Training

The sun was rising Warfang there were clouds coming in. Far beyond the city in a small cave was a light glowing. It was the yellow light of a fire. The cave faced towards the city and inside there was talking.

" But Verena, my liege. We haven't go the power of our Master to confront the purple dragon ag-" A wyvern said. Standing on its wings joints s if they were paws. The wyvern was cut off by a large yellow tail smacking him in the lower jaw.

" We need the purple dragon to allow my master to return. He is not dead my young friend, but suspended in a deep sleep in that large purple crystal in the bowels of the planet." The tail came back to a large dragoness sitting next to a slowly weakening fire. She had a white underbelly and horns that glinted against the light. Her eyes shone bright aqua and she had aqua wing membrane's with aqua spikes running down her back.

" He will return and when he does. I shall be rewarded for my loyalty. Unlike that inferior hatchling Cynder."

" How are we going to get into the city. We need the purple dragon and after what happened two day's ago, I'm sure the purple dragon will be on his talons now." The little wyvern said. Verena lifted her head and moved it within striking distance of the wyvern.

" Corniss, I am well aware of the situation inside those walls. And that is why I am constantly recruiting more and more of you're species to help me retrieve Spyro. You should be grateful you're in charge of the army , after all Demruss showed very leader like skills in training." Verena said letting a grin come to her mouth. Corniss shuffled his claws on the ends of his wings looking at the ground.

" S-shall I double the training then." Corniss asked stammering.

" Yes that would be most wise of you." The electric dragoness approved as she laid her head down. The fire started to die and she winced a little at the cold air.

' damn fire' She thought. She through some more twigs and branches that had been collected by countless wyvern and threw them on. She charged up an electricity around her arm and shot it at the twigs setting them alight and a fresh wave of heat washed over the cave. She smiled softly and rested her head as the wyvern's outside started to spar.

" Well you ate that fast. I'm just going to start mine now." Flame complained as he entered the great hall passing Cynder and Spyro as they were on there way out.

" sorry man. We need to be with master Cyril. He wanted us to be there early so we can get allot of work done before lunch comes." Said Spyro. Flame nodded to both of them and they hurried off down the hall. Flame walked into the hall and sat to eat on his own but he stopped in his tracks when he saw four dragons sitting at a table across from him. Ember, Ornis, Star and Earn were all having breakfast together. Flame quickly looked away when Star caught him looking at them. The fire dragon quickly hopped of his chair leaving his breakfast nearly untouched and left.

It was a cold morning and there was full coverage of clouds over the sky. Cynder shivered as her and Spyro entered the training arena to meet Cyril who was inspecting the past events next to a portable pedestal. He noticed them and banished the picture while smiling at them.

" Spyro, Cynder. Good you're on time." Cyril nodded as they came to a stand next to him.

" Hey Cyril. So, what's the special training you have for me today." Spyro asked. Cyril's face fell a little at this.

" Well, young dragon if I am completely honest with you. I don't know how to produce a transformation in you." The ice dragon looked to the ground. Spyro, remembering what Ignitus said, Thought about what could make him change. He didn't have to think long. As if to answer his query's, Earn walked past the entrance with bandages on his front legs and left horn. He had cuts all down his left side of his body and he was limping slightly. He remembered what he felt on the night he found Cynder. What she looked like and who had done it.

" Yes Spyro. Remember what happened." Cyril pressed noticing him glancing at Earn. Spyro began to feel rage build up in him as he saw in his memory blood ooze over Cynder's body. He felt his blood boil and then, just after he was about to stop, He felt it. The change of the scales, the darkness covering him.

' This is it.' he thought. ' think , Cynder.' He felt the darkness twist and contort his mind as it tried to over power him. Spyro thought this was quite easy and thought he could do it but that interpretation was extinguished as soon as he felt the real power come on him. It immediately crushed his will power and he felt darkness over come him as Oryps took control and Spyro fell into darkness. Oryps let out a grin. As Cynder and Cyril advanced on the dark dragon not knowing it was Oryps and not Spyro in control.

" Spyro is that you." Cyril asked nervously. Oryps turned slowly and chuckled.

" I'm afraid Spy's left the building, but don't worry. I'll take good care of everyone." Oryps whispered and slammed the ground with his paw sending out a wave of dark energy knocking over Cyril and Cynder. Cyril's eyes widened as he realised who it was he was looking at.

" Cynder!" He yelled at the black dragoness. Cynder nodded and flew over to Oryps who watched her.

' Not this time' the dark dragon thought and charge up electricity behind him and span on the spot flinging his arm out at Cynder. He was about to let the bolts go when his arm smacked to his side and the bolts of electricity smashed into the ground.

" What!" Oryps hissed. ' Guess who' came a voice from his head. Oryps recognised his counter parts voice and powered up so as to not let him out. Cynder new what was happening to him and took a deep breath and dropped in front of him.

" Spyro." She said quietly placing a paw on Oryps's cheek. " Come back to us." She said and leaned closer to him.

" NO!" Oryps screamed and jumped back but fell to his knees as Spyro began to take control again. Oryps slammed a paw into the ground causing several cylinders of earth to fire out of the ground and the rock where his paw hit freezing over. Oryps let out a last cry as he vanished back into darkness as Spyro took over. His scales turned back to royal purple and his eyes darkened to there normal white and purple. Spyro then looked up at Cynder who stood over him.

" I'm sorry. I lost again." He said defeated. Cynder put the side of her tail blade on his chin being careful not to slice him and brought his face up.

" You were magnificent today. You brought it on without any help and that's the first step." She nuzzled him and Spyro let out a sigh.

" I don't know how I'm going to do this." He said and hung his head. Cynder pulled the purple dragon head up and kissed him. Spyro put his arms around her and kissed back. Cyril who was behind them let out an awkward cough and turned. Spyro and Cynder both jumped back from each other embarrassed.

" Lets try again Spyro. But this time I'll have a lot more dragons to keep you at bay if Oryps takes over."

" Right, lets do this." Spyro smiled as he new how to get into the dark form and as Cynder said, that was the first step.

Oryps dropped to his knees as all three of the guardians crushed him to the ground with the help of several other dragons including Winfil and Flame.

" I will kill you." Oryps shouted and used more strength and to everyone's astonishment, began lifting all the dragons on top of him and breaking loose of the ice and rock that was holding down his paws. Cynder laid down in front of him and didn't bother to talk to him this time. She just pressed her lips to his and there was a thud as the weight of all the dragons hit the ground and Spyro began to come back. It was the seventh time they had produced a change in the whole six hours of trying and all of the time, Oryps took control.

" You did well this time." Cyril said once all the dragons where off of him. Spyro grimaced as her looked at the training grounds. There was ice, fire and unearthed rock everywhere. There was an electrical charge sparking between the top of the burning trees and the others.

" It doesn't look like it." The purple dragon retorted.

" yes well we can put aside the damage and look at what you accomplished. You withstood you're ground and you used you're will power and stayed in control for seven seconds before Oryps came."

" Huh. Long time then, and I thought after I keep my control once that id be in full control from there on any time I wanted to change." Spyro challenged. Cyril looked at Volteer and Terrador who were fixing the training grounds with some help from the moles.

" You may have to hold complete control of you're body for one whole change before being able to change at will-"

" Why do we have to make Spyro master his darkness so much. After all we have a formidable army so we probably wouldn't need the extra power, seeing as he is already a purple dragon." Cynder cut in curiously. Spyro joined in her curiosity and looked at Cyril who avoided there eyes.

" Cyril." Spyro said flatly.

" Alright, alright. You have a right to know." He said holding a paw up. He glanced at Flame and Winfil who were on there way out with the other dragons except for Terrador and Volteer. " When Cynder was….in trouble and before we came to help. The blue orb returned and came to us. The same dragoness came up again and revealed her name to be Verena. She demanded you to be given to her or there would be consequences and as anyone would do. We declined and she became mad stating that she will make one of her former mentors return and take you herself. She also said that we would pay the price once her master returns from the crystal.-"

" Wait. Crystal. that's where we put M-Malefor." Cynder cut in and her voice was a little shaky. Cyril nodded slowly with a grim face.

" Well so far as we know, that is who she means would return. But as for her former mentor returning, we have no idea who that could be."

" Yes, we'll need to look into that and also find out where this dragoness is." Spyro said finishing the conversation. " I think that's enough for today Cyril, we'll try again tomorrow." Cyril smiled at both of the dragons as they left. It was late afternoon and both Cynder and Spyro had been training all day. Both the dragons walked towards the spot where Flame usually hanged about with Winfil. They needed some cheering up after today.

" Hey guys. Long day hmm." Flame sighed as Cynder and Spyro sat next to the fountain that lay just outside his grandfathers house.

" Yeah, we didn't get far. All we done is try to make me master my dark form and get rid of Oryps. And we only got as far as me being able to summon him at any time-"

" But it's a start." Cynder cut in seeing him put himself down.

" So then you are getting closer. Right?" Winfil asked as he toyed with the water. Spyro looked up at the green dragon.

" I think we have made a little head way but it will take allot more training and practise before I get anywhere close to mastering it." Said Spyro with some hopefulness in his voice. Winfil nodded to himself but kept his eyes on the water as he started to whirl rock around the water using his earth element. Flame was looking at the tower which was the highest thing exept for the temple which was just two houses away. Spyro followed his gaze and saw a two dragons sitting at the top of it.

" S'that Ember and Star." The purple dragon asked as he squinted at the figures.

" Looks like it. Have they tried to apologies to you yet. Y'know, break the ice." Said Flame who lost interest in the figures and made do with gazing at the faint stars in the orange sky which was turning a dark blue at the south horizon. Spyro kept his eyes on the pink and yellow dragonesses before they turned and leapt of shooting for the other side of the city.

" Hey. I'm going to get some ice cream. D'you want any." Winfil asked getting up from the fountain.

" Yeah I'll go for some please." Cynder answered from the side of the fountain.

" Yes." Flame answered

" Yes." Spyro Acknowledged. Winfil started to walk of but laughed and turned before leaving.

" What flavour guys."

" Um, I'll go for sea-salt please." Flame chuckled.

" The same please." Spyro and Cynder said at the same time causing them to laugh. Winfil took of and flew towards the ice cream shop. Spyro started to toy with the water and made it form shapes of dragons.

" Do you think you'll ever master the dark form in time for Verena coming for you." Asked Cynder, getting up and laying down next to the purple and fire dragon. Spyro let out a sigh and turned to the black dragoness. He always got lost in her emerald green eyes when he saw them.

" I haven't got a choice in the matter I think. Seeing as she wants him to come back then I want more power than before to deal with him faster." Spyro said firmly.

" I think we could all take her down easily if we work together." Flame scoffed.

" We don't know the full extent of her power yet. Fair enough if its just her alone then probably yes. But if she has others with her then maybe not." Said Spyro shaking his head.

" Ice..cream served." Winfil said through a muffled mouth.

" Thanks man." Flame said talking the sea-salt ice cream and taking a long lick. " That hit's the spot."

" I think we should make a pact right here, right now." Winfil said clearly now having his ice cream in his hand. " I mean its looking like its going to be a beautiful night and what better place to make one than here." Winfil put of his paws out so the others could see. Spyro looked at Winfil mocking intense confusion before laughing and putting his paw over next to his.

" Yeah. Sure." Chirped Cynder and smiled happily while putting her paw over both Spyro's and Winfil's.

" Hell, it's the only chance we'll get." Flame huffed and put his paw over. Winfil smiled and looked up at the slowly rising moon.

" Let us not forget what gets said this evening." Winfil said looking at all of the dragons. " We will always be the best of friends. We shall always look out for each other and if need be, fight for each other." Spyro, Cynder and Flame all chuckled together. " Let us never forget each other and if we are separated, we will always return here on this date at this time. We shall never fight each other and we will always care for each other. This is the beginning of our lives together and we shall take each step by each others side."

" Yeah." Chimed all the dragons together and they all clapped there hands with each other. Cynder laid next to Spyro as he sat on his haunches next to Winfil who draped an arm round both Spyro and Flame. Flame giving a devilish smile to the other three. They all looked at the moon as it rose into the sky and the moment sunk into there permanent memory, never to be forgotten.