XVII

All Ignitus could do was pace around his room late that night, considering Spyro's dangerous proposition earlier that day. His claws tapped on the cold floor, and his eyes searched around the room. Somehow, he was actually considering this.

That one wish! We could use it for anything! Get rid of the Guardians once and for all, revive all of our fallen comrades, anything! We could solve all of our problems right now!

He frowned when Spyro popped into his head. But, sending the purple dragon into such a hostile environment could end horribly. I shouldn't do it. I shouldn't put him in harm's way for the chance of getting a step closer to our freedom and peace.

Ignitus's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. "You may enter."

The large door slid open, and Volteer stepped in. He walked over to the window, avoiding his friends eyes. Ignitus knew immediately what he'd came in here for.

"Hello, Volteer."

"Greetings, my friend."

Silence. The two hadn't spoken since Volteer had snapped earlier. The Guardian of Electricty had simply flown off, away from the temple for most of the day, to clear his head, while everyone else remained at the temple.

"Look, Ignitus," Volteer turned to his friend, meeting his eyes. "I want to apologize for my behavior earlier."

Ignitus nodded, waiting for him to continue.

"It was wrong of me to release my anger and stress out on you, Spyro, and the others, and for that, I am deeply and truly sorry."

Ignitus managed a smile. "That is alright my friend. It's been hard to remain positive for some time now, and I understand how you feel. I'm glad you came as well, as I need your opinion."

"Hmm?"

"Have you heard of what Spyro told us about since you returned?"

Volteer shook his head.

"Ah. He's seen the Skavenger ships nearby, heading in this direction. Ever since their appearance, the gem has been reacting strangely, as if it were attracted to something, say, another gem piece. Spyro believes that he's found a way to retrieve the piece that is supposedly being held on the ships."

The electric dragon sighed, sparks discharging in front of him. "And, how does he suppose we retrieve this?"

"He would like to be sent up there himself, with assistance, and snag the gem and return safely before the Skavengers know what happened."

The guardian's eyes became wide as a full moon in the sky. "That could drag more even more of us into unnecessary fighting! What was your response?"

Ignitus shrugged. "We told him we'd think of another way."

At least, we need a safer, more peaceful way to get what we need. Ignitus's claw tapped his chin again and again.

Again, the Guardian of Electricity sighed. "All of this we're doing, risking what we have, for something that only might work."

Ignitus shook his head to him. "We don't have much of a choice. Just think, my friend! We could wish back all of our deceased allies, or, with a simple command: poof. The Dark Guardians, sent to oblivion, never to threaten us or our world again!"

"I just hope that we're doing the right thing, searching and waiting while the war drags on." He yawned. "The war has been getting worse and worse for us as well. The Guardians are eating through our defenses like they were made of graham crackers. We've barely gain any land in the past year or so, but have lost dozens more."

"I agree, old friend. I want as much as you, or anyone else, to end this damned war as soon as possible. I can assure you, no one will have suffered or died in vain."

Volteer's eye twitched. "Alright. Let's get some rest for now then, and we'll figure out everything tomorrow."

He nodded to Ignitus as he headed towards the door. Ignitus returned the favor, walking over to his bed, and literally collapsed onto it.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

High above the dark, quiet city, a figure of a dragon flew in the clear night, the stars and comets watching over him as he flew swiftly in the air.

Spyro knew exactly where he was going, but he had no idea what he was going to do, not yet at least. The Skavengers never came to attack the city like he'd feared, but he assumed they were simply hovering a few miles into the sky, just a short distance from the city. Below him, the land turned from forest, to beach, to pure blackish-blue water, lit up by the moon and stars.

The dragon flew in silence. He knew what he was doing could end horribly if he wasn't careful. The note in his room, written in draconic language, would tell of his entire plan. Spyro knew there are other ways, but he also knew they may not get such a chance again, and he wants peace just as much as his friends does as well. To him, this was the best way.

Spyro sailed upward, flapping his wings harder and harder. He climbed and climbed into the air, his head twisting left and right as he searched in the darkness. No luck.

He stopped, and did a three-sixty. All he saw around him was blue, no massive ships, cannons, or any drunken idiots. "Where are they? Surely, they haven't up and left already have they?"

The dragon turned too soon to notice.

"Ah!" He shouted, putting his paw onto his side. His side became red, coming from a cut that quickly leaked blood.

Immediately, Spyro's wing felt like someone had jammed knives into. He screamed in pain, feeling his hot blood drip from his wings. He turned around just in time, to see a pink sphere of energy flying toward him.

He reacted too late. It slammed into him, sending the dragon somersaulting as he fell out. He was unconscious before he hit the warm waters below.

Early in the morning, just before sunrise, a certain lone dragoness stared in awe at a glass tube partly filled with blood, just outside of the temple.

She drooled at such a sight. Her senses were driving her insane as she looked on at the crimson liquid. Her feet wanted to sprint at it, her eyes twitched as she stared, and her nose flared again and again. Her body fought against her as she resisted the powerful urge to smash the glass, and down the most blood she'd ever had in one gulp.

"Karaia?" Hunter's voice startled the shape-shifter.

"H-hn?"

Hunter was dressed in his usual attire, and he currently stared at the dragoness, completely confused.

"What are you doing, exactly?"

Of course, Figura ignored him. She was more than content, at least, to ogle at the bank of blood before her, and she didn't want anyone to spoil it for her.

Hunter didn't like being ignored. "Hello? Will you please answer my question?"

He tapped the dragoness's side. All she did was shift a little at his touch, but still she watched the tube as if it mattered more than anything.

"Go away."

Hunter glared at her. "What's your problem, Karaia? Recently, you've been moody and distant, often drifting away from others and remaining dead silent almost everywhere I've seen you. Is there something wrong?"

"Yes," she turned to him, her eyes narrowed at the big cat. "You're annoying, and right now, I want you to go away."

Hunter scoffed. "Alright. May I ask how I become less of a nuisance to you?"

"As a matter of fact, you can," she smiled deviously, revealing massive teeth. "Could you die for me?"

The cat frowned, slowly reaching for his bow, slung onto his back. "Repeat that, please?"

The ground he stood on exploded in flames. The cat landed safely in the grass just a few feet away from the newly formed crater. He grabbed his bow, and drew an arrow into the massive smoke cloud. He had no intention to kill, but he was going to defend himself if he needed.

"Karaia? I do not wish to fight you if I do not have to. Can you explain to me just why you wish for my death?"

"Simple," with impressive speed, Figura charged out of the cloud, her horns trained on Hunter's chest. "I don't like your pestering, Hunter, and I want you to shut up, permanently."

The cat sprung over the dragoness, somersaulting onto the ground behind her. He redrew his bow, training it on her neck now.

"Is that so? Evidently, you're having a bad day, Figura."

"Oh. So, kitty, you've figured me out huh?"

"Indeed I have. I've known that dragoness for years, and she wouldn't attack me out of the blue, nor would she act like in such a way. She's also squeamish around blood."

"She was now, was she? Now I understand, why she threw up so much after she became my prisoner."

Hunter hid his surprise under angry eyes. He reached for another bow, this one dipped in snake venom powerful enough to kill hundreds of dragons once it was in their system. He drew this slowly, pointing it at the shape-shifter, ready to kill her then and there.

"I have just one question, before you die before me, cheetah."

"What will that be?"

Hunter shivered when she finished. "Would you like me to tell you how it tastes? When I peel flesh off your skin with my teeth, and drink your blood?"

The dragon charged as Hunter fired, the uncertain cheetah now wondering how this would end.

"HOLY SHIT! Look at this, man! What a freaking catch! The Purple Dragon, dumb enough to be flying right under us, and we caught him!"

Spyro's ears were filled with a gruff, excited voice. His body ached from his wounds, which still leaked fresh blood.

"Yeah, what a dumbass." A soldier who donned the typical outfit with chains of fake gold kneeled next to him. "Kid, you've been entered into our little tournament as the main attraction. You'll draw hundreds of more people to the tournament now. We should thank you, but, we'don't rather watch you suffer."

Spyro blinked in surprise, still much too tired to utter a word or glare at him. There was no turning back now. He'll have to fight for his life in order to survive.

Sorry guys. Internet went out, so I couldn't get this chapter as big as I wanted.