Chapter 63: Escape

Link was completely exhausted the next morning. The fast acting potion lasted all night. He and Astral were forced to bathe.

Sadly, Astral's mind was severely scarred mentally by what happened. She cowered whenever Link was mass shifted to the size of a Hyrulean dragon, so he stayed the size of an elemental.

Link asked Midna for the Ocarina of Time, which she complied. He transformed into human form, surprising the skavengers as he put the instrument to his lips and played "The Song of Healing".

Astral gave Link a curious look. "What was that song supposed-" she began before clutching her head as evident that the mental scars left by the previous night disappeared. She lowered her claws. "Why did you do that?" she asked.

"I caused you immense mental scars last night, Astral," Link replied with a heavy heart. "Now it's time to get out of here!" He put the Ocarina of Time to his lips once more and played a melody called "The Song of Storms".

The ship began to shake due to the churning waves. Link stashed the Ocarina in his pouch and assumed his equine form. He walked up to the cell door and used his magic to pick the lock.

The door swung open and he picked up the lantern that housed Sparx and shattered it as Midna dispersed into twilight particles to phase through the bars.

Just then, Mole-Yair appeared around the corner, carrying a scroll.

"Spyro!" he exclaimed. "You are in grave danger! I have a message from another prisoner; here, take it."

He passed the scroll to Link before dashing away again.

"Yahoo!" Sparx exclaimed. "Fan mail."

Link shook his head as he unrolled the scroll, reading the message scrawled on it.

Dear friends,

There are whispers going around the ship. Word of your capture has spread quickly. Many of the prisoners are getting nervous. They say the Ape King himself has placed a bounty on you and all dragons. These are dark times... but know this, you have allies. I look forward to the day when we meet in person.

Hunter of Avalar

"Aw, that was thoughtful," Sparx said softly. "I especially liked the part about danger and dark times..."

"From stories from where I'm from, Hunter is a humanoid cheetah," Link stated. "I'm looking forward to meeting him."

Just then, they heard the screeches of dreadwings in the distance.

"Midna, take Astral to the Dragon Temple and tell Ignitus what happened," he stated. "I'm going to find the Chronicler."

Midna and Astral vanished into thin air as Link dashed down the passage and found Mole-Yair.

"Apes are coming!" He exclaimed. "You have to get off now!"

The mole turned to face them. "Help me get my people out of their cells, please?!" He asked.

Link's horn glowed and the doors were ripped open. He joined the herd of escapees as they swarmed toward the lifeboats. They cheered as they lowered the lifeboats into the water.

Several prisoners looked around. "Where is Astral?" they asked.

"She's at the Dragon Temple," Link explained as he turned toward the captain's quarters. "I need a map to the White Isle."

After defeating several hordes of skavengers, Link reached the captain's quarters. Link used his magic to pick the lock and it swung open. They approached a large desk with maps on it. But as Link found the one he needed, he heard a loud gurgling snarl behind him. He spun around to find Skabb there.

"You don't want to get in my way," Link stated. "If the Dark Master wins, everyone is dead!"

His horn flared to life as he hurled Skabb out the window.

"Overkill much?" Sparx asked.

"He had his mates drug me and most likely get Astral expecting eggs in a week while I was influenced by that substance," Link argued.

"If he escapes, there would be more trouble," Sparx stated.

Link rolled his eyes. "I hate it when you're right," he stated as he dived out the window after Skabb.

Link was tailing the pirate captain when he heard a familiar voice.

"It be the purple alicorn!" it exclaimed.

Link looked over and saw Wash Buckler and his crew down below, firing their cannons at Skabb.

"What brings you here, Captain?" Link called.

"Skabb is wanted for kidnapping," Wash Buckler stated. "Some wee little dragonet named Astral a few years ago."

Link smiled. "That's good to hear," he called back. "Astral is at the Dragon Temple with Ignitus now. A friend of mine helped her escape."

Link landed on the ship and shook Wash Buckler's hand. "It's good to see you again, Captain Wash Buckler," he stated. "Once we apprehend Skabb, would you charter a course for the White Isle? I have a map that leads to its location."

"The White Isle, you say?" the Captain stated as he peered at the map. He smiled. "I'll be glad to take you there, Spyro. By the way, did you free the Goddess from the Dark Master's influence?"

Link nodded. "However, she has been captured by the enemy," he replied.

After fighting through more hordes of skavengers, they caught up with Skabb.

"Captain Skabb of the Skavengers, you are under arrest for kidnapping and molesting the dragon by the name of Astral," Wash Buckler proclaimed.

Skabb raised his sword and swung it around, driving Link back.

"Avast there, me hearties!" a voice proclaimed from above. "Prepare to be boarded!"

Skabb, his parrots, and Link were surprised to see a green clad boy on the back of a giant bird.

"If it isn't my ancestor," Link stated.

The Hero of Time dismounted his mount and faced Skabb. Skabb lunged at the pair, but they blocked his strikes and disarmed him, causing his sword to fall into the sea.

Wash Buckler quickly locked Skabb in the brig of his ship. "I can't thank the pair of you enough for the assistance, me hearties!" he stated. He turned to Link. "You're headed for the White Isle if I am correct?"

Link nodded. "Thank you, Wash Buckler," he stated.

"One good deed deserves another," the mermasquid replied.

The trip to the White Isle was pretty uneventful. Wash Buckler let Link have the best accommodations on the ship. He was currently sleeping in his bed at the moment.

Once again, Link was in the Dream Realm. This time as he glided down to the Elemental Pool, this time blocked by a yellow barrier. "Something isn't right," he called out. "Why is it so dark?" When there was no reply, he shouted out. "Can you hear me? Is anyone there? I want to know where Cynder is?"

At once, a bolt of lightning struck the wall above him and then the Chronicler answered. "A flash of lightning is born of the sky and the tempers of its master, Zeus. You must learn to control your emotions if you are to tame the free spirit of electricity."

Link sighed and climbed onto the pedestal. As he closed his eyes, he felt a strange feeling like static electricity through his veins as the Chronicler spoke. "Surrender to its erratic nature. Allow its energy to charge through your body and anticipate its movements then unleash it... willingly."

Link focused his energy and felt the electricity sparking from his body and shoot across the platform, taking out the barrier. As he shivered with the feeling, the Chronicler finished, "this power is accentuated by your inner nature as the reincarnation of Hylia's Chosen Hero. Trust your instincts, Hero of Twilight."

Link set off along the platforms to learn the full extent of his new elemental abilities. At the first platform, he assumed human form and charged an orb of electricity in his hands and launched it at the soldiers' feet which quickly sent them flying. On the next one, he sent lightning out of his fingers before turning back into dragon form and knocking the enemies off the platform. Afterwards, he came across some crystal orbs and charged them with his electric orbs before finishing off the rest of the soldiers with an electric fury.

Soon he arrived at the entryway to the Dream Temple and entered.

"Okay, I've done your tests," Link called. "What do we do next? How do I find you?"

"Might as well check the Pool of Visions..." Link muttered to himself.

He climbed up to the Pool and looked down as another vision appeared. They saw a massive hallway carved from the mountain with a long beam of energy pouring in the middle. But their attention was drawn to the Ape King sitting on a throne nearby and a commander dragging Cynder toward him on a chain. The massive ape glowered down at her. "So... the traitor returns!"

"You call me a traitor?" Cynder scoffed. "You are the traitor! You are taking orders from the Demon King! You are throwing the sacrifices that Hylia and her Chosen Hero went through to ensure his defeat away like trash!"

Gaul was taken aback by Cynder's outburst. "The Demon King?!" he asked. "How is that possible?"

"You have to find out for yourself," Cynder replied. "You can't go through with this, Gaul!"

Gaul let out a deep chuckle. "Nothing can prevent this. We are merely here to welcome our Master back to the Realms and join him at his side... but fear not, Cynder. You've been such a faithful servant that he'll take you back... and if you refuse, then you'll have the honour of being the first to perish at his hands."

"Which Master do you refer to?" Cynder replied. "Demise or Malefor? If it's Demise you're referring to, he'll kill me anyway and absorb my soul! I am Hylia's reincarnation!"

The apes gathered gasped in shock. Gaul gave her an inquisitive look. "Why would Her Grace choose to be reborn as a dragon?" he asked.

"Because Demise is planning to take the Triforce for himself with the power of the purple dragon!" Cynder declared.

The apes shook in fear. Gaul ignored Cynder as he rose to his feet. "Long have we waited... long have we suffered... but soon our Master will return... and his coming shall bring a new age of power for our kind... and we shall have our revenge!"

Some of the gathered apes cheered. Others remained silent. One ape in particular looked at Cynder, regret etched on his face. Several of the ones that didn't cheer bowed their heads in guilt. As the cheering assaulted his ears, Link blacked out for the last time...