While Spyro, Cynder, and Sparx were fighting their way through the Elemental Trials of the Chronicler's lair, Red had been fighting to keep a powerful consciousness from overtaking him.
He had fallen to all fours just a few minutes before Spyro, Cynder, and Sparx had gotten through the door. He remained there, grunting with effort, as light whirled around him, trying to get through.
Let me in, said a strange voice. This is your destiny.
No, Red answered, I'm not going to let you hurt them!
You don't have a choice, the voice replied smoothly. This is why you were born the way you are; strange, freakish…malformed.
I am my own dragon! Red protested adamantly. I choose what happens to me and my body. I will not let you take me!
But I am you, the voice answered. You are a reincarnation, too.
No! Red shot back. I am not you! I have my own will! I made my choice! If ever you and I were one, those days are over!
Just give in, the voice coaxed. If you don't, I'll have to take you by force.
Come and get me, then! Red replied. I will never be the same as you!
As you wish, the voice answered, sounding reluctant but really not caring.
The energy that was trying to enter Red's body doubled its force.
"Aargh!" Red cried out at the fresh assault.
Don't fight it! said the voice.
You had your time, Red told it angrily. You had your chance to have your way. You lost. It's over. Now leave me alone!
It is not over! the voice replied, the mental sound becoming more twisted and harsh as it grew angry. As long as those who destroyed me live, it will never be over! I will have my revenge! I WILL destroy them!
As it grew angrier, the force battered harder and harder against Red's body and mind. It entered Red's tail, spreading up through his hind legs, up to his shoulders, all of which twisted so that being on all fours was the natural position of his body, up his neck, which became unbent and strong…
"Aargh! Aaargh! Noooo!" Red cried aloud.
You are mine! raged the voice.
Never! cried Red. I will never be yours! As he spoke, he gave the force spreading through his body a mental shove, pushing it back out of him, though very little of it gave way.
It's over, the voice said to him as he continued to push with all his will. Accept your destiny now, and I will disassociate your mind from mine; you will be free to join the Ancestors unburdened by me.
Red knew that he would eventually be overrun, but he held out a minute longer before saying in defeat, Okay.
As he was driven from his body by the new host mind, Red quickly prayed in his own mind:
Dear Ancestors, please give Spyro the strength to overcome this beast…again.
The force finally flooded through his body, driving him out completely, so that the body was no longer his. The energy spread throughout it; the chest grew to make the body that of a dragon of old, the wings became massive, the top of the snout grew to almost overcome the underbite, a set of white teeth grew behind the flesh-colored fangs of the lower jaw, the ridges down the back vanished, replaced by pairs of long spikes that jutted out from either side of the back, two long spikes like the ones along the back sprouted from each of the shoulders, the two curvy horns uncurled at the tips and were joined by a third in the middle plus two curved ones coming from the back of the neck, flesh-colored horns grew to form a starburst pattern around the eyes, the triangle tip of the tail became a strangely shaped blade, and finally, with a blast that completed the change, everything fell into place, and the scales turned…
…purple.