Chapter 3: Thieves
Spyro was curled up into a ball, asleep and having the same dream again. This time, he found himself interacting with the Dark Master.
"Malefor, what are you doing?" the purple dragon asked.
The dragon stopped to look and tried to claw at him, growling and roaring like a dragon infected with rabies. Spyro backed away and stared at the writhing dragon. There was something…different about him. His eyes were glowing hell red and his body has a lot of spiked protrusions. Not only that, his claws were long and his actions were rather feral. Could it really be Malefor?
"Easy there, I'm just curious," Spyro said with surprising calm.
Malefor continued clawing at invisible air and Spyro stood a safe distance from him. After sometime, Malefor returned to struggling to get the golden chalice. Spyro also tried to take a closer look but the closer he got to it…the farther it seems to be getting. Like Malefor, Spyro struggled to get to it.
"Hey, what's the meaning of this?!" he wondered aloud.
Suddenly, a loud clang woke him up from his sleep. It came from the Scared Room and Spyro decided to go take a look. Creeping down the stairs slowly and as quietly as he can, he saw the room door open and the Overwatch were nowhere in sight. He crept to the door and peered through the slit. He saw a few masked robbers ransacking the place, overturning tables and messing up the cupboards.
"Well I'll be, they must the Black Dawn robbers," Spyro thought with an amused smile.
"Some help you are you bitch," a robber scolded to a masked female canine.
"I'm sorry okay so stop calling me a bitch," the canine retorted.
"Hey Gerard, look at this," one robber called put.
The robber named Gerard took a look at the item his friend was holding. It looked like a beating heart but it was well-preserved.
"Excellent, the Heart of Vitality is just what we need to complete the incantation. Continue searching for more gems and then we rob that dragon king of his chalice. With everything we need in our hands, the Dark Master will be dead no more," the leader said.
"But I'm afraid that won't be possible," Spyro said while leaning against the opened door.
"It's the dragon! Kill him and take his blood!" the leader yelled.
The robbers brandished their long swords and crossbows and attacked Spyro. Spyro blocked the arrows with his wings and attacked the robbers when they got close. He grabbed one robber in the neck and smashed him into the next robber, sending the two into a pile of boxes. Another robber dashed at him with a claymore in his hand but before he can take a swing at Spyro, the purple dragon flicked him away with his enormous wing, the heart flying out of his hand. Spyro grabbed it and kept it somewhere safe. The leader had two swords and he wasted no time attacking Spyro. Unlike the other robbers, this one was well-trained and his swords were designed to cut through dragon scales.
"C'mon big boy, don't hold back on me!" the robber said while slashing at Spyro.
"You think I'm going to hold back on a lowlife like you? You're sadly mistaken," the purple dragon said while clawing back.
His armored bracers on his wrists were enough to block the sword slashes so he brought it up and blocked deftly. There was no way to attack the robber when he was attacking so fast so Spyro waited for a good chance to strike. Finally, he saw the robber backing a bit for a frontal stab but Spyro moved faster and struck him hard in the chest with an open-handed strike, sending the leader head over heels into a glass case.
"This time, I'll make sure you stay dead," Spyro said darkly.
Spyro launched a fireball at the robber but unexpectedly, he spun his two swords like a wheel and deflected the fireball.
"Whoa, he's no joke," Spyro thought.
The robber launched at Spyro again but he got caught in the arms by two dragons in red. They were the Overwatch Guards, Spyro's elite guards in charge of being bodyguards and guards of important places.
"Sorry we're late my Lord, those robbers had us overpowered and knocked us out," one dragon said.
"We won't be in this situation if it weren't for that incompetent fool and his Rubik's Cube," the second dragon muttered.
"Shut up," the first one snapped.
"It doesn't matter. As long as nothing has been taken out of here that is all that matters. Now, I want this fools locked up for attempting to steal sacred items and attacking the king," Spyro said.
"Yes my Lord," the two said in unison.
After that little incident, he didn't give much thought about it and returned to his room. He saw Cynder curled up tightly, shivering as if cold. Spyro took a blanket and covered her with it before going back to sleep beside her. Cynder opened her eyes and looked to her left. She saw her husband closing her eyes and smiled softly.
"He's such a nice guy," she thought.
The next morning, Spyro took the time to visit the robbers he fought yesterday night, trying to squeeze some information out of them. As expected, they weren't cooperative but surprisingly, the leader was the one talking.
"You wanna know something lizard breath?" the leader asked in a punk type of way.
"What?" Spyro asked, ignoring his insult.
"I'm sure you have a recurring dream lately, am I right?" the leader asked again.
"What do you know about it?" Spyro asked darkly.
The leader rubbed his long wolf's snout and cupped his hands together.
"Malefor reaching for the chalice…the chalice is gold…him getting desperate…it all means something. I won't tell you a full interpretation but I can't hint you that Malefor is getting closer to living again. The chalice symbolizes resurrection and when he reaches it, you're dead," the bandit said.
"What does it all mean?" Spyro asked.
"You have been hinted and now you'll interpret it yourself. Let me tell you that the chalice has a real life origin so those who find it find the power to give life to the fallen," the bandit said.
Spyro's hand absent-mindedly reached for his pocket but he quickly stopped himself and regained control. He couldn't show it to everyone lest that chalice could be the one. Spyro nodded and took a step back.
"That's all I need to know. Thank you for the cooperation," Spyro said.
"You won't live long to find that chalice anyway. The Black Dawn will find it sooner or later," the bandit smiled evilly and raised his left hand.
He chanted something and immolated himself, leaving not trace of him, not even a single speck of fur.
"I guess he killed himself," a guard said.
"But he did reveal something important. I want to see what Collette has to say about it," Spyro said.
As Spyro left, the guard held up a mirror and Malefor's face appeared on it. He looked just the same like he was in Spyro's dream but he had a dark aura around him that made him look like the God of Death.
"Lord Malefor, I hope you're comfortable in the Well of Souls," the guard said.
"This better be good. I'm getting impatient now," Malefor growled.
"Don't worry my Lord, Spyro has the chalice and my keen senses can tell that the chalice has the magical property that matches the chalice you're after," the guard said.
"Have you got it then?" Malefor asked.
"Unfortunately, that fool got caught and now he has self-immolated," the guard said.
"Damn it, I can't wait for too long. What else are we missing for the Resurrection Ceremony?" Malefor asked.
"The chalice, 5 more soul gems, the Heart of Vitality, the Ceremonial Dagger and the blood of a virgin dragon. All can be found within the castle," the guard said with a dark smile.
"Excellent, just excellent. I want all of these to be prepared for my arrival. Chart the planetary path and make sure they're in perfect alignment with the sun before resurrecting me. With the planetary alignment producing much power, I will be stronger than ever," Malefor said with an evil laugh.
"That will be in 5 months," the guard said.
"I'm sure you'll be more competent than those fools so don't fail me. By the way, who is your dragon of choice for the ceremony?" Malefor asked.
"I have just the perfect candidate for you: Spyro's daughter, Juno. She is purple and her powers are beyond any normal dragon and I dare say even Spyro's. She hasn't unlocked her potential yet so she'll make an easy target," the guard said.
"Good, very good indeed. Make sure of that and I will award you all who are loyal and faithful to me," Malefor said and his image from the mirror disappeared.
The guard kept the mirror and took of his helmet. He was Argus, Gaul's son who has a thirst for dragon blood. He licked his lips in anticipation and brandished his long sword.
"What Malefor want is what Malefor will get. Soon, my father will be avenged and the apes will rule the world. Not even the humans can stop us," Argus smiled cruelly and slipped out of the prison.
Speaking of humans, a few VIPs were present in the castle today for a little chat with Spyro. They were from the Tycoon Caste and many of them came here to open business trades.
"So Spyro, I hope you won't mind if we open shop here in your fair city," said a middle-aged business man with a walrus moustache.
"I can guarantee that the gold we earn will be enough to pay you tributes. We're doing a good business in our realms," another said.
"It's not the tribute I want but I have to see if Warfang can spare you any shop lots," Spyro explained.
"Well, it's okay if we can't get any in the city. Are there any other places you can recommend to us?" the first businessman asked.
"There is the second capital of Skyrim. It's a dragon city and it's located on top of the Snowy Mountains. I hope you don't mind the high altitude and the constant need to take an airplane," Spyro said.
"Ah, we've heard of Skyrim and some of us been there ourselves. It's a nice place with a great view from above the clouds and the nice weather. I do see a great need for business in Skyrim so we'll take that offer if we have no place in Warfang. Truthfully, I've been looking forward to seeing Skyrim again," one businessman said to his friends and they all muttered in approval.
"Very well, your request to do business has been granted. Go to Collette and she'll have your permits ready," Spyro said.
"Heh, that vixen is hot," someone said.
Cynder looked at Spyro with a smile and Spyro saw her and smiled back.
"Are you sure about letting them to Skyrim? I thought the Dragon Council never liked the presence of warm-bloods in their peaceful city," the black dragoness said.
"I'm the leader of the Council so they'll have to do what I say. Besides, Skyrim has a major potential of being a tourist attraction and the humans opening business there means their goods will attract a crowd. Skyrim could use the money for keeping the city intact," Spyro said.
"Speaking of that city, aren't your parents from Skyrim?" Cynder asked.
Spyro looked stoned and his face suddenly drooped.
"The only parent I knew was Ignitus. I never knew my true parents and I think I'll never know at all," Spyro said.
"Spyro, to tell you the truth, both of us are Skyrim Dragons. You see, dragons have three species: one is the Warfang species; the other is the Avalar species and lastly is the Skyrim species. Our ancestors come from these three lands and thus we only have three species of dragons. After much interspecies marriage, many dragons are now impure and only a handful of pure ones still remain. Skyrim Dragons have large eyes and most of them walk on all fours, though the Warfang Dragons do the same as well. They also have a magical affinity and tend to use more magic than brute force. Not only that…Skyrim dragons and dragonesses tend to be very good looking," Cynder said seductively.
"Um…so you're implying that we originate from the mountain city?" Spyro asked.
"Yep and I can see a lot of traits we have with the Skyrim Dragons. We're lucky to come from a more prestigious species," she said.
"Where did you learn all these stuffs?" Spyro asked curiously.
"I found a dusty old book in Volteer's library that I find interesting. I thought it might help shade light on our origins," she said.
Cynder handed him the book entitled The Study of Dragon Species. Spyro saw the author's name at the bottom and got a little shock. It was written by Ignitus 800 years ago and it even has his original paw print in it.
"I was just as surprised as you. Volteer said that Ignitus used to be a researcher before becoming a Dragon Elder. Even so, his work was only half complete when the war between humans and dragons broke out so he never had the time to finish his book," Cynder said.
"Sad," Spyro muttered.
Just then, Collette came in with a piece of paper in her hand.
"I've done some research o the bandit's claims and found some truth behind it. Apparently a number of people had dreamt of this golden chalice and all of them have seen a great disaster befalling, mostly because dead enemies coming back to life. The chalice was lost during Malefor's reign of terror on the humans and its location was forgotten. If your dream shows such a chalice…then I'm afraid that the worst might happen. My Lord, I suggest you prepare the military just in case," Collette said seriously.
"That…I-I…" Spyro stuttered because he wasn't sure if it was a good idea.
"How do you know so much about all of these mystic things?" Cynder asked suddenly.
"My Queen, I was once a sorceress and I studied much of these types of dark arts. I never tried them though I know the effects they will have on us and the world," the yellow-furred vixen said.
Cynder raised her eye ridge in suspicion. She never liked the vixen because she always tried to seduce Spyro. Still, it was true that she was a sorceress before being employed but how far will her truth lead. For all Cynder knows, Collette might be working for this Black Dawn. Cynder didn't trust her.
"I hope you're not lying to me because I'll rip you apart you bitch," Cynder thought angrily and she let out a puff of smoke from her nostrils, a sign of jealousy.
A/N: How do you find Collette?