A New Threat

by imerik001

After the defeat of Malefor, Spyro and Cynder return to Warfang and are hailed as heroes. After a surprising visit from Ignitus, the new Chronicler, they learn the Dark Armies are led by Malefor's last surviving general, Onyx. Now with the help of new partners, they must save the day once again. Rated T, some chapters will be Rated M. CynderxEmber and SpyroxOC pairings.

8. Chapter 8

Disclaimer: I do not own Spyro the Dragon or any of its characters, except my OC's

A/N: Hello everyone, here is the 8th chapter as promised: where the Dark Armies launch their full scale attack on Warfang, with Onyx's Shadow Replica leading the battle...and where Spyro, Cynder and the Guardians fight valiantly, along with their new friends and Cheetah allies to protect their city home.

Reviews and comments will be appreciated

The Legend of Spyro: A New Threat

Chapter 8: The 2nd Battle for Warfang

The sun was setting with dark gray clouds starting to appear in the sky, which cast a shadow spreading across the open field outside the city walls and gate...along with an intense sense of tension, as Spyro and his friends waited anxiously from the ramparts, along with the Moles whom were manning the cannons. The purple dragon and black dragoness had narrowed their eyes as they glanced towards the still vacant grainy/sandy field, as they knew that Onyx and her newly trained armies were moments away from showing themselves...and their suspicions were swiftly confirmed: as a loud rumbling had echoed out, followed by numerous footsteps which shook the ground and caused numerous rocks/pebbles to vibrate across the field, which caused the denizens of Warfang to be on full alert.

"Spyro...do you and Cynder feel that?" Leon asked as he and Ember turned to their friends, wondering if they heard the thundering footsteps echoing outside the city wall, which they answered with firm nods.

"They're here." The young purple dragon replied, as he and his partner immediately identified the source of the ground rumbling outside the Dragon City: the footsteps of the Dark Armies slowly approaching...and were no doubting close, as the thundering footsteps grew louder.

"The Dark Armies?" Ember asked, as she and the gold dragon were surprised that Spyro and Cynder could somehow just tell that Onyx and her forces were close, especially since they didn't any sign of the evil shadow dragoness or the remnants of her master's armies from the city walls!

"Trust us Ember. They're coming. Spyro and I...we can just feel them." The black dragoness replied softly to her friend, as she and her partner had felt a familiar chill running down their spines...which was the exact same feeling they felt before the Dark Armies had waged their previous assault on Warfang and the pink dragoness nodded in understanding, along with Leon as they trusted her and Spyro's judgment, due to their experience from the previous siege on Warfang.

However, as the four young dragons continued scanning the field and surrounding area for any signs of the upcoming threat to their city home...the Dark Armies had finally arrived. Both Leon and Ember had stared wide eyed, as they witnessed a massive crowd made of Crossbow Orcs, Hero Grublins, Axe Orcs, Hero Orcs and a small mob of at least ten Trolls: five ordinary and five Elites had marched onto the field at a slow steady pace while approaching the Dragon City!

"Oh my God..." The gold dragon muttered softly, as he and his female traveling companion didn't expect for the remaining remnants of the Dark Master's army to still be abnormally huge!

"There's no way we can take all those things!" Ember stated while turning Spyro and Cynder with fear in her eyes, doubting that they could defeat an army of nightmarish creatures that size.

"Calm down Ember. We know the odds might be against us, but we can survive and we will win this battle." The purple dragon stated softly while calming his frightened friend down, as he and his partner looked at the pink dragoness with sympathetic eyes as they understood her reason to be scared: as she and Leon didn't expect the Dark Armies to still be huge after the defeat and death of their master.

"We know those creatures might seem incredibly frightening, but they're not that smart. Plus, we're not fighting this battle alone: we have the entire city, Hunter and his fellow warriors fighting by our side." Cynder added softly while reminding Ember that they weren't battling Onyx and her newly trained armies themselves, as they were fighting alongside the Guardians, Kael and his team, the Moles and their Cheetah allies to save their city home from complete destruction.

"Cynder, Spyro…thanks. You guys are right, we can do this." The pink dragon stated softly with a gentle smile, thanking her friends as their words of comfort, along with their strength and courageous fighting spirits had helped her overcome her fear of the army of nightmarish creatures advancing towards Warfang.

"Anytime." The black dragoness replied while mirroring the smile, showing she was glad to return the favor as Ember had stood up and defended her when Zephyr had called her a monster and murderer for supposedly destroying his home village and slaughtering his family and friends three years ago while serving as Malefor's general against her will.

"Wait a moment...something's wrong. Where are the Wyverns?" Spyro stated, as he noticed something was wrong as the Dark Armies slowly approached the Dragon City: the Wyverns were no where to be seen!

"Maybe Onyx is saving them once the battle gets underway?" Cynder replied while offering a theory that the shadow dragoness was having the Wyverns laying in wait somewhere, so they could catch them off guard while battling the Trolls, Orcs and Grublins.

As the Dark Armies slowly marched towards their main destination...they snarled and growled angrily as they spotted Terrador, Cyril and Volteer standing outside the main gate and the Guardians returned the glare, while standing their ground to show they would not let the grotesque creatures get past them and were more than willing to die in order to protect their beloved city. The Elite and standard Trolls had bellowed out at the top of their lungs while slamming their front legs onto the rocky/grainy field which riled the rest of their nightmarish brethren up, as the Hero Orcs and Hero Grublins had raised their swords/maces upward in a fighting stance while advancing towards Warfang with the Crossbow Orcs standing right behind the Hero Orcs!

"Hmm, interesting...the Dark Armies seem to be using a new strategy this time." Volteer stated as he and his fellow Guardians witnessed the Hero Orcs and Grublins taking the lead with their archers behind them and the Trolls taking up the rear; which was something they did not do during the previous full scale assault on their city home.

"They might be using a different strategy, but the outcome will be same as the previous battle. There is also a major difference: the Dark Armies do not have their battering rams with them." Cyril replied casually, agreeing with the Electric Guardian that the Dark Armies were indeed using a different tactic which they no doubtingly learned from their new general/master...and smiled while pointing a rather obvious fact: how Onyx didn't have the 'battering rams' as part of her arsenal, unlike Malefor did, which meant the ramparts and more importantly, their turrets were safe!

"Wait for them to get closer. Once Spyro gives Mason and his Moles the order to open fire...we attack full force." Terrador stated in a calm and collective tone, informing his fellow Guardians and brothers in arms that after Spyro gave Mason and the Moles operating/manning the catapults the order to open fire upon...they would charge forward and face the Dark Armies with everything they had with Cyril and Volteer nodding in agreement.

"May the Ancestors watch over us." The three elderly dragons stated at the same time while slowly lowering their heads and closing their eyes, silently praying for the Ancestors to watch over and guide them before they battled the huge army of nightmarish creatures slowly advancing towards them.

However, something truly unexpected happened...the Dark Armies had for some strange reason stopped the moment they marched into the center of the field, much to Ember's and Leon's complete bafflement.

"What are they doing?" The pink dragoness asked, as she and the gold dragon were confused to why the Trolls, Orcs and Grublins would suddenly stop in their tracks, especially as they were moments away from attacking the Dragon City!

"They're waiting." Spyro answered plain and simple, as he and Cynder immediately knew the reason why the Dark Armies had halted their approach to attack/destroy their city home.

"Waiting? Waiting for what?"" Leon asked, as he and Ember were surprised that their friends already knew the reason to why the Dark Armies had stopped their approach...and would be shocked by the answer.

"Orders." The black dragoness answered for her best friend and partner, revealing to their new friends that the Dark Armies were merely waiting for their new leader/master to give them the order to attack!

The moment the Dark Armies had reached the center of the field...a loud screech like roar had echoed out and a shadowy silhouette slowly descended from the eerie gray clouds, which revealed a pure black semi-adult dragoness landing on an outcrop on the left side of the field! Once Onyx's Shadow Replica had revealed herself...the Orcs, Grublins and Trolls had bowed before their 'leader/master', truly believing that the duplicate was in fact Malefor's last surviving general herself. The moment the duplicate had landed on the the ground, two Elites: a Hero Grublin wearing a Fire Elemental Mask and an Orc Archer donning a Shadow Elemental Mask had teleported next beside her.

"So...you must Onyx." Terrador stated while taking a step forward, with Volteer and Cyril right beside him as the Dark Master's last surviving follower and general had finally revealed 'herself'.

"Indeed, I am...and you must the Guardians, the dragons who dared to challenge Malefor and prevent his return...and slaughtered many of my kind during the beginning of the war against my master!" The Shadow Replica coldly answered, confirming that she was indeed 'Onyx' and revealing she already knew who the elderly Earth, Ice and Electric dragons, along with Ignitus were as they had killed many of her kind during the beginning of the war!

"We had no choice! Your entire race were a threat to our world: you Shadow dragons were easily intoxicated by the powers of dark magic and willingly allied yourselves with Malefor to assist him in his diabolical and demented ambitions!" Volteer strongly countered while taking a step forward, stating that he, Terrador, Ignitus and Cyril had no choice but to slay the Shadow dragons as they had willingly became Malefor's followers and soldiers, due to their twisted kinship with the elements of darkness and shadow and cruel personalities.

"Well, I intend to return the favor: by finishing what my master started...and I'll begin by destroying your precious city!" The duplicate angrily replied while narrowing her ghostly white eyes, stating that her master intended to finish what the Dark Master started and more importantly, would avenge the deaths of every Shadow dragons had killed during the beginning of the war, which caused her race to be all but extinct!

"And you'll die trying, just like Malefor!" Cyril angrily replied while glaring, stating that the Shadow Replica would fail to destroy Warfang, just like her master did before Spyro and Cynder faced and defeated Malefor in combat!

"Attack my Dark Armies! Kill them all!" The Shadow Replica angrily screamed out, ordering her newly expertly trained forces to destroy the Dragon City and to leave no survivors!

After their 'general' had given them the order to begin their full scale assault on Warfang...the Trolls, Orcs and Grublins had let out a thunderous war cry before charging in, eager to tear the three elderly dragons who dared to stand in their way! However...the moment 'Onyx' ordered the Dark Armies to attack and destroy their city home...the Guardians smiled as sly grins appeared on their faces.

'That's right...right into our trap.' Terrador mentally stated as the advancing army of nightmarish creatures had blindfully charged in across the field...which was directly within firing range of their cannons!

As the Dark Armies continued to charge in to attack them...the veteran Earth dragon had glanced up towards the ramparts and after his and Spyro's eyes met, he gave the young purple dragon a reassuring nod: silently reminding and encouraging him to make the best judgement calls he felt was right, which he nodded in return.

"On my mark...Fire!" The young purple dragon cried out while raising his right paw, giving Mason and his crew, along with the Moles operating the four other cannons the order to open fire on the approaching Dark Armies!

The moment Spyro gave them the command to open fire, the Moles took precise aim and fired a single cannonball towards the advancing army of sickening dark creatures! However...the smoke created from the explosions and dust had engulfed the battlefield, which made it impossible for the Guardians, Spyro and his team and the moles to tell if the Trolls, Orcs or Grublins were hit or not!

"Spyro...can you or Cynder see anything?" Leon asked while squinting his eyes, as he couldn't see any movement from the smoke and dust covering the battlefield!

"No...we don't see anything." The purple dragon answered, informing the gold dragon that he and his partner couldn't tell if the Dark Armies were hit or not either, due to the smoke and dust blocking their line of sight.

"Wait...you guys hear that?" Ember asked softly, as the unmistakable sound of marching footsteps could be heard echoing out...which grew louder as the smoke and dust started to fade away.

"Spyro...look." Cynder stated softly, as she and her friends stared deeply shocked from what they spotted once the smoke and dust eventually cleared.

Once the smoke and dust finally cleared...the four young dragons, Guardians and Moles stared deeply surprised, as the Dark Armies were not the slightest injured from the explosive shells they had fired from their cannons! The Hero Orcs and Grublins had protected themselves and their fellow warriors with their shields drawn out in front of them...and continued to approach the veteran Earth, Ice and Electric dragons whilst ignoring the flames that were covering and burning their moss covered/skeletal bodies!

"Our cannons didn't even faze them..." The young purple dragon muttered softly as he and his team looked on deeply stunned, along with Mason and his crew as their ordnance didn't even pause the Dark Armies approach, as they continued to charge with the flames covering their bodies dying out!

Even though Terrador, Cyril and Volteer were surprised from what they just witnessed, they swiftly recovered from the shock and got into fighting stances while narrowing their eyes as the advancing army of nightmarish creatures charged in! Once the Dark Armies were within striking distance, Cyril had unleashed a freezing stream of ice towards the ground, freezing the entire battlefield...which deeply shocked the Orcs and Grublins: as they had lost their footing and slipped across the now frozen and ice covered field while growling/crying out in surprise! As the Hero Orcs, Axe Orcs, Orc Archers and Hero Grublins skidded across the frozen soil beneath their feet...Volteer had fired numerous Electrical Arcs, snaring the vile creatures in cages of electricity: which painfully zapped the trapped monstrosities as they flailed around wildly, attempting to break free from the electric cages.

As the trapped Orcs and Grublins continued to break free from the Electric Guardian's electric cages...Terrador had bombarded the defenseless creatures with Earth Bombs, which released four powerful twisters that kept the Hero Grublins and Orc Archers suspended and spinning in mid air! The twisters created from the Earth Bombs, along with the partially frozen battlefield had yielded another promising result...as the ice had caused the Trolls, Axe and Hero Orcs to lose their balance and the strong gusts had blocked their advance...which also left the mindless hulking beasts wide open for a direct assault! As the axe and mace wielding Orcs attempted to maintain their balance on the frigid frozen soil...Terrador had fired an Earth Rocket from his mouth, which stuck the Hero Orc dead center in its chest and sent it falling flat on its back while Cyril unleashed a powerful stream of ice, which slowly covered the Axe Orc's moss covered body...freezing it alive!

However...the twisters created from the Earth Bombs had eventually died out, along with the Electric Arcs suspending the snared Orc Archers and Hero Grublins, that either landed safely on their feet or collapsing flat on their backs with a heavy thud! The moment the twisters had died out...the Hero Grublins and Bowman Orcs had swiftly recovered from Terrador's and Volteer's combined assault...even though the raw electricity from the cages had rendered the limbs in their arms/legs paralyzed, which caused their movements to be slightly staggered as they approached the Guardians with their bows and swords drawn out! But fortunately...the Orcs and Grublin never had the chance to deal a blow on the veteran Earth, Electric and Ice dragons: as a single cannonball had shot right past the Guardians and directly between the weakened Grublins and Orcs, killing them instantly as their limbs scattered across the field!

"Nice shot Mason! Direct hit!" Spyro cried out happily, congratulating and complimenting the Mole foreman on his marksmanship with the wall mounted cannon: as the explosive shell he fired obliterated the Hero Grublins and Crossbow Orcs in one clean hit!

"Thanks Spyro, but that was mere beginner's luck! This battle is far from over!" His mole friend replied with a proud grin on his face, especially as the round shot he fired had successfully took out the wounded Hero Grublins and Crossbow Orcs...but pointed out that the battle for their city home had simply started: as they had only eliminated a few soldiers...as the rest of the Dark Armies continued to approach!

"Continue to fire! We can use the explosions to knock Onyx's forces off balance!" The young purple dragon commanded, ordering Mason and the other Moles to continue firing ordnance onto the battlefield: as the blast radius from the explosions would knock the evil shadow dragoness' army off balance as they continued to march towards Warfang!

"With pleasure!" The city foreman answered as his crew loaded up another live shell into their cannon and fired again...which was followed by four other thundering shots, bombarding the entire battlefield while making sure to avoid hitting the Guardians as they valiantly battled the Dark Armies in close quarters combat.

Terrador had swiftly ducked as a Hero Orc attempted to land a blow to his face with its mace and countered with a powerful 'uppercut' with his horns: striking the Orc underneath its jaw and blasted an Earth Missile directly into the the mace wielding creature's chest! The Hero Orc had cried out in pain before collapsing flat on its back, as the green glowing rock like projectile penetrated its artificially created body. As the Orc's body started to disintegrate, the veteran Earth dragon had struck a Troll across it hideous face with the mace at the end of his tail...and blood had spilled out across the grainy battlefield, as the power thrown into his tail swing had obliterated the upper left side of its head! As the lifeless corpse of the nearly beheaded Troll began to disintegrate, Terrador had fired three Earth Bombs: entrapping two Crossbow Orcs and a Hero Grublin in twisters that launched the three vile creatures upward into the sky!

Volteer had fired a barrage of Electric Arcs which entrapped at least three Orc Archers and three Warrior Grublins, shocking them with raw electricity while suspending them in mid air and unleashed a powerful current of lightning towards the soil: electrifying the battlefield which paralyzed the axe and mace wielding Orcs charging in towards him! The Hero and Axe Orcs had snarled/growled softly in annoyance, as the raw electricity from the now electrified soil had numbed the muscles and nerve endings in their legs: making it difficult for the medium sized monstrosities to move. As the Hero and Axe Orcs struggled to regain full movement of their legs...Volteer had released a massive lighting bolt from his maw: striking the paralyzed Orcs dead center in their chests as they shrieked/growled in sheer pain before collapsing onto the ground, dead.

Cyril had unleashed a powerful stream of ice down upon the Hero Grublin he was facing against...which swiftly blocked the freezing air with its shield and countered with an upward slash with its blade like arm! After the veteran Ice dragon ducked to avoid the Grublin's blade like arm, which was dangerously close to leaving a permanent battle scar on his face/neck...he swiftly wrapped his tail around the Hero Grublin's right ankle and with a sharp tug, knocked the vile creature off its feet! The Warrior Grublin had roared out in surprise before collapsing flat on its back...and stared wide-eyed as the crafty Guardian had unleashed another stream of ice, which slowly froze the Grublin's skeletal/moss covered body, freezing it alive!

Once the Hero Orc was completely frozen, an Orc Archer had leaped into the air and fired a three-four arrows directly at Cyril...who countered by firing a barrage of Icicle Shards, which froze the arrows and shattered after falling onto the battlefield. After it witnessed the Ice Guardian render its arrows harmless by freezing them, the Crossbow Orc had growled in annoyance and leaped into the air with its sword like arm drawn out: diving in to impale its blade through the Ice dragon's chest! But fortunately for Cyril...an Earth Missile had sailed across the battlefield and struck the Orc dead center in its chest, knocking the wind out of it as landed flat on its back! As the Crossbow Orc attempted to recover from the last minute sneak attack from the Earth Guardian...it's eyes widen it shock, as the last thing it saw was the Ice Guardian impaling the jagged blade of ice formed at the end of his tail piercing through its forehead!

"Terrador! Did you do...?" Cyril asked while turning to the Earth Guardian, wondering if he had fired the Earth Missile that saved his life.

"I didn't fire that Earth Missile, Cyril. But I'm pretty sure I know who did." The veteran Earth dragon answered, revealing that the stone like projectile didn't come from him...but knew who did, as it came from the sky above.

As the Dark Armies continued to advance towards the Dragon City...four large fire balls had shot downward from the sky and exploded on impact after hitting the approaching monstrosities! The Trolls had shrieked out in great pain, along with the axe and mace wielding Orcs, as the searing hot flames had singed their artificial bodies! Terrador, Cyril and Volteer had smiled softly while glancing upward towards the sky...as Kael and his strike team had shown themselves and joined in the fray!

"Quake, you and Geo help Master Terrador! Tundra, Neo: you guys help Masters Volteer and Cyril! Pyre: you and Zephyr are with me!" Kael stated while turning to his teammates and giving them their orders: having Quake, Geo, Tundra and Neo to assist the Guardians while he, Pyre and Zephyr battled the Dark Armies themselves individually!

"Consider it done Kael!" Quake replied as he, Geo, Tundra and Neo were perfectly fine with fighting alongside the Guardians, especially since they could only imagine how exhausted the veteran Earth, Ice and Electric dragons must've been from holding off 'Onyx's' armies on their own.

As their teammates had flown off to help the Guardians...Kael, Pyre and Zephyr simply smiled before flying towards the advancing army of nightmarish creatures and avoided a barrage of arrows that a squad of Crossbow Orcs had fired towards the sky by barreling left/right! After they had avoided the arrows, the two fire dragons had swiftly retaliated by unleashing a powerful stream of fire down upon the Dark Armies: whom roared and shrieked out in pain, as the searing hot flames had cooked their moss covered/magma skeletal bodies! As the Dark Armies continued to cry out in pain from the scorching flames, Zephyr had continued to barrel roll while forming a twister around his entire body and diving in towards vile creatures: charging in right past them with the strong gusts of wind knocking the Warrior Grublins and Orc Archers off their feet, onto the ground!

"Ha ha! Now this is what I call a battle!" Pyre cried out excitedly after unleashing another powerful stream of fire which overwhelmed a weakened Troll, that cried out in agony before collapsing flat on chest with the raw flames burning its lifeless body and firing another fireball, which sent a small squad of Hero Grublins falling flat on their back!

"Don't get cocky Pyre! We've still got to deal with their leader after we're through with these small fry!" The red and blue scaled dragon retorted, telling his friend/teammate not to get over excited and reminding him that they would be battling the evil 'shadow dragoness' after they had defeated her armies!

"Oh, don't be such a buzz kill Kael. I'm pretty sure Quake is having the time of his life!" The red scaled Fire dragon countered, scoffing that his team leader didn't know how to have a good time during a battle and fairly guessed that Quake was no doubting enjoying himself while fighting alongside Terrador before launching a fire ball, which struck a Hero Orc, that howled in great pain as the flames singed its hideous face!

~Meanwhile with 'Onyx'~

The Shadow Replica had been witnessing everything from her side of the battlefield: from how the citizens of Warfang had attempted to defeat her newly trained forces with their wall mounted turrets...only to be shocked, as their cannonballs didn't even faze, let alone harm her army of nightmarish creatures and smiled darkly, as she witnessed the Guardians battling her armies by themselves while her true targets: the purple dragon and black dragoness who defeated and killed her master had looked on from the front city wall. As the Replica witnessed Terrador, Volteer and Cyril continue to battle her Dark Armies, the smile of her face grew...as the stress from all the fighting had taken its toll on the elderly Earth, Electric and Ice dragons: as they had panted heavily from exhaustion while backing away as the Trolls, Hero Orcs, Axe Orcs, Warrior Grublins and Orc Archers continued to march towards Warfang.

However...the smile quickly faded and changed into an agitated glare the moment she witnessed Kael and his strike team coming to the Guardian's aid and easily defeating her Dark Armies: due to their Elemental attacks being somewhat stronger than the veteran Ice, Electric and Earth dragons!

'Damn those Guardians! They were merely keeping my armies focused on them...while their reinforcements were laying in wait to strike from the sky!' The 'shadow dragoness' mentally shouted, disgusted at herself for underestimating the Guardians...and glared in annoyance, as she turned her attention towards the wall mounted turrets still bombarding her forces as they marched across the battlefield towards Warfang!

"Warrior...take a platoon of your fellow Archers and Grublins up to the city ramparts. I want those turrets out of commission!" The Replica stated while glancing over her left shoulder towards the Elite Crossbow Orc and ordering him to lead a strike force to destroy the cannons, which were the Dragon City's main line of defense against hostile forces...and would leave Warfang defenseless, once her Dark Armies managed to get past the Guardians, Kael and his team!

"Consider it done General. My squad and I will have those cannons destroyed in a matter of minutes." The Elite Orc Archer replied while bowing in respect towards the 'shadow dragoness' before disappearing in a puff of black smoke to gather a strike team to destroy the turrets that continued to blast his fellow nightmarish creatures advancing towards Warfang.

"Send in the Wyverns." 'Onyx' stated while glancing to the Elite Hero Grublin, whom simply nodded in agreement as he understood why the Replica decided to send in the Wyverns: as the Guardians, along with Kael and his team would never see the dragon/Grublin like monstrosities coming, due to being too focused on battling their ground forces and teleported to do as his 'general' commanded.

~Meanwhile with Spyro and his team~

As the battle continued to rage on, the young purple dragon and his friends had wide smiles of their faces the moment they witnessed Kael and his team joining in the fray and fighting alongside the Guardians, which turned the tide of the battle into their favor: as the red/blue scaled fire dragon and his team were defeating the Dark Armies with extreme ease, due to their elemental attacks having a more power effect than the Earth, Ice and Electric Guardians.

"Ha ha, alright now we're getting somewhere." Leon stated with a bright smile on his face, as he and his friends watched in amazement at how Kael and his team were cutting the Dark Armies down, left and right on the battlefield while fighting side by side Cyril, Volteer and Terrador.

"It's a just a good thing that Quake and Geo blasted that hideous creature when they did, other it'd would've killed Master Cyril." Ember added while nodding in agreement with the gold dragon while thanking the two Earth dragons on Kael's team, due to one of them firing the Earth Missile that saved the proud Ice Guardian's life from the Orc Archer he was battling earlier.

Even though Spyro and Cynder were indeed overjoyed that the battle would soon be over, due to the Dark Armies losing greatly to the combined forces of the Guardians, Kael and his strike team...they were also deeply worried, as Hunter and his village clan warriors hadn't arrived from the Valley of Avalar.

"What's the matter?" Leon asked, as he and the pink dragoness noticed the troubled looks the purple dragon and black dragoness had on their faces.

"Hunter and his fellow warriors should've been here by now." Cynder answered softly, stating how their Cheetah allies should've arrived to help defend the Dragon City from the Dark Armies hours ago before Kael and his team joined in the battle.

"Do you think maybe...they changed their minds?" The pink dragoness asked softly while dreading the possibility their Cheetah allies might've had a change of heart and decided not to assist them in protecting their city home from the evil 'shadow dragoness' and her army of vile hellish monstrosities.

"Of course not. Hunter and his people are honorable and noble warriors, who would never go back on their word." Spyro replied while shaking his head 'no', claiming that Hunter and his entire village were trustworthy and honorable warriors who would never betray their allies.

"Well, uh, we're going to have to hurry about that much later. We've got company!" Leon stated, informing his friends that they had problems of their own while gesturing towards the far right end of the rampart with his friends glancing in the direction he was pointing...and stared shocked as a medium sized squad of common Grublins and Crossbow Orcs, led by the Elite Orc Archer had instantly appeared on the city wall!

"Where did those things come from?" Ember asked deeply shocked as the medium sized army of nightmarish creatures had somehow slipped past the Guardians, Kael and his team...and was also greatly disgusted by the sickening sight of the Grublins and Orc Archers up close!

"Hurry men, destroy the cannons! But leave the purple dragon and black dragoness to me...I want to savor killing the dragons who destroyed our Lord and Master." The Elite Crossbow Orc shouted in its native tongue, commanding his fellow Orcs and Grublins to destroy the turrets...and instructing them to leave Spyro and Cynder to him: as he wanted to defeat the two young dragons who defeated Malefor!

"Leon, Ember! Get ready! We can't let those sickening freaks get near the cannons! If we lose our cannons, the rest of the Dark Armies will be able to break through the main gate!" Spyro stated while turning to the gold dragon and pink dragoness, ordering them to prepare themselves for battle while he and Cynder got into fighting stances to protect Mason and his fellow Moles as they manned the turrets, with their friends following their lead!

"Alright...let's get to work!" The black dragoness cried out with a smirk on her face, showing she was somewhat glad that 'Onyx' had sent the squad of nightmarish creatures...especially since she was eager to get in on the fighting once the battle for the city began!

Once the Grublins and common Orc Archers were within striking distance, Spyro had launched two medium sized fireballs from his maw, which exploded on impact after striking the approaching mob of Grublins...that shrieked in sheer agony, as the powerful flames had burnt their moss covered bodies before collapsing flat on their backs, dead! After the first of the Grublins were easily defeated, the young purple dragon had spotted an Orc Archer leap into the air and preparing to fire a barrage of arrows right at him...but thankfully never had the chance: as Cynder swiftly flew into the air and bit her jaws down onto the Orc's right ankle, which caused it to scream in great pain after feeling her teeth sinking into its magma/skeletal leg!

As the Orc attempted to pull its ankle out of the black dragoness's grip, Cynder had rolled three times in the air while biting down on the Orc's ankle before tossing the vile creature head first through the heavy brick wall on the third roll! After she had swiftly defeated the Crossbow Orc, a group of five Grublins had leaped off the ground and attempted to strike the dragoness with their machetes...only to cry/shriek out in pain and shock, as a powerful bolt of lightning had struck the small repulsive creatures and Cynder smiled, as she turned to see that Spyro had came to her rescue by paralyzing the Grublins with his Lightning Stream breath!

"They're all yours Cynder!" The purple dragon stated while mirroring the smile, before turning his attention to another Crossbow Orc and rolled to the left as the vile creature attempted to impale its sword like arm right through his chest...but fortunately missed, thanks to his swift reflexes and countered by tackling into the bow wielding Orc with the Comet Dash!

Thanks to her partner weakening the Grublins with his Electricity breath, the black dragoness had opened her mouth and fired a green glob of venom directly towards the paralyzed Grublins, whom shrieked in sheer agony as the acidic venom had burned away and dissolved their artificially created bodies! After the Grublins were defeated, Cynder had spotted another Crossbow Orc leaping into the air and firing a barrage of dark energized arrows...but swiftly evaded its attack by diving into her own shadow! The moment the bow wielding Orc had landed on the flat surface of the wall, it snarled threatening while glancing around: as it had no idea where the dragoness would appear next...and would stare surprised as she leaped up from its own shadow and delivered a powerful 'uppercut' with her horns to its hideous face! As the Orc had staggered a few steps back from the powerful blow to its lower jaw, Cynder had finished the stunned nightmarish creature with a powerful gust of wind: blasting the Crossbow Orc off the wall and falling to its death, as it landed directly on the battlefield outside the city gate!

As they witnessed Spyro and Cynder continued to battle the common Orc Archers and Grublins…Leon and Ember smirked in admiration before following their lead and combated the small army of vile creatures themselves, as the pink dragoness had unleashed a massive stream of fire on three advancing Grublins, that shrieked out in pain as the power flames had covered and burned their moss covered bodies! After she had defeated the three Grublins with extreme ease, Ember had glanced to her left just in time to witness a Crossbow Orc leaping into the air and preparing to unleash a barrage of dark energized arrows...but fortunately never got the chance, as she had fired a single fire ball that struck the Orc dead center in its chest and landed with a heavy thud, as its magma/skeletal body was covered in searing hot flames!

Meanwhile, as a small number of Orc Archers and Grublins had blindfully charged into attack Leon...something truly unexpected happened: as the gold dragon had opened his maw and fired a concentrated a golden orb of energy, which formed into a shower of comets that literally ripped apart the nightmarish creature's artificially created bodies! As the ashes of the slain Orcs and Grublins fell onto the wall, had Spyro, Cynder and Ember had stared wide eyed in awe, as they had never seen a power like the gold dragon's before in their lives.

"...Holy...shit..." Cynder muttered softly, as she couldn't think of anything else to say due to what she, Spyro and Ember just witnessed!

"...Leon...That was...that was..." The purple dragon stated softly, deeply amazed and astonished by the extraordinary attack the gold dragon had just used to defeat the Grublins and Orc Archers!

"Incredible." The pink dragoness added, equally awestruck as her new friends while Leon simply glanced down with a mild grin on his face after using his unique Elemental power to defeat the nightmarish creatures.

"What exactly was that?" Spyro asked softly, as he was deeply intrigued by the extraordinary and mysterious Elemental power the gold dragon had possessed, along with Cynder and Ember, as they had never seen a power like his before in their lives either.

"It's...kind of a long story. I'll explain later, after we..." Leon answered a bit hesitantly while sighing softly, before promising that he would explain everything about the mysterious Elemental powers he was born with to his friends after they had defeated 'Onyx' and her Dark Armies...only to be cut off, as multiple screeches had echoed out and a flock of standard and Elite Wyverns had dived out from the dark clouds and approached the Dragon City!

"Oh great...Now she decides to send in the Wyverns!" Cynder stated in a sarcastic tone, while also agitated that the evil 'shadow dragoness' had chosen when they were so close to winning the battle to send in the grotesque Grublin/dragon hybrids!

"We'll have to deal with them after we defeat these clowns!" The purple dragon replied, showing he shared his best friend and partner's frustration: as 'Onyx' had picked the worst time to send the Wyverns to join in the battle, especially as they were so close to defeating the remaining forces of the Dark Armies!

As the flock of Wyverns had approached Warfang…the Elite Crossbow Orc, whom had been witnessing his fellow nightmarish creatures fail to get anywhere near the catapults, had leaped into the air and firing a barrage of arrows towards the two young dragons whom defeated Malefor…only to miss, as they swiftly evaded by back flipping over the dark energized arrows! After he and Cynder avoided his attack, Spyro had retaliated by firing a barrage of Ice Spikes towards the Elite Orc Archer...only to miss, as he had teleported in a puff of black smoke!

The moment the Elite had evaded his attack by teleporting to safety, the purple dragon had glanced around the ramparts, searching for the Shadow Mask wearing Orc…while not being aware that the Elite had teleported in the air directly above him…and diving in right down with his sword like limb lunged forward! But fortunately for Spyro…Cynder had saved his life, as she dived into her own shadow and leaped in between them: striking the Elite Orc underneath his Shadow Mask covered face with her horns and landing a powerful downward swipe from her tail to his head, sending him crashing flat on his back onto the flat surface of the city wall! However...the Elite Orc had swiftly recovered from the black dragoness' last minute sneak attack and teleported once again, before she could deliver the killing blow that would've ended his life!

After the Elite Orc Archer had vanished in a puff of black smoke, Spyro and Cynder had glanced around: searching for the mask wearing vile creature as they sensed that he was close...and would be ready for him, once he made his next move. As the two young dragons continued to scan their surrounding for the Elite, they had witnessed Leon and Ember dealing with the rest of the remaining Grublins and Crossbow Orcs: as the pink dragoness had incinerated five of the Grublins with a powerful stream of fire, which shrieked in agony as the powerful flames burned them alive and the gold dragon had defeated four of the Orcs by blasting them with another barrage of gold glowing comets which tore right their magma/skeletal bodies!

As Spyro and Cynder continued scanning their surrounds for the Elite Crossbow Orc...the medium sized vile creature had leaped out from behind them, which surprised the two young dragons, as they swiftly glanced up to see the mask wearing Orc getting into a shooting position and unleashing a barrage of dark energized arrows right towards them! But fortunately...the arrows never harmed the purple dragon and black dragoness; due to Spyro countering the Elite Orc's attack by unleashing a powerful stream of fire that burned the energized projectiles! After her partner had countered the Elite's attack, Cynder swiftly dove into her own shadow and thanks to her swift reflexes, had leaped up and landed a powerful aerial flip kick to the Orc Archer's face...that also destroyed his Shadow Elemental Mask, as it fell off the Elite's face and shattered after landing on the flat surface of the city wall!

"No! My Mask!" The Elite Crossbow Orc cried out in dismay, as the Mask that made him invulnerable to their Elemental powers was now destroyed: which left him defenseless against the black dragoness' Shadow powers as he looked at her and her partner with a look of panic on his face!

"Oh, tough break. Isn't Spyro?" Cynder stated teasingly, while pretending to feel sorry for the vile creature after she had destroyed the one thing that protected him against their Elemental powers.

"Yeah. I almost feel sorry for the poor thing." The purple dragon replied, while turning to his best friend/partner as they shared an amused smile before glancing back towards the defenseless Orc Archer, whom backed away in fear.

"Almost." The two young dragons stated simultaneously before unleashing a powerful attack: Cynder emitting a powerful Siren Scream, which paralyzed the Crossbow Orc in fear and Spyro had fired two Earth Missiles, which struck the medium sized creature dead center in its chest...and sent the Elite falling to his death, as he fell off the rampart and gave one final shriek before laying on the battlefield outside the city walls dead, as the impact of the fall had killed him!

Shortly after the Elite Orc had been defeated, Spyro and Cynder had turned back just in time to see Ember and Leon defeating the final three remaining Grublins and common Crossbow Orcs: as the pink dragoness had fired two separate fire balls that exploded on impact after striking the small repulsive creatures alive, whom screamed in sheer agony before collapsing flat on their stomachs/back dead, with the searing hot flames roasting their lifeless corpses. After the pink dragoness had made swift work of the Grublins, the remaining Orc Archers had foolishly charged in to attack the gold dragon...who simply smirked while shaking his head in amusement before opening his maw and firing another flurry of golden energized comets, which tore through their magma/skeletal bodies!

"We did it Spyro. We stopped those sickening freaks from destroying the cannons. If things keep going our way, the battle will soon be over." Leon stated while turning to his friend and team leader with a bright smile on his face, especially since the tide of the battle had turned to their favor as they witnessed Kael, his team and the Guardians easily decimating the remaining forces of the Dark Armies.

"I wouldn't be too sure Leon. I have a feeling...the real battle will soon begin." The purple dragon replied softly, while turning to Cynder as they both knew that even though the Dark Armies were nearly defeated, the battle was for far from over...as they would soon face the 'shadow dragoness' leading the attack on their city home: 'Onyx'.

~Meanwhile with the Guardians, Quake and his team~

"Yee-ha! Coming through!" The Earth dragon excitedly cried out over excitedly while tucking into a ball and forming the Armored Boulder: plummeting towards the ground with a thundering 'THUD' and rolled towards a small group of Warrior Grublins and Orc Archers...whom stared surprised, as the rolling spiked covered boulder had collided right towards the vile creatures and sent them sprawled out across the battlefield!

As Quake continued to roll across the battlefield, Neo and Volteer had noticed the flock of Wyverns approaching the battlefield and took to the air, to combat the sickening Grublin/dragon like hybrids. The moment the two Electric dragons had shot upward into the sky, the Wyverns had launched a barrage of dark energy waves right towards them, which the easily evaded by barrel rolling to the right/left and fired a powerful stream of electricity that struck several of the Wyverns in retaliation, which caused the grotesque hybrids to screech out in pain: as the raw electricity had numbed every muscle and nerve ending throughout their entire bodies! After the first few Wyverns had been defeated, the remaining Orc Archers and Hero Grublins on the battle field had aimed their bows/swords upward and fired a barrage of dark energized arrows/magical attacks in an attempt to shoot Volteer and Neo out of the sky...only to miss, due to them had evading their dark energized attacks with their swift aerial maneuvers while going after the remaining Wyverns.

While the two Electric dragons continued to battle the sickening Grublin like dragon hybrids, Cyril and Tundra unleashed a combined stream of chilling ice towards the sandy/grainy soil...which caused the advancing axe/mace wielding Orcs to lose their balance and slip: falling flat on either their backs or faces and slid across the battlefield while roaring/growling out in surprise! As the medium sized Orcs slowly picked themselves up, the veteran Ice Guardian had formed and fired a medium sized ball of snow, which exploded on impact and froze two of the Hero Orcs, as ice had engulfed around their artificial moss covered bodies and Tundra had finished the job: by striking their frozen opponents with his tail!

After the first two mace wielding Orcs were defeated, the remaining Axe Orcs had bellowed out and charged to cleave the two Ice dragons in half with their axes...but never got the chance, due the crafty Guardian and his younger counterpart performing the Ice Cyclone: forming a freezing tornado while firing a barrage of razor sharp icicles that struck the axe wielding Orcs by impaling through their arms/legs/chest...but sadly did little to no damage, as the Hero and Axe Orcs had shielded themselves from the jagged shards of ice. As the mace/axe wielding Orcs continued to advance on the two Ice dragons...that was when a barrage of arrows had unexpectedly flew up into the air and rained down on the battlefield...and killed several of the unsuspecting Orcs, as the razor sharp arrowheads had penetrated their skulls!

"Where the Hell did those arrows come from?" Tundra asked with a widened eyes, as he was deeply surprised by what he just witnessed: how a small number of the Axe and Hero Orcs had collapsed onto the battlefield after being struck down by the arrows that came out of nowhere!

"There's there answer Tundra." Cyril replied with a bright grin on his face while gesturing to the surrounding forest right outside the battlefield: as Hunter and his fellow Cheetah warriors had finally arrived!

"Spyro, look!" Cynder cried out happily with a huge smile on her face after seeing their Cheetah friend and his fellow warriors charging from the forest onto the battlefield!

"Thank you Hunter." Spyro stated softly with an equal grin on his face, along with Leon, Ember and Mason as their cheetah allies finally arrived from the Valley of Avalar to the Dragon City.

"Spyro, why don't you and your team join in the fight? My fellow Moles and I have the ramparts covered." Mason stated while turning to the young purple dragon, ordering him and his friends to assist the Guardians, Kael, his team and Cheetah allies on the battlefield as the city walls were no longer under attack and more importantly: the battle for their city home was nearly over.

"Alright...let's go you guys!" Spyro stated with a bright grin on his face, before leaping off the front city wall and shooting straight into the sky with Cynder, Leon and Ember right behind him, as they flew right towards and above the field of battle. However...what he and Cynder didn't know...was that they were heading right into a trap.

~Back on 'Onyx's' side of the battlefield~

The Shadow Replica had glared in deep ire and annoyance, to what she was just witnessing before her ghostly white eyes: as her master's newly trained forces were being overwhelmed and bested in battle, despite the brutal training regiments that Onyx had put them through in order to withstand the dragons Elemental powers.

'Arghh! Damn those Guardians! I should've known they would've reached out to their Cheetah allies residing in Avalar!' The 'shadow dragoness' mentally shouted in deep anger, as her master's newly trained Dark Armies were being defeated with extreme ease by the Guardians, Kael and his team and more importantly: by their Cheetah allies whom just arrived from their village in the Valley of Avalar!

'However...this defeat is not a complete loss.' She mentally added as a dark grin appeared on her face, especially as she had witnessed the two young dragons who defeated Malefor in combat flying off the ramparts and unleashing a stream of searing red/black flames onto the battlefield!

"Warrior...have the remaining Trolls, Orcs, Wyverns and Grublins fall back and and return to the Catacombs. I'll handle this myself, personally." 'Onyx' stated while turning to the Elite Warrior Grublin, ordering him to have what was left of her Dark Armies to retreat...and claiming that 'she' would face the Guardians, Kael and his team and more importantly: Spyro and Cynder in battle 'herself'.

"Yes...of course, General." The Elite Warrior Grublin replied while bowing his head in disappointment, before teleporting to inform his fellow nightmarish creatures that they were to retreat and return to the Catacombs...while deeply dreading about what the real General Onyx would do to him and his fellow warriors, due to failing to destroy the Dagon City and to avenge the death of their Dark Master.

The moment the Elite had vanished in a puff of black smoke...the Replica smiled evilly with her ghostly white eyes glowing teleporting herself.

~Meanwhile with the Guardians and Kael's team~

"Ha ha! We've got these sickening creatures on the run!" Geo cried out with a grin on his while turning Terrador and Quake, as they had taken to the air and fired a barrage of Earth Missiles towards the remaining Trolls and Axe Grublins, whom shielded themselves from the stone like projectiles...and shrieked out in pain, as Kael and Pyre fired three fireballs from their maws and struck the towering monstrosities behind their backs!

As the Trolls and axe wielding Grublins cried/roared out in pain as the strong flames had scorched their bodies, Volteer and Neo had delivered the finishing blow: releasing a powerful current of electricity that struck the burning vile creatures in the form of a thunderbolt...which killed the Trolls and Grublins, as they collapsed to the battlefield with jolts of raw electricity running down their completely burnt corpses. After the Trolls and Axe Grublins were defeated, Hunter had blocked a sword swipe from a surviving Orc Archer and parried another slash before landing a powerful roundhouse kick to the Orc's hideous face, which caused the medium sized creature to stagger across the battlefield...and stared in complete shock, as the Cheetah warrior had swiftly drew out his bow and fired a single arrow, which landed directly between its eyes!

Shortly after he had defeated/killed the Crossbow Orc, Hunter had turned to his left after hearing a surviving Troll roaring out and spotted the mindless destructive brute charging right towards him...and witnessed something truly unexpected: as a barrage of gold energized comets had shot through the Troll's body and the hulking monstrosity to trip and skid across the battlefield, dead!

"How in the...?" Hunter muttered softly while staring completely speechless to what he just witnessed, along with his fellow feline warriors, the Guardians, Kael and his team!

"Hunter you alright?" Spyro asked as he, Cynder, Ember and Leon had landed on the battlefield and approached their friend/ally...even though the gold dragon had kept his distance while standing right behind the pink and black dragonesses.

"Yes, I'm alright. Thank you for asking Spyro." The noble cheetah warrior replied while thanking the purple dragon for his concern with a soft smile on his face, which his friend naturally returned.

"It's good to see you again Hunter, but...what took you and your people so long?" Cynder stated with a warm smile, showing she was just as glad to see their Cheetah friend as well before asking what had taken him and his fellow warriors so long to reach the Dragon City.

"I'm sorry that my fellow warriors and I were late Cynder. The exit to the Forbidden Tunnel had been caved in, so we had to take an alternate route." Hunter replied while explaining the reason why he and his village clan of warriors had arrived so late: the Forbidden Tunnel had been sealed off, which forced him and his fellow Cheetah warriors to take an alternate route through the Valley of Avalar to reach Warfang.

"Spyro, Cynder! The Dark Armies are retreating!" Leon cried out, which earned the attention of his friends, along with Ember and Hunter as they stared in deep surprise as the remaining Trolls, Axe Orcs, Warrior Grublins, Hero Orcs and Orc Archers had reluctantly backed away before turning around and breaking into a fast run with the Wyverns flying right behind their fellow nightmarish creatures!

As the Dark Armies retreated from the battlefield, the Trolls, Axe and Hero Orcs had glanced back and roared out in deep ire towards the Guardians, Kael and his team and their Cheetah allied before continuing to flee from the Dragon City until they and the rest of their vile creatures were completely out of sight.

"I don't believe it...we actually won the battle!" Ember stated softly while she and Leon turned to each other and smiled: as they and their friends had survived and won the 2nd battle for their city home!

"We did it you guys. Its all over." The gold dragon stated, as he and the pink dragon turned to their friends...but were surprised at the serious expressions they had on their faces.

"We wouldn't be too sure about that." Cynder rebuffed softly before turning to Spyro, as they both knew the battle for the Dragon City was far from over...and their hunch was soon confirmed: especially as they heard a familiar screech like roar echo as Onyx had appeared before them in a cloud of black smoke!

"Impressive. Most impressive...you dragons actually defeated my newly trained Dark Armies. Hmm...I'm beginning to see now why my Master's armies failed during the previous assault on your precious city. You may've bested my forces...but now you must face me!" The Shadow Replica started off in a monotone voice, claiming she was somewhat impressed by what skilled fighters the Guardians, Kael and his team, Spyro and Cynder truly were: as they had decimated her forces, despite the training regiments the true Onyx had put the Dark Armies through in order to prepare them for this scale assault...and stated that they now had to face her in combat!

"Hmph...Kael, tell the Guardians and young dragons to stay back. I've got this one!" Pyre stated while turning to his team leader, telling him to have Terrador, Cyril, Volteer, Spyro and Cynder to stand down before foolishly flying right towards the 'shadow dragoness'...much to their great shock and disbelief!

"No, Pyre wait!" The red/blue scaled Fire dragon shouted out, ordering his teammate to stop...only to fall on deaf ears, as the red/orange scaled Fire dragon shot right towards the Replica...whom smiled darkly, as her ghostly white eyes glowed!

Once the arrogant Fire dragon was close enough and attempted to unleash a stream of fire down upon her...he sadly never got the chance, as a mysterious force had slammed down onto the battlefield hard!

"Hey, what...!" Pyre cried out deeply shocked to what just happened as he attempted to get back up...only to stare in shock, as his own shadow had pulled him back down to the grainy/sand covered field!

"Something's wrong with Pyre!" Geo stated while turning to Quake and Terrador, as the two Earth dragons, along with their friends stared surprised to what they just witnessed!

"Uh! I'll help him!" Quake muttered before charging past the Earth Guardian and his fellow teammate and shot straight into the air before they could stop him!

"Quake, come back here! We don't know what Onyx is capable of!" The veteran Earth dragon cried out, ordering the younger and reckless Earth dragon to stop his foolish attack, as they had no idea how powerful the 'Shadow dragoness' truly was, especially since she was Malefor's last surviving general and the sole survivor of her entire species!

"Hold on Pyre! I'm coming!" Quake shouted out as he flew across the battlefield to assist his teammate...only to meet the Fire dragon's fate: as the same mysterious force that unexpectedly forced Pyre onto the ground slammed him down onto the barren plain as well, a few feet from his friend!

"W-What the...What just happened?" The Earth dragon cried out, deeply surprised as a strong invisible force had pulled down to the ground and attempted to get back up...but couldn't, as the mysterious force had him pinned to the grainy/sandy soil!

"Pyre, why can't either of us get back up?" He asked while turning to his friend/teammate, wondering if her knew the reason why neither of them could get back on their feet...and would be horrified by his answer.

"Quake...it's our shadows. Onyx is somehow controlling our shadows!" Pyre answered while struggling to pull himself up from the ground...but fail, as his shadow had pulled his forelegs back down!

Quake had stared shocked to what he just witnessed: how his teammate's own shadow had just forced him back onto the ground...and glanced down in horror, as his own shadow pulled him back onto the ground, as it were alive!

"He he he...you foolish dragons can struggle all you want. The more you struggle, the more power my hold over your shadows will become!" 'Onyx' stated while smiling and chuckling darkly, as she found their foolish attempts to break free from their shadows hold over them amusing before bringing her right fore leg up and waved her paw around with a black shadowy aura surrounding...which summoned six small clouds of black smoke, that took the form of jagged knives!

"Let's see you boys avoid these...if you can." She stated with the dark grin still on her face, before throwing the six blades she had just magically created right towards the defenseless Earth and Fire dragons, whom looked on in horror as the blades flew right towards!

But thankfully for Pyre and Quake...Zephyr had came to their rescue: as he spun around insanely fast while flying in the air, creating a twister around him and landed in front of his teammates, sucking the knives into the swirling vortex and tossing them back directly towards their owner...whom simply smirked evilly while widening her ghostly white pupils, which caused the knifes to evaporate into thin air!

"Zephyr, get out of here while you still can!" Pyre cried out through a strained voice as he and Quake attempted to break free from 'Onyx's' hold over their shadows...but failed, as their shadows continued to pin them down to the battlefield.

"Not a chance! This bitch is all mine." The Wind dragon countered while glaring daggers at the 'dragoness' and charged in to attack...while failing to notice the dark grin growing on her face!

As he charged across the battlefield, Zephyr took to the air and spun around with strong gusts of wind surrounding his body: performing his Twister technique once again and shot right towards 'Onyx'...whom simply teleported out of the way before he his attack had touched her! Shortly after he dived through the harmless black smoke, the Wind dragon swiftly turned around with a look of shock on his face, as he had glanced around the battlefield for the 'Shadow dragoness'...before widening his eyes in shock, after hearing dark laughter behind him!

"Looking for someone?" The Replica asked in cold icy tone, which sent a shiver up Zephyr's spine as he gasped in shock before turning around to face the 'dragoness'...only to receive a powerful downward tail whip to the top of his head, which sent the proud Wind dragon crashing onto the ground a few feet near his teammates!

Even though he was slightly dazed from the powerful sneak attack that 'Onyx' had just landed to his head, Zephyr attempted to get back onto his feet...but unfortunately couldn't: as she had used her powers to control his shadow and pin him to the ground as well!

"Hey! What the f...?" He cried out deeply surprised, as he witnessed his own shadow holding his fore and back legs down as he continued to attempt to get back up to confront the 'dragoness'...only for his shadow to pull him back onto the ground!

"Nice going Zephyr! You just had to fight her all on your own!" Pyre stated while scoffing in disgust, which earned a glare from the Wind dragon in return!

"Oh shut the hell up Pyre! You're the one who rushed in fight her first!" Zephyr snapped back, while reminding the Fire dragon that he had rushed in to attack the Replica while ignoring Kael's orders not to do so!

"Oh, those fools! We told them not to face her!" Terrador muttered while shaking his head in annoyance and disappointment, as the three dragon's on his lieutenant's handpicked team had foolishly charged in to attack 'Onyx' without a plan of attack and more importantly: they had no idea how strong her Shadow powers truly were!

"Terrador, I don't understand. What's wrong with Pyre, Quake and Zephyr? Why can't they move?" Spyro stated as he, Ember and Leon stared completely baffled to what they were witnessing: how the Fire, Wind and Earth dragons own shadows hah somehow come to life and were pinning them to the ground!

"It's because of Onyx, young dragon. She's using her power of Shadow Manipulation." Cyril answered for his fellow Guardian and brother, revealing the reason why Quake, Pyre and Zephyr couldn't move was because of the Shadow power the Replica was currently using.

"Shadow Manipulation?" The pink dragoness softly asked, as she and Leon never heard of the Elemental power the Ice dragon was speaking of.

"It's the Shadow dragons signature ability: being able to control the shadows of other living beings and inanimate objects. They could also manipulate their target's shadow to leave them immobilized: leaving them incapable of defending themselves from incoming attacks." Volteer answered while explaining how the Shadow Manipulation ability was the signature power of the Shadow dragons: which they used to manipulate the shadows created from other living creatures and inanimate objects...and how Onyx's kind had used that power to leave their opponent's immobilized and vulnerable to enemy attacks!

"Kael, we need to help Zephyr, Pyre and Quake!" Neo exclaimed while turning to his team leader, stating that they need to help their teammates before the Replica decided to end their lives...especially since they could just tell that 'Onyx' was simply toying with them!

"Don't be a fool Neo! You, Kael, Geo and Tundra wouldn't be able to get close enough without her possessing your shadows as well!" Terrador countered while growling softly, ordering the younger Electric dragon to stand down before he acted foolishly just like his fellow teammates...since rushing in blindfully is what left the arrogant Fire, Earth and Wind dragons at the Replica's mercy!

"Terrador, if a direct assault is out of the question...then, how do we beat Onyx?" Spyro asked while turning to the Earth Guardian as he, Volteer and Cyril battled Onyx's kind during the earlier years of the war along with Cynder, Ember, Leon, Kael, Geo, Tundra and Neo.

"There is a way to get around the Shadow Manipulation...but it isn't exactly easy." He answered, informing the four young dragons, along with Kael and the rest of his team that there was a weakness to the Shadow Manipulation they could use to their advantage...but also stated that it wouldn't be easy or simple to use against the 'Shadow dragoness'.

"What is it?" Cynder asked as she was interested in learning the weakness to the Shadow Manipulation, along with the rest of their friends.

"Whenever a Shadow dragon is using the Shadow Manipulation, their eyes need to be focused on the target whose shadow their controlling. But if a Shadow dragon was distracted or overwhelmed by battling too many opponents..." The veteran Earth dragon answered wisely, revealing the weakness to the Shadow dragon's signature Elemental power: how the user needed to have his/her eyes focused on the target whose shadow they were controlling!

"...Would lose hold over the shadow they would be controlling!" The black dragoness concluded with a huge grin on her face, as she immediately knew what Terrador was getting at and more importantly...realized what they she and her partner needed to do in order to defeat 'Onyx!'

"Spyro...I've just thought of a plan that could be our best shot at defeating that homicidal bitch." She stated while turning to the purple dragon, informing him that she had just hatched up a plan that would be their only chance to defeat the Shadow Replica they believed was truly Malefor's last surviving general!

"What's your plan Cynder?" Spyro asked as his best friend and partner had his attention, along with Ember and Leon's as they wanted to help their friends in defeating the 'Shadow dragoness'.

"You and I are going to battle Onyx in full force. While we have her completely focused on us...Ember and Leon will attack her from the sky, blasting her with fireballs and comets. While she's off balance...she'll be wide upon for a direct attack. Once she weakened, we can finish her off with a combined Convexity Beam attack." Cynder stated while explaining her plan to her friends/teammates: how she and the purple dragon would face off against 'Onyx' and while she was distracted battling them...the pink dragoness and gold dragon would attack from the sky: catching the Replica off guard and once she was weakened from their combined assault...they could defeat the 'dragoness' with a combined Convexity Fury attack!

"That might just work." The purple dragon stated with a bright grin, as he found the black dragoness' plan flawless, especially since they now knew the weakness to her Shadow Manipulation and more importantly, a wild card: their new friends to back them up and catch the Replica off guard once their battle started!

"Trust me, it'll work." She stated, reassuring her best friend that her plan would work before they turning to Ember and Leon.

"Are you guys with us?" Cynder asked softly, as she and Spyro needed to know if their new friends were on board with her plan to defeat 'Onyx'.

"Yeah. We're with you and Spyro, Cynder." The gold dragon answered, stating that he was with her and purple dragon, along with Ember who nodded in agreement.

"We'll keep her off balance. You guys just be ready to finish that bitch off." The pink dragoness replied, reassuring her friends that she and Leon would keep 'Onyx' off balance...which would make it easier for them to defeat the 'Shadow dragoness'.

"Cynder..." Ember stated softly, which earned the black dragoness attention.

"...Be careful." She added, while asking her to be careful while facing off the Replica...which earned a soft smile from her friend, as she was touched by her concern for her safety while facing off against the Replica.

"I'll be careful Ember." Cynder stated softly, reassuring the pink dragoness that she would be alright while she and Spyro battled 'Onyx' which earned a gentle nod from her friend in return.

"Spyro...good luck." Leon stated softly, wishing his friend the best of luck while offering his friend a paw to shake, which he gladly accepted while shaking in his own paw.

"Thanks Leon. If Onyx is just as power and ruthless as Malefor...we're going to need it." The purple dragon replied with a warm smile, thanking the gold dragon for wishing him and Cynder the best of luck...as they would need it, especially since they could tell from the sinister and dark grin on 'Onyx's' face as she continued to toy with Pyre, Quake and Zephyr...that she was ruthless and sadistic, just like the Dark Master.

"Neo, Tundra, Geo and I will help you two young dragons as well." Kael stated while stepping forward, informing Spyro and Cynder that he and the rest of his would assist them by keeping the 'Shadow dragoness' off balance alongside Ember and Leon with Neo and Geo nodding in agreement...while Tundra simply kept silent with a stoic expression on his face.

'Hpmh...why Kael had to volunteer us on this suicide mission is beyond me. This is the purple dragon's and black dragoness' battle...not ours!' The Ice dragon mentally scoffed with an annoyed look on his face, as his team leader included him on an assignment that he wanted no part of...but decided to along with it, especially since Zephyr was the only member on the team that he actually considered and thought of as a friend.

"Thanks Kael. We appreciate it." Spyro stated, as he and his best friend gave the red/blue scaled Fire dragon an approving nod as they appreciated him and his team volunteering to assist Leon and Ember in keeping the 'Shadow dragoness' off balance.

Without wasting another second, the purple dragon and black dragoness had sprinted across the battlefield before leaping off the ground and taking to the air: heading right towards the Replica, whom was passing itself off as the Dark Master's last surviving general. As 'Onyx' continued to take pleasure in seeing Pyre, Quake and Zephyr attempt to break free from her hold over their shadows...the smile on 'her' face grew wider, as 'she' spotted the two young dragons who defeated Malefor in combat were approaching! Once they were at a safe enough distance to avoid being snared by her Shadow Manipulation, Spyro had launched a fireball from his maw right towards the 'evil dragoness'...whom swiftly evaded his attack, by teleporting out of the way: which caused the fireball to miss its mark!

"Cynder...can you tell where she is?" The young purple dragon asked while turning to his partner, wondering if she could sense the Replica through her own Shadow Elemental powers.

"I...can't track her. Her Shadow powers are stronger than mine. I can feel her presence, I just can't tell where she'll appear." The black dragoness answered, informing her best friend and partner that she couldn't tell where the Replica was, as she was using another Shadow power to cloak herself whenever she teleported to avoid their attacks!

Knowing they needed to keep their eyes peeled and on their guard, Spyro and Cynder cautious glanced around the lifeless field while waiting for the 'Shadow dragoness' to make her next move...only they would be completely unaware of the swirling black vortex appearing behind them, along with a slender tail with a jagged blade like tip at the end slithering up behind the black dragoness!

"Cynder...behind you!" Pyre shouted out, alerting the young dragoness as she and the purple dragon swiftly rolled to the right/left at the last second, which saved their lives as the jagged blade shot forward...only to miss and strike the ground between the them!

Even though they were greatly shocked to what they just witnessed: the two young dragons had recovered and fired a stream of blazing red/black shadowy flames in retaliation...which unfortunately missed, as the Replica's tail swiftly evaded their combined attack and slithered back into the vortex! After they failed combined attack...a dark and evil chuckle had echoed out while Spyro and Cynder continued to calmly scan their surroundings as they what 'Onyx' was hoping to accomplish: by playing this sick and twisted game, they would be eventually be overwhelmed by fear...especially since they had no idea where she would strike next. But unfortunately for the Replica...the two young dragons would not break that easily.

As they prepared themselves for 'Onyx's' next attack...the purple dragon and black dragoness had sensed a presence above and glanced up to see another vortex materializing...and swiftly jumped out of the way, as the Replica had shot her tail forward and attempted to drive the jagged blade like tip through the back of Spyro's body! However, after the two young dragons had evaded the 'Shadow dragoness's' sneak attack...another portal had appeared and the bladed tip of her tail had shot out once again, which they evaded by somersaulting backwards at the last second and rolling across the barren field as another portal underneath them! As Spyro and Cynder continued to evade 'Onyx's' tail strikes, the Replica had laughed evilly as she enjoyed witnessing the two dragons struggle to evade her relentless assault.

However, as she continued to toy with the two purple dragon and black dragoness...the Replica was completely unaware of the six dragons that were flying directly above the battlefield!

"Okay, you guys ready?" Kael stated while glancing to Neo, Tundra and Geo, asking if they were ready to do their part to save Pyre, Quake and Zephyr and helping Spyro and Cynder defeat 'Onyx', which his teammates answered with a solemn nod to show they were indeed ready.

"How about you two kids?" He asked while turning to Ember and Leon, even though he could tell by the determined looks in their eyes that they were indeed ready as well.

"We're good to go Kael." The gold dragon answered, showing that he and the pink dragoness were ready to set Cynder's plan in action...especially as they couldn't bring themselves to watch as the Replica toyed with their friends for her twisted and sadistic pleasure by attempting to skewer them with her tail!

"Alright...let's go!" The red/blue scaled Fire dragon replied before diving down from the sky with his team and two younger dragons beside them to commence their sneak attack on the 'Shadow dragoness'!

The moment 'Onyx' had created another portal and attempted to impale Spyro and Cynder with the jagged blade at the tip of her tail, Kael and Ember had fired two fire balls towards, which the 'dragoness' had easily evaded...but would soon fail to evade the upcoming assault. After she swiftly evaded the blazing balls of fire, the Replica stared deeply shocked as the two fire dragons had fired three more...while Geo unleashed a barrage of Earth Missiles, Tundra had fired a flurry of Ice Shards, Neo had unleashed a barrage of Electric Arcs and Leon had fired a barrage of high speed golden comets! Even though 'Onyx' had teleported to evade the fireballs...the smoke they created after colliding with the soil had obscured her line of vision...which left her vulnerable to their full scale attack: as the stone like projectiles, jagged shards of ice, orbs of raw electricity and golden energized comets had struck her body, as she attempted to shield herself with wings! As Kael and the rest of his team, Leon and Ember continued with their attack...Spyro and Cynder smiled as the black dragoness's plan worked perfectly: while she was busy battling them, the Replica had been caught off guard as their friends attacked her from the sky!

'I-I don't believe it! Those god damn young dragons! They were simply acting as decoys to be keep me distracted for their friends to attack from the air!' 'The Replica mentally screamed in deep ire, as she allowed herself to be bested by the two dragons who defeated Malefor, due to falling for such an obvious ruse: how Spyro and Cynder were acting as decoys to keep her focused on them while their friends launched a sneak attack from the sky above them!

As she continued to shield herself from the fire balls, Earth Missiles, Electric Arcs, Ice Shards and golden comets, 'Onyx' stared deeply shocked, as she felt her hold over Pyre's, Quake's and Zephyr's shadows slipping from her grasp...and thanks to Cynder's well thought out plan of attack that was weakening her: the Fire, Earth and Wind dragons had smiled as their shadows had returned to normal and immediately shot upwards, joining their friends in the sky!

"Spyro! Cynder! Now's your chance!" Kael shouted out towards the purple dragon and black dragoness, informing them that 'Onyx' was weak enough for them to 'defeat' with their Convexity Fury!

"Shall we?" Spyro asked while turning to his partner and best friend, since they both it was time to put an end to this senseless battle and more importantly...defeat Malefor's 'last surviving general.'

"Yes...lets." Cynder answered with a gentle smirk, showing she was indeed ready...before they both closed their eyes and focused, while tapping into the awesome and mysterious power of Convexity that coursed deep inside them before opening their eyes as a purple aura surrounded their bodies and fired a bright/dark purple beam of energy right towards the 'Shadow dragoness'.

The second 'Onyx' witnessed the two powerful beams shoot right towards 'her', 'she' attempted to counter by firing a stream of black shadowy fire...which was no match for the unparalleled powers of Convexity, since the combined purple beams had easily disintegrated the measly black flames! As she witnessed the two beams overpower her attack...a loud screech like scream had echoed out across the battlefield, as Spyro's and Cynder's combined Convexity Fury attack had struck her dead on and burned away at her body! However...the two young dragons and their friends had witnessed something truly unexpected: 'Onyx' had a dark grin on 'her' face as her 'body' started to disintegrate after their Fury attack died out!

"What the...?" Spyro asked in a soft voice as he, Cynder, Leon and Ember stared deeply shocked by what they were seeing, along with Kael and his team.

"Ha ha ha! Congratulations, young dragons...you survived my mistress' test." The Replica stated while stilling clinging onto life before her magically created body faded away: revealing that the attack on the Dragon City was never an actual attack...but a test!

"Your mistress?" The black dragoness asked, as she and her friends were deeply surprised at the revelation that the full scale assault on Warfang was simply a test!

"Yes...the real General Onyx! She created me to lead the assault on your precious city home and face you two young dragons in her place!" The Replica answered, revealing that she was not really the Dark Master's surviving general and how the real Onyx had created her to lead and supervise the attack in her place!

"What?!" The two young dragons and their allies cried out in deep shock and surprise: as the 'Shadow dragoness' they had just faced and defeated in battle was merely a living puppet that Malefor's actual remaining follower had created to fight in her place!

"You dragons may have won this battle...but the war wages on! The Dark Master will be avenged...and this world, this planet will burn! AHHH!" The Shadow Replica breathed out, stating that even though the residents of Warfang had both won and survived the Dark Armies assault on their city home...the battle was far from over, as Onyx would not rest until she avenged the death of the Dark Master and destroy their world, just as Malefor nearly succeeded before screaming out loud in agony, as her body completely faded away, ending her life!

After they witnessed the Shadow Replica succumb to her wounds and die, Spyro, Cynder, Ember, Leon, Kael and his team stared completely stunned beyond words...especially after hearing from the dying puppet that the battle against the real surviving Shadow dragoness had simply just begun. A battle...which they would surely win.

A/N: There it is everyone the 8th chapter to A New Threat! I would like to apologize to my fellow Fanfic authors and viewers for the two month wait. I know that I promised to have this chapter published earlier at the beginning of August or September, but I had suffered from a bad case of writers block: especially since I had to really think of ways to make the 2nd battle for Warfang very detailed. I apologize if the chapter will seem a bit off or beating around the bush, it was the best I could with what I could up with.

I also have a rather special surprise my fellow Fanfic authors and reviewers: the sequel to my finished Sly Cooper fanfic: TRATT will be posted sometime by the end of this weekend or October 12th! Also...this will be the latest update to A New Threat, since I've got to focus on the first chapter to the sequel and Walking Dead fanfic.

So please be sure to read and review, until next time. Bye.