Hey everyone! Strap yourselves in for a long chapter...and the twists!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Spyro characters or the trilogy. I also don't own Stitch or Pikachu. Matt is my OC. If I did own these...heck I don't know what I'd do with it.
"What?!" Cynder couldn't believe what she had just heard.
Stitch and Pikachu looked just as surprised to see her, but were still glad to see Hunter and Sparx again.
"Guys!" Pikachu spoke up. "Where's Matt?"
"Wesa need to find him now!" Stitch added.
"Forget him," Sparx yelled. "What are you guys doing here?"
"We thought that woman had captured you," Hunter said. "I saw it with my own eyes. How did you possibly have escaped?"
"Uh…" Stitch said while scratching his head.
"We're not really sure," Pikachu replied. "Zendrix tried to send us to another dimension so we'd be lost, but somehow we ended up right back at our Gummi Ship."
"Wesa really lucky," Stitch added.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Sparx said. "Time out. So you're saying that crazy woman tried to seal you away and failed…? What's that all about?"
"It is confusing to say the least," Hunter added.
Stitch then noticed Cynder. "Hiee…."
"Wait, are you one of those dragons were trying to save?" Pikachu asked.
"Uh…yes," Cynder replied. "My name is Cynder. Your friend Matt managed to bring Spyro and I back…from wherever we were."
"That good," Stitch said.
"We knew all along Matt would do it. But where is he? We've got to tell him something important," Pikachu added.
Cynder looked down. "We think he and Spyro went after Malchoir…to rescue you."
Stitch gasped. "Uh-oh…"
"Oh no…" Stitch and Pikachu looked at each other in horror. "That's why she did it."
"Zendrix…" Stitch said.
"What did she do?" Hunter asked.
"Tell us," Cynder pleaded.
"She took off our wristbands that we use to keep track of one another," Pikachu said.
"That mean…" Stitch mumbled.
"Oh no…," Cynder knew it. "They're walking right into a trap!"
"Well that's just great," Sparx spoke up. "What is it with us and walking into traps?"
"Oh man, we've got to go now," Pikachu spoke up.
"Matt need us," Stitch added.
"Spyro too," Cynder said.
Before anyone else could think, everyone heard a scream coming from outside. The group hustled to see who had caused it, and then they all gasped at what was in the distance.
"Oh no…," Hunter said.
"Mommy…," Sparx added while trembling his lip.
Coming from the Mountain of Malefor, a large army of Heartless was coming forth towards the city of Warfang. The Shadows were led by a few Dusk Nobodies who looked to be in command.
The moles were all running around in a panic, having not fully recovered from the previous battles.
"By the ancestors." The group turned around to notice Terrador, Volteer, and Cyril approach them from behind. Terrador continued. "This may be our darkest hour yet…"
"Cynder, where is Spyro?" Cyril asked. "We're going to need him for this imminent battle."
"Uh…," Cynder didn't want to be the bearer of bad news.
"Wait a minute," Volteer said. "Aren't you two supposed to be in the clutches of darkness?" He motioned to Stitch and Pikachu.
"Long story," Pikachu replied. Stitch chuckled nervously.
"There is no time for that now. Where are Spyro and the Keyblade warrior?" Terrador asked.
"That's the thing, Terrador," Cynder replied. "Spyro and Matt…they've gone after Malchoir…hoping to rescue Matt's friends."
"But they're already here," Volteer pointed out. Stitch and Pikachu looked at each other anxiously.
"Matt and Spyro don't know that though," Cynder continued. " Malchoir must have wanted them to come after him. Terrador, I have to go after them."
"Cynder," Terrador said. "We need you here to help protect the city."
"Spyro needs me more…he and Matt are walking into a trap." Cynder looked at the ground. "Spyro is strong…and so is Matt from what I've seen, but I know something has gone wrong. Please, you have to let me go."
"I think she's right," Hunter spoke up. "Someone must warn Spyro and Matt…and Cynder can probably help them better than the rest of us can."
It didn't take the Guardians long to decide. "Very well," Terrador said. "We will protect this city with all we have left, but you must make haste Cynder."
"Wesa coming too," Stitch spoke up. "Matt need us." Pikachu nodded in agreement.
"What?" Cynder asked. She knew they wouldn't like what she had to say. "Stitch. Pikachu. You can't come with me."
"Why not?" Pikachu asked. "Matt's our friend!"
"Eh!" Stitch added.
"I can get to the Mountain faster than you guys can," Cynder said. "You'd only slow me down. Besides, the city needs you two more."
"She's right," Hunter said. "You two know more about fighting these Heartless than any of us." The Guardians were also in agreement that Stitch and Pikachu should help defend the city.
"But…," Stitch and Pikachu wouldn't budge that easily.
"I know Matt is your friend," Cynder said. "I know you want to help him, but ask yourselves this. What would he want you to do?"
Stitch and Pikachu gasped, then looked at each other. They knew all too well that the Heartless were their first priority. There were hundreds of innocent hearts in the city…
After about a minute, both nodded in agreement. "Ok…Stitch and Pikachu fight Heartless," the blue alien said reluctantly.
"Matt would want us to protect the people," Pikachu added, his head down in defeat. "Cynder?"
"Yeah?"
"You have to promise us you'll let Matt know we're alright…and we're with him no matter what."
"Please help him…" Stitch pleaded as well.
Cynder gave them both a firm nod. "I will…you can count on it." She shot a quick look at Sparx. "I'll make sure Spyro is ok too."
"I know you will," Sparx replied. "Go get em, girl."
The dragoness took a look around the group, then turned to leave. She flapped her wings and took to the skies, her eyes set on the Mountain of Malefor.
"Hang on, Spyro…" she whispered. "I'm coming…this time I'm saving you."
Meanwhile, Spyro stared in disbelief as Matt picked up two wristbands. They must have belonged to his friends.
"They're…they're not here…" Matt gasped out. He held the bands in his fist, his grip tightening with each passing second.
"Matt…I'm sorry…," Spyro replied.
"They can't be…gone." Matt fell forward to his hands and knees. His body was shaking uncontrollably. " No…"
Spyro walked up to the young boy slowly. He knew exactly how Matt felt, but something else was bugging him.
"Matt?" he asked. The boy didn't answer. "MATT?!"
"What?!"
"Listen to me. I knew something wasn't right. Someone put those bands here for us to find."
"What are you saying?"
Suddenly, another voice answered. "He's saying you've fallen into a trap, boy."
Spyro and Matt gasped. In the doorway leading outside stood Zendrix, with her axes bared.
Matt started to shake harder. He rose to his feet and armed his Keyblade. "ZENDRIX!!! What did you do to Stitch and Pikachu?"
Spyro crouched into an attack stance as well. "Tell us where they are right now!"
Zendrix laughed. "Oh, I'm afraid your little friends are in a far, far away land. Or how about another dimension for that matter? They're not going to interfere with the Organization, or my pet, ever again…" She then laughed even harder.
Matt froze. "No…" His eyes narrowed and he gritted his teeth. He clenched his Keyblade harder than ever before. "You…YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!"
"Matt…," Spyro said. He glared at Zendrix. "You evil witch…"
"Oh well…at least those little pests served some purpose," Zendrix added.
"Shut up!" Matt yelled. "How dare you!"
"I suppose we have you to thank as well, Keyblader. At least you've done your part."
"What are you talking about?"
"You brought us the purple dragon…that's all we really wanted anyway."
Matt gasped, then looked at Spyro. The dragon stared at him back with just as much shock. "Spyro… I swear I didn't…"
"Don't worry about it, Matt," Spyro replied. He turned to Zendrix. "You want me so badly? Here I am!" He proceeded to use a powerful fire blast aimed right for her.
"Hmph." Zendrix waved her hand and disappeared into a dark portal behind her just before Spyro's attack hit.
"Darn it!" Spyro exclaimed.
"Come back here!" Matt yelled. Suddenly, he felt an all too familiar chill go down his spine. "Oh boy…"
Spyro gasped. He felt it too. They both turned around to face the throne.
Emerging from the shadows was an enormous looking creature. It soon took the form of a dragon, then grew even more. Soon, he surpassed even the Guardians in size. All the while, it was laughing an evil laugh.
Spyro and Matt were frozen in their tracks.
"Wha…what is that thing?" Spyro asked. Matt was too shocked to answer.
Finally, the dragon took full shape. He was a purple dragon with a black underbelly and wings. His two horns were like daggers. When he opened his eyes, they were an ugly yellow. "Well, well, well. You've both finally arrived."
Matt gritted his teeth. "Malchoir…"
Spyro just stared with his jaw down. "You…you're a purple dragon too?! How is that possible? It can't be!"
Malchoir laughed deeply. "Oh, how blind you are to the truth. You wouldn't recognize me…Spyro."
Spyro gasped. "I don't think I ever said my name. "
Matt just kept looking back and forth between Spyro and Malchoir. Something about Malchoir…it felt…familiar…
"Trust me, Spyro. You may not know who I am, but I know all about you."
"What are you talking about?"
"In the words of Malefor, we share more than just our color. We are more in common than you know."
"Spare me the lecture, Malchoir. In my eyes, all you are to me is just another Malefor. No less evil, no less insane."
Malchoir laughed again. "I couldn't agree more." He turned to Matt. "Ah, the Keyblade warrior. I've taken interest to watch your performance recently…your power is legend…"
"I bet you have," Matt growled. "I'm going to make you and the Organization pay for what they've done."
"Ah, yes," Malchoir bellowed. "My saviors did great work in disposing of your comrades."
"Don't you…" Matt then gasped. "Wait…your saviors?"
"What?" Spyro asked. "You were saved?"
"That's right, Spyro," Malchoir bellowed deeply. "The leader of this 'Organization' set me free of the domain of which I came. Without his help, I wouldn't be here."
Matt couldn't make sense of it. How could the Organization…? He then gasped.
"No way…," Matt said slowly.
"Matt, what is it?" Spyro asked.
"That's right, boy," Malchoir added. "Maybe you will finally understand and enlighten my fellow purple dragon here."
Matt started shaking again in fear. He looked at Spyro once more, and the dragon just stared back. The Organization Malchoir wanted hearts…but they also wanted something else. There was only one reason they would even consider helping him…
"You're a…you're a…Nobody?" Matt asked.
"A what?" Spyro asked.
Malchoir snickered. "You're smarter than you look human….and I'm not just any Nobody as you can see."
"Wait a minute. What does he mean?" Spyro asked. "I don't understand."
Matt's eyes widened in horror. There was only one person who Malchoir could have come from…or at least another dragon.
Matt looked at Spyro. "But how…? He's…your Nobody?"
Spyro gasped. "He's…me?"
"That's it, Spyro," Malchoir said. "I've been waiting in the darkness too long to finally meet you…and now it's time to complete what I've started."
"Time for what?"
"Spyro, run!" Matt said, but it was too late. Malchoir's eyes started to glow. Matt felt himself be lifted into the air and he couldn't break free. He screamed in agony.
"Matt, no!" Spyro yelled in horror. "Let him go, Malchoir!"
"Very well," Malchoir waved his paw and sent Matt flying backwards into the ground.
Matt clutched his side in pain. He could sense Malchoir's power…he was one of the strongest Nobodies he had ever encountered. This wasn't going to be easy.
"Matt, are you ok?" Spyro started for his fallen friend, but not before Malchoir quickly stepped in front of him.
"Not so fast, my other," the Nobody said.
"Get out of my way!" Spyro yelled. "Or I'll make you!"
"That won't be necessary. For you see, the onewho gave me my freedom asked for something in return." Malchoir eyed Matt with a deadly stare.
"I won't let you destroy Matt!" Spyro yelled.
"Oh, I'm not going to have the pleasure of destroying the Keyblader…you are…" Malchoir raised his paw again. This time, Spyro was raised in the air.
"What the…?" Spyro tried to use his powers to fight back, but Malchoir somehow kept Spyro in check. "I…can't fight back…"
Spyro then started to glow in shadow. He started screaming in agony. He clutched his head as though it would explode. Every other body part was twitching uncontrollably.
"Spyro…," Matt choked. "Oh no!" He managed to get on his feet. "Hang on!" He charged with his Keyblade.
"Stay out of this, boy," Malchoir used his tail and knocked Matt off his feet once more. The force of the blow knocked the wind out of Matt's chest.
Matt struggled to breathe. He could only watch on as Malchoir continued to torture Spyro. His friend's body was getting darker and darker. Spyro's screams continued.
Spyro…no… Matt thought.
Suddenly, Malchoir stopped, as well as Spyro's screams. He slowly lowered Spyro to the ground. Matt noticed Spyro hadn't returned to his original purple color, but instead the dark shadows continued to surround him.
"How are you feeling?" Malchoir asked Spyro.
Spyro opened his eyes. "Alive…," he said with a much colder voice. "Thank you for releasing me…"
Matt gasped. He had seen Spyro like this before from the games…and it wasn't a good sign.
"Sp…Spyro?" He asked. "Are you alright?"
"I've never been better," he replied with that same cold, dark voice.
"You monster!" Matt yelled at Malchoir. "What have you done to him?"
"I have unleashed Spyro's true power," Malchoir replied. He grinned evily.
"You have no idea what it's like…being trapped in this body," Spyro said to Malchior. "I've waited so long to finally be free. Tell me, brother. How can I repay you?"
"Just one thing, my friend… Destroy the Keyblader."
Spyro formed an evil grin. "With pleasure." He stepped forward towards Matt.
"I'll let you finish him off. Once you're done, come find me," Malchoir said. "I must attend to the destruction of this world."
Matt sprang to his feet. "You're not going anywhere!"
It was too late. Malchoir already had disappeared into the shadows.
"Damn it!" Matt yelled. Unfortunately, he had a bigger problem at hand…and it was another purple dragon staring him in the face.
Matt backed away, slowly, with his Keyblade raised. His entire body was shaking nervously.
This can't be happening...he thought.
"Please...Spyro...you don't want to do this," he said weakly. He looked into the eyes of the dragon, which were nothing but white.
"That is where you're wrong, Keyblader...," Spyro said. "This is your end."
"C'mon man, snap out of it!" Matt yelled. "This isn't who you are! Fight it!"
"This is who I was meant to be, Keyblader, and I don't plan on going back," Spyro said. "I'm going to enjoy this..." From what Matt could tell, Spyro's body language spoke to him loud and clear. He had an intent to kill...
"I don't want to fight you!" Matt screamed. "You're not my enemy! You're my friend!" A part of him wanted to throw the Keyblade aside to prove a point, but that would have been really stupid. The Keyblade was the only thing he had left to help him now…
"That just makes it easier to destroy you then." Spyro formed an evil grin. "I might even make your death quick..."
"What about all you stand for? All you've fought for?" Matt asked. "You just want to give in and let this take you over? You have to fight back! You're stronger than this! I know it!"
"Why fight it?" Spyro asked. "If you only knew this power, then you would understand."
Matt grunted. "Please...please don't this...I'm begging you." He held his blade tightly. "Don't make me fight you…"
Spyro laughed at Matt's gesture. "Do you actually think you stand a chance....human?"
Matt started breathing heavily. Sweat was pouring from every portion of his body. His mind was racing. He closed his eyes.
What am I going to do? Can I beat Spyro? The Spyro?
I don't want to hurt him...the others would never forgive me. I wouldn't forgive myself...
...but if I don't fight back, then I'm finished...and so is everyone else. There will be no one to stop him or Malchoir from destroying this world.
"I can't let that happen...," Matt mumbled.. He clenched his fist. "Stitch and Pikachu wouldn't want that…the Spyro I know wouldn't want that…"
"So what will it be, human?" Spyro asked. "Are you ready to accept your fate?" He crouched, getting ready to attack.
Matt stared at Spyro. He could see and feel the darkness surrounding him in a shroud of shadows. The purple dragon had become what he had been fighting for weeks on end. A Heartless…a tool of the darkness...yet still...he knew that the Spyro he knew couldn't be gone that easily…he couldn't be…
"Spyro...," he spoke. "I know you're in there somewhere." He bit his lip. "If you can hear me, know this...I'll do whatever it takes...whatever it takes to stop you and Malchoir. There's too much at stake. Please forgive me…"
Matt prepared himself, a small tear rolling down his cheek...for one of his toughest fights ever.
Now I know what you're all thinking. Malchoir is Spyro's Nobody? Is that even possible? I've thought this over several times and I think it can be. My reasoning will be explained in the next few chapters. What do you think? Please no flames on this!
A fierce battle is in store next chapter. What can Matt do? You'll have to find out!
Peace out,
Biz