Life was great. I had money, I had my girl, I had my car. Street racing sure has its perks. I remember my friend and mechanic died in a shooting and dedicated this race to him. Going through the Rockies in the dead of night. My Dodge Viper could handle the turns and with its jet black paint with double crimson stripes down the middle that were invisible until the light hit it just right I could turn the lights off and sneak past the competition with out them having a chance to see and block me.

I was well ahead of the pack and was enjoying the open road. Suddenly a streak that blotted out the light came from above and swept across the road a few hundred yards off. Just as I got there, the path the darkness took exploded in a fiery conflagration. The blast jarred the car and made me loose control. When the retina burn faded The dash was lit up from the glow above and behind me. Ahead was a sea of green glowing with a red tinge from my colored headlights. There was a jarring that made it feel like my brain was coming out of my eye sockets, brief, blinding pain, then nothing…

I was back in my room, trying to sleep with Perrin next to me, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop think about what had just happened the previous day.

Volteer pulled me aside in the hallway. "James, there is something I must implore of you."

"Hey, I said I was sorry about the other day, I did something I wasn't comfortable with and it didn't agree with me."

"Compose yourself. That's not what I hailed you for. The other guardians and myself have a task for you."

"Alright, what is it?" I asked.

"You are to retrieve the new fire guardian."

I was late.

Of all the classes to get detention; my former best language/reading! I was great in 2010, but here in the distant future, English is a forgotten memory. Instead the dragons had a language all their own. Needless to say, Me, Kenji and Ryan were flunking and today of all days, when I had a meeting with guardians apparently so important I couldn't even tell Perrin, I went and got detention!

To get there as quick as possible I forwent the crowded halls and risked teleporting where I couldn't see, through the wall. It worked. I plummeted toward the ground, landing on all fours with an audible thud and running through the main doors with my legs feeling like they were shredded from the impact. soon arrived at the staircase that led down to the guardians' quarters. I soon arrived at the stairs that led down to the guardians chambers.

I had never been down there before and as soon as I stepped foot in the stairs, I felt like I couldn't tell up from down. I must have gone twenty stories when we came out to… sunshine? I went to a window and found we were in the chamber at the top of the temple! "What the?"

Terrador came over. "This was built long ago to be a capital building by the moles and dragons, back when the world was divided into warring nations. They built that staircase to lead "down" to the top floor. The ancients took the reason with them to the grave however.

Once I had collected myself, I finally spoke "Sorry I'm late, school and all." The annoyance on their faces vanished at that and they all stood up for the meeting to take place: Cyril, Terrador, Volteer, Spyro, Cynder and another dragon I didn't recognize with a large black crystal around his neck. Spyro stood unusually close to him.

The stranger spoke first, "So, you are alone, no one else knows of this meeting?"

"No, I can only sense us, in that way the detention worked out as a perfect alibi."

"Good-" he said as he closed his eyes, the crystal began to glow brilliant blue and his appearance changed, he appeared to age and his horns morphed, starting closest to the crystal and rippling out his scales dulled and faded to a gray that seemed to glow from within. When the transformation was complete Ignitus opened his eyes "-Now we can begin."

I tried to conceal my shock, and did a horrible job, and asked the obvious, "So why are you here?

Ignitus chuckled, "Because; little one, I've observed all the dragons of this age and have found one who I think will make a fine fire guardian. The others have done likewise. We want you, James, to test them."

The shock on my face came back twofold. "Me? Why me? Why not Spyro?"

Spyros voice contained disappointment but his face practically glowed as he looked at Ignitus "Apparently Igni-Dad thinks I'm too powerful, the tests would be impossible to complete as half consists of a duel. Plus you proved yourself capable in the rescue." He looked at me and I heard his voice in my head [Lucky.]

I tried shrugging at him and found that since my feet were on the floor I just made a weird jerking motion. I collected myself and said "So what am I supposed to do?"

Volteer spoke up "Ever since Ignitus's cessation, we tarrying guardians have had an exceedingly, exceptionally, excessively, exorbitantly, extraordinarily, highly, hugely, immensely, immoderately, inordinately-"

Thankfully Terrador cut him off. "Volteer, you're rambling again." Volteer gave him a dirty look and let Terrador do the talking. "Anyway, Since Ignitus's passing; it's been harder on the remaining guardians. Spyro has stepped in to help from time to time, but we've asked enough of him and as much as I hate to admit it, we're getting to old for this."

I nodded "So it's not just a fire guardian, is it? You want me to find the next generation of guardians. So what are you going to do in your retirement?"

"Oh, were not retiring." Cyril told me. "We've decided to become a kind of council that people can come to with questions and requests."

But what if they have children or something like that, do they come too?"

"Of course!" they all said.

"Alright, but what's the test?"

"It differs for each element." Ignitus said. "The fire guardian must prove to have leadership abilities."

Cyril spoke up. "The Ice guardian must prove logical and tactical."

"The earth guardian must be strong in mind and body, impossible to manipulate" Terrador rumbled.

Finally Volteer spoke, "The Electric conservator ought to possess intellectual and zealous mannerisms." I think I understood that.

Spyro spoke then "And as I already said, they have to prove themselves able to defeat them in a duel where you take advantage of their elements characteristic shortcomings, The earths' straightforwardness, the fires' quick temper, the electricitys'… eccentricities and the ices' adherence to custom. You will fight in such a way that they will have to think differently then they normally would."

"Ok, that's what I test, but how?"

"That, young dragon, you will have to decide for yourself." Cyril said. "After the new guardians have been trained to their maximum by Spyro and taught the duties of a guardian by us, there will be a coronation ceremony after which you will assume the normal duties of an emissary."

"Which are?" I asked.

"Well for one, if someone in remote area has a problem, like an outbreak of Voidlings or The cursed dead, speaking of which, your friend, General Kenji has been sent to quell an outbreak in the high rise mountains. Anyway, you would be sent in our stead if we're busy. You would also be a negotiator of sorts if the arguing people don't wish to come to the temple."

"So, I'd be a peacekeeper?" I asked.

"No! Goodness no." Cyril said. "The guardians place is here, at the temple and the surrounding areas. If we're all out all the time, the temple would be left vulnerable, in addition each temple has certain duties that only they can perform, for example here at the southern temple is where Malefor and Spyros eggs were kept, and ten thousand years from now, the next purple egg will reside here. And the eastern temple used to be the center of the military. This is to prevent too much political power from being in one place. So if someone needs the services of the southern temple and we're too busy, you would fill in for us."

I tried to figure it out. "So, you're saying I'd be a part-time guardian?"

"Kind of." Terrador said "So, will you accept the role?"

"I don't know, that's a lot of responsibility, isn't it?"

"Just the facts that you comprehend the viciously alluring nature of power such as you have just revealed states the fact that it will be nigh impossible for you to be corrupted by it." Volteer said.

I took all this in and thought it over. Finally I said "I'll think about it. I also want to be able to quit anytime I want." I told them.

"It's not a position you can just quit, but aside from finding the guardians you have the right to turn down any and all missions you don't like."

And now we're back to the present, me lying in bed, unable to sleep. I quietly got up and went out to stretch my wings. I was tasked with testing the dragon in leadership. I had an idea how to do that, furthermore I was allowed to bring an assistant with me. I didn't think I would need one for this one, but it would be helpful in the future. After a while I returned to my room and looked though my picture book and drew a picture of myself flying over the town I lived in as a human. By that time, I was ready for bed and quickly drifted off.

When I woke, Perrin was already up, looking at the picture I drew the other night. She turned to me, "You know, you look nothing like this." She said.

"Yeah," I said. "I was never good at self portraits. "If I were to draw you, it'd be more accurate. Perrin, there's something I need to talk to you about."

She adopted a knowing look "So your finally coming out of the closet?"

"What? No!"

She smirked "I'm just messing with you, what is it you need to tell me?"

I thought for a minute how to word it. "The guardians have a job for me, they want me to go out and recruit four new guardians. I'd be gone for long stretches until it's done and then I would act as an emissary for them."

She closed her eyes in thought "How long does this job last?"

"It's permanent, though I don't have to accept any missions I don't want to."

Perrin opened her eyes, revealing the blue irises flecked with rose pink. "And do you want to do this?"

I nodded. "They thought I was the best dragon for the job, and not many others exist who can do it. I won't do anything to endanger you, but I don't see anything wrong with it."

She reached out and nuzzled my neck, "Then have fun."

I had been flying for a few hours and the sun was starting to come up, the first sliver of orange broke above the horizon and suddenly the gray land flared into color. The midnight blue sky faded to orange with a strip of green between the two, combined with the twin moons on either side would be remarkable enough without the light drizzle falling from high altitude clouds; forming a rainbow over the three celestial bodies. Far off to the right the morning star stared at it all, almost looking like I could fly into the star and return to the past. I was grateful for my developing powers; I could recall this wonder and share it with my friends and family as if they were here with me. I was nearing the mountain range that sliced the continent in two. Below me the rain that constantly formed on this side of the mountains made everything lush and green. And wet. Perfect for raising young fire dragons. Which was why I was here.

Below me ran a river fed by glacial runoff. Almost on its icy waters was what appeared to be a market in the middle of nowhere. This was my destination. I folded the last joints of my wings, making them smaller and rectangular; they let me dive in a controlled, leisurely pace. A handful of yards off the ground I flared my wings, swooping into a graceful landing and jogging to a stop.

Before me, barely noticeable from the air was a short, broad cliff that extended about a mile in either direction, lining the wall were a series of caves, these led to the underground city Stonefield.

I entered a cave that had runes bearing the message "Chaos is punished, order reigns in the halls of Stonefield."… I think. At any rate, the cave was altogether unremarkable except for the litter covering the floor and graffiti adorning the walls and ceiling. The markings depicted symbols of crime groups and supremacy movements, including; I noticed, The Chosen. The group who tried to kill me and Ryan in the forest. If the rest of the city was like this, I wouldn't be able to stay long.

I made my way to the house I had seen in the pool of visions; it was in the upper class side of town, which would pass for the slums in Warfang. The city had really fallen from grace. The cavern I was in was enormous. Giant pillars stood every couple hundred yards, carved to resemble giant streams of fire frozen in time. There were ruins of a palace that have crumbled from the passage of time. Surrounding it was a vast open space and the walls were lined with more caves serving as houses. I suppose the wisdom of building directly into the mountain saved the city from the same fate as the castle.

I drew much attention from my brilliant silver scales, as I had walked in they reflected the light in all directions like a great disco ball. Now at the cave/house of my target I knocked the pipe next to the entrance designed to carry the sound of visitors to the inhabitants. A short while later a crimson dragon walked to the entrance. "Can I help you?" he asked without even so much as a second glance at my coloring.

The dragon had the aforementioned crimson hide with a semi-reflective semi-metallic gold belly, horns, crests, and wing bones. The wings were blood red and faded to pale, almost white. A signature of someone who spent most of their time on the ground as the blood didn't circulate well. The spikes on his shoulders, chest plates and crests all hade the jagged look of broken stone. His tail had a spike identical to his straight horns.

I made a quick bow. "Greetings! I come on the behalf of the guardians of Warfang, Your name's Flame, right?"

He nodded. "It is."

To be continued…