Chapter 18
"Spyro? Are you awake?"
Spyro stirred. "I am now. Who is it?"
"It's me, Darion. I need to talk to you."
Spyro slowly stretched and got up. "The sun isn't even up. Well, barely."
"Lets talk on that hill," he told him as they walked. "Do you really think we can save my sister?"
"Of course. They don't outnumber us by much. Ripto isn't even a lot help since he doesn't have his scepter." Spyro looked at him. "That's not really on your mind, is it?"
Darion looked at the sleeping dragons below them. "Not exactly."
"What's on your mind then?"
Darion turned to Spyro. "Do you like my sister?" he asked suddenly.
Spyro blushed. "Yeah. She's great. You must be proud."
He smiled. "Your right. She has always been the apple of my eye. It still kinda surprises me that she's getting older. It just ached my heart that I couldn't play with her as a real brother." He looked sad. "I worry so much about her." Darion gazed at the dragons again.
"I still think there's something else on your mind, though," Spyro said following Darion's gaze. He was basically looking at Sarina. "You like her, don't you?"
"Yeah."
"Do you talk to her?"
"Some. But I basically watch from afar." (*author rolls her eyes*)
Spyro looked at him. "Just be nice to her. You don't have to anything drastic. If you want her to like you, just be yourself."
"Be myself?" he repeated.
Spyro nodded.
Darion shrugged. "I guess there's not much to lose."
"Well, maybe losing her forever," Spyro said teasingly.
"That makes me feel a whole lot better," Darion replied sarcastically.
The sun was rising over the cliffs. Slowly, the dragons began to awaken.
"I think we should go back," Spyro suggested.
They walked back to the group and headed for Azurite and Diamond.
Azurite yawned. "Should we do some exercises before we leave?" he asked Spyro.
He nodded. "Okay, is everyone freshened up a bit?" he asked the others.
The dragons nodded. "What should we do?" a dragon asked.
Spyro smiled. "Your favorite exercise. Okay, roll, roll, roll, jump!"
They groaned, but did it anyway.
"I guess this does loosens up my muscles!" Sarina exclaimed.
"Yeah," Darion agreed.
Spyro waited a couple of seconds. "Okay. Do you feel relaxed a bit?"
They all nodded.
"I'll bring Charisma over here," Spyro said.
Azurite looked at him confused. "I thought we were going over to the Dark Valley."
"If the others follow," Spyro explained, "we'll have the home advantage." He turned to Darion. "Gather some others. I have feeling that Melvelle will be waiting."
One by one, stronger than ever, the dragons exited the cliff.
We're coming, Charisma, Spyro thought solemnly.
"Do you want to go for a walk, Charisma?" Devlin asked.
"Not really. I feel kind of tired," she lied.
"Well, if you do want to outside, there's a courtyard right outside your window. You can just glide down if you want."
"You're kind of giving me a lot of freedom, don't you think?" Charisma asked suspiciously.
"Just so you can feel right at home." He turned and left.
"Right at home," she muttered. "Yeah right!"
"Maybe you should go out into the courtyard," Sparx suggested. "It's not really a pretty day outside, but it's not gloomy, either. I guess it's in between."
Charisma sighed. "I guess I should get some fresh air. That is, if you want to call their air fresh."
"Go ahead. I'll stay hidden."
She glanced at the balcony hesitantly. "Okay." She walked onto the balcony, took a deep breath and glided down to the courtyard. I guess it is kind of nice, she thought when she landed. I just wish Spyro was here to share it with me. She walked around a bit and sat by a fountain.
"So do you like it? I conjured it up myself."
Charisma spun around. "Oh. Melvelle."
Melvelle grinned. "Yes, it's me." She jumped onto the rim of the fountain. "You know, Devlin isn't all that bad. He's handsome, reasonable, and he respects you."
"Not to mention evil." Charisma glanced at her. "Why are you talking to me, anyway? We're enemies."
"Well, when Devlin takes you as a bride, I guess I should restart, don't you?"
Charisma glared at her. "I am never going to take his hand in marriage! I hate him!"
"That's what I'm here for. Just look into the fountain."
Charisma laughed. "Yeah right. You know I'm not that stu –" she stopped when she turned around. "She's gone!" she exclaimed.
"No my dear. I'm right behind you!"
Charisma jumped away just as a hand tried to grab her. "Try to catch me if you can!" she yelled behind her as she ran into the maze. I hope I don't lose myself in here.
"Fool!" Melvelle laughed. "You know I can use my magic to find you!"
Exactly. I'll hide near the entrance and run out.
"Where are you?" Melvelle said laughing.
Just a little more, Charisma thought. There! She ran right out of the maze.
"Hey!" Melvelle roared. She changed into a griffin. This suits me better. I'll be able to pluck her up from the sky! she thought wickedly.
Charisma kept on running. Great! Just what I need. Something that flies. She skidded in front of a wall. "Oh no!" she cried. "I'm trapped!" Charisma had accidentally ran into a corner and Melvelle was blocking the only way out.
"I'm coming Charisma!"
"Spyro!" Charisma cried relieved.
"What the?" Melvelle asked confused looking around. "Where are you?"
"Up here, melon head!" Spyro yelled as he swung down on a vine. (Look! Spyro is a Tarzan wannabe now!) He grabbed Charisma and swung over the wall. (Again…how…? O.o)
"You know, you could have glided down to my rescue," Charisma said when they landed.
Spyro shrugged. "I always wanted to do that." He looked up to see Melvelle heading straight toward them. "But we're not out of the blue yet! Come on!"
They ran straight ahead and whenever they came upon a hedge, they barreled right through it. Melvelle was gaining ground. Spyro glanced back. "We're almost there!"
"Where?" Charisma asked confused.
"Just follow me."
"There's no one to help you now!" Melvelle called behind them wickedly.
"Keep on going! I'll hold her off!" he told Charisma as he skidded to a stop.
"No! You'll get killed!"
Spyro winked at her. "I know what I'm doing. Now go!"
Charisma ran on and stopped when she saw Sparx. "Sparx! What are you doing here?"
"I'm part of the plan. Follow me to somewhere safer. Spyro will be fine." He pointed behind Melvelle's shoulder.
Charisma grinned.
All the while, Spyro was standing in front of Melvelle. "It wouldn't be a fair fight if you were a griffin, you know."
She sighed. "All right." She turned into a dragon. "Happy now?"
Spyro smiled. "Very." He looked over her shoulder. "Okay, now!"
"Hey!" she yelled as nets flew over her.
"We got her, Spyro!" Darion told him triumphantly.
"Put her somewhere and go back. I'll get Devlin and his minions." He swiftly turned around and went on the path Sparx and Charisma took.
"So Spyro's tougher than he looks," Devlin said when Ripto told him of Melvelle's capture. "We're going to have to do this on our own."
"But how, son?" Rex asked.
"Let's take care of the other dragons first," he commanded with an evil glint in his eye.
"You think he's going to be okay?" Ripto whispered to Rex as they walked on.
"I think so. Let's go round the troops."
Once Rex and Ripto gathered their troops, they headed toward the front. When they reached the door, they charged through. They were a little surprised to see Spyro there.
"What took you so long?" Spyro asked. "I'd thought you'd never come."
"YOU! YOU!!!!!!!!!" Ripto ran for him, but Rex held him back.
"Calm down!" Rex commanded firmly.
"I'm sorry. I…I don't know what came over me."
Devlin looked around. "Where are the other dragons?" he asked suspiciously.
"Somewhere," he said grinning and took off.
"Follow him!" Rex commanded.
They tore off after him.
What is he doing? Devlin wondered. He's heading for the portal.
Well, I know they took the bait, Spyro thought. He took one glance back and jumped into the portal when he was right in front of it.
"Keep on going!" a voice commanded behind them.
Rex turned around to see Brutus. He smiled. "We thought you wouldn't make it!"
By now, Brutus had caught up to him. "Was I ever late?"
They charged into the portal.