Chapter 2: Meeting Ignitus

Disclaimer: I own only Cleem and Shabae

The two Thieves advanced on Spyro, their blades drawn. Terror gripped him. His stare fixed onto the glint from the sharp edges. Spyro had fought all kinds of pests in this Swamp, but none of them had used swords. Still, he had to try; for Elora and Sparx.

"Now you be a good little dragon and hold still for us," one of the Thieves said.

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Spyro answered. Quick as a whip, he swiped his tail around, knocking the Thief's feet out from under him.

"Hey!" the Thief leader shouted. "Get him!"

The other one sought payback. Spyro dodged out of the way from his blades and countered with a swift bash with his horns. The Thief fell as easily as the first.

"Yeah, you get 'em, Spyro!" Elora called.

A third Thief charged at Spyro with stunning speed, but Spyro rolled out of the way. He kicked the Thief in the back buck-style, sending him sprawling. A few others tried the same tactics. However, Spyro's confidence had grown. He ducked around every blade and struck back hard and fast.

"You're pretty tough, little one," the leader said. "But either you give up now, or else your goat friend becomes a foot smaller and this insect gets squashed." He held his blade to Elora's blade, while his companion raised his foot to crush Sparx.

"Elora! Sparx! NOOOOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!" In that moment of dire panic, something awoke inside of Spryo. A flash of rage and burning will blazed deep within his chest. As he screamed, a stream of fire burst forth from his lips!

The flames startled the Thieves, catching their robes alight. They screamed in terror and pain as they rolled through the mud to put them out."It burns! It burns!" one of the thieves shouted.

"It burns! It burns!" one of the Thieves shrieked.

"Whoa, was that fire, dude?!" Sparx exclaimed.

The leader watched his men panic with horror in his eyes. This distraction allowed Elora to elbow him in the ribs and snatch his blade from him.

"Get away from us!" Elora threatened. The leader backed up as Spyro joined her side.

"We can't take this guy head on! Men, we have to retreat!"

The scared and singed Thieves ran off. Spyro indulged himself and torched the last one in the butt. "OW! Wait for me! Wait for me!" The last Thief yelped. Beating at his smoking pants, he ran after his partners as they disappeared into the swamp.

"Good riddance," Sparx sneered, sticking out his tongue.

"You guys alright?" Spyro asked.

"Yes, thanks to you," Elora said. "But how did you do that, Spyro?"

"I don't know, it's the first time I've ever breathed fire from my mouth," Spyro said. "I guess I was so angry I had to let it out."

"Well, remind me to never get on your bad side," Sparx said.

"At least the thieves are gone. Still, I wonder why they're here in the swamp," Elora wondered, frowned. "I know those hooded thieves came from the Scorch Desert. That's a long way from here"

"I don't know. We should tell our folks about them," Spyro said.

"We should probably go find them," Sparx said. "You never know, they could run into those thieves."

"They'll be alright," Elora said. "They always stick together and my parents can defend themselves without too much trouble. Come on, boys, let's get back home." She caught up her backpack and swung it onto herself, and the three children headed back to their little home.

Meanwhile, the Thieves had met up with their correspondents, the Apes. When greeted with the sight of singed and muddy Thieves, the Apes' leader, Tukekar Ghostthief, demanded an explanation. Equally ashamed and fearful, the Thief leader told him what had happened.

"A Dragon, did you say?" Tukekar said, shocked.

"Yes, a purple one!" the Thief leader said. "He torched us with fire."

The news of a purple dragon in the swamp perplexed the Apes, for they had believed the purple egg had smashed during their raid on the Dragon Temple.

"How is it possible?! We thought there was only one purple dragon?" one of the Apes asked.

"Oh no, Gaul isn't going to like this, Tukekar," another Ape Soldier moaned.

"Where did you last saw this purple dragon?" Tukekar asked of the Thieves.

The Thief leader pointed to the path from which they had came. "Down in the middle of the swamp! He wasn't alone, though. There was a dragonfly and faun girl with him."

"Then, we should pay them a little visit and capture the purple dragon. Come on, boys! We're going dragon hunting!"

The Apes cheered and roared, as the Leader whistled for their rides, giant bat creatures called Dreadwings. They landed, screeching menacingly, and the Apes all mounted them.

"You stay here," Tukekar said to the Thief Leader. "We'll get the Dragon."

"Right you are, Commander," the Thief Leader saluted.

Meanwhile, Spyro, Sparx and Elora had returned to their home. Their parents appeared to still be out gathering supplies. Spryo wanted to go look for them, but Elora convinced him that their folks would return any minute. Thus they waited together. Fortunately there was plenty to occupy their minds.

"I'm guessing breathing fire is something a Dragon can do," Spyro asked Elora.

"Oh yeah," Elora replied. "And more. They can breathe electricity, water, wind, ice and earth."

"Crikey!" Sparx said. "Now I definitely know not to get on your bad side, Spyro."

"Relax, Sparx," Elora said. "Dragons can only breathe a single element."

"So, fire's all I got?"

"I guess so."

"And it's not gonna be enough, dragon!" came a voice from above. The three children looked up and saw the huge Dreadwings swooping down towards them. The trio screamed in terror and dashed away from the claws of the Dreadwings as Tukekar landed in front of them.

"Heh, we thought you were dead, dragon!"

"Dead?! What are you talking about?" Spyro asked in shock.

"No matter, just imagine the boss' face when I captured the purple dragon and have his head mounted on my wall!" Tukekar said, excited.

"What?!" Spyro panicked as he, Sparx and Elora watched the Dreadwings tearing down the huts.

"Nowhere to hide, dragon!" one of the Apes laughed.

"Oh man, this isn't good!" Sparx shouted.

"We gotta run!" Elora said, scared.

"You're not going anywhere!" Tukekar growled threateningly. He brandished his weapon at the trio.

Spyro became angry and shot fire at the Ape's pet Dreadwing. It screamed in agony and threw its master off its back.

"Now you've done it, you little runt!" Tukekar snarled, picking himself up from the dirt.

"Spyro, Elora, Sparx!" came a voice from close by. "What's going on? Did you kids bring another wild creature home?"

"Mum! Dad!" Spyro cried. "Don't come any closer."

Too late! Flash, Nina, Cleem and Shabae appeared on the slope that led down to their home. They all gaped in horror at the sight before them.

"Get them!" Tukekar roared, pointing a sword at them. "I'll get these three!"

The parents all tried to flee, but the Apes shot energy beams at them, which ensnared them all in a net.

"MUM! DAD!" Elora screamed.

"Run, kids!" Cleem cried, fighting at their bonds.

"Not without you!" Spyro said. He charged forward, but Tukekar blocked his path.

"Then you guess you won't be leaving here alive!" he grinned. Spyro unleashed a blast of fire at the Ape Commander. Unfortunately, Tukekar blocked it with an energy shield.

"You think I didn't come prepared to deal with dragons?" he sneered. "Atop a mountain; underground; in the middle of a swamp; you never know where you might find them. Now, come here!"

He shot an energy beam of his own, but Spyro dodged it easily. Elora and Sparx tried to run, but two Apes grabbed them both. Spyro saw this and ran at them, but Tukekar took advantage of this. He lit a stick of dynamite and threw it at Spryo. It didn't hit him directly, but the blast was enough to send Spyro flying. He hit a rocky wall and slid down it, stunned.

"Your feelings for your friends and family make you weak," Tukekar said mockingly, advancing on him. "So much for the prophesied Purple Dragon!" And he raised his sword for a killing strike.

"I think not!" a voice challenged. From the sky, a large figure suddenly landed in their midst. He wore fiery orange battle armour over a set of robes and sported a spear and shield, as well as a red and gold symbol on his chest. He shot a blast of fire at Tukekar, scorching his unprotected back. Tukekar cried out in pain.

"A Guardian!" he cried. "Kill him!"

The Guardian, whoever he was, swung his spear at the Apes, sending a wave of fire that halted them in their tracks. Tukekar shot a spear at him, but the Guardian blocked it with his shield. He threw his own spear at the Ape Commander, which he dodged, but such an act was merely a distraction. The Guardian then spread his wings and swooped to grab Spyro, Elora and Sparx, nestling all three of them in the crook of his left arm.

"Our parents!" Elora cried. The Guardian made for the spot where the parents were trapped, but they, along with the Apes holding them, were gone.

"It's no good!" the figure cried, and took off into the sky, pausing only to grab his spear with his tail.

Tukekar shouted to his troops. "Men, follow the Guardian! Look everywhere if you have to! And don't return until you find all of them!"

"Yes, sir!" The Apes shouted as they mounted their Dreadwings and began the hunt for the Dragon and the Guardian.

The figure had reached a safe spot away from the Apes. Inside a huge cavern, he placed Spyro, Sparx and Elora down on the ground.

"Whoa, thanks for the save, big guy," Sparx commented.

"We have to find our parents!" Elora shouted, as she tried to run off, but the Guardian stopped her.

"I'm sorry, but your folks are prisoners of the Dark Armies," he said sadly.

Elora paled. "No... NO!" She fell to her knees and slammed her fist on the ground.

Spyro hung his head in shame. "Elora, I'm sorry." He went over to his adopted sister, and placed a paw on her shoulder. Elora grabbed him and hugged him tightly. Sparx moved in too, and the three children clutched at each other, crying silently. Spyro didn't care if Flash and Nina weren't his biological parents They'd taken him in. They'd loved him. And now they were gone, along with Elora's parents. It was all too much.

"I'm really sorry, dear children," the Guardian said gently. "But I promise you; we'll get them back."

"I hope so," Elora sniffled.

"Who were those guys? And why were they after us?" Spyro asked.

"Yeah, any reason why they wrecked our home and took our folks?" Sparx added.

"Well, it seems you're unaware of who you are," The Guardian said.

"What do you mean?" Spyro asked desperately. "Do you know me? Who even are you? Where do I come from? What are you? WHAT AM I?!"

"Calm yourself, young one," the Guardian said. "I realise all this must be very stressful. But firstly, to answer who I am..." He removed his helmet to reveal his face. It was only then that the three children truly realised that he was a dragon like Spyro, but much larger with fiery orange and red scales, orange eyes and was walking on two legs. "I am Ignitus, Dragon Guardian of Fire."

Sparx gaped at him. "And I thought you were a big one, Spyro."

"Wait; were you the one who sent my egg down the Silver River?" Spyro asked.

"Yes," Ignitus replied. "It was the only way to save you from the Apes. And I am so relieved to see that you are alive." He sighed deeply. "But it's too late, I fear"

"Why do those Apes want with me?" Spyro wondered. "Where do I come from?"

"Yeah, what's their beef with Spyro?" Sparx agreed.

"Spyro, is it?" Ignitus asked the young dragon, who nodded. "Well, I should tell you why, but it will be hard for you to understand."

And Ignitus began his story.

"First of all, you should know that Dragons have been the protectors of this world for thousands of years; mastering the six primary elements and studying the mysteries of nature. I am from a lineage of Fire Dragons, and represent my brethren as one of the Guardians of the Realms. There are five other Guardians for each element; my close friends. We protected the land together and led dragon-kind in an age of peace. But then an old enemy, the Dark Master, Malefor, wanted to destroy everything we worked so hard for. Thirteen years ago, during the Year of the Dragon, Malefor sent the Ape Army to attack the Temple and destroy the Eggs being cared for there. Many died on that night, so we went into war to avenge those who were lost."

Ignitus turned his gaze upward, becoming lost in memory. "For many years, we fought all over the Realms, clashing countless times with the brutal armies of the Dark Master. Both sides were determined to prevail, but they outnumbered us. We Guardians led our small, yet valiant forces into battle after battle. At first, they were mostly Apes. But over the years they found help from the Riptocs, and even some of our own, who had betrayed us. There seemed a point in which we were beginning to turn the tide of the war. But that... was when Cynder came!"

"Cynder?" Spyro asked.

"Yes, Cynder. She was ruthless, cunning, and the strongest foe we have ever face. She wields Malefor's black magic and has the power to match the Guardians. We came close to defeating her, one day. However, reinforcements arrived for her; the disgraced Dragon Elder, Red, and the Sorcerer, Sirorrialth. They cast a spell to seal Dragons in crystal prisons. Only I, Ignitus, was able to escape. Ashamed, I left my allies behind. There are people in the lands of Avalar who do their best to stop the Dark Armies. However, their strength is not enough to defeat Malefor and his commanders. There are even some who have given up the war..." Ignitus finished sadly.

"That's terrible... but what does it have to do with Spyro?" Elora asked.

"Well, a Purple Dragon is exceedingly rare and powerful, with only one other known to have existed. Only the Purple Dragon can master all six elements, unlock the deepest secrets of dragons and have the power to stop the Dark Master. You."

"'You' means him?" Sparx asked.

"Me? That... that can't be true..." Spyro said, confused.

"Yeah, I think you might have mixed that one up," Sparx agreed. "That's... a bit of a stretch."

"I know it must seem much," Ignitus admitted. "I do not mean to place any pressure on you, Spyro; especially when you're still very young, and clearly new to all this. Besides, the prophecies never foretold the destruction this war would bring us."

"Well, those monsters took my parents, and Elora's," Spyro said after some thought. "And they destroyed the home I grew up in. And now they threaten my other home; where I came from. They must be stopped."

"What, are you crazy?!" Sparx said, stunned. "If these Guardians couldn't stop these 'Dark Armies', what hope do you have?"

"He is right; it's not so simple, Spyro," Ignitus agreed.

"Well, I'd rather try and fail than not try at all," Spyro said fiercely. "Besides, what other choice do I have?" he added quietly. "Plus, I like to help other creatures; I've helped many in the swamp, and I don't feel right not helping you now..."

Ignitus gazed into Spyro's eyes for a long moment. He seemed to be thinking about something.

"Those dragonflies have raised you well," he said at last. "I suppose you deserve to know your beginning, before it all ends."

"You don't know that," Elora said.

"You're right, I don't know," Ignitus admitted. "Come, Spyro. You two should probably stay here," he added to Elora and Sparx.

"Seems reasonable," Sparx said.

"Uh-uh, no way!" Elora said firmly. "Spyro's our brother; we stick together, no matter what. Either we come with Spyro, or none of us come with you."

"Hey, hey Elora! You heard what that Dragon Guy said!" Sparx protested. "About war and people dying… Seriously, this is bad stuff!"

"Sparx, our parents have been captured, and it could've been us if Ignitus didn't come," Elora argued.

"Well... can't argue with that," Sparx said.

Ignitus sighed, realizing he couldn't argue with them. "Very well, I guess you two should come along, but once you get involved, there is no turning back..."

"Well like I said, I don't think we have much choice now," Spyro said. "Those Apes will be after all of us."

"All right then, follow me." Ignitus turned and began to walk off through the cavern. Spyro and Elora followed.

"Why does it seem I'm the only one with common sense?" Sparx asked himself, before he too followed.

And so it begins...