainly hope you aren't referring to myself."

"And why not?" the figure asked, his head cocked.

"Because I've already accepted this reality. I've gone too far to just change at the drop of a hat!" Malefor roared, his eyes aglow as his jaw opened wide.

"You'd be surprised," the figure said with a smirk. "I've fought plenty of foes who thought they had gone too far to turn back, and now they are some of my closest allies.

"Really now?" Malefor gave a devilish grin, the moonlight reflecting off his eyes as the air become almost as icy-cold as his words. "And how can you be so sure that it's not a ploy? That they don't intend to stab you in the back as soon as the chance presents itself?"

"Because it'd be pointless to do so, considering the situation we find ourselves in." The figure's face became as solid as stone; his eyes glared daggers and his muscles became as hard as iron. "And even then, the opportunity has presented itself many times before, yet they never took it. They found peace, and threw away such ridiculous notions as you hold."

"Ridiculous!?" Malefor scoffed, a haze visible around his mouth as he threw his paw to the side. "Is not the nature of every living being to strive for a better outcome!? A better world!? It is the purple dragon's destiny to create a new world when the old one has proven itself to be unsatisfactory! To create a new, more perfect world in its place, without the old's ignorance or problems!" Purple tendrils danced around his body as the light around him faded and he became coated in shadows. "Are you saying you dare to protect an imperfect world?"

"I'm not going to sugarcoat it. The world isn't perfect." The figure scowled, his arms raised in front of him as his muscles tensed in preparation. "But that doesn't mean there isn't good alongside the bad! It's in the nature of beings to strive for a better future, but it's also in their nature to protect their own wellbeing! This world can reach a better tomorrow without need for its destruction! Just as there are bad people, there are as many good—and they are fearing for their lives because one dragon, who believes himself above morals because of his scales, is calling out for their destruction!"

The air grew heavy as the space around the figure began to warp, and a faint glow illuminated from him as the ground shook. Malefor's teeth were bared, his eyes wide at the sight. His body remained as solid as stone, his eyes locked on the figure. Fire danced along his scales, the air was icy-cold, and sparks shot back-and-forth around him. Below him, green vapors flowed up from the fallen fortress. They enveloped Malefor, and his muscles bulged from the touch.

"For the sake of all beings, I refuse to let you deal out your warped sense of justice!" the figure said, his aura flaring brilliantly like the light of the sun. "I will show you that your so-called destiny is nothing but a warped delusion!"

"If this is your stance, then you will die like the rest of the scum in this world!" Malefor roared, and his wings pumped like jet engines as he shot towards the figure. His claws dripped with darkness and purple light grew in his throat with each second that passed.

The figure let out a mighty battle-cry as he charged forward, fists at the ready as energy danced around them.

Malefor gasped, eyes wide as he slammed into the ground. This power… This power that the figure held. Who the hell was this being!? Malefor shook his head, his eyes narrowed as he charged back into the air. No. He couldn't panic. He'd just underestimated this being, that was all. It wouldn't be a mistake he would make twice.

He let out a mighty roar, and Convexity shot out of his maw in an intense purple beam. The figure scowled and seemingly disappeared moments before it hit. Malefor snarled and rolled to the right. A mighty kick flew up and missed his gut by inches as the figure reappeared below where he'd just been. Malefor had been caught off guard by that too many times in this battle already, and he'd be damned if he would let it happen again.

The figure teleported away several feet from where Malefor stood. He smirked, an amused glint in his eyes. "Not bad. I can see why new-to-intermediate loopers would have trouble fighting you."

Malefor growled. The welts and bruises on his scales contrasted with his unmarred opponent. "Don't you dare mock me!"

"It's a compliment, really," the figure said, his arms crossed. "It's a shame you probably won't ever loop. I wouldn't mind fighting you at your full potential."

Malefor let out a roar. How dare this ignorant bastard act like he wasn't anything compared to him! He charged forward, his claws at the ready, before he unleashed a wave of darkness at his enemy. The figure narrowed his eyes as he teleported out of the way. Malefor felt his side burn as a blast slammed into him. He dropped out of the sky, his wings flailing as he gasped.

The ground was at his back, and a sudden sharp pain shot through his body as the figure's knee dug into him, before he spun and smacked Malefor in the stomach with his foot. There was a deafening ring in his ears, and his body screamed as he felt the earth give way underneath him. Rocks jammed into his scales and droplets of blood stained them a dull crimson. Malefor coughed. He tried to move but felt like he had been chained to the ground; his limbs were heavy and unresponsive.

No… He couldn't die. He couldn't die. Not before completing his prophecy. This wasn't how it was supposed to go; not at all. At the claws of another purple dragon, possibly. They would carry out the prophecy anyway, even if he couldn't. But at the hands of some…some…some hairless ape! How dare they betray him! They had come to him for power before anything else! How dare they toss him aside once they'd discovered some other ancestors-forsaken power source!

"Now do you understand?"

Malefor was knocked out of his train of thought as the figure descended and landed not far from him.

"Do you understand that your so-called fate is nothing but the ravings of a batcrap-crazy dragon?"

No! It wasn't crazy ramblings! It was his destiny! The path laid out for him!

"You still have a choice, you know," the figure said as he extended the palm of his hand. His gaze never left Malefor as he stood his ground. "Give it up. Give up this stupid notion of destroying the planet. The dragons may not be kind to you, but at least they'll realize that you've regained something resembling sanity."

He couldn't let it end here! Not at the hands of some nobody who had nothing to do with the prophecy!

"Maybe, in time, they'll come to trust you—"

"SILENCE!"

Malefor pulled himself back onto his paws, all his efforts focused on using Convexity to heal his wounds. Damn him! Damn him to hell! He wasn't going to lose to him! He wasn't going to let some random abomination of nature stop him now! He'd come too far... Too far to give up!

The figure scowled as he slipped back into a fighting stance, his eyes narrowed. "So, is that really your choice? A shame…"

"I SAID SILENCE, APE!" Malefor roared.

There was only one thing he could attempt, one thing that could possibly give him the edge over this freak of nature. He had never had to use it before, nor was it one of the techniques he had fully mastered, even in his many years of life. It would drain almost every last bit of his power. The very thought set his head ablaze. The thought that an ape, the very creatures that had sworn servitude to him, would push him this far… It was a disgrace to his name, to the very purple dragon line itself.

He did not care, though. He just wanted this fucker to burn. Burn like the rest of the filth in this world!

Malefor began to channel his power: every last bit of Convexity in his body that he could muster. His eyes glowed sharp yellow as a purple aura danced around his form. The figure remained unphased, almost as if to mock his display of power. Malefor growled. The very air around him grew heavy, yet the figure didn't even flinch. If he truly was mocking him, then he would have to tear that defiant expression off his very face!

"I HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN TO FIGHT!"

Without hesitation, Malefor charged forward as Convexity shot out all around him, warping and twisting the land as it began to melt into a pallet of various shades of purple. The figure's eyes went wide, but he kept his stance strong. He charged forward, fist at the ready, and swung it forward in a swift motion, the blow aimed right between Malefor's eyes. However, the figure's jaw dropped when it seemingly passed right through him as Malefor disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"Strong as you may be, it takes far more than strength alone to win a fight!"

A purple, hazy cloud surrounded the figure. Malefor could already feel his body starting to burn. This feat of Convexity manipulation was something not even he had fully mastered, and something he doubted any purple dragon could. But he didn't care. It was the last thing he had that could beat, no, tear this abomination limb from limb! He wouldn't dare let this bastard stand in his way!

"Let's see if your strength can handle this!"

The figure's eyes shot wide as a purple ethereal cloud began to form in front of him, two glowing eyes at the top and a flash of white just below it. It shot at the figure, who lifted his hands and took a swing, his blow harmlessly phasing through the miasma. It surrounded him, and he began to feel his breath becoming short. He grabbed his throat as the mist started to absorb into him; his skin felt like it was on fire as his face began to go numb.

"I must commend you for lasting this long and forcing me to become this desperate, but it all ends here. Since I'm feeling in a nice mood, I won't kill you outright. No… Your power could be most useful to me, considering my last general was a complete moron."

The figure let out a groan as a dark aura began to wash over him. His skin began to pale as he felt his body become heavy. He scowled, forcing his eyes open as his blood ran cold.

'Dammit! Looks like I have no choice!'

The figure took a deep breath, and all the while he could hear Malefor breathing down his neck.

"Now do you understand? How pointless it is to defy me? You cannot fight fate, and it is the fate of this world to be cleansed!"

The figure scoffed as he managed to force a smirk onto his face. "You act as if you've already won."

"Defiant to the end, are you?" Malefor had to commend this warrior. He may have been foolhardy, but he was strong-willed. He would make a good soldier in his army. "No matter. It is only a matter of time now."

"You should never underestimate your opponents," the figure said. "After all… They may have a trick or two of their own up their sleeve."

If the disembodied dragon could, he would have sneered. He watched the figure force his body into a lowered stance, eyes focused and arms at his sides. Basic movement should have been impossible, and yet, somehow, it didn't surprise him that he could still move. He almost wanted this figure to bust out some hidden technique of his own, if only so he could further explore what powers he could play around with when he became his new general.

Little did the demonic dragon warlord know, one should be careful what one wishes for.

It started with a grunt, which grew into a growl as the figure's muscles tightened. Malefor huffed. He could growl all he wanted, but, in the end, it would not change a thing. However, Malefor soon found his composure fading away as the seconds passed. An aura flared up around the figure as his energy surged. In what had taken Malefor a matter of decades to reach, the figure had reached in seconds!

The figure's growls became a low yet rising yell, his Ancestors-damned power still continuing to skyrocket. Malefor's gasp rang out through the void. No! He needed to contain his composure! He mustn't let this rattle him! Nothing could stand up to the purple dragon! Nothing could stand against the prophecy set out for him!

The tendrils began to burn away under the intense power. Malefor cursed under his breath and forced the tendrils to reform. He needed to stop this, and quick! He gave the briefest focus to the direct area around the figure, and dark gems formed up from the ground like a swarm of angry locusts. Sparks danced between them and the figure, zapping him and syphoning away as much energy as they could, and yet this monster's power continued to grow by the second. At best, the amount of energy they could syphon away was negligible.

Malefor's breaths grew heavy. Who was this creature?

The figure began to rise up as his yell echoed throughout the void, the tendrils losing the battle at a cheetah's pace as they were dissolved under the unrelenting power that poured out on top of them.

'No…'

The figure's shouts became a mighty roar, and his body snapped upright as his ethereal chains broke away with little resistance.

'What is this creature…?'

That thought continued to plague Malefor's mind as bright light flooded the void, and he felt himself, despite his years of power and skill, swatted away like a housefly.

Malefor came to a stop when his back created a rut in the ground that went for several feet. He grunted, his bones creaking with every move as he returned to his paws. He opened his eyes, vision blurred but quick to refocus. In the distance, he saw a faint blue glow and, in a flash, it appeared before him. The figure from before stepped forth, but this time his hair stood on end and contained a teal tint. His aura flared as he stood in place, his gaze fixed on Malefor.

And for all the power this being displayed, all Malefor could sense was…nothing.

His aura flared, and yet Malefor couldn't feel it. Mere moments ago, this being had swatted him away with minimal effort and his power had soared to unimaginable lengths, and yet now… Nothing. Not even a hint of the power he'd just displayed was apparent to him. How was that even possible!? Could this…this…abomination have reached a level of power that was incomprehensible even to him!? No! That was impossible! He was the purple dragon! Nothing was beyond his comprehension!

Malefor let out a growl which grew into a roar. He wouldn't let it end here. Not like this. Not at the hands of whatever damned unholy thing the Ancestors had cooked up. He reared his head back, Convexity building in the back of his throat. With every last bit of strength he had left, his body began to glow. He would show this monster what power really was! The power of a purple dragon!

With that, Malefor's head shot forward and the entire surrounding area was dyed in purple light as a beam of Convexity almost as large as the Destroyer itself engulfed the figure. Every last bit of mana, every fiber of Malefor's being, was poured into this last-ditch effort. Trees tore away as whatever was left of his fortress disintegrated under his might. His body screamed out to stop. His scales felt like they had been lit on fire, his bones creaked under the massive force, and his throat felt like someone had taken a saw to it.

He didn't care, though. He wouldn't stop. Not until his body gave way or he knew for sure this being was gone for good.

He was unsure how long it lasted. To him, seconds turned to minutes, and minutes grew into an hour. But, before long, Malefor felt his mana run thin and the beam began to waver. It grew smaller by the second, then the ends wobbled and the light began to die down. Finally, Malefor broke the struggle and gasped for breath as a dust cloud kicked up in the wake of his attack.

Everything in his body felt heavy, from bones, to scales, to wings. It was foolhardy to put that much mana into an attack, especially when it was taking what little left-over reserves he had just to keep his life essence from collapsing. It was overkill what he had done. In that moment of panic, he'd overreacted and was now vulnerable to anything that would come his way. His only solace was the fact that the figure was gone for good…

But when the dust cleared, Malefor's blood ran cold.

As the scarred battlefield came back into view, the figure emerged from the dust, unflinching and unscathed. The only signs that his attack had done anything were torn clothes and a minor nick along the figure's cheek. Malefor's jaw hung agape as his eyes went wide. This was… No… This couldn't…

"What…" Malefor muttered, his legs quivering beneath him. "What…are you…?"

The figure's expression remained unchanged as he stopped a foot away from Malefor, his gaze firm and strong. "I already told you. I'm a friend of Spyro."

With that, Malefor felt the bones in his chest give way as he was sent hurtling into the sky. He gasped for air and tears welled up in his eyes.

"Ka… Me…"

This couldn't be how it ended… No! This couldn't be! Not at the hands of something even he couldn't have seen coming!

"Ha… Me…"

He was the purple dragon! It was his fate! His destiny! The only other thing that could possibly oppose him was another purple dragon! He was power. He was fate. He was…

"I… I am…"

"HAAAAAAAA!"

A bright blue light shot towards him as Malefor held a paw to the sky.

"I AM ETERNAL!"

And that was the final phrase out of his mouth, as his body gave way to the massive energy that engulfed him.

Spyro looked on at the rebuilding of Warfang city with a smile. It was rare that he got there as a child, and even rarer that he experienced it during a time of peace. Cynder sat by his side with a similar expression. Not only did she get to see all of this, but it was also during a loop where the Terror of the Skies had never come to pass. She sighed and rested her head on Spyro's shoulder with a content smile.

"Thank you again," Spyro said as he glanced to his side. "I don't like putting my problems on others, but…getting to see this world during a time of peace is something we both really needed."

Goku grinned as he waved his hand, the other pressed against the back of his head. "No problem! Always willing to help, especially when I get to fight someone new!"

"What I don't get, Mister One-Step-Away-From-Adminhood," Sparx chimed in, his arms crossed as he raised an eyebrow, "is why you didn't dye your hair and perform your lightshow sooner. It was fun seeing Mally have a mental breakdown and all, but why even give him hope that he had a chance?"

"I wanted to see the full range of his power, as well as give him a chance to reform," Goku said, putting his arms behind his head. "I can definitely see how you guys would have problems with him, but don't worry. It shouldn't take too long before you can deal with him pretty easily."

He grinned, but jolted when he heard a low rumbling. He grasped his stomach, a shy grin on his face.

"By the way… What kind of food do you have in your world?" Goku asked as he scratched his cheek. "Beating up a delusional dragon makes one surprisingly hungry…"

(Classic Loop 38.8) (Feat: Masterweaver)

"Hey, Hunter?"

"Yeah, Spyro?"

"I can kinda understand how you get to these weird places fast, since you're an athlete and all. And the professor, well, he's a mole, so tunnels make sense. In fact, Elora's probably pretty quick on her hooves, too, come to think of it..."

He gestured towards a bear with a sack. "Moneybags, though? Sometimes I swear he's in two places at once! And he's, like, ludicrously overweight. How does he—?"

"Spyro, I'm going to cut you off there." Hunter crossed his arms, an uncharacteristically serious look on his face. "As the anchor, you have a duty to stay sane, right?"

"Well... Basically, yeah."

"Then trust me on this: NEVER ask that question. Never investigate." The cheetah stared into the distance with a tortured gaze. "And never try to follow that bear. It just isn't worth it."

(Fused loops 38.9)

"So… Let me get this straight," Classic said, his gaze fixed on his loop brother with an amused smirk. "During one of your variants, those sky pirate things were hunting a supposedly super-powerful Naga for the purpose of making it a gladiator in their arena, right?"

"Yes." Legend sighed. He wasn't sure how the topic had gotten onto this, maybe something to do with common variant loops for their branches, but part of him wished he had kept his maw shut.

"Then, after hearing about the super-powerful Naga gladiator and coming to a totally-not-suspicious ominous cave," Classic said, a grin on his face as he narrowed his eyes, "instead of leaving the possibly violent beasty alone, you jumped into the cave without a second thought to warn him."

"...Yes." Legend hung his head low. In hindsight, he really should have seen the warning signs.

"And thus, surprise, surprise, the Naga didn't take too kindly to random purple dragons busting into his home and you had to fight him off, all the while unable to effectively use your elements because of his shield absorbing them and repeatedly getting bopped in the head by falling rocks."

"How was I supposed to know he was carrying around a shield that blocks dragon elements?" Legend said, his expression flat. "He was neither an ape nor a participant in the war."

"Really, with what you told me about your branch, I wouldn't be surprised if little bunny rabbits were carrying around anti-dragon weaponry." Classic smirked as he rested his head on his paw. "Still though, because of all of that, upon finally beating the how-could-he-possibly-be-so-violent creature, you were so worn out that, despite your looping experience, those sky pirates managed to jump you and take you back to their ship for their sport."

"Yes." Legend groaned, draping his paw over his eyes not moments later.

Classic grinned. "And you call me the reckless idiot."

(Fused Loop 38.10) (feat: Masterweaver)

"...Wait, so, in these Speedways, you deliberately crash into people who are innocently riding around in their vehicles?"

Classic looked at Legend, held up a claw, paused, and blinked. "...Huh. When you put it that way, it sounds cruel—"

"Your world is sick," Legend growled.

(A/N: Not much to really say about this chapter. All I can really bring up is things have been a right experience here with my personal life, and that's about it. With any luck, we may be moving to a quieter house soon, which will hopefully mean an easier time writing chapters and such for me.

In the meantime, I'm trying a more expressive writing style than what I've been doing. Forgot if I already brought this up, but some personal research has shown that I've been taking ''show, don't tell'' to insane lengths, and it's been taking its toll on my writing. As such, I'm trying to undo the damage it caused with my writing style, but so far it's been slow going.

Oh, also, the lead artist of LoS recently did a Q.A. where he went into a lot of stuff about what they couldn't add into the games while the trilogy was going strong, in addition to confirming a boatload of stuff, among other things, so... Expect quite a bit of info loops in the future.

… And that's about it. So, without further ado, here are the loop comments/names:

38.1: On the plus side, it'll help him easily beat his enemies. It'll take him two hundred chapters to do so, but still. /shot

38.2: Just because he's purple doesn't mean upper-class mannerisms run in his family.

38.3: Hard to tell if Classic would be any better or worse about that…

38.4: And that's pretty much all we're saying about that. This isn't an Innortal style loop series, after all…

38.5: It's all fun and games until a non-looper has a freakout over the loops.

38.6: Hi. Welcome to the Infinite Loops. /shot

38.7: When faced with a near Eldritch abomination dragon that refuses to go down, sometimes it's best to have an even bigger humanoid abomination to take care of things for you.

38.8: Moneybags would be willing to tell them…for a nominal fee, of course.

38.9: So… The GBA adaption of tEN is pretty neat, admittedly. I kind of like it a bit better than the console version, plus it expands on a lot of things, too, which means more loop fodder… Which is always good.

38.10: Granted, I don't think sending apes flying with snow boulders, TNT, normal boulders, and the like is much better, but…)