A/n

Here is the next chapter, again the story in general overall has not change, but details have, so enjoy the story!

Chapter 20: He's your What?!

-Neutral pov-

There are facts that take individuals by surprise and some of those can be prepared for where other it is less so. The twists and turns that happen during the course of a day would tend to fall into those that can be prepared for. However, upheavals and the like are much harder to predict, let alone prepare for. Both can come in different shapes and sizes and Saber himself is well-aware of this idea through experience.

So then dear reader, you may be asking what sort of thing or fact could catch Saber off-guard with what he had been dealing with thus far. What with being in a world he knows so little about and having apes and monkeys attempting to kill him, there would be little else that could shake Saber right? In that, you would be unfortunately wrong, since fate hand in hand with irony can be cruel mistresses indeed.

-Saber's pov-

As we walked towards the village Pyris and Blaze were prancing about in front of us as if nothing was wrong even when they had been in trouble earlier. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the sight of them acting as they were and it made me wonder, why is it lately I find myself being given the job of babysitting dragons? It appears that even the young of dragon kind have short term memory problems whether intentional or not. Their action said the pair had forgotten what trouble they had been in which if we hadn't interceded might have been serious and life-threatening. The two seemed to be equivalent to children as they rarely think of the consequences of their actions for them or others. Still, I suppose that is what kids are like of any race or species, they still have so much to learn.

Seth sighed as he looked at the two, and I glanced over at him, "They remind you of someone Seth," I asked pointedly.

"Yes, Cyra does come to mind, not that it is completely a bad thing, just," Seth replied, trailing off.

I could figure out what wasn't being said fairly easily, "Can wear you down after a while, right," I posed and Seth nodded in response.

A sad truth to be sure, but it is the way things are I have found. There are some who grow up physically, but mentally don't so much and it does show outwardly. Don't get me wrong, I think a cheerful disposition is a nice idea and all, but for those of us that are realists and rely on realistic thinking, there is a point when it goes too far. Cyra is a wonderful example, she is a great dragoness, she also is cheerful and an optimist and that's wonderful. However, take last night as a proof of concept, she saw Seth and me talking and stargazing. She misconstrued that for us having fun without her, she then proceeded to leap, literally onto us and play. Out of that Seth got some bruises and I get a splitting headache and nearly suffocate added to the injuries that I am still healing from my... disagreement with Terrador. So, like I was saying nice idea until it goes too far and Cyra had gone too far in that instance.

Around an hour later we came around the mountains and into sight of a village nestled into a slight valley below. The village was a fair size as villages go though I wouldn't know very much in that comparison. What is interesting was cheetahs, moles and dragons seemed to be living together without fighting with one another or having problems, kind of like Warfang to a degree. I mean, in society to have multiple large groups live in the same area without disagreements and scuffles are unnatural to me. I guess it is cool that places like this prove that it can be done and yet, it also shows humans create many of their own issues which don't feel nice.

Pyris and Blaze became excited at the sight of the village, "We are back safely, nothing to worry about Blaze," Pyris announced.

"Yeah so we did," Blaze grumbled.

Do my ears deceive me, or is there no reference to the trouble they were in and that our group got them out of? I'll have none of that and as the 'unofficial leader,' it is one of the perks I get to use when I see fit. I cleared my throat to get their attention, "Don't forget that we helped you get back safely for had we not, you would be worrying about a lot I assume," I remarked.

Seth smiled at my comment, Cyra giggled as did Sarana, while Ruben just nodded slightly in agreement with my sentiment. Pyris and Blaze got quiet due to my pitch I just gave to them and didn't argue the point which was what I had been going for. We approached the entrance of the village when a dragon notices the two younger dragons and came up to us. "Pyris, Blaze there you are, where have you been? Do you know how worried everyone is," he asked.

The dragon for he was male, quickly seemed to notice our presence after speaking to the two young dragons. He had green scales the shade of forest moss and brown underbelly and wing membranes. He looked from one to another of our group, I caught sight of his eyes and they were a light blue. He had two horns on the side of his head that curve down the back of his head. I leaned to the side to catch a glimpse of his tail blade and the said tail blade look a great deal like the master sword. The sword from that game… the one that an individual from the dojo would play a great deal… what was it, "The Legend Of Zelda," I think? (A/n I am Not trying to abuse any copyright here, so don't report this as such.)

I guess it would be best to do introductions first, "Hello there, we hope you do not mind the five of us bringing these two back here," I greeted.

The green dragon shook his head slowly as he stared at me with confusion, "Um what are you? I have never seen anything like you," he questioned.

Ruben was about to answer when I put a hand on his shoulder and shook my head slightly. I could answer for myself, so I don't need others to do it for me, "Yes, I get that reaction often. I am a human, not an ape and my name is Saber, who might you be?"

"It is Link," he replied

I blinked for I can't have heard correctly, it would be far too whimsical and ironic, those two working together are not kind to me. Fate, I will admit has an odd and ridiculous sense of humor at times, but it was really pushing it if I had heard correctly. I don't need fate and irony ganging up on me, I have enough crap I'm dealing with to bring that mix down on me. "I beg your pardon, can you say that again," I asked.

"My name is Link," he repeated.

The same name as the character from the game, so I wasn't hearing things wrong it would seem. I had gotten to know more than I had wanted from my previously mentioned individual on the subject of the before mentioned game. His tale blade on a second inspection looked exactly like the 'Master Sword' from the game too. I wasn't comforted by what I was seeing or hearing for it inferred that fate and irony were allying against me and I don't like that. Well, I guess I might as well see how far this bad joke would go for, "This may sound like an odd question, but are you from a place called Hyrule," I questioned.

Link nodded in answer to my question, "That is the name of this village, but how would you know that" he inquired.

The response was involuntary, a hand came up and slapped my forehead at comprehending just how ridiculous this was getting. What deity is laughing at my situation now, for I feel like I should ask 'am I on candid camera'? I know I shouldn't ask, but is there a way for this to get any more ridiculous?

"He has probably run off somewhere," said a voice.

I froze on the spot at hearing that voice and I felt a vein begin to pop on my forehead as is seemingly now ingrained. I would know that voice anywhere, there was no way I could forget the voice that annoyed me unlike any other. But it had been a long hard past week so maybe, just maybe I was just hearing things, I can hope.

Cyra looked at me worried, "Saber are you okay, you look mad about something," she asked.

I forced a smile back at her, which did not seem to decrease her worry, "Oh nothing Cyra, I just think I am hearing things at the moment," I answered.

Ruben and Seth looked at me curiously, Ruben spoke up first, "Hearing things like what?"

I would have replied, but then came the voice again, "I swear it is like being around him again, with all the abuse I get."

I sighed in forced resignation at hearing that voice again for it contradicted my wish blatantly and I dislike that happening. Okay, something happening once I could write it off as my mind playing cruel tricks on me, but twice I have to admit the event as reality. My voice came out low, "Why," I said with tones of annoyance, "does it have to be him? Why does he have to be the first out of the three that we see?!"

"Because it is him, it does not make it easier, but that is how it is," Seth remarked and when I looked at his face and he had fallen expression.

I didn't disagree with Seth as I believed he was right about IC, but that didn't make the fact any easier to have to swallow. "I know that, but why does he have to be himself so dang much," I growled.

To say I wasn't happy at the turn of events that was the lightbulb with wings popping up would be an understatement. I had no interest or wish to be around the house fly that irks and attacks my sanity relentless. My health is bad enough already due to a previous unwise decision I had made, there is no need to add to that. Pyris and Blaze had started forward by this time as I looked up and saw that where the two had stopped, there was, unfortunately, a familiar golden glowing light with wings. Yes, none other than IC himself in front of us being himself as only he can be to the pain of some of us.

Pyris by what I can see had actually gotten into an argument with Sparx, which I would not have a problem with if not for the task that our group was here for. Out of reflex that I had developed since I had been in the dragon realm, I strode forward towards the lightbulb with wings. I assumed that the others were behind me, but I didn't look back to check as I was too focused on the bug. "Here I thought we would get a break from you," IC was saying.

Within seconds, I had got into range of IC and my right arm shot out on its own accord catching and grasped the housefly. "Let me tell you IC, I was hoping for that too," I stated in greeting to the bug. "It has been a little while, but nowhere near long enough for my peace of mind ya light bulb with wings!"

Sparx appeared to be processing that I was holding him as Ruben had come up on my right side and just looked at me. "I know you said that you do not like Sparx, but do you really have to do this right now," he posed.

It wasn't that I disagreed with Ruben that there was pressing matters, but putting IC in his proper place is something I just can't help myself but do it. I turned to face Ruben and smiled, "If you are talking about torturing Sparx, then there is never a bad time for such an activity. However, I get the point, more pressing things to do, right," I asked.

Ruben nodded with a serious look set on his face, which said to get my priorities in order. I sighed and it took me a moment to force my hand do release IC and he hovers a short distance away. Seth then came up on my left glaring at Sparx, "If you can be of help, then you can tell us where Spyro and Cynder are," I snapped. I heard a giggle and I turned to see the one giggling was Sarana, "What is so funny Sarana?"

She looked at me with a smirk and I hate it when she smirks for it is a curse for me! "If only you were like this during our play time, it would make them so much more fun," she mused.

My face paled slightly at that reminder of that horrible experience I had been forced to go through. Still, I was in a foul enough a mood that I didn't feel the same fear I had yesterday, "I am not in the mood Sarana! I am the way I am around IC due to the fact I do not like him and he is a wonderful ventation receptacle! I am starting to think it would be easier to go through the events of my disagreement with Terrador again rather than this," I shot back. Then I turned back to Sparx and glared at him with annoyance, "So, do you know where Spyro and Cynder are or are you, as usual, no help whatsoever?"

IC huffed at me, "Yes they're here," he said

I waited for a moment for the bug to go on, but he didn't show that Sparx was as helpful as usual. He just chattered away as he has a habit of doing and I was getting more than just a little ticked. So, to give him proper motivation to get on task, I looked around for something to work with. I couldn't use my weapons since they would present high possibilities of permanent harm and I couldn't do that. It's due to the respect I have for Spyro, as well as the promise I have made to him to be nicer to Sparx. And I try to avoid permanent harm yet, that didn't by any means hinder me to the point that I can't hurt Sparx, just not lasting injury! I quickly spotted a medium thick sapling branch lying on the ground not too far from me. I smiled at the idea forming in my mind as I went over and picked up the branch.

The lightbulb with wings was still chattering away when I put my left foot forward, swung the branch behind me as I wind up, "I have had enough of you already you oversized snitch, BATTER UP," I announced before swinging hard and was satisfied at I heard Sparx's voice get quieter as he shot away with the force I had hit him with. I grinned broadly at my work, "That felt good, that felt really good to do that!"

Seth was trying not to laugh, while Cyra just fell over laughing at what I had done, while Sarana was chuckling, but Ruben was shaking his head. I got the feeling that someone looking at me and I looked around to find the person that was watching me. My gaze stopped on Pyris and Blaze and I realized they were the ones who I was watching me. Pyris was looking at me with a look close to worship, his tail was wagging, and it reminded me of a dog. Blaze was just looking at me with an impressed expression. "Um what is with that look Pyris," I questioned.

"That was awesome," exclaimed Pyris, "That was so amazing what you did to Sparx. You were like 'that is enough' and then Whack, you hit him and he goes zooming away."

I smiled and was attempting not to laugh, but managed only to hold it to a snickered. I was starting to like Pyris which was odd. I have nothing against children or those who are a sizable amount younger than me, I just don't deal well with them. I don't know what it is, whether it is their whining or their lack of understanding, heck it could be something else entirely. The fact of the matter is I don't get along with children normally. Pyris however, I liked though I do have a bias in that for anyone that dislikes Sparx gets a big plus in my estimation. My thoughts returned to the matters at hand as I reminded myself that there were more important things to do at this time. I glance over to where Link was, and he was just standing there watching us. I cleared my throat to get his complete attention, "Link could you direct us to where the dragon or dragoness in charge around here might be," I asked

Link seems to think for a moment, "You would be looking for Salena then," he replied.

I shrugged in response as honestly, it didn't make a difference at this time what the name of the one in charge was yet. We just need someone that knows what's going on around here as they would be the most likely able to help us. "If this Salena is the one who runs things and keeps the order around here then yes," I answered.

Link nodded, "She does do that. She is in the center of the village the last I heard. I can take you there if you want," he offered.

Finally, some potential progress being made, so I nodded in acceptance of the offer, "That would be nice if you could," I said.

I turned to the others, saw they were still acting up from the recent scene and did what the unofficial leader had to do. "Okay you lot, break, rest or whatever you want to call it is over now. It is time to get to work again," I stated. So is the job of the unofficial leader of the group, which position I seem to have by default I suppose.

It took five minutes or so before we finally got our act together and Link led the way into the village. Pyris and Blaze had fallen into step with us, just like they had been with us from the outset, which none of us said anything about. There was nothing wrong per se with the two younger dragons being with us, but they were part of the original group.

When we reached the equivalent to a village square I saw many dragons, dragonesses, moles, and cheetahs running around doing various tasks. They all appeared to be taking orders from a dragoness with dark blue scales. Her underbelly of the color white as newly fallen snow it was the same for wing membranes. I saw that she had two horns that curve downward at the tips. Unfortunately, I couldn't see her tail blade from this distance so I would glance at it when we were closer. Actually, when I look at her she reminds me a lot of Cyra, just older, odd that would be the case. I would assume that this dragoness was Salena, the one that Link had mentioned as she was definitely doing what the one in charge would do. As we approached the center of the square where Salena was, I caught some conversation from those around us.

"Thank goodness Salena is here."

"If not for her there would be widespread panic."

Hmm, there is quite an opinion of her that the general public has and there were other inferences with what was being whispered. First, there had been an event that was not nice that had happened recently and there was cleanup going on now. Second, Salena was the stabilizing figure that many relied upon around here were I to guess. It was then that I heard Salena's voice, "Please keep calm everyone, the apes have attacked recently yes, but they did not gain anything from it. There is no need to fear as we come together as one group there is nothing that cannot be done."

That is one hell of a speech, kind of sounds like one Cyril might give. I had gotten to know the Blue dragon a good deal better during my recovery time. My first impression had been correct that we were of similar minds where logical thinking was concerned. This dragoness was similar as well, but she had something more… oh, what is the term… a parental kind of feel, no more than that, maternal more maybe. Yes, I would say Salena was what one would call motherly in many ways. Then there were more details on the 'event' that had occurred, the ones responsible were none other than the apes. And I get the hunch that at least one monkey would have likely been involved as they seemed to be the ones doing the dirty work.

The group around Salena disbursed and once they had, she then saw our group, "Ah Link, there you are. Pyris and Blaze it is good to see you are safe though I cannot say I have had the pleasure of meeting your traveling companions," she said.

I was about to give out the introductions when Cyra pushed passed me. I glanced over at her wondering what she was doing only to find Cyra had a very happy expression on her face. "Auntie Salena," she cried.

Cyra then bounded forward, nearly throwing herself at Salena, which was followed by her rubbing her head against the lower neck and chest of Salena. Hold on back up for a moment, did Cyra just say Auntie Salena, or were my ears plugged up? Let's assume that my hearing was working correctly, Cyra clearly knows Salena and she is likely family in some way, shape or form. Although, there had been nothing mentioned in this by anyone before now that I remember.

"Cyra it is so wonderful to see you again," Salena greeted, "You have grown an amount I see since last I saw you. But what are you doing here?"

Cyra just kept rubbing her head against Salena's lower neck and chest, "It has been five years Auntie."

Not that this reunion isn't nice and all, but there were things that needed to be done and the sooner the better I say. So, I cleared my throat to draw attention to me, "I am not trying to ruin this wonderful moment, but we kind of need to ask some questions of you Salena," I stated.

Salena took a full minute to study me, which made me think that she hadn't given me much of a glance before. Now, she was getting a good look at me, she even sniffed at me clearly trying to figure out what I was. I just stood still as this is a 'normal' reaction that I get since getting to the Dragon Realm. I found that it was just easier to let dragons or dragonesses do this as it will tell them somehow that I am not the same as the apes the majority of the time. After her investigations she backed up and looked at me curiously, "You are strange to me, different than anything I have encountered, what are you? You may look somewhat like an ape, but you smell nothing like them."

That's what I pretty much expected however, this reminds me of one of the conversations I had with Cyril. "Yes, I know I may look like an ape, but I am absolutely not one of them. If anything, then I would say I am at the top of their hit list," I replied.

"Hit list," Seth asked.

I glanced over at him seeing that he was giving the explanation look once again, "Hitlist refers to a list a group has of people they would like to be rid of or kill if you want to get blunter about it," I returned simply.

Salena chuckled at my statement, "You say that as if it was a feat of valor," she remarked.

Being on a hit list being a feat of valor, now that is quite amusing, to tell the truth, as much for the validity of it as it was the irony. To be on and likely close to the top of the list apes had of those they wanted to be rid of is an achievement in my view. And if I had my way, I would get to that top position soon enough and I would hold it for a while. The downside would be that such would have me dealing with Mara and those like her on a regular basis. But, that's how it goes so, I couldn't help but smile and laugh at that, "Ha ha ha, you know Cyril said pretty much the same thing."

Salena looked surprised at what I said, "You know Cyril," she asked.

"I sure do, I will admit we are getting along better than we did at first. But that is how some relationships go, rocky at first before they smooth out. So how do you know him," I posed.

Yet, it was Cyra that was the one to answer my question, "Auntie Salena is Uncle Cyril's mate."

Oh, of course, I should have guessed something like that, silly me, I don't know that kind of stuff intuitively. That's becoming a growing issue to me, that dragons seem to have subjects that they all seem to know and they expect others to know them too. One of a list of points that I have with how 'draconic tradition' says things show work. Ruben stepped forward at that point, "It is good to see you again Salena," he greeted.

So, then am I the only one that is meeting Salena for the first time, or is it just me that feels out of place here? And yet, for some reason that I can't explain logically at all, I have little issue with this internally when I should. It's bugging the hell out of me that this is becoming almost commonplace when it never has been before now.

Salena glanced over at Ruben and then at Sarana, then Salena smiled, "It is good to see you again as well Ruben. I am more surprised that you are here Sarana, especially after the disagreement you had with Terrador, I did not expect to see you again much at all," she said.

Sarana looked down at the ground at Salena's mentioning of Terrador, "I got included into this for whatever reason," she commented.

I looked at her with a brow raised, because that isn't how I recall things going when we were being given our marching orders. For whatever reason she says, I was under the impression that I was the main reason she came! She had said that in a rather disparaging tone but, as I recall she was not complaining when she found out I was going which only further proves my point. In fact, she was all on board with the idea with the fact of traveling with me in mind and the results hadn't been good for me in the slightest. Salena had looked to Seth the last of the five of us, "My Seth you have grown up quite a bit in five years into a fine young dragon. Tell me how is Spectra doing? She always seemed hesitant to let you leave her sight very long," Selena said.

"Well yes, she was like that until recently," Seth was saying.

The reason there had been the change with Spectra and that reason is me overall. It wasn't just the talk we had, there was more to it than that, my guess was the growth with Seth had done more of the convincing for Spectra than anything else. In fact, Salena looked back at me with a look of comprehension, "I see so this unusual one was able to change Spectra's ways."

I chuckled slightly as I HAD shaken up the way some things are done here in the Dragon Realm and I was proud of that thus far. "I don't know about me being the only reason that Spectra has changed. As to unusual, I am what is called a human," I put forth in my defense.

"A human is it," mused Salena, "very well, you said that you had some questions for me, please go ahead and ask them."

I took a moment to organize my thoughts before I began, "Well, first did a purple dragon and a black dragoness come around here recently? We are looking for two that fit those descriptions," I posed.

Salena answer me with a smile, which gave me some hope, "You must mean Spyro and Cynder."

That spurred the hope that had started to smolder within me to get stronger as Seth spoke up, "Yes, did they come by here?"

Salena nodded to Seth and that helped lift a sizable weight off my shoulders that worry about the two had been forcing down on me. At last news about the two after the four days of traveling, progress was being made. "Yes they did and still are here in this village," Salena replied.

That's even better, and like me, everyone other than me in our group looked relieved. That said feeling, however, lessened when I saw the pained look on Salena's face and knew there was more to it, "Spyro and Cynder, one of them, if not both are not in good condition, are they," I ask evenly.

The looks of relief turned into looks of worry in our group other than Sarana, who unlikely know Spyro and Cynder well if at all. Salena answered me calmly, "You are correct. When they arrived here they were both hurts from fighting a large group of apes that overwhelmed them. Spyro is recovering well, but Cynder's injuries have a distance to go."

Oh man, that didn't sound nice at all, I didn't like this as it gave worrisome implications. The fact that Spyro and Cynder were attacked along the way only confirmed my theory of a trap being set and by the sound of it, the trap had been to an extent successful. Spyro must be blaming himself in between worrying about Cynder and his own health. My question, on the other hand, would be was the trap set for them, or were they just meant to be the bait for others? And if it is the latter, then who were the apes hoping to catch, more questions that are unanswered, unfortunately. I looked back to Salena, "Could you tell us where they are so that we can make sure they are okay," I inquired.

Salena smiled once again and nodded, "Of course, Link please show them to the house where Spyro and Cynder are staying."

-Spyro's pov-

Cynder and I had been in this village for more than a week now since we had come here badly hurt from the apes attacking us. We had been checking on a piece of information that the Guardians had found out about a group of dragons to the north of Warfang. We were being sent out before Saber, Seth and Cyra had returned from searching for Ruben. I had wanted to wait for them to get back, but neither Cynder and I could say why we had wanted to wait as most of the Guardians did not know about them going out.

The journey had been fine up to the crossing of the Arid Lands, we had met no trouble up till that point. When we had come out of the Arid Lands, Cynder and I had found a lake that was named Lake Crystellus. We had soaked in the lake for a bit to get over the heat of the Arid Lands before we had continued on. It wasn't long after leaving the lake that Cynder and I had been ambushed by a number of apes that came out of nowhere. We fought them and were doing okay at first, but then there were two odd apes that appeared. They had been smaller than the rest of the apes but that wasn't the only difference there was.

One of the small apes had disabled Cynder with the weapon it had and I was forced to take Cynder and retreat from the apes. We had barely made it to this village as the apes kept taunting and attacking me as I flew away from them. The inhabitance of the village had helped Cynder and I along with looking after our injuries. The one that seemed to be in charge was a dragoness by the name of Salena and she was nice enough. We had been provided housing for the time it would take for both of us to recover, Cynder would need more time than me.

While we were around here I came across a dragon that was younger than me but did look quite similar to me. Really, he reminded me of Ignitus though smaller than him, even Cynder had said so. The dragon was normally accompanied by another who appeared to be around the same age. After talking to the dragon, I found out his name was Pyris and after further discussion, I learned more. Pyris had never met his father but had been told that his name and been Ignitus, which could not be the ancestors playing a cruel joke. He had been told that his father was off elsewhere doing things, which would not be wrong since Ignitus was the current Chronicler. The dragoness that was looking after Pyris and the other dragon was not their mother.

According to her, their mother had passed a few years ago, which if I was related to this dragon Pyris, meant that dragoness had possibly been my mother as well. That brought a sad feeling to my heart as I wished to know about my draconic origins and had not found out much. Yet, over the week that Cynder and I were here recovering, Pyris grew on me, but he didn't get along with Sparx at all. It wasn't as bad as it is between Saber and Sparx for those two seemed to only fight when they were around one another.

I was recovering from the injuries that I had gotten from the apes as the days had gone by, but Cynder was doing so much slower. That worried me as she was hit by the odd ape's weapon and that was the only difference I could come up with. Even red crystals had less effect than normal with Cynder, and all I was left to do was watch over her and pace around.

-Saber's pov-

Link nodded and then motioned us to follow him and we did so and the five of us plus Pyris and Blaze to my surprise went with Link. I wondered why Pyris and Blaze were following us, I mean, I would have expected those two to go back to wherever their families were here. We went to the far side of the village and Link stopped before a house. It was a simple wood structure, about I would guess about fifteen to twenty feet high and probably thirty feet long by twenty to twenty-five from front to back. So, a fair size to me, but 'cozy' I suppose for dragons with the size difference between humans and dragons.

Pyris and Blaze once again surprised me by just going into the house without a knock or anything. Everyone seemed apprehensive of something, maybe that Spyro and Cynder were hurt or something like that. Yet, if that was the case I would think they would want to have visitors. I know I liked it when I got visitors during my stay in the healer wing and I didn't get those as often as would have been appreciated, but I kept my mouth shut. Instead, I closed the distance to the doorway and gave a knock rather than just going right in, manners and everything. I heard voices from within, I identified two of them to be Pyris and Blaze.

With no answer to my knock, parted the cloth that was being used as a door and I stepped into the house and glanced around. It seems to be divided into two rooms, one for sleeping and the other for everything else by what I was seeing. I spotted a familiar purple tail poking out of the smaller of the two rooms and smiled, "Hey Spyro, I think it is normally considered rude to not even answer the door when someone knocks," I stated.

A moment later, Spyro came out into the main room with a look of disbelief on his face, "Saber, is that you," he exclaimed.

I put a finger to my chin as if I was in thought, "Were you expecting someone else? Because if so, you should look outside for I am not the only one here to find you Spyro."

Spyro walked over to the door, I followed behind him with a grin knowing what he was about to get. "Spyro you're okay," Seth stated happily.

"Yay, you're all right," Cyra announced in her normal cheerful and bubbly tone.

"It is good to see that you are okay," Ruben said looking extremely relieved.

Spyro went wide-eyed at seeing Ruben there, "Ruben you're all right," he said.

I snorted at Spyro's exclamation, not because it was already old news to us. It was that he doubted that Seth, Cyra and I would not bring Ruben back to Warfang safely, "Did you ever doubt that Seth, Cyra and I would not help Ruben back just fine," I asked. "It took a bit of time, but as your friends, you better believe we deliver on what we say."

Pyris walked up to Spyro's left side, "Spyro just worries," he piped up.

Spyro smiles at Pyris, "Maybe so Pyris, but I do so for good reason. Now, where did you sneak off to this morning, you too Blaze?"

The two young dragons looked away from Spyro at his question and to me, this was getting more interesting by the second. It was obvious that Spyro knew these two and well, so what is their relationship? I guess the best and quickest way would be to ask directly, "Um, Spyro this may not have anything to do with me, but I have a question for you," I stated.

Spyro glanced over at me, "What is it," he asked.

"Well I was wondering, it is clear that you know Pyris and Blaze, so what is the relationship between you three," I questioned.

"Oh that," Spyro said, "Pyris is my brother and Blaze is a brother-like cousin."

My mouth fell open at hearing what Spyro just said, for my ears said that Spyro just called Pyris brother. Whoa, talk about a feeling of déjà vu… it's freaky. Although, at least Pyris looks similar to Spyro and is even the same species, unlike IC. Spyro hadn't mentioned much other than the family the dragonflies that raised him, so this was out of left field. Everyone including myself was silent at what Spyro had just said, showing that we were all in shock from the announcement. "Spyro did you just say brother, like Sparx," I asked. Spyro just nodded in response, "Okay let's hear the story," I said.

Spyro began his story by telling us about the mission that the guardians had sent Cynder and himself on. They were to look into the rumor that we had been told by the Guardians before we set out to search. Spyro and Cynder took a similar path as my group had, and things had been going fine until after they got across the Arid Lands. Like us, they had stopped around Lake Crystellus, and that's where things started going wrong.

He told us of how they had been ambushed by the apes just beyond the lake and the fight had started fine but hadn't stayed that way for long. By what Spyro described, my suspicions of a monkey being involved was vindicated for it sounded like one was in the fight. Said monkey was also responsible for much of the injuries that Spyro and Cynder had gotten from the fight. They had gotten away and barely made it here to this village before the apes left them alone. The description of the 'odd ape' didn't give enough for me to make a guess as to which monkey it could have been that hurt Spyro and Cynder.

While Spyro and Cynder had been recovering they had by chance met Pyris and Blaze. Spyro had noticed that there was an incredible resemblance between Pyris, Ignitus and himself or rather Cynder had brought that up. I couldn't speak for Ignitus, but Spyro and Pyris did bear a notable resemblance to one another. Pyris apparently, said he had never met his father, but said that his father's name was Ignitus and that he was doing things elsewhere as told to him by the dragoness that had been raising him and Blaze. The dragoness wasn't Pyris's mother, but she had known her somehow, Spyro didn't go into detail with that subject. This also seemed to confirm Spyro's guess of Ignitus being his father, which said purple dragon didn't deny.

As for how Blaze related, one of his parents had been related to Spyro's and Pyris's mother supposedly. Blaze's parents had been killed in the war against Malefor and so, he had been raised by Pyris's and Spyro's mother. This was why Pyris and Blaze were as close as a brother that was how they were raised. Said dragoness had died in recent years, but no details on that event and none of us asked for more. The story when on from there into less important details that were the nitty picky to me. There came a point that I got Spyro to pause so that I could speak, "So, let me check to see if I have the facts straight," I stated. "Pyris is the son of Ignitus which would make him your brother." Spyro and Pyris nodded, so I continued, "Blaze is strictly speaking your cousin, but is more like a brother to Pyris."

They both nodded again, to which I sighed as this was one of those situations that are not something I like to get into myself. And it's not that I didn't believe them, it was this was just unexpected. Yet, there was one question that was nagging at me, "One other question Spyro, if Pyris is around thirteen years old and you are eighteen or twenty-one if you count the three years you and Cynder spent in frozen it a crystal, there is about an eight year age gap clearly. So, when did Ignitus have the time to have a mate and," I stopped, coming to the conclusion that it wasn't worth asking. "Well, actually never mind, it is not important at this time. So, how is Cynder doing Spyro?"

Spyro's gaze fell to the floor at my question, "She is," Spyro paused, "still recovering."

That didn't bode well, "How bad did she get hurt," I posed.

Spyro's gloomy expression was far more an answer to me and I didn't blame him for how he felt. His mate was healing and all he could do was sitting by and watch, it had to be pure torture for him. "She was doing okay until some strange small ape hit her in the underbelly with a straight pole of some sort," Spyro comment.

That sentence was an eye opener, for if that were true, then I can likely identify who it was that hurt Cynder. I walked up to Spyro upon hearing that, put my hands on either side of his head and forced him to look me directly in the face. "Are you absolutely sure about that Spyro," I asked in a serious tone.

"Yes, why," he questioned.

I let Spyro go, and sighed as I drew back a little getting a bigger picture as to what had befallen Spyro and Cynder. That monkey Exis was very likely the one that had put Cynder in the state she was in, she was the only one I'd seen with a pole as a weapon. "I think I have met the 'ape' that you are talking about. She is a little less than three feet high and uses a pole that is called a staff if I am not mistaken. If she used said staff on Cynder in any way I have seen, then she is going to need time to get up from that," I remarked.

As I gave an approximation of her height when I said this, Spyro looked at me before saying, "You have seen this ape?"

I nodded, "Kind of hard not to see her when she is trying to kill me. I tend to pay better attention when others try to do that," I returned.

Other questions came about the odd apes, but I was silent and ignored them as I was considered the facts I'd been learning about the monkeys. I mean, it was good and all that we had found Spyro and Cynder, and I was happy about that. However, finding out that not only were the two ambushed which I would expect but that it was done by one of the Silent Killers, specifically, Exis worries me. Each monkey had proven to me that they were dangerous overall and were individually dangerous in different ways. The major issue that I foresee is that none of the other races seemed to know about the monkeys and that was bad. I had the feeling that this mission was far from over, in fact, I think that the journey up to this point would be the easy part. This means the worst was yet to come and that just spells trouble more so with me being involved.

A/n

And that's where chapter 20 will leave off, hope you're liking the rewrite please some of you take the time to write reviews, thank you for reading this.