Chapter 1: The Storm Approaches

Ignitus looked up from the egg and glanced around the room again at all the other precious eggs that he and Volteer were charged with protecting. The responsibility of ensuring the survival of the next generation did not rest only at the temple. It had been decided among the Guardians that the eggs would be separated into two separate batches, split between the temple and Warfang, with most of them going to the latter. The Dragon city with its enormous walls, thousands of soldiers and colossal fortifications was the most secure place for the eggs but also the most obvious target.

The Dark Master's loyal servant, the wicked Ape King, Gaul, would most likely focus all his efforts to destroy the city and if it were to fall, the entire next generation including the purple dragon would be massacred. The Dragon temple was far less secure but also a less obvious target, more symbolic than strategic. The Ape King would never reckon on being bluffed that his greatest target would be anywhere but where it would seem most safe, behind thousands of warriors. Nonetheless, as a precaution it had been agreed that if either the temple or city was attacked, a message by Falcon would be sent straight away to warn the others so then they may at their own judgement attempt to move the eggs to another location if possible.

"Ignitus!" called a youthful voice. Ignitus looked in its direction, having not heard the door to the western garden open behind him. He beheld the gleaming face of a young fire dragon, his scales a golden orange like a sunset. The Fire Guardian smiled upon seeing him,

"Pyra!" he said warmly as he turned towards him, "Volteer keeping you busy?" he asked, smirking towards his fellow guardian wryly.

"He didn't even have to ask!" the young dragon beamed proudly, "I was just checking the perimeter." Ignitus' smile broadened as he looked down upon him. The young Pyra was the Fire Guardian's squire and apprentice. His orange scales were coupled with his black underbelly and pair of straight black horns pointing out from his head. He had an orange, serrated fin like spine that split the middle of his head with five points along it. This continued down his back with each spine shaped like a shark's fin. His wings were shaped usually smooth, lacking any protruding thumb claws, their arms black like his horns but a bright red on the membrane.

Pyra was a mere fifteen years old but his youth was of little concern to those around him. He had begun to train under Ignitus personally since the age of twelve, his ambition to one day be a Fire Guardian. While not officially old enough to be an active member of the Inferno Battalion, the Fire dragon battalion of which Ignitus was the commander of, he had been performing the duties of a banner bearer, carrying the insignia of the battalion during formal occasions. Some members of the battalion were among the temple's defenders while the rest were assigned to protect Warfang, placed under the commander of Terrador, the Earth Guardian.

"I have your armor ready for you, Ignitus, just in the next room," Pyra beckoned to the door to the right.

"Thank you, young dragon," Ignitus replied gratefully, "I'd best see to it."

"I'd best get mine too," concurred Volteer before walking towards the dojo as Pyra lead the red dragon through the southern door. Together they walked down a stone corridor, spaced evenly apart along the walls facing each other were nine elemental banners, red, yellow, blue and green and most curiously of all; grey. These banners bore an insignia of a blue grey orb with a horizonal scribe resembling a number six laying on its back. These banners represented the most often forgotten and overlooked natural element; wind, an element so rare among the dragon population that it did not even have an official guardian to master it, a fact Ignitus had spoken against but had been pushed aside for more pressing issues.

Upon exiting the door at the end of the hall, it appeared on first glance they had exited back into the forest, but the wide open space was in fact a room inside the temple. The lush green roots and trees concealed the outer walls behind them and the ceiling above. The dirt floor encompassing the ground where numerous tents and campfires now sat along with a number of moles and dragons was actually a sparring ground, but for now had been turned into a makeshift barracks. As before, upon seeing him all those in the room stood to attention before Ignitus simply replied, "As you were."

"Over here, Ignitus," Pyra guided him just to the left out of the door. In the corner of the room, Ignitus eyed the ornate pieces of gold armor laid out carefully and orderly on the ground beside a thin white mattress and small campfire on which boiled a small cauldron of stew. The armor consisted of a heavy gold helmet that covered the face with a single tusk like horn that reached higher than his own horns. A single piece chest plate that hung around the neck and two sets of braces and gauntlets for his claws and feet. Three more pieces remained, two plates to cover his hind legs and one for the middle of his back.

Beside all this was a wooden cart in which the armor had been carried and standing proudly beside that a red battle standard bearing the flaming insignia of the Inferno Battalion. The standard rose as tall as Ignitus, consisting of a wooden shaft with a three pronged fork shaped head from which the gold lined, crimson banner bore a white graphic of the elemental crest of flame. Although it could be stuck into the ground to stand on its own, Pyra had left it standing in a disk shaped base of which the shaft fit snuggly into for more solid surfaces. This small corner Pyra had made his own and indeed had pulled the cart with his masters armor himself from the docks on the islands northern shore up through the caves that zigzagged from the bottom of the plateau to up near the temples southern entrance.

"Very impressive, my young apprentice," Ignitus said earnestly.

"No problem," Pyra grinned pridefully, "Lets get you suited up." With help from a few of the moles, Pyra set to work in applying the Fire Guardian's armor. Ignitus lay on his belly as a pair of Mole at arms climbed over and on his back while Pyra and another two Moles lifted the heavy chest plate which was worn from the neck and latched from behind. They held it up in place as the two moles on his back quickly fastened the latch around his neck to hold it in place. With the most difficult part done, Ignitus stood up as they set about with the rest of his armor. As he remained still so as not to impede their work, his eyes kept moving, observing the rest of the activity in the room.

By one of the campfires he saw a trio of moles on one side and a fire dragon laying on the other, heartily laughing with each other as they jeered and conversed. In a few of the tents could be heard the snoring of some of the moles not yet on duty whilst curled up on one of the larger square mattresses another dragon slumbered loudly. A few of the other moles were seated around their camps, sharpening swords and checking their weapons, but even in them he observed a relaxed attitude to their toil alongside those joking and laughing among themselves. It was their right to, just as their comrades currently on duty would do the same when it came for them to stand down for a time. They were no less aware of the danger or how grave the stakes were, yet still they found time laugh and to nap as though tomorrow was a sure guarantee. It was humbling. It was inspiring. But to Ignitus, it was troubling. How could he stand and watch in silence, knowing almost certainly their fate when they didn't?

"Something wrong, Ignitus?" a voice interrupted his train of thought. Snapping back to the world, he lowered his head to address the author of the inquiry.

"No, thank you, Pyra," he answered softly, "Thank you all," he said to the moles as they leapt off his back and surveyed the work they had done.

"Most impressive, sir," one of the moles remarked, "I should one day hope to have armor as grand as that."

"Me too," Pyra agreed, giving the Fire Guardian a hopeful look. He felt his heart ache at the unfiltered optimism brimming in the young dragon's eyes. He applied a faux smile in an effort to depress his brewing feelings of guilt.

"Hopefully you shan't need to wear such armor, Pyra," he said consciously.

"But I'd be honoured nonetheless," replied Pyra boldly. His eyes suddenly turned to the cauldron atop his campfire as the contents began to boil, "If you'll excuse me Ignitus, I'm going to take this to the sentries by the southern entrance. They could use it."

"Of course, young dragon," he nodded readily. With that the young squire placed the lid over the cauldron and took the handle in his mouth, carrying the stew from the fire and trotting away towards the door at the end of the room. Ignitus watched him go on his way as did the four moles still standing by him.

"He's the best kind of dragon that one, sir," one of them said, "Always thinking of others."

"Yes," Ignitus agreed in a soft voice, "The best kind."

"Well, if you'll excuse us sir, we'll be getting back to our game," said another of the moles. Ignitus did not even verbally dismiss them, simply letting them on their way as he remained in the corner, the weight that pressed down upon him coming not from the armor that he was now clad. There was a creak as the door from the grotto opened up and through it stepped Volteer, now dressed in full battle armor. His armor was much the same as Ignitus, though a solid platinum rather than gold and his helmet lacked any protruding spikes. The yellow dragon saw him at once and approached him.

"How are you feeling, my friend?" he asked.

"I'm not sure," Ignitus replied grimly, "But young Pyra really shouldn't be here."

"Why not? He had done nothing but make himself useful since he arrived, as he always does."

"I know, but he would have been safer in Warfang."

"Do you really think he would be? And do you think he would have stayed if you had told him?" Volteer asked humorously. Ignitus sighed resignedly,

"No, he wouldn't. Just as I wouldn't if I were him."

"You know there is nowhere he wouldn't follow you, Ignitus. Nowhere that none of us would." The Fire Guardian eyed the Electric Guardian with anguished pupils. He knew that was true. They would all follow him, everyone of them. But would they do so if they knew what he did?

"Sirs! Volteer, Ignitus!" came a shout that nearly startled the two dragons. Looking in its direction, a fire dragon warrior was standing in the doorway, chest heaving from running through the temple.

"What is it?" Ignitus asked quickly.

"Message on approach, sir, one of Hunter's falcons!" The two Guardians looked to each other for a moment before they both rushed headlong for the door, the warrior leading the way as they ran down the hallway towards the grotto.

"Make way! Make way!" shouted the warrior dragon as they ran through the grotto and the dojo, emerging back onto the temple balcony. Several Mole at arms were standing on the end of the balcony watching as the small but distinct silhouette of a falcon fast approached. The majestic bird landed on the edge of the balcony as the two guardians finally arrived. The light of the moons shone brilliantly over the immaculate feathers of the falcon along with his medallion around his neck. The falcon turned his head to the right, putting his full eye on the nearest mole that approached to remove the message from the capsule on the bird's leg.

"What does it say?" inquired Volteer as the message was unfolded. The mole turned around and held up the tiny piece of parchment that was small even for him.

"Message reads; 'Scouts report Gaul's army approaching city. Pray the ancestors look after us -Terrador.' End of message."

A grim silence settled over those standing outside the temple at that moment. Ignitus and Volteer both looked at each other heavily as they processed the reality of the news. There was not even a murmur among the moles as they waited to hear the reaction of the leaders, perhaps to then judge how they themselves should react.

"Then it has begun," Ignitus finally announced gravely.

"Indeed," concurred Volteer, "With the distance to travel and the speed of the Falcon, the siege has already likely begun…"

"Incoming! Enemy sighted!"

All eyes turned to the roof of the temple where the cry had originated. The lookouts with their spyglasses pointed out towards the sea to the north. Ignitus squinted his eyes as he looked up towards the Celestial Moons to where the danger had been spotted. The clouds had parted far off to the left and right horizons, and dwarfed by the size of the moons, he spotted the insect sized black objects in the distance. He sucked in his breath as although they were still indistinct to the casual eye, they grew in number and size, spreading out further and further out across the sky like a swarm of bats.

"Dreadwings!" Ignitus growled.

"They must have followed the falcon!" said Volteer despairingly.

"No, they were already coming…" Ignitus said lowly.

"Ignitus?"

"Everyone to arms!" the Fire Guardian shouted before turning back to his companion, "Volteer, take charge of the southern approach. They will try and overwhelm us from all sides. Send a message to Warfang and find Pyra, make sure he is safe!"

"At once!" Volteer nodded before turning and running back towards the temple as numerous Mole at arms came rushing out past him. The Falcon took off from its perch and followed the yellow dragon into the temple. The alarm bell began to ring as orders were shouted and weapons were readied. In only moments the approaching swarm grew larger and more menacing.; dozens of the Ape Army's fearful flying mounts; the dragon sized bat like pests called Dreadwings, each carrying an ape rider on their backs.

Ignitus adjusted his stance, fanning out his wings and kneading his claws against the stone floor as the Mole at Arms took positions around him and along the balcony, pike wielding halberdiers took positions around the red dragon as archers and sword bearing moles prepared for close combat. Each position was carefully rehearsed and trained; Ignitus would be the biggest threat to the attackers and such would be main target, the mole halberdiers would hold a ring around him to keep attackers at bay while the archers would pepper the flying beasts as they swooped in.

"Wait for my signal!" he shouted aloud, drawing in a deep breath through his nostrils, a sizzling puff of smoke escaping as be breathed out, the fire in his belly anxious to be unleashed. The glowing violet eyes of the dreadwings become clearer and unnerving as they fast approached, rider and mount wearing dark purple helmets and the sound of the night ripped by the high-pitched shrieks of the flying monsters. Ignitus remained as still as a statue, only his eyes moved as the moles held their positions and awaited the signal. The dreadwings now seemed to fill the whole sky as they closed in, their ranks stretching back to the horizon from which they came. Ignitus shifted his head an inch to the left and then the right, eyeing the determined, grave faces of the moles standing alongside him; the backbone of their courage being their faith in him, his skills, on him being true to them.

'Ancestors, forgive me,' he thought.

In that moment, Ignitus reared up onto his hind legs, a powerful thrust of his wings levitating him just above the ground.

"Now!" he roared. Following his words came a storm of flame from his mouth, a volley of a dozen glowing fireballs shot outwards like meteors into the oncoming dreadwings, followed by the barrage of arrows and crossbow bolts from the moles. The fireballs exploded on impact, spreading flame among the dreadwings as they shrieked and cried before plummeting from the sky. Ignitus dropped back down to the ground as the archery volley felled more still, the temple doors shot open and several fire dragons came flying out on cue to join the fight.

"Stand your ground!" Ignitus bellowed as the dreadwings now swarmed over and around the temple balcony. The creatures snarled and shrieked as their riders fired crossbows and threw spears of their own. The dragon warriors dodged and dived among them in a brutal aerial melee, staying close to the balcony for mutual support as they were gravely outnumbered. Ignitus unleashed a screen of fire across the front of the balcony as a pair of dreadwings came diving towards him, sending the monsters recoiling back with burned faces.

In ever direction they came, howling and screaming. Ignitus looked up in horror to see a fire dragon be blindsided by a dreadwing before three more swarmed in, clawing and biting as they dragged him below the balcony out of sight. Ignitus grimaced, longing to fly to his comrade's aid but knowing his absence would leave dire consequences for the other defenders. Still he made to peek over the edge of the balcony to see. A pair of glowing eyes suddenly blocked his view and a hideous snarling mouth made him gasp as a dreadwing clawed up over the edge of the balcony right in front of him. Two moles charged forward and drove their pikes into its menacing gaze. The creature lost its grip as it howled and fell to its demise.

"We've got you, sir!" one of the Mole at Arms cried cheerfully. Ignitus nodded gratefully just as his eyes caught sight of a new danger; dreadwings carrying large steel containers in their hind claws.

"Troop carriers!" shouted a mole, "Prepare yourselves!"

A pair of fire dragons broke off to intercept, multiple hostiles in pursuit as they realized their targets. The ball shaped steel containers were used to carry explosives or drop troops into battle. If they were deployed, they would be forced to fight the Ape infantry face to face. Even the lowliest Ape soldier in size alone could best a single mole, even if they had only a fraction of the intelligence. Ignitus leapt up as before, unleashing another volley of fireballs, aiming for the transports. But this time they had anticipated, the dreadwings breaking formation and scattering, with only three being caught in the volley. One of the fire dragons unleashed an inferno on one of the carriers, the container full of troops plummeted like a rock to the bottom of the plateau as more continued to arrive.

"Get behind me!" Ignitus ordered to the halberdiers as a dreadwing ferrying a container approached from straight on. The moles ducked back behind the red dragon as he too stepped back to avoid being crushed by the cage. The dreadwing dropped it payload, pulling away sharply to avoid Ignitus's burst of fire before he shielded behind his wings as the container slammed into the stone balcony, embedding itself into the stonework. At once a steel ramp was kicked down and several ape soldiers came rushing out, wielding clubs and short blades. Short and stumpy, there baboon like faces wore menacing grins as their violet armor clanked and rattled. The halberdiers rushed forward and formed a line in front of the Fire Guardian, pikes stretched outwards as more troop carriers passed overhead.

"Duck!" Ignitus shouted. Without waiting he leapt over the line of moles, catching them and the apes off guard as he spun and swept his tail massive tail about, sending four of the startled apes flying over the edge as the remaining three panicked. One of them leapt from the balcony in an act of fearful stupidity while the other two lunged at him. Ignitus knocked one aside with his foreleg and seized the other in his jaws, the ape's muffled screams drowned out by the sound of cracking bones. He tossed the limp remains off to the side as moles stood and watched in near frightful awe.

The balcony rocked as more containers slammed onto the ramp and into the forests surrounding the temple. Ignitus looked back at the temple and saw that there was now a dozen or so apes loose on the balcony and on the roof, the Mole at arms fighting back to back against them. Now they were fighting on all sides with nowhere to go.

"Watch my back!" he shouted to the halberdiers, "I'll cover the front!". The halberdiers repositioned to form a line facing the ramp as Ignitus turned back towards the balcony. He looked up at the sky which was still thick with dreadwings when a pair of them swooped in and landed in front of him, shrieking their awful shriek. The two riders hurled spears at him, one bouncing off his chest plate but other embedded in his left foreleg. He roared in pain and breathed a torrent of fire into them, the two dreadwings and their riders flailing and screeching in agony before dropping dead where they were. Ignitus turned to look at his wounded foreleg when another of the giant bats swooped in from the side, its claws raking across his head, nearly tearing off his helmet. Ignitus snarled before he reached down and pulled the spear from his leg with his teeth.

"You alright, sir?" a mole asked from behind.

"Keep your positions!" he replied sternly. He looked back up at the dreadwing that had swooped him, seeing it circling around back towards him. It pulled up sharply and entered a steep dive towards him, angling its wings for more speed. Ignitus opened his mouth as a fireball charged in his belly but a sudden haze blurred his vision as an earth-shattering scream assaulted his ears and snuffed out his flame. He knew at once he'd been stunned by the dreadwings soundwave attack; an agonising high-pitched shriek louder than almost any other sound that could deafen and incapacitate foes.

His whole body shook and his head and ears cried for relief as he tried to regain his composure before the monster was upon him. He lifted his head just as it swooped him again, its claws ripping his helmet clear off this time and nearly bowling him over. Ignitus could not hear the loud clang of his helmet hitting the ground as he snarled in anger, his ears ringing. He looked around for the one responsible for de-helming him but instead saw the battles raging around him. The halberdiers were holding their own against the apes that threw themselves against their pikes but elsewhere it was a grim sight. The ranks of the Mole at arms along the ramp had dwindled in the face of overwhelming numbers.

Apes were clambering atop the dome of the temple and the outer walls, the lookouts and archers atop being overwhelmed. In the distant sky a dragon warrior was locked in a deadly embrace with a dreadwing, both of them plunging into the mushroom forest out of sight. He looked about and could not see another dragon in the sky, only dreadwings. His heart sank at what he beheld, the handful of survivors retreating back towards the halberdier line as the apes behind them crowded the ramp, blocking any retreat. He feared what the state was of the other defenders, how was Volteer faring in rallying them at the southern approach. And Pyra? Where was he in all this? Had he been caught out alone when he'd gone to deliver food to the southern sentries?

Another troop carrier drew his attention as it slammed onto the balcony and seemed to bring back his hearing as a second, a third and fourth in sequence crashed around the edge of the circle. From the first a single, enormous ape, wielding a spiked hammer roared as he squeezed out. He stood as tall as Ignitus with his massive shoulders covered by spiked armor plates with an almost comically undersized waist and legs. The other containers opened up and the Ape commander was soon accompanied by a dozen subordinates, all cackling and smirking in scorn at the Fire Guardian. His gaze met that of the giant ape.

"I'm gonna' wear your teeth around my neck!" the Ape commander boasted gruffly, his troops murmuring and clutching their weapons with devious excitement. The dreadwings began to circle above the balcony like vultures waiting for a starving cow to finally collapse. Others began to hover in place around them, further entrapping the defenders in a sphere of grotesque, drooling mouths, ghoulish eyes and flapping wings. Igntius held a calm demeanor, but his mind was racing with bleak thoughts. Back to back, he knew he could muster enough flame to contend with such a group of apes, but not those behind. He feared the Mole at arms would be overrun and then the rest of the apes would be upon him. But he could not turn his back to help them or else he would be rushed from the front. Any thought of his own escape was further abandoned by the net of dreadwings surrounding them.

'This is not what the Chronicler said,' he thought disconcertingly, 'He spoke of the fate of the others, not my own…. Did he mislead me?'

"What do we do, sir?" he heard one of the Moles ask fearfully from behind as the Apes inched forward. Ignitus would have given anything at that moment just to not be the one to be asked that question. He barred his teeth and fanned his wings out as far as he could, sure that if nothing else he would fight tooth and claw to delay the fate that seemed poised to have its way with him. But not before the eggs were safe, that he had to make sure of. The fate of the future depended on it.

End of Chapter 1

Note from the author:

The character of Pyra is not a fan character but is in fact a character that was originally created for the Legend of Spyro series but never made the final cut. According the LOS concept artist, Jared Pullen, he was meant to be Ignitus's battle squire with his own backstory and plot but these were never fleshed out. He can be briefly seen in a flashback sequence of "A New Beginning". That being said, my depiction of him is my own and does not follow the original artists vision.