Chapter 7: The Trials Of Ignitus
Nero paced from side-to-side in his quarters.
"How could Cynder betray us like this?" he grumbled in his thoughts as he looked at the letter that the Purple Dragon had given her, then he remembered how the two of them had admitted their love, was it betrayal? Or something more...he didn't know, he was then snapped from his thoughts when he saw that Ignitus had summoned all the students to meet at the Courtyard.
"Hmm, What could that be about?" He wondered as he walked alongside the other Dragons, as they arrived, Nero saw that both Primary and Secondary teachers were there, and he was given a spot to sit at by Electra, who then walked over to Volteer, and sat down, retaining a stern glare over the students, as Nero looked around in uncertainty, he saw Ignitus walk up in front of them all.
"Young Dragons, I have called you all here for a very important and dire announcement, I have already informed all your teachers, but I shall be the bearer of news for you" he explained as Nero cocked his head sideways in confusion.
"We all know about Spyro and Cynder, and it would seem...that they have disappeared" Ignitus's statement sent panic throughout the students.
"However, do not fear, as we have sent a team to search for them, in the meantime, I have my own business to deal with, I have reason to believe that one of us...is a spy working for Malefor" this bombshell shocked Nero.
"A spy!? Here? It must be...wait no...who could it be" Nero was confused as Ignitus paced from side to side.
"Right now, with Spyro and Cynder gone, I'm staying behind to run a set of "trials" if you will, to determine who the spy could be, until you are called, you are required to stay on the courtyard, no exceptions, understand?" Ignitus asked as the students nodded in understanding.
"Alright, Incendia, the list" he asked for it as she handed it to him.
"We'll go Alphabetically, so let's start: Agna, come along" Ignitus called out the Fire Dragoness as she walked with the Guardian into his office, leaving the students to themselves.
"A spy? Who could it be?" A Wind Dragon asked Nero as he shrugged.
"Don't ask me, like I know, I'm as confused as you are" Nero gave an honest response as the Wind Dragon walked off, leaving Nero by himself.
"Wait...if Spyro and Cynder are gone...oh no!" Nero realized what could happen, and tried to warn Ignitus, but he was blocked by Terrador.
"Now Young Dragon, what's the rush?" He asked suspiciously.
"I need to speak to Ignitus, it's urgent, please, it could judge our entire survival" Nero's urgency made Terrador decide to just let him through.
"Thank you..." he trailed off as he ran towards Ignitus's office, he burst in, and saw Ignitus look at him.
"What is it? Young Dragon?" He stood up.
"Ignitus, if the spy is here, and it's not her, you could've given them enough time to send a signal to Malefor to attack" Nero was out of breath as Ignitus realized the situation.
"Quickly, we must-" Ignitus was cut off as a rumble was sent through the entire Temple.
"Oh no..." Nero trailed off as they all ran outside, only to see masses of Apes were breaking through the protective walls of the Temple.
"Quick, get the Students out of here!" Ignitus told Cyril and Volteer as they prepared to move them, but the students refused.
"No! Let us fight!" They protested as Ignitus sighed.
"Alright, just be prepared to fight, here they come!" Ignitus prepared them as they prepared to clash...
Spyro's eyes squinted open as he saw Cynder, who was drinking from a nearby stream, he stood up and stretched, and walked over to her, who smiled when she saw him.
"What kept you?" She asked wittingly as Spyro smirked.
"I was just enjoying watching you, your very beautiful" his comment made her blush.
"Spyro!" She said embarrassed, and surprised at the prospect of having been outwitted by Spyro.
"No, I mean it, your beautiful" he replied, and Cynder's stomach growled.
"I take it your hungry" he smirked as Cynder nodded a little.
"Yeah..."
"Don't worry, we're not far from the village anyways" he told her as they started walking, suddenly they felt a rumble in the ground, and Spyro looked over to see a mass of what looked like Apes were charging in their direction.
"Quick, move!" He pushed her out of the way and the two of them rolled under a large bush, and watched as they ran past them, with Cynder staying close to Spyro, after they left, the two Dragons walked back out into the open.
"That doesn't look good..." Cynder trailed off, suddenly Spyro was blasted in the back by an Ape's weapon.
"Spyro!" She cried as the Ape tried to attack her, but she kicked him away.
"Stay back!" She snarled as she guarded Spyro.
"Malefor will reward me for this!" He chuckled as he drew his weapon.
"Don't count on it!" Cynder looked up to see none other than Shard charging into him, clawing his arm.
"Get Spyro out of here!" He told her as she dragged Spyro back, only to see his other friends, immediately she looked a little scared.
"Listen, we forgive you, we'll talk about this later, just bring him over" Flame told her reassuringly as Cynder looked a little better and handed him over to Flare, who kept a grip on him, causing Cynder to instinctively growl a little, but thankfully no one heard it, eventually Shard managed to push back the Ape and froze him solid.
"There we go, come on, we need to get back to the Temple" Shard told Cynder immediately.
"But why?" She asked.
"Look we'll explain everything later, but what you do need to know was that your hatred of Spyro was not natural, and that we trust you, come on" Shard explained as Cynder seemed surprised, and helped Spyro get back on his feet.
"I don't know what was up with those Apes, but I think that it's best that we return to the Temple and tell Ignitus" Alastor told them as Spyro weakly looked up.
"Shard..." he trailed off as Shard looked back at him.
"Spyro...I'm sorry, I should've supported you, I don't expect any forgiveness, but we need you...Ignitus needs you" he replied.
"No Shard, I'm sorry, we...we love each other, and that was something that we didn't want to tell you" Spyro told him as Cynder nuzzled him.
"You really do love each other..." Flare absolutely adored the wholesomeness of it all, then a thought popped into Cynder's head.
"Guys, did you notice the direction those apes were going?" She asked them as Shard looked at her.
"No? Why?" He asked in return.
"They were going to the Temple..." her response made Shard's eyes widen.
"Wait...the Spy! We need to go, now!" Flame exclaimed as Shard had Spyro stand up and they charged in the direction of the Temple...
"Don't let up!" Nero heard Terrador yell as they kept fighting the Apes, he bit into an ape's neck, and tossed him into more apes, it seemed like the battle was going in their favor, but then those hopes were vanquished when they looked at the sky, and saw a large purple dragon flying down to them.
"Malefor..." Ignitus muttered as he landed, the other Guardians tried to attack, but he swiped them aside with ease, Ignitus charged at him and tried to take him down.
"Ah Ignitus! How I've missed that fighting spirit!" Malefor said wittingly as he slammed him into the ground.
"Where's your savior now, old fool?" He sneered at Ignitus.
"Spyro will stop you...him and Cynder" he replied as Malefor laughed.
"The Dragoness, I'll kill her, and then the other Purple Dragon, and I'll make you watch it all!" He grinned evilly as he smashed Ignitus's face into the grass, then Malefor was rammed in the side by Volteer.
"Ha Ha! Volteer, my former comrade, how pleasant it is to see you! How's Electra?" He asked in a threatening tone as Volteer roared and tried to blast him with electricity, but Malefor merely absorbed the blast and returned it onto the Guardian, causing him to soar into the air, however, Volteer managed to catch himself midair and flew back down.
"You won't get near her!" He snarled at Malefor, and tried to attack again, but Malefor grabbed him by the horns and threw him into a nearby wall.
"And who will stop me? You? Don't be serious" he laughed, and came across Cyril.
"Out of my way, slime" Malefor said in a very confident tone, which caused Cyril to growl.
"How dare you! I am birthed from-" he was cut off by Malefor's long paced yawn.
"Ugh, your speeches bore me, no wonder Volteer can't stand you..." he said as he froze Cyril solid, and moved along to Terrador.
"Stay back, Malefor, I won't warn you a second time..." he growled, causing Malefor to laugh.
"Ha! Don't make me laugh...oh wait...you already did, a pity, move aside worm..." he swatted Terrador aside like it was nothing, and came across the Guardians' mates.
"Submit, unless you wish to die..." Malefor ordered as none of them backed down.
"I would rather die than serve you!" Gaia snarled at Malefor, who seemingly sighed in disappointment.
"As you wish..." he grinned as he started to attack them each, with the Dragonesses actually being able to hold their own, however, eventually Malefor was able to overpower each of them, but immediately after that, Ignitus lept onto his back.
"Argh! Your persistent, Ignitus, I'll give you that..." he grabbed the Fire Guardian and slammed him into the ground.
"And that is something we cannot have..." he charged up his Aether breath, prepared to finish Ignitus, when he turned to see Incendia leaping at him, scratching down his face.
"AGH!!!" Malefor roared as Incendia landed on the ground, shielding Ignitus.
"Get away from him!" She threatened as Malefor felt his face, and saw blood dripping from the scratch mark, and stood up, smiling evilly.
"Oh, I like you...such hatred..." he charged at her, and the two interlocked in an intense battle, both of them received major wounds from the fight, Malefor managed to burn Incendia's shoulder, while she landed a more critical blow by biting into his shoulder, the two tumbled across the ground, and Ignitus was unable to do anything about it, instead he moved to thaw out Cyril from the ice prison that Malefor made for him, as he thawed out, Cyril fell onto the ground sideways, unconscious.
"That's it, fight me!" Malefor goaded Incendia as her rage was brewing even further, she grabbed his head and slammed it into the ground and and she used her fire breath on his face, only to be shocked when he appeared unharmed, he laughed menacingly.
"Is that the best you can do, I expected more from the mate of Ignitus..." Malefor was quickly corrected as Incendia slashed his shoulder, and held him down, prepared to take the finishing blow.
"Yes...kill me, kill me and you can end this conflict right here and now..." he continued to goad her.
"Incendia! Don't, if you kill him, your no better than he is!" She looked back to see Ignitus pleading with her not to do it, but then she looked down and saw Malefor's confident face.
"Do it!" (In a very Palpatine voice) he practically commanded as Incendia gave in and snapped his neck.
"It's over..." she turned around to face a distraught Ignitus, but his distraught was changed to utter horror and a hand came straight through her chest.
"Ack!" She choked as the supposedly dead Malefor dispersed and the real one appeared behind her, having impaled her with his arm.
"Such heroic nonsense..." he smirked.
"Incendia! NO!!!!!!!" Ignitus cried as tears swelled in his eyes, and Incendia mouthed the words 'I love you', and Malefor removed his hand and watched as she dropped to the ground, dead.
"I told you I'd make you watch as I tore your world apart, and I meant it" he told him as the other Dragonesses looked in horror, the rage inside of Ignitus swelled to a bursting point as he roared and leaped at Malefor, who backhanded him onto the ground, landing next to Incendia, finally out of strength, Ignitus crawled to her mate and laid his head on her in sorrow and pain, with Malefor walking up to them.
"You're weak, Ignitus, you've always been weak, I would kill you right now, if I didn't have much more exciting things planned for you..." he trailed off and watched as the Apes finally overpowered the other Students, with them all being trapped and shackled.
"The Temple is ours!" Malefor announced as they moved their new prisoners into the Temple.
"It's been years since I've been here, I hope my old throne is still intact..." he informed a weak Ignitus, who was also shackled alongside the other Guardians and their mates.
"Sir, what about her?" An Ape asked about Incendia's body.
"Leave it, we'll make an example of her later" Malefor told him as the Ape saluted and rejoined the others and escorted the prisoners inside, Malefor himself walked down the halls he once roamed, and found his old throne, sitting in the center of the room, and he sat down in it, feeling relieved to have his power truly back, now he only needed to wait for the Purple Dragon...
"Come on! We're almost there!" Shard told the others as they raced towards the temple.
"Cynder, just remember, I'll protect you" Spyro reassured her as she smirked.
"I can handle myself, I learned that from you" she replied as they finally arrived at the Temple, and what they saw horrified them, the Temple had been besieged.
"We're too late!" Spyro said as they all stood there.
"This is all my fault..." he thought guiltily, Malefor had won...for now.
(What's up my dudes, this is the last chapter I can upload before finals, so I hope that this rocks you to the core or something...I don't know, bye)