A/N: Only Sapia and the Professor's name belong to me. Also, many thanks to EquinoxWolf for the constructive criticism regarding choice of words and how the story here is paced.
Chapter 3: Training
Ignitus led the children through the cavern. Everything that the guardian had told them spun circles in Spryo's mind, filling him with excitement and dreading nerves at the same time. He was going back to where he came from, but as Ignitus had warned; it wouldn't be a pleasant return.
"Where are we going, Sir?" Elora asked.
"A safe haven, where I have gathered a few allies," Ignitus replied. "And it's no need for 'sir', Miss... Elora, is it?"
"That's right," the faun replied. "The dragonfly is Sparx."
"Ah, yes. As I was saying, there is no need for formalities. You may address me as Ignitus if you wish."
He said no more until they came to a pair of doors. Torches stood on either side, both cold and empty. Ignitus took a deep breath in and exhaled flame into their chambers, igniting a strange-smelling fuel inside. The torches grew hot quickly, filling the area with light. After a short wait, the doors slid open.
"The torches only burn with a dragon's fire," Ignitus explained. "This prevents the Apes getting in, should they find this place."
"Nice," Spyro commented.
"Thank you, Spyro," Ignitus said as the four stepped inside. The doors sealed shut behind them on their own. As their group entered the underground haven, Spyro, Elora and Sparx noticed that the walls were well-polished. Steel shafts ran along the ceiling, reaching overhead like the branches of the swamp's canopy. They soon passed a glass pane which showed them a large room with heavy bookcases and strange machinery.
"Wow... Look at those books and stuff," Spyro said, looking through the glass in wonder.
Sparx looked at the machinery. "So what's with this thingamajig?"
"My friend, Professor Mendelcomb, loves to tinker and create amazing new inventions," Ignitus explained.
"Professor Mendelcomb?" Spyro asked, curious.
"He's a mole who, before the war, was the Head Scientist of Avalar," Ignitus replied. "You see, Spyro; our society is built on a combination of magic and science. Whereas many civilizations prefer one of the other, we study both to gain a deeper understanding of our world."
Ignitus realized he had the children's enamoured attention.
"And with the Professor's research, it is possible to create a bright future for our world. Alas, there are some who want to use that research for sinister purposes."
"I assume those Apes and their cronies," Elora said.
"Yes. Among others… Anyway, I think you should meet the Professor for yourselves. We will all be spending a lot of time together, after all."
Ignitus led the trio to a door. He knocked on it gently.
"Who is it? I'm in the middle of something," a squeaky voice answered.
"It's me, Professor Mendelcomb; Ignitus, I have returned with three allies."
"Oh? That's lovely, Ignitus. Unfortunately I have my hands full right now. I will meet them later at supper, I promise."
Ignitus sniffed, hardly looking surprised. "Certainly you could spare five minutes? You might be very interested to meet these children. One of them is the purple dragon."
There was the sound of shattering glass as someone ran to the door and opened it. There stood Professor Mendelcomb, a small mole shorter than Elora, with a white lab coat, black pants and shoes and wearing glasses over his tiny eyes.
"My word, a purple dragon, you said?"
"Yes," Spyro said, moving forwards. "I'm Spyro; these are my adopted siblings: Elora and Sparx."
"Hello." "Hi."
"Wow!" the Professor said, his tiny eyes wide in awe. "The rare purple dragon, as I live and breathe."
"Yes. Very interesting..." The Professor moved closer to inspect Spyro. The purple dragon felt very uneasy with his personal space being encroached.
"Uh, Professor… Could you please take a step back, if you don't mind?" Spyro asked.
"Oh, sorry. I've just never seen a purple dragon before. Tell me, what elements have you mastered so far?"
"None," Spyro said. "I've only just started using fire."
"Ah, yes, fire," the Professor said. "The first element ever to be mastered by dragon kind."
"Spyro is relatively new to our ways, Professor," Ignitus explained. "He was raised by dragonflies. Would you mind helping me to demonstrate the basics to him?"
"Oh, of course, Ignitus," the Professor smiled.
"What about us?" Elora asked as they began leading Spyro away.
"It will be better if the Professor and I work with Spyro alone. Elemental training can be dangerous until young dragons learn proper control," Ignitus said regretfully. He then noticed something behind her. "However, there is someone nearby who you might like to meet, Elora."
"Really, who?"
Just then, they heard the sound of approaching hooves. Elora turned as another faun raced toward them. She was older than Elora, closer to her parents' age. The faun had soft brown eyes, black hair and grey fur, clad in light combat armour. A crossbow was slung across her back, appearing well-used.
"Ah, Ignitus, you're back," the faun greeted. "I've wanted to speak to you; some of our troops are getting restless. We really should think about making some kind of move before long, and-"
She stopped, her eyes on Elora, who was also surprised to see another faun here.
"Hello, who do we have here?"
"I'm... I'm Elora."
"Hang on... I remember you. Little Elora! You were just a baby when I saw you last; where are your parents, Cleem and Shabae?"
"...they were captured," Elora said, her eyes downcast.
"Oh no, I'm sorry to hear..." the faun said.
"It's all right..." Elora responded, trying to sound upbeat but convincing no one. "But who are you?"
"I am Sapia," the faun replied. "I'm the Commander of the Archery Division. Your parents were friends of mine before they fled our homeland. At least you're alright, kid. And I promise you; when I find the monsters who took your parents, they will pay for it."
Elora managed a true smile. "Thanks, Sapia. That is reassuring."
"Hey, don't forget us! My and Spyro's parents were captured too," Sparx complained. Sapia noticed him and Spyro for the first time.
"Sorry about my brother. My name's Spyro and this is my brother Sparx," Spyro said. "Elora is our adopted sister."
"A purple dragon," Sapia said, her eyes marvelling Spyro. "Looks like there could be hope for us, yet."
"Yes, indeed," Ignitus said. "Now, if you'll excuse us, Sapia; the Professor and I have some training planned for Spyro."
"Ah, yes," Elora said. "I'll go off with Sapia, if that's alright?"
"Of course, it is," Sapia said, grinning. "I might be able to teach you some things myself."
"Oh, I almost forgot," Elora added. She took off her backpack, and drew out the pink gem. "I believe this could help you guys. I know it belongs to Dragons; how could it help you guys, Ignitus?"
"A Spirit Gem!" The Professor gaped.
"You know what it is?" Elora asked.
"Why yes! Spirit Gems are highly valuable and are used by dragons to bolster their power and abilities," The Professor said.
"Huh, that explains why I'm drawn to it," Spyro said. "But how will it help?"
"You will see," Ignitus said. "Thank you, Elora. I do believe this will be of great help to Spyro."
Elora beamed, gladdened that her treasure could be useful. She handed the Spirit Gem to the Professor. As much as she and Sparx wanted to see what they would do, Ignitus still denied them from tagging along. They resigned to following Sapia in the other direction, stealing one last glance at Spryo before he disappeared around the corner.
"Okay, Spyro," The Professor once they arrived in the dojo. "Before we begin, let us quickly review the situation so that we are all on the same page."
Spyro nodded, though from standing next to Ignitus he had doubts about how much he actually knew.
"As the war currently stands, we have been driven into a corner by Cynder's armies. Most of the land is now under her iron rule. The other Guardians are being held as her prisoners. Some among our forces are losing hope. But with you here, that could all change."
"Before we begin, are you sure you want to do this, Spyro?" Ignitus said.
"I'm not sure, honestly," Spyro admitted. "But I want to try… for my parents and my home."
"Then I suppose that is enough for now. Let's begin."
"Of course," the Professor said. "Let us run through your current skills, Spryo. You already have some experienced how to tap into your first element, though you lack conscious control over fire. You also have some fundamental training in close-quarters combat, correct?"
"The swamp I live in is full of dangerous creatures," Spyro said. "Since I can't hide in small spaces like the rest of my family, my parents thought it best that I learned how to fight back."
"Understandable," Ignitus said. "But in order to combat Cynder and her armies, you're going to need to learn a lot more than clawing at frogweeds."
"Indeed," The Professor said frowning softly.
"Now it's time for your first lesson. Here, we will unleash the true dragon within you," Ignitus said. "We will begin with controlling your flames. As you are aware, I am master of fire. With practice, you can be, as well."
Ignitus and the Professor spent a few minutes setting up targets in front of Spyro. Afterwards, Ignitus instructed him on how to draw from his element. Spyro took a deep breath and let out fire from his mouth on the first target.
Of course, having only using fire twice, Spyro had not yet learned fine control. As a result, the flame he unleashed surged into a wild plume. In seconds, four targets were ablaze. He had only meant to burn one of them.
"Oops," Spyro said, feeling he had screwed up badly. Now he was glad Elora and Sparx weren't here to watch.
"Not to worry," The Professor said, as he retrieved a fire extinguisher and sprayed ice-imbued gas on the targets. "Few get it right first time. Try again."
"Calm your mind, Spyro," Ignitus said. "Narrow your lips to control your output and direction. Focus solely on each target and fire, if you'll pardon the play on words."
Spyro took a slow, deep breath in, and then released, gazing at the target in front of them. He kept his mouth closed, only parting the very tip under his nose. Spyro inhaled and shot fire at the target. This time, he managed to hit it without burning the others. With his breath now focused, the blast sent the target flying backwards.
"Hey, I did it!" Spyro said, cheered.
"Well done, young dragon," Ignitus said proudly.
"Sorry if I made it fly-"
"No, don't worry," The Professor said. "That happens all the time. In fact, it's the sort of result you would want during battle. Please continue."
Spyro did so, remembering Ignitus' advice, and focusing on one target at a time. His fire blasts hit their mark each time.
"Very good, Spyro," Ignitus praised. "You now have the basics of fire-breathing. Now, it's time to learn how to hit moving targets."
This time, dummies that looked a lot like the Apes appeared in the training space. They moved on their own, swinging their wooden arms threateningly. "You need to hold your own in a fight against the Apes. For this exercise, you must defeat all of the enchanted dummies."
"Got it! Bring it on!"
Spyro charged at one of the dummies. Perched on top of it, he breathed fire on another one. The dummies fought harder than expected and Spyro got hit by one of their fists. Reeling from the blow, the dragon recovered and tail whipped a dummy in the face. Another got behind him and grabbed Spryo in a half-nelson.
"You need to think your way out," Ignitus said. "Wits are important too."
Spyro struggled against the dummy's arms, but its hold was too strong. Another dummy advanced on Spryo, looking ready to pummel him from the front. Desperately, Spryo tried to think of a way out. Then he realized that his tail was free. He used it to jab the dummy holding him in the leg. This caused the dummy to stumble, releasing its hold. Spyro kicked the other dummy away and breathed fire at his former captor.
"Very good, Spyro. Now, try knocking an enemy into the air. It's wise to know when and where to use your Fire Breath."
Spyro charged at the nearest dummy, ducked his head down and butted it with his horns, sending it flying.
"Excellent! When an enemy has been knocked into the air, they are open to a follow-up attack. Use your wings to lift yourself up and then strike!"
Spyro butted the next dummy into the air. Straight away, he jumped up and slashed, whipped and head-butted the dummy over and over. It collapsed to the floor, broken into pieces.
"Now, angle yourself downward for a horn dive!"
Spyro dived at a dummy, managing to knock it into the dummies behind it.
"Excellent! Remember chain attacks together! Mix them up. Keep your opponents guessing," Ignitus coached, his voice sounding more proud by the minute.
Spyro ran at the remaining dummies. One, he whipped with his tail. Two more he knocked into the air, struck again mid-flight, and then head-butted into the others. To finish up, he torched them all with fire.
"Well done, young dragon," Ignitus laughed. The dummies fell silent across the dojo, unmoving as the Professor extinguished their burning limbs.
"Thanks," Spyro said, panting. "But I feel out of breath. I... I'm not sure I can continue, even though I want to."
"Then, I guess it's time you used this," The Professor said, holding up Elora's Spirit Gem.
"So what do I do?"
"You smash it, basically." The Professor set it down on the ground.
"You sure? Elora might not like that."
"I don't think she'll complain; she wanted you to use it."
"Okay, then." Spyro approached the Gem and struck at it with his paw. The Gem shattered on contact into several smaller Gems. Their colours differed from the original gem; shining red, green, blue, and purple. The smaller gems absorbed into Spyro's body. The moment they did, Spyro suddenly felt an incredible heat flow inside him.
"Whoa, what was that?!" Spyro asked, shuddering.
"The Spirit Gems contain the power of our ancestors. They are used to give dragons great strength and replenish their energy," Ignitus explained.
"It feels like I have the power of a thousand suns inside me," Spyro said, feeling the power surging him.
"It is a remarkable feeling," Ignitus agreed. "Your capacity to wield fire should increase significantly. But be careful; such power can be dangerous and destructive if used incorrectly. More than one fire dragon has harmed loved ones through their own carelessness."
"Right, of course," Spyro agreed, suddenly aware of the danger he could pose to his siblings.
"Do not misunderstand, Spryo. I advise you exercise caution, but there is no need for you to fear your abilities. As long as you use your flames responsibly then only your enemies should worry." Studying the young dragon's response, Ignitus then called upon more dummies to replace the old ones. "That will suffice for a break. Let us continue now."
Meanwhile, Elora had been taken to the shooting range by Sapia.
"This is where we do target practice," the elder faun explained. "Archery requires practice, focus and patience. In battle, you often only get one shot. So we train here every day to make sure that shot always counts."
"Are you gonna teach me how to use a bow, Sapia?" Elora asked.
"Only if you want to, dear."
"Yes, but how will it help me? Those Apes all have armour. A few arrows couldn't do that much damage, could they?"
"Most foot soldiers only wear light armour; and you'd be surprised how deep an arrow can puncture steel plating. A bow is a powerful weapon for fighting your enemies from a distance. It can give you a huge advantage if you know what you're doing" Sapia explain. "Not to mention, using a bow to hunt is a valuable survival skill, as well."
"Okay then," Elora replied, intrigued. "I guess I can try that."
Sapia handed Elora a bow and quiver of arrows. She also handed her a leather brace that was meant to fit over Elora's forearm. It would protect her flesh from the snap of the bowstring upon shooting.
"You seem a little apprehensive."
"Well, I am new to this. I hope I don't hit someone."
"You won't. We have the whole range to ourselves, and people only walk out to retrieve arrows when everyone's finished." As Elora relaxed more, Sapia turned her towards the range. She tugged around at Elora's arms and legs, positioning them into a proper shooting stance. "Okay. Now, set an arrow into the string of the bow..."
Elora did as told, discovering that each arrow had a thin slit at the back end that held onto the bowstring.
"Then pull the bowstring using the muscles in your shoulders and back. And when you shoot, hold your breath just before you let the arrow loose, otherwise it'll mess up your aim."
"Okay then."
Elora took aim and fired, but she missed her target and the arrow hit the wall.
"Oh man!"
"Try again. Practice makes perfect."
Elora drew the bow again. This time, her next arrow hit the outside of the target.
"Hey, you actually hit the target this time," Sapia praised. "Not bad for a first-timer. Keep working at it and you might be able to get a bulls-eye in no time!"
"Thanks, Sapia." Elora then took another handful of arrows. After three more attempts, she got lucky and landed a bulls-eye.
"Yes!" Elora shouted.
"Well done, Elora!" Sapia said proudly. "See if you can keep it up."
She couldn't get as close to the target's centre during her next few attempts. Still, with at least one under her belt, Elora was determined to get another. It took half an hour and several dozen arrows before she scored a perfect shot. Over that time, Elora's general accuracy had improved. Within another hour, it became easier to hit the centre of target. After managing a few more bull's eyes, Elora then turned to her instructor.
"Sapia?"
"Yes, Elora?"
"What else could I learn to fight with?"
"Hmmmm, the bow will only give you an edge from a distance," Sapia pondered. "How good are you in melee combat?"
"Well, my dad taught me how to fight with my hooves and fists, but I'm not much of an expert. What I really want to be able to help my brothers; and my parents."
"A good kick to the ribs will knock any Ape onto his backside, but taking them on with your bare hands is a poor way to fight a battle. How about a sword? Or a spear?"
"I think I'll pick the sword."
Approving, Sapia went to the armoury and picked out a sword for Elora to use. It was short and light, ideal for Elora's size.
"There you go; this will help you fight off the Apes and Dark Armies. Now, there's more to swords than just hacking at your enemies, so I'll teach you the basics and we'll work from there."
Like with archery, Elora took to sword-fighting without too much trouble. Sapia warned her not to get overconfident, as no one became an expert overnight and cockiness would surely get her hurt or worse. After learning the basics of sword-fighting, Elora alternated between drills with her bow and sword. This way, she reasoned, she could improve on both skills at the same time.
Meanwhile, Spyro continued to practice with his fire-breathing. Ignitus taught him several new techniques, including how to produce flames from other parts of his body and how to unleash a Fire Fury. The training wore him out, but fortunately the Professor provided enough gems to revitalize Spryo's strength.
After several hours, Ignitus called an end to it all. "You have done well today. It is time for you three to get some rest," he said to Spyro, Elora and Sparx when they rejoined each other. Spyro and Elora were exhausted and so very welcoming of the idea to rest. "We've got a long day tomorrow."
The three siblings were given a small but comfortable room with two sleeping mats laid across the floor. Ignitus lit a few torches for them, filling the space with warmth.
"Sleep well," he said. "And... well done for today, Spyro. You as well, Elora. You have given me hope again. Thank you."
"No problem, Ignitus," Spyro said. He was looking very confident now. "Good night."
Ignitus left, closing the door gently behind them.
"You seem confident all of a sudden, bro," Sparx noted, as he settled onto one of the pillows.
"Yeah, well, I've done very well today," Spyro said. "I was nervous at first, but it seems I'm something of a natural."
"Me too, I suppose," Elora said, as she settled onto the other bed. "But we shouldn't get careless. This is our first day actually training to fight Apes. Taking them on for real is going to be a lot tougher."
"I know, I know," Spyro said. "But if we continue at the rate we did today, we could have a chance of rescuing our parents."
"Oh, I hope they're alright," Elora said, worried. "I can't stand the idea of them being held captive. I really hope they're not being tortured or anything like that."
Spyro saw her concern, and his smile faded. "Yeah, me too. If those Apes have done anything to them, they will pay." Even if Flash and Nina weren't his biological parents, they had raised him from an egg and had treated him with all the love they could. His anger towards the Apes was evident, and Sparx shuddered.
"Please don't torch me," he whispered. Spyro chuckled, almost in spite of himself, his mood lightening.
"Oh, don't worry, Sparx. I'd never torch you, even if you wanted me to."
"Why would I want you to torch me?!"
Elora laughed. "Alright, that's enough, you two. Let's get some sleep."
Spyro yawned at that moment, which told him his sister was right. He climbed onto the same bed as Sparx and curled up, folding his yellow wings to his sides and laying his head on the pillow. Elora moved over and lay her head down against Spyro's flank, while Sparx rested against Spyro's cheek. This sleeping position was something they'd often adopted during their nights in the Swamp when they slept. Despite his hard scales, Spyro made for a comfortable pillow.
Tukekar Ghostwind was fuming. His men had failed to find either the purple dragon or the Dragon Guardian. He now had to report to Gaul, leader of all the Apes, and one of the generals of the Dark Armies.
"Oh man, the boss isn't going to like this," Tukekar groaned, as he wondered through their hideout at the Mountain of Malefor, the Dark Master's stronghold. Soon, he reached Gaul's main chamber, which sat at the heart of the fortress. The Ape Leader was waiting for him.
Gaul was massive and intimidating, with his face covered in warts and scars, and one eye replaced by a green jewel. Both that and the real eye glinting in a demented manner. He wore dark purple armour, a horned helmet, and carried a pair of scimitar swords on his back. In his hand, Gaul held a long Elemental Staff.
"Well, Commander Tukekar, did you capture the Dragon Guardian?" Gaul growled.
"No, sir but we have captured two dragonflies and two fauns. We also discovered that the purple dragon was among them," Tukekar said.
"The purple dragon? It lives?!" Gaul growled angrily. "So you tell me that you brought me a couple of gnats and a pair of goats, but you failed to capture not just one dragon but another that should have been dead years ago?!"
"Sir, my men are searching everywhere. They won't rest until they're found. We believe there may be some kind of hidden base or refuge, which is why we haven't found Ignitus or that mole Professor yet. But those dragonflies are, we've learned, the adopted parents of the purple dragon. The two fauns are also close to the purple dragon, as well."
Gaul thought for a moment, stroking his beard. They could use this to their advantage. "No doubt, the purple dragon will want to find them, so he should show himself again soon. Put out a bounty on both him and Ignitus; the highest possible reward for their capture."
"Yes, sir!" Tukekar said, saluting.
"And make sure the people are willing to comply. Tell them that failure to report sightings will be severely punished."
"Yes, sir!" Tukekar said, with a smile that revealed yellowed, broken teeth. "What shall I do with the parents?"
"Have them put to work in one of the camps. Have Red oversee them. And be sure that no serious harm comes to either the dragonflies or the fauns. We need our bait fresh and well."
"Yes, sir!" Tukekar hurried off to give out Gaul's orders. Just then, another figure approached Gaul; a large, lithe black dragoness with green eyes, a ruby underbelly and wing membranes, three white curved horns on either side of her head, and bracers on her neck and wrists. There were blades on the end of her tail and the carpals of her large wings and tattoos on her forehead, back and shoulders.
"Gaul, the energy crystals are ready for use. Shall I begin extracting the Guardians' powers?" Her voice was smooth, almost seductive, and oozing with menace.
"Of course, my dear. We'll need to act quickly, so that the purple dragon does not interfere with our plans," Gaul said.
"Don't worry, Gaul; if that dragon dares to poke his snout in where it doesn't belong, he'll have me to answer to," hissed Cynder, the Terror of the Skies.