Chapter 2: Black Dawn

"Ok, let's all play a game of Exploding Tag. I'll be the chaser," Ravager said.

"You're always the chaser! Let me have a go!" Juno complained.

"No way princess, you're slow and I'm faster than you," Ravager said arrogantly.

"Hey no fair!" the purple dragoness said while jumping up and down.

"I don't see Ignitus complaining about it," the black dragon said wile gesturing at the silent red dragon.

"It's because you never gave him a chance as well," Juno said.

The young Ignitus just looked at the two with an indifferent expression. He never liked playing with his siblings and he certainly didn't like Exploding Tag. He didn't know where Ravager got those exploding paper but it certainly hurts when someone throws it at you and it explodes on your skin or scales. It wasn't lethal but it was one hell of a pain. Ignitus tried playing once and from that day forth, he decided not to like it. He tried to run but Ravager always caught up and threw the exploding paper mercilessly at him and Juno. The idea of the game is basically like tag but if you get hit by an exploding paper, you're it. Increase the fun but decreases safety. Some young dragons that played such a game ended up with burns and many schools banned exploding paper. Maybe Ravager got them from a shop that sells prank items. It was a popular joke to give someone exploding paper to write on and well…you know what happens.

"He didn't want to play because he is too chicken to play," Ravager sneered.

"Don't say something like that," Juno snapped.

Ravager flicked a ball of exploding paper at her face. She snapped her eyelids shut as the paper exploded on her left cheek.

"Ow, that hurts you meanie!" Juno said with some tears in her eyes.

"Cut it out Ravager, she's only a young dragoness," Ignitus said in a low and stern voice.

"And you're just a chicken," Ravager said. "So are you playing or not?" he asked impatiently.

"Fine, I'll play but if you lose, you'll have to apologize to Juno for being mean to her," Ignitus said.

"And what if I win?" Ravager asked with a gleeful smile.

"I'll give you my pocket money for the next two weeks," Ignitus said.

"That's a deal," Ravager nodded.

"Ignitus don't do it! He'll cheat," Juno said.

"But he can't win. Don't worry princess, I'll make sure he apologizes to you," the red dragon said.

The game started with Ravager chasing after Ignitus, flicking balls of exploding paper at him but Ignitus dodged deftly. Ravager dashed at Ignitus and took aim, flicking a paper ball at him. The red dragon dodged at the last minute and the paper ball exploded on a nearby wall. Ignitus ran into an open yard and turned around to flick his paper ball at Ravager. Their objective was to survive until everyone has run out of shots. The one with the most score wins the game. Ravager dodged the shot by running on the wall and flipping in front of Ignitus. Ignitus got a shock and didn't have time to react. A paper ball struck him in the face and the explosion knocked him over.

"Ignitus!" Juno yelled out.

"I'm okay…but it hurts," Ignitus groaned as he got back onto his feet.

"That's one point for me," Ravager said. "And now you're it."

Ravager ran quickly and Ignitus didn't hesitate to chase after him. He took a careful aim at Ravager and flicked a paper ball at him. Ravager turned and flicked a paper ball towards Ignitus' paper ball and the two exploded in midair as they collided. Ignitus slid under the explosion to avoid getting hit and continued running. Ravager flew into the air with Ignitus hot on his trail. One lucky shot hit Ravager in the butt and he fell down to the ground.

"You're it," Ignitus said and ran away.

Ravager lifted his head from the ground and spat out a mouthful of grass he scooped up during his landing. Growling, he turned around and chased after Ignitus.

"5 shots left and I better make it count," Ravager thought.

Ignitus dived into a hole under the verandah and waited for Ravager to come. After a few minutes, the black dragon came by and looked around. He didn't notice a pair of red eyes staring at him from a hole under a verandah near him.

"Come out Ignitus, you can't hide from me forever you know," Ravager said.

Suddenly, an explosion hit his leg and he fell to the ground, clutching his right leg and groaning in pain. Ignitus quickly crawled out of the hole and ran elsewhere.

"Ye snooze ye lose," Ignitus said.

Ravager got up again and ran after him. This time, he threw two paper balls at Ignitus. One struck his back while the other one was a clean miss as it zinged pass the red dragon's head. It didn't slow Ignitus down.

"Go Ignitus! You can do it!" Juno called out.

Suddenly, Ravager leapt forward and grabbed his brother's hind legs and tripped him. His paper balls slipped from his grasp and sailed vertically into the air. Ignitus' paper balls also sailed upwards along with Ravager's but he quickly shook his legs and Ravager let go of him. Ignitus ran. Ravager gave chase but the paper balls in the air dropped on him and exploded around him like a miniature artillery strike. When the dust cleared, Ravager was on the ground, bruised but alive.

"Ow, that hurts," he groaned.

"That makes me the winner, Ravager. That was really tactless of you," Ignitus grinned.

"You got lucky," he muttered.

"As you have promised, you have to apologize to Juno," Ignitus said.

Ravager grumbled and got to his feet. Juno looked sympathetically at his older brother as he struggled to apologize.

"Well, I guess I was wrong to tease you. I'm sorry," he said softly without looking at the two of them.

"It's okay big bro, you win some and you lose some but we're still a family," Juno said.

Ravager nodded and gave a weak smile while Ignitus also smiled. For a young dragon like her, she was rather mature but not all the time.

"Kids, get in! It's time for your lunch," Cynder called out.

"Coming mom!" Ravager called out.

At the dining hall, Spyro noticed his children were rather dirty, especially Ignitus and Ravager.

"Have you been playing Exploding Tag?" Spyro asked.

"Ignitus won," Ravager said.

Spyro looked at Ignitus and cocked an eye ridge.

"You won? I thought you never liked Exploding Tag," Spyro said.

"Well…I wanted Ravager to apologize to Juno for being mean to her," Ignitus said.

Spyro rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Kids," he muttered.

Cynder, however, looked at Ravager with a scowl.

"You shouldn't be mean to your sister, Ravager. Have you apologized to her yet?" Cynder asked in a gentle and stern way.

"Yes," Ravager mumbled.

Spyro gave no thought about it and chowed down on his mutton. Suddenly, he felt something cold. It has to be the chalice acting up again. He took it out and placed it on the table to prevent the cold from distracting him again.

"Dad, why is the Silver Chalice here?" Juno asked.

Spyro eyed at the chalice.

"I…uh…decided to use it as a drinking vessel. I heard it enhances taste," Spyro lied.

Cynder looked at Spyro with a confused expression but smiled after a while.

"I get it; you're trying to pull our legs eh. Nice try but you're a bad liar," Cynder grinned, her teeth shining.

"Oops, silly me," Spyro laughed nervously.

He took a teapot and poured tea into the chalice and drank from it. When the liquid hit his throat, it suddenly tasted like honey. Spyro was taken by surprise but when he disengaged his mouth from the chalice, all he saw was normal, yellow tea. It smelt like tea and now it tasted like tea but that sudden change in flavor was rather intriguing.

"You look like as if lightning struck you," Cynder said.

"No but you should try drinking from this chalice. The first time I poured tea into it and drank from it, it tasted like pure honey," Spyro said with excitement.

Cynder and her children looked at the purple dragon skeptically. They don't know whether to believe him or not.

"Nice try but that's not a good prank," Cynder said.

"I'm not kidding. I swear in the name of the ancestors that I wasn't lying. Try it," Spyro said seriously.

Cynder was hesitant but slowly accepted the chalice of tea. She took a sip from it and kept it in her mouth for a few seconds before swallowing it.

"How dare you trick me again? Now I have to grant you a wish," Cynder said with faked sadness.

"How very interesting," Spyro muttered.

"Hey Juno, has dad gone bonkers?" Ravager whispered to his sister.

"It seems so," Juno narrowed her black eyes and whispered back.

That evening, Spyro had an audience with his Prime Minister, Collette the vixen. She had some rather disturbing news.

"Lord Spyro, I have overheard a group of peasants talking about a major cult group called the Black Dawn. I did some research on that cult group and confirmed its existence. Apparently it was formed after the Civil War and the founder, Lord Granger of the Wolf Clan, claimed that he had heard a voice calling him to "reform the world". You maybe are wondering why I brought this up. You see my Lord, they are worshippers of Malefor and their mission was to revive the Dark Master. But in order to achieve their goal, they require souls, lots of them and a special chalice to hold them," the vixen said.

"So you're implying that the wolves maybe behind this," Spyro said.

"That was my guess but that doesn't mean they're acting alone. I'm also suspecting they're in cahoots with the apes. I hypothesize that while the wolves kept guard, they allowed the apes to enter and steal the required items. The wolves are heavy fur-shedders and they think we wouldn't suspect them. A quick look at history shows that the Wolf and Ape clans were once allies during the Highland and Civil Wars. Even they can't escape their history," Collette said with a small smile.

She elegantly turned around to face Spyro.

"The Black Dawn maybe up to something and I think they nearly succeeded if it weren't for your pesky little half-brother," Collette said.

"What did he do?" Spyro asked smilingly.

"He told me that he was in the Scared Room that night and he was admiring the ceremonial dagger. Before they came in, Sparx apparently hid inside the glass case and covered the dagger with a piece of red cloth that matched the red background of the glass case. He heard them say about a ceremonial dagger but being unable to locate the dagger they left. That was what your half-brother claimed," the vixen said.

"Interesting…who leads the Black Dawn?" Spyro asked.

"I'm not sure but Sparx heard one of them mention a name called Reaper. I suspect that this Reaper character is the leader but we couldn't be sure until we have really confirmed it," Collette explained.

"Collette, hasten the search and investigation. I want you to bring those culprits before me and stop the Black Dawn from reviving Malefor. If the breach of the Scared Room is connected to the Black Dawn, put them behind bars," Spyro ordered.

"As you wish my Lord," Collette said respectfully.

She bowed and turned around to head to the entrance. Her silver sword clanked against her leg padding and her minister's gown seems to shine under the light. It made her look beautiful. Before she exited, Spyro thought he saw the vixen gave a seductive wink at him.

"Geez, she really acts like a fox spirit," Spyro muttered.

Spyro took a walk along the ramparts of Warfang while deep in thought. It was usual of him to stroll on the ramparts when he needs to think about something and the guards were more than happy to let him do so. Two jet fighters roared across the sky and Spyro knew today was training day for the humans again.

"Black Dawn after the ceremonial dagger…it could also mean that they are looking for something else, something important," Spyro said to himself.

He looked at the chalice again and scratched his head.

"Nah, it couldn't be," he said.

He continued on his way, whistling happily. Unknown to the big purple dragon, one guard was tracking him with his eyes and watching his every move.