The Lehend of Spyro: Evolutions of a New Age
The Imortal Dragon Of Shadow
AUTHORS NOTE: Chapter three, baby! Some of you are gonna eiter hate me or love me with this chapter, but what do I care? Shit like what you're about to read makes for a damn good story!
To those who replied, you're right. I was trying to find a way where Spyro and Cynder seemed older, but all the cursing was the wrong path to take. I promise their mature events will remain in the Bouduar. However, regardless of what you may say, there will be moments of foul language.
And without further adeu...
DISCLAMER: I do not ownany TloS characters or locations. they belong to their respective owners. I do however own any OC's that may appear.
Chapter Three
Next morning, Spyro and Cynder were standing outside Talons hut, impatiently waiting for the white cheetah to collect her valubles and join them. Mere moments after they exited the comfortable home, Cynder began to tap her foot and swish her tail side-to-side.
"What the hell could take her so long to pack? I'm anxious to go."
"Cynder... this has been Talons home for the past six years. I'm sure it's difficult for her to go." Spyro uncrossed his arms and placed his hand on the buckle of his new belt. The black belt had been a gift from Talon so he could carry Chakras items. The diary was concealed in a pouch that was strapped to his left hip, while the daggar was in a sheathe that was strapped to his right. "Besides, I thought you were in no rush to get back?"
"I wasn't, but things have changed since yesterday." Cynder turned her attention back to the hut, and continued her fidgeting within moments. With an annoyed sigh, she said, "I swear on the ancestors, if that smug, little, albino doesn't hurry up, I'm gonna rip her tail off!"
"Wow, Cynder, why don't you say how you really feel?"
She glared at her lover, and with a mocking tone replied, "Ya know, I preferred it when Sparx was the sarcastic one." She went to turn back to the hut, but quicky pointed a finger at Spyro and threatened, "And if you ever tell him I said that, I'll..." She walked over to him and placed a hand on his chest, whispering softly into his ear.
Spyros eyes widened and he gulped nervously. "You wouldn't."
Cynder turned in a seductive manner, and returned to her orriginal spot, twirling her index finger in the air as she did so. Spyro watched her with a mixture of fear and, oddly, arousal. He shook the mental image she had painted from his head, and returned his attention to the hut.
Talon soon walked out, carrying a burlap sack and her bottle of brandy. She took a long draught from it as she walked up to the two waiting dragons. "You guys ready?"
"We've been ready!"
"Do you really think you'll need the brandy?" Spyro asked as he pointed to the bottle.
"Of course not. I just thought I'd take one last drink before I wasted it." She reached into her robes and pulled out a white hankerchief. She soved it, part-way, into the bottles opening and held it up close to Spyros face. "Give me a light?" He complied and blew a tiny stream of flame onto the rag until it was alight.
(Song: Burn - Three Days Grace)
Without a second glance, Talon tossed the bottle over her shoulder and through the open doorway. It shattered against one of the chairs and fire soon enveloped the entire room. Spyro and Cynder stared with open mouths as Talon began to walk away.
"Come on! If we don't stop, we'll reach Warfang by mid-after-" She was interrupted by the large explosion that completely obliterated her previous home. Spyro and Cynder fearfully jumped back from the explosion, but Talon meary looked back and said, "Hmm, guess I forgot about the rest of my stash."
"How much liquor did you have in there?" Cynder asked as her gaze drifted between the fireball and Talon.
"Well..." she tilted her head to the side in thought, then replied, "I had, roughly, a dozen bottles of aged brandy, ten bottles of wine, five whiskey flasks, and three kegs of ale. Don't worry. I've got a bottle of scotch in my bag."
"Wow." Spyro rubbed some ash off his face. "Sounds like Chakra isn't the only one with an addiction."
Talon merely shrugged her shoulders, and continued here trek into the forest, leaving the two dragons behind. Spyro and Cynder looked at each other with confused looks on their faces. Once they realized she had left them, they hurried after her.
As Talon had said, they reached Warfang by mid-afternoon. The cities massive sandstone walls were near complete repair, but several skeletal towers of scaffolding still covered much of its surface. Several moles, cheetahs, dragons, which they noticed bore similar figures, and even atlawa were working and climbing up and down the makeshift supports, but stopped when one mole spotted the trio and shouted as loud as he could, "They've returned! Look, Spyro and Cynder are alive!"
As if rehersed, every worker filed down the scaffolding and began to form a crowd around the returning heros and the unknown cheetah. The news spread like wildfire throghout the city, and soon all of Warfangs citizens were gathered in the main courtyard, cheering for Spyro, their savior.
As everyone surrounded them, Spyro began to wish that he'd suggested they wait for nightfall and sneak into the city. Almost as if answering his prayers, two rows of twenty dragons wearing silver armour and brandishing spears, filed into the crowd and formed a ring around them.
With breathing room, Spyro examined the buildings and, to his releaf, noticed that everything within the walls had been repaired. He also noticed the differences throghout the city. Statues that resembled him lined the walls and rooftops, and adourned the gardens wherever he could see. Annother difference was everywhere he noticed something purple. Shutters, roof tiles, cobblestones artisticly placed in the roads, flowers in the gardens. It was a bit overwhelming really.
"Why it is him! This is incredible, astounding, and utterly marvelous! We'd almost lost hope, young dragon. You gave us quite the scare, dissapearing as you did."
Spyro recognised the voice immediately. Turning around, Spyro was about to greet his electric teacher, but instead was lifted off his feet as Volteer embraced him in a massive bear-like vice, laughing excitedly. As the electric dragon released Spyro, He caught a good look at the old dragon. His scales were still their pale yellow, and his horns, underbelly, and wing membranes were still a light blue, but much to Spyros amusement, he realised he was a few inches taller than the guardian.
"And Cynder! How happy, euphoric, and joyful I am that the two of you have finnally returned." He said as he hugged the dragoness as well.
"Calm youself, Volteer. You'll run them right back out of the city if you keep that incessant chater up." Cyril, the ice guardian, spoke as he aproached the group. In his new form, he stood just as tall as spyro, but seemed awefully slender, just barely carying more bulk than Cynder. Unlike most dragons, Cyril was one solid icy-blue colour. "Although, I can indeed understand his excitement." He too embraced the young dragons, just not with as much energy as Volteer.
"I'm glad to be back, too. Cynder and I have actually been a little nervous about returning. We didn't know all the dragons had gone through the change as well."
"Yes it was squite the shock to dragon-kind, but we soon found no major disadvantages to our lives. Although, I find it suprising that it took nearly a year for the two of you to develope the courage to reveal yourselves. It's highly uncharacteristic, untypical, and odd of you." Volteers energetic talking certainly didn't change.
"That's where you're wrong, Volteer." Cynder corrected. "We were asleep until just under a week ago. Like on the Night of Eternal Darkness, without the crystal."
"Yeah... one week." Spyro looked at cynder with mocking eyes. When she looked at him with pleading eyes, he grasped her hand in his and, without speaking, made a promise of silence.
"By the ancestors!" Spyros face grew cold as he heard the deep booming voice behind him. Terradore placed a hand on Spyros shoulder, turning him around so he looked at the guardian. "I'm glad you two-" he didn't get the opportunity to finish his greeting, as Spyro punched the olive green dragon in the face. He fell to the ground clutching his jaw, a small stream of blood dripping from the corner of his maw onto his tan underbelly.
Everyone in the crowd grew silent as they witnessed what occured. Terradore looked at Spyro with confusion, but that soon turned to anger. He lifted himself up and placed himself a breadth away from Spyro. "What the hell is going through that stubborn head of yours?" he said as he shoved a finger in his unknown sons chest.
Spyro merely glared up at the earth guardian, who was nearly a head taller, with cold eyes. When he didn't reply, Terradores anger grew to dangerous levels. Faster than lightning, a hand struck out and slapped Spyro across the face. Everyone gasped as Cynder then pulled Spyro around and made him look her in the eye.
"Spyro, we talked about this. He doesn't know, so you can't blame him."
He sighed as he placed his forhead against hers. With closed eyes he said, "You're right. Terradore..." Spyro then turned his attention to his teacher. "...I'm sorry. Some...information has come to my attention, and I'm afraid I've reacted poorly to it." He then bowed to him and asked, "Can you forgive me?"
Terradore could plainly hear the pain in Spyros voice and see it in his eyes. "Of course, Spyro." He placed a hand on Spyros shoulder, lifting lightly so he would raise himsef up. "But what information could affect you as it has?"
"Stuff that shouldn't be discussed before such a large crowd." Talon said as she glanced around at the hushed crowd
The guardians semmed to take first notice of the white cheetah. Volteer, unsurprisingly, was the first to ask, "I'm sorry, but who are you, exactly?"
"Oh!" Talon seemed to collect her mind, then did a slight courtsey before the guardians. "Name's Talon of Avalar. I let these two bumm at my place before they convinced me to come here with 'em."
"Umm, Spyro," Cyril leaned in close to the purple dragon, "can we trust this unusual rogue. She doesn't appear to be playing with a full deck, so to speak."
"Hey, Snowflake!" Cyril looked to Talon, and pointed to himself in conusion. "Yeah, you. Ya know, these big ears aren't just for appearances." Cyrils face turned a deep shade of red, and Cynder giggled lighty at his embarasment.
"So, we can trust her?" Terradore asked.
"Of course! She's actually kept the biggest secret in the Dragon Realms for the past six years. If we can trust anyone, it's her."
"Understood. Volteer, Cyril, I believe it's time we retired to the temple."
"Absolutely."
"Of course."
Terradore snapped his fingers and raised a fist in the air. "Escort, to the temple!"
"Sir, yes sir!" the guards replied simultaneously. They turned on their heels and formed a diamond shape aroung the group. They made their way through the silent crowd and traveled to the temple in the center of the city.
Spyro and Cynder gazed with wonder at the incredible display of architecture. In comparison to the swamp temple, the layout was no different. However, its detail and upkeep created a masterpiece that no other building in the city could rival.
As they passed the main gates, Spyro noticed more statues that resembled his previous likeness. 'Are all these statues nessessary?' he thought to himself. 'I feel like there's mirrors everywhere.' Terradore dissmissed the guards and led the others into the temple. Inside was no different. Statues and furnitue with Spyros likeness were everywhere. The floor even had a white and gold checker pattern, and purple drapes hung from the walls. Cynder noticed his discomfort and placed her hand in his.
"Don't you like the decor?" she whispered so the guardians wouldn't hear.
"No. It reminds me of all the tributes the ancestors built to Malefore, and it terrifies me. It's almost as if history is repeati-"
"Spy, if you even finnish that sentence, I'll show you the meaning of the word 'castration'!"
Spyro reared his head back at the threat, but then playfully retorted, "I know you'll never do that, because then what would you use when we-"
"Here we are," Terradore exclaimed, cutting Spyro off, "the meeting chambers."
The large room, although baron, was impressive. At one end, a long table sat with four large, cusioned chairs set behind it, and behind those were four banners with the symbols of the four elements. before the table, was annother large, U-shaped table with twenty or so chairs around its side.
The guardians sat at their respective chairs. When Terradore looked back at Spyro, he noticed he was staring at the fire banner. The pain in Spyros face told the answer to Terradores first question, so he asked annother.
"Spyro, why don't you tell us everything from the begining?"
And so, for the next two hours, he did. He began with Ignitus' sacrifice and made his way to the point of the battle with Malefore. After that he told them of how he had repaired the world, woke up with his new form, stayed at Talons hut, met Chakra and trained with her the night before, and then capped off the events of today. He decided to omit the parts about Cynder and him mating, and his connections to Terradore, for now.
"So then I decked you, Talon introduced herself, embarased Cyril, and then here we are." Volteer laughed heavily at the other guardians discomfort.
Ignoring him, Terradore asked, "May we see this 'spirit'? You'll understad if we find that part of your tale a little farfetched, right?"
"I don't completely understand it, either." With that, he pulled the daggar and diary from his belt.
He did as Talon had done the day before, and soon smoke was pooling above the spinning daggar. Unlike the previous time, Chakra revealed her torso, arms, and wings as well.
"Greetings. I am Chakra, the first of the purple dragons."
Teradore and Cyril merely gaped at the spectral dragon, but Volteer was shaking with excitement. "Incredible, astounding, marvelous! A perfect spiritual bonding with an inanimate artifact. This is impressive, to say the least. I've heard of dying creatures binding their last request, or even their greatest emotion to an object of the umost personal value, but never a complete consciousness. Oh, I must examine these-"
"Not on your life, Motor-Mouth!" Talon interjected. "Even if Spyro is hauling these around now, I'm still responsible for protecting Cha-Cha."
"Talon, I told you to refrain from refering to me with that immature pet name."
Cyril began rubbing his temples, and with an annoyed sigh said, "I suggest we stay on toppic, People!"
"He's right. Chakra, what are you able to tell of this impending evil?" Terradore asked.
"Unfortunately, there is little I can tell you. It is one of the laws of scrying the future, you see. If I were to reveal anything about my vision, then it would either never occur at all ,or something even worse would. And with what I witnessed, I don't think I could risk telling you. However, I can prepare this world for the approaching dangers in other ways. The four candidites for guardianship..."
"They're strong. I'm sure they'll be ableto handle anything, once we complete their traning." Terradore said with a clenched fist.
"...I want you to surrender any further training to Spyro, Talon, and I."
The guardians seemed surprised by the request. Before Chakra could continue, Cyrils face became dark, revealing his outrage, and he shouted, "How dare you order us to abandon generations of tradition! The candidates can not become guardians unless they are trained by, and defeat a guardian in single combat. It has been this way since the guardians were first established, and it will not be changed!"
"Then we'll all die!" The guardians turned their gazes upon Spyro, shock and confusion etched upon their faces. Spyro held up two fingers and continued saying, "The way I see it, you have two possible Choices. One, you can abide by tradition, and kill every being on this world in the process. Or two, let go of your damned pride, and allow us to train the candidates so the world will stand a fighting chance."
Each guardian reared their heads back at the outburst. Terradore was the first to regain his composure, and calmly stated. "I think there's only one option. We need to name Spyro the title of fire guardian. It's the only way he could train even one of them."
"Terradore, are you sure?"Cyril questioned. "Ignitus did say that because of his powers, Spyro should never be a guardian. If that were the case, he could be guardian of all the elements."
"I think that's a great idea." Talon suggested. "If Spyro were some master-of-all-elements-guardian, he'd be able to train all the candidates at once. Aren't you able to declare some title so that would be possible?"
"Well yes, actually." Everyone turned their attention to Volteer. "It has only ever occured twice, but with the absence of at least one guardian, and if the others are incapacitated, the laws state that one dragon may be chosen by said remaining guardians to continue the training of candidates and other students. Now, I am unsure of you two, but I have had no time, with the maintenence of the city and all, to train in this new form. In my opinion, that makes me unsuited to teach, considering I myself do not possess the knowledge of how to battle in this state. With what Lady Chakra has taught him, Spyro does possess such knowledge."
"There must be something about the weather. I find myself agreeing with Volteer...for the second time today. Terradore, we are unfit to teach. We may need to declare that Spyro is...Volteer, what exactly is the title he would recieve?"
"High Guardian."
"Right! We may need to declare that Spyro is a temporary High Guardian."
Terradore released a stressed sigh and slumped in his seat. He rhythmically tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair and closed his eyes in deep thought. Unconciously, he moved to rub his chin, but winced when he felt the developing bruise beneath his scales. 'One thing's for sure, he can throw a damn good punch.'
"Answer me one question, Spyro." He was expecting a question about responsibility or purpose, but luck was not with him there. "Of what you've told us, which part made you want to hit me?"
Volteer and Cyril nodded their heads at this, their curiosity being bated by the question. Spyro began shifting his weight from one foot to the other, and crossed his arms before his chest. His mouth then started to open and close, as if he could not find the words. But how do you tell someone they, unknowingly, are your parent?
"Spyro, woud like for me to tell him?" Spyro quit his fidgeting, and looked to Cynder. The warm smile she gave him calmed him considerably, and with confidence he grabbed her hand.
"No...but thanks, Cyn." With an encouraging nod from her, Spyro turned to Terradore. "Do you recall a dragoness named Gaia?"
Terradore visibly shrank into his seat before he replied, "Yes. She and I were betrothed, but she abandoned me on the eve of our wedding. Broke my heart, she did."
"What did the two of you have in common?"
"Not that much, honestly. Ever hear of the phrase, 'opposites attract'?"
"I see." Spyro then released Cynders hand, walked up to the table, and leaned upon the spot before Terradore. "Well, I can think of one thing the two of you share in common."
His temper rising at the memories, Terradore said through clenched teeth, "What? What do me and...her share in common, that would deem the act of attacking me neccessary? WHAT?"
Terradore had been leaning closer toward Spyro with each word. Now, their muzzles barely apart, Spyro answered with a choked sob, "Me."
Almost as if he'd been thrown back by the words, Terradore once again shrank into his chair. "What are you saying?"
"Oh, do I have to spell it out? You're my father, Terradore!" Tears began to fall from his eyes. He stepped back from the table and rubbed the crook of his neck. "But I think the reason I'm so damn angry is because, unlike you, he knew." With a trembling finger, Spyro pointed to the fire banner.
This seemed to be the greatest blow to Terradore. He'd trusted Ignitus with his truest secrets, greatest dreams, and even his life, but now knowing what he did, his opinion of his frind shattered.
"Spyro..." Terradore tried to calm his nerves by shaking his head. "I agree with Volteer and Cyril. We're no longer fit to teach. I hereby grant you the title of High Guardian." With that, he silently retired to his chambers.
Spyro moved to follow, but Volteer held up a hand. "Wait. I think he needs some time to think. Learning what he has, his psyche is very fragile, delicate, and frail at the moment. I am possitive he shall come around, Spyro."
Spyro nodded, showing his understanding. Although he desperately wanted to go after the large dragon. Cyril then stood and through all the awkwardness, mannaged to make a suggestion.
"I suggest we retire for the evening. No sense in planning anything vital, what with everyone being in such an emotional state." He strode over to the door and stoped just before walking out. "Volteer, if you will show miss Talon to one of the guest quarters, I shall show Spyro and Cynder to their apartments."
Spyro collected Chakras items, her dissapearing as he did so, and followed the ice guardian out the door with Cynder close behind. Once out in the hall, Cyril turned left and headed up a flight of stairs. Spyro noticed, with great annoyance, carvings of him in various battle poses etched into the stone slabs that held up the iron rail.
The stair ended where annother hallway began and then forked in two directions. "We had these rooms rennovated soon after we returned to the surface, so you would have comfortable living arrangements after what you had been through. Now, Spyro, yours will be the one to the right, and Cynder yours will-"
"Be the one to the right. We'll be sharing a room, Cyril."
He turned around to face the dragoness, confusion clear on his face. "I am sorry, Cynder, but the temple charter states that two dragons of opposite gender may not share a room, unless they are confirmed mates."
"Yeah." Spyro inserted. "So we'll be sharing a room then, Cyril."
His gaze drifted between the two of them until what they were saying dawned on him. His eyes grew wide and he covered his gaping mouth with a hand. "You two...since you woke up...how... Didn't waste anny bloody time, did you? What is wrong with todays youth? I swear they are mating just for the fun of it!" He began the trip back down the stair, mumbleing incoherently to himself.
Cynder giggled at his reaction, and through fits of it, managed to say, "If...if that's h-how...Cyril is gonna' act t-towards us...I can't...I can't wait to see what Sparx does."
Spyros head jerked up at the mention of his brother, and he yelled down the hall, "Hey Cyril!"
"What?" He had just reached the first step, and turned back towards the couple.
"Where's Sparx? I figured he'd show up when y'all did, but I haven't seen him."
"Oh! Young Sparx moved back to your home-village around three months ago. Do not worry, Spyro. I will send out a messenger to fetch him tomorrow. He will be here before the ball come months-end."
"What ball?"
"Why Spyro! Three weeks from now marks the one year anniversary of your victory. Many feared it would be a sorrowful memorial, but now it seems it will be a great celebration. I will tell you more of it tomarrow. Goodnight, young dragons." With that, he continued down the stair.
"G'night." the two yelled after him. With Cyril gone, the two retired to their room.
As cynder placed her hand on the knob, Spyro was thinking of what decorative nightmares possibly waited beyond the door. When they walked in though, he found himself being pleasantly surprised. Although spacious and cozy, the room was completely void of physical references to his image.
To the left, there was a large fireplace with a purple banner hanging above it. Before that, was a large, leather sofa and a round table behind it. To the right, a king-sized bed with purple guilts and a near-transparent veil, sat in the corner. Past that, there was a large bronze tub and a cabinet filled with plush, purple towels and scented oils. In the center of the back wall, a large, glass door opened to a small balcony that overlooked the city.
Spyro removed his belt and tossed it on the sofa. He looked over the room once more before drawing back the veil around the bed and lying on his back. As he stared up at the ceiling, lacing his fingers behind his head, he poudly stated, "I think I could stand living here."
"I agree." Cyner said as she straddled herself over Spyros mid-section and intertwined their tails.
"Cynder, you'll probably never hear these words come out of my mouth again, but I'm not in the mood."
She pouted playfully, but decided not to persue her desires. leaning forwards, she placed a gentle kiss on his lips before resting her head against his chest. He moved his arms and rested a hand on the small of her back. With a sigh of comfort, she wrapped her arms around him.
He kissed the top of her head and rested his head on the plump pillow. His eyes began to close, and before sleep could claim him, he said, "I love you, Cyn."
"And I you, Spy." She said as sleep overtook them both.
AUTHORS NOTE: There's annther chapter for ya. Some of you are gonna say, "What the hell? Since when is Spyro so impulsive?" The answer is this; For parts of what I have planned out, I needed Spyro to be impulsive. Weather it be in anger or in love, Spyro will act on his emotions. Tell me what you think! If you do, I'll give you brownies. Not really. Also, 300 hits already! I'm proud of myself for that. Please review!
In Eternity,
TIDOS