A/N: Well then a little gap since my last update. Sorry about that. Well here you go then for all you vibrant readers reading this. Thank you if you're still keeping to this story and if not then sorry if it became to boring :( Anyway I'm not going to talk much longer. But this felt a little like a gap filler to me but I'll let you decide. Here's to you readers
And as always, hope you enjoy it :)
Spyro opened his eyes to the calling of a small buzzing noise outside his tent. He listened for a moment before it clicked in his mind that it could be a threat. Having his wing wrapped around Cynder, He quickly yanked it away and jumped out the tent.
" Spyro what in ancestors?" Cynder growled annoyed as the purple dragon disappeared out the green doors.
" I don't know Cynder. Whatever it is its buzzing."
" I didn't mean that I meant that i'm now freezing. And what do you mean It?"
" I don't know." Spyro said again. Cynder rolled her eyes and hauled herself up and out the tent. She couldn't help but laugh at what she saw. The mighty purple dragon was in a battle stance over what he didn't know was only a small alarm made by the moles.
" Spyro you idiot."
" Huh?" Spyro said confused.
" Its an alarm for us. You see, when the sun hits this point the heat burns the very heat sensitive wire and it allows the crystals to become visible to the light. Hence the buzzing." Cynder gave a brief explanation. Spyro raised a scaly eyebrow and turned back to the device. He chuckled a little.
" How do we turn it off?"
At this Cynder tilted her head and scrunched her face. " Huh, I didn't think to ask actually." She said sheepishly.
" I'll tell you how you turn it off." Came a voice. Both dragons turned before a large white paw smashed through it stopping the buzzing. Cynder huffed at Ornis.
" You didn't have to break it."
Ornis gave a toothy grin. " Oh I know that. But that was the fastest way to stop it you see."
" Well then we best be getting ready. Ornis, get everyone else up and ready." Spyro said.
" Right you are." Ornis said with a nod. Spyro turned back to Cynder with a smile that meant more than just a good sight to the black dragoness.
" Cynder. Perhaps we should travel to the gates?"
" Yeah. There's nothing else to do anyway." Said Cynder with a nod. Both dragons then turned and head for the gates.
Ornis Landed next to three tents which housed, Winfil, Flame and Earn. He leaned his head into Winfil's tent and grinned. He took a deep breath and.
" Rising shine sleeping beauty!" He yelled. Winfil jumped five feet into the air, going threw the tent with fright and hovered there. He looked down at Ornis who was on his back laughing.
" Very funny." He mumbled coming back down to the ground. Flame walked out of his tent rubbing his eyes as well as Earn.
" Uncalled for guys. Uncalled for." The red dragon said sleepily.
" Hmm. Indeed it was. Care to explain Ornis." Winfil asked. Ornis shook the laughter away before speaking.
" Yeah we just need to get to the gate. We're leaving in like the next thirty minutes. Spyro and Cynder are their waiting for us."
" Right. Off we go then." Earn said boringly. Flame was not paying much attention really. All he heard was where they had to go and who was waiting there. Suddenly it snapped into place in the red dragons mind.
" Cynder. Prometheus!" Flame yelled before leaping into the air and heading towards the gate. Flame flew as fast as he could, straining his wings. Ornis and Earn Were behind him calling but Flame didn't care. Soon he spotted them standing next to Volteer and Cyril at the main gates.
" Guy's Guys!" He yelled slamming into the ground before them.
" Good Flame I'm glad-" Spyro started but Flame cut him off.
" Cynder! Cynder I need to tell you something." Flame gasped. Cynder narrowed her eyes and leaned in.
" What?" She asked.
" Calm yourself before you speak young dragon." Cyril said looking at him.
" Yes, Speaking in the condition you are in now will withhold information vital to us while you try to regain your breath." Volteer added. Cyril just looked at him before turning back to Flame. The red dragon gathered his thoughts and looked only at Cynder.
" Cynder. The dragon Aerilin is going to-"
" Is going to do what." Came a voice. Flame snapped his head and saw the very dragon. Aerilin stood looking at him with a questioning look. Cyril chuckled.
" I see you must have met Aerilin. He is my most trusted ice student. I haven't saw him since Warfang. Why he may even surpass me. You know he is one of the Prometheus' and he is no disappointment to the great shadows he has to fill."
" Yeah and he's helping me with my poison abilities because its kind of like ice and water." Cynder said nodding to Aerilin.
" Water is liquid. Poison, be it deadly. Is also a liquid. Therefore both the same. I'm helping dear Cynder control her ability when its outside her mouth." Said Aerilin with a chuckle. " Now, what did you want to say?" To this Flame shrank back a little. He could see the glint in Aerilin's eyes.
" Erm. Nothing. Nothing." Flame said sadly.
" Well before he goes. Can I have a word with the fire dragon." Aerilin said with a cheerful smile. Cyril smiled and nodded. " Come on then Flame. Come with me." Flame shuddered and gathered heat into his body so he could produce fire on the spot. Just in case of an attack. He followed Aerilin into the makeshift temple where they stopped. Flame noticed no one in the halls and suddenly felt very aware of the ice dragon in front of him. Aerilin stopped and turned to Flame. The smile still on his face.
" Now Flame. Dearest Flame..."
" I know what you're doing." Flame blurted out. Aerilin raised an eyebrow.
" Oh you do now do you. Well see Flame. I can't have you ruining any of my plans. Which is why I need to do this. And I'm sorry. I didn't want to do this to you." Sighed Aerilin. Flame went to walk towards him but suddenly was grabbed from behind by two pairs of arms and slammed to the ground. He saw two dragons holding him down while one was at the door.
" You see Flame. While my main element is water. And I cannot control any other element beside the transparent liquid. I have been studying magic." Aerilin saw the small flicker of fear in Flame and he smiled. "And not just any magic. But in fact the dark magic used by Malefor himself. You see because I am a normal dragon. The dark magic doesn't corrupt me and coupled with some inventions to help me control it. I have learned allot. Including, how to erase ones memory-"
" You can't!" Yelled Flame but it was muffled by a paw from the dragons. Aerilin smiled.
" Oh yes I can. And I will." He said walking forward. Aerilin put a single talon to the head of Flame and a small purple light shone out. The ice dragon held it there for a moment before taking it away and Flame slumped to the floor.
" What did you do sir?" Asked the green dragon holding Flame's right arm.
" Why, I erased all his memories about our little conference. That and due to me taking his memories, he would fall asleep. So I gave him the symptoms of dragons ring." Said Aerilin with a smirk. " Now you all get out and disappear. I need to be alone when I tell them outside what happened." All the dragons bowed and scurried off into the dark halls and vanished. Aerilin looked at Flame and waited for a moment. Before long he took some deep breaths before breaking out into an all out sprint for the door.
" … So that is why we need to go forward with the plan." Cyril finished just as Aerilin burst through the temple doors.
" Everyone." He gasped. " Its Flame. He's. He just collapsed in front of me. I don't know what's happened." He said desperately.
" Right. Ornis get a medic immediately. The rest of you stay here. You're leaving in five minutes." Cyril said before he and Aerilin travelled back to the temple. Cyril stopped before the red dragon and inspected him.
" hmm. What happened exactly?"
" He just fell to the ground. He was swaying a little before he fell." Replied Aerilin. Cyril nodded.
" We'll need to get him checked by an expert. Let's leave this to the doctors." Cyril said and he stood back up. Aerilin suddenly had a thought which made him smile.
" You know I have doctors under my study. You of all people know what I've discovered in my research. Its in my name." Cyril turned to Aerilin with a slight prick of wonder. " Perhaps I could take him into my little cornered of part of the city and have my doctors look after him?" Aerilin continued. Cyril paused for a moment and thought. He new Aerilin was right. After all he was a Prometheus and had the vast knowledge of his fore fathers. But he also new that it would be best for Flame to be kept close to the temple.
" Cyril, Cyril we're back." Yelled Ornis coming though the door with three moles and a dragon. Cyril sighed in relief.
" Right you go on back with the others. You head out as soon as you get there and tell them that Flame will remain here." Said Cyril. Ornis nodded and sprinted back out the doors. Cyril then turned to Aerilin with a smile. " That wont be necessary. I'm sure he will be just as good with us as he would be with you."
Ornis came back to the others and they had worried looks on there faces. Cynder marched up to Ornis and looked him in the eye.
" What's wrong with Flame?"
" Yeah. He can usually take a small belly ache and or …" Continued Winfil.
" Guys. He's going to be alright I think. But I was told to tell you that we have to leave without him-"
" What!" Exclaimed Spyro. " That leaves us a dragon down in strength. That could cost us a battle." Ornis thought of what to say but couldn't think of anything. He just sat and toyed with his talons.
" Cyril did say for us to leave as soon as I got here." Ornis mumbled. Spyro took a deep breath and turned to the gates.
" Then let us be off to Wartalon then." He said. Cynder came up to him and smiled gently.
" I'm sure this time it'll be better." She said.
" For our sake. I hope you're right." Spyro then flared his wings and set of into the air and was followed by the other four dragons. This time they flew at ease knowing Wartalon was only but a days flight away and there wasn't as much of a hurry as last time.
" I've found from out Cyril that two of the artefact's are in Wartalon. The one that resided within Mt Malefor and the one that was in the Rendein desert. It makes it a little easier for us." Spyro said giving a look behind him. Ornis blew out a deep breath of relief.
" The first good peace of news I've heard in a while." After he said it Silence fell upon the group again. But as they flew in a loose formation, they couldn't help but miss the red dragons laughter and witty comments. Winfil chuckled a little.
" What would Flame do about now guys?" Cynder pursed her lips and thought and smiled.
" Probably start some conversation about either our group name or are colours or something like that."
" Then perhaps I should start one. Just to pass the time?"
" Sure." Said Cynder slowing a little to come level with Winfil. Winfil brought a talon to his chin and thought for a moment and smiled.
" So eventually when we get this all over and done with. What are your plans … that goes for all of you listening." Said Winfil raising his voice for the last part. Ornis cackled a little up front and Earn rolled his eyes.
" Well," Cynder started. " I think I'll wait and see where the wind takes us. And by us I mean me and you Spyro!" Cynder yelled at Spyro. She heard the purple dragon snort a small laugh before carrying on with his serious demeanour.
" Pfft. Yeah that's obvious. You guys are like made for each other." Winfil said earning a small frown. " After this is all done. I would like to perfect my earth element and try out for the next earth guardian-"
" Really!" Exclaimed Ornis. Winfil nodded.
" Too right you are Ornis. I thought what with all the experience I'm getting out on these missions and the abilities I'll perfect in battle, I'll be a good candidate for the position."
" I can assure you that you'll be in the lead even if you weren't with us Winfil." Spyro said from the front. Winfil burst into laughter and said while smiling.
" Coming from you. I'll take that as a compliment. But yeah I think it would be great. I love to protect everything within reason and I love the element of earth-"
" Well it is in your nature because have you not noticed your scales are green." Commented Cynder.
" I know that. I just wanted to get my point across."
" And that you did. MY TURN!" Bellowed Ornis waving his paw in the air frantically.
" Go on then Ornis. Enlighten us."
" Yes!" Ornis whispered punching the air. " Well. When I finish with all this nonsense. I want to pour myself into studying and become like one of the Prometheus'. Y'know how brainy that family were. Made most of the defences around Warfang and Warhorn. And heck, You're getting taught by one Cynder. Aerilin was it? What's he like?" Ornis rattled on. Cynder swooped closer to Ornis.
" Well he's very wise. And like all the stories and myths go about the Prometheus', he is one of the most technically advanced and all knowing dragons I've ever met. I mean he makes Volteer look like no more than a young hatchling. He's shockingly intelligent and its beyond what I could imagine."
" So in other words. He is a proper brain box then." Ornis said. Cynder shook her head.
" No he doesn't go about bragging about it and using big words like Volteer and I'm pretty sure Aerilin would win in a word contest between the two." Cynder saw the looks she got an nodded. " I know right. But as I was saying, he doesn't show that he's that intelligent. You only see like little bursts of it when he's either at work or in my case teaching me. You know id say he knows more about the element of ice better than Cyril because of all the studying he does on it."
" Wait but Cyril's a guardian. Surely he knows all about the element?" Winfil asked. Cynder shook her head.
" Apparently not."
" So I've gone and so has Winfil. What do you want to do Cynder once all this is over?" Asked Ornis. Cynder shook her head.
" Bah, C'mon there must be something?" Winfil pressed with a smile. Cynder chuckled to herself.
" Well aside from what I said earlier. I want to guide our race in the right direction. Like what the guardians do but instead of just one city, I want to guide our whole race to peace and happiness."
" wait isn't that like the purple dragons job. In this case Spyro's."
" I'll do what I have to do. Not what I get told." Spyro said from the front. Cynder gave a smug look at Winfil and Ornis.
" There you go. He'll only do what he has to do so if I take some of the load of him. It'll make it a whole lot easier."
" Yeah … and the fact that you two love-bird are like inseparable." Winfil muttered
" What was that-"
" Nothing." The green dragon quickly said. They all flew for a while and in the quiet of the now darkening sky and the soft wind, Ornis thought of something.
" Does anyone know what Flame wants to be when he grows?" He said. A hint of sadness in his voice to the absence of the red dragon.
Winfil's lips tugged in a warm smile. " Fire guardian." He merely said. All of the dragons new that Flame – Even though he hasn't said anything yet – wants to be the Fire guardian when he grows old enough. But Ornis, Winfil, Flame and even Earn thought it was terribly risky with Flame having to fill Ignitus' shadow.
" I think he'd do a good job. He might be hot headed sometimes but you can't get a dragon with a better heart." Cynder said knowingly.
" Ignitus would be proud to have Flame become Fire guardian." Spyro said. An uncomfortable silence came over the group then. Winfil flew swinging from side to side while Ornis was trying to stay awake. Cynder and Spyro had the front of the group while Earn was at the back. Earn however, was like a flying statue. Just staring ahead and thinking about the possibilities.
" Spyro. Can we just stop here for tonight? I'm tired and I think the rest are as well." Asked Cynder as she pointed to a small point deep in the forest.. Spyro nodded once.
" We'll stay here for tonight." Spyro said before zipping down to the spot. Cynder stayed above looking at the purple dragon. She had so many thoughts going through her about what would become of her love. When she thought about it really, Spyro wasn't showing any signs of love towards here or even signs of real friendship to the others.
" Take it we're staying here for tonight?" Asked Ornis. To which he got a nod from Cynder. Winfil and Ornis both descended into the spot and left both Cynder and Earn hovering above.
" Having troubles?" Earn asked suddenly. Cynder jumped at the unexpected words of the dragon she least expected. She turned to Earn and put on her most forced smile yet.
" Nope. Nothing at all. Just wondering were to get some breakfast tomorrow is all." Earn nodded sceptically before descending as well. Cynder hovered for a minute more before snorting to herself. " He still loves me. I just need to make him see it." She said before lowering to the ground. She found Winfil and Ornis awake chatting away but she saw Spyro and Earn sleeping. Cynder mentally cursed herself for staying in the air too long. But she took another look at Spyro and started to get a little angry. Why would he stop loving her. She has done nothing wrong.
" Stop!" Cynder screamed in her mind. She new what was happening and wouldn't allow herself to be turned into hating the one she loved. She sucked in a breath and laid down next to Spyro. " I love you Spyro. So, so much. Why do I have to choose whether to kill you or let Malefor destroy the world." She whispered to herself. That night, Cynder softly cried herself to sleep
"Hey! I think I see it." Ornis yelled hovering above the group of which had not taken to the sky yet. Spyro gave him a puzzled look.
" Are you sure?"
" Yeah that's Wartalon alright." Ornis replied pointing a talon to the gargantuan city. Spyro jumped into the air and looked in the direction of Ornis' talon. It was true. The group had settled not an hours flight from the city. Across the vast forest and on the horizon was the tips of buildings and more importantly the main wall.
" Well that was faster than last time. Lets get this over with." Said Winfil stretching his wings before taking to the sky. Cynder and Earn followed close behind and before long, the dragons were flying towards the city. All hoping for a good outcome.
Not long from the group of dragons flying as fast as they could, one of the guards on the wall was making his usual patrol. His fine tuned eyes caught a flicker which could only come from the scales of a dragon. The guard turned and spotted the five of them heading straight towards them.
" Dragons!" The guard shouted.
" Looks like we have a welcoming party." Cynder commented, watching the guards all form up on the side of the wall they would fly over.
" Looks like we'll have to land before we see their elders I suppose." Spyro huffed before aiming down. Cynder and the others slowed a little but Spyro held his speed. He didn't slow down and he slammed into the ground causing dust to fly all around him.
" Don't move-" The guard started.
" We're hear to see the elders." Spyro said simply. Not wanting any small talk. The others landed softly behind Spyro and looked at the guards. The leader of which dawned some recognition for once.
" Spyro! Cynder! The saviours. My apologises, please be on your way."
" Thank you. C'mon guys." Cynder said and she started walking. The others followed and soon they found themselves in Wartalon. Everyone was shocked. It was even more grander than Warfang was and the building all around had extensive detail and carvings.
" They don't half know how to build a city huh." Mumbled Ornis while walking.
" Your telling me." Replied Winfil flabbergasted. The dragons walked and like Warfang and Warbrin. Wartalon had its temple situated in the centre of the city.
" We might as well fly there. Walking will take us too long." Spyro said craning his neck to look down the long street and the temple which was in the distance. They agreed and all of them jumped into the air. Spyro got a good look at the differences between Warfang and Wartalon on the way there. Almost every street was paved with stalls and shops but it was confined to one part of the city. The housing of the city was split into three districts, the first being the district round the temple and the stranded of the housing falling the further away. Spyro spotted the entrance to the temple and headed for it.
" Well at least we wont be fighting anyone this time." Said Ornis to himself. The dragons all landed in a small gust of wind as they flared there wings. Spyro looked up at the door and found it to be open and standing there was a single ice dragon. He had a smile upon his face as he bowed to the group.
" Welcome, to our fair city of Wartalon. My name is Durzanith." The ice dragon said. Spyro took a few steps forward and bowed as well.
" Thank you. We are here on orders from the guardians of Warfang to retrieve certain artefact's." Said Spyro plainly.
" In that case, please." Durzanith said stepping aside to let the group in. They entered the Wartalon temple and found it to be an exact replica of the Warfang temple. Or rather the Warfang temple was a replica of the Wartalon temple since it came first. Durzanith lead them down the main corridor and into a large meeting room chamber. It had a dome roof and could easily fit over fifty dragons in it.
" Now I must know. Of what intentions do you wish to do with these artefact's?" Asked Durzanith while taking a seat. His golden eyes looking curiously at the group. Spyro turned to them and Cynder nodded to him. Spyro had a grim expression as he turned back to the ice dragon.
" I'm sorry but can I speak to all of the guardians of Wartalon? They must know this."
Durzanith's smile vanished instantly and was replaced with one of sorrow. " I must say that I am the only remaining guardian of this city. After the war, I was the only one left so I assumed the task alone of guarding the cities dragons. So I am the only dragon you need to speak to." At his words the whole group were taken aback but quickly composed themselves.
" I'm sorry to hear that." Spyro started, with a lack of emotion. " In that case I must ask, what do you know of the outside world just now."
" I know of you and Cynder defeating Malefor and that the planet is now slowly healing from his wounds. Why?"
" Then I have to bring you bad news. Someone else has, as if wanting to keep the destruction and deaths going, replaced him in a way. Her name is Verena and she has taken over Warfang-"
" Warfang's been taken?" Durzanith said astounded.
" Yes. And not only that. Warbrin lies in ruins as we speak and Verena controls an army of wyvern and also a large group of shadow dragons. As of now we are in the capitol cheetah village in Avalar."
" That's terrible." Durzanith whispered in shock.
" And that's not all. We-" Spyro looked at the dragons behind him before speaking. " We think she wants to revive Malefor using the artefact's. And to protect them we need to take them to be guarded by the guardians." Spyro finished putting his foot down. Durzanith sat mulling the purple dragons words over. Looking at the floor and breathing evenly.
" Perhaps you should stay here for now. Regain your energy and rest. You can leave tomorrow with the artefact's." Durzanith suddenly said. Spyro shook his head instantly.
" We can't afford to-"
" Oh come now. One night can't do you much harm. Besides I need my dragon guards to retrieve these artefacts for you which are, just now, at the bottom of the city in the deepest vault."
" One night does sound good." Ornis said walking up to Spyro's side. The purple dragon looked at him before he span round looking at the rest of them.
" What do you say?"
" I think we could maybe spend some time here." Cynder said and Winfil nodded along to her words.
" Whatever. As long as we can be out the next day." Earn said looking the other way. Spyro then turned back to Durzanith and gave him a stern look.
" One night. One night and then we're gone." He said in a final tone.
" Wonderful!" Durzanith chimed clapping his paws together. " I'll have some dragons escort you to some rooms. Please feel free to explore the city-"
" I'll stay here and await you to retrieve the artefact's. I'll do no more." Spyro said. Cynder looked at the purple dragon with a frown but as she did. She noticed something. His scales, they weren't royal purple any more. They had darkened by the slightest amount. Not even noticeable unless you really stared. It was then she new that Ignitus' words were real and it was happening.
" I await you call." Spyro said flatly before walking out the chamber. Cynder stared after him for a moment before a small huff from Ornis broke her out of the trance.
" Damn. What's eating his foot then?"
" I don't know and I don't want to know. I think I'll go check out the city." Winfil replied in more of a muted tone."
" i'm right behind you." Ornis said before they both turned and left the chamber. Earn and Cynder were to turn and head for the door. Durzanith coughed a little.
" Oh and enjoy the city please. It is one of the originals out of the four. Let us make you right at home."
" Thank you." Cynder said as she left. Durzanith watched as the doors to his chamber swung back to their closed position and he chuckled a little.
" Yes. Enjoy our lovely city. Prosper in its glory and above all. Have a great day."