Hiya, dragonlets! Welcome back! Who's ready for all the bad stuff to happen? :D Then let's get on with the show!
You found a disclaimer!
Spyro the Dragon, both the game and all related characters (c) Insomniac. They own the Spyro that's in this story, so nyeh.
Spyro 3: Year of the Dragon, as well as all related characters (c) blah-blah, same copyright.
CHAPTER THIRTY: Down the Rabbit Hole
Bianca paused to adjust her hood as she popped up in the Artisans, desperate to keep her face hidden. With the fairy magic in the skies and all of the portals closed off, she and the rhynocs had to get...creative to infiltrate the Dragon Realms. Crawling through molehills wasn't her ideal plan of action, but it was about to get the job done.
She looked about, staying low as the rest of the squad began to peek out of the ground. It was just before dawn, as the clouds were beginning to light up in various shades of pinks and golds. If the sun came up, the slumbering dragons would awaken and their plan would be ruined. They had to move fast.
The apprentice waved her hand, signalling the rhynocs to move into the field. She then stepped out of her own molehill, overseeing the attack. The rhynocs moved as quietly as they could, each grabbing one of the numerous eggs and rushing back to their hole, filling it in behind them as they rushed back home. None of them had the finesse or strength to lock horns with a dragon, so their only chance of survival was to avoid the creatures altogether.
Once all of the rhynocs were gone, Bianca crept through the minefield of sleeping beasts to pick up the last of the hundred-and-fifty eggs. With the last of their precious cargo in hand, the triumphant apprentice started her walk back towards her escape route.
However, the cloaked witch froze with a shiver as she heard one of the elders stir. Astor gave a long yawn, stretching slightly before rolling onto his side. Bianca didn't dare to breathe until she was certain he was asleep. With a light, nervous sigh, she changed course, instead heading for an open hill that was further away from the waking elder.
The threats nearer the other hole were much lesser - all that seemed to stand in her way was a cheetah, a faun, and a purple dragonlet. An easy road to safety...
...If the cheetah didn't roll over and throw his arm right under Bianca's foot. She barely saw it coming, much less be able to stop herself from stepping on his paw. Hunter let out a yowl, which quickly woke up the rest of the surrounding dragons, as well as the nearby faun and dragonlet.
And all eyes were pointed right at her. "Stop that egg-thief!"
With the evidential egg still right in her arms, Bianca had no choice but to run as fast as she could towards her original escape route. Hunter and Spyro gave chase, the latter spitting a mouthful of flame at the egg-thief in hopes of taking her down. In the most Hunter-like fashion, though, the cheetah tripped, sending he and Spyro tumbling.
The hooded apprentice tripped as she felt the heat of smoke on her robe, stumbling down the hole at the last second as a full-grown dragon lunged at her. Gavin jumped for the thief, ready to chase her to the ends of the earth to protect the egg.
THUNK. He followed her right into the hole. And got stuck.
oo00oo00oo
Bianca was still short on breath as she shakingly walked into the castle with the final egg. "We managed to...capture the eggs...Your Highness...Every last one."
The Sorceress gave a twisted smirk as her apprentice set the unhatched dragon at her feet. A scaly reptile of a woman long past her prime, the old queen loved nothing more than to watch her plans go off without a hitch. It made her face light up...which, as the other rhynocs would tell you, wasn't much better than when she was frowning.
"Excellent," she cooed. "Nicely done, Bianca. Perhaps you'll amount to something after all." She slowly got to her feet, gingerly picking up the egg. It had been ages since she last held a dragon egg, so she took a moment to bask in its warm, magical glow. Soon...Very soon...
The Sorceress snapped her claws, pointing towards the door. "Bianca, I want you and the rhynocs to guard the tunnels. Make sure NOBODY gets through from the Dragon Realms, understood?"
The apprentice nodded, giving a low bow as she backed out of the throne room to complete her orders.
Zoe, who was hiding at the window, bit her lip as the Sorceress went back to fawning over her egg. "Oh, no. This is bad. This is REALLY, really bad!"
oo00oo00oo
Astor gave a heavy tug on Gavin's exposed legs, trying to wrestle the sapphire full-grown from his predicament. Not only would they need as many channels open as possible (he was blocking one of only two holes remaining), but, well, he looked ridiculous, and it would be a distraction at the Dragon Festival.
...Provided there would still BE a Dragon Festival.
Zoe popped out from the open tunnel, rushing over to where the rescue team (which included Spyro, Hunter, Elora, Alban, and Delbin) was waiting for her while the rest of the dragons scoured the worlds to find any trace of the mysterious thieves.
"Zoe, did you find where they've taken the eggs?" Alban asked.
"They're on the other side of the Dragon Realms!" the frightened fairy relayed. "T-They're scattered all over the place, and the rhynocs are on strict orders to guard the tunnels and make sure they don't get taken back!" She gave a shy shrug. "We found a few of them, but we couldn't sneak them out past the goons. Sorry."
Spyro's ears perked. "Wait, wait, the other side of the world? You mean they're in Avalar?"
"No, Spyro," Alban interrupted. "Zoe's referring to the Forgotten Realms."
Before the young Artisan could press further, Delbin stepped in, and Spyro was fully expecting another lecture: 'Spyro, it's dangerous. Spyro, stay here. Spyro, take your friends home. Spyro, let the big boys handle this.'
Which is why he was fully surprised when his guardian instead said, "Spyro, you'll have to follow Zoe through the tunnels and try to get the eggs back for us."
"Whoa, wait, you mean that?"
"You've proven yourself more than capable of saving captured dragons, Spyro," Delbin reminded with a smile. "Plus, nobody else can put those egg thieves in their places like you can."
Alban looked over to the rescue attempt of Gavin, which now included Nestor and Argus. "Not to mention, you're the only one of us that could fit down the holes."
So the Artisan did what he did best in the face of danger and destruction: put on his game-face. "Alright, guess that means it's world-saving time!"
Spyro turned to his guests, but before he could say anything, Hunter beat him to the punch. "Don't even say it - I'm coming with you. No way you're going off to the other side of the world by yourself."
Sparx gave an offended buzz. "Excuse me? Spyro doesn't go ANYWHERE by himself. If I left him alone for ten minutes, I'd come back to a dead dragon."
"Alright, can it, you two. You're both coming." Spyro then turned a nervous eye to Elora. "Uhm...I-I'm guessing you don't-"
"If it's alright with you, Spyro, I'll just go back to Avalar," Elora shrugged. "I couldn't keep up with you and Hunter, and you guys need to find the eggs fast."
The faun knelt down so Spyro could be closer to eye-level. "I'll go find them as fast as I can and come get you when everyone's home safe, okay? I still owe you a Year of the Dragon party. Promise."
Elora couldn't help but smile. "You're really bad at keeping promises."
"I know."
She leaned in slightly, but Hunter's yowling (unfortunately) stopped her from trying anything. "Hey, Spyro, come on, we got babies to save, let's go!"
oo00oo00oo
Spyro and Hunter followed Zoe through the labyrinth of mole-tunnels, eventually leading them to a bright and sunny land not unlike the Artisans they left behind. It was a warm place, filled with clean air and sparkling water, the perfect habitat for any dragon bloodline. Spyro couldn't help but notice the comparisons to home when they saw that the entire land was coated in loose dragon treasure. Did another evil magician get their hands on a treasure-gnorc spell?
"So you know anything about these Forgotten Worlds?" Hunter asked.
"Not a thing," Spyro answered, looking around. "But maybe we can get the story from some loc-"
Schwing-schwoop-POW! Dragon and cheetah both stepped back as a rainbow shot down from the sky, landing in front of them with an explosive flash of white light. When it cleared, they saw the egg thief from earlier, the tall blonde covered in ruby robes. "So, YOU'RE the one the dragons put in charge of rescuing the eggs, are you?" she laughed.
Spyro gave a little snort of smoke. By the gods, did he HATE when people gave him the 'you're kind of small to be saving the world' voice. "Yeah, you got a problem with it?"
Bianca gave a little jump at Spyro's threat, but brushed away the smoke and put her tough face back on. "Look here, dragonlet, if you know what's good for you, you'll turn around and crawl right back up that hole you came in from. Those eggs are OURS, and they're hidden in places that you won't find for another thousand years!"
"I dunno, I'm pretty good at hide-and-go-seek," Spyro smirked. (If he could find the orbs in Avalar, dragon eggs couldn't be much harder to find.)
The apprentice gave a little scowl. "Well, even if you DO find them, our armies will take you out and take them back! Am I clear?"
"Crystal. But the eggs are coming back home with me anyway."
"Ooh! Dragon, this is your fair warning! Get lost, because if I find you sneaking around here again, I'm gonna...well, I'm gonna be angry, and you're NOT gonna like me when I'm angry!"
The witch disappeared in a shower of rainbows and sparkles, leaving Spyro and Hunter to their own devices once more. Threats from an evil sorcerer(ess)? Check. Stolen magical artifacts that could throw the world into chaos if found in the wrong hands? Check. Brand-new world that needed saving from the horrors of the gem-made army? Check. Only one dragon in the Realms that can step up and save the day? Check.
"Well, boys, let the games begin."
Let the games begin indeed. XD Anyway, as usual, thanks for reading, guys! Hope you enjoyed; tune in next week! :)
§ Tucker's Mayflower, signing off! §