(A/N) Wow, I have been really pumping out these chapters huh? I'm hoping I can keep up the pace and keep the story going for as long as I can. Also a Beta Reader would be greatly appreciated since I know I'm far from perfect with the story. But without further ado, the next chapter of Rise of Hope!
As Spyro continued back through the path to his home, he felt the adrenaline in his body wear off and was nearly knocked off his feet by the waves of fatigue that overcame him as the cost of the battle began to fully weigh down on him. He was forced to stop for a moment, attempting to gather himself and the strength to reach home and safety. As he began walking again he would stop and focus on any unfamiliar noise, with paranoia and his mind running rampant on hidden apes lurking and waiting for his moment of weakness. The thoughts of this scenario caused his mind to override all other thoughts and to escape as quickly as possible. He began to move faster and eventually into a dead sprint through the jungle, much to the screaming protests of his tired body. He burst out into the open near his home in a dead sprint as he outran the enemies that his mind was convinced were right behind him. As his home suddenly came into the open, he slowed down to a stop as he attempted to calm his frayed nerves. He started moving again towards his room to attempt to let his many bruises and cuts heal, hoping that he could dodge questions until later. As he passed by where the rest of his family usually slept, he could hear Sparx's excited chatter as he was excitedly explaining what had transpired not even an hour earlier. Spyro didn't want to stop and talk with Flash or Nina since he knew that they would lose it once they saw all the injuries that he had sustained. The moment he was inside his room, he flopped down onto his bed and immediately slipped into unconsciousness.
"And then he breathed fire! I mean I was ready to kick the butt of all those ugly apes but then Spyro just began breathing fire! I know you may not believe me it seriously happened!" Sparx argued, as he finished the extensive story he had created about how he had fought the apes all the way to their leader only to have Spyro scare him off with fire.
"Its not that I don't believe you Sparx, in fact we both do but it's more that we are worried that the day has finally arrived." explained Flash. After hearing that Sparx became curious and asked, "What are you talking about pops? Is there something you're hiding from Spyro and me?"
"Its a long story Sparx but we first must find Spyro, did he go straight to his room?" asked Flash. Sparx shook his head and replied, "I don't know, I thought he followed me but I didn't see him when I came inside."
"Lets go see if he's in his room then, I want to make sure he has made it home and is alright first." suggested Nina as she began to head to the door. Flash and Sparx nodded and followed her, wanting to be reassure themselves that Spyro had returned home safely. As they followed Nina outside and into Spyro's bedroom, both Nina and Flash gasped at Spyro's condition. While he seemed to be sleeping somewhat soundly, he had multiple bruises on both his sides and a very prominent row of three gashes that had left small trails of blood running down his face. Nina turned to Flash and Sparx and said, "Sparx get me some water and cloth and Flash, get some cool mud, while it won't be perfect it'll help with the swelling." As the two flew off to grab the materials she needed, Nina turned to Spyro and sighed. It broke her heart to see her son like this and she was going to do all she could so he would hopefully heal quickly.
Spyro struggled to wakefulness, having been disturbed from his slumber by the feeling of something being spread on his sides and something also moving across his face. He pawed at his face, trying to get whatever it was to stop harassing him before he heard a voice begin to chastise him. "Spyro, don't do that! I need you to hold still so i can clean you up." Nina chastised. Spyro stopped himself and lowered his paw to the ground and tried to lay as still as he felt Nina continue to clean out his cuts.
"Geez Spyro you look pretty bad, but then again you look pretty ugly already." said Sparx, as he flew into Spyro's view. Spyro chuckled before replying, "At least I wasn't used as a lantern."
"I could've started kicking butt anytime I wanted to but i decided to let you handle them and get a taste of the action." Sparx retorted, but before Spyro could respond they were both silenced by Nina who gave both of them a scathing glare that silenced them both.
"Spyro, I heard that you did something amazing today while helping out your brother." said Nina, causing Spyro to suddenly become nervous and remain silent for a moment before managing to say, "I… seriously have no idea what came over me. I felt such anger and determination to stop them and to save Sparx and it just came out. I couldn't control myself and I scared myself by how destructive it is."
"Spyro," said Flash, gaining Spyro's attention as he was revealed to be the one spreading the mud on his bruises,"I understand that you may be frightened by this unknown power you hold but it is completely natural for you." This confused Spyro, causing him to become reminded of a question that had decided to resurface from the events that had happened earlier.
"Mom, Dad… I wanna ask a question, before the fight the leader said that he believed that all of us were gone already. What did he mean by that? After all dragonflies aren't that rare are they?" After asking this question there was an uncomfortable silence that lingered through the air for a few moments before Flash spoke up. " Spyro, there is a reason he said that. It is because you aren't from here. You come from a place of constant war, often where the innocent pay the price of this constant turmoil." The moment he said this, both of them could feel Spyro tensing up beneath them in shock as the weight of the message sank in.
"What? What do you mean that I'm not from here? I am your son, ain't I?" Spyro questioned, as his mind struggled to come to terms with the fact that he could potentially have never came from here. While most of his mind was trying to deal with the shock, a small part of him whispered about how the signs were there all along. You knew you never fit in, it seemed to say, you've always felt out of place here. Not only that, said the voice, but also in the fact that you never even looked remotely similar to any of the dragonflies that have ever lived here. As Spyro battled with his internal turmoil, he was suddenly pulled out of his trance like state by Nina as she explained to him how they came upon him.
"Spyro, you weren't born here. Thirteen years ago we found an egg that seemed to have floated downriver and washed up near our riverside community. It was on that day that you were born. While seeing you for the first time scared many of us half to death, we eventually took you under our wing and had raised you ever since. While you may not have been born here, you are still part of this family."
"But then since I'm not your son," Spyro questioned, "then i must not be a dragonfly. The question now is… What am I?" Flash decided to answer that question and replied, "Spyro, the answer to that is simple, you are a dragon." That answer caused both Spyro and Sparx to freeze as the both visibly gawked as shock overcame both their faces. Hours seemed to pass in the stunned silence as they both struggled with the newfound realization. But after what seemed to be an eternity Spyro finally managed to say, "So I'm a dragon then." Sparx then found his voice and decided to add his opinion, "Yea who knew? Least that gave you the excuse you needed to explain being chunky." This pulled a chuckle out of Spyro, though the room still remained laced with tension. This time it was Nina who broke the silence by saying, "There, you should feel better in the morning." She then patted the cloth bandages covering the cuts on the side of his face and said, "I know this has been stressful for you dear so try to get some rest and remember that you are our son, no matter the circumstances."
"Thanks Mom, Thanks Dad for always being with me." said Spyro as the three came together with Flash and Nina hugging Spyro's snout.
"No problem son, now get some rest. Come on Sparx, let Spyro rest." said Flash as he headed towards the door. Sparx stayed behind a moment longer and said to Spyro, "Doesn't matter however you got here, you are still my bro no matter what."
"Thanks Sparx." said Spyro, as he settled into his bed. Sparx left the room and Spyro was nearly asleep when he was awoken by a sudden rumble. He looked around the room, surprised, before noticing that it was his stomach letting out the awful noise. He hadn't eaten in quite a while, so he snuck out to catch a meal before returning to his bed and curling up on the padding. As he slipped into unconsciousness, one thought pervaded his mind. I have to leave, Spyro thought, I have to go and see where I had been born. And with that final thought he fell asleep as his mind created images of proud creatures, all ready and willing to show him his home.
(A/N) As always rate and review as it always helps me out in spotting any problems with the story!