A/n

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

Chapter 23: Transient Day

-Neutral pov-

The line 'the calm before the storm' has a number of inferences and uses both literal and metaphorical. The phrase originates from weather specifically from the period before storms which is its literal meaning. However, the phrase has come to mean the time before a chaotic event. One has hard times seeing what is calm of a storm or what is not, Saber would be no different other than his luck and other factors providing harsher storms.

-Saber's pov-

We had finished our hearty breakfast in little time, for apparently, I hadn't been the only one who was hungry this morning. Spyro, Seth and I had finished our hearty breakfast in little time, for apparently, I hadn't been the only one who was hungry this morning. The breakfast consisted of meat of unknown origin along with roots and herbs. When I had first seen the 'food', specifically the meat my first thought had been 'What the hell is this?!' I think since arriving here in the dragon realm, I have seen the most variation in color with the meats and other foods that I have seen I had ever thought possible or healthy. I had figured that it was better not to question if those I'm friendly with aren't hesitating to eat the food because it was doing that or go hungry. In that type of situation, the stomach will win out, so thank goodness my stomach is a whole other league when it comes to digesting the food I eat! I have eaten some REALLY strange things that I don't want to talk or think about when I'm soon to eat a meal and will likely do so in the future for whatever reason.

Well, the meal was tasty despite its appearance, so no complaint from me. I leaned back a bit to stretch, reveling in the feeling of a full stomach. When was the last time I had a healthy and good size meal? It had been at least before our trek to find Spyro. For I had learned a fact I had always suspected, but now could confirm, hospital food is awful anyway, that had been weeks ago. It was then Spyro let out a belch, no elemental additive this time though that didn't diminish the volume which I had to say was substantial that brought me out of my thoughts. It was a pretty nice belch that was all I had to say, Spyro it would seem is a natural when it comes to belching, unlike his brother. "Oh nice one Spyro, breakfast that good eh," I questioned. Spyro looked at me with the 'explanation look' and I rolled my eyes, "In some of the places in the human realm it is considered a compliment even good manners to belch, it is a way to say the food was good. It is a mannerism that I can totally agree with," I stated.

"Well if you say so, then," I had just enough time to turn my head to Seth when he let out a belch loud and it went on for about ten seconds long. I felt both of my eyebrows shoot up in sheer amazement. Wow, Seth had just belched in such a way it could impress me, which was saying something! YET! I wasn't about to be shown up or outdone, not if I have anything to say about it which I certainly did!

I nodded, "Very good Seth," I gained a smirk, "but now, it is my turn."

I took a deep breath and then released a belch that started low and quiet but gained volume and strength as it continued, and it lasted for a good fifteen seconds before I was done. The furniture we sat on was shaking slightly by the end from the vibrations my belch was projecting. Both Spyro and Seth were looking at me with shock, and I just smiled, "And that is the sign that the tank is full," I announced simply.

Spyro and Seth just started laughing, "Well, it seems you three are having a good time with each other," called out a voice that was Cynder's.

I looked around only to see Cynder and Cyra approaching us for the last time she had been around my belches, she hadn't taken them well. I studied her for a second and seeing she wasn't hostile to me I took that to give myself peace of mind. "Well good morning and how are you, two wonderful ladies, this fine morning," I greeted.

Both of the dragonesses stopped in their approach and stared at me with surprise, "You seem to be in a better mood today," said Cyra in her normal way and I glanced over to her and smiled.

"Yes, I guess I am," I admitted. "I was able to get some things off my chest and feel much better. How can I not when I having a blast having guy time with Spyro and Seth."

Spyro then interjected his piece then, "We have come to an understanding," he clarified.

"Yes and we are all good with it," Seth added.

I smiled at Seth's comment, it was completely true even if I said it in a different way than I did. I turned back to the dragonesses, "So have you ladies had breakfast?" Both shook their heads, I gestured to the table we were at for them to sit, "Well, have a seat and have something to eat then."

After the dragonesses had eaten, we all got up, thanked the cheetah that had served the meal to us all. We then started off through the village and as we walked through the village, we walked in two separate parties. The one in front was Spyro and Cynder, then there was Seth, Cyra and me slightly behind. I sped up my pace to catch up with Spyro and Cynder to see what they might be chatting about. I came to walk on Spyro's right side while Cynder was on his left, Cynder looked over at me then glanced over to Spyro, she frowned slightly. "Spyro and Saber you should really be in bed the both of you," she posed.

Spyro had a quick retort ready for Cynder's comment, "Cynder we cannot stay in bed, there are things to do," he stated.

I had to add to Spyro's line with some of my own two cents though it would most likely get Spyro and me into trouble. It is just how it tends to work with me, "We are fine Cynder, we are well on our way on the road to recovery, so do not worry so much."

I instantly regretted adding my two cents with the look that both Spyro and I got from Cynder. Well, to say it was one of disbelief and poisonous fury would be an understatement. She was giving a look that said 'really' with a huge deal of sarcasm and with venom and I didn't think it goes well for either of us, but… I don't think I knew what I had just earned! My suspicions were confirmed when Cynder swung her hips and tapped Spyro's left side around his ribs. At the same time, I felt a sharp tap on the middle of my upper back, from I would guess was Cynder's tail. The burning pain shot through my back and it became very hard to stand on my feet and I knew it!

This was one of those times that my two cents get me into trouble, so why do I see the need to put my two cents in when I know it will end badly? Oh yeah right, because I wouldn't be me if I didn't do so. I turned slightly to see Spyro had sunk to his haunches, he was shaking in pain. Well, when in Rome do as the Romans do I guess? I finally gave up on the losing battle of staying on my feet and went to my knees. I looked at Cynder, with a look of incredulity, "Cynder was that" I had to stop for a moment as I had an involuntary gasp rip from me, "really necessary?" The pain surged and I couldn't ignore it, "Gah, the pain."

It took a few minutes for Spyro and me to regain our bearings, though a glance at Spyro told me that he was ignoring the pain he was feeling the same as I was doing. We continued on through the village when a humming and a laugh that had become all too familiar to me in the last few days I had been forced and haunted to heard. They were sounds that sent chills down my spine and ones that sent fear through me due to the… terrible memories that came with them! Oh well, so much for a peaceful day to help recovery for someone is coming that I don't want to deal with.

Now, allow me to pause momentarily to explain something to you that comes up from time to time and there is a reason I do so. With the life I have lived through thus far I can say without any doubts a fact that I related to my bad luck again and again. That fact is namely religion even if I don't put much stock in the subject as logically theology has never made sense to me. The reason I state this is I blame a portion of me bad luck on what some call 'divine intervention', which by definition is a non-worldly force getting involved with something and changing its outcome. Most I have talked to would describe it as 'miraculous' helping intervention when referring to divine intervention, never have experienced that nope, I have the reverse of that idea.

You see, one could say I have been to hell and back more than once, so the Devil or Satan himself and I have become well acquainted with one another. To put it simply, we DON'T get along with each other the Devil and me, it's a mutual agreement between us. Honestly, it would be better to say that we hate one another for two major reasons, one, I am too nice of a guy for him to corrupt. And two, when it comes to causing trouble and chaos, I could give him a good and serious run for his money, and I doubt he would want a run for his position.

The other half of the dilemma that is divine intervention for me would be Heaven isn't any different for me. The Man Upstairs, or God I guess you could call him well, best to say we are in much the same standing as I am with the Devil. He doesn't like me as I cause so much trouble and honestly, I ain't-a saint and never will be, I wouldn't be myself if I were! Plus, I would say he sees me as a lost cause, putting it nicer for my benefit. So, divine intervention isn't good a good thing for me at all rather a curse if anything.

Back to the present, as I was about to be in trouble no matter which way I go, being doomed, either way, I was deciding who it was I would blame for this. I turned to my right only to see Sarana approaching where I was and I didn't want to go through anything like the dragoness had done to me before. Satan if this is your way to get a laugh, you need to put down the popcorn and reassess your idea of humor. If on the other hand your way to say get down to hell now I will say this, 'You really don't want me down there! I will show you the meaning of true chaos and what a royal pain in the rear it is and I can be along with that! You can be absolutely sure of it, I PROMISE!

"Saber what is wrong," asked Spyro.

I barely heard Spyro as my eyes went wide as Sarana saw me and began to come towards me. My mind was trying to cope with my rising panic but couldn't do so, instead, I fell back to an unfortunate reflex I still had. The reflex I am talking about developed due to a girl I knew back at the dojo that was much like Sarana in her mannerisms only to a differing degree.

"Do not even dare Maria, if you try it then, so help me I will do whatever it takes to whip you right here right now! I will fight dirty if I HAVE TO," I exclaimed loudly and Sarana stopped and hesitated at what I had bellowed. The next thing I know I felt a sharp hit to the back of my neck and I fell back into darkness.

-Spyro's pov-

"Do not even dare Maria, if you try it then, so help me I will do whatever it takes to whip you right here right now! I will fight dirty if I HAVE TO," bellowed Saber.

What by the ancestors is Saber talking about? When I looked the way Saber was gazing I saw the grey dragoness that had been with his group before. So then, who is this Maria for that was not the name of the dragoness, and what did they do to get Saber like this? Nonetheless, the grey dragoness was still making her way towards Saber and that was not a good thing if what Seth and Cyra had said about her and how Saber had acted around her. It was then when I hear a whisper behind me, "Spyro get ready to catch Saber," muttered Ruben.

And when I turned, I saw Ruben, Seth, Cyra, and Cynder get behind Saber. It was at that point that Salena seemed to just appear and she used her tail and gave a sharp tap to the back of his neck. Saber's eyes rolled up and into the back of his head which I have never seen any creature do. I had to say it was really odd, yet then Saber fell back and was caught by Seth, Cyra, and Cynder. I went over to check on him and heard that Saber was still breathing and that helped me worry less about him. Ruben had placed himself between Sarana and Saber making sure she did not get any closer to Saber. Salena turned to Sarana and sighed with what I can only guess was sadness for whatever reason, "It would appear that you still have this bad habit Sarana. I had hoped that you had overcome and rid yourself of it. That is unfortunate, I had thought after what occurred between Duron and yourself that you would have changed."

Sarana looked at Salena with anger and rage, "How dare you bring that up again and say his name in my presence! It was not my fault for what happened to him," screeched Sarana. I was wondering the story that was behind this as I did not know any by the name of Duron. "It was the guardian's fault that he is gone, they sent him out knowing that he would likely not come back. They are the ones to blame for him being sent to his death," Sarana bellowed.

Wait I am lost here, what are they talking about? I was about to ask when I caught a glance from Ruben, and it said to not ask at the moment, he just gestured for me to see to Saber. I nodded and went and help the others to get Saber back to the place Cynder and I have and to a bed. When we had gotten Saber to a bed, I found that Ruben had followed us and I turned to him in hopes to get an explanation.

"So, Ruben what was that argument between Salena and Sarana," I questioned.

Ruben looked away slightly before answering me, "Well you see before Sarana left Warfang she had a relationship with a dragon. The dragon's name was Duron and he was an earth dragon. In fact, I would say that the relationship really changed Sarana for the better. She was less mean to others and did not take pleasure in causing pain to particular others. However, she was still like that to a degree and Duron took it and seemed to enjoy it for some reason."

Seth at this point spoke up, "I think Saber said something like that she is a 'sadist' whatever that is."

Ruben looked at Seth and then shook his head and then continued, "Well whatever a 'sad-est' is I do not know, but back to the story. Duron was sent out on a mission however it was unusual in the fact that he would normally go out with Sarana as they had shown that they work very well together. This mission Duron went on by himself by order of the Guardians and well, as you can guess by what you heard he did not come back and he is assumed dead shortly after he went missing. Sarana did not take it well obviously, and blames the Guardians for what happened, especially Terrador."

"Why does she blame Terrador or any of the other guardians for what happened," asked Cynder and I agreed with her.

"Well, I could not say why on the guardians as a whole, but as for the blame on Terrador, Sarana blames him because Duron was his son."

"Hold on," came the voice of Saber, "you are saying I am some sort of REBOUND for her?! What the hell?!"

We all looked to the bed and saw Saber was up and had been listening to the story. Yet, what did Saber mean by 'rebound' or this 'hell' he keeps talking about? Cyra was the one that voiced the question I think we all had, "What do you mean by rebound?"

Saber frowned, "In this context, 'rebound' means to take the place of something or someone else. In other words, I was asking is Sarana seeing and using me as a way to get over this Duron. If so, then I will say I do not appreciate being used like that, no sir I do not!"

"What is this 'hell' you keep referring to," I inquired.

Saber looked at me and sighed, "As I said before, the subject of Hell is one that is vast and one I really should not get into at the moment for there is not enough time for that."

Well, at least Saber was going to be okay though this was turning out to be an interesting day, no question about that and would likely continue. I just hoped that would last for a time. We all needed some peace and quiet for a while.

-Saber's pov-

The next morning Spyro and I woke up early and he began to teach me what he knew about harnessing the elements. The first dilemma in this we had to tackle was where we should start since there was so much for me to learn and Spyro to teach. So Spyro voiced the question to break the silence and start.

"Where should we begin?"

I thought for a second. I decided to go with the easy and obvious answer.

"Well why not at the beginning; that tends to be the best place to start; so let us go with the basics."

"Okay, well there are eight elements, four light elements, and four dark elements."

I nodded, that was easy enough to understand as I could use five out of those eight. I was able to find out that much on my own, I think most children could have. Yet how they got separated into the way they did is unknown to me as hasn't made sense. "I already figured that one out though I do not understand why there is a division between the elements," I iterated. "I have felt little difference between the 'light' and 'dark' elements I have wielded. So then, why are some elements classified as light and others as dark?"

Spyro put one of his forepaws to his chin and his face gained the look that said he was deep in thought. He was like this for a little while before he answered my question, "I really do not know myself. I have always been told which elements are light and which are dark. The light elements are the ones that most dragons normally use, however, now that I think about it, lately the division of the numbers of those who use a dark element is around the same of those who use a light element. Why do you ask?"

Okay so, Spyro doesn't know the reason either, then this is going in a direction I'm not very fond of. I took a moment to think of how to answer him in a way he would understand what I'm asking. I didn't want to make it sound like there have been persecutions between the users of light and dark elements though it was obvious there had been. I could see the signs that there had been and some really bad results from the said persecutions. However, I still wanted to confirm the facts, I wanted to know I was seeing things right and if not get the facts corrected. "So, just because most dragons use the four light elements, the other four are immediately labeled the dark elements?"

Spyro displayed an expression of surprise at my question, "I have never thought about it like that before, it has always been this way as far as I know."

When Spyro had said that, it was like there was a mental click in my mind, an 'Ah ha' if you will. That second part that Spyro had said explained a great deal as to why dragon kind did things the way they did. I see the way and flow of draconic… I suppose it could be called society is what I was suspecting. This explained why I disagreed with their way of doing things most of the time as well. For the system that the dragons use, the guardians as leaders was a type of control due to the mindset that had been put in place. Even the way Spyro had said it, 'It has always been this way' was a testament to the point I refer to. The point could be completely summed up in one word I detested with a passion, 'Tradition'. "I think I understand at least a bit better why things are they are now and how they got to this state, so let's get back to the original question then. As I have learned, by definition… of humans as far as it is, when it comes to the matter of light and darkness, they are opposites by nature."

Spyro had a look of slight confusion at my first sentence but nodded in reply to my question, "Yes, that is correct. Nevertheless, the dark elements were once known as the forbidden elements if I remember right. That is why we avoid the dark elements as we do."

That isn't what I had expected to get for an answer, but it will do for the moment. I shook my head in exasperation as it wasn't Spyro's fault in the slightest. The responsibility of fault falls upon the system that is placed and so, he didn't understand what I had meant by my question. Plus, what he had just said only further confused me for Spyro had used two different terms that can mean different things in the use of the same meaning. Not that I can say much against the action as humans do that often. "Hold on, dark and forbidden mean two different things Spyro, at least in the human ideology. The term 'dark' can mean a less known side of things, but not necessarily a bad thing in meaning. Then with forbidden means something that is denied normally for reasons that tend to be dangerous."

Spyro was silent for a bit before he answered, "I could not say why the other four elements are seen like that. When I once asked Volteer the question of why they are, he just said that is the way it has been and is."

So, that would mean that the Guardians are bound prisoners of the system this old draconic tradition has created and sustains just as much as everyone else. Just how far back does this freaking tradition crap go?! However long it does, it is high time that changes and it can't happen soon enough in my opinion! This tradition has brought about and encouraged ignorance in abundance and that isn't wise at all! I won't get into the share of trouble this had blatantly to blame for. If I get any say or influence in how the future of the Dragon Realm, then this draconic tradition of following others blindly and ignorantly it brings, will be thrown out and will never come back period!

"Well, what I meant Spyro is when I say they are opposites, I mean that either you have more of one than the other or have the other more than the first. In other words, it is a varying balance between the two always. You, in essence, cannot have light without having the dark it is one of the few absolutes in the creation of the world." Spyro cocked his head to the side in confusion while I smiled before continuing, "Put simply, light cannot exist without darkness, just as darkness cannot exist without light. You need both, yet neither is evil, only the wielder can be."

Spyro nodded slightly and continued, "Well I guess that makes sense anyway when you harness the elements, you need to feel the elements flowing around you and through you."

We spent a couple of hours before breakfast, where Spyro taught me what he knew about the elements and I attempted to understand what he meant. The problem in this was draconic language and understanding doesn't match human views of the idea. One could say they may parallel, but the distance between the two is very vast as I was learning thoroughly!

Draconic Tradition I believe had a great deal to do with the problem. This tradition has instilled for dragons to simply accept without knowing the reason, means or the facts that gave the need for the tradition. It encourages if not enforces ignorance, so it doesn't allow for an individual to think for themselves really if at all. There were the set parameters that prevented any to act outside the system easily and that is completely wrong to do if you ask me! Still, I would guess that it took centuries if not millennia for it to degrade to the point that the current system dragons use now came into power. And that fact along bothered me greatly and it wasn't just that such systems are stupid to me, there was more to my feeling of disgust than that. Yet, I couldn't figure out what it was that irked me so about this and it was bugging the hell out of me.

Anyways, when we were walking to go get breakfast Spyro was downcast and I was attempting to console him. The first lesson wasn't very fruitful for us, but it did give me information just not what was intended, "Spyro do not get so down in the dumps. It is not your fault that I am having trouble understanding harnessing the elements. It is me getting past my humanistic thinking that is the difficulty. Besides it is only the first day, you need to give yourself some time to slide into this," I assured.

"Or maybe I just cannot teach," Spyro admitted. "And what do you mean 'down in the dumps' and 'slide into this'?"

I sighed in exasperation at the question as it was a reminder of the slang and inference I miss so much. Honestly, Spyro had a really good heart, the nicest guy, uh dragon I guess in his case you could meet. The problem with him being that way was that he was very naïve or innocent, which was an extreme detriment to him in having confidence in himself. "You can teach Spyro, do not doubt yourself in that. I have seen amazing potential in you to do anything you set out to do. As for what 'down in the dumps' means, it is another way of saying you are depressed. It is a human inference to the idea of the feeling since we tend to exaggerate in things when we talk about them. 'To slide into' something means to give yourself time to actually do a full job then see how things went."

I couldn't tell Spyro the real reason there was such trouble in my learning and Spyro teaching, yet at least. For I very much doubt he would understand it if I were to tell him, I could see the signs and effects that draconic tradition had left, but Spyro had accepted that as 'the way things are'. The line alone showed such shackles, in my opinion, to free thinking and I wouldn't allow those shackles to be put on me! It would take time for that to change, though I would find a way, SO HELP ME I WILL!

After breakfast we went our separate ways, for the time being, I headed to the village's record building. Since I was still recovering from my injuries, past and near present, I was to take it easy. I have to say being threatened to be bound to a bed in such a way you have no chance to escape can serve as amazing motivation to do as you are told, let me tell you. Particularly when an ice dragoness *cough* Salena *cough* is doing the threatening, so due to that I had come here as much as to kill time at the moment as I did for my curiosity. With the revelation I had gotten from Spyro unknowingly to him, I was curious how far and how much this draconic tradition had made things the way it was currently. I also hoped I would find out when it started and why it would help understand the tradition. Knowing such things would make it easier at a future point to get rid of the Traditions! When I came into the building that the village kept the records, I found it pretty much empty of anyone. I shrugged as I wasn't going to complain since that meant fewer interruptions for me and I did work well when I was on my own most of the time.

My only fear/dilemma in is this was the chance of me being able to read draconic writing was slim to none. Well, I might as well see what draconic characters look like, who knows, maybe they will be close enough to something in human linguistics that I could fumble through them. I took up a random scroll that was lying on a table and unrolled it slightly to see what I was dealing with.

There were just scribbles on the surface of the scroll, or at least that is what it looked like to me. Was this really what was passed off as writing here, the 'characters' looked like children's scribbles! I set down the scroll and sighed and I suppose this shows that my chances are none, how perfect for me. I shouldn't be surprised, I knew this wouldn't be easy, but this was going to be much harder than I thought.

In the next hour, I lost count of how many books and scrolls I had skimmed through and I was getting more than a little frustrated at the lack of success. I didn't understand a single one I had looked at, all of it looked like gosh darn scribbles! I was starting to think that I was going at a lost cause by this point, yet I decided I would look at one last book before calling it quits. I picked up another book, noting it was dustier than any that I had picked up previously. I lightly blew the dust off the cover to find it had a rich green color to it.

However, it was what was on the center of the cover that caught my attention for it didn't look like scribbles or weird glyphs, which I couldn't help but think looked painful to write. And this book was the first piece of writing in the last hour that I could actually read and make sense of! The writing on the cover was in bold glyphs and symbols that were oddly familiar to me, but I couldn't say why. It is one of those unusual events that have been happening more frequently lately. Somehow, I could just read the characters like my brain had the language or whatever it was already wired in and I'd never known it.

I glanced over the title of the book, 'History of the Great War', the title would suggest it is a historical volume, lucky me the one book I can read is the kind I was looking for! I began to wonder to myself if that was about the dragon Malefor I keep hearing about. I opened the book and found it was written in the same language as was used on the cover which meant I could actually read this book! So, I sat down on a stool and began to read:

The existence of the evil ones has always been suspected, yet no evidence was ever found to prove their existence until they appeared in the open. Before that, there was such peace and harmony between all the races of the realm. The Apes with their understanding of agriculture and working curious artisanship of wood and other material. The cheetahs with their knowledge of the land and arts in song. The moles and their knowledge of metal and the things of the ground and the dragons and their magic and knowledge of the skies. All was right in this golden age.

Alas, it was not to last, for then came whispers of them. Events that none could explain, fear gripped the hearts of many. We should have seen these signs and prepared for what was to come. However, we did not and relied on our foolish sentiments of belief, which we could stand against them and be triumphant. For we were not prepared when they who in the beginning, the true enemy. The Zeonis as they were named in ancient times, had come to finish what they started, the destruction of all life.

This was fascinating information I'm reading, I mean yes, some was about things I had learned to an extent, such as the moles and metal. However, I never knew the cheetahs were good at singing, they hadn't come off that way to me. The information about the apes was somewhat shocking for with how dumb they were, who would have thought they at one time knew about agriculture? Or how to do woodwork, never thought they had it in them. I was about to continue reading when I heard a voice, "Saber."

The voice that had spoken was enough to jerk me out of my thinking and reading of the book. I looked up from the book to see Cynder, Cyra, and Seth standing inside the doorway looking at me, "Huh? What were you saying Cynder," I asked.

She just looked at me as Seth and Cyra came over to where I was, "We were just wondering where you were? So, what are you reading so intently," asked Cyra.

I was about to answer when I was interrupted, "Yeah, I did not know you could read the draconic script," Seth remarked.

My eyes moved to look at Seth and cleared my throat, "Well for your information, I cannot read a single bit of draconic script. It all looks like scribbles to me and so makes no sense at all to my mind," I replied.

"That is unfortunate, there is much knowledge here," said the voice of Salena and when I'd turned, I saw the said dragoness coming through the door.

Cynder had come to where I was by that time and was glancing at the book I had in my hands, "What is this," she asked, "I cannot read any of that."

I closed the book after marking the page I was reading and closed the book, "Honestly, it is the only book I have been able to get anything from, it was really dusty though," I returned.

"You are young Cynder and still have much to learn," Salena said.

Salena is a nice mother type of dragoness I was coming to find out and so, is pleasant to be around people or dragons like that, a wonderful change from the norm I get. She started towards us, "Let us see which book has caught your interest young Saber."

I held up the book and showed it to her what I had been reading and her face went blank then turned to mild surprise. That confused me, why would she react like that? Is there something about this book that sets it apart from the rest? I really don't need to add a reason to set me apart from others, I do just fine with what I got currently, so I'm starting to worry a bit. "Wait, you were reading THAT book," exclaimed Salena.

I nodded slowly, my worry began to increase, but I kept my cool, "Yes, I went through a good number of the books in the library here and could not read a single one as I was saying. This book, on the other hand, it would seem is not written in draconic script, but in a script, I can understand. Although I cannot say how I can read it, I just seem to be able to, odd as it is," I remarked

Salena simply kept staring at me in shock and the feeling in the room was getting weirder by the minute. Then Salena spoke again, "You are saying you can actually read the ancient script," she questioned.

Ancient Script? I've never heard mention of anything like that from any I've come across here in the Dragon Realm. And I get the impression that being able to read it isn't normal, no, more like it's close to unheard of if not unheard of completely. Although, I may as well confirm the facts, "Um, if that is what this book is written in, then yes I can read it. Why are you making the point, is that bad or something?"

The last thing I needed is to have another reason for others to fear or hate me since I have plenty of those in huge surplus, so again there is no need to increase it. My worry was getting close to skyrocketing to levels I try to keep it from reaching as much as possible. Salena shook her head slowly, but still had the look of shock on her face, "No, it is not bad, it is just no dragon, dragoness or any other creature is able to read or has been able to read the ancient script for countless generations. Many have tried to learn the language, but none have succeeded in the task."

Oh man! There goes my worry skyrocketing through the roof and beyond. Crap, yet ability I have that no one else does, joy! God, when will you be satisfied tormenting me, when I am dead?! WELL GET IN FREAKING LINE THEN! YOU AREN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO WANTS ME GONE THAT'S TRYING! SO, STOP AND GIVE IT A REST ALREADY! I just keep acquiring more and more reasons for others to be jealous and possibly hate me. Almost every day, my life just keeps finding new ways to royally suck worse than the day before, WHY ME!?

Now I didn't allow any of my internal chaos and turmoil of the conflict show on the outside. Outwardly I was cool calm and collected with not a care or worry in the world. It is one of the many applications of my amazing mental discipline. I took a deep breath to calm myself and focus. Whatever Deity is willing to listen to me, please, GIVE ME STRENGTH! "Well yeah, go me I suppose," I muttered. "Do you think it would be okay if I borrow this book so I can have something to read?"

Salena nodded, so I tucked the book under my arm and walked past everyone and left the record building. I needed time alone for a while. Not that I didn't want to be around my new friends or anything. It is just for my sanity and peace of mind it was required, to obtain that the fewer bodies around me the better. I walked around until I found myself a large tree with shade and sat down under it. I opened the book to the page I had marked before and I picked up where I had left off before I had been found by my friends:

When the true enemy came, chaos and destruction spread quickly. There were small groups of resistance against them, but they all failed and fell only to be left in their wake. The Zeonis had come to finish their war of extermination to destroy all living beings and their desire appeared to be unquenchable. So, in light of this, drastic measures were taken to stand against this enemy. In the moment of desperation, an alliance between all the races was formed. The differences between them were forgotten at this time for the goal of survival for all becoming paramount to all. The moles showed their prowess in metalwork with the weapons they created for fighting the Zeonis. The cheetahs' tactics helped stop the enemy gain any more ground than they had. The apes were able to hold the enemy for longer than any of the other races through their endurance. The dragons and their knowledge in magic bolstered the warriors in strength and speed when they fought.

Dragon kind contributed in another way also, the dragons had theorized that the Zeonis somehow represented the energy of 'death'. If that was the case then, the only way to combat that was with 'life' energy. The dragons had found energy that they believed could be considered 'life' energy, what they called 'Ethereal' energy. A group of dragons found a way to infuse dragons and others with this 'Ethereal' energy and do so quickly. The warrior that had this energy put in them were sent to the battlefield and proved to be very effective in fighting the Zeonis. It looked like at last the war was turning in favor against the true enemy.

I was about to turn the page of the book and continue when I felt a wave of exhaustion flow over me. I found it strange, but then it could just be my body trying to recover from the crap I have recently been going through. I scooted my body a little forward to get in a more comfortable position with thinking. I gazed up at the sky to notice it was only a little past noon. I found this even odder I was tired so early in the day, which was weird even for me. I struggled against the waves of exhaustion, yet found they were too strong. This was magic of some kind, I know it, but my thoughts faded, and I felt myself drift into sleep.

I found myself once again in the cityscape I had in my visions. I huffed to myself at finding myself here again, but the icy grip of fear became present. I mean, the last time I was here was to say freaky, but even that is a horrendous understatement. I felt a shiver run through me at the memory of the experience. Thankfully I didn't get the same bad feeling as the last time, it was the normal feel, yet slightly different. It was nothing bad, but there was something I hadn't felt before almost like a presence that wasn't Azreyel.

"Well, it has been a little while since I have been here," I said to myself. I looked around at my surroundings and saw nothing had changed, "No sign of that punk once again, that is interesting to note I suppose. I fully expected him to be waiting to get under my skin again if I came back here. I may never understand that guy, he's been unusually quiet, and I use to not be able to shut him up easily. Now he is nowhere to be found for a second visit, odd. Well since I'm here I might as well have a look around since I have the opportunity."

I began to walk around and explore the city and as I explored, I had a growing feeling that someone was watching me. Nevertheless, no matter where I looked, and I could find no one. Perhaps I am growing paranoid, with all the things happening to me lately I wouldn't be surprised if I had become so. That combined with the frequent retuning feeling of déjà vu was not helping me.

I had walked for a while and still have found signs of no one and after I had walked through one of the tiers of the city, I started to hear sounds. I slowed down and looked around to find the source of the sounds I was hearing for it sounded like laughter and that of children laughing. I began to move towards the laughter. I came around a corner and found myself staring at three young dragons. Two were white scaled dragons one probably around the age of three and the other five maybe six. The other dragon of the three was to my surprise a purple dragon that was to my best guess three as well. They had a slightly lighter shade of purple in their scales than Spyro's, but still a gold underbelly.

I walked towards them so that I could ask them what was going on. I also started to feel a nagging feeling of familiarity, "Um, excuse me," I said. I reached for the older white dragon, but as I tried to lightly touch his shoulder my hand went through him. I looked at my hand and then back to the dragon trying to figure out what had happened and why for that was… different, "What the?"

Looking at my hand, nothing seemed to be off, so then why had my hand gone through what should be solid? "They are not real, just a memory," said a different voice.

I spun around to face the owner of the voice, my jaw just about dropped to the floor. I was looking at the white scaled dragon that had 'saved' me from the dark freak of nature I had met here the last time. Yet there was more to it than that, I swear that I had seen the same eyes and I felt a sharp pain in my head! The more I tried to remember where I could have seen his eyes the more the pain increased. The sound of his voice I know I have heard somewhere, but I can't place it and the feeling of familiarity had increased immensely. I pointed at him and was beginning to stutter in my speech, "You are," My voice caught in my through, I took a breath, "your face." My voice failed again for a moment, "who are?"

The dragon just smiled at me and yet still, I noted that even though he smiled at me there was sadness in it. I took a deep breath to calm down, "Who are you? I… I have heard a voice that sounds the same as yours in some of my dreams. I… do not think I have seen you before, yet there are features of you that I swear I should know. However, I do not remember where or when I have seen them," I stuttered.

His gaze fell to the floor, the expression of sadness increased, "So you have forgotten," he said. "I guess I should have expected you would."

I didn't understand what he was talking about, what does he know about me? "What are you talking about," I questioned.

He seemed not to hear me, as he kept talking to himself, "It is how it would have worked out with that particular kind of magic, which tends to have such effects."

I was starting to get frustrated, not only for my questions being ignored but what he was saying wasn't making a lick sense! The biggest thing that was frustrating me was that this white dragon was doing one of few my pet peeves that I have an extremely hard time ignoring! He was talking about me like I wasn't there with him even though I was not but feet from him! "What magic," I snapped.

I was managing to keep ahold of my raising frustration and rein it in slightly. He turned back to me and looked me in the eyes, "You said I look familiar," he posed.

I nodded in a reflexive response, momentarily forgetting my frustration thinking he was now paying attention to me. Yet, I was disappointed in this as he turned and began pacing and talking to himself again. He resumed talking to himself to my growing anger, "So there is a good chance that the memories are still there, but they are most likely being suppressed somehow."

My frustration surged and crashed back in stronger force than before at him resuming talking to himself again. For some reason, I was starting to feel my frustration climb to new heights than it would be normally when someone ignores me as they speak about me. I was beginning to lose my finite control. My firm hold on the reins of my growing fury broke and my frustration burst out of me before I couldn't stop the yell that came out, "Would you stop talking to yourself and listen to me Koren," I snarled.

He spun around and stared at me as I was breathing hard from regaining control after my outburst. It was rare for me to lose my control of my feelings, but even I have my limitations and breaking points! "You remember my name," he asked, and his smile grew as he continued to stare.

I did a mental rewind and went over what had had said and there had been a name in it that I couldn't figure out where it had come from. It was an accident even when I don't believe accidents happen much if at all, I couldn't explain what happened in any other way. I started to wave my hands in motions of denial, "I do not know where that came from, that was reflex," I reasoned.

The dragon I had called Koren kept smiling as he replied, "It would seem though your current mind may not know me or remember me, your heart does. You could not have reminisced of who you once were when we did know one another if you did not."

As I noticed that everything began to fade around me and I started to panic for the first time since coming to wherever here is, I was finally getting somewhere in finding answers about myself. I have had questions about myself I have never been able to answer, I have come to the conclusion that I may never know the answer to them. Yet I had finally gotten something to go on to have an opportunity to possibly answer my unanswered questions! I was about to be denied that chance, "Wait there is still more I want to ask," I shouted.

Koren's voice drifted to my ears as everything was returning to blackness, "You have more answers than you think, just look in your heart. Trust it for it will never fail you," he whispered.

I woke with a start and found myself back under the tree I had been under before. When I realized that I was awake, I slammed my fist into the ground in frustration. I had been so close to maybe finding out why I was here and perhaps more than that, but then it had been taken from me! I had little time to brood however, now I was hearing a commotion from multiple directions. I looked around trying to figure out what was going on, "Is there some kind of party or celebration going on that I haven't heard about," I mused to myself. Then, there was a scream from the direction of the entrance of the village, "Unless dragons have something equivalent to Marti Gras, of which I very much doubt from the manners I have seen thus far, then I do believe trouble is calling again!"

I sighed as I got to my feet and I put the book at the base of the tree planning to come back to retrieve it later. I grabbed my coat and things, clipping Yubashiri but leaving Muramasa by the tree. "Since this is me we're talking about, of course, it isn't a party! I have BAD luck after all so, trouble is like an addiction I can't get rid of," I muttered to myself.

It was then the sound of screeches came from behind me and when I turn to see a number of apes came from the opposite direction of the entrance. They spotted me and came stampeding towards me, so I drew Yubashiri and brought my blade to the ready, "Once again, duty calls. I am not one to ignore that call," I said as I settled to a fighting stance, "Hey apes, here I am, the ape killer, BRING IT ON!"

I was setting up to do a horizontal slash and move on from there on dealing with the apes when something slammed the back of my head. Pain instantly burst through my head and I swear on everything holy I was seeing stars and I couldn't think straight after that. I thought whatever had impacted on the back of my head may have fractured my skull! I barely heard the clatter of Yubashiri hitting the ground before I followed and sunk to my knees losing my grip of staying awake, but I was beginning to see the black creeping over my vision. I was just able to see the apes converging on me before I fell forward. I never even felt the ground, just became surrounded by darkness.

-Spyro's pov-

After an hour, we had pushed the force of apes back for the time being. Their attack had been unexpected, but with the watch that Salena had been sure was put up, we had enough warning we had been able to handle them. I searched around until I found Cynder who had Seth and Cyra with her, "Where did these apes come from? What did they think they would gain," asked Seth.

It was a good question that I was a little worried about, "Who knows Seth," replied Cyra.

I agreed with Cyra, but there had to be a reason, "Are you okay Spyro," asked Cynder.

I looked over to Cynder and nodded "Yes I am fine," I said, then an unusual fact hit me. Saber was not anywhere to be found. In the attacks, I have seen him in he was the first to jump into them. So his absence was peculiar, "Wait where is Saber? He would normally be in the front here to help."

The others looked to me than to each other and Seth was the first to speak, "Um after finding him in the record building, he left and we do not know where he went."

Cyra nodded with worry plain on her face, "I am worried, something does not feel right," said Cynder.

My thoughts raced, what could have happened to Saber, "We need to find him."

We then, all set out to search for Saber. Yet we could find no trace of him anywhere. I was walking near the large tree on the west side of the village when I noticed something silver. I went over to the object and froze, it was the sword Saber carried with him almost all the time! I looked around frantically in hopes of seeing Saber, but he was nowhere to be found. I sniffed the air and reeled back, the scent of apes was strong in the air along with the scent of blood. However, there was another scent there I remembered. It was the one that was around that strange ape that had attacked Cynder and me. I then realized what had happened; Saber had been captured by the apes.

A/n

And that's where chapter 23 will leave off, hope you're liking the rewrite please some of you take the time to write reviews, thank you for reading this.