Spyro, Cynder, Flame, and Ember all fly above the vast oceans surrounding the Dragon Realms. Although Red's directions did take them in the direction of Cynder's family, for their safety and for speeding up their assault on the Dark Spire they decided not to visit. The group flies in silence, Ember's actions had silenced any chance of casual conversation between the four. Bored Flame scratches at the scar on his throat absentmindedly for about the fourth or fifth time in the past hour.
Growling Cynder's done with his ridiculousness, "I swear to all of the gods the world holds dear, if you scratch at your wound one more time I'm putting a fucking cone on you." Cynder barely finishes before she bursts out laughing, shattering the tension as the whole group laughs at the joke.
With the tension gone Flame jabs back "I have to get a cone? What about Spyro, huh? He won't stop touching his nose either."
"Don't drag me into this, unlike your's my cut wasn't instantly healed, mine's itchy, alright!" Everyone keeps laughing as if nothing that had happened in the past months was bothering them; the pain wasn't forgotten, but having friends made the weight a little easier to bear.
Passing more jokes around the group passes over into the large continent that Largoon Port is on, the same vast forest of trees expands out below them. Although Spyro and Cynder had visited here before, but the sheer vastness of the forest marvels them, it's seemingly never ending. But eventually it does end, the forest fades below them as it mixes into plains and highlands. Short fields of grass are sharply interrupted by large cliffs that overlook the sparse rivers and streams that supply the dry looking land with much needed moisture. Deciding to take a break the four land on one of the largest rock outcroppings to observe the land around them.
"What is this place?" Spyro marvels, none of his journeys had brought him to this area of the world. Although Cynder had also never personally traveled here, something about the area feels familiar to her…..
"These are the plains of the Darkspear Tribe of Apes" Ember explains.
"The Darkspear Tribe?" Cynder asks, prompting some interested looks, "there are five major tribes of Apes. Out of them, the only one to resist my armies control, was the Darkspear Tribe; despite their intelligence and numbers they weren't a particularly strong race of Apes, so my forces just ignored them. But…."
"But?" Spyro asks.
"Their leader joined our cause, the Ape King Gaul."
Spyro looks at her in surprise, "the same Ape who led Malefor's forces after your rescue?"
"Right, he was the only one from the Darkspear Tribe to join my forces. He…. he struggled to keep the more wild Apes under control and could only keep them in line with fear and greed."
A thought comes over Spyro, "what happened to the Ape tribes? Most of Malefor's forces were turned into those spectral skeletons, but we encountered some of them at Concurrent Skies."
"Oh, I remember!" Flame finally having something useful to contribute to the conversation; "the sea-faring Searower Apes were wiped out after they tried to lay siege to the Fairy Domain. The other three tribes fled with their remaining populations to the frigid far north, although they largely disappeared the Guardians suspect that they'd return if a leader comes forward to lead them against the Dragon Realms. The Darkspear Tribe… I don't remember" Flame finishes proudly.
Rolling her eyes, Ember helps finish for him "through the tribe's own admission we know that they were the ones who served Malefor during his first invasion but refused to during his second. The legal and political consequences of that admission are still being discussed today. They're apologetic and peaceful today, but not everyone believes that they should be left unpunished."
"I see…" Spyro mutters darkly, he doesn't know how to feel about this news about the Darkspear Tribe. Malefor's first invasion was catastrophic, but it was so long ago that they shouldn't have to suffer the consequences for the ancestors' crimes.
Cynder also doesn't like the news, they had struggled fiercely against Cynder dominance and this was their reward? Cynder casts her eyes absent mindedly across the landscape once again spotting something, Cynder sits up straight getting the attention of others. "Fire…." Cynder points towards a small column of smoke rising into the sky, far beyond that is where the unending sands of the desert await.
"Fire means people" Ember finishes for her.
Spyro is the first to form an opinion on the matter, "we should visit it on our way past. They might know where the Dark Spire is located." The rest of the group agrees with little apprehension, it slowed their approach on their way to destroy the Terror, but hopefully it will be a fruitful diversion.
The four take off in the direction of the Darkspear Tribe's village, flying high above they get a good look at the village from above. The smoke column emanates from the center of the village, with homes and buildings spreading out in ever larger circles, finishing on the fifth circle before transitioning into large flat fields of farmland. None of the four know exactly what to expect from this tribe of Apes, so far in their lives Apes have only been a powerful imposing enemy. Despite the strength and power of Apes no one is to be seen, they must have fled inside when they saw the four Dragon's approach.
"Maybe they've left like the Atlawas?" Spyro suggests as they circle down towards the edge of the village. Landing in the center seems disrespectful to the people of the village.
"No, this is something… else" Cynder explains as they start to walk into the village. There continues to not be a single soul, even with the village in hiding someone should be visible trying to watch them to ensure the safety of their village. But that certain feeling doesn't fade, "we're being watched" Cynder decides. "I'm not sure how, but I think they're watching us remotely using magic."
"We're not exactly trying to hide here are we?" Ember asks, confused. "Why don't we just announce our presence, that we don't mean them any harm?"
The point sounds fair, but as they reach the center of the village they don't need to. The center of the village is made up of two things; a large wooden home, likely the village leader's home, and a large communal fire-pit. The fire-pit was lit with wet-leaves making lots of smoke, were they signaling their presence, or the Dragon's approach? The road surrounding the village's center spokes off into three roads equidistant to one another in a circle. Just from the area around them the group can see that community and togetherness are both essential virtues for the village.
As they reach the center Cynder holds out her wing and casts her gaze towards the leftward path. Something that Cynder can only assume is an Ape stands there, not that one would know if you had any experience with Apes; this Ape wasn't barrel chested, in fact his chest was flat with his body completely different from the comically top-heavy looks of many of his brethren. Still covered in hair like many of his people he has much less of it, and looks to take far better care of it than his brethren. Despite his distinctive appearance Cynder only vaguely remembers seeing him before, surely she would've remembered such an odd Ape.
"Behind and to our right too" Flame observes unconcerned, if the Apes made a move he's certain that they'd be okay. Cynder is more pessimistic; just from the way they moved without being heard or noticed by her trained senses, these Apes immediately seem like they know what they're doing.
But before the situation can escalate any further Spyro speaks up in surprise, "you two were at the arena. Sane and Shaune was it?" The tension shatters as the two Apes notice the purple Dragon, cringing inwardly Cynder realises that she had forgotten to cloak any of them. Although in this stage it's possible that it won't matter, since once the Terror's been dealt with they hopefully won't have to hide anymore.
The three Apes relax but don't completely let their guard down yet, uncertain about the Dragon's motivation for coming to their village the smaller less-barrel chested steps forward. "What brings you here? We came to the agreement that we'll pay the reparations, what more do you need?"
Spyro's about to question what he's talking about when Cynder speaks up instead, "it's…. It's you, the Ape who helped us at Concurrent Skies. And we're not here about the reparations" Cynder tacs on to explain.
Sighing thankfully the Ape introduces himself "my name is Abe. I apologize, our last meeting with representatives from Warfang was…. Less than productive. What brings you all the way out here?"
"We are looking for a structure out in the desert, with our return we wanted to see if anything had been going on there recently" Cynder explains. Abe, along with his two companions, seem oddly unbothered by the purple Dragon's presence, it's almost as if he already….
Before they could continue their conversation Spyro realizes something as Shaune and Sane approach the group sheathing their swords. "You were fighting for money, for the reparations, weren't you?"
Abe looks at the pair in confusion, "what is he talking about. Weren't you out there just trading some goods?" Abe sighs deeply seeing their expressions, "you were told not to do that-"
"And you were told not to confront the Dragons" an elderly crippled white-furred Ape chastises as he opens the door to his home. Painfully slowly walking out the Ape finally reaches the group, "never mind these three. They're the three most powerful warriors of our village, it's only natural that they'd choose to protect the village when the need arises, even if that need is unnecessary."
"We understand'" Spyro agrees while Cynder continues to glance at the three warriors. The two standard looking Apes, Shaune and Sane as Spyro called them, still haven't said anything. Even when prompted by Abe, they stayed silent, maybe their mute? But when she turns back to Abe again Cynder once realizes that the strange Ape was at Concurrent Skies, but clearly not a part of the forces that had taken the location. What was he doing in such a dangerous place? And why did he help them?
"It seems I've forgotten my manners" the village Chieftain starts, "you may call me Chieftain Guale-" he stops as he notices Cynder staring at Abe. "I see you've noticed my nephew Abe and his… unique body type. He's a uncommon once in a few generation called a Monkey King-"
"Prince" Abe interrupts prompting a chuckle from his uncle. "Monkey Prince, I'm not leading the village yet dad."
"More importantly" Cynder ends their squabble. "What were you doing at Concurrent Skies? That was the home-base of Malefor's army, and my old home. It's not that we didn't appreciate the help, but that was an awfully dangerous place to have just wandered into" Cynder questions the increasingly nervous looking Abe.
His uncle gives an exacerbated sigh before asking "care to explain yourself? Is this the "detour" you mentioned after your journey? You told me that you saw that the area was crawling with Apes from the other tribes, from a distance."
Abe finally relents "I was going to just leave them be, but then I saw an explosion of Darkness. So I investigated, and supplied Spyro and Cynder with medical supplies. They had already defeated most of the forces that had taken the fortress before I had gotten there. Besides, I was unsuccessful in retrieving the blades or the staff, so there was no need to hurry back."
"I'll just ignore that you decided to not include that in your report" Gaule exasperatingly sighs as if this was a regular occurrence. With a lull in the conversation Gaule pulls some kind of pipe filled with a mix of dried weeds, lighting it and taking a long drag Gaule relaxes greatly as he lets out a puff of smoke. Despite the rather foul smell Gaule continues the conversation, "so what brings you to our humble village. If you're not here to discuss the reparations agreement, then why are you out this far east?" If I remember correctly, last time you were here you were trying to recruit every able bodied Ape to your cause, although obviously you were much larger back then.
Cynder appreciates that they don't call her by her old name, and hopefully there's no one who sympathizes with her old cause. "We're looking for a location called the Dark Spire out in the desert, the desert's vast so any help locating it would be appreciated."
"Dark Spire?" the Chieftain asks. "Ahh, the Obelisk, that massive mountain of obsidian is at the furthest eastern edge of the world. As long as you find the coastline, you'll be fine, it's massive enough that you can see it from kilometres away. But that land has been cursed for eons, I doubt you'll listen to my warnings, but do you want to hear them anyways?"
"Enlighten me" Cynder requests. Although the other three are interested, Flame's bored fiddling with a rock in his claws. It's obvious, aside from the personal connection, that they brought him along for his combative power.
"I'm sure you're familiar with the legend of the hero Igneous, the one who first defeated Malefor long ago." Flame perks up, the Guardians, but especially Nero, would often compare Flame's power to the written description of Igneous' feats. "That desert was said to have been temperate grasslands similar to what surrounds this area. The legendary battle that took place was witnessed by many of the remaining Darkspear Tribe, mostly the young, weak, and others unsuitable for battle. Assisted by a strange mystical Dragoness they did battle, at the culmination of the battle a colossal explosion of mythical size engulfed the eastern half of the continent. After the sealing of Malefor the area was reduced to desert and glassed near the epicenter, decades afterward the sand was still unnaturally hot and difficult to traverse. Although the physical danger may have passed, many claim the area to be haunted by spirits, and recently huge localized sand storms have been spotted in the deeper recess of the desert." Gaule finishes his explanation, but chuckles immediately afterward. "But I'm sure old legends and rumors aren't going to be enough to deter you four from quest, will it? It never is with the young ones" Gaule finishes when Cynder shakes her head.
"Thank you for the information" Cynder responds, "but we will have to continue onward. Going back isn't an option, we'll just have to face whatever's out there." With little else to discuss and with time being of the essence the four Dragon's take off back into the air. Although none of them can quite understand it, they know that the information they just received will be of vital importance to them in their campaign to stop the Terror of the Skies.
Gaule takes one last look over at his nephew, Ape hadn't told him about the two Dragon's return. He had taken Ape's word that the swords and staff were gone from the rubble of the Well of Souls at face value, maybe they were simply lost. But with the return of the purple Dragon and the Cynder, he grimly suspects that there must be more to it.
{~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}
"Damn it" Cynder mutters, the dry heat was unbearable. The air was dry and the constant wind threw up particles of sand making it painful to breathe. Cynder didn't think that it would be this hot, although she was trained on many things as the Terror of the Skies, the desert wasn't one of them. The Guardians also had no useful information about the desert, including its size and shape, with no one living in this inhospitable wasteland there was no compelling reason to explore it. With no experience to draw upon the group can only attempt to push through the unbearable heat as quickly as possible.
Spyro, struggling himself, sees that Cynder's struggling too "lets land for a second" he offers. Wordlessly Cynder agrees and the four land on the equally boiling hot sand. Although the sand was hot, stopping their flying allowed their muscles to relax and gave them time to work their magic. Cynder's scales are nearly black, so her heat rises the fastest.
Breathing deeply Spyro throws some Water magic on her, "oh thank god…" Cynder moans in comfortable ecstasy, but despite her thankfulness Cynder remembers to coat Spyro in Water as well. Flame and Ember don't need it, the heat isn't nearly as bothersome on Ember's much lighter scales and both are very resistant to heat being Fire Dragons. Despite the pleasure the water brings them the two heroes shake the water from their bodies, water is one of the best heat trapping materials in the world. "This isn't sustainable" Cynder points out, the magical exertion isn't the problem, but their bodies are running out of water. Although they aren't in any real danger yet, Cynder's well aware just how dangerous dehydration can be, and they can't drink their Water since it's just magic. If they can't find the Dark Spire soon, they might be too weak to fight anyone once they reach the Spire.
Unbothered by the heat, Flame looks around the surrounding desert, the great storms of the desert were far out to their north, thankfully far out of their way. But something doesn't sit right about the storm with him, knowing he knows nothing about storm systems he asks the one most likely to know. "Hey Cynder, does something look…. odd about that storm over there?"
Shaking off the last of the water Cynder follows his gaze, knowing little about sand or hot wind systems in general, Cynder doesn't know. But Spyro does, "it's the Scavengers isn't it?" The group looks to Spyro, I bet that's how they've kept hidden for so long, making big sandstorms to hide their ships. The Guardians couldn't take effective action against them because they would hide out in the unlived areas of the desert."
"Nice," Cynder complements. "I bet you've been thinking about that for a while now, huh?" Cynder accurately guesses. Spyro smirks, he'd been salty about being snuck up upon by an entire fleet of ships.
"Should we wipe them out?" Flame asks, "if we destroy them we can stop a lot of suffering."
"Not to be snide," Cynder cautions her next words. "But keep your eyes on the ball, it's likely that the fleet amassed there is far larger than what had attacked Spyro. If we tire ourselves out, or lose our chance at a surprise attack on the Dark Spire we could be wiped out ourselves."
Flame sadly nods, Flame knows she's right. But this was the real reason he learned to control his power, Flame had little interest in the administrative aspects of Guardianship, but the heroic savior aspect. That's what he wants, Flame knows that he can be a little absent minded, but just leaving mass-suffering alone is a little hard for him. Seeing his indecision Spyro reassures the Fire Dragon, "we'll be back once we've destroyed the Terror. It might not be today, but we'll be back for them someday, I don't want to abandon the people on that ship either."
Ember scans the sandy horizon while the three talk, "she's here for revenge" Ember darkly thinks. She isn't opposed to the idea of saving the slaves on those ships, but she wants to destroy the Terror first, everything else can wait. Spotting a dark shiny object in the distance, at first Ember thinks that it might just be a small crystal; but quickly realizes that it must be a massive chunk of crystal still kilometres away.
Getting everyone's attention Ember points out the structure, before they head off Spyro addresses the group "this is it everyone." Smiling and determined to protect their world and its future the four take off to face their fate.
{~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}
As they get closer to the Dark Spire the air grows colder and easier to breathe and it was obvious that it wasn't just the proximity to the ocean that's causing this. The massive obelisk continues to grow far beyond their imaginations, a truly massive mountain of crystal-looking obsidian simply continues to grow before their eyes. Kilometres in size the Dark Spire bloats out the sun as they approach, casting a massive mercifully cooling shadow across the land.
Landing at the top of a nearby hill they quickly realize that it was not in fact a hill, but the edge of a massive crater. The far third of the crater crests upward against the ocean, a small hill of sand is the only thing blocking the ocean from flowing into the crater. "This must have been the epicenter of the explosion…" Cynder wonders aloud. It had been centuries since the legendary battle, but still the massive creator remains as an unending testament to both combatants' power. Floating in the middle of the sloped crater is the Dark Spire, suspended several hundreds of feet above the sand below.
"Yep" Flame starts serious but can barely suppress the chuckle, "I'd say we've found it." The group doesn't laugh, but do appreciate the broken tension, if only for just a moment. The relief quickly fades as a flame loudly lights above them, revealing a large passageway also made of the dark obsidian, so dark and uniform is the passage that it's nearly camouflaged against the rest of the structure. Looking incredulously at one another the four decide to follow presumably the Terror's instruction, flying up the large passageway is easily large enough for all of them to walk abreast down it. As they approach torches continue to light and guide them throughout the Dark Spire, despite there being no other visible passages throughout the structure they continue looking for any possible ambush points.
Ember suddenly stops walking near the rear of the group, the black obsidian stone clicks loudly against their claws so her absence is immediately obvious. "Something's trying to connect with me, just like when the Terror joined herself with my mind."
"Something?" Cynder asks, they can't afford the Terror taking control over either of them, as this is clearly the seat of its power, its control over them should be at its height. "Something as in not the Terror?"
"Yes-" Ember starts before walking further down the passage, immediately after Ember had started to feel the connection two sets of two torches light up, giving them two different ways forward. "The feeling is far more… directional than the omni-directional surrounding feeling from the Terror." Turning towards the rightward passage, "it seems to be coming from this way, the passage on the right seems like the right way to go, but it's hard to tell..."
"Splitting up seems like an unwise decision" Flame voices siding up against Ember but still giving her some distance. Neither of them were emotionally ready to discuss what had happened with them two nights ago.
Spyro sides with Cynder as she speaks up, "splitting up is definitely a bad idea. But it's clear that they're luring us into some kind of trap, but I don't think that they'll confront all four of us at once. And I'm starting to doubt the structural reliability of this place, every wall is so uniform and featureless that I think it's possible that they can manipulate the area around us. If we play along with their plan we might be able to find a way to trick them into giving us the upper hand, I'm sure you two are powerful enough to stay alive. I'll guard Spyro, and with this" Cynder lifts the once-cursed-amulet into her paw and grips it tight, "when she tries to turn me against him I should be able to fight back."
"I don't like this" Flame voices, "but maybe you're right. If what you're suggesting is true they could easily lead us into a far more powerful trap, they won't let their guard down if they know we're suspicious of them. They probably don't know how powerful I am, if I can get the opportunity I can easily destroy anything" Flame suggests confidently.
"They'll probably try to take one of you two as hostage to stop you from using your more powerful abilities. Whatever you do, don't underestimate them," Cynder advises as the group splits off; Spyro with Cynder and Ember with Flame.
Not long into their respective corridor they can't hear the other's paws on the ground, once their out of earshot Flame stops to say something to Ember, but seemingly decides against and tries to start walking again. "What is it?" Ember asks, she and Flame hadn't spoken much since he rescued her, much less alone like this.
"I don't like this" Flame finally voices his uncomfortableness with the situation. Clarifying "I don't like why you're doing this; I can understand the revenge part for what the Terror did to all of us. But you shouldn't have to make up for what you did, it wasn't your fault, she was manipulating you for weeks-"
"Please Flame," Ember stops him. "I've done terrible things the past few weeks. My actions have put everything I love and care about in danger; please, just please let me do what I can to make up for it."
Flame moves in close to her, but Ember shies away. This wasn't the time for that, but Flame still assures her "you don't have to do anything for me. I've already forgiven you."
"Thank you" Ember smiles sweetly, showing the side of her he hasn't seen since the heroes return.
Smiling and feeling invigorated by their conversation the two continue walking down the dark hallway. Their smiles fade as something finally changes in the previously unending obsidian corridors, the torches that had lit as they wandered don't appear. They're on the walls just no longer lighting at their approach, deciding to continue in darkness they see that there's a room ahead. As they enter the room they try their best to scan the area for any ambushes, but there's nothing in their line of sight.
Seeing no immediate dangers they both spot an object as their eyes adjust to the darkness, the second they recognize the figure's shape several sconces with fire flare to life. The Dragoness sitting before them is truly something to behold, her obsidian black scales match the structure as if an homage to her image. Her face and horn structure are distinctive, lithe and angular like Cynder's adult form. She looks quite a bit like the Terror of the Skies herself; her horn structure consists of two main horns out the back of her head with another two side horns curling around the front of her face and resting against her snout. Her elegance and beauty are blatant, her thin curvaceous body would be attractive to any male and the envy of any female. Although Flame couldn't tell there was something subtle that Ember noticed, her appearance has been modified, presumably through magical means. That kind of transformation magic was ancient and normally doesn't work on Dragons because of their magical nature; immediately Ember regrets her decision to come, whatever this thing is it's powerful and is likely magnitudes smarter with far more experience.
"I don't mean you any harm" her voice surprises both of them, unlike the foreboding omnipresent voice that Ember was familiar with her voice was almost…. Warm and comforting. Her voice calms their hearts with no hint of magic, her voice is genuine with no attempt to deceive them, but Ember knows better.
Growling "yeah? I guess manipulating me into trying to orchestrate Spyro and Cynder's deaths isn't harming us? Trying to kill Flame and Terrador isn't harming us?"
With a seemingly rehearsed speech "Indeed, although Cynder would ultimately survive our plan, the purple Dragon had to die. The Elder Guardian and your red friend here would have been accidental casualties, but if we had to sacrifice a few to save billions…. You're too young to understand, saving everyone at once isn't always possible" the Terror cryptically explains, something about how she talks gives them the impression that she speaks from experience.
"Why" Ember finally asks. "Why have you done all this, caused all this pain? What's the real reason, it's obviously not Cynder, so what's the real reason?"
"Has something about the recent months seemed… strange to you?" The Terror cryptically asks leading questions.
"SHUT UP," Flame growls his patience growing thin. "We're not here to play word games with you-" Flame steps forward as he speaks, ready for a fight. But before he can something impacts him with a stab into his chest, behind him Ember grunts as another impacts her. A small thin knife sticks out of them, so small, thin, and short that surely no internal damage could have been done to them, despite the fact that both of their auras had just been raised and should have protected them. Angered by the sudden pain, Flame opens his mouth to blast the Dragoness with Fire but nothing comes out, behind him he hears Ember trying too.
"Poison-based sealing magic, both of your Fire magics have been sealed. Don't worry the effect is temporary; if you're willing we don't have to fight, after we destroy one, or regrettably two, of the greatest of our time the world will still need heroes-" she stops suddenly looking at Ember.
Struggling, because her powers of Darkness are derived from her Fire magic, still dark wisps of fire rise from Ember's scales. She's inexperienced and greatly weakened, but at least they're not entirely defenseless. "Don't underestimate us, I'll kill you for everything you've done!"
"I thought that I felt something in my last moments connected with you, so I took precautions" walking up behind her is a large Ape. Immediately they recognize that he's from the Darkspear village they had passed on their way here. "Gaune if you're curious."
"Dammit" Ember mutters. She's not powerful enough with Darkness to handle that Ape; everything from his casual but attentive stance, the large sword strapped to his back, and the demeanor of one who carries himself with confidence dash any hope of easily and quickly dispatching of him. Turning her glare towards the Dragoness Ember also realize that she's likely beyond them as well; the poison that she used on them had left their physical energy intact but has completely blocked their Fire magic. She could've killed them, but didn't.
Before Ember can engage with either of them the Dragoness repeats herself "like I said, we don't have to fight. No one but the purple Dragon has to die."
{~~~~~~~~~~~~~}
Spyro and Cynder continue to walk through unending featureless stone, the walls twist and turn confusing them as to where they are exactly in the large structure. Cynder's theory is most likely true, since surely the large cavern they approach couldn't possibly be on the same floor as the passageways they had passed through. The cavern of black stone is just like the passageways they had passed through on their way here, just much larger with all the walls extending far beyond what they can see. With a cautious look between them Spyro and Cynder walk away from one another but keep close enough that they can still help if need be. Hoping to fight one-by-one they know exactly what they're about to face.
Torches once again alight revealing the room, the torches aren't enough to reveal the room before them but an odd light haze allows them to see the other side of the room. Standing still awaiting the two heroes is two figures; Umbra the she-wolf holds a silver bow that's now covered in vicious Darkness along with her cloak waiting to camouflage her movements as she shoots her arrows of Darkness. Lux the wolf-like Lupine was still wearing his brown monk-like robes and had his sword strapped over his back, with a flourish he drew his sword to reveal a gleaming blade made of Light.
The four stare each other down for several moments, all acutely aware of each other's strengths and weaknesses, no one easily capable of out classing anyone else for an easy fight. A single mistake could cost any of them their lives; with no room for mercy they might kill Cynder to get to Spyro, but Spyro is still their ultimate target.
Simultaneously Lux and Umbra act; sweeping her paw in front of her a cloud of Darkness obstructs their view. The cloud of Darkness obstructs their vision, but not their hearing; the scraping of a paw on the floor is all the warning they get as Lux charges coated in his Light, blindingly fast Lux thrusts at Spyro's neck only to miss. Anticipating the same move as on the Scavengers' arena Spyro flips away assisted by Electricity. As Spyro lands Lux presses his advantage, pushing forward Lux becomes a dancing whirlwind of blades; Spyro for his part keeps his distance, Spyro notices that Lux doesn't have much control over the particular of his moves, but with such powerful, swift, and deadly movements it almost doesn't matter. Spyro's capable of ducking out of the way and deflecting the intense barrage of attack until an opening presents itself. Knocking the sword away and throwing Lux off balance with a shoulder barge, Spyro swiftly stands up on his hind-legs, augments his claws with Ice, and racks his claws across Lux's chest. Lux gasps in pain and surprise as the Ice-adorned claws easily slice through his clothing and flesh, reflexively Lux unleashed a wave of Light out of his sword which Spyro quickly rolls out of the way of.
Before they can rejoin their melee a powerful blast of Wind blows the wolf sending him flying back towards the dissipating cloud of Darkness. Lux manages to just barely stop his momentum next to Umbra, Umbra lays a calming paw on his shoulder as a gentle light rises around them. Healing Lux with his own magic Umbra's head snaps up at Cynder gathering ball of Poison, the second Lux's wounds are healed Umbra snaps up with her bow instantly releasing several arrows at the Dragoness. Cynder releases the ball of venom at Umbra just barely avoiding the arrows, a few even slice through her aura and nick her scales. Just before the ball of Poison reaches them, Umbra throws out her cloak, Umbra's cloak absorbs the corrosive liquid and drags it to the ground as the cloak dissolves leaving the ominous black stone unharmed.
Both sides once again stand facing each other, neither having lost anything of any particular importance but a cloak and some pride. Changing their plan of attack Umbra doesn't throw out anymore Darkness, instead drawing her bow back to support Lux. Lux approaches far more slowly while taking a defensive stance, despite the severity of the situation and that he no longer underestimates the purple Dragon Lux speaks. "I wasn't lying, I'm sorry that I have to do this, you two deserve better for everything you've done."
"And yet you're still doing it," Spyro retorts.
"We don't have a choice, as long as you continue to live your power can still be harvested by him, you have to die."
"Are you ever going to explain what this threat or he is, or are you just going to keep dancing around the issue?"
"I…. didn't really understand when they explained it to me, but I know what they say is genuine, for I've felt it before" Lux darkly responds before taking another more aggressive stance, ending their short conversation.
Keeping an eye on Umbra Cynder releases a Wind blast at Lux only to have him twist out of the way, if he's not distracted he'll just dodge the blasts of compressed air. Before Cynder can blast again the rasp of a bow sounds as a single arrow comes at her, with her Wind Cynder easily blows away the arrow. But before she can think of a plan Cynder notices something, the arrow had gotten knocked off course and landed nearby. It's a real arrow, not like the one's Umbra used at Concurrent Skies, which were made of Darkness.
Cynder only has a second to think of the significance as another three arrows come at her, Cynder attempts to blow them away but has to dive out of the way as the magic arrows aren't affected by the Wind. The third arrow comes at Cynder as she lands, focusing her aura on her wing Cynder knocks the arrow away. A fourth unseen real arrow painfully tears through Cynder's wing membrane but thankfully just misses her body; she can knock the real arrows away with Wind but has to deflect the Darkness ones with her blades and Aura. Umbra releases another arrow at Spyro, noticing the obvious ploy to keep Cynder from protecting Spyro Cynder continues to deflect the arrows of Darkness and steel.
Spyro and Lux are locked in combat again, no longer infused with Light Lux's swings are much slower but much more accurate and pointed. Spyro uses his hard Ice magic to block and parry away the Light sword, the Ice chips and shatters with every blow but Spyro remakes it again and again. Neither one makes ground; Lux's blade is long enough to keep Spyro too far away to use physical attacks, and Lux risks being disarmed by Spyro like he had at the Scavenger's arena if he gets in too close. Lux swings horizontally at Spyro's neck only to be out-ranged before Spyro moves in close, infusing his body with Ice to protect himself at any moment. Lux takes a step back, infuses his body with Light and strikes with a blindingly fast thrust. But Spyro had anticipated the attack, sidestepping Spyro brings a paw down on Lux's crossguard twisting it out of his paws.
Spyro infuses his body with his body with Earth kicking away the Lupine, Lux steps back to use his impressive unarmed melee as Spyro jumps for the sword. Before Lux can counter Spyro uses Electricity to instantly jump for the blade, infusing himself with both Electricity and Earth Spyro kicks the sword back at Lux. With speed and power the blade takes off like a bullet at the wolf, surprised Lux coats his law in a harsh blinding light and tries to deflect the blade away only for it to tear through and stab into Lux's shoulder. The sheer force Spyro had put into the blade throws Lux away from the young Dragon once more, but Lux doesn't recover back to his feet immediately. Lux gasps in pain and surprise, the same purple Dragon that he had easily defeated a month ago had overcome Lux's powerful techniques twice.
Umbra isn't there to help, Cynder has started to overcome Umbra's technique of switching between arrow types. Umbra, trying to gain an advantage over this stalemate throws out more obscuring Darkness, drawing her bow back Umbra doesn't have any time to react as Cynder comes bursting out of the cloud of Darkness. Cynder had to take this chance, if she had continued her stalemate Umbra was likely to find a wedge to attack Spyro with. With little time to react Umbra drops her bow and draws her twin daggers only to have them knocked away, Cynder had remembered that strategy from when they fought at Concurrent Skies. With claws as sharp as knives Cynder slashes at Umbra's retreating midsection, although only one connects Cynder rends a deep gash from Umbra's stomach to her breast.
Jumping away Umbra covers both herself and the severely wounded Lux with a massive cloud of Darkness that seems to completely fill the impossibly large room. "We got em" Spyro shouts suddenly, the two wolves that had seemed insurmountable had finally taken a serious hit from the two Dragons. But the second Cynder's attention is drawn back to Spyro she realizes their true plot. Cynder had over extended herself and now can't protect Spyro.
"Spyro!" Cynder shouts in warning trying to intercept the arrow. If it was a normal arrow Cynder might have had time to intercept it or Spyro could have simply rolled out of the way, but the speed and power of the arrow disperses the cloud of Darkness to reveal their ploy. Lux's paws hovering over Umbra's bow to infuse it with Light, Lux had transformed his Light sword into an arrow of pure Light, shot out of Umbra's Darkness infused bow. Cynder follows their attack's path, it was too fast for any eye to see or hope to avoid, Cynder's eyes widen as she sees its target.
The arrow of Light pierces Spyro's chest, ripping through the meager Ice defense he had put up in place; time stops for a moment as everyone takes in what had just happened. The wound was surely fatal, but Spyro feels no pain as he falls to the ground, already well on his way to unconsciousness. Cynder rushes to his side wordlessly, this wasn't the first time Spyro had taken moral wounds; Spyro had previously healed himself and Flame using his Light magic, but no one knows how it works.
Cynder knows that Spyro's probably going to be okay, he'll activate his Light magic again any moment now, Cynder knows that. But her anger rises anyway, from Lux's sigh of relief to Spyro's weak breathing, Cydner can't control the rising rage as Corruption starts to flow over her scales. Lux gets up and takes a step towards the two heroes, the two heroes that he's heard legends of all his life, one of which that they had just murdered. "Lux! Wait-" Umbra tries to stop him.
Cynder, her scales wrapped in blackness and her eyes glowing an ethereal light, whips around towards them. Instantly Cynder opens her maw and blasts them with Aether, the powerful magic flows out of Cynder's maw in a solid purple wave. Backing away they both attempt to block the attack with their remaining weapons only for them to snap away in their hands, the blasts powers through them and throws against the far wall of the room, both wincing in pain as their wounds are reopened. Drained, the two can't do anything as Cynder turns back around to Spyro's motionless body, not that they need to do much, they've already completed their mission.
But to their surprise Spyro begins to emanate a warm gentle light, Cynder's darkness fades away as she returns to his side. Just as she had suspected Spyro's wound starts to suture shut; breathing a sigh of relief, she had known that he would survive this, they hadn't come this far to die here. Quickly Spyro's wound is completely healed using Light, he quickly reawakens and moves back to his feet, the only lasting remnant of the mortal wound was a little light-headedness. Seeing her relieved face "sorry for worrying you."
Together they turn back to the wolves, ready to rejoin combat. Lux tries to stand to face them only to fall back onto a knee, his ankle had been broken, "dammit. Umbra can you-" But Umbra was already healing the fracture quickly as the two Dragons approach, they're weakened and defeating them seems unlikely, but with the whole world at stake they have to-
"It's over" a omni-present voice sounds from around them. Before Lux and Umbra can protest the wall behind them falls away silently, revealing a previously unseen passage. "The fights over, it's too late to stop the end now."
"It's… over?" Spyro asks incredulously, they had thought that it would be harder than that.
"They're out of commission, for now at least" Cynder points out, the two wolves are exhausted and it seems that Lux's injury is too complex to be healed easily. "Let's go" Cynder recommends as they start walking to the passage behind their opponents, Lux and Umbra both avoid the two Dragon's gaze, they have failed their mission.
The two Dragons decided to move past their previous opponents without incident, they had been defeated, there was nothing more that needed to be done with them. Walking down yet another featureless obsidian corridor, although this one lacks lighting they can still see well enough in front of them to see two shapes. "Flame, Ember!" Spyro calls out bounding over to the smoldering red Dragon and the pink Dragoness. But to his surprise they only give him a confused and defeated look, at his look of confusion Flame indicates over his shoulder at the large Dragoness behind him. Spyro and Cynder's eyes narrow, instantly they know who it is "the Terror."
"Indeed" her gentle voice surprised them just like it had the other two Dragons. Her tall curvaceous form reminds them all of the Terror of the Skies, Cynder's adult form. Spyro looks to Flame for some kind of explanation.
"She somehow sealed our Fire magic and she had an Ape backing her up incase we attacked. The Ape left after the passage opened though, I don't think she's particularly powerful; the trap she had used to seal our magic seems to be the extent of her power" Flame explains everything they've been able to figure out thus far.
"So the one pulling the strings behind the scenes wants to negotiate" Cynder growls. What is she going to do after causing them all so much pain, beg for her life?
"I do, we had hoped to end this threat before he could come, but the advent of your Light makes it all fruitless-"
"Who is he" Spyro finally asks. "Who is this he you've been referencing all this time" Spyro isn't convinced that they can trust her, he wants to know what exactly they've been trying to avoid this whole time.
"Do you know who I am, young Dragons?" she asks oddly.
Spyro looks between them all before responding "your Malefor's mate aren't you?" Flame and Ember looked surprised, with everything that had happened at Warfang they had neglected to tell them about what they had learned.
"Observant, the two of you killed the love of my life" she plainly points out.
"You don't seem all that bothered" Cynder points out disturbingly, she claims to love him but harbors no hatred for his killers?
"I'm not, the Malefor you killed was not the one I fell in love with, but that story will come another time. Tell me, do you know my name?"
"Your leading questions are getting annoying" Cynder growls.
"Serena, the Daughter of the Occult" the title means nothing to the young Dragons before her. Sighing she explains "you may have heard of the legend about the origins of Shadow Dragons. Many Darkness Dragons were created using the Dark Crystal, not everyone was capable of absorbing its power." Serena plays with one of her deadly looking claws nonchalantly, "It scarred the souls of the failures."
"Are you saying anything in particular?" Cynder asks. "You still haven't answered our question, who is he?"
Serena hesitates before deciding to relent, "the First Chronicalar. A being of such unimaginable power that a single encounter drove my mate to insanity." The information dump surprises the four Dragons, the plot hook causes the four to look to her for answers. "Centuries ago my mate was very much like Spyro, a hero who saved the world countless times over. A hero renowned across the land, having defeated every threat to the world and having amassed an uncountable number of abilities and skills. And then he came, and challenged Malefor for his power, and won crushingly.
Spyro and Cynder look at each other fearfully, both remembering just how powerful Malefor was during their confrontation at the volcano. "What are we up against?"
"A God."
"What does it want? '' Cynder asks in disbelief, there were many gods of many different religions in the world, but a true God?
"The power of the purple Dragon, Aether. He's been amassing the Aether of many purple Dragons to do something, I suspect the fallen Elder Red knows what exactly, but I'm certain that he'll come after yours as well."
"Is that why you were so desperate to kill Spyro? '' Cynder growls, Serena's voice was strangely calming, despite everything that's she's done, there's something…. Helpless about her. From her posture, her voice, her tone, all exuded helplessness; that anyone of them could kill her at any moment, that she's completely at their mercy.
"Yes, if Spyro was dead there would be no chance for him to develop his Aether so that the First Chroniclar couldn't harvest him."
"But why?" Spyro presses, "why is it so important that the First Chronicler doesn't harvest my power? If you don't know what he wants, then how do you know that it's even bad?"
"Because he'll use the power to destroy this world, to recreate his own; that was the explanation given to my mate." Spyro looks to Cynder, uncertain how much of this to believe. "I understand that you may not believe what I'm saying, Malefor didn't at first either. But he'll destroy this world to restore his own, and in memory of my mate, in memory of the Dragon he once was, I won't allow that to happen."
"Are you actually trying to convince us that Malefor was actually trying to save the world? Even you have to agree that's pretty far fetched."
Serena's expression darkens, "my mate- Malefor, after he was soundly defeated by the First Chronicler, changed. Can you imagine it young ones? Imagine, being the most powerful being in the world, nothing can possibly harm him or anyone he loves, every threat has been vanquished and the world regards him as the greatest of heroes. And then he comes, a being of such unimaginable power to easily trounce my mate and bearing proof that he can and has done it before. Imagine knowing what failure means that late in your life, imagine the kind of things you'd do, the things you'd do for even the smallest of chances of stopping him."
"Tell me about him, tell me about the Dragon Malefor once was" Spyro asks. Malefor was the purple Dragon that preceded Spyro, he had taunted Spyro with the belief that they were one and the same, was he telling the truth this whole time?