Interlude 1
Gandalf raced through the abandoned lands of Hollin and through the Gap of Rohan straight towards a massive black tower that was surrounded by a singular wall made of the same black ebony. The grey wizard rode through the open gates and the small forest within the ring and towards the entrance of the tower where a old man dressed in white who also had a staff shaped like the tower.
"Smoke rises from the mountain of Doom. The hour grows late and Gandalf the Grey rides to Isengard seeking my council. For that is why you have come my old friend?" Asked the wizard as he smiled at his grey robed compatriot
"Saruman." said Gandalf as he bowed to the white wizard
"Walk with me Gandalf and tell me what troubles you." said the older man as Gandalf dismounted from his horse
As they walked around the park like land within the walls of Isengard Gandalf told the older wizard what had transpired in the thirty years since they last seen eachother.
Also Saruman It has been found." said Gandalf making the white robed wizard stop for a moment in thought before he caught up with his friend and underling.
"So the Ring of Power has been found." Said Saruman thoughtfully
"Beyond any doubt. It was hidden in the Shire. Under my very nose in fact." admitted Gandalf
"If you had the sense you would of brought it here Gandalf. Your love for the halfling's leaf has clearly dimmed your mind." Saruman scolded coldly
"forgive me on my tardiness old friend. By the way remember the earthquake that happened three years ago?" asked the grey wizard
"Do I. It caused a crack within the foundations of Orthanc." said Saruman as he patiently waited for Gandalf to finish stalling about the ring.
"It was caused by two Avalarian dragons more importantly one of them is a purple dragon." said Gandalf
"Intriguing." said the white wizard as they neared the tower once more
"Perhaps with their power combined with the white council we can counter Sauron if we act in time." said Gandalf
"Time? What time do you think we have?" asked Saruman coldly as they went in for a meal.
In Orthanc
As the two wizards finished their meal they continued their talk.
"Sauron's power has been regained quickly. He can not yet take physical form but with in the dark tower of Barad Dur the dark lord sees all. His gaze pierces through wood,stone,cloth and flesh." said Saruman gaining Gandalf's attention
"You know of what I speak: A great eye lidless and wreathed in flame." said Saruman
"Yes Saruman." said Gandalf wearily
"He is gathering all evil to him. He will soon have an army greater than any in Middleearth." he said
"You know of this. How?" asked Gandalf warily
his friend looked towards his throne room and said in a haunted voice "I have seen it."
The two wizards entered the ebony throne room soon enough Saruman walking arrogantly slow
"A Palantir is a dangerous item Saruman." scolded Gandalf as he and his fellow maiar entered the throne room where stood a small pedestal with a black cloth over it.
"Why? Why should we fear to use it?" asked Saruman arrogantly as he removed the cloth revealing a small black orb of obsidian.
"They're not all accounted for. Remember the Lost seeing stones. We do not know who else may be watching." answered gandalf as he took the cloth from Saruman and placed it over the Palantir on it to suddenly see a flash of the Eye of Sauron in his mind.
"The hour is later than you think. Sauron's forces are already moving. The Nine had left for Tamriel nearly three years ago searching for someone known as Ysmir Stormcrown." said Saruman
"That name? It's only given to the-" said Gandalf when the white wizard finished his sentence
"To the Dragonborn who trained with the Greybeards of High Hrothgar." finished Saruman as he sat in his black throne
"Why would Sauron want to try and kill a dragonborn?" Gandalf asked his leader
"Perhaps to drain the aedric immortality from his soul. But the Nine had recently left Minas Morgul." answered the wizard his voice becoming colder in tone.
"What?" asked Gandalf shocked more so
"They crossed the river Isen on Midsummer's Eve disguised as riders in black." sneered Saruman slightly
"They reached the Shire?" asked Gandalf franticly
"They will find the Ring. And kill the one who carries it and any who guard it." said Saruman coldly
"Frodo..Spyro..Cynder!" muttered Gandalf as he hurried towards the door only for it to close magically by itself Gandalf twirled around only to see Saruman still sitting in his throne then he went towards the other doors only for them all to shut in his face.
"Do you seriously think that a hobbit and two Avalarians can contend with the will of Sauron? There are none who can." sneered the wizard as his friend turned around to face him
"we must join with him Gandalf. We must join with Sauron." said Saruman in a cold solemn voice.
Gandalf glared at his brother beginning to see that he went mad with power
"It would be wise my friend." said Saruman trying to persuade the grey wizard
"Tell me. Friend when did Saruman the Wise trade reason for madness?" he said in disgust causing Saruman to stand up and in a great cry blast Gandalf with his staff pinning him to the wall.
Gandalf broke free of the power and shot his own power back at the white wizard and with that a duel was fought between the wandering grey pilgrim and the white master of the black tower each blasting the other against the floor and walls of the tower and each receiving bruises and cuts from slamming into the cold hard rock. Suddenly Gandalf telekinetically threw Saruman through one of the doors knocking them open. But the white wizard stood up quickly and made a grabbing motion ripping Gandalf's staff away from him and pinning him to the ground with the power of both staffs.
"I gave you the chance to willingly join me but you have chosen the path of PAIN!" he yelled as he sneered down at his foe
"Curinir Please stop this madness!" begged Gandalf evoking the fallen maiar's true name
"Curumo is gone Olorin. I am Saruman of Many Colors!" he yelled in triumphant anger as he shot Gandalf toward the roof and slamming him into unconsciousness.
At the Throat of the World
Ysmir watched the skies to the southeast towards Isengard warily as he felt people of great power talk about him as he also remembered having to deal with the Nine when they went hunting for him.
"Ysmir my wuth fahdon ahrk prustiik, old friend and student what troubles you?" asked Parthurnax
"I don't know. I've been thinking on how the prenlon slendugaaf, the ring wraiths managed to find me so quickly." said the half nord as he turned towards the other dragons. "Flame, Ember. I need you both to breathe and sustain a ring of fire around myself and the two nebenaraan." said the dragonborn as he turned to his mentor and his second in command "I need you two to breathe and sustain a wall of ice around us and the joor dovah." he told the tameriellen dragons
"We understand dovah Drog." said Odahviing as he and Parthurnax stand on either side of the word wall while Flame and Ember stood at the edges of the wall
"Please make sure Spyro and Cynder get through this." begged Ember as her eyes glisten with tears of worry making Ysmir widen his eyes in realization before he nodded
"Of course mother do jen dovah." said Ysmir quietly as he brought out three of the elder scrolls opening each one and planting them into the snow behind him.
"Scroll of the Dragon's return, of Blood's curse, and of Sun's blindness bring forth the lahspaan do Stendarr's kun!" he yelled as he blasted his powerful wards into the snow creating a dome of holy light around himself and the comatose dragons while Flame and Ember opened their mouth and shot forth a wave of fire and around them the dov unleashed in a loud voice both shouted Fo Krah Diin! creating a massive wall of ice around the avalarians.
Ysmir looked at his sleeping charges with a sad smile as he took out a strange black crystal and slammed it into the ground before shouting at Spyro and Cynder.
"Vokul Laas Vopraan!" he shouted forcing the two dragons to convulse uncontrollably before malicious laughter broke from their mouth as they open their eyes. Gone were their emerald and amethyst eyes and even the pupils replaced with a sickly green and pale opal light from their eyes their scales blackened like burned ash and flesh as they stood up glaring at their friend.
"So the oh so mighty Dovahkiin has decided to try and save the worthless lovers." spat out this dark version of Spyro as he grinned evilly at the human
"Indeed such a foolish mortal." said the evil version of Cynder as she prepared to try and pounce at Ysmir
"Begone foul demons. Leave from the bodies of these dragons. Return to your master He who sits in chains in the void until the real end of time." shouted Ysmir in a loud voice causing the two dragons to laugh evilly
"Do you think our god Melkor will truly remain in the void little human?" asked the demon possessed Cynder
"Indeed my darling Rednyc. Once we kill these worthless lizards and the human we will claim the Ring and use it to open a gate to the void and awaken our master!" boasted the dark purple dragon
"You will not win this day demons!" growled Ysmir as he shouted "Mul Qah Diiv!" summoning the dragon souls as armor.
The demon dragons growled as the ethereal dragon souls hardened around their slayer as the dragonborn brought his hands out in grabbing motions!
"Gol Hah Dov!" shouted the dragonborn as the two screamed in agony as they felt their minds bending to Ysmir's power
"Grraahh!... W-what is this power Oryps?" screamed Rednyc as her comrade writhed in pain trying to control his own mind
"Im-impossible only Miraak knew how to bend the will of the dragon!" snarled Oryps
"Indeed dark dragon he knew but I too learned the shout!" said Ysmir as he shot both with a paralysis spell
"What are you going to do to us?" asked Rednyc fearfully as they fell to the ground once more and stared at the black gem
"This is a black dragon soul gem. I crafted it tirelessly to hold the kroved dovah sil of ancient dragons. Now it shall be yours and Oryps tomb." said the dragonborn solemnly
"No!" screamed the convexity dragons as they slowly broke through the paralysis spell
Ysmir glared at them as he opened his mouth and shouted "Rii Vaaz!" at the two ripping out the evil souls and allowing Spyro and Cynder to be purified.
"NOOOOOOO!" screamed the two demons as they entered the stone making it fall as the gem flickered with their dark power.
"It is done." said Ysmir as he collapsed to his knees drenched in sweat.
In Spyro's mind scape
"Spyro...Spyro wake up my boy." said a old, cheery, and grandfatherly voice that I haven't heard in a long while
"Ig...Ignitus?" I asked as I slowly opened up my eyes and I see the dragon that practically raised me except he was a light blue...Wait a moment light blue but that was the Chronicler.
"Yes Spyro my old friend it's me." said Ignitus as I smile happily and tackled him in happiness
"You're alive!" I said as the older dragon laughed joyously
"I'm sorry that I couldn't save you in the belt of fire." I said sadly lowering my head in shame for letting Ignitus die like that
"It is alright my dear boy. Now I didn't enter your mind just so you can start apologizing for an event beyond your control." scolded the cyan dragon
"Where's Cynder? She was with me and the others on Weathertop when I..." said I when he suddenly remembered
"When you fainted and slipped into a convexity coma. If it wasn't for Aranthis Dunadan you and Cynder would of been killed and your dark sides would of taken over." said the former guardian of fire as he gravely nodded to the younger dragon.
"Wait who?" I asked
"Ah forgive me. Aranthis is the mortal name given to the man you know as Ysmir Stormcrown." answered my mentor
I nodded but then began to ask about Cynder when the older dragon chuckled.
"Don't worry my young friend. Cynder is here but she is meeting with her mother within the mausoleum of innocence." said Ignitus
"Soon it will be time for us to say farewell once more. But before you and Cynder return please tell Flame my son and Ember that I am sorry for not protecting you grandson." said Ignitus sadly as he began to fade.
"Wait grandson?! That means I'm their son? Ignitus wait!" I yelled before I fell into unconsciousness.
In Cynder's mind scape
I stirred slightly as I awakened finding myself among ancient tombs of dragons.
"Spyro? Spyro!" I called for my lover when a kind and motherly chuckling went through the hall of the dead.
"Cynder my youngest daughter. Spyro can't hear you right now." said a magenta and grey dragoness with nine horns that grew around her head appeared before the me
"Who are you and why do you call me your daughter?" I asked confused to which the spirit laughed heartily
"Well the last time we met my daughter was when I laid you and brought you to the temple of hatching for the Year of the dragon. I am Cyndel dragoness of the Shadowed lands, Mated queen of Drogoth: Dragonlord of Arda mother to his Fire and heir: Drakus and to his Death: You Cynder." said the dragoness proudly looking more like what me was once. This made me gasp in shock.
"M..Mother?" I asked as tears began to stream from my emerald eyes
"Yes my dear I am your mother." said the dragon queen as she embraced me
"M...Mom please tell me that I didn't kill you when Malefor corrupted me." I begged
The older she-dragon laughed at this making me confused
"I would of been honored to have fallen to your claws my little warrior. But fate was not on my side for I was slain by the wraith of Malefor." growled Cyndel
I sighed in relief knowing that I didn't kill my mother. I then looked up and saw that Cyndel began to fade
"Ah it looks like that human friend of yours purged the convexity demons." said the older dragoness
"Wait Mom don't go!" I yelled as I began to run towards the spirit
"Don't worry Cynder we shall meet again." said Cyndel as she disappeared and then fainted.
At the isle of time
Ignitus sighed in relief when he saw that Aranthis trapped the convexity spirits in the soul gem and carried the two young dragons to the monastery below the peak
"They are now free from the convexity right Teacher?" Cyndel asked the cyan dragon of time
"Yes they are Cyndel and never again will they feel the dark corrupting power." said Ignitus as he wrote down the purification spell in both of their books.
"You know that he won't bow to Spyro nor let him become mates with Cynder." Cynder said to the Chronicler
"Not right now no. But perhaps once they destroy Sauron then there may be a chance for peace." said Ignitus as the spirit of his friend and pupil left.
On the throat of the world.
Spyro and Cynder slowly came to as they saw that they were in a ancient and strange building. They looked around in order to gain their whereabouts when they saw eachother they gasped in shock and tackled eachother in joy.
"Spyro/Cynder!" they exclaimed at once as they hugged earning elderly chuckles making them both turned their heads to see four elderly men in robes decorated in Dovahzul each had a beard that was rugged and grey along with kind eyes that have seen many lifetimes. "Greetings young dragons. I trust that you've slept well?" asked one.
"Yes we did but who are you?" Asked Spyro curiously
"We are the Greybeards. I am master Arngeir. With me is Master Borri, Master Einarth, and Master Wulfgar. We teach the Way of the Voice to any that may have the dragon blood or to those who wish to join our order." said Argneir as Wulfgar and Borri brought platters of food and some bowls filled with water to the two dragons who thanked them and began eating the meal.
"Where are the others?" Spyro asked as he finished tearing off the meat from a leg of a goat
"Your friends from Avalar are in the library reading while our grandmaster and Odahviing are at the throat of the world. As for Ysmir he is in the tower giving praise to the gods and to the most high Eru." said Arngeir
"Thank you for telling us but we must ask. What happened to us?" asked Spyro as he finished his meal
"From what Ysmir told us you were corrupted by Convexity. In time you and Cynder would of been dead and dark versions of yourself would of aided the dark demon known as Morgoth." said the old monk
"Yet as we all can see this was not the case. Ysmir used an ancient ritual to rid you both of the convexity and allow you to feel the power of your thu'um." said the old monk when Wulfgar pointed towards a direction.
"Ah Ysmir wishes for you both to meet him and Parthurnax." said Arngeir as he stood up from the carved stone chair
"Alright lead us to Ysmir then." said Spyro as he and Cynder got off from their beds and followed the old man outside into a courtyard.
As they entered the courtyard the trio see a lone tower near an ancient looking gate that went upwards to the peak of the mountain. Spyro and Cynder soon entered the tower and at the top they see Aranthis dressed in simple robes as he meditated.
"Ah I see that you lost daal nol dinok laag, returned from your comas." said Ysmir as he smiled warmly at the young lovers.
"Yes we have. Thank you for healing us Aranthis." said Spyro solemnly as he and Cynder bowed to their friend and mentor.
"you are both welcome but now it is time for your next session of training." Said Ysmir as he got up from his knees and led the dragons back to the throat of the world and towards the ancient ruin where the ritual took place earlier.
The trio soon see the Dovah who had finished meditating when Flame and Ember also landed ontop of the snow covered peak.
Now that everyone is here you will all now learn the fire breath shout or known as Yol Toor Shul." said Aranthis as Odahviing shouted into the snow the dragon runes for the shout.
"Yol means fire. Man and dragon are the most aligned with this element because fire is ever changing yet always at it's most powerful when it is in it's most primitive form. It provided men with heat, a way to cook our food and allowed us to make tools of peace and weapons for war. For dragons it is our life force, our weapon against the world." taught Aranthis as the Avalarians learned the new word.
"Toor means Inferno and like a inferno Men and dragons bring the greatest change to the land and to others. One can become the saviour of the world to some while to others he is a heartless tyrant. A unknown farmer to a king of men. The son of a king and a great hero into a cold hearted tyrant. And we see the land wither and die or grow more green and beautiful than before with each tale beginning and ending with the land living or dying." Ysmir as he began the last lesson
"Shul means Sun and with the Sun came the dawn of men and dragons. It was the first light of the Sun that awoke the hearts of men and dragons why we live most of our waking hours in it's gaze. Yet there are many who curse and hate it's gaze: Orcs, trolls and grublins can't stand the sun because it kills them trolls turn to stone while grublins and orcs skin burns. And yet the most dangerous creature that hate the sun are also the most dangerous to the sun itself: Vampires creatures of the night that live off the blood of the living parasites for men as flies are parasites to livestock." said Aranthis as he remembered the days of his time with the Dawnguard.
"And now Parthurnax will teach you the true meaning of Yol as well as the traditional greetings between dragons." Aranthis said as he nodded to the eldery dragon
"Yol In your tongue, the word simply means "fire." It is change given form, power at its most primal. That is the true meaning of Yol - suleyk, power. You have it, as do all Dov. But power is inert without action and choice. Think of this as the fire builds in your su'um, in your breath. Su'um ahrk morah. What will you burn? What will you spare?" said the second child of Akatosh as new power raced through the four younger dragons.
"And now goraan joor dovah it is time for you all to learn how to greet one of our kind. Odahviing will participate in showing you." said the old dragon as the red dovah walked forward and looked at the faded sage
"The elder begins like so... Yol Toor Shul!" roared out Parthurnax as he blasted Odahviing with his fire for a few minutes before stopping. The dragons then looked at Odahviing as he chuckled at Parthurnax
"Hin su'um los ol suleykaar ol nii lost kosaan, Your breath is as powerful as it has been Old one... Yol Toor Shul!" shouted the younger red dragon as his fire engulfed the old grandmaster
"Still too bright Yunkliin." grumbled Parthurnax causing everyone to laugh
"Now then Spyro and Cynder it is now time for you both to learn your true names as Dovah." said Aranthis as he took out a strange mask carved with old gold with two tusks at either side of where the mouth is supposed to be.
"Our true names?" Asked Spyro as he and Cynder looked at their friend in confusion
"Of course Spyro. Every dragon gains a new name after they learn the most important thuum." said the dragonborn as he put on the mask and suddenly yelled in pain as the mask glowed with ancient power and a dark blue cowl grew over Aranthis's head and down his body into a robe of the same color with bronze scales growing from his shoulders, collarbone area, ontop of his hands and the top of his feet.
"Aranthis are you alright?" asked Cynder cautiously as she and the other Avalarians tensed up in ready of an attack
"your friend is here yet is not here." said a rich and cultured voice from the mask
"Who are you?" growled Flame
"I am the spirit of the mask and the spirit of the dragonborn. I am war itself given life. I am Konahrik!" said the now identified person
"And now Spyro son of Flame the guardian of fire son of Ignitus the guardian of fire and the Chronicler. Stand before me alone and greet me!" ordered Konahrik.
Spyro stood up and walked forward to the transformed Ysmir as he looked up at the cold looking mask
"Do you swear to bring Order where there is Chaos. Bring Peace where War reigns. And slay those who would stand in your way?" asked the reborn dragon priest
"I Spyro swear to bring Order where there is Chaos. Bring Peace where War reigns. And slay those who would stand in my way." answered the purple dragon
"Now breath your fire Dovah and receive your reward! Yol Toor Shul!" shouted Ysmir/Konahrik as his thuum engulfed Spyro for a long moment nearly making Cynder to attack Aranthis but she soon gained control of herself as she saw her lover standing unharmed as he as he stared stoically at the dragonborn before he opened his maw and unleashed his own fire breath shout at the human engulfing him in pure and primal power. Aranthis chuckled before placing a scaled hand on the young dragon's head.
"your Thu'um has made you so powerful. Henceforth you shall be known as Fire Ice Hero or in Dovahzul as... Yol Iiz Kaal!" Ysmir shouted as fire ice and the souls of heroes swirled around the young dragon in a array of color before entering into him causing him to gasp in slight pain as his bones popped and creaked as he began to grow: His wings grew larger and taking on the look of pure gold while his purple scales shined with power and hardened into an indestructible armor across his body. While his horns grew longer sharpening like spears as his leaf like tail blade also grew and sharpened like a deadly golden sword.
His snout grew longer his amethyst eyes gleamed brighter as they shined with wisdom and power while a small gold beardlike growth grew under his chin.
Once the shout ended Spyro stood up tall as his parents yet with a proud and noble look as he bowed to Ysmir.
"Thank you my Thuri." He said in a deeper voice
"Rise Yoliizkaal. When Sauron is defeated we shall go north to Avalar and claim your rightful lordship." said Konahrik as he grasped Spyro's claw and shook it
"Spyro... You look handsome." complimented Cynder while the now larger Spyro blushed at it
'Now Cynder Daughter of Drogoth the dragonlord of Arda descendant of Pyro the first guardian of Shadow. Stand before me alone and greet me" said Konahrik patiently as the dragoness stood in front of the dragonborn while Spyro stood next to his parents.
Cynder gulped silently as she to walked forward to the dragonborn who became a friend and mentor for her
"Do you swear to protect your liege lords: father and mate as their Death their shadows to follow ally and foe and to silence those who would dare raise their claws or weapons at them?" Aranthis asked the black and ruby dragoness.
"I Cynder swear to protect my liege lords: father and mate as their Death their shadows to follow ally and foe and to silence those who would dare raise their claws or weapons at them." Cynder said proudly as she let go of her past to become what she was born to be.
"Now breath your fire Dovah and receive your reward! Yol Toor Shul!" And for the second time Aranthis blasted his fire breath shout engulfing the dragoness in a inferno making Spyro growl instinctually despite knowing that Cynder was alright. The young she dragon soon came into view as the flames died down and blasted the Dovahkiin with her thu'um.
"Your Thu'um has made you so powerful. Henceforth you shall be known as Wind Terror Wyrm or in Dovahzul as... Ven Maar Diiv!" Ysmir shouted as wind, the screams of terrified foes and the spirits of dragons swirled around Cynder as she suddenly remembers the faces of all her victims. She lets a few tears fall as she lets out a scream of pain as her growth spurt began. Her body elongated becoming more serpent like and her chest blossomed not as large as Ember's but enough to show that she was a female while her wing and tail blades curved and sharpened like Death's scythe as her horns grew and became like long spearheads and her teeth sharpened like the daggers of and assassin.
As the pain and growth ended Cynder bowed her head low to Aranthis.
"Thank you for this gift my Thuri." she said in a female voice unlike when she was enslaved by Malefor which was cold and cruel with no love but instead it was noble and lovely with much love to give to her friends and to Spyro.
Cynder...You're breathtaking!" Gasped her lover as she swung her head and smiled at Spyro
"thank you my Hil Gahrotiik, Heart stealer." answered Cynder as she licked her mate's cheek causing him to blush.
"Alright you two young lovers that enough. Now we all must reurn to Arda." said Aranthis as he activated the portal allowing the four avalarians, two dovah and the Dragonborn to return to Weathertop.
(Fifth chapter over! I hope you will find this chapter entertaining.)