The Journey Home

by NewLegend1

Settings may change, but conflict doesn't. Young Spyro finds himself in a world once inhabited by Humans, now left abandoned to dragons. Destroyed long ago in a war, only Humanity's ruins remain. His once peaceful city is shattered when a new creature arrives-a human. Alternate universe, M for violence. Now with new chapters!

19. New York

Chapter 19: New York

November 14, 10:18 PM

The sights, the sounds, it was spectacular!

Spyro's head was glued to the window as the car drove over a massive bridge. The bridge ran over a long river that split the land in two, with urban sprawls dominating both sides of the river. They had made it. At last, they were in New York City. They had arrived at the city a little over an hour ago, but they had finally crossed the bridge that brought them into Manhattan proper. Well, as Donnelly explained it, at least.

This was it, the heart of the city and the heart of human civilization here. Tall skyscrapers rose all around them, dwarfing anything he had ever seen from Savannah, Baltimore and even Philadelphia. As in Philadelphia, human civilians walked around by the hundreds, maybe even thousands! The bridge going to Manhattan island was packed with both cars and people as they came to and from the island itself. Traffic had stalled on their side of the road, but a military jeep escorting them had cleared an entire lane of traffic for them to cross unimpeded.

The jeep lead them south, towards the most southern tip of the island, right towards a giant bay. They traversed through the tight streets and massive buildings, so tall that Spyro could barely see the tops of them through the window in the car. Electric signs were emblazoned with so many colors, reflecting off of the otherwise dull concrete, adding a life to them Spyro didn't even think could exist.

Different people of many different places and origins walked along the street, their skins ranging in many different colors, so many more then he was used to seeing. He had only ever seen a few humans, and they were all peach colored. Now, he saw so many different tones and hues, reminding him of the fur of an anthro, or the scales on a dragon. They were all unique onto themselves, and it fascinated Spyro.

As they neared the edge of the island, Spyro could see obvious military build ups. A park rested at the southern tip itself, but office buildings had been erected to surround it. A gate cordoned off the park, and several tanks and jeeps stood watch over the tall fence. Signs reading "US Military" were all around, and Spyro knew they were approaching a base of some sorts. Spyro figured they were going to enter the park at some point, but instead the military jeep escorting them lead them to a large parking structure to the side, which was also cordoned off by the military.

Once inside, they descended down into a large tunnel that ran under the street. The tunnel came up to a large mechanical door, much like the one that let them into the walls of US North to begin with. As before, red alarms sounded and the door began to slide open to allow them entry. They slipped inside and came into an underground parking structure. There, they were met by a crowd of armed security guards. Each clutched onto their rifles tightly, and surrounded the vehicle as it came to a stop.

"Alright… they're going to escort you two into the base to a holding area probably. I'm going to meet with the General…" Donnelly turned towards Spyro, Jericho and Sparx who sat beside and behind him. Spyro let out a sigh, hopeful that things went well.

"You sure things'll go over smoothly with the General?" Jericho asked.

"You can never tell with Hayden. It's hard to read him…"

Jericho let out his own sigh as he climbed out of the jeep. Armed guards immediately greeted him with the barrels of their weapons, and he just rolled his eyes and raised his arms. Spyro was met with more… resistance as five guards ran up to personally escort him. Spyro growled at them a little and started walking on his own. They meant to put cuffs and a collar on him, but he was DONE with that. He batted away the cuffs, which didn't go over too well with the guards. One of the immediately reached for his side arm but Spyro raised one of his talons.

"It's fine! I'll walk on my own! Don't need your stupid cuffs." His outburst caught many of the guards by surprise. By their expression, Spyro surmised they didn't even know he COULD speak. He just sighed and began walking forward, putting the guards in an awkward situation as they had been prepared to subdue him. Hesitantly, they allowed for him to walk on his own and followed.

The guards escorted them into the nearby tunnels, while Donnelly disappeared down another hallway. Time would tell what would become of the meeting.

/Transitioning…/

[Done]

"Sir, I-"

"Colonel Donnelly, I would like for you to take your seat. Now."

"Yes sir." Donnelly walked over to a seat and pulled it back so he could sit. The beaming eyes of Hayden met Donnelly's as he sat down, and Donnelly knew that he was sure in for some flack. Beside the sitting General stood another man, another General. Unlike Hayden who wore his General's cap with pride, this one preferred a combat style signature red beret. This man was well known for his red beret, and wasn't known to ever go anywhere without it. He was none other than General Fuller. Fuller was Hayden's go to second in command. While technically not being too high on the roster of commanders, Fuller had considerable power. It was… also kind of a little known fact that Fuller was out to get Hayden's job.

The two men couldn't have had two more opposing styles of commanding. While Hayden was brash, bullish and a well-known hot-head, Fuller was far more… calm and collected. That was NOT to say that Fuller was more kind or well spoken, it was far more sinister then that. Fuller was a master tactician, both in the battlefield and even in the littlest of conversations. Everything the man did and said was playing into a larger strategy for himself. He was always exerting some form of control, even if you didn't even realize it. If he seemed calm and collected to you, it's because he was in the middle of working you over. Maybe that's why Hayden brought Fuller everywhere he went… To be quite… honest, Donnelly was more afraid of Fuller then Hayden. At least you KNEW when Hayden was angry with you.

"Colonel, I'm asking you a very, very simple question. Why on EARTH did you bring a dragon into the walls of US North? Do you… realize what kind of infraction that is? In fifty-eight years we have not had ONE security breach. ONE. Do you know why?" Hayden barked in an aggressive and pointed fashion. Each word was very heavily stressed, as per the General's strategy. As Hayden spoke, Fuller calmly stood beside him, watching. Donnelly was no fool, he knew Fuller was just observing, waiting for his own moment to strike.

"Because… we…"

"Because we follow protocol and procedure. We do not allow an enemy inside of US North, and we take the safety and well-being of our citizens as a paramount. Do I need to remind you what they have done to us…?"

"No sir, you do not…"

"Then why I ask you, why did you bring one of those things into our walls?!"

Donnelly took in a deep breath, hoping to use a cooler head and explain the situation to him. He had… hoped that it wouldn't come to this, but events spiraled out of control faster than Donnelly could have predicted. Someone at Raven must have tipped off the General to what he was up to…

"Sir, as director of long range intel gathering for FOB Raven and assistant to the Aurora project, I felt that the dragon was-"

"The dragon was what, a new pet project for you? You have been given great authority to pursue leads and information related to this… Aurora project, as well as long range reconnaissance outside of FOB Raven. That does NOT allow you to capture and transport live specimens through our walls WITHOUT military escort and without alerting high command…"

"Sir, if I may, this dragon isn't like the others. He represents a significant discovery for us, and if we utilize him properly… well sir frankly I believe that we can turn the tide of our existence."

"Son, may I remind you how we got ourselves into this mess? Fifty-eight years ago, those scientists at Infinity Labs thought the same thing, now look what happened. We lost seven billion humans in the greatest slaughter this planet has ever known…"

"Sir, please, I believe this is different."

"Different? How? Please, enlighten me Colonel because if I do recall, every single dragon that our species has come across has attempted to destroy us. You are young, you keep forgetting that those of us who were alive during the Great War remember a great deal… a great deal more than you can ever imagine."

"Sir… he's a purple dragon."

"Why in the hell should I give a damn what color he is?"

"Because sir, he represents… an opportunity."

"Opportunity? What in the hell kind of opportunity does he represent OTHER than target practice?!"

"Sir! As a… purple dragon, he is just like the Dark Master. He… can use the energy that birthed this world! The human with him, Jericho, brought us the second flash drive. He brought us the second drive we've been missing all these years, and what we've desperately needed. Think about it, with both him and the flash drive, we can finally finish Aurora-Borealis. We can finally have the one thing the Dark Master has been after for all these years. We'll finally have the advantage over him."

The General scowled at him before smirking. His smirk quickly turned into a smile and from there, the General just started all out laughing. Donnelly sat back in his seat, looking at the General inquisitively.

"Sir…?"

"So, you mean to tell me, Colonel, that you FAIL to see how trusting our security and the most… advanced piece of machinery ever devised by man to a dragon that is for all intense and purposes identical to the dragon that STARTED this whole thing?"

"Well, yes… he IS a purple dragon but he ISN'T like the Dark Master…"

"How in the hell would you know Colonel? Are you… sure, that this creature isn't going to turn out the same? Need I remind you what it was like back then?"

"I… do sir. However I believe this time can be different."

"Please, enlighten me Colonel. Since trusting a purple dragon before seemed to work wonders for us, please enlighten me as to how this will work for us a second time. Please, I am ALL ears."

"Sir… I personally believe that that dragon is here for a reason. He's here because things… things need to be set right. The Dark Master has already pursued him up the coast and killed his friends from what I've gathered. They've captured and threatened him before and he's evaded, to help his human companion bring the device to the safety of New York. If this dragon meant ill intentions he would have turned himself over to the Dark Master already."

The General sat back in his seat, rubbing his chin slightly. It seemed that Donnelly was making progress! He pushed on.

"As we speak, long range scouts have already reported a high increase of activity from the Dark Master and his Sentinels on the Eastern Seaboard. We believe a land invasion is imminent. If the Dark Master pushes onto the East Coast, he may make a run at US North. If he does, we will not be prepared."

"Son, we have been more prepared than at any point in our history. I command the greatest army this world has ever seen, even greater than the strength of the US military before the war. I am not afraid of any 'Dark Master.'"

"Be that as it may, sir, how much longer are we going to rely on that for our protection? The Dark Master has been trying for YEARS to recreate Aurora or at least recreate what he had done all those years ago. How much longer are we going to wait around until he just figures it out? How much longer are we willing to wait until he manages to break through our defenses? Are you willing to risk that? I am offering you sir, an opportunity. With Aurora-Borealis, and this dragon, we can give you an advantage unlike anything you've ever seen. More than any soldier or bomb we can give you something the Dark Master does not have."

"Now what would that be, dear Colonel?"

"Absolute and perfect control over the life force of this world, the Inner Light. If we can harness its true potential, then we will have guaranteed our species' right to exist on this world. It will be thanks to you, sir."

Hayden gave a low chuckle at that last statement, looking at Fuller who didn't change his own scowl one bit. Hayden shrugged him off and turned back to Donnelly.

"Son, patronizing won't get you anywhere. However, you raise a very good point. The Dark Master isn't a fool, oh I do not doubt. If he were, well then I would be insulted that he has managed to drive our species to the edge of extinction." The General stood up and walked over to the window overlooking one of the many busy streets in New York. He placed his hands behind his back and stood looking out the window, thinking.

"I was only fifteen when the war started, but I was old enough to remember a time before… monsters or demons. Back then we only had to worry about each other. It's a far different world today."

"It… is. I do believe this can work, sir. I believe in him, sir."

Hayden turned, looking at Donnelly again. It wasn't necessarily a scowl this time. Rather, it was a look that spoke of skepticism, but Donnelly thought he could see a bit of optimism in that gaze too.

"You really think so, Colonel?"

"I do sir."

"What say you, Fuller? What do you think of all this… mess?" Hayden asked, turning back to Fuller.

"I do believe General that the Colonel makes a fair point. While NORTHCOM has significant defensive capabilities, we can't sit around and wait for the Dark Master to make the first move. If his purple dragon is what its cut out to be, then it is an opportunity we can't pass up. Perhaps a single test to see what this creature can give us should be considered." Fuller said, speaking low and to the point, unlike Hayden and his aggressive style.

"Then we are in agreeance. Very well Colonel, run your… test. Depending on the results of your test, we'll decide whether or not this dragon and your Aurora project are the magic bullet you've made them out to be. Fail us, and I do think we are going to have a problem, do I make myself clear?"

"Yes sir, I understand sir…"

"The dragon stays in New York while you conduct your test. Nobody is to know he is here, and I'd like to keep it that way. He doesn't leave, and if we don't believe he can help us, then we'll make sure he won't help the Dark Master either."

"I… y-yes sir…"

"Is there going to be a problem Colonel?"

"No sir! I completely understand, sir."

"Good, you are dismissed." Hayden stood up, prompting a salute from Donnelly. Hayden returned it, and Donnelly was free to go. He quickly turned and left the room, unable to take the pressure from the two Generals any longer. Fuller watched him leave, his gaze never leaving the Colonel as his form left the office.

/Transitioning…/

[Done]

"Jericho, look, it's Donnelly!" Spyro exclaimed, seeing the human walking down the hall flanked by two security guards.

"It's about time… I was worried." Jericho remarked as he stood next to the dragon. Two other guards stood near the two of them, both their weapons trained onto them. One of the guards next to Donnelly broke off and walked over to the two guarding Jericho and Spyro.
"These two are to be taken to the High Command, research facility Charlie F-3."

"Roger that." The guard said back, raising his arm to order them forwards.

Donnelly met back up with them, and gave a low sigh.

"So, how'd it go?" Jericho asked.

"He… agreed to let us run our experiment. But… well…" Donnelly stopped, looking away for a moment. Jericho frowned.

"What? Is there a problem?"

"I'll tell you later. Let's get this experiment over with and we can get to that issue."

Jericho frowned and looked at him for a moment before nodding.

"Lead the way then."

Donnelly stepped in front of them, and the two guards behind them pushed them forward. Spyro frowned, hearing Donnelly. He… hoped that he could trust him, but he didn't know him well enough to make that judgement. Although, if he truly meant them ill, he probably wouldn't have even mentioned the fact that Spyro couldn't leave yet. For now, Spyro felt it might be best to play it by ear. He trotted right behind Jericho, with Sparx buzzing next to them, taking care not to disturb the guards that escorted them down the hall.

Spyro thought they were returning to the surface but instead they were being taken even lower, going down level after level with the guards clearing out each hallway before they entered so nobody saw them moving. It was… kind of unsettling.

Eventually they came out of the small and compact hallways into a much larger one that looked to be forty feet tall at places. Small trams rested nearby, and it looked that this large hallway was actually a transit tunnel used to get between parts of the underground base faster. The guards ushered them onto one of the nearby trams and closed the door after them. The tram quickly came to life and started to move down the hall. More trams buzzed on either side of them, going in many different directions. Spyro could only imagine that they were heading to other parts of the base. He wondered just how big this base was since it was underground.

After a few minutes the tram came to a halt, and the guards ushered them out. Spyro followed right behind Jericho, who seemed to stick very close to Spyro. He seemed very cautious around the guards, and Spyro could understand why. He still didn't trust them… and to a certain extent Spyro kind of didn't either. So far, they had yet to run into a faction that DIDN'T treat them like this.

They walked through more compact hallways before coming to a small dark room. Windows rested on the opposite side of the entrance, and chairs sat along the edges of the room. The room was empty, all except for them. The guards all fanned out and turned around to face back at them.

"This is it. Let's wait here for a moment." Donnelly said as he stood near a door on the other side of the room in-between the windows.

"What're we waiting for?" Jericho asked, crossing his arms.

"The leader of the science team, Dr. Harper will meet us and guide us down to the prototype area."

"I thought you guys didn't have an Aurora device." Jericho stated.

"We don't. At least, not the kind that the Infinity Labs built. We've built a very rough prototype, capable of at least… theoretically accepting some energy from Spyro here. We had only thought we'd be able to harness energy from crystals recovered from the environment, never from… a source like this."

"Well you've got one hell a source…" Jericho remarked, smirking.

"Indeed we do. We will finally be able to get a full read out of your USB here Jericho. I feel there may be far more on that device then we ever dreamed."

"We'll see… I'm… kind of excited to see myself." Jericho said, shrugging a little. Donnelly smiled back at him.

"So how's it feel Jericho?" Spyro asked, turning to his friend.

"How's… what feel?"

"Well, this is what you had been doing your whole life. Bringing… this flash drive here, to New York. You're finally here, how's it feel?"

"To be honest… it feels just like everything else. Just another task, really. Another thing to do…"

"It's a big thing to do, though."

"Yeah, well… it's all relative."

"Well, I think this is big. It's the biggest thing I've ever done."

"Yeah? You and me both…" Jericho said with a smile. Spyro returned it, and turned back to Donnelly as sounds came from the door behind them. The door slid open, and a man in a white lab coat stepped forward out of a small elevator. He clasped his hands together as he saw Spyro.

"Is this him? By God, he really is purple…"

"Jericho, Spyro, this is Professor Harper. He is the lead scientist on project Aurora. Professor, this is the dragon and Jericho."

"It is a pleasure to meet you two, especially you young one. If… everything Donnelly has said about you is true, well then we are going to be in for quite the test! Now, you have the flash drive with you, right Colonel? I was hoping we could do a formal read out of it on our database computers downstairs."

"Yes, yes of course Professor." Donnelly pulled out the flash drive and reached out to hand it to Harper, but stopped at the last moment. Harper looked at him inquisitively for a moment. Donnelly smiled and turned over to Jericho before handing him the device.

"I do think that is should be you Jericho, that gives him the flash drive. After all, it's what you were supposed to do right? You were to deliver this device to New York City. Well, I think that you've made it to New York, now finish your mission."

"Uh… thanks Colonel. I uh…" He looked down at the device, rubbing it with his fingers. It was at that moment that it hit Jericho. This was the final moment in a mission that had spanned fifty-eight years. It started with his grandfather in the dark halls of Infinity Labs and now it ended here, with Jericho within the hallways of a military complex below Manhattan. It had taken almost sixty years, but Jericho was about to complete his mission. He took in a sharp breath, and looked up at Professor Harper. He reached out with his hand and held out the flash drive for him to take. Harper looked at Jericho before smiling and accepting the device. He grasped it in his hand and took it from Jericho. Spyro watched Jericho as the device left his hands. Even though Donnelly had held onto it since they had arrived at Raven, it was the first time that Spyro saw Jericho say 'good bye' to it. It was as if Harper had taken something from Jericho, something he treasured the most.

"Thank you Mr. Garrison, I can attest that you have just given humanity one of its greatest tools. Your sacrifice will not be in vain!" Harper said before turning to return to the elevator. Donnelly followed him, and invited both Spyro and Jericho to join them.

"Jericho?" Spyro asked, seeing the human still looking down at his empty hand. Jericho snapped out of his gaze, and chuckled a little at the dragon.

"You asked me how I felt Spyro, well… it feels a little empty now."

"Empty? How so?"

"Well, it's like I just had my main goal taken away. Almost like… a good friend of mine is gone now. That device is all I had left of my father and well… now I'm just a guy now."

"Well, you're more than that, I can assure you!" Spyro said with a smile.

"Yeah? I guess so." Jericho smiled before walking into the elevator with the others. Sparx buzzed in just as the door closed. The elevator gave a low jolt as it slowly started to descend downwards.

"Gentlemen, I welcome you to the secure labs beneath Manhattan. Here we keep and store various military facilities but I can assure you none are more important than the Aurora Project. I expect that Colonel Donnelly has already informed you a great deal about Aurora, yes?"

"He gave us… a lengthy run down, yes." Jericho said, crossing his arms again.

"Yes, yes, well I can say that our prototype is… nowhere near what existed before but it is our first step! Spyro I can tell you that with your help we can achieve a lot."

"I hope. What… will you exactly need my help in exactly?"

"Well, to be honest, we'd like to test our Aurora device… Smaller tests on crystals have yielded some positive results but… none that had as much power and potency as… well." The doc paused, rubbing the back of his neck as if he was picking for the proper word. "Me…" the dragon spoke in a rather monotone and distance manner as he knew where this was all going.

"Yes…I uh…heh, just hope you don't overload our equipment." Harper gave a soft chuckle at that, but none of the others in the elevator laughed with him. Sensing the tension, the professor awkwardly cleared his throat hoping to defect the discussion until they arrived. From inside the elevator, Spyro could see the concrete walls of the facility passing by them. Finally, the dull grey gave way to a massive room. Harper turned and looked out, raising his hands.

"There she is… Everyone…I give you… Aurora!"

Spyro and Jericho leaned in, looking down at the massive room but that paled at describing it. The place could dwarf many lakes in terms of volume! It was unbelievable to the purple drake that such a space was dedicated to, in a roundabout way… himself. Large metal machinery lined the walls, stories of the stuff hung and lead into indiscriminate locations. All of which was much different from the Aurora chamber he had seen in his visions. However the device itself…or at least what he assumed was the device proper, was identical. The area around the central platform was cluttered, filled with different large and complex equipment. Pipes and large metal hoses ran from wall to wall like the warped imitation of a mother's womb with one large circular piece of machinery sat in the center acting as the culmination to all this. In the back of the room rested a giant culmination of machinery as a giant turbine looking device rested against the walls. Giant pipes and hoses worked their way from all the different machinery, including Aurora, up to this giant turbine looking device. It looked like it might contain the heart of the machinery of Aurora, a generator perhaps.

Small prongs sat around the circular pad, similar to how the large struts did on the original Aurora. The platform was nestled in-between an intersection of different walkways and paths betwixt the larger pieces. Stairs lead up to two large fully enclosed observation chambers that hovered just above that Spyro assumed was the devices namesake itself. While it seemed very chaotic in here, everything seemed to have purpose, as it was all oriented and built around this singular fixture in the center of the room, much like the Aurora platform was from the dream. However, this one seemed much smaller in scale, and the supporting equipment and industrial elements seemed far greater and more intrusive by comparison.

"It is a far cry from the original yes I know… but we're hoping that with this data we will be able to build a model that can truly compare to what we once had."

"So… Professor…" The dragon began in an understandably more waxing tone. "What…EXACTLY will this experiment entail?" a cocktail of curiosity and mild paranoia at seeing the machine setting in now.

"Well, let's just begin with is a direct reading of your energy signature Spyro. All we want is for you to stand on that platform and demonstrate to us your ability. The device will take detailed readings of your Inner Light, and our prototype might even be able to capture a spark of your energy! It will be the first real opportunity we've had to try out our tech at something beyond calculations and theory's. Most of it is… well, guess work naturally, as is anything teetering on the borders of what we know. Without the research on this flash drive, we've been admittedly taking an aperture approach of proverbially 'seeing what sticks' as it were." The good doctor was quick to reassure his party as a cavalcade of concerned looks soon fell to him as he said that.

"T-th-that's n-not to say we don't have extremely EXTREAMLY well documented ideas of what will happen… I-it's just… it's just well. Maiden voyages are always a time of both excitement and due caution. Besides, when we get data, the principals can be better refined, understood and tweaked to the point we won't have to do that for much longer hopefully!" The looks didn't fade as fast as he might have liked which simply made him shake his head. "All I ask for is a little faith that we know what we're doing."

The elevator reached the bottom of the shaft, and Harper quickly stepped off. Spyro stepped off with the others, and Sparx almost went insane as he buzzed from station to station, looking and being in awe of everything he saw.

"Sparx! Careful… don't… break anything!" Spyro said to his friend as he excitedly flew around. Spyro almost wanted to bolt off himself and explore, but he felt the guard behind him usher him along and the young dragon knew he had to keep up.

Humans in scientist coats walked all around, as if gathering for the event. There must have been a little over a hundred of them snaking their way between the large and complex machinery!

Harper lead them over towards the central platform, stepping between various humans who were attending to the three large arms that sat in a triangle pattern around the central platform. They were reminded Spyro of claws in the way they came out from the platform them came back in, with sharp tips at their apex.

"Now, this is the actual Aurora device, where we take our measurements. This is where you will be standing Spyro." Harper offered his arm, inviting the young dragon to walk over to the platform itself. Spyro hesitated a bit before nodding and walking over towards it. He climbed up onto the circular pedestal, finding it just large enough to house him comfortably. He felt a little… uncomfortable standing inside the three large prongs. Now they really began to remind him of claws, about to grip and constrain him.

"Now, we will need some… special equipment to measure your energy signatures dragon. If you would… be so kind, we would like to place them on you now." Harper gave a nervous chuckle, clasping his hands together. Spyro nodded at him.

The scientists attending to the prongs walked over, each carrying different items. They kneeled down and began placing white straps and bands around his arms and legs, with small cords attached to them. The cords ran off to different pieces of equipment laying near the platform, and to many places the dragon couldn't exactly see. Spyro held in his breath, trying to remain as still as possible as he was strapped down with at least seven of the different straps, all feeling very tight. He was… cautious as having braces and straps placed on him usually meant more captivity! He banished these thoughts from his mind, remaining calm as he knew this was for something good. Finally they finished up and backed away from the young dragon. He finally breathed easy again.

"I do hope this isn't too much for you… dragon." Harper said, his hands still clasped together. Spyro shook his head.

"No… no this is fine I guess. As… as long as it helps, right?"

"Yes but of course! Now then, shall the rest of us move to the control room? Spyro, remain here while we get the system primed up. It won't take but a moment!"

Donnelly smirked at Jericho who rubbed the back of his head, both turning towards one of the two large enclosed rooms that sat on either side of Aurora. Spyro looked up too, seeing that both of them were ominous in the way they sat over the platform. The line of windows overlooking him from above almost looked like two large heads, judging him. He took in a deep gulp. The scientists began to walk away from the platform, and Harper lead both Jericho and Donnelly up a flight of stairs to the control room on Spyro's right.

Sparx still remained with Spyro, his yellow light reflecting off of the machinery.

"Sparx you go too, I… I don't know what will happen when they turn the machine on."

Sparx gave a low disappointed buzz before relenting and flying up to join the others in the control room. He passed one of the scientists on his way up, making him do a double take as he wasn't expecting the dragonfly to come flying past his face. He rubbed his face, confused for a moment before walking inside and closing the door.

At that moment another car from the elevator came to the base of the shaft, and it opened, revealing another group of humans. Unlike the scientists, they wore military fatigues. One of them wore a bright red beret, and he had a gruff look about him. He gave Spyro a low scowl, but it shifted to something of a small smile. It unnerved Spyro. The trio of humans walked up to the other observation room opposite of the one Jericho and the others had gone to. This one looked only mildly occupied compared to the other, but they entered it nonetheless and took up positions overlooking Spyro. Turning back to face them, Spyro could see the man wearing the red beret in the window, looking down intently at Spyro.

Spyro was now more or less alone in the room as loud alarms began to echo off in the room. Some of the lights dimmed, making Spyro feel truly alone. There were still some humans down on the lab floor with him, but they were behind barriers, all looking and watching him.

"Attention all Aurora test staff, a live test is in progress. Please proceed to your safety zone and wait for the test to conclude." A soft female voice announced instructions over an intercom, and Spyro took a moment to look up and around the massive vaulted room. As the lights were dimming, the roof itself became less visible, disappearing into the darkness, leaving only a network of steel and iron support beams and lights for Spyro to see as the dim lights reflected off of their metallic surfaces high above him.

The sound of another intercom came on, the feedback screeching for a moment before clearing up.

"Testing, testing… Ah, there we go! Now Spyro, give us a moment to start warming up the machinery, I promise you won't be down there too much longer!" Harper's voice came over a PA, and Spyro gave a low breath. He hoped it wouldn't take too long… he didn't like being up here on this pedestal like this.

Inside the control room, Jericho and Donnelly stood next to the large observation windows. Lines of computers rested behind them, in a command center-style layout. Operators sat at their consoles and tapped away as they all hurried to prepare the device. Harper stood next to his command console which sat off to the side in the front. He was speaking to his assistant, giving him last minute instructions. Jericho saw him hand off the USB to his assistant, and figured that they were going to begin dumping its data while they performed the test.

Part of Jericho felt defensive about the USB still, and he felt a little pang of sorrow and worry as it disappeared from his view. He knew it was in good hands now, and he knew it was for a good purpose, but… still. He and his family had cared for it for so long… Old habits die hard he guessed.

"What do you think Jericho?" Donnelly asked, turning over to him. Jericho continued watching the assistant as he walked to a console near the back, not responding immediately. Finally Jericho crossed his arms and turned towards the window, looking down at Spyro who sat on the platform below them.

"Think about what?" Jericho asked.

"These scientists… myself included, we're very hopeful for what we find out of this test. You've spent extensive time with him, so you of all people should know how powerful he is."

"Well, you're right about one thing… we've spent a lot of time together. To be honest? I have no clue how powerful he is… I've seen him do incredible stuff. I've seen him do things I can't explain… there's always been something off about him. He isn't like other dragons."

"Well, he isn't. He is unlike any other dragon. He's like… the perfect dragon."

"Perfect?" Jericho turned, watching as Donnelly was looking down at the dragon too, intently watching him.

"Yeah, perfect. He has all the attributes of all the other dragons, yet possesses none of their flaws. Isn't that interesting Jericho? It's like every other kind of dragon is a puzzle piece, each a piece to a single image…"

"So what, he's what all those pieces are?" Jericho asked with an almost dismissive smirk.

"We will see, won't we now?" Donnelly smiled, refuting his smirk. Jericho only sighed in response, turning down to his friend down there. Sparx landed on Jericho's shoulder, looking down at his friend too. Jericho turned, giving Sparx a look of worry.

"We're almost ready… how's it look?" Harper asked, looking towards one of the operators next to him.

"Spinning up the readers now… the system is charging. She's almost ready doctor."

"Excellent…" Harper turned back towards the windows, watching as a large silver drum was lowered towards the pedestal from above. "Drum" was a simple way to explain the cylindrical device. It was large and complex, with different layers that seemingly rotated against one another. Jericho wondered if it was some kind of reader or something, but he was sure it was different from that. It was attached to a large robotic arm which rested on a large rolling track suspended far above them. The arm slowly lowered the drum into position, just above Spyro.

"She's ready professor. Awaiting your command." One of the operators said as he looked up to Harper. Harper rubbed his chin for a moment before pulling up the PA again.

"Alright Spyro we're ready to begin. You may feel a slight tingling sensation as it powers up. When I give the command, I want you to exert as much energy as you can. We want a good reading, so we would like for you to output as much of your internal energy you can."

Down on the platform below, Spyro could only gulp and nod in response. Harper saw the nod and turned to the operator behind him.

"Do it, power up the system."

"Initiating Aurora's primary systems… forty percent… seventy percent…"

Down below, the three large prongs slowly shifted to life, the three of them beginning to rotate around Spyro on an independent track. They flexed outwards, the large sharp heads turning inwards and resting on the inside section of the arm. A smooth, white surface stated at Spyro from the top side of them, glowing softly as they began to spin slightly faster. Above him, the drum that had been put in place had a small opening at its base, directly above Spyro. Blue light came from it, and Spyro could feel somewhat of a warm sensation coming from it. He didn't know exactly what it was doing, but he felt reassured that it was all just part of the test.

"One hundred percent sir, it's ready now." The operator said, looking down at his console. Harper nodded and turned to Spyro again.

"Spyro, now, the system is ready for you. Show us all you've got."

Down below, Spyro nodded upon hearing the human. He closed his eyes and began to focus. He felt his muscles flexing, his body constraining… Power… energy… it all began to flow from him as he tried to awaken the inner core of himself. They wanted to see what he could do, what his power looked like… Well he intended to show them, all of them. He tapped into his inner self, pulling from it the sheer and raw power that rested within… As he did this, he felt as though his senses were beginning to retreat from the physical world. He began to feel his body less and less, the sensation of his paws resting against the burnished metal began to fade away. The feeling of the air flowing across his scales faded too, leaving a certain kind of numbness as his body began to process something else.

At once, Spyro became acutely aware of something else now, his fading senses beginning to be replaced by something else now. He could… he could feel the energy in the room. He could feel the natural energy as it flowed through the room, from the machinery… from the ground… from the natural world around him. As he opened his eyes, he could see it, flowing freely around him. He continued to grit his teeth as he continued onwards, feeling he was heading in the right direction.

"My God… look at that…" One of the scientists muttered, watching the young dragon. Jericho and Donnelly watched in amazement too as the young dragon's body was covered by a fine layer of blue light. He was levitating now, and they could see a field had begun to form around the dragon. It was being kept in place by the rotating arms of Aurora, but within the sphere the wires and cords attached to him floated ominously, as if suspected and animated by the dragon himself.

"The readings… sir… these are far more powerful then we could have estimated sir!"

"Begin the conversion process. See what we can capture." Harper instructed, looking down at the dragon.

"Activating the capture systems, conversion systems…"

Down below, Spyro could sense something shifting in the machinery around him. As the arms rotated around him, they began to spin faster, and the large drum above him began to shift and change as well. The hole at its center began to glow more brightly, and Spyro became acutely aware of something within it changing, shifting. He could feel its power, he could feel what it was doing. It was as if he was able to read it, understand and observe it, even if he couldn't see inside of it. He was viewing it through a different set of eyes, through a different plane of existence.

It shot down a beam at Spyro, and it collided with the sphere of energy Spyro had created around himself. It struck hard, and conflicted with the energy field. Something was wrong, it wasn't right.

All around the dragon, he could feel rippling effects as the device attempted to capture the energy within the sphere. It was too much. There was too much here. He could sense the device failing, strained and brought to the point of failure. The sphere had been breached, and now the energy was seeking a way out…

"Sir, it's too much! The system wasn't equipped to handle this! The inhibitors won't be able to keep the lab shielded from his sphere of influence! There will be a breach!" One of the operators stood up from his console, and Harper began to grip his teeth.

"What do the batteries look like? Have we captured anything from him?"

"The data, there's so much of it sir! It's charged and overcharged the batteries, we're on the brink of system failure! We need to abort!"

"Keep it running, only a moment longer!"

In the back of the room, the giant turbine began to spin. The massive fan blades began to churn as the power levels grew. Rings near the heart of the turbine itself began to spin reverse to one another, going faster and faster as the moments passed. Their inverse rotations created a spectacle for the eyes, as did the massive fan blades that rotated quicker and quicker. It was clear the massive generator couldn't take the stress from Spyro's energy.

Sparks and streaks of electricity arced from the drum above Spyro, and one of its sides blew clear off of it, landing several feet away. The arms spun faster and faster, trying to keep the field of energy Spyro had created sealed behind their protective rotations. Soon, one of the three arms locked up and began to spark itself, and suddenly they could see his energy beginning to ripple across the room. The generator in the back began to rattle uncontrollably. The fan blades made an eerie series of metallic clangs, preceding the sudden failure of the two rings in the center of it. The two rings which had been spinning reverse to one another suddenly shattered, metal flying everywhere as the system began to run lose.

"We have a breach! The energy is breaching containment!"

"Abort, abort the test! Shut the system down!" Harper frantically reached over to the PA system and almost yelled into it.

"We're aborting! Spyro, power down! Power down or else-" Loud noise began to screech from the PA system before it cut out, and all the lights in the room died. Only the lights from the monitors could be seen, and the bright blue light coming from below, from Spyro. Energy lashed out from the pedestal, arcing to anything it could touch. Items in the room began to levitate, a soft blue light coming off of them. Machinery nearby began to spark, and soon the three arms rotating around Spyro began to slow and come to a halt. The room began to shake as the power continued to rise.

"Spyro! You have to stop! Spyro!" Jericho pounded on the glass, seeing as his friend began to become enveloped in a blue sphere of pure light. Soon they couldn't see the dragon, and the light became too bright to see anything else. They shielded their eyes as the glass began to crack and shatter.

"It's overloading, get down!"

They all ducked for cover as the glass shattered, sending sharp pieces everywhere. Jericho and Donnelly hit the ground and shielded themselves, but nothing ever came. A soft silence came over the room, an eerie and unsettling silence. Jericho pulled his hands back, looking up to see the glass was floating in midair, suspended inches from where it had shattered. Everyone looked in amazement as the light from below continued to grow before dimming. The glass slowly fell to the ground, their source of power having long faded away. Jericho quickly got up, going to see if Spyro was alright. Everyone moved at once, moving from their computers and consoles, walking over to look down as well.

The light from the pedestal had vanished, and instead of a young dragon resting on the platform, they were met with nothing.

"What?! Where'd he go?!" Donnelly asked, alarmed.

Jericho only looked in shock as smoke rose from the drum, still suspended above where Spyro had been only moments before. Pieces of it had been blown clean off, and one of the three arms had snapped in half. Electricity still sparked from its form.

"Call security! We need first aid down here!"

People yelled and moved about in a panic, trying to pick themselves up. Smoke rose from some of the consoles, and the lights only now flickered to life. Guards poured from the elevator, their rifles and pistols pointed outwards as they began to search the room for the dragon. Jericho only continued to stare at the empty spot where his friend once was.

"What the hell happened Harper? Where'd he go?" Donnelly asked, furious at what had happened. Harper, like Jericho, only stared out at the empty platform.

"Professor! Professor answer me!" Donnelly yelled. Harper grunted, snapping to at once. He corrected his glasses, pushing them up his nose as he tried to collect himself.

"We uh… I… It appears as though when we… tried to collect the energy from Spyro we uh… breached his energy field. We… we did not account for this."

"Breached his energy field? What's that supposed to mean?" Donnelly asked, watching Harper walk towards the shattered windows.

"Spyro was creating a field of energy around his body… and when we penetrated it with our collection laser it… collapsed into the room."

"That doesn't explain where he went. Where is he?" Jericho asked now, turning to him.

"That's just it, I don't know." Harper simply responded, rubbing his head.

/Transitioning…/

[Done]

"What… where… where am I?" Spyro took in a sharp gasp, feeling his body resting on solid ground. His head… it was throbbing so hard…

He looked up, surveying where he was. It was… dark. Darkness surrounded the dragon. He was resting on a single stone platform, suspended in what seemed like an infinite void of emptiness. It was cold… very cold…

He… he wasn't in the Aurora facility anymore, that much was… for certain…

"H-hello?" Spyro asked, looking around. Only the echoes of his voice answered back, giving the dragon a bit of a shiver.

Stone stairs appeared, as if out of thin air. Confused, Spyro walked over to them, and started climbing up. As he ascended each stair, he could see another, leading up to a massive floating platform above him. He took each step, slowly making his way up, wondering just where he was. As he reached the top, he saw a single stone jutting up from the platform surrounded by a ring of silver metal embedded in the stone platform. There was a form, sitting atop it.

"Hello…? Hello is someone there…?"

"You are back. I admit, I was not expecting your return so soon. Yet, I welcome you nonetheless."

Spyro turned, sitting up. He saw Flame again! Well… whom he surmised was that strange consciousness from before who only… looked like Flame.

"It's… you." Spyro said, recognizing him. A soft purple light cast itself down as if from nowhere, illuminating the mysterious drake's body.

"It appears your visit to the humans has given you some enhanced ability to read yourself." Flame remarked as he still stood over the dragon. Spyro finally reoriented himself onto his stomach and stood up, looking up at him.

"I… well I guess you could say that… You're acting surprised, that I'm here."

"I was not expecting you. I couldn't follow you that much farther towards human territory, although it appears you have reached out to me. It is very impressive."

"I… thanks? So then, this is that dream world again." Spyro looked around, seeing the emptiness around them.

"Not exactly. The last time, I reached out to you and presented you with a memory. Now you have reached out to me, and I have no memory for you. This is merely my existence."

"Doesn't look very… exciting."

"It doesn't need to be. I take all my excitement, all my emotions and stimulus from the memories of others. I have no need for my own pleasure."

"I… I see. Well I guess I'm here… now what?"

"'Now what' indeed. I thank you young Spyro, for what you have shown me. You helped me piece together that fragment and see the beginnings of our world. I have learned a great deal since then."

"You have…? Like what?" Spyro asked, jumping up on the rock to join him. Flame looked out, raising a claw up and causing the darkness to stir. The area around them began to change, shift and alter. Spyro found that they were now standing inside the old Aurora chambers in Infinity Labs. They were back in the memory.

"This place…" Spyro said, looking around the room. There was no activity inside the room, unlike from the memory. Time seemed to have come to a standstill. In the center of the Aurora platform there was a single sphere of purple light, pulsing against the otherwise still and dead environment.

"This is where our world was born. This is where the bridge was originally formed." Flame stepped up onto the Aurora platform, and walked towards the pulsating purple sphere.

"This bridge… this… portal… Do you know where it goes?" Spyro asked, following behind the red drake. Flame looked at him for a moment before extending a claw as if to touch the sphere, but then retracted it.

"This bridge tethers two worlds together, creating one new world. It creates one new singular existence based on what the old two once were. The world on the other side of the tether is one that is both familiar and… alien at the same time." Flame placed his claw back on the ground, and turned to Spyro who stared deep into the purple sphere. This was what Donnelly had talked about, and what they had seen in the memory. This is what Aurora had done… with the Dark Master's energy they were able to create this tether… but to where exactly?

"Is it… another dimension? Another… world?"

"It is possible. It is… impossible to say for certain…"

"Why? You said you knew. Why don't you know if you said that… you know?"

"Because the world is far more complicated then easy explanations allow for. I do not know exactly what is on the other side of this bridge, but I can understand it. I can feel it. It is a world, much like our own, but vastly different at the same time. Go ahead Seer, extend a claw. Feel it for yourself."

"I… I'm afraid…" Spyro said, looking deep into the sphere.

"Do not fear it. You know it more then you know…"

Spyro took in a deep breath, and rose his claw up. Slowly he moved it closer and closer to the sphere, feeling the energy of the tether with each inch he drew closer. Tendrils of energy came off of the surface of the orb, and bridged the gap between his talon and its surface. As it touched his talon, he could truly feel it. He could… understand it.

Images flashed through the dragon's mind, showing him a flurry of different scenes. The images flashed by so fast, so sudden that Spyro was unable to read any of them! He clenched his eyes shut and withdrew his claw, breaking the connection. He backed away and rubbed his head, still feeling the effects of the burst of information.

It felt all so… so familiar to him. Like it was something he already knew. It felt… like it was where he was from. But… but that wasn't true, he was from here, right? This world was his world after all, right?

"You can feel it can you? It feels familiar to you does it not?"

"It… does… But why? Why does it feel familiar? Are we… are we from there?"

"It is familiar because a part of that world lives on in you. It is familiar because a part of that world now lives on in this world. It is possibly familiar, because a part of it may have always existed in this world."

"Always existed here? How can that even be I-"

Flame raised his paw, stopping Spyro midsentence. He waved it forward, as if banishing the current existence before them. It melted away, and instead they found themselves standing in a field, surrounded by trees and grass. Above the sky swirled a dark and angry gray. Through the black clouds came a beam of bright orange, punching through it like a knife. It slammed into the ground, and from all directions out came a blast of hot orange air.

It rushed across the landscape and scorched everything it touched. As the beam continued to crack the Earth, something happened. Spyro could feel the energy from the lasers flow deep into the ground and embed the energy into the crust. The energy was powerful, and unending. Eventually the beam stopped, and peace was once again allowed to overtake the scene.

The black stained Earth came to life as the fires and ashes settled from the laser blast. Plants began to grow, replacing the ones that had once resided in the field. Some looked similar, almost identical. Others, looked completely foreign. They looked like they weren't of this world, yet at the same time… were. It was… so hard to explain.

"As the beams came from above, they pumped into this world the essence of another. As they combined, they created something entirely different then what the parents gave. It is why as the beams touched the world, it was changed forever."

"I still don't understand, you were talking about how a part of the other world has… always been here. I know that the Dark Master captured and used HADES to change the world. I've seen it… I saw how he pumped the world full of his life, full of his energy. It's what changed the natural animals, turned them into anthros."

"And what of the dragons?"

"I… I don't know. Dragons… we're unlike any other species in this world. If the anthros were created by changing Earth's natural life, then… did we come through the portal? Were we of the other world?"

"Whatever passes through the tether is unlike what it was once on the other side. Dragons are indeed unique. Unlike the other species who were changed, you don't appear to have changed from anything. I find it… fascinating. It's almost like you are in your natural state."

"So we did come from the tether."

"Or perhaps, you did not."

"How? How else would we have come to this world! You said it yourself, we're unlike any other creature here! We have to be native to… wherever that tether goes! That… that other world, it's our home! That's where we came from!"

"What of the other Seer?"

"I… I don't know. I don't know where he came from."

"What of his energy too… your energy. This, Inner Light. The Seer pumped it deep into this Earth using humanity's weapons of war. It's the life force of everything now, including dragons. Where did the Inner Light come from?"

"From the… tether?"

Flame turned to Spyro, not responding. Instead he looked deep onto Spyro, as if asking him to examine it further.

"You said whatever passes through the tether is… unlike what it once was on the other side. That it… isn't a portal. It's a… binding. If that isn't where the Inner Light came from, then… where could it have? Is the Inner Light, and all of us dragons… a… an interpretation of what we… were on the other side?"

"It is a great thought but perhaps the answer is actually far simpler than either of us fathoms at the current moment."

"Simpler? I thought you said it wasn't so simple…"

"Indeed I did."

Spyro groaned in frustration.

"What else then? What else could it even be? Where could this have all come from, if… not from this other world! I don't know where the Dark Master comes from… I don't know how he got here, or how he… pumped his energy into the world."

"Was it his energy to begin with? The energy of this world did come from him, and it all originates from him, yet over time it has changed and altered itself. Now the old Seer's energy is corrupted and toxic, while the natural Inner Light is pure and innocent. It has melded itself into the great Earth, as if welcomed home. It is, as it appears, in its natural state."

"….As if the two worlds were… bonded before… I think… I think I'm beginning to see. One thing… one thing makes no sense to me still. Where did the Dark Master come from? Where does this all start? From… from all the history I've looked at and heard, before the war, there was no Dark Master, or no dragons. We simply didn't exist. Where does this all start?"

"That, I cannot answer. But I do know where the answer is." Flame started walking into the field of growing flowers, pushing them aside as they began to wash away into a flurry of colors. Again the scene began to change and shift, being replaced by yet another…

They stood again in an empty room, but it was one that Spyro recognized.

It was back in the Infinity Lab complex. It was the giant metal door where Spyro didn't go beyond. All around the floor lay the bodies, still scattered as they once were in the memory. Still there was the scorch marks along the door. Just as it was before too, the massive metal door was only slightly ajar, allowing for Spyro to see some of the darkness that lay on the other side.

"This place…? Why this door? I don't understand…"

"Beyond this door lays the answers you seek Seer. Behind it lays a story, long riddled with anger and hatred. I do not know what lies beyond, for I have not seen it. You… however with your special talents can pass beyond to the other side. You and only you can go beyond this door, and find out what happened."

Spyro walked slowly to the door, feeling the darkness flowing from it. Just as before when he first came here, he could feel the hatred flowing from within. Even if whatever was behind the door was gone, it had left a foot print. It was so powerful that Spyro could barely remain there for a few moments. He extended a claw to the door, but had to retract it. The essence flowing deep from within was too strong. He was still afraid what lay beyond the door.

"I… I don't think I can… There's just too much hatred and anger flowing from it. What could… what could possibly behind it? What could… cause this much distress?"

"While our world began in the chambers of Aurora, where the two worlds were tethered and bound forever, behind this door lays the question of why. Why these events came to pass, and why they ended the way they did. You can open the door and find out, but only if you are ready."

"I… I don't think I'm ready. I'm afraid what will happen when I do."

"It is alright Seer. The truth can sometimes be something we are not ready yet to accept. You can only open the door when you are ready."

Spyro took in a deep breath, rubbing his head. He stepped away from the door, and backed up to where Flame was in the center of the room. He wanted so badly to see what was on the other side… to understand and see it. It would tell him who the Dark Master was, and why he did what he did… He could feel it, deep from within the chamber. It was… it was too much for him. He would need to prepare himself… but he just wondered how he could prepare himself for it. How do you prepare yourself for the truth? How do you prepare yourself to open a door leading to what Spyro could only imagine as misery and anger?

Flame raised his claws again, and slowly swiped them, causing the room to shift and change into wispy shadows. Like a fog in the wind it blew away and became nothing more. Once again, they found themselves on the floating platform where they began. Flame looked out into the void before turning to Spyro, his expression as empty as before.

"How will I know if I am ready?" Spyro asked, turning to him.

"Only you can answer that Seer. Whenever you are ready, This memory is now as much yours as it is mine. I'm sure you will be able to make more use of it."

"Thank you…" Spyro smiled at Flame, who only gave his usual blank expression back to him. The dragon turned as if to leave, but found that he didn't quite know how to go about that. He stared out into the void, peering around as if looking for an exit. Instead he stared out into the black gulfs of emptiness, and was rewarded as images began to scroll before him. They were… his own memories. He saw images of his adventure, from where they began in Savannah to Baltimore and now New York. He saw himself with his friends… with Flame and Cynder. The sight of them brought a solemn look to the dragon's face.

"Why am I seeing these? What is this…?" Spyro asked, saddened by it all.

"These are your memories of course. This place, this realm… it is a place of memories. It is a place for them to be expressed and catalogued. You see them because they are so powerful to you." Flame, er, the consciousness Flame, walked up to Spyro and watched with him as the images flashed before him.

"These two dragons, you think of them a lot. I can feel the power of your memory for them."

"I do think of them a lot… They were my friends, and I lost them. I just can't stop thinking of them I guess…"

"I don't know what that is like. Loss. Sadness. I experience it a lot, in the memories of all those who came before, yet I as a being cannot comprehend it. As much as I watch these memories and emotions I can never actually feel them, for they were never mine. It makes me wonder, what it is like to create my own memories."

"Aren't you… creating them now? Just by… talking to me?"

"Perhaps. Still, these memories are a far cry from those of your own. Sitting here, watching your adventure and the times spent with your friends, it can only make me wonder what that is like. It makes me wonder what living might be like."

Spyro turned and looked at him. He looked out at Spyro's memories, his eyes scanning every detail of them. Within his eyes there was a hunger, a hunger for more than his being was capable of giving him. He was… a collective consciousness, but he didn't quite behave like one. While he had the memories and emotions of everyone who had long passed, he felt more like… a singular being then a collective mind. It made more sense as to why he might hunger for an existence more then what he had.

"I guess I wouldn't know what it's like, since… I've never been in a position like yours."

"Your friend, the black one, I have seen her before."

Spyro's eyes went wide as he mentioned that.

"You have? Where?"

"A memory. A recent one." Flame turned, and walked over to another side of the floating platform. In the void he stared, until images scrolled across it to fill it. Spyro walked over too, and looked at the images as they slowed down enough for Spyro to make out what was within them.

There he could see a forest, with some buildings nestled at the base of a large hill. The buildings looked old, but not in a state of decay. Metal fences surrounded the buildings, enclosing it from the rest of the world. As Spyro began to peer in more, he saw that there were figures walking towards the fenced compound by a small dirt road deep in the forest. As he drew closer, he saw that they were Sentinels. As more and more details became clear to the dragon, he could see that the precession of Sentinels had with them a singular figure, a black dragoness. It was Cynder.

"Cynder!" Spyro yelled, seeing her. She was being carried on the back of a large anthro dragon, her form beaten and limp. There was another dragon behind them, a feral one. It was Vivex. Vivex had her, he had Cynder.

"It's her… she's alive! She's alive and he has her…"

"That dragon, he is a servant of the old Seer. A great darkness surrounds him…"

"Where is this? When as this? Come on, tell me!"

"I'm sorry Seer, but this is all I can remember. It was not long ago, but the place… I cannot recall. It lays in a forest somewhere in the north. A great darkness surrounds this place, and clouds the eyes of my Walkers. I'm afraid I cannot tell you more."

"I have to go, I have to save her! I might have lost Flame, but I won't lose her!"

"This passion, this… drive to save someone you love. It is… intriguing to me. I will remember this."

"I would do anything for her… I have to save her."

"I still cannot understand the devotion you feel. It is something I wish I could understand."

"It's easy… you do it because you care. Because you want to see them happy. You'd to anything for that."

"Interesting. I will remember this."

"Thank you… er… Flame for your help. I… I really need a better name for you."

"I've never thought of a name. I simply am, for we must. Thousands and thousands of voices converging into one singular note to teach those what will listen of what came before. To understand everything that has come before…"

"So, like a… campus? A place for learning and a joining of many thoughts?"

"This analogy holds substance in your attempts to define us, define me. It is not an inaccurate one."

"Great! Campus it is! Thanks for your help Campus. I must go and help Cynder… I cannot fail her."

"Good luck to you Seer. Thank you for your visit, I do hope we can speak again."

"Same here Fl- I mean… Campus. It's been interesting talking to you… I'm sure we can help each other out a great deal. Until next time, Campus."

"Yes… until next time Seer."

Spyro raced off into the void, disappearing from the existence that Campus resided in. Campus turned, facing the images and memories that Spyro had of his friends, of Flame, Cynder, Jericho and Sparx. He looked at them for a few moments before they vanished.

"Yes, I do believe there are many things we can help each other out with..."

/Transitioning…/

[Done]

Spyro opened his eyes, and took in a sharp gasp. He grunted, sitting up as he tried to ascertain where he was. It took a while for his surroundings to become clear, but soon he could see the flickering lights and smoke resting at the top of a large room. He was back inside the lab from earlier.

A quick glance around the room showed the poor state that the lab was in. Fires raged on much of the machinery, and the main lights that once illuminated the room were all out. Only a few flickers and sparks remained, and the entire room had a red hue coating it from emergency lights that had come on during the outage. An alarm was sounding off in the background, like a perpetual rapidly ringing bell. Pieces of metal and debris were scattered across the floor, reminding the dragon heavily of the state of the Infinity Lab complex when he visited it in his dream.

He turned to what was left of the Aurora prototype. The three arms had all been snapped in half, and the collection device had been shattered into several pieces. A ring of black soot stained the area around the dragon, as if it had been scorched by a mighty force.

He sat up, groaning as his head was aching badly. He lifted up a paw to rub it softly, but was soon met with the sounds of footsteps nearby. He looked up just in time to see several armed guards race towards him. They raced down the stairs and quickly surrounded him. Their rifle barrels pointed straight out towards his head, and he knew that once again, for the one hundredth time, he had been captured.

This shit was getting old- fast.

End of Chapter 19