A/N: Thank you so much to all the people who reviewed! You guys are awesome!
Okay, so this is another Apps/Ariana chapter. And it's pretty much the start of their relationship (hint, hint)
On with the show!
__
"All right, Ignitus. You win. I'll go on this journey...on one condition."
Ignitus looked decidedly hopeful as he stared down at the little dragon. "Yes?"
Aptifor paused. How to word this right? "I'll do it if you tell me something. It's been puzzling me for ages, and it's the only reason I'm going on this trip now...are my parents dead or alive?"
Ignitus looked sad. "I would not know, young dragon. Some say they died in battle with their allies, others say they remain alive, hiding in the Mountain of Malefor...
Spyro was always my favourite pupil," Ignitus added, steering the conversation in a different direction. "His ability to conquer fear has far eclipsed my own strength, and often, made me feel useless in comparison. And Cynder...well, let's just say she was a lot like Ariana." Ignitus smiled wryly.
"She's been really annoying me lately." Aptifor admitted shamefacedly. "She thinks me worrying about my family is pointless."
"Ah, Ariana," Ignitus sighed. "She tries to pretend she has no fears or regrets, but it is just her way of protecting herself. Don't mind her, Aptifor. You may someday have a bond with her similar to your father's with your mother. After all, they were enemies before friends, and friends before lovers."
Ignitus looked upon Aptifor with a piercing ruby gaze. Aptifor suddenly felt like Ignitus could see right through him. "Keep your friends close. And keep your enemies closer." Ignitus advised, and then left once again.
Aptifor sighed. What did that mean? His heart gave a great leap when the door opened again, but it was only Terrador.
The best of the fighting dragons, Terrador was heavily built, with glistening emerald scales and long brown horns. He greatly resembled Ariana.
"Aptifor, you will need to be taught great skills if you are to face this creature at the end of your journey. You need me."
Aptifor nodded silently in agreement, still puzzling over Ignitus' words, and moved to the dojo as his gruelling training began.
__
Three Days Later
Apps was dead on his feet. After three days of training that was greatly similar to boot camp, he had finally mastered Ice and Earth, Electricity and Fire. He had done reasonably well in his classes, although he suspected Terrador was slightly disappointed in him for, instead of using Earth Fury on the large, moving Training Dummies, he had raced around the room, screaming at the top of his lungs until the time limit was up and the dummies exploded.
He had realised he possessed Dark Powers too. When a huge dummy had come stalking towards him, Aptifor had been so terrified that he had screamed again. Instead, red gas had poured from his mouth, whacking the dummy up and away from Apps.
Upon prompting from Volteer, Aptifor had unleashed the other dark powers within. He had now mastered Fear, the red gas he had used upon the dummy, and also Poison, Wind and Shadow. Aptifor liked Shadow best, because being the coward he was, he loved to slip undetected away from fearsome enemies.
Although Aptifor was mostly happy about his new powers, he was a little sad, too. Dark Powers, he knew, only appeared when you were on the side of evil. That meant that one of his parents had been the Dark Master's ally.
Now, sitting under one of the trees in the garden, Apps spied Ariana. The object of her attention was a tree, she was punching it violently. That was her favourite thing to do to vent angry feelings. What was wrong with her?
Aptifor had just decided her definitely didn't want to find out when Ariana spotted him. Her golden eyes flashed with fury as she started to walk towards him. Well, stalk towards him was more like it. Apps felt like he was in the Training Dojo all over again.
"Um..hi?"
She didn't answer, just twisted her lips into a ferocious snarl.
"What is it?"
Ariana stepped forwards and began to circle Aptifor, snarling whenever he tried to make a move.
"So..." She remarked, her voice surprisingly cool, though her golden eyes still burned.
Aptifor would dearly have loved to say "So what?" but that was impossible. He made the Cowardly Lion look like Superman.
Luckily, Ariana spoke again before Apps could get himself in serious trouble. "You're leaving, huh?"
"How did you find out about that?"
Ariana scowled ferociously. "Going off to see the world, take all the glory? That doesn't sound like you, Aptifor. I thought we were friends!"
Aptifor shook his head in confusion. "What does me 'stealing the glory' have to do with us being friends?"
"YOU FORGOT ABOUT ME!" Ariana yelled, jabbing a claw into Aptifor's chest, forcing him back. "You think you're the only one who dreams of adventure? The only one who wants some action? You're wrong, Apps! I want to go too! I'm a million times braver than you, plus I'm a year older, but NO, no one would ever consider me because I'm a GIRL!"
"You're a lot like a boy to me." Aptifor replied, hoping this was the right thing to say. Apparently it was...kind of.
'Words!" Ariana growled, but she seemed a little appeased.
Aptifor groaned inwardly. "Fine. You'll have to see what the Guardians say, but I think you can come. I'll need the protection, anyway. But I have-"
Apps didn't get to finish because Ariana leaped on him, squealing happily. "Thank you, Apps!" She wrapped her jade-green wings around his shoulders. "You're the best friend in the world."
Aptifor rolled his blue eyes. "Sure I am, Ria. Until you find something else to get mad about."
"Until then." Ariana promised, laughing. "Now let's go find the Guardians. I want to know when we go. I can't stand another minute in this boring place!"
And so they left for the Temple Doors together. Aptifor found himself wondering if they would die together at the end of the journey, or if he would just end up killing Ria out of annoyance.
Right now, the second option looked very promising.
__
A/N: Please review and thanks again for reading! xxx =)
