Chapter 32: The Guardian of Fire

Link woke the others early the next morning. Clay, Tsunami, Glory, Starflight, and Sunny got the hang of using human weapons. Clay took a liking to his sword. Sunny and Tsunami preferred using a spear to a sword. Glory took kind liking to a golden replica of the Master Sword. And Starflight used a bow that was modified with blades so it could be used in hand to hand combat.

"Today we head up the Silver River and seek the Guardian of fire, Ignitus," Link stated.

"Is he a dragon?" Tsunami asked.

"According to legend, he is a dragon," Link stated. "He is most likely in hiding with Cynder being under Malefor's spell."

"Could he be the 'wings of fire' that the prophecy refers to?" Glory asked. "After all, the prophecy referred to Cynder as the 'wings of sky'."

"He might, but he might not," he replied. "You will find out in due time."

They started up the Silver River as they ventured through the forest, and further away from the world gate to the MudWing region of Hyrule. Along the way; Sunny, Clay, and Starflight helped him with learning how to use fire breath. It took some concentration to do short bursts of flame from his mouth. They dove for cover when they heard rustling in the trees above them.

From the nearby bushes, they crouched in human form with Sparx hiding in Link's hat. They watched as a youthful red scaled dragon with bright yellow horns emerged from the treetops. By his appearance, he looked as if he could be related to Link.

"Where did they go?" the dragon said to himself.

"That isn't Cynder..." Clay stated. He emerged from the bushes and assumed his dragon form. He approached the stranger.

"Hi," Clay said nervously.

The stranger turned to face Clay. "Are you an earth dragon?" he asked.

Clay shook his head. "I am not," he replied. "I hail from the land of Hyrule. I'm a MudWing. My name is Clay. Are you Ignitus?"

The stranger shook his head. "He is my father," he stated. "I am Flame. Sorry for spooking you earlier."

Clay smiled. "We thought it was Cynder making those rustling noises and dove for cover," he explained. He turned to the bushes. "It's safe to come out."

Link, Tsunami, Sunny, Glory, Luna, and Starflight emerged from the bushes and assumed their dragon forms as well. "Do you know where your father is?" Link asked. "I need to speak to him."

Flame shook his head, frowning. "I haven't seen my father since I have been living in these woods for six years," he admitted. "I don't know if he is still alive."

Link patted Flame on the shoulder. "Were the two of you close?"

Flame shook his head again. "Not really."

Luna nodded. "We better keep going," she stated. "Malefor's forces might be coming."

"If you wish to join us, you can tag along," Link stated. "It must have been really lonely out here. And with Cynder around..."

Flame nodded rather reluctantly. "I'll come with you."

"Oh, if isn't Hylia's Hero reborn," a voice exclaimed. Everyone whirled around and found that they were surrounded by apes. There were at least fifty. "Get the purple one!" the head ape stated. "Cynder wants him alive."

The apes lunged. Link managed to keep some away with a few bursts of flame, but there were too many. He swiped with his tail, knocking four apes off their feet, before using his horns to hurl two more into the air for Clay to snap his jaws shut upon them, their weapons clattering to the ground.

The fight continued until every ape, sans the two that Clay ate, were either unconscious and severely injured or dead. They made to leave, but one of them stood up and began to speak.

"Is that the best you've-" he began before a twilit spear was thrust into his back, killing him.

"That's enough chatting from you," Midna's voice exclaimed. The ape toppled to the ground, unveiling the imp and her wolves.

Link smiled. "Your timing is as remarkable as ever, Midna," he stated.

Clay's eyes widened. "You're the friend that taught Link that magic, are you?" he asked.

The imp gave her trademark chuckle. "Guilty as charged," she stated. "Now let's get out of here." Everyone nodded and they scampered up the river.

"I think we lost them," Sparx stated. Then, without warning, Cynder's screeching roar sounded from overhead.

"Was that Cynder?" Clay asked.

Link nodded. "We aren't strong enough to face her yet," he replied. "Run!"

They all ran as fast as they could. Link looked over his shoulder to see her swooping down at them, her yellow eyes (color most likely altered by the fact that Malefor was controlling her) full of rage as tears were restrained.

"You're not getting away this time, boy!" she yelled at them. Everyone ran faster and Sparx clutched his hands around Link's horns to keep up.

"Look!" Sunny exclaimed.

"What?" Clay asked.

"There's a hole in the ground, she won't fit down there!" she replied.

"But will we?" Clay asked. Everyone but Link and Flame assumed their human forms and dived into the hole. It was very small. They gave it a try anyway and found that they could barely fit. As they crawled frantically down it, they could all hear Cynder scraping at the earth behind them, screaming in fury.

"She's going to... AHHH!" the ground gave way beneath them before Sunny could finish her sentence. They fell into an underground cavern, landing heavily on the stone floor at the bottom.

"Ow!" they all exclaimed quietly, their faces showing expressions of pain as they got to their feet.

"I know you're there," a voice stated. "Show yourself!" The voice sounded identical to the Chronicler when he appeared before Link and Sparx at the Temple of Time.

From around a corner, a dragon emerged. He looked exactly like the Chronicler except that his scales were red, not blue. His eyes were narrowed as he searched for intruders.

"Dad?" Flame asked as he came out of the shadows. "Is that you?"

The dragon looked down and saw Flame. "Is that you, my son?"

Flame smiled. "It's me, Dad," he replied. "There is this group of dragons that are looking for you. They are here as we speak."

"Are they working for the Dark Master?" Ignitus asked.

"No we aren't," Glory stated as she emerged from the shadows, transforming into her RainWing form in the process. "We are against him."

Ignitus gasped. "A RainWing in the Dragon Realms?!" he exclaimed.

"Tell that to the dragoness that is biologically a SkyWing princess, but Malefor's dark magic turned her into a weapon against you," Glory replied as the others emerged from the shadows. At the sight of Link, Ignitus almost lost his footing in shock.

"Y-you're alive?!" he stammered, "But how? I was sure Cynder's forces would have found you."

"You're voice definitely sounds familiar," Sparx stated. "Aren't you-"

"Quiet, Sparx," Link hissed. "If you say what I think you are going to say-"

"No worries, bro," Sparx stated. "I'm not going to tell him anything."

Ignitus gave Link a knowing smile. "You are very considerate of others, young drake," he stated. "It's too late." He looked at Flame. "We are one of the last of our race of dragons, my son."

"What happened to the other elementals?" Clay asked.

"To explain that, I'll need to start at the beginning," Ignitus stated. "The very beginning.

"You see, long ago, elemental dragons were the main protectors of this world, defending the peace when and where they could, and kept the natural balance throughout every species everywhere.

"But recently, someone decided to test that peace, and our will to keep it."

"I'm guessing that is Malefor," Glory stated. "He tried to get into the Sacred Realm ages ago. That is what the legends say, at least."

Ignitus nodded. "He waged war against us in an attempt to seize control of the world. I dueled him myself, and ended up victorious.

"However he was far from gone. He somehow found a way to communicate with his armies and mounted another attempt to attack, and let's say the second attempt was much more successful. He desecrated the Dragon Temple and drove us into hiding. Me and the other Guardians managed to hold back the armies with the help of Skylanders.

"That was until two years ago with the arrival of the Terror of the Skies, Cynder."

Sunny shivered. "She is scary, isn't she? She chased us down here."

Ignitus frowned. "You mean she knows you're alive as well?" Ignitus asked.

Link nodded. "She does," he admitted.

"Then, it's already too late," Ignitus replied.

"Too late for what?" Tsunami asked.

"Let me finish," Ignitus stated. "When Cynder arrived in the heat of battle, it marked the end of our defense. She took the Guardians one by one, leaving us weaker and weaker. Now, only I remain, and she still searches for me, and I've been hiding ever since."

"And what makes purple dragons so special?" Clay asked.

"I doubt you will ever meet another purple elemental dragon," Ignitus stated. "Purple dragons are so unimaginably rare that many consider them a myth. In fact, there have only been two in existence since Eon banished Strikore's army of corrupted purple dragons to another dimension.

"You see, dragons in the Realms have always had the ability to control specific elements. Red dragons control fire, blue are ice, yellow is electricity, green is earth, and white is wind. What makes a purple dragon special is the ability to control all five elements at once, making them one of the most powerful beings in existence."

"What?" Glory exclaimed. "Spyro can't be that special!"

"And if he is, why does it matter if Cynder knows about him?" Clay asked.

"Cynder is trained to use unnatural elements that other elemental dragons can't use," Ignitus answered. "And as Spyro has had no previous training, he won't stand a chance."

"Then teach me," Link stated firmly.

"I can't teach you nearly as much as you ought to know," Ignitus said glumly.

Clay stepped forward. "You can't tell him that he's your last hope, and tell him there's nothing he can do!" he roared. "Teach him all you know, we can help find the other Guardians."

"That sounds like an idea," Ignitus said hopefully. "But it's too risky. Cynder will realize what we're up to in a heartbeat."

"Then do what she did to you," Glory stated. "Make her weaker, one Guardian at a time."

"Eventually, free her from the dark magic that controls her," Link added. "She is the most recent reincarnation of the Goddess Hylia. While she was chasing us down earlier, I looked over my shoulder and saw that she was at the verge of tears as if her very soul was in anguish."

Ignitus stepped back in shock. "The Goddess Hylia?!" He exclaimed. "If she is who you claim she is, Spyro, I'm up for your idea."

"What?" Sparx exclaimed. "We're going to intentionally annoy that giant evil dragon-monster?! Are you crazy?"

"You should know that by now, Sparx," Link responded. "After all, I faced the undead a few days ago." Ignitus laughed.

"If we are to go through with this, we need to find a way back to the Dragon Temple," he stated.

"Wouldn't Malefor find us easily there?" Starflight asked.

"That's what he thinks we think, which means he won't look there," Ignitus stated. "And even if he eventually does, I can activate some emergency defenses that will keep the apes out."

"I'm guessing apes are those hairy things that attacked us before Cynder showed up," Clay stated. "The two that I ate aren't agreeing with my stomach."

"You'd be right, young one," Ignitus stated. "We'll rest here for a while, and leave for the Dragon Temple in the morning."

"What if Cynder comes back?" Sunny asked.

"She hasn't found me in ten years," Ignitus stated. "I doubt she'll find me now."