It's quiet in here … just the way I like it. And it will be that way all summer! Yeah! Enough talk … on with the chapter.

Chapter 11

Staring Death in the Face

Ignitus said, "So, young dragons, now you are ready to head out on your journey, but first I must ask one thing of y-"

"MORE TASKS!" Azimuth (once again) interrupted, "WHAT ELSE DO YOU EXPECT USE TO DO, BREACK INTO REGIS' CASTLE AND-"

"Azimuth," Elpida hushed him, "Can you shut up"

"Actually," Ignitus said, "That's exactly what I want you to do."

"What!" All four of them said at the same time in surprise.

"You must get into Regis' castle," Ignitus began explaining, "Find Hunter, free him then return to Starlight city"

Elpida asked, "Where is Regis' castle?"

"You must head east," Ignitus stated.

There was a brief pause, because they expected Ignitus to say more. Then Azimuth spoke, "Let me guess it's the one covered by darkness right?"

"Azimuth, everything is covered by darkness right now." Cynder pointed out as if Azimuth didn't already know that.

"Oh come on. Can't I make a joke?" Azimuth asked. Spyro, Cynder, and Elpida turned around, and walked out. Azimuth just stood there expecting Cynder to answer his rhetorical question.

"Azimuth," Ignitus called.

"Yeah," Azimuth said as he walked over. Ignitus bent his head down and whispered something to Azimuth that the other three could not here.

"Okay, I'll do that." Azimuth agreed, as he followed Spyro, Elpida, and Cynder out the door. The four of them leapt into the sky and took off heading east towards Regis' castle.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

After about an hour of flying they landed in front of Regis' castle.

"How are we supposed to get in?" Azimuth asked.

Cynder responded, "I think I can do that."

"What? Are you just going to walk in?" Azimuth joked.

"Yeah, pretty much," Cynder retorted, as she started to walk towards the gate.

Azimuth commented, "Uh, Cynder the door is locked."

"You just noticed," Cynder came back. Azimuth's jaw dropped in shock of how she could think of a comeback that fast, then he quickly said, "Wait, before you do, uh, whatever," he hesitated while he thought about his wording, "can you give me some time to think of a come back?"

Spyro walked up to him and said, "Azimuth, we don't have time for that."

"Oh, come on we have plenty of time." Azimuth said.

Elpida stated, "Azimuth, I don't want to stay here any longer than we have to."

"Fine," Azimuth said, "Cynder just," he made small circles with his right paw, as some kind of unknown gesture towards Cynder, as he thought of what he was going to say, "Whatever." Then, as Cynder approached the door she transformed into shadow form. As a black mist she was able to flow through the door to the other side. Azimuth turned around, and saw that Spyro and Elpida looked like they were trying to hold back a laugh.

"What's so funny?" Azimuth asked.

"Azimuth, what is, this?" Elpida chuckled, while making the same circle motions Azimuth did, Azimuth started starting, "AZIMUTH!"

Azimuth shook his head to snap himself back into focus then said, "What, what? Oh, uh, sorry what did you say?"

Elpida repeated, "What was with the circles?"

"Oh, that," Azimuth said, "That, uh, it helps me think"

"And, the best you could think of was, 'whatever'?" Elpida questioned.

"Well, there was a lot of thing I could think of that she could have done."

Elpida got a look on her face that said, "What the heck could he possibly be thinking?" While she was saying, "like what?" Before Azimuth had a chance to answer her question the door to the castle flung open to reveal Cynder standing on the other side.

"Took you long enough, Cynder," Azimuth commented.

"That was an interesting conversation you were having." Cynder retorted. Azimuth opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out.

"Hey, Azimuth, can you stay like that?" Cynder teased, "I like it."

The four of them walked inside Regis' castle. All within the hallways there were ominous wisps of darkness that flowed throughout; every once in a while one would transform into a dark hooded figure, and would walk into one of the many rooms. After a while Azimuth could no longer keep quiet and said, "What are those things?"

"Azimuth, be quiet." Cynder hissed.

"What are those things?" Azimuth repeated.

"Soul hunters, now shut up," Cynder whispered quickly.

"What are soul hunters?" Azimuth asked.

"Regis' servants" Cynder said.

"Regis ha-" Azimuth started in surprise, but was cut off by Cynder putting her paw over his mouth.

"Shut up." She said through her teeth.

"I say we go this way." Spyro said starting in a direction.

"What makes you so sure we should go that way?" Azimuth argued.

"Do you have a better idea?" Spyro said, Azimuth did not respond, "Come on."

They walked through the hall way until they got to a door at the end.

"Spyro, you think he's in her?" Elpida asked.

"Yeah, I've got a feeling."

The door creaked open. As they walked in their talons clicked on the metallic floor. They looked around and noticed that the walls formed a circle, with the exception the four doors located at the farthest ends of the room.

"Uh, Spyro, Hunter's not here." Azimuth stated, "Let's head back and check somewhere else."

"Wait," Spyro motioned them to stay, and then he walked cautiously to the center of the room. An ominous laugh echoed through the room.

"What was that?" Spyro said getting into his battle stance.

"Spyro, let's go," Azimuth ordered. Suddenly black cages formed from shadows around Cynder, Azimuth, and Elpida. Spyro looked back and to see them. Then Regis walked in through the door in front of Spyro laughing.

Spyro turned back around and demanded, "Let them go!"

"Why should I?" Regis asked rhetorically, as another black cage formed around Spyro and dragged him back inline with the others.

"What do you want with use?" Elpida asked.

"Very simple," Regis said laughing to himself, "I'm going to rip out the good half of your souls, and destroy them so that only darkness remains."

"Wait," Spyro said, "I'll surrender myself without a fight if you let my friends go."

"Spyro!" Cynder said concerned.

Regis started laughing again.

"What's so funny?" Azimuth demanded.

"Malefore said the same thing when he was in your position."

"What?" Spyro said in shock.

Regis continued, "Everyone by no doubt told you that Malefore turned evil on his own, no, he turned evil cause I was a fool and accepted his deal, and let the others go, … ,But I won't make that mistake again." He then turned around and started walking out, "I'll be back for you later."

"What are we going to do?" Elpida asked.

"Oh, too familiar," They heard Regis say to himself as he walked through the door.

End Chapter

I had a lot more planned for this chapter, but I had to change the location of the ending for the sake of my next chapter. If you like my story please review I need them … till then

R&R

-shining darkness dragon-