"Birthday?" Johnny wondered, very confused, "Is it today?"

Ignitus laughed. Then he showed him his book.

"You have lived in the dragon realms for so long that you have forgotten the small detail of the day you were born," he explained, "We have been preparing this for a long time."

"It's a surprise!" Sparx exclaimed.

"What do you think Johnny?" Edel asked him, "Johnny...?"

The young dragon lowered his head, while shedding tears. Spyro tried to get closer to him.

"What's up dude?" he asked, "didn't you like the surprise?"

"No, it's just..." he replied, wiping away his tears, "I can't believe I have such good friends like you"

This was followed by a group hug. Hours later (when the cake was finished), Edel asked Jhonny:

"How did you do on your test? They told me you had faced a beast"

"To a Cerberus... and yes, I had a difficult time, but in the end, I remembered our promise" he answered, pointing to the amulet he had given him before leaving the Temple, "And thanks to that, I was filled with courage to defeat him"

"I'm glad to have helped you. That reminds me... I received your poem"

"Oh" he blushed, "And did you like it?"

"Yes, and I think I should give you a special gift for it..."

"Nah, calm down: you don't need to give me..."

But Edel had kissed him so affectionately that Jhonny had been frozen by it. Feeling fly, he only managed to say:

"You know? That is the best gift I can receive"

"Well, I'm glad you like it..."

"Hey! Couple of lovebirds" interrupted Sparx, putting himself between them, "There is an important meeting"

"Sparx!" they both yelled in unison.

"What did I do?" asked this one. However, both dragons only laughed.

When they gathered around Ignitus, he explained the situation to them.

"Young dragons," he told them, "You have all grown and matured successfully. Not just the guardian apprentices… Spyro, Cynder, you have also passed difficult tests in the past, but you have known how to face them together"

"Yes, together..." Spyro commented, taking Cynder's paw, "If it wasn't for Cynder, I sure wouldn't have been able to stop myself when I thought you were lost."

"And I would have gone dark again when we faced Malefor if it weren't for you," she replied, "So we're even."

"No one doubts your union," Ignitus continued, "After all, all dragons are bound by it and strengthen our power through bonds. But now one last test will reveal to them which path they will follow. You will also face it, Spyro and Cynder…"

"I thought it was only for apprentice guardians..."

"Indeed. This test must be performed for guardian apprentices. However, I believe you aboth are aware that the dark has tried countless times to control you, and although you have been rid of it with each other's help, you must learn to do it alone. Spyro, are you sure what Malefor told you in your last battle didn't touch you deeply?"

Spyro wandered in his memories, remembering that moment when he met Malefor face to face.

"So much determination to get there..." the evil dragon told him, "It seems that color is not the only quality we share..."

"I'm not like you!" Spyro shot back.

"So, that's what you think? We'll see..."

"Yes..." he said, returning to the present, "He told me that we look alike, but I don't believe him at all"

"You will discover that yourself, Spyro" Ignitus told him. Then, he turned to Cynder, "And Cynder, are you also affected by the same thing?"

Cynder also remembered, when Malefor freed them from their chains.

"What? does he not know?" Malefor sneered, looking at a confused Cynder, "Come on, tell him: he has to know"

"Tell me what?" Spyro asked, confused.

"How she lured you to the well of souls and tricked you into releasing me..."

"You lie!" Cynder replied, even more confused and scared.

"It is curious the way you decide to remember. I assure you: it was you who freed me, Spyro. And the one who brought me back... And we have to thank Cynder..."

"He lies, I'm sure of that too" Cynder said, forgetting.

"Malefor's psychological game is quite a sharp weapon" Ignitus reassured him. Then, he turned to the apprentices, "You have never faced him, but you must overcome similar challenges if you are to going to be the protectors of this realm… in case he manages to return. That is why the next test will be an overcoming of that darkness that everyone has. In this test there are no winners, only truths: the Crystal Labyrinth"

There was an air of discomfort or perhaps nervousness on the part of Edel, Thorr, and Ray. For their part, Spyro, Cynder and Jhonny knew nothing of it.

"What's wrong with you guys?" Spyro asked.

"Don't you know about the rumors of the labyrinth?" Ray asked, "Many go in, but few come out."

"Is it so difficult to navigate a maze?" asked Cynder, "If we can fly..."

"The labyrinth is an underground ice grotto, Cynder," Edel explained, "Under Dante's Freezer, and it changes all the time, as if it had a mind of its own."

"That's not the most challenging part of the labyrinth" Ignitus explained, "The reflections within it are magical and reflect the dark side of being. If you find a way to overcome your own inner darkness, there will be no outer darkness that can defeat you."

"Ah, well then it will be quite simple, right guys?" Sparx asked, "Err, guys?"

Everyone remained silent without being able to answer, because the idea of fighting with the darkness itself was somewhat complicated to assimilate. However, Ignitus reassured them by saying:

"Each one has great potential, I assure you. I am proud of the future that you and your descendants will build together. Now, go to your test last test. Oh, I forgot: Johnny, come over to receive your birthday's gift "

The young apprentice approached, and the Chronicler touched one of his claws to the young dragon's right shoulder. There, a mark of a dragon head appeared, but then it vanished.

"The Destinatus Custos, which means, the mark of the destined guardian" he told him, "When you are worthy to be the Guardian, the mark will stand out brightly on your shoulder"

"What would happen...? If... you know, I'm not worthy..." asked the young apprentice.

"If you are not worthy, the mark will disappear and reappear after a century on someone else. But I'm sure you're someone capable of being a guardian. Do not fear what you were, nor be tormented by what you would be. At present, you have all the support of your friends"

The young dragon inclined his head, having understood that.

(Later…)

All the young dragons were moving away from the white island, heading towards Dante's freezer. As they did so, Ignitus said to himself:

"May the ancestors protect you, and you will protect us all..."