Spyro, Cynder, Aegis, and Azshea spread their wings catching the wind to hover in the air. The daylight shone brightly above them warming their scales. In contrast, stretching before them was a broken, blackened, and ruinous landscape. The grassy plains that meandered into the horizon were clearly disrupted by blackened soil and recently deceased plant life. At the source of the scar was a floating crystal that each dragon was more familiar with than they'd like.
"One more." Aegis said, mostly to himself, as he rolled his shoulders. He looked back to Warfang to find that it was still very much in sight. The flight had felt long, but in truth that was more due to their still injured state than anything. He looked idly to Azshea to find her breathing slightly heavier than usual. His concern broke through his visage, but he knew saying something wouldn't do any good. She was determined to join them, contradicting her would only ignite her temper.
"Look at what it's done." Azshea said quietly as she eyed the destruction. The very world seemed to be unmaking itself within the vicinity of the crystal.
"I'm scared to think what would have happened had we ignored the other two." Spyro said. His dreary attitude was jostled as Cynder pumped her wings with a little extra force, her element buffeting him slightly.
She gave him a small grin when he frowned at her. "We've handled worse than this." She chided.
The purple dragon gave a half-hearted smile. He appreciated the gesture, Cynder had always been that way. Still, something made his stomach churn when he looked to the battered space before him.
"Same plan as before?" Azshea asked breaking his concentration.
"I don't know if it's a good idea, given what happened last time." Spyro answered, picking his words carefully.
"Please." Azshea replied, brushing off the comment. "We hardly could have prepared for what the last crystal threw at us and we still survived."
"I'd rather not see you put in danger. We lived but last time was far too close." Aegis ventured, earning the fire dragoness' narrowed eyes.
"I suppose you'd have been happier if I had stayed behind." Azshea huffed, turning in the air to leer at her mate.
"No, I-
"Calm down Azshea, he just doesn't want to see you get hurt." Cynder interjected. The statement, thankfully, kept the dispute from growing any further. "I can't say I like the idea of leaving the fighting to the two of you either."
"Then we stick together." Azshea replied turning towards the black dragoness. "We'll have each other's backs, just like old times."
Cynder grinned. She couldn't count the number of times they'd pulled each other from the fires over the years. Satisfied with the solution, the black dragoness nodded before turning back to Spyro who mimicked his approval.
"No time to waste then." Cynder said, as she dove forward towards the ground.
Spyro watched her go, wondering silently if she realized that they couldn't copy such a steep descent without having control over the wind. He decided that she was well aware, she simply wanted to give a display of eagerness. The purple dragon and his two friends followed at a more measured pace. Spyro's eyes never left the ominous floating crystal in the distance.
"The time draws near." Sol proclaimed as his crimson eyes surveyed the sky above.
"The time for what?" Cassius asked following the white dragon's gaze towards the afternoon sky. He'd been kept at their side since the business with Solris. When he found nothing, he turned to Xranik who stood at his side. The elder hadn't bothered looking around and instead kept his sights set on the massive white drake.
"Soon the predicted clash of your prophecy will occur." Sol clarified.
"A fight." Arum growled simply.
"The order will be at your disposal as always." Xranik said, his voice coarse. Cassius' eyes slid to the elder. He seemed duller than usual. He quietly questioned just how much of a toll recent events had taken on the dragon. Between gods, rituals, war, and prophecy there hadn't been a moment of peace in some time. Even before everything had begun the dragon was showing his age after all.
"Of course it will." Arum snapped. The black dragon was quickly silenced as his brother's tail slapped across his snout. Had it been anyone else Arum would have ended their life immediately.
"We appreciate your dedication Xranik." Sol replied, doing well to keep his tone sweet. "Cassius." The bleached drake said making the fire dragon stand a little straighter. "Take the others under your command and pass this message to our comrades. Soon there will be a sign, do not fear it, instead embrace it."
"What will the sign be?" Cassius asked, tilting his head curiously.
"It will not need explanation." Sol answered cryptically.
"Just keep your eyes on the sky." Arum laughed, as he laid down, folding his claws over one another as he laid his head atop them.
Cassius nodded, knowing he'd have to be satisfied with the answer. There was little room for argument when it came to the gods. Their will was iron, and they would not tolerate anything less than obedience. The image of a dead Solris passed through his mind, but he shook it away. She'd brought it on herself. The gods had the best interests of not only every dragon, but the entire world in mind. It would take more than her death, the death of a traitorous spy to break his faith.
Cynder landed first with the other three close behind. Her talons sunk into the cracked dry dirt slightly. She wriggled them, finding the texture irritating. "We should make this quick." Spyro said looking around the empty wasteland.
Cynder nodded, and they moved towards the crystal. The group had set down only a few yards away from the curious gem. Spyro was somewhat surprised that nothing had appeared to stop them. He wanted to believe that this might be easy, but his gut told him otherwise.
As he approached the crystal its humming overpowered his thoughts. He turned to Cynder who shrugged. It seemed she'd also expected more resistance.
"No time to waste." Spyro muttered as he began to gather convexity inside his body. He saw a small purple glow in the back of Cynder's throat to indicate she was doing the same.
Behind them, Aegis and Azshea backed away slightly. Their eyes remained peeled for any sort of oddity, but nothing made itself known. It wasn't until the first blasts of convexity surged forth into the crystal that their attention was drawn to their quandary.
The crystal began to waver as the assault began. It bobbed erratically under the stress of the combined attacks. Despite its movements, it did not break, something which only made the two dragons push harder.
As they did there was a sudden groan that permeated the air. It was low pitched, and unnatural. The sound was enough to make even Spyro and Cynder take pause. As their onslaught waned, purple mist began to emanate from the large jewel. The fog quickly covered the crystal, as well as the surrounding area. It built up into an unnatural wall blocking their view of what was in front of them.
"Be ready." Spyro said sternly as he eyed the ominous vapor. Cynder didn't need reminding. She could feel something within the cloud, something ancient and powerful.
Before she could say anything on the subject, a pair of glowing yellow eyes opened within the mist. They were narrowed, and full of ire. Cynder returned the gaze with some trepidation. Her fear was unnatural, she'd faced countless creatures in battle before. Something about this was different however. Something about those eyes made her hesitate.
"Oh, no." She nearly whispered as realization dawned on her. Spyro looked in her direction just in time to see her eyes widen. "Blast it now!" Cynder shouted, convexity pouring from her lips almost before she'd finished the command.
Spyro didn't need to question her. He'd long since learned to trust his mate. With no delay, he fired a twin blast alongside her.
The dark mist bent and swirled around the influx of energy. In an explosive burst it fanned outward revealing the figure within. The yellow eyes had been attached to a full adult dragon. His scales were a deep violet hue, burnt and rugged. His tanned wings were torn in places and frayed at the edges. Horns protruded from his skull in various directions each curving towards the back of his neck. Across his back were thin fanning plates, sharp like metal. Malefor stood before them, in all of his terrifying glory.
With a snarl, Cynder fired another blast of energy. Malefor whipped his tail around, the wicked tip redirecting the attack, and sending it harmlessly into the air. Malefor smiled at her, a knowing grin that only seemed to grow at her discomfort.
"One attacks on sight." He chortled slowly, as he turned to Spyro who leered in silence. "The other is frozen in place."
Malefor chuckled as he eyed the two, his voice was deep and carried past them. Azshea and Aegis watched from behind their friends. They'd never had the displeasure of seeing the Dark Master in life. They'd only heard tales growing up. Seeing his foreboding figure firsthand made them both feel like they had turned to stone.
"Here I thought we might greet each other as old friends." Malefor chided taking little interest in the fire and lightning dragon. His focus was entirely on the two that stood before him.
"You're nothing more than a figment. You'll disappear like the rest." Spyro spat, finally breaking his own silence. He did well to hide any uncertainty in his voice.
"Will I?" Malefor asked chuckling heartily once more. "Perhaps you've forgotten one of the tenets. A dragon never truly dies, I'm sure Ignitus told you that." The dragon sneered.
"Don't speak his name." Spyro murmured angrily.
"Apologies." Malefor said frowning. "Truly, I thought you would have moved past such an inconsequential death by now."
Malefor barely got the words out before ducking his head to the side. He listened as the beam of convexity smashed into the crystal behind him. The gemstone listed lazily as it tried to bring itself back to a proper angle. All the while, a crack formed across its face.
Malefor's eyes never left his adversary. Spyro's eyes were full of rage. Any fear he'd felt at seeing his old nemesis had faded with the previous comment.
"Spyro." Cynder said, a tone of concern permeating her call. His violet eyes flicked to her, unwilling to give his full attention over. "He's only trying to get under your scales." She added calmly.
Spyro's eyes went back to Malefor who gave an innocent, yet sinister, smile. He took a deep and steadying breath. The purple dragon exhaled feeling his rage subside, if only slightly. "Are you ready for this Cynder?" He asked quietly.
"Say the word." Cynder answered dropping a little lower as her muscles tensed.
The word came in the form of a roar. Spyro charged forward his claws digging indents into the dirt. The spray of soil was all the lightning and fire dragons behind him witnessed. Before they could blink, he'd cleared the distance between himself and Malefor. The evil dragon seemed amused as Spyro crashed into him and they tumbled aside.
Not one to be bothered by the blow, Malefor landed on his back before kicking Spyro in his stomach sending him into the air. As Malefor recovered from his prone position, lightning crackled around him and without any effort it stretched towards Spyro.
Still in the sky, Spyro spun, his leathery wings wrapping around him like a shield. Black marks formed on the thin membranes, but the energy otherwise bounced away. Malefor didn't have time to watch however, as he felt something brush his left forepaw.
Cynder burst from his shadow, her claws raking along his scales as she rose. To her amazement, Malefor hardly seemed disturbed by her sudden appearance. His bladed tail swept forth to greet her. With a grunt, the dragoness inhaled bending her lithe form around the blade. The sharp edge grazed her, but no further damage was done.
With a flap of her wings, the wind carried Cynder backwards through the air as she gained distance on the purple dragon. He smirked as convexity sparked around the wounds she'd inflicted, already healing the damage. When Cynder returned the smile, Malefor's eyes narrowed.
She watched with satisfaction as a flame cloaked Spyro slammed into the dragon who grumbled in anger as he crashed face first into the earth. The attack had barely passed as the very earth sprung forth around them. Cynder began to gather energy, she knew this was no time to stand around.
Spyro was pushed away, one of the pillars catching his gut. He skidded along the blackened dirt kicking up dust in the process. He breathed a wave of convexity towards the purple dragon only to watch it ricochet harmlessly into the distance where it sliced through several dying trees.
Malefor laughed as the earth around him settled. "You've gotten more proficient, but I mastered convexity long ago. You won't harm me with it." The dragon growled. His eyes quickly went sideways to look at Cynder. He could see the energy gathering in her maw as well. "I'm disappointed Cynder. Here I thought I'd taught you so well. I gave you that form once, and now that you've gained it again you only squander its potential."
Cynder ignored him, something that Malefor didn't take kindly to. His eyes narrowed as he opened his cavernous maw and loosed a blast of convexity at the black dragoness. In the blink of an eye, Spyro was there diving in front of her. She almost lost her concentration, but remembered just what kind of dragon her mate was. He'd never let such an attempt harm her.
Spyro landed on the other side of her, the energy crackling across his scales. He spat a small pulse of energy kicking up some dirt as he eyed Malefor. "You might take your own advice about convexity. You aren't the only purple dragon after all." He said stonily.
Malefor didn't answer as Cynder opened her mouth wide, a beam of convexity surging forth. Malefor stood still, his brow raising. He watched as the attack shot straight past him, only a few scales away. He stopped to wonder why for a moment, Cynder wouldn't miss at such a close range. The cracking and groaning of crystal behind him answered his silent question.
Malefor's eyes slid to their corners as he watched the gemstone shudder and crack before shattering completely. He huffed, seeming to find it amusing before turning back to the two.
"Satisfied?" He asked simply.
"Without that you won't be long for this world." Cynder answered flatly.
"Perhaps you didn't hear me before." Malefor replied shaking his head. "Or perhaps you didn't listen closely enough to your dear teacher."
Spyro grit his fangs knowing he was referencing the late fire guardian. He wanted nothing more than to leap at the Dark Master again. He held back however; arrogance was Malefor's downfall. If he wanted to talk, the purple dragon would listen, for now.
"A dragon does not truly die. It simply goes without form." Malefor clarified. "My spirit has now been given form once more."
"A false one." Cynder argued. "You'll wisp away when the energy fades. Something that can't happen soon enough."
"You wound me." Malefor answered in jest. "I'm sure you've seen this phenomenon before with other crystals. Experience is the best teacher after all my dear Cynder. However, perhaps you've underestimated me, forgotten what I am capable of."
"What are you saying?" Spyro asked scanning the dark drake for anything out of place.
"It's as you said Spyro." Malefor chided. "You aren't the only purple dragon. I can control convexity, now that a form has been granted to me…" Malefor trailed off as he flexed his talons as a sinister smile overtook his lips. "I won't be relinquishing it."
"You won't have a choice." Cynder snarled as she readied for another brawl.
"Always eager." Malefor laughed. "A quick tongue and a quicker temper. Tell me Cynder has the blood on your talons been washed away yet?"
This time it was Spyro's turn to tilt his head towards his mate. She saw him eyeing her and nodded. She wouldn't be so easily swept up in his words. The sting of his question still irked her however. It was an old wound, but one that had never fully healed despite the years.
Malefor didn't seem to notice, and didn't bother waiting for an answer. He instead looked between the two, still smiling. "It seems that some things never change." He said. "After all these years you're still together. A sorry excuse for a purple dragon, and a corrupted outcast." Malefor paused for a moment as he laughed and shook his head. "You're mates I take it?"
Neither of the dragons answered. Their stares were as hard as stone. Spyro had been considering what his first strike should be. What he could do to take the dragon by surprise. A quick glance to Cynder told him that she was thinking the same thing. He had been absorbed in thought, but the last question brought him to attention.
"A merry coupling I'm sure." Malefor continued, taking their silence as affirmation. "Surely, there must be hatchlings as well."
There was silence then, the very air seemed to choke the two dragons. Malefor starred at them with a steady, knowing, smile. He didn't need them to answer. "I'd love to meet them." He added, his fangs showing through his smile with sinister intent.
Cynder's eyes turned to slits and a low growl could be heard resonating in her throat. Spyro's muscles rippled at the mention of his children.
"The eyes of protective parents. No matter how many times I see them they remain the same." Malefor continued as he exhaled, seeming to revel in the thought. "Of course, stern looks never proved to make much difference. I doubt this time will be any different."
In the silence that followed, the very earth around Spyro shattered. Boulders cascaded into the sky around him as a rage consumed his very soul. As the dragon sunk into the shattering earth, the wind around them howled. The gusts seemed to have a mind of their own. The boulders swirled as if they were feathers. In the veritable tornado, the chunks of rock were directed through the air on a collision course for Malefor.
The dark dragon unleashed a wave of convexity that covered the whole area in a violet hue. As the rocks fractured into a cloud of debris, Malefor felt two bodies crash into his crest through the blinding dust.
Azshea and Aegis stood stupefied. It was all they could do to not let their jaws drop. Before them the three dragons battled in a flurry of teeth, claws, and elements. They watched as Malefor burst from the dust storm and into the air, flapping his powerful wings to gain altitude. Spyro and Cynder were close behind, darting through the air to close the gap.
"Do we help?" Azshea asked dumbfounded. She couldn't deny the twinge of fear that she felt at facing the Dark Master himself.
"I think this might be beyond us." Aegis replied. "Besides, we'd be more liable to hit each other if we all fought together."
"Then we just stand here?" Azshea questioned sounding distraught.
"I'm not sure we have any other-
Aegis cut himself off and went still for a moment. His brow furrowed and Azshea tilted her head wondering what was wrong. In the silence that followed, her eyes widened slightly with realization. She could hear the sound of flapping wings, and not from the battle taking place between the three dragons. She and Aegis both began to turn, but they didn't even get halfway when a dragon slammed full force into Aegis.
Azshea gasped as her mate and the newcomer tumbled across the dirt. The two became a tangle of limbs and fangs. Despite her surprise, Azshea couldn't help but notice the peculiar appearance of the assailant. It was a dragoness, a full-grown adult. She had no scales however, only a thin semi-transparent skin that was a light purple.
After a few moments of struggle, Aegis threw the dragoness off and rolled to get his paws under himself once more. Katrina landed lightly on the ground, glowering at the lightning dragon the whole time. Her eyes shimmered with violet energy, and every muscle in her body rippled as she readied to strike once more.
"Who are you?" Aegis asked as he managed to take in her appearance for the first time.
"You mean you don't remember?" Kat asked viciously as she slammed her tail and a spike of earth jutted forward. The spear pierced Aegis' right foreleg making him cringe as he felt blood trickle down his scales. He hadn't been able to ascertain her element without a colored hide to observe. Her lithe form suggested something closer to an ice dragoness.
Before he could say anything else, there was a bright orb that sailed past him and the ground beneath the dragoness exploded like a bomb. Aegis grit his fangs as rocks tumbled past him. In a swift movement he jerked his leg, wincing as he severed the earth that held him in place. He went to pull the remaining splinter from his scales, but found Azshea there already. She nodded to him and he returned the gesture as she wrenched the spike free. Aegis shivered slightly, but otherwise didn't react to the pain.
He looked back to the clearing smoke. He couldn't see the figure through the cloud, even as it was thinning. When he got a glance at the impact site, he instead saw a hole. One brow went high before he realized what it was, a tunnel. It was all the lightning dragon could do to shove his mate away as the earth beneath him ruptured and through it burst the dragoness.
The chunks of earth she'd cleaved were sent full force into his underside propelling him into the air. Kat followed quickly after, catching him in the air, her talons digging into his hide. "You did this to me!" She screamed as she clawed at him with unbridled fury. "Seared my body! Turned me into a monster!"
Aegis grunted under the force of the blows, but called his element anyway. Sparks escaped his scales and electricity surged around his body. Hearing the crackling, Kat kicked off, only feeling a small twinge of numbness in her talons. She opened her wings and drifted to the ground as Aegis fell at a much quicker pace. The lightning dragon stuck the landing, but felt vibrations pulse up his limbs upon impact.
Azshea was at his side within the second. She checked and grimaced at the lacerations he bore before turning a heated glare at the violet dragoness. "Are you alright?" She asked, not taking her eyes off the dragoness.
"I'll be fine." Aegis grunted. He looked to Kat once more, his lips pressed. Suddenly, a memory came back to him. His eyes widened slightly as he scanned her appearance, checking for similarities. Coupled with her statements, the truth began to dawn on him. "She's the one." He said quietly.
"One what?" Azshea questioned curiously.
"Before the guardian tower fell, she had Syra pinned." Aegis explained briefly. "She would have killed her had I not stepped in. I can't believe she survived."
There was a pause between the two as they both stared at the dragoness. Katrina twitched her snout slightly and shook her head strangely, but otherwise made no move to strike. "It will be a simple thing to correct." Azshea murmured harshly as she stepped forward, her anger fueled by the new found knowledge.
"Azshea you can't…
Aegis trailed off as she clearly wasn't listening. The dragoness charged forward, Kat scowling at her all the while.
Kat snapped her paw forward and smashed the ground. "Keep out of this!" She barked suddenly.
The earth beneath Azshea's talons rose meaning to propel her far away. The dragoness opened her wings and the grey leathery membranes bent inwards to halt her momentum. From the air, Azshea roared in anger. Two fireballs, each nearly the size of an adult dragon, burst to life on either side of Kat.
As she prepared to leap aside, flames sprung around her in a circle. The dragoness' eyes narrowed as the fireballs plummeted towards her. The resulting explosion shook the earth. Aegis stumbled at the shaking, but ultimately, he held his ground. His mate landed only a few feet in front of him, her eyes focusing on the flaming mass before them.
There was a cackling that greeted them through the flames. A pulse of purple energy emanated from the explosion's epicenter. The fires that roared only a second before were suddenly snuffed out like a candle. Wisps of flame drifted through the air before dimming as well.
Amidst the burnt remains was Katrina. Her body glowed slightly, a purplish shimmer coming from her scales. She seemed mostly unharmed; however, her composure, what had existed, was fading. The dragoness continued to snicker to herself. Her body hardly seemed to contain the energy within as she twitched her appendages, her tail flicking back and forth eagerly. She leveled a devilish and chilling glare upon the two as she shivered unnaturally.
Before any of the combatants could act, there was a thunderous booming. It came not from above them, but from the direction of Warfang. All heads turned to the sky above the distant city. Aegis and Azshea watched, and slowly, their curiosity turned to horror. The skies themselves ruptured. Cracks of dark purple began to slowly creep across the atmosphere. They snuck along, slowly at first, but soon they grew and merged until only the void remained.
The outside world seemed to grow silent. As, like tearing fabric, the heavens themselves seemed to rip apart. All the while Katrina continued to cackle madly behind them.