Chapter 1: Hidden feelings and new challenges
(5 months after Simian's defeat ...)
It was afternoon and little by little it was getting dark in Warfang or the city of dragons. Some of these dragons were walking placidly, moles were hanging out with friends, and cheetahs were going home to rest after a hard day's work.
A young dragon was sitting, watching from one of the balconies of the dragon temple as night fell in the city. From that position, the view was beautiful not only in the city, but also in its surroundings.
However, watching the horizon was the reason why his inspiration came; In front of him, there were several books (some on magic, others on maps and even on astronomy). However, they were separated because in the middle of them was a scroll, still in the middle of writing with a goose's feather, in which he dedicated a few words to someone very special.
While he was distracted, someone knocked on the bedroom door. Immediately, the dragon left the writing, and hiding it in a book, opened another to pretend.
"Go ahead" he said
A young dragon with purple scales and yellow horns entered the room.
"How are you, Johnny?" asked.
"Very well Spyro, I'm just studying..." he replied, rereading the book 'The Celestial Moons', "Master Terrador told me that I should concentrate on learning as much as possible"
"And... did you find the gift you were looking for?" he asked, "You know, the one you were looking for Edel."
Jhonny closed the book and felt around the room to make sure they were alone. Then, he proceeded to show him what he had written. Spyro read carefully.
"It's not finished..." Jhonny told him, "I'm not a poet, but I've been trying to find inspiration all day and almost nothing... I'm pathetic"
"You're kidding, right?" Spyro asked incredulously, "That's great!"
"I don't know Spyro, maybe I should stop writing this and find some kind of jewel to give it to her"
"Maybe you should talk to her father, Cyril. After all, he wrote poetry... or at least he says so... Anyway, surely Edel doesn't care what you give her, but who you are"
"Because of who I am, isn't it...?"
Jhonny approached a large spiritual gem, which could well serve as a mirror.
"I'm not sure who I am..." he said to himself while looking at his reflection, "I don't know if the personality I have is that me that was hidden all the time as a human, or I'm someone new in this world so different from what I used to live..."
Spyro folded his arms, as if in thought.
"You are also too thoughtful" he told him, "Both for me and for others, it doesn't matter if you are human, ape or dragon: you have proven to be a great friend, and a very promising apprentice"
"It's true!" Jhonny said remembering that, "I forgot the time! I must meet Master Terrador in a few minutes! I'm sorry Spyro"
Tucking the scroll back into the book, he hurried with it through the door where Spyro had entered. The purple dragon went after him, just in time to see him collide with a larger dragon, with pale, jagged horns, spines, shoulder and ankle ridges that resembled shards of ice.
"Woah!" he exclaimed, "Calm down, young dragon. Look carefully at your path and you will overcome the stumbling blocks.
"I'm sorry, Master Cyril" he replied, picking up the book (which he had dropped.
"Don't worry Cyril, I'll guide him to the living room" Spyro told him.
Spyro and his friend headed to the living room. Meanwhile, Cyril had found that piece of parchment that Jhonny had been writing. His smile was marked as he read:
To the dragoness with the beautiful eyes:
There is a beauty unbound within you
A muse to my poetic verse
A song inside the silence
Something special as yet unearthed
I see a warmth and loving soul…
"Look at this… maybe he has a bit of a poet in him," Cyril mused, "Under other circumstances, I wouldn't want my girl to be with just anyone. But Jhonny... he has earned my respect and Edel's heart..."
(In the meeting room ...)
The young dragons arrived at the room, where Edel, Thorr, Ray and Cynder were. Ahead of them, Terrador, Cynthia, and Sybilla were waiting for them. Upon entering, Jhonny panicked about what he had written for Edel.
"Almost and you're late" said his partner, "Did you get lost on the way?"
"Well… yes, a little. Hehehe" he laughed to dispel doubts.
"Surely, he was lost in that matter you spoke of, right?" Cynder asked Spyro almost in a whisper.
"Yes, very lost" said Spyro.
"Well, since everyone is here, I will begin with what I must announce to you, apprentice guardians" began Terrador, "As is well known, you faced and successfully passed the two tests that placed you as the most physically fit to be guardians"
"So, the first two tests were just to look for a guardian's physique?" Thorr asked.
"Not quite," Sybilla explained, "It's not just excellent physique and elemental control that define a Guardian. However, it is also important that they have them. In addition, the tests had a second purpose: to see the determination and teamwork"
"Exactly" continued Terrador, "And finally, in the third, the aim is to see the honor of the applicants: one knows when to accept defeat or stand firm in the face of a possible defeat"
"But, we didn't have any battles and we still won…" Jhonny commented, "On the contrary, Flame accepted defeat.
"But you fought a battle against Simian, an enemy that seemed invincible, and you defeated him" Cynthia contradicted him, "If that's not standing firm in the face of possible defeat, I don't know what it can be called"
The young dragons remembered that battle: it seemed impossible even if the first defense had been broken. Yes, it was exhausting.
"However, now comes your great challenge" Terrador told them, alerting the apprentices, "You know each other very well on the outside, but they still have to see their spirit: that is the second aspect by which a guardian is known. First, you must prove your indomitable spirit in a test of survival…"
There was a minute of silence in which Terrador went to a wall and felt around until he found a mechanism that opened a hidden room behind the wall. The chamber was like a storeroom: ancient helmets and armor, bits of scrolls and maps. The earth dragon took four of the maps; each one of them was wound with a ribbon of red, blue, green and yellow colors.
"These are maps to places that they must go" explained Terrador, handing them the respective maps of their color, "Each place corresponds to its element: Ray, you must go to the Stormy Peak. The worst rays on the planet fall in that place, be very careful"
"Yes, I will" he replied, receiving his map.
"Well, Thorr... your destination is the Rocky Mountains of the west, a place a little sparse of vegetation and where landslides often occur. I hope you can with the challenge"
"You can trust me, master" he replied, also receiving his map.
"Edel, your destination will be the frozen peak, at the north of Dante's freezer"
"The coldest place on the planet" commented Cyril, who had just returned to the room, "The veins can freeze if you are not an ice dragon"
"Wow, it must be really hard" Edel replied, as she received her map, "But, I'm going to pass this test too"
Jhonny had a strong feeling that nothing in the world could stop Edel's determination. If it weren't for Cyril's warning, he would have decided to accompany her. But, Terrador had another destiny for him:
"Finally, Jhonny" he finished, offering him the last map, "Your mission will be in the Burning Lands, where the heat is so suffocating that several plants are incinerated"
"It's a bad vacation spot..." thought Jhonny. However, he received the map to accept his mission: it was not exactly to be a guardian, but rather he wanted to discover if he really had a strong spirit.
"Well, once the 5 days are up, you have to return to their respective elemental teachers so they can evaluate if your spirit is strong enough: Edel, you will return to Dante's freezer, and you will meet your father again; Ray, go back to Silver Scale Town, Volteer will be there; Thorr, I will wait for you in Cave City ..."
"What about Johnny?" Spyro asked, "He doesn't have an elemental teacher"
"Actually, he has" Sybilla replied, "Hasn't you, young dragon?"
Jhonny thought for a few seconds…
"You mean Ignitus?" he asked, "Should I go to the White Isle?"
"Correct" Terrador said, "Good deduction. Well, they can take everything you need, but only food. Well, then, get ready apprentices, you will leave early tomorrow"
While everyone was retiring to their rooms, Edel told Jhonny:
"I don't like the idea of separating us, what do you think, Jhonny?"
"I don't like the idea either, but I guess it's part of the training, right?" He replied, "Don't worry: I promise to complete this task to return with you."
"I know, you always seek to keep your promises. As for me, I will also overcome mine and we will meet again "
Edel kissed Jhonny, leaving him frozen in love. However, he woke up when he heard Cyril calling his name. Leaving Edel to his room, Jhonny talked with the Guardian of Ice.
"I see that my daughter has frozen you from horns to tail" Cyril laughed.
"Yes, Master Cyril" the young dragon told him, a little redder than he already was.
"By the way, you dropped this beautiful poem for my daughter"
The adult dragon showed him the piece of paper that Jhonny had inadvertently dropped a while ago. At this, the young dragon felt totally frozen and twice as red.
"Hahaha" the dragon laughed seeing him in such a way and returning his written poetry, "It doesn't matter, I won't tell her, but you should take better care of your things. Anyway, I want you to do me a favor"
"Whatever teacher" Jhonny replied.
"Well, I know that my daughter loves you very much and if something happened to you, surely her sadness would be immeasurable. I hope you will meet her again when you pass your test and I want you to protect her like you did before, promise it."
"You don't have to ask me, Master Cyril" the apprentice answered decisively, "I promised to see her again, she is... she is the one who filled me again with hope and desire to live, she is very important to my heart"
"A heart burning with hope, that's how they know you. Well, I see that you are sincere. Now go, you will need all your strength for your next challenges"
Before Jhonny returned, he stopped: he had gotten the missing inspiration. In a quick moment, he took the feather back and wrote quickly where it was:
I see a warmth and loving soul
I see a kindness and joy
I see a friend and more beyond
I see a love that stirs in dreams
I see in your eyes my sweet
Something special, inspiring
So, I offer this verse to you
With love and a kindness
To the girl with the beautiful eyes
My heart belongs to you
Finished, he turned to Cyril.
"Here, please," he said, giving him the writing, "I want you to give it to her so I can see her again"
Cyril took it while saying:
"Yes, no problem"