Axius sat in his room, pouring over maps and charts of nearby areas.

"What's all this?"

He turned to see Polaris standing in the doorway. He smiled and stood from his desk.

"It's nothing," he said, planting a kiss on her forehead. She smiled and shook her head.

"It's obviously something." The Scimitar sighed and nodded.

"I'm trying to pin down Armageddon's base of operations, but the guy's a ghost. His attack patterns have no correspondence, no pattern. I feel like he knows that too." Polaris draped a wing over his shoulder.

"You've been at it for the past two days," she said. "Why don't you get some rest?" Axius shook his head.

"Not right now. Everyone needs to be on high alert for what's coming, and I need to train if I even stand a chance against him."

"You've already got a head start." Axius and Polaris whirled around to find PT leaning on the doorframe.

"Go on," Axius said. PT stepped over to look at the maps.

"Remember our last run-in with him? When you pulled that Gravity Bomb thing, he didn't know what to do. He also didn't seem to know about what I can do either." Axius nodded.

"So you're saying train with Gravity." The human nodded.

"You want to stay one step ahead of him in any way possible." Axius realized PT wasn't with Spyro, who still hadn't woken up.

"How's Spyro doing?" he asked.

"His heart rate and breathing patterns have returned to normal. We just have to let his body rest." Axius nodded. He needed some good news.

"Hey, PT?" Dynamo was standing in the door. He looked nervous, which was odd for him.

"Yeah Dynamo?"

"C-Can I talk to you about something?" PT cast a look over his shoulder at Axius and Polaris. They nodded, giving him the go-ahead. He turned back to Dynamo and nodded.

"What's on your mind?" Dynamo twiddled his thumbs.

"Well, I was out with Diablo and Samara and… I saw something." PT cocked a brow.

"Saw what?"

"That's the thing! I don't know what I saw. All I know is that it wore these really dark clothes and it sort of reminded me of you." PT scratched his chin before looking back at Polaris and Axius.

"Any ideas?" They simply shook their heads.

"Whatever it was, it doesn't sound friendly. Did it say anything to you?" Dynamo shook his head.

"It just… waved."

"Okay," PT said. "That is creepy as hell!" Dynamo nodded.

"It waved and then it just… vanished." Axius thought for a moment.

"Well, whatever it is," he eventually said. "I would keep an eye out for it." Dynamo nodded.

"PT!" Aquaila was standing in the doorway now. "Come quick! Spyro just woke up!"

XXXXX

Cynder had Spyro locked in a tight embrace when PT and Axius crashed into the room.

"Thank God, you're awake!" PT said with a hint of relief. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine now," Spyro answered. "Cynder told about how you helped me. Thanks." PT held up his hands.

"Don't mention it, but I must ask, why?" Spyro gave him a confused look.

"Why what?"

"Why you just dropped in the middle of the match like that?" Spyro looked down and sighed.

"It just felt like my brain was on fire and then someone screamed in my head 'He's coming!'" PT and Axius looked at each other.

"Who's 'he?'" PT asked. Spyro shook his head.

"I don't know, but it isn't good."

"PT," Axius said. "Do you think that the voice in Spyro's head is connected to what Dynamo saw."

"Possibly," he answered. "What did the voice sound like?"

"It sounded… female, definitely, but there was something… familiar about it."

"Familiar?" Spyro nodded.

"But I'd never heard it before."

"This has trouble written all over it," Axius said. "We're going to want to inform the Guardians."

"Could the voice be talking about Armageddon?" Cynder asked. PT shook his head.

"We already know about him, there's no need to warn us. You don't think…" He and Axius exchanged worried looks.

"You can't be serious?" Axius said. "He can't be that strong." PT shook his head.

"He created him, remember? If he can do that, I wouldn't put resurrection past him."

"Who are we talking about?" Spyro asked. PT and Axius gave him solemn looks.

"Malefor."

XXXXX

"It's possible, I suppose," Nyxis said. "Dark magic is the pathway to many otherworldly powers. I wouldn't rule it out."

"But it's Malefor!" Axius said. "That's got to take a lot of power to bring someone like him back." Nyxis crossed his arms and leaned his chair back on two legs and rested his boots on his desk.

"He was never dead, just imprisoned. That may make all the difference." PT pinched the bridge of his nose.

"So we're going to have to square off with Malefor and his boss?" Axius sighed.

"That's what it looks like."

"The Guardians are going to have a heart attack." Axius nodded.

"I vote we find the bastard and kill him," Nyxis said. The others nodded in agreement.

"If we can get him by himself, we may stand a chance," PT said.

"He'll also be prepared to combat Earth, Fire, Lightning and Ice," Axius pointed out.

"Agreed," Nyxis said. "We need people with elements he's never seen before."

"So Axius, of course, you, Vylor, Chronos, me, and Diablo." Nyxis nodded.

"It may be a good idea to bring Spyro and Cynder," Axius said. "They have a score to settle." Nyxis nodded.

"Meet up after dinner," he said. "We'll work out a plan of attack."

XXXXX

"So you're planning on going off and fighting Malefor all by yourselves?" Spyro asked.

"Pretty much," Axius replied. "We figured you two would want to go as well, make sure you finish the job." Cynder nodded.

"You thought right." Diablo cracked his knuckles and grinned at Samara and Dynamo.

"This is gonna be great." PT nodded.

"What's the plan?" he asked. "Cynder and Spyro know him the most, so we'll have to go off what they say." The others nodded and all looked at the two dragons.

"Well…" Cynder began. "… He won't hold back. That goes without saying." Spyro nodded.

"He can also use Convexity," he said. "So be careful."

"What about his standard elemental abilities?" Vylor asked.

"He's proficient in all of them, but he can also control Time," Spyro answered.

"To what extent?" Chronos asked, suddenly interested.

"Not that much, couple of seconds at most. I've only done it a couple of times, and after I fixed the planet, my powers didn't come back for a while. Dragon Time is the only one I haven't gotten back." Axius patted Chronos on his shoulder.

"That's why we've got Chronos here." The Scimitar of Time nodded.

"Now how do we get him out and open to attack?" PT asked.

"Write a mean letter," Diablo suggested. Samara slapped him with her tailblade.

"Don't think that'll work," Axius said.

"If Malefor's who I imagine him to be…" PT said. "… He won't hesitate for an opportunity for more power." Spyro nodded.

"There's only one problem," Cynder said. "A pile of green crystals won't be enough."

"But the three of us will," Diablo said, gesturing to Samara and Dynamo. "He always said that he gave us our power, and that he could take it away. Let us be the bait."

"You sure about this?" PT asked. Diablo nodded.

"When do we want to pull this off?"

"Give me a day and we can be ready," Axius said.

XXXXX

Axius stood on the top of the Temple. Tonight was the night. He hadn't told Polaris. He didn't want her to worry.

"You seem worried about something Axius." He looked over his shoulder and found Cynder staring at him.

"I'm fine, Cynder." He looked out at the setting sun. "I just… I'm worried about Polaris, what'll happen if I… if I don't come back."

"Don't think like that, Axius. You'll be fine." Axius chuckled and nodded.

"You all ready?" PT asked as he emerged from the access panel leading to the roof. Axius and Cynder nodded. The others followed PT out and together, they shot skyward, bound for the Dark Master.

XXXXX

"Everyone ready?" PT asked. Diablo cracked his neck and nodded.

"We're ready when you are." PT nodded and looked up at the sky. They had chosen an old crater to stage their ambush. There was minimal cover, but only one way in and one way out. Night had fallen. This was good. If they could attack from the dark, it would make things harder.

"Everyone in positions!" PT called. Axius melted away into the shadows along with Cynder. Vylor threw up a light barrier, concealing himself, Chronos, and Spyro. Nyxis disappeared in a burst of black flame. Samara, Diablo, Dynamo, and PT lined up and stood in the center of the crater.

"You guys ready for this?" he asked. They all nodded. "Good, because he's here." PT pointed skyward. The moon had disappeared, totally eclipsed by the behemoth of a dragon hovering in the air above them.

"Let's send this bastard to his Ancestors," Diablo growled. He outstretched his hand and a storm of lightning sprang to life. PT's eyes widened as the stream of electricity lengthened and died. In its place was a sword like PT's.

"When did you get that?" he asked. Diablo smirked.

"There's a lot you don't know about me, bud." PT just chuckled and nodded.

"Well, it's refreshing to see some old faces," Malefor said as he touched down. PT drew his sword and felt it hum, as if it was alive.

Dynamo let out a low growl. "I'm gonna skin this bastard alive."

"Let's just keep him here long enough to do so." PT called up the HUD in his helmet and opened the music settings. He cycled through until he reached the perfect song: "Crazy Train," by Ozzy Osbourne. He raised Lightbane and pointed it at the massive purple dragon. "NOW!" The four charged the Dark Master.

PT felt Malefor's eyes fall on him. He shuddered but didn't break his stride. He pumped more power into his legs and accelerated past the others, putting a good thirty meters between them. Malefor opened his maw and fired a blast of lightning at the human. PT instinctively raised his sword to block it and his eyes widened when the bolt struck the metal blade.

The lightning curled around the blade and the Arcanite crystal in the hilt turned yellow.

It absorbs magical energy, PT thought. He grinned and slashed his sword. The bolt shot back at Malefor and struck him head-on. The Dark Master staggered backwards and shook his head. PT grinned as a little message popped up on his HUD: Achievement Unlocked: Return to Sender.

Malefor stamped his foot and a pillar of rock shot out of the earth, striking PT in the chest and knocking him into the air. He felt something hook around his shoulder and saw Samara looking down at him.

"Nice save," he complimented. She chuckled and nodded. "How about giving me a boost?" She nodded and spun in midair. She aimed and let the human go, flinging him at Malefor. He crouched as PT neared him and spun his tail around. The human threw up a crystal barrier just as the mass of muscle struck, but the momentum still shot him across the crater. PT saw Dynamo go flying and slam into Diablo, bowling both of them over. Samara slid to a stop next to him, her eyes closed.

Malefor let out a sinister laugh. "It seems that while I taught you all well, I obviously didn't teach you enough." He approached my and grinned. "What made you think you could beat me?" I chuckled.

"Because we've got a signal." PT snapped his fingers and all hell broke loose.

"MALEFOR!" The Dark Master's eyes widened as Spyro erupted seemingly from nowhere and struck him with his tail. Cynder leapt out of the shadows and swiped his legs out from under him. Malefor hit the ground with a thud, but quickly rolled to his feet.

"I see you two survived," he growled. "But you couldn't beat me the first time, and Ignitus won't save you all this time." A maniacal grin split his scaled face.

"That may be true, Malefor," a booming voice said. "But they didn't have us last time!" Vylor dissipated the barrier, the moonlight gleamed off his armor.

"They have us!" he shouted. Chronos twirled his staff and pointed it at Malefor. Nyxis materialized next to his brother and crossed his arms over his chest.

"MALEFOR!" a new voice called. Everyone's eyes went skyward as a bolt of lightning struck the ground directly in front of the Scimitars. From the column of lightning emerged Axius. His staff in one hand, his sword in the other. Malefor's eyes fell onto the symbol on his pauldrons.

"It can't be!" he said, his maw falling open. Axius levelled his sword at him.

"Malefor! You shall answer for your crimes against this world and the inhabitants of it! The lives you have taken shall be avenged!" He pounded his staff on the ground. "We are the Scimitars of Light, and it is by our hand that you shall meet your demise!" Malefor overcame his initial shock and roared in anger.

"WE SHALL SEE ABOUT THAT!" He opened his maw and let loose a torrent of Convexity.

"I've got this!" Chronos said. His staff's teal crystal flashed, and the beam of Convexity froze.

Malefor growled again. "You aren't the only one who can do that!" A blue aura surrounded him and he moved with blinding speed, slamming into Axius and throwing him into the wall of the crater. "Even the Scimitars of Light cannot stop me!"

PT leapt at Malefor, who caught him with a paw and slammed him into the ground, cracking it. PT gasped and choked as he felt his ribs break and tasted blood in his mouth. Looked down at him.

"One move and this thing dies!" PT formed a crystal in his hand and drove it into Malefor's leg. The Dark Master howled with rage and raised his massive paw again, ready to stomp the human into a red paste.

A crackling in the air got his attention. Suddenly, disc of turquoise energy struck him and knocked him backwards. He shook off the blow and looked up along with everyone else in the crater.

Standing at the edge of the pit were five shadowy figures, their silhouettes black against the light of the moon. One had thrown a shield at Malefor. They leapt into the pit and allowed Spyro and his friends a closer look. Two were dragons, fully grown. The other three were too concealed to judge what they were.

Dynamo gasped. "That's the thing I saw yesterday!" The figures touched down and stared at Malefor, not making a noise.

"Malefor," the largest biped said in a gruff voice. "I think it's time we paid you back for all that torment." The purple dragon growled.

"I should've killed you all in that dungeon!" One of the dragons, a Lightning dragoness gasped and pointed to Spyro.

"It's him!" The male, a Fire dragon, gasped as well.

"Get those two out of here, Iota." The largest biped said again. PT perked up at that.

Were that a Greek letter? Pain asked.

I believe that was, Tak answered. PT nodded, but there was no way. The dragons nodded and bounded over to Spyro and Cynder.

"Come on, you two," Iota said. Spyro shook his head.

"We aren't leaving them!" The male shook his head.

"If you want them to survive, you must." Spyro began to argue but stopped. He sighed and nodded. The quartet of dragons spread their wings and took to the sky.

"It's time to settle this Malefor!" the largest biped called out. PT's eyes widened as yellow-orange energy began to swirl around his body. He roared and charged Malefor, trailing a glowing tail of energy behind him. Malefor swung his tail, but the creature already leapt over the attack. He shouted and drove his fist into the Dark Master's jaw. A thunderclap exploded and Malefor flew backwards and struck the wall of the crater.

Can you stand? Pain asked. PT shook his head.

"I think he broke me," he moaned.

"My turn!" a female voice called out. The smallest biped was enveloped in an aura of turquoise aura. She had thrown the shield.

"That voice," PT said. "It sounds… familiar." She slammed her fists into the ground and a roaring wave of liquid energy struck the spot where Malefor was standing. Malefor roared.

"I will not be defeated by some rats like you!" He slapped the largest biped and sent him rolling to a stop behind PT. He blasted the female with a bolt of lightning, knocking her backwards. He locked the last one in a rock prison and chuckled to himself.

"Another move from any of you, and this one dies!"

Get up, PT! Pain said. PT nodded and slowly got to his feet. He called on his powers again. He removed his helmet and let it thud to the ground.

"No…" he heard the largest and smallest biped gasp. PT focused and felt the power building inside him. He roared and unleashed his newest power: The Arcane Fury. The crystals struck Malefor and the rock behind him, hiding him in a pile of dust. PT saw him shoot into the sky and take off North. He tried to follow, but his legs gave out from under him and he dropped to his knees.

"PT!" Spyro and Cynder landed with the other two dragons. The purple dragon and his mate rushed over to the human.

"Are you okay?" Cynder asked. PT nodded.

"I'm fine just a broken rib or two." Cynder's eyes widened.

"You there!" PT looked up to see two bipeds approaching him.

"Thank you," the human said. "You saved me."

"You don't recognize us?" the female asked. PT shook his head.

"You don't have anything to recognize." The two looked at each other and nodded. They pulled back their hoods and PT's world flipped.

One was a man. He stood about six inches taller than PT and looked about twice as muscular. He brown hair was beginning to grey at the roots and a layer of stubble covered his chin.

The other was a woman. Her skin was fair and her hair a striking blonde. Tears came to PT's eyes and Diablo's jaw dropped.

"Come here, PT," the man said. PT threw himself into their arms and sobbed.

"MOM! DAD!" he cried. The two other humans patted him on the back as tears ran down their faces as well.

"We missed you son."