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Chapter 16: Lava Fire and Glacier Ice worlds
The Four Brave Dragons proceeded to split up into duo's as they decided to enter the two worlds of the Autumn Plains to start their journey through the beautiful second World of Avalar. Spyro, and Cynder, went to Crystal Glacier, while Flame, and Ember, went to Skelos Badlands together. While Elora got to choose whether to follow Spyro, and Cynder, or Flame, and Ember.
Elora ended up going with Spyro, and Cynder.
Before they would go to the worlds though, Cynder, and Ember, was interacting with one of the fallen branches from one of the trees of Autumn Plains. Much to Elora's curiosity.
"What are you doing?" Elora asked.
"I'm trying to see if we can make ourselves a pair of wands out of one of these trees." Cynder responded. "I'm ready to fight like a sorceress, even with my dark magic."
"And I'm ready to fight like a Dream Weaver wizardess too. It seems like now is the right time to do this." Ember said.
Elora was smiling at the sight, feeling that when Cynder said that she was going to shed her fear of using her dark magic, she was being serious. And Elora was feeling proud of her for that, considering that she was brave in doing so.
And she felt curious about what Ember herself could do with her own magic in combat, when she fights alongside Flame, in Skelos Badlands. Since she never saw a Dream Weaver fight, and cast spells before.
"Why do you both need wands though? Can't either of you cast spells, or fight pretty well without them?" Elora asked.
"We can, but we need these wands to help focus our magic through them. Which should make our spells, hex's and curses, stronger." Ember said. "At least in Cynder's case for the latter two. Which I'm sure she might enjoy later on."
"Especially when I cast these against our foes that's on Ripto's side. Especially those that are merciless, and remorseless in what bad things they do." Cynder said, as she was carving a shape out of the soon to be wand.
While Elora was feeling a bit interested in seeing how Cynder would preform in casting her dark spells like with Crush, since she's now willing, and since she has a wand being made from one of the tree branches, and a Gem that they were tying to their sticks.
Meanwhile, Spyro, and Flame trotted, and looked around at the portals that they were going to enter once they were ready, noticing that there was four of them that they could enter on the ground level of the Autumn Plains. (Not counting the doorway next to the Gazebo, that was part of the Manor, that they learned leads to the Metro Speedway portal. Which could be reached by the now reactivated Whirlwind due to the Orbs they carried.)
And that one of them was inactive, leaving only an arch under the Gazebo's ceiling, where the portal should be. Which did leave them wondering why it was inactive, and how many Orbs they might need to open it back up again.
As well as where the portal is going to take them.
"Legend has it, that there's a Portal to Zephyr here." Moneybags said, coming out of nowhere, startling both dragons. "Legend also has it, that I know how to activate it." Moneybags said.
"I thought that the Orbs were used to reactivate Portals." Flame said annoyed.
"Why you are correct. But I know of another way. Furthermore, as I recall, the legend says that I can activate it, for a small fee. What do you say?" He asked.
Which had both dragons annoyed at him for asking for a 'small fee' that they were sure, wasn't going to be small. But unlike the other times that he asked for such, they had ways to avoid doing it, it seemed that in this case, they had nothing else that they could do to avoid doing the pay. And that fact, left them wanting to face palm themselves in disappointment.
"How much?" Spyro asked.
"Just 400 Gems. And don't worry, I'm sure that there's the same amount, or more than that many in Zephyr." He then said, trying not to giggle at how he might finally get their Gems for once.
Spyro and Flame felt that Moneybags had a point there. After all, they kept on gaining Gems throughout their journey throughout Avalar's worlds back in Summer Forest. So what's gonna be different about Zephyr when it comes to collecting the Gems?
Sure they were gonna go to Zephyr later, after they were done with Skelos Badlands, and Crystal Glacier, so they could pay him later, or wait until they could open it up another way, or pay Moneybags, or see if Elora is going to force him to open the Portal.
But they'd rather have no roadblocks when they get around to going to Zephyr. And they doubt that he'd be willing to obey her. So as much as they didn't want to, they decided to pay him those 400 Gems.
Much to his slight surprise, and delight. "Thank you Spyro, and Flame, is it? With all this, I can open a Lizard Burger shop in the Skelos Badlands. You all may now enter the portal whenever you want." He said, collecting the Gems into his own bag.
As long as it could sate his greed for now, and have him leaving them alone when it comes to the Gems, then they're fine with that.
After Moneybags left, they saw that he kept his word, and opened the Portal, that sure enough, lead to Zephyr. They planned on visiting that place later on when they were done with the worlds that they were going to.
For now though, they reunited with Cynder, Ember, and Elora, as they all wondered what both of them were doing.
Only to then see that they were making wands for each other, with Ember, and Cynder now holding the finished wands that had a red Gem on Ember's, and a purple one on Cynder's wand. Possibly as tribute to both dragons, considering the color of their scales.
"Nice wands." Flame said.
"Why thank you Flame. We made them ourselves." Ember said, smiling at both dragons.
"And now we can fight well with them. Hope neither of you mind any magical support." Cynder said, now holding hers in her paw.
"Not at all." Spyro said.
All while Elora noticed how annoyed both Flame and Spyro was when they walked back to them. "What happened?"
Spyro was deadpan at the question, as well as a little embarrassed. "I don't wanna talk about it. Let's just say that we had to clear a road block to Zephyr. And with Gems at that." He said. Much to both Ember's, and Cynder's dismay.
"For now though, why don't we just get those two worlds out of our way, before we go to the next two. At least, after we have some fun in the next Speedway that we're going to." Flame said.
The rest of the group agreed. As they all decided to go to the first two worlds, while Elora followed Spyro and Cynder to Crystal Glacier.
And that would be before a certain Cheetah would enter the Autumn Plains, and get challenged by another cheetah.
Both Ember and Flame went into the Skelos Badlands, expecting that it'd be hot in there. Which, is not that far off for them in the Skelos Badlands.
Before both Flame and Ember got to Skelos Badlands, it was pretty peaceful at first glance. At least, considering the fact that it was a lava world that had plenty of other creatures that the cave men fought against in the Realm in Avalar.
It was in the section of the Skelos Badlands, where there was a cave man that was currently getting done with the hut that looked like it was made from dried, hardened mud, stone, and bones that looked to be from a large dinosaur. He happened to have a large bone headdress that was keeping his curled hair in place on his head, and he happened to be wearing a sleeveless cloth that was made off of a pelt of some sort of creature, which was under a coat that also seemed to be made from a pelt.
He was putting finishing touches on a hut while in the view of a Pterodactyl-like cat bat that was watching him.
As the cave man finished on his hut, another creature appeared, whom happened to be made out of lava, as his head was surrounded by flames that covered his head, while his torso happened to be wrapped in dark gray cloth that gave him a Wizard-like appearance. While he also had a pair of floating hands that was unattached to his body, and yet they were responding to his movements. And he happened to have some lava rocks that was floating on the ground. And he was either standing on them, or they were his feet.
Then he snuck behind the cave man, before he then sneakily put his hand behind the cave man's buttocks, before letting out a little fire that touched the cave man's buttocks. Now he was yelling around as the Fire Wizard laughed at the scene in front of him.
And the cat bat ended up chasing the cave man as he ran around yelling due to his buttocks burning up, until he inadvertently ended up running towards the cliff that had lava under the mountainous island of Skelos Badlands. All while the cat bat ended up catching him by the bone. When he noticed, he gave the cat-bat a thumb up for the save.
Only for the cat bat to drop him, before laughing at what it did with no remorse, while another cave man watched the whole thing nervously.
Only for the cat bat to end up noticing him, before chasing him too, right around the time that Ember, and Flame arrived.
Where they ended up seeing what the Skelos Badlands looked like. And they quickly felt nervous of the lava streams. But at least they were on stable ground as they looked around at their surroundings. Seeing that they are seeing some bone huts, as well as bone arches that bended inwards to lead them to the main area of the beginning of the badlands, where they saw a giant open jawed skull of what could be a large creature that might've ruled the Badlands, a dozen years ago. They were both transfixed at the sight of that skull, but they continued to look around.
To then see that they were in what looks like a prehistoric Realm that had them looking like they were on a mountain that was holding them up over the lava, while there was another mountain near the one they were on, that had plenty of huts around that was made out of bones of the dinosaurs, as well as stone, and was built sorta like a city of cave men. There was also some vehicles that neither dragon saw before. Like some cars that looked like they were made out of sticks, and logs, for the body, while they also had some pelts, and cloth, that could protect them from the rain, and some stone cylinders that worked as wheels to roll them along with.
And there was dinosaurs that was in the city, like the Brontosaurs that were used as power shovels against the large mountain tunnels for mining, while there were others that were used as rail road stoppers, large birds were used as hedge trimmers, mammoths were used as showers, triceratops were used as pack mules, like for a golfing game, while some deinosuchus's of various sizes, were used for punching tickets, can opening, and mowing lawns, etc. While there was plenty of carpenter fishes that was used for sawing trees and branches. There was plenty of dinosaurs that was being used for something that an appliance would do.
And both dragons were interested in taking a tour through the city, once they dealt with Ripto, and once they're able to go back to the dragon realms.
They then noticed a cave man near them that flagged them to him. "You must be a pair of dragons. I hear you're both pretty tough." He said.
After all they've gone through against Gnasty, and what they're going through against Ripto, both dragons felt that whoever told the cave man in front of them that, might not be off the mark when it came to them.
"You can say that." Flame said, with Ember in agreement.
"That's good. I bet my cousin Glug that both of you can't make it through the Badlands without getting charred. Not to say that I'm betting against you guys, just my cousin. Oh, my name's Gronk by the way, and we might have a situation over there in a few minutes." The cave man known as Gronk said, gesturing to the city on the other mountainous island.
As shocked, and offended as they were at the cave man betting that they'd get charred, they were wondering what was going to happen to the prehistoric city. So they asked Gronk about what was going on.
"We're about to get invaded by lava lizards, and they're going to eat us all. That's why we might need some help. If you're both interested in helping us, we'll make it worth your while." Gronk said. "My friend Lumpy is over there. He'll lower the bridge for you both to cross."
Both dragons were still feeling a little peeved towards Gronk for thinking they'd fail. But they didn't want to leave the city to its fate of getting terrorized by the lava lizards, whom they swear, was sent to that place by Ripto.
So after saying yes, they proceeded onwards through the badlands, while taking down the cat bats that was chasing after the other cave men that thanked them for the help, as well as taking down the Fire Wizards with their charging horns, and their Earth breath. While Ember casted some mind trick spells that caused the cat bats to turn against the Fire Wizards, or vice versa. Which lead to some amusing moments of the Wizards either burning the cat bats, or the cat bats firing their fiery hairballs at the Fire Wizards.
All while Ember kept her hold on the wand, either in her bag's holster when she trots, or in her teeth when she sprints, and is chasing someone.
Although Flame got burned by one of them when the Fire Wizard's head exploded after getting knocked off. And the fire happened to be as hot as lava to where it hurt, and changed Sira's colors to blue. Which gave both dragons a lesson to keep their distance from the heads when they get knocked off of the Fire Wizards.
Either way, they gained butterflies from some lizards that they burned along the way through the badlands to feed Sira with, putting her back into her cerise pink colors.
"You've both made it! I'm guessing that Gronk has told you both the news of our impending invasion by lava lizards?" Lumpy asked. Receiving nods from the dragon pair in return.
"Great! But there's something else you should all know. There are other bad creatures that are trying to eat us. Like white Jaguars, as well as panthers, and saber toothed wolves. We're sure that they'd be too focused on us to fight you both though, so your worries should only be on saving my friends in this city." He said. "Let me lower the bridge so you both can cross it."
The bridge, which looked like a hanging path of planks, ended up unrolling until it reached their side, where it then connected to their side of the chasm. Causing them to take it to the other side. Where they saw that there was a bunch of eggs of what seems to be lava lizards loitering the streets. Not only that, but there was cages that held the aforementioned white jaguars that had black circlets on their fur. While the panthers were merely black furred. And they were threatening to break out of the cages that was being held back by some riptocs, which as both dragons knew, were minions of Ripto's.
So they were bracing themselves for what could be Ripto's most determined attempt at taking a Realm of Avalar under his control, as well as the numbers of jaguars, and panthers, that they would need to take down.
Once they were at the city though, they saw that there was some cave men with some spears, slingshots, and even some bows and arrows, while some rode on triceratopses, and a Macawnivore, who looked like a saber-toothed tiger with some colors of a parrot. And one of them was drinking a potion that suddenly caused him to expand in the size of his muscles, making him a violet blue skinned monster. It seemed that they were aware of the invasion, and was preparing themselves to fight back when they saw the dragons.
"Look! Our saviors are here! Now this battle is going to be won!" One of them said confidently. With the rest yelling in agreement. While the monster cave man roared in approval of their presence.
While both Ember, and Flame was feeling flattered at their words. (And thankful that the monster was on their side. He looked like he could stand toe to toe against a Peace Keeper if he wasn't.) It seemed that they were getting some allies in their battle against Ripto's forces in Skelos Badlands.
"Nice to meet you guys too!" Flame called back.
"Thanks. Now, let's listen up! Ripto has sent these creatures at us to force us to bend our knees to him, or die! Well I say to that, we'll fight until we die, or kick your minion's tails out of our Badlands! You hear me Ripto? You've picked the wrong Realm to invade!" The leading cave man said loudly.
The rest of the cave men agreed with a yell of support, with the monster cave man doing the same while raising his fist in the air, while both dragons quickly admired their guts against the Riptocs. They just hoped their strength, and skill with those spears could match them too. (They knew made an educated guess that the monster could be their biggest support though.)
Pretty soon, the eggs were hatching up, before the lava lizards ended up hatched out of the eggs, looking like smaller T rexes, with large pair of teeth sticking out of their underbite, and happened to have a single horn on their heads, and are those small dragon wings on their backs?
As surprised as the dragons were at that, they knew that they couldn't be dragons though, as dragons can't be in Avalar yet.
"They're here! Come on boys!" The leading one said as they ended up fighting against the lava lizards, stabbing them with their spears, while the monster cave man clobbered each and every one of them that was near him, as both dragons assisted them in their fight, with their dragon kata.
While at the same time, the white jaguars, and panthers were let out of the cages, and was now running after the cave men that was defenseless. Only for the fighting ones to protect them on their triceratopses, and Macawnivores. With the monster cave man also joining in on the defending as he clobbered the jaguars, panthers, and wolves too.
They still needed some help from the dragon pairing as there was some of the cave men that was going to get eaten by the jaguars, or panthers, and the lava lizards due to the small fighting regiment of cave men being preoccupied with protecting the city from more of the jaguars and panthers.
Thankfully, the dragons were able to take them down too with their refined Dragon Kata combat. Especially with their Earth powered open palm strikes, and their lightning powered tail whips. And Ember was casting her own spells at them, which in this case, made them more clumsy, and prone to falling on their faces, leading to their demise either from the defending cave men, the dragons chasing them down, or from falling into the lava below their city.
They were all making sure to save as many of the cave men as they can, and save Skelos Badlands from Ripto's forces.
And they were doing a good job at that, even though there was a bunch of close calls of the lava lizards nearly eating up the cave men that cowered to them in hopes they'd live, or tried to run, but was too slow to outrun them, only for the dragons, or the fighting cave men, to save the other ones, much to their relief as they thanked the dragons for the save.
Even the ones that was driving around in the stone wheeled cars were in trouble due to the jaguars, as well as the ones that couldn't get back in their stone houses in time when they got confronted. But the dragons were able to save the guy, before taking down the rest with their breaths, their Dragon Kata, or just charging at them into the lava below.
It was mostly a game of saving the cave men, for Ember and Flame though, since the lava lizards, and the jaguars, and panthers were more focused on eating the cave men then attacking the dragons too, like Lumpy said. Which for Ember, and Flame, was both a disappointment since they don't have any combat with the jaguars to do, along with the wolves, and panthers, but they also felt relieved since they both could've been overwhelmed by them, regardless of their Dragon Kata training. As well as Ember's magic casting.
At least they have their fury attacks that they still have though. But it wasn't a good time to use them yet.
It was at least a couple minutes of fighting to where it felt like an hour, until the last lava lizard was vanquished along with the Jaguars and panthers.
Now the regiment of cave men that fought alongside the dragons were celebrating as they drove off the invasion force, and saved their city. With even the monster cave man beating on his chest in celebration, like a gorilla. And they were proud of the dragons for having lent a hand to them. Even the monster cave man.
"You saved our buddies in this city, alongside ourselves. You both deserve a reward. Take this shiny thing we found to aid your journey." One of the fighting cave men said as he handed the dragons an Orb.
Once the Orb was in the guidebook, they were celebrating the fact that they saved their city along with the dragons, as both dragons smiled at them.
Even though it was short lived as a group of lava lizard eggs were dropped down by some riptocs riding Pterodactyls, before they were hatching in seconds. Much to the chagrin of the fighting cave men as they were ready to lift their spears in defiance again.
But the dragon pair had a different idea, as they ran forward to the now hatched lava lizards. "Might wanna stand back guys. It's about to get dangerous here." Flame said.
The cave men obeyed, as they saw the dragons ready to fight the lava lizards that was now focused on them, ready to destroy the dragons first before the cave men.
But they were about to get surprised. As both Ember, and Flame suddenly floated up in the air, while they were having a glowing green aura around them.
Not only that, but there was also some wind that started to twist around them, as being shown by some of the Badland's sand turning around them, along with some glowing leaves, and some mini tornados that ended up catching the lava lizards, and spun them around while buffeting them with the wind blades. All while the green power started to surround the dragons like a wall of green fire, that continually closed in until it reached the center of the dragons.
Which was when it made plenty of explosive waves that also hurt the lava lizards, along with the tornados, before vanquishing them in the powerful explosion of magic that killed them all, and stopped the second invasion in its tracks.
And its while both dragons were pretty exhausted, but still able to recover, and run, and fight.
The cave men was surprised at what they witnessed, with even the monster cave man looking on in shock, but they were also cheering for the dragons for what they've done.
"You've both saved us from a terrible fate." Lumpy said, approaching the dragons. "Both of you deserve another shiny thing. I was going to use it for a nightlight." He then said, giving them another Orb.
Much to their delight as they nuzzled each other, they both felt that their chances of coming back home with the Orbs was becoming more likely. Even though they wondered if the Orbs could glow in the dark, considering what Lumpy was going to use it for.
But it wasn't an important thing to think about.
"HOT! HOT! HOT!" Flame said as he shook his tongue around after spitting out a lava rock.
The reason being, was that, before they entered the creature's skull, they ended up noticing a froglike creature that was on the nose of the creature's skull. Not only that, but Flame ended up putting a lava rock in his mouth, thinking that it was a jawbreaker candy. Which, he immediately was proven wrong on as he spat it out due to how hot, and spicy it was as he breathed out his ice breath to cool off his tongue with Ember's help. (Whom was trying not to laugh at that scene.) All while the rock he spat out, accidentally hit the froglike creature, killing it, and making it drop something out of its mouth.
Which was a golden bone, that Flame, and Ember decided to collect after Flame's tongue recovered, feeling that the bone could come into use.
The dragons proceeded through the badlands through the cave of the large horned creature's skull after some resting. Where they met, and killed more of the cat bats, and the Fire Wizards that tried to stop them. All while looking at the interior of the dead large horned creature that they were currently running through, wondering what it was that died here.
But it also wasn't an important question to think about.
They just saw a power-up gate that was activated, showing a shield in the middle of between the spires that they were looking at as they ran through the creature's cave. Which looked like a power up that they didn't see before.
"What does that one do Ember?" Flame asked her as she read through the guidebook.
"It says here, that it's an invincibility power-up. It can give us an ability to take hits, and walk on hazardous places, like lava, or ooze." Ember responded.
"Really? That's great! But what're we going to grab in there, other than the Gems?" Flame asked, noting that there was two baskets full of Gems inside.
A sound of a bone being chomped gave him the answer, as he noticed that there was also another froglike creature with another bone in its mouth. Which he decided to kill after using the invincibility gate while Ember got the Gems, before quickly grabbing the bone before it could fall in the lava.
After that, they got out of the room, then noticed an open cave that lead to a mountainside, where a cat bat tried to shoot its fireball at them. And succeeding on Flame, as his dragonfly turned blue again. Angering Ember, who shot it with her fire ball in revenge. Before noticing that there was another froglike creature with another bone.
After taking it out, getting the bone, and the Gems in the process, they continued onwards through the cave, taking down the other Fire Wizards.
Where they then noticed a bone fence, and heard another bone chomping sound. Telling them that another froglike creature had another bone inside the room past the bone fence. But how to get past it?
They used their fire balls, knowing that they could break it. Even though they then saw that the rocks that Flame put in his mouth to accidentally kill the first frog, could also be used. But they felt fine with the fire balls, as they broke the bone fence, then torched the frog for the bone, then proceeded to the exit of the other end of the cave.
Where they then suddenly saw a certain greedy bear running past them with some angry cave men in hot pursuit. Knowing who it was, they didn't care much in saving him, but they did wonder why he was being chased.
They proceeded onwards while hearing about the cave people saying how much, "The Lizard Burgers were terrible. They make us gag!" as they say. While they also noticed a shattered stand, like the ones back home, as well as in Dragon Shores. Likely smashed by the cave men. Which was helping them figure out the answer.
But they continued onwards without any mind to saving that bear, before noticing a somber, and saddened cave man. Which they walked up to. With Ember feeling bad for him.
"Hello. What's wrong?" Ember asked.
"I'm so sad. Because those pesky lava toads stole my friend's bones. If you're both able to help me put him back together again, he'd be more fun." The cave man said.
Ember non-hesitantly nodded her head, wanting to help the cave man with his bone problem. While Flame was initially reluctant about it. But he felt that they could gain another Orb from that if he helps too. So he also nodded.
After that, they both searched for the rest of the lava toads, noticing that there was some in this area. So they did some platforming, and jumping to get to them, torch them, and get the bones that they dropped.
All while using another invincibility power-up to walk on the lava to get to one of the lava toads. As well as another one that was in another large creature's skull that lead them into a room with the sinking platforms. Which they were lead to by a certain golden jar with a ? on it.
Which they ended up following throughout the Badlands, as they got to the jar, and smashed it, only for it to vanish and lead them to another place in the badlands, much to their annoyance.
In the end though, they got the Gems from the Jar after it vanished to its last location, and after getting the bones, they went back to the cave man.
Whom was happy as he can be. "Thank you both for helping me. Now my friend is back together." He said smiling, before giving them an Orb for their troubles.
Right after that, they witnessed the skeleton getting put back together, before it then suddenly did some dancing for them, beginning with some side pelvic moving, before doing the disco, then a moonwalk, before ending it with some backflips that it botched on the last part. Before giving them a bow after getting back up from the botched attempt.
Which confused the dragons, as they didn't expect to see a skeleton dance. But they supposed that it was doing it out of celebration so they didn't mind.
They gave their thanks for the Orb, before they decided to run off, feeling that they have more stuff to do.
"Excellent! You both made it through the Badlands! I knew I'd win that bet!" The cave man known as Glug said happily.
All while both Ember, and Flame were annoyed at him for the bet as they both went through much in the Badlands, considering the burn marks on their butts due to the Lava.
They had to go through the Badlands for the Gems, all while they had to deal with the remaining Fire Wizards, and the cat bats, all while getting burnt by the lava of the Badlands that they had a sudden turn of bad luck in touching a few times. Which hurts as they had some green dragonflies for their troubles.
All while they had to use a rocket to blast open a chest for the Gems, to make up for paying Moneybags, since it was a durable steel chest that their fire balls couldn't break, much to their surprise.
It was over though, as they were relieved that they aren't going through that again. But they were quite annoyed at both Glug, and Gronk, for making them the subject of their little bet, that had nothing to do with saving the Badlands from the cat bats, the Fire Wizards, and even the lava lizards.
"My cousin was a fool for betting against a couple of dragons." He then said, complimenting them on their strength. Which they took with indifference. "Here, take this Talisman for the help. And may we meet again someday."
The dragons took the Talisman, feeling that it sorta makes up for their experience in the Badlands, as they left.
Shortly after leaving, one of the cave men ended up filming a video where one of the other cave man was playing fetch with a lava lizard. Only for the cave man to through the bone, past the cave man with the camera, causing the lava lizard to inadvertently run into him while trying to get the bone, which knocked him out. Much to his shock, before he decided to take the camera on the ground, before walking away from the accident, trying to look innocent.
Meanwhile, Spyro, Cynder, and Elora entered the Crystal Glacier, which Elora described as the opposite of the Skelos Badlands, in that the realm they're going to is quite cold, and full of snow. But it was sorta like the Badlands in a way, in that there was similar cave people in the Crystal Glacier too. As well as having bones of the ancient creatures of Avalar that roamed the worlds, way before she was born.
Unlike the Badlands though, they were not gonna fight dinosaurs there, but just some Wizards of ice.
Before Spyro, Cynder, and Elora got to the Crystal Glacier, it was already controlled by some Ice Wizards, each of which, was of a different variety of animal, that associates with the snow.
Being Owls, Arctic Foxes, Wolves, and Puffins. And they had a leader of a tribe of Eskimo natives of the Crystal Glacier, whom is a Shaman, under their mercy as he was escorted to the prison tower that he was going to be put in for resisting their new master's control, whom was Ripto.
Which was seen by some other spear wielding Eskimo's as they planned on how they could release their leader, as they felt that they had an idea.
They snuck their way by the prison tower, where one of them would end up agreeing to launch one of them onto the top of the tower for recon, just so they could strategize how they could storm the prison tower. So one of them decided to launch the other up to the tower.
Only for the one that got launched to suddenly see one of the Puffin Wizards on top of the tower, expecting him. The Eskimo was startled, but he was attempting to stab the Wizard out of self defense. However, the Wizard froze him in a block of ice before he could, just before he fell back down.
Where he landed on the other Eskimo that tried to get out of the way of his landing, only to fail. It looked painful for the other Eskimos that was fighting the Wizards. Luckily for them though, they were gonna get their cavalry.
When Spyro, Cynder, and Elora got to Crystal Glacier they noticed three things.
One: There was three frozen Eskimos that was near them.
Two: There was a bone see-saw on a large rock.
Three: They saw that there was another section of the Crystal Glacier that was across the chasm that looked to be bottomless. Much to their dismay.
"Dang it. I should've told these builders to give us another entrance to Crystal Glacier." Elora said, feeling that they were trapped on this section of the chasm.
"Don't worry, maybe that bone could launch us to the other end. We might need to free these guys first though." Cynder said.
"Okay." Both Spyro, and Elora said in unison, feeling that the Eskimos could help them once they unfreeze them.
Which isn't hard, since they still have their fire breath. So both Cynder, and Spyro breathed the fire breath at the ice to thaw the Eskimos out.
"Ah, thank you both for the save. Wait, Elora? You're here too?" One of the Eskimo's asked when he saw Elora.
"Of course I am. I'm helping these dragons with fighting Ripto. What happened here though?" She asked.
That was when the Eskimo was both angry, and nervous. "The ice Wizards came out of nowhere! Then they froze us in these blocks of ice, then they imprisoned our leader, Shaman Tuk! And we need your help in freeing him. It is urgent that we do!" The unfrozen Eskimo said. "For as you should know, he has our ice tickets for tonight's hockey game in Colossus Valley!"
Elora looked at him with exasperation on her face. Sure, hockey happens to be a popular sport in Avalar, especially among the Colossi, but the fact that the Eskimos were concerned about something like ice tickets was quite a skewered priority. "Shouldn't they be more concerned about their land getting conquered by Ripto, over those tickets?" Elora thought.
All while both Spyro and Cynder was chuckling at what they heard. They were fighting against the Ice Wizards, that Ripto might've sent to them to conquer the Crystal Glacier, and yet they were prioritizing rescuing their leader from them, simply for the ice tickets that he should have.
They just found it to be funny.
Elora nevertheless, couldn't just leave them with their own devices in rescuing the Shaman. "We can help."
"That's great! Free my friends, and we'll help you all across the chasm." The Eskimo said.
Once the dragons did just that, the Eskimo's thanked them all, before they ran to the bone see-saw, before making a tower of themselves. "Just stand on the other end of the catapult, and we'll do the rest!"
Spyro, Cynder, and Elora immediately understood what the see-saw would do, so they decided to go to the see saw, with Spyro getting on it first.
"YAH!" One of the Eskimos said as he jumped off of the tower of them to land on the see-saw's other end, causing it to send Spyro flying.
"WHOOOOAAA!" Spyro yelled out as he felt like he was flying to the other end of the chasm, where he was in the middle of rolling when he landed. It wasn't too messy of a landing, and he landed in the snow, so he was fine when he got to the other end.
Same could be said for both Cynder, and Elora, as they both were also sent flying to the other end of the bottomless chasm by the Eskimo's and the see-saw that they used again.
Now they were on the other end of it as they were ready to free more of the Eskimo's and bring their battle to the Ice Wizards that now froze the Eskimos, and was in the middle of celebrating.
At least until one of them got torched by Spyro's fire ball, before the other one then became a target of Cynder's dark spell being casted, where she hit the ice Fox with a hex that turned him into a chicken. Which she torched for a butterfly.
There was some other Ice Wizard Wolves though, as they were howling before they knew that their fellow Wizards were getting taken down. So they ran around the bones of some sort of large dead creature to see what's up.
"What the? Brother! We've got some new enemies! And look, one of them has to be one of the leaders!" One of the Wolves said.
"And a faun at that? How interesting. Ripto is going to be pleased." The other one said as he was ready to fight.
Only for him to end up getting hit by one of Elora's fire arrows, causing him to suddenly melt into water, before vanishing, and turning into a spirit particle. Much to his friend's dismay.
He wanted revenge though, as he casted his spell of ice at the dragons in a form of an ice ball. Only for it to be sent back at him via Cynder's levitation spell at a faster force, which took him down.
There was some other arctic Wolf Wizards that was there though, as they brought their battle against the dragons, and Elora, as they freed the frozen Eskimos.
Who, was fighting back against the Wizards with their spears out of thanks for being rescued by the dragons. Who proceeded to destroy the Wizards, with Spyro taking down some of the Wolf Wizards with his fire breath, as well as his Earth breath that had him swinging around a flail of earth to shatter the Wizard's ice with. Even sending some of them into the walls.
While Cynder used her breaths as well, she also casted some more spells. Like the shadow spells that suddenly caused some shadows to suddenly grow out some dark tendrils that pierced right through their hearts, before becoming the spirit particles. Which did unnerve some of the Eskimos, but they were glad that Cynder's magic was on their side as they brought the battle back to the ice Wizards.
All while Spyro was looking at that with awe on his face.
"Whoa. That was awesome. Are there more spells where that came from?" Spyro said, feeling pretty excited for Cynder to cast more of her magic at their foes as he continued to fight.
"Kinda." Cynder said. "I admit, I was studying up on some dark spells during our time of peace when we were still doing the flight realms back in the Dragon Worlds. And I still remember having read some dark spells when I was younger. Which should be before I noticed the bullying towards me. Which is where I learned about my parents, and then it went downhill for me. At least until I met my friends." She said.
"You mean, there was spell books that contained dark spells back in the Magic Crafters?" Elora asked.
"Yes. They were kept in the more secure locations of my replacement father's castle so that no evil dragon could take them." She said, referring to Cosmos. "He did let me read them though."
"Really? Why?"
"He did say to me, that even though I may have darkness in my magic, I was the fewest dragons that wouldn't turn evil, due to the power of darkness. Considering the fact that I casted some dark spells at some of my bullies, and yet I didn't seem to enjoy it like the villains from the stories do, I think dad had a point there. Perhaps I'm one of the few dragons that wouldn't fall for the seduction of power in darkness, and remain good." Cynder said, thinking about what he said.
"Either way, I'm glad to have you for a girlfriend." Spyro said. Making her blush as they fought against the Wizards as the Eskimos also fought them off.
With Cynder continuing to fight with her magic wand, making sure to keep it from dropping out of her paw, either holding it with her wing's thumb when she walks, or trots, or with her teeth when she sprints, and charges alongside Spyro.
Whom was dominating the fight against the Ice Wizard Puffins, when a Wizard Owl tried to cast an ice ball at Elora. Who, saw it coming, and dodged the ball when Spyro warned her about it, before shooting another fire arrow at the Owl, which hit the Wizard in the head as it casted another at Elora.
Whom, was protected from the shot by Spyro taking the shot instead, turning Sparx blue. Not that he cared, since Sparx would be healed by the butterflies from another Wizard getting turned into a sheep, releasing another butterfly for him. And at least he protected Elora before she could suffer a wound from the ice attack.
Not that it did her any good, when he then saw another fox Wizard, being able to connect with another snow ball on Elora, causing her to feel pain on her shoulder when she felt the ice spell hit her there. Before the Fox was able to hit her in her left leg with another spell, before he was able to sneak away from the dragons when Spyro tried to give chase to him in revenge.
Thankfully, they knew where he would be fleeing, as Cynder was able to track him to just past the small acended tunnel that the Eskimos were helping the dragons to, by stabbing their spears into the wall for the dragons, and Faun to climb on. It seemed that the chase was on.
Even though she was hurt from that, she was more concerned for him, as she hoped that he won't end up getting hurt more, later on in their journey through Avalar.
Once the little fight ended, the last of the Wizards ended up getting turned into one of the cave drawings when Cynder casted a dark spell on him that fused him into the wall. Much to Spyro's amazement. While Elora almost felt bad for the ice Wizard that got turned into the cave drawing while his spirit particle was left flying.
Almost.
"Whoa! I wish that I try that out too!" Spyro said, with a part of himself wishing that he was Magic Crafter born.
Which had Cynder smiling in humor at Spyro for that, as she thought about making another wand for Spyro to see if he can cast a spell-
Oh wait. She might've done that already, out of curiosity of seeing if Spyro could do such a thing too, thus, either confirming that he's also a Magic Crafter descended dragon, or if purple dragons can do spells as well, regardless of lacking either Dream Weaver, or Magic Crafter blood. So she gave him another wand, this one having another purple Gem on the tip. "Here, try this. It was just another Gem from his loot." Cynder said, referring to Gnasty Gnorc. "I doubt that you can cast a spell that could defeat those ice Wizards, but you're welcome to try as we go onwards."
"Whoa. Thanks Cynder." He said, putting the Wand into his saddle pack, ready to use it once they have the time for Cynder to teach him how to use one.
Right now though, the Eskimo's were helping them with continuing by stabbing their spears into the wall under the open doorway. Which they used as stepping stones into another section of the Crystal Glaciers.
In one of the other huts of the Crystal Glaciers that the Ice Wizards conquered, there was a bunch of Wizards that was in the hut, around some spell circle that they were making some ritualistic spells that could help them gain an advantage against the new enemies of theirs, being the duo of dragons, and a Faun.
And in the hut with them, a cyan blue dragonfly that was in a cage as the Ice Wizards was experimenting on the spells.
The reason being was that they have read about a bond that a dragon would have with his/her dragonfly, causing the dragon to have some sort of magic that would protect them from harm, at the cost of some of the dragonfly's strength, from some of Ripto's books on dragons.
So they ended up catching the dragonfly that was in their cage when it wandered around in Avalar until it ended up on their turf in the Crystal Glacier, during their battle earlier on, and now they were experimenting with some magic to see if they could use a spell to make such a bond with the dragonfly in the cage as an experiment, then to see if they could either have one of them bonding with the dragonfly in the cage to fight the dragons, and Faun with, or give the dragonfly to Ripto to aide him against the Four Brave Dragons with.
Either way, they feel that they could win plenty of brownie points from Ripto, for possibly taking down the dragons, and the Faun, if they're able to fight fire with fire, by having a dragonfly's magic protecting them from harm. Not that the dragonfly in question was willing, as it was ramming against its cage bar door to open it. (Which was made out of ice, like the rest of the cage.)
"Hurry brother! Those dragons might be on their way to this location, and they could be here at any moment!" One of the Fox Wizards said to the Owl Wizard.
"Patience! There's no need, nor benefit, to rushing this experiment! Besides, they might not notice that we're inside this hut as long as the other Wizards keeps their attention on them." The Owl Wizard said, continuing to add an ingredient to their ritual circle. "And once this is complete, you'll get your revenge on those meddling dragons, and their damned Faun."
"That may be true, but can our brethren be able to hold them off long enough for this ritual to be completed?" The fox asked.
"They better. Cause it's on their heads, not ours, if we're unable to give our master the good news." The Owl said, feeling that he's faultless in the case that they were unable to make a connection with the dragonfly in their possession.
"If you say so." The Fox said, feeling that he would be faultless himself since the Owl was being slow to make the bond, while his other allied Wizards are getting burned by the dragons, (As well as shattered by their Earth breaths.) and the Faun's fire arrows. Even though he did get some good shots in on her.
When a moment passed, the ritual circle was getting brighter, signaling that the Owl's magic was getting closer to getting the result that they needed. "Yes! We're getting closer to our best spell yet! Soon we're sending our support!" The Puffin said.
At least, that's what he thought.
As he believed his circle was ready, the magic suddenly got interrupted when a stray fire ball ended up entering the cabin through the cloth wall. Which startled the Owl Wizard into inadvertently adding the wrong ingredient to the nearly complete ritual circle. Causing it to combust in a small explosion of fire, that killed the Owl Wizard along with the other Wizards caught in the blast.
Not only that, but the fire from the explosion ended up catching the cage as the dragonfly was surprisingly unharmed. The cage was weakened enough though, as the dragonfly was now able to get out of the cage with enough power behind its ram.
Much to the Fox Wizard's chagrin after covering his vision from the explosion, where after it regained sight of the hut's interior, he saw the now free dragonfly as it flew around, buzzing excitedly at its freedom. "YIPPIE! I'M FREE! I'M FREE!" It buzzed.
"You can't leave yet! We've still got an experiment to run!" He said, prepared to trap it in another ice cage with his spell. Much to the dragonfly's dismay.
Only for the flaps to the hut to open, before Cynder dragged the Fox out of the hut with her dark magic, as the fox made yelping noises of fear at how he'd been found by the dragons that he tried to hide from until he could've bonded with the dragonfly in the cage. Whom, saw the whole thing, before deciding to exit the hut through the hole that the fire ball made.
Once outside, the dragonfly saw that the Crystal Glacier was going through a battle, where the Wizards were fighting the Eskimos, the latter of which was lead by a black dragoness, (Whom was finishing off the Wizard with her dark magic by turning him into an ice figure that she shattered.) a purple dragon, and a red furred Faun. And the dragonfly had to admit, he was rooting for the latter army, as well as the dragons, and Faun.
Then the dragonfly noticed that there was a pair of dragonflies that was paired with the dragons, signaling the bond that the dragons seem to share with the dragonflies. And yet the Faun didn't have a dragonfly of her own. Which didn't surprise the dragonfly, as it was just an average Faun who was shooting magical fire arrows at the Ice Wizards.
(Even if she was starting to miss some of them due to her shoulder wound.)
At least, she was at first glance. As the cyan dragonfly suddenly noticed something unusual about the Faun.
"Oh hello there! I see that there's one of us in Avalar?!" Sparx said, greeting the dragonfly. Much to the dragonfly's surprise.
"Why yes. Although I'm not from Avalar, considering that I'm not born here." The dragonfly responded.
"So you're from the Dragon Worlds too, are you not?" Spryte asked, joining the conversation.
"I was, yes. And now I'm here after wandering around in Avalar. I'm Sternenlicht by the way! But my other friends calls me Stern for short." The dragonfly known as Stern said. Also letting them know that he's a male.
"I'm Sparx! This is Spryte! And these are our dragons, Spyro, and Cynder. And I'm guessing you know the Faun's name?"
"Elora, is it?" Stern asked, guessing the name, according to some of the natives of Avalar, during his travels on the road. (So to speak.)
"You're correct. Listen, how about you stick with us, until we can find a dragon for you to pair up with." Sparx said, feeling that Stern would be a good friend of his, and Spryte's. As well as what other dragon that they could pair Stern with.
"Might as well. I've got no where to go that I could stay for a while at." Stern said. "And I was just passing through this place, wondering where I could go to come back home."
"Well, we're all on the same boat. We're trying to come back home to the dragon worlds, and it seems to us that the Faun, and the professor, could be our best bet in coming back." Spryte said. "So if you're trying to come back home, then how about sticking with us for now? They could help."
Then after the introductions, the dragons and Faun was still fighting the Ice Wizards when they saw that there was another dragonfly that Sparx, and Spryte just met.
Sparx proceeded to introduce both Cynder, and Spyro to Stern, whom then introduced Elora. Which gave Stern that feeling again.
"Say, Sparx? Did you ever notice something unusual about that Faun?" Stern asked.
Both Sparx, and Spryte ended up wondering what he meant by that question. Until… "Not until you told us." Sparx said, now noticing the unusual aura alongside Spryte.
It felt off about the Faun, yet… familiar.
Something that had Stern wanting to test it out as he started to hover near the Faun as she continued to sling her arrows out. Much to her confusion. "What's up with Stern?" Spyro asked.
"There's something about her that Stern is sensing. I don't know that it is, but it seems familiar. Almost like-"
Sparx suddenly stopped his sentence when he noticed the familiar feeling. A feeling that he didn't think he'd sense again ever since he and Spyro first bonded. Which could be said for Spryte, as they both started to figure out what it was.
Then they sensed a magical bonding that was being made between a surprised Elora, and Stern, as they both saw that they were going though a process that had both Spyro and Cynder, along with their dragonflies, looking on in surprise, and utter shock.
Especially when the process ended, when Stern now felt connected to Elora as he started to fly around her like a friend would. Much to her confusion.
It was then, that both Spyro, and Cynder, as well as their dragonflies, was shocked at what they witnessed.
Being that they saw a dragonfly bonding with Elora. Much like how their dragonflies bonded with them too. Not only that, but her wounds from the ice attacks was healing due to the magic of the dragonfly.
"How is it possible? I thought that only dragons can bond with the dragonflies!" Spyro said to Cynder in shock.
"I thought so too! I guess she became an exception for Stern, or there's something about her that made it possible for her bond with Stern. But what?" Cynder asked, as Elora was confused about what they mean by that.
Before they could wonder though, they saw that the battle around them was still going. So they had to fight against the Wizards, and think about it later.
There was some other enemies that they had to fight against though, being the charging bunnies with icicle noses that tried to pierce them.
"GYAAH!"
And much to the dragon's horror, they were able to do that to Elora, at the same time that Elora fired out her arrow at them. And yet, as Spyro, and Cynder expected, and was relieved to see, Stern turned a darker blue to protect Elora. Confirming to them that Stern has bonded to Elora.
Nevertheless, they both ran to her side after making sure that they have breathing room. "Elora! Are you okay?" Cynder asked.
"I'm… Fine. But what's going on? I should be more hurt than this, considering that rabbit's icicle nose should've impaled me." Elora said, noting that her wound has healed, but it was still showing to the dragons, but it wasn't bleeding. Let alone bleeding badly enough from the piercing blow of the rabbit's icicle nose.
"It's the power of the dragonflies when they bond with a dragon. They can heal our wounds, and protect us. Which is why, even though it hurts, we can survive just about anything that Ripto can throw at us." Cynder explained. "Which I reckon, could be the reason why we were able to defeat Gnasty."
"You mean, this dragonfly can heal me, because of the bond that we now have?" Elora asked.
"To an extent, yes. But if you suffer too much harm, then he vanishes. And trust me, it's going to hurt to get hit again once you get hit without him around." Spyro then said, cringing at the memory of Twilight Harbor. Even though none of them lost their dragonflies there, but the nails still hurt like heck. And he'd rather not think about how it'd feel to get hurt if none of their dragonflies were following them in Twilight Harbor, if the Gnorc Cove took them away from them.
Which left Elora also cringing at that, feeling that they might've learned that the hard way themselves. Then she felt worried about herself.
"But don't worry, he can stay strong once you feed him butterflies." Cynder then said, before turning another Wizard into a chicken.
Which Elora ended up shooting to release a butterfly. Which, Stern ate to restore him to his Cyan blue colors. And to also heal Elora's wounds on her, much to her awe, and surprise.
"I don't know how you were able to bond with that dragonfly, but congrats." Spyro said, feeling like applauding her. Which she admits, she was flattered by that.
Even though she herself, was also wondering why she was able to bond with Stern. She guessed that she's more different from the other Fauns in Avalar, than she thought.
But they had to take on the Wizards first, as they kept on taking them out with their fire. While Elora fought with more confidence, and boldness due to Stern's bond with her. She didn't know why, or how she bonded with Stern, but she was rolling with it, since it'd help her save Avalar from Ripto.
As the battle winded down, the dragons, and Faun found themselves near a bridge that was out, considering that the doorway wasn't connected to it. Something that was going to end up putting them at a stalemate.
At least, until Cynder knew that her magic could connect the bridge to the doorway. So she was ready to cast her spell as she let the magic in her reserves build up.
"I think I can make that bridge levitate to where it can now connect to that doorway to that next section. That should be where we can free that Shaman." Cynder said, concentrating.
"Really? Can neither of you fly, or make an ice bridge with your ice breaths?" Elora asked
Spyro and Cynder was blushing at that question in embarrassment. "About that, well…" He tried to say.
"Neither of you can fly?" Elora asked, judging by his hesitation.
Spyro lamely nodded his head. "We shall be able to fly in the future. Just not now. Also, I don't think we can make an ice bridge, since there's no water to freeze into such."
"Ah, right. Sorry about the question." She said a little awkwardly.
"No problem." He said, still feeling a little embarrassed by the question.
Then they saw something in the canyon just next to the downed bridge. Causing them to go down into the canyon to see that one of the other shamans was near a cave, that happened to have some three eyed spider looking creatures that gave Elora the creeps. And Spyro had to admit, they did look a tiny bit creepy to him as well.
While Cynder on the other hand, was unbothered by the sight of them. She even thought about crafting herself some wooden statues of them for her room. (Which was a gothic sort of room that she used to go to, as her sanctuary. Now it's just her room that she goes to, and with Spyro on occasions.)
"Ah Elora. How great it is to see you. And I guess that's your companion?" He asked.
"You're correct Shaman Tik. Just one question. What's happening here?" Elora asked.
"We used to give guided tours of these caves, until they were infested with these multiplying draclets. Now it's only a matter of time before they overrun our village." He said, referring to those spiderlike draclets. "Do you think that you both can get rid of them for us?"
"Of course!" Elora immediately said, not wanting to lose the Crystal Glacier world to the draclets. While Spyro, and Cynder agreed too.
"Great! Here's the superfly power up. But remember, you must quickly kill them, because if there are any left, they can continue to multiply." Shaman Tik said.
The dragons kept that in mind as both of them used the power up to fly through the cave, taking down the draclets along the way to the end of the cave, which happened to have some paths to the other caves blocked off. Likely to prevent the draclets from multiplying, and spreading into the rest of the cave system to infest more of the Crystal Glacier.
Which was good, as the draclets were a creepy sort of creature that the dragons, and Faun wouldn't want to face off against, let alone an army of them.
Even though they were not so dangerous since none of the draclets attacked the dragons, but they were still annoying. Especially, as the Shaman said, when they would continue to multiply.
Spyro, missed a few of them, alongside Cynder, which caused them to spawn another draclet after a couple seconds passed. Which would force them to fly back in the cave, and flame them, while making sure that they wouldn't miss the ones that made them spawn.
And even though they were snapping their crab's claw-like jaws at them, they were not strong enough bites for the dragons, as they didn't feel pain from the bites, and their dragonflies didn't change colors to blue. So it wasn't a dangerous side quest for the orbs. Just annoying to have to go back for the draclets when they spawn again.
Especially when they swing around left and right, making it a bit hard for them to breathe their fire on the draclets, and kill them due to them missing, and being forced to time their fire breathing with when they swing at the direction of where they'll breathe.
The only thing that was dangerous about them though, is that some of them that are hanging, (especially the aforementioned swinging ones.) were over ooze pits. Which, even if both dragons can swim, they'd still end up sinking in, and drowning if they land in it.
Not only that, but the ooze burns, as Spyro and Cynder learned the hard way after a little bump into the wall that stopped them in their tracks and had them falling down into the ooze. But at least they were able to jump out.
Which is why both dragons were being careful of accidentally bumping into the walls of the caves when they try to fly to where the draclets would swing, just so they'd keep their momentum of their flying.
It was a little nerve-wracking due to how dangerous it looked.
Thankfully though, even if they were in danger of falling in, they would be able to save each other from the ooze, especially since they would jump out of it to fly again. Even though their dragonflies would turn blue when they fall in, just to help them jump out of the ooze to fly again.
Also thankfully, it wasn't a long path through the caves, as they were now getting closer to getting done with the draclets. Sure they might have more of the cave to explore, but it was only the ones that was blocked off. Which they felt interested in joining a tour of, after they're done with Ripto.
Right now though, they just destroyed what's left of the draclets in the cave once they got to the other end of it, where a waiting Elora, and Shaman Tik was.
"You've both saved us all from a grisly fate. Well done." Shaman Tik said smiling at them.
"No problem. It's just something that Elora would approve of us for doing." Spyro said.
"Then I see that she has chosen wisely, on what hero would come here. Please take this Orb, as a token of our thanks." The Shaman said, handing them an Orb, much to their delight.
Then they both got back up to the higher section of the Crystal Glacier, where Cynder proceeded to continue to build up her magic in her body, before casting her spell on the bones that was under them.
Which suddenly animated as it showed that it was the bones of some sort of large snake creature, that made a roar at the direction of the bottom right of the dragons, and Faun, before connecting itself to the doorway, making a bridge for the dragons. Much to both Elora's, and Spyro's amazement.
"Wow! Did one of those dark books teach you that?" Spyro asked.
"Yeah. I did… read from it, and I did think about doing such a thing to summon a zombie Gnorc minion. But I must've forgot about it." Cynder said, feeling a bit drained from casting the spell. But she was still able to fight as she proceeded to follow Spyro, and Elora to another section of the Crystal Glacier, with the Eskimo's behind them.
"Oh hey Sparx, Cynder, did you guys notice that the warm weather is coming? I feel that it ain't gonna be so ICE for them!" Spyro said, putting emphasis on the puns.
"Ah, but let's be fair here, the summer party's gonna be so COOL! The dragons sure knows how to keep it so CHILL around there." Cynder responded, also emphasizing the puns.
"No kidding? I'm guessing those dragons are ICE to be around, right?" Elora asked, joining in on their pun making.
"Yep! And they sure know how to boogie, they sure can back up their cold BLUSTER!" Spyro said.
All while they were all watched by the Fox, Wolf, Puffin, and Owl Wizards. All of whom were frowning angrily at them for those puns.
The reason being, is that the Eskimos had a plan to help free the Shaman Tuk, and that involved distracting the Ice Wizards until they're able to ambush them, which should help deal a big blow toward them.
Which Spyro, Cynder, and Elora agreed to. (After Spyro and Cynder helped another Shaman reunite with his pet snow leopard, causing them to gain another Orb in return.)
And Spyro, as well as Cynder, thought that the Ice puns would be enough to have the Wizards focusing on them, even if they both felt the Wizard's angry stares on them, which never bothered either dragons since they've been glared at a lot, either from the Gnorcs, or the other dragons they got in trouble with in the past. While Elora on the other hand, did feel a chill up her spine due to those glares. But she wasn't gonna stop her own puns from being made.
"Woah! Don't make jokes about wind, that's SNOW good for us! They'd give us the COLD shoulder for that!" Cynder responded, trying not to laugh.
"Really? Cause for all I SNOW, they'd find it funny too, it keeps them CHILLED out that way!" Spyro said, chuckling.
"One more pun outt of you folks, and you're all history!" One of the Wizards angrily said.
"Oh sorry… c-can I ALP you?" Elora said, still feeling a little nervous about the glaring. "G-get it? L-like, snow alps?"
"That's it! Ripto shall have your heads for that!" The Wolf Wizard said, as he casted some snow spells at them.
Only for them to miss, as Spyro, Cynder, were playfully shaking their tails at the Wizards. With Elora laughing at the sight, before joining in. "What's the matter!? We thought our jokes would be decent enough ICE-BREAKERS at least!" Spyro said.
"ENOUGH! Cease your puns, or we shall merely freeze you all into figurines to display to Ripto! And he's going to enjoy his prize as he-" The Wizard tried to say.
Only to then feel the ground starting to shake. "LOOK OUT BELOW!" An Eskimo's voice yelled out as a giant snowball ended up rolling down a large hill as it swallowed up a bunch of Wizards inside, as well as crushed the rest of the Wizards, whom were still too enraged at the dragons to notice the large snowball that was crushing them.
Even though the dragons, and Faun didn't feel close enough, they still ran to a safe distance as the snowball destroyed a lot of the Ice Wizards in its way, before bouncing off of a rock, that redirected it into the prison tower. Causing it's cage bars, and the top half to get destroyed, leaving the bottom half unbroken, and somehow, leaving the Shaman alive, if feeling a little hurt.
Which, was a relief for the Eskimos, even though they still ran away, fearing that they accidentally flattened their leader.
Whom, the dragons and faun ran towards to see if he's alright.
"Ouch! You'd think that they'd get me out of this prison tower, without rolling a two ton snowball onto my head." He said, rubbing his head.
"At least you're freed, that's what matters." Elora said, relieved that the Shaman was okay.
"No problem. By the way." He then said, getting back up, before getting out an Ice Crystal out of his robe. "You can all have this Talisman. I traded some hockey tickets for it."
At that last part, Elora felt herself getting more exasperated at the journey they got through. Not only did they have to defeat the Ice Wizards to free the Shaman, for those tickets, but after all that, all they got was a Talisman. Which in their case, was a good thing, so Elora was pleased at the result nonetheless.
All while Cynder, and Spyro was laughing their tails off at what just happened. All this, for the news that the hockey tickets were traded for that Talisman, just killed them in a good way. There was just something just plain funny about that fact, that their rescue of the Shaman to get those tickets, was all for nothing, at least in the case of the Eskimos that they fought alongside.
Either way, they were proud of the fact that they got another Talisman, and that Elora has gotten herself a dragonfly, regardless of her species. (Even though they were still surprised, about the latter, and they still wondered what reason she was able to do that.)
All in all, not a bad day.
Later on, after they left, the Eskimos were standing on a rebuilt tower as they planted their banners on the top. Before one of them ended up falling down after losing his balance due to how small the top of the tower was.
All while the other one laughed, and patted the other one on the back a little too hard, causing him to push him off the tower in revenge, much to his own amusement, before following suit, and jumping off of the tower himself into the snow.
All while the Shaman was looking at the scene right in front of him, before shaking his head in dismay. "Beset, on all sides, by idiots." He said to himself.
Meanwhile, earlier on, Hunter was in a swordfight with his uncle. Whom, also is named Hunter, as he said.
The former of whom, was not in a winning battle. Since his uncle was more of a professional at wielding the sabre sword compared to him. He was more of an archer than a swordfighter. And his sword battle with his uncle Hunter, was reminding him of that weakness.
Especially since he didn't really put much practice into his sword wielding, or swinging either. He was just practicing archery, as well as fist fighting, more often than his sword fighting. And it shows, since in this case, the lack of training in swords, was biting him in the butt at this point.
It looked as if the battle was won by his Uncle, even before it began.
Also, his uncle explained to him that he was there for a reason, being that he was there to assist the dragons in their quest to defeating Ripto. Which was unlike Hunter, who was a thorn in their sides due to his rivalry with them. Going so far as to bribe them with Orbs, to help him with his own problems that doesn't seem to concern Avalar's troubles as well. Like the Manta Ray taming back in Aquaria Towers.
Which didn't do them any favors when it came to being able to be coming back to the Dragon Worlds once Ripto was dealt with.
And he decided to punish his nephew with a sword duel to force him to show how much he's learned since the last time he swung his sword from the village. And so far, he was feeling disappointed as he saw that his nephew wasn't getting better at his sword fighting.
That's not to say that Hunter was going down that easily. As he was able to use his acrobatics to keep himself in the fight against his uncle. Especially since he was using some sort of ninja fighting moves that he learned from the movies in the Avalar theaters. Jumps that had him flipping right over his uncle, wall jumping to move past his uncle when he tries to push him into a corner, and even his sprint running, to dash attacking, to attempt to put his uncle on the defensive was among the moves he used to keep the fight going.
Which the uncle, known as Hunter III, was admitting to himself, was an admirable feat. Showing him that even though he isn't good with a sword, his acrobatics was partially making up for his amateurish sword fighting stance.
Emphasis on 'partially making up.' Especially since he didn't have much skill in sword fighting, even with the acrobatics involved. And it showed.
For every time Hunter makes a stab at his uncle, he just sidesteps the stab without trouble. Every time he tried to go for the upward slash at chest level, (As much as he wanted to win, he didn't want to kill his uncle by chopping his head off.) he would duck faster than he could swing. When he tried to attack his legs, his evasive legs kept on making him miss.
And they were all over the Autumn Plains, at least in locations of their battle. First they were outdoors, then they were in the Manor when Hunter tried to flee from battling his uncle, much to his disappointment. Then they were on the rooftops of the manor when their battle ended up going back onto the ground again, with Hunter jumping back down on the grassy ground after some parkour down the castle, feeling that he could be safe to gather his bearings, and think up a tactic to defeat his uncle.
Before his uncle simply jumped back down to the ground after quickly climbing down to a safe enough height, before landing with a roll. Resuming the fight against him. Which went back up to the rooftops after some more fighting.
"You've still got plenty to learn in sword fights, Gunther. Or do you still prefer Hunter IV?" Hunter asked his nephew, now known as Gunther.
Whom, still disliked being called by that name. "Of course I do, uncle Hunter! This is my name!" He yelled out angrily as he continued to swipe at his uncle.
"Just like I expected. Nevertheless, I feel that you aren't able to match me in terms of skill with a sword, considering your focus on your archery, and goofing off." Hunter III said.
"Just give me time, I'll prove you wrong someday by beating Ripto, and those dragons!" Hunter said to his uncle, as he ended up continuing to try to overpower his uncle with his sword.
Which was to no avail, as he just couldn't get a good cut in on his uncle, who continued to parry, and dodge his swings. While Hunter did see that his nephew was improving, if only a little bit though, considering his lack of skill in swords, but still improving nonetheless.
"Speaking of that, I did talk with the elders, and Chief Prowlus, in our clan back in the village, before I've got here. And they know of your mistake, and your lack of support for the dragons, I'm afraid." Hunter said to his nephew.
Whom, was surprised at what he heard, considering the fact that even though they kept in touch, none of them had to have known of his mistake in letting Ripto into Avalar. Considering their partial isolation in the Summer Forest after all. So how did they know about that mistake he made? And… what do they plan on doing to him for it?
"And it is because of that mistake of yours, and that other fault of yours, being your lack of support for those dragons, that they are deciding on what they're now going to do to your place in our tribe. I'm sure that you know what it is, that they might do." Hunter said to his Nephew.
Whom was shocked, and horrified at what he was told from his uncle, considering that he was part of their tribe still, regardless of his goofball personality. And that left him feeling horrified at what he believes could be the case.
"No. No! They wouldn't! T-t-they can't!" He said horrified.
"I apologize. But what you've done has crossed the line." He said somberly, feeling guilt at what he told Hunter, being his 'banishment' that might've happened.
Hunter felt that his world was crashing around him as he looked on in both shock, and a blank look on his face. It seemed that he might be banished from his tribe, and his home in the village that he had in Summer Forest. All over his mistake of bringing Ripto to Avalar.
And he didn't think that it'd be the worst mistake he had, that ended up causing this to happen to him.
"No! NO! NOOOO!" He said, charging at his uncle, trying to put his all into winning his combat against his uncle to prove himself as the only one to defeat Ripto, and earn his place back in the tribe.
*Thwack*
Only to get knocked unconscious by his uncle, after a blow to his head from his hilt, whom was standing somberly on the grass of the rooftop near the tower. "I apologize for what I must do. But how else are you to learn your lesson?" He said softly as he sat down, before he wrote a parchment to give to Hunter once he wakes back up.
Which is the news of his 'punishment'.
And done.
Here's the beginning of the Autumn Plains worlds, beginning with the fire and ice worlds of Skelos Badlands, and Crystal Glacier. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
And to let you guys know, I'm feeling a little starved for Ideas of what dark spells that I can have Cynder doing, as well as what sort of mind trick spells that Ember could do too. So if you guys have any ideas of what the spells they could cast could be, I'd be so thankful.
Also, shout out to CalvinFujii for the ideas for what animal variety that the Ice Wizards would be, as well as the idea for the homages to the other shows that takes place in the Stone Age, in the Skelos Badlands.
Also, for those wondering what the news is, about what's going to happen to Hunter, be sure to stay tuned.
And speaking of Hunter, as you all might've read, his real name is Gunther, at least in this. But he prefers to be called Hunter, or Hunter IV while with his uncle whom shall be called Hunter III. Shout out to shirkhan for that Idea too.
Also, yes, Elora has a dragonfly of her own, being Sternenlicht. Which is German for starlight. And another dragonfly OC that is paired with her. Which does beg the question, what is it about her that made the bond possible? I'm sure there'll be an answer for that someday.
Finally, one more thing.
I hope that you enjoyed the chapter,
please give constructive criticism, just don't be rude,
do not forget to read and review,
hope you all stay safe,
and once again, I do not own Spyro the Dragon. Spyro the dragon is created by Insomniac Games, and is currently owned by Activision, and Toys for Bob. Please support the official releases.
Theodore the Poet signing off.