XXVI
I made an oopsie.
Supposed to be out last Monday, but oh well. Better late... than never.
In those moments after Gaul had been defeated, the world then descended into chaos. Thanks to his use of the dark temple, he became it's mortal body, it's vessel. In him, it lived, it breathed, and it was allowed to fight and destroy to it's content through the Ape King.
That is, until he was warped to another dimension entirely, thanks to Falzar.
Then, that's when the real storm made landfall.
Without a body, without a vessel in order to contain and hold it's power anymore, it was unleashed upon the world.
The sky was an unsettling, unnerving onyx. Not the deep, dark blue it always was during the night, with stars, planets and their moons scattered all across the sky. This was different. The sun, nor the moon could be seen, and the beautiful night sky was also in hiding. Instead, it was replaced by nothing but a depressing black, with no features whatsoever. The night sky had been utterly shut out.
This was the least of everyone's worries. The sky of eternal dark was the last thing they could focus on. The planet was shrouded in the dark temple's energy, and such a thing would have dire consequences. In less than one single week, the world had been thrown into a blender of horror and fear. Ghostly skeletons of deceased animals, moles, cheetahs, apes, grublins... and dragons, arose all over the planet.
Angered by their slumber being disturbed, thousands of battles erupted all around, as the entities took out their anger on the world before them. The few reports that came to the Guardians had stated that already, there were hundreds of thousands of casualties. Villages and cities were burned down, people were being abducted and never finding their way home, and general chaos mile after mile.
The temple sat, quiet and gloomy. The grass, the trees, and all other plant-life were dying everywhere, including around the marble fortress. Not only had their withering been accelerated by the negative energy that coursed through the planet, the world itself had become a tundra. Darkened snow was falling by the second day since the outbreak, and the temperatures plummeted worldwide to below freezing. Day by day, things got worse, and the a new problem was about to arise, one more severe than any others.
Ignitus and the others were flying around the city, attempting to gather up anyone who needed help and relocate them to the temple. Spyro and Cynder on the other hand, were in the temple, assisting the survivors with their needs, but they struggled to do so.
...
'That's the last of them, I hope.' Cynder thought, as she and the purple dragon descended down a long flight of stairs. In front of them, a family that consisted of a moles with two sons walked in stunned silence.
Spyro had just defeated a group of skeleton apes who were planning to turn tear them to pieces, and now, they were bringing them into the underground chambers, made for emergencies just like this. It was heavily guarded, as big as a few blocks, and it's protected by powerful magic as well, so the thousand-something creatures under there could stay in peace.
"Just a little farther," Spyro said. She could easily see the fatigue in his eyes. "Then you guys won't have anything to worry about."
"Will there be anymore of those monsters down here?" The female mole said with worry.
Spyro sighed through his nose. Cynder didn't blame him, they'd been asked that question for days now. "I can assure you that you're safe down here. It's warm, there's food and water for everyone, and it's monster free."
That seemed to put her and her family at ease. They relaxed a little, and the parents even began to talk amongst themselves.
Cynder walked closer to Spyro. "You alright there?"
"Yeah. Two hours of sleep a night has it's side-effects." He shook himself to rid himself of his fatigue, unsuccessfully.
"Thanks for the help, by the way." He managed a grateful smile for her. "You didn't have to, but I'm glad you helped."
Cynder would've blushed if her scales would've allowed it. She wasn't used to praise.
"Y-your welcome, I guess."
With that, the group continued in silence. The door they reach later was guarded by two heavily armored dragons. Behind them sat a massive door, marked with intricate carvings of dragons Cynder nor Spyro knew nothing about. The guards confirmed that it was Spyro with just a look, and the door glowed a bright light. It's heavy locks slowly drew apart, rumbling the floor as they moved.
Once they finished opening, dozens of small groups of multiple creatures could be seen. The area was well lit with torches on the walls, stretching for hundreds of feet. Marble columns held the structure up, all decorated with similar markings to the one found on the door. The noise of hundreds of creatures was almost deafening. Many were crying about lost or deceased loved ones, while others were simply distraught and disturbed over the violence and savagery that they'd seen above ground.
The moles cautiously walked inside, while the two dragons stayed outside.
"You'll be provided with food and water shortly. You are safe." Spyro said.
"Thank you! Both of you! We'll be forever grateful." The father of the family stated with relief. He and his family quickly walked inside to get settled, without another look back at the dragons.
'This is... new.' A feeling welled up in Cynder, one she can't remember ever feeling before.
Spyro could tell, because of the look of clear confusion on her face. "It feels good, doesn't it?"
He turned, and started back up the long way to the surface. The door closed behind them as Cynder followed.
"Y-yeah."
The sound of cold wind continuously smacked the Guardians ears, among other things. The city and the surrounding area had been evacuated, but the battles around continued. Explosion were seen far in the distance, and their shock waves blew them around in the air. Many were evacuated, but many others were fighting against the risen dead.
"Should we assist them?" Cyril called in the cold, howling wind. "Those monsters are difficult to fight, damn near impossible to kill, for them at least."
"I wish, Cyril, but we must first attend to another matter now. You know that." Terrador called back, his voice calm and cold as the air itself.
"Oh, alright. Hopefully, we can help others on our way back here."
The Fire Guardian's eyes narrowed in the darkness. He knew what Terrador was referring to. Of all the things that were happening, his feeling about this particular occurrence was the worst.
He and the others were flying towards the ocean, above the forest. The watery grave of the Skavengers was sitting calmly just a short flight ahead of them. The once calm and warm ocean had become a mass of activity in recent times, according to reports. The waves raged with anger, growing to heights that dwarfed skyscrapers. Whirlpools suddenly became a common thing, raging with such size that they could swallow entire villages like they were meatballs.
But the worst came in the form of what was unknown. In the past few days, an island had formed far from the shore. It was, in fact, a volcanic island, and it was growing at a unnatural rate. In the first day that it was spotted, officials say it was around a few hundred feet from one end to the other. By the third day, it was dozens miles from end to end, and the volcano itself was already ascending past the skies. It even had a thick, dead forest in it, filled with blackened trees stripped of their leaves. They'd thought they'd reached another continent at first!
No one knew why it was there though. An island takes years and years to form, and to grow so big. But the volcano accomplished what the tallest mountains and volcanoes did in thousands of years in only mere days. With an ecosystem that was now deceased, no less!
Ignitus continued to fly in silence, pondering the meaning behind such a strange occurrence.
"It's massive."
The island stretch far beyond the horizon now. They flew high above it's dead forest, lit up from the flow of lava through it's dark trees and the wildfires that had started. Thanks to their enhanced vision, they could barely make out the silhouette of the volcano, a very far distance from them.
"T-this is unbelievable," Volteer spoke, as if someone had stolen his breath. "How is this possible?"
Ignitus's eyes snaked all across the land, searching for any of the ghouls. Yet, he found none. He'd wondered if he'd even see a few of the Skavenger pirates' skeletons appear somewhere around, but of course, the island was just as dead as the trees itself, aside from the lava that leaked from various spots on the island. It was just another volcanic island, aside from the obvious differences, or so it seemed.
But Ignitus knew better. Something like this, a volcano of that size, and an island of such size, weren't built up this easily, like they were just some toy bricks. This was some supernatural cause, and his first suspect was the negative energy that flowed through the planet.
"Gaul, you idiot. What have you wrought upon our world?"
"That fool was simply doing our work for us, Ignitus. Why, you should know plenty about that, never having to fight in a battle like the ones your comrades have."
Chills flowed through the Guardians bodies. That twisted, almost demonic voice. They recognized it immediately. Hiding their reluctance with all their strength, they turned to face the source.
They were here. All of them.
Napalm.
Brontes.
Hail.
Spark.
The Dark Guardians had arrived. The murderers of their parents, the killers of hundreds of thousands, were standing right before them, their auras making the air all woozy around them.
Ignitus was glad that the ocean was raging below them. It was more than loud enough to hide the curses he was sputtering under his breath.
'This bad feeling.' Spyro couldn't shake it. Something was about to happen, something bad. It was like someone had placed a heavy rock on his back, one that cracked his bones, and told him to walk on a single rope with both eyes closed. That was how worried he was beginning to feel. He didn't know if it had something to do with being the Purple Dragon and all, but his instincts were telling him that something was going to happen.
He and Cynder were now sitting in the comfort of the main room, just inside the temple. Using magic, the temple's occupants had created a field of pure energy that kept the freaks out, though that didn't deter them much. Wet bullets of sweat fell from Spyro's body when he heard them shouting distorted threats and taunts, banging on the field as they did so. He really didn't want to have to deal with those guys anytime soon.
The guys still weren't back yet. Why? They said they were just picking up more people to return to the temple, then they had one other matter to attend to, and then, they'd be back. Yet, it's been hours now since they've left, there's an angry undead mob cursing them out from the outside, and the problems keep stacking on! He needed some time to clear his head, but he couldn't have any! When was this insanity going to end?! Damn Gaul and all those evil-doers!
He took deep breaths as he sat, Cynder asleep across from him, her head in her paws. How she managed to do that at a time like this, he didn't know, nor did he want to. If she's learned how to rest while there are people waiting to kill her just a few steps away, he didn't want to understand how she could do it.
His heart began to beat fast again. The air was so cold, the sky so black. He missed the warm blue sky, and the calm, relaxing coolness of night. He was really missing being able to sleep without nightmares, or with others who were talking about what they'd do to his head once they had it.
'Where the hell are they?!' He shouted mentally. 'I'm scared! The world's spiraling into chaos, and my true friends are out there, doing who knows what, while I wait here in agonizing uncertainty!'
"Spyro..."
The voice of Cynder somehow brought him back to sanity. Her beautiful eyes were set right on him, worried and perplexed.
She advised him. "You need some rest, Spyro. Try lying down, relax a little."
He was still borderline insane with fear at this point. It was a serious consideration for him now to just start having a breakdown and freak out. He needed to talk to her, about anything! ANYTHING to get his mind off his friends and the unknown future.
"Cynder... talk to me about anything!"
"W-what are you-"
"PLEASE!"
She gasped, taken aback by his urgency. Yet, she hesitated no more. "Are you scared?"
'NOT the question I wanted asked.' "Yes!"
"I-I... I am too."
"You are?"
Her head gently fell back into her paws; her eyes still held worry in them. "Yeah. At first, I was worried about Gaul coming to end my life before it ever even started. And, here we are now, the world is now a shell of what it was, and forces all around are trying to survive in it or kill us. Frankly, I don't know if this will turn out well for any of us, if I can be honest with you, Spyro."
"I know..."
"But, there's something we have to think about too."
His eyes widened with surprised interest. "What?"
"Right after you had left, I'd came back here. Before long, I found myself wandering the temple's halls; I found a library, and, having nothing better to do, and still trying to come to terms with my death being imminent, I decided to get a book, and take my mind off things."
He nodded slowly, his shoulders dropping as he began to relax. "Yeah?"
"You... we dragons are truly amazing, aren't we? Think about it. We have control over some of the most powerful elements in the world. Using these powers, we can create our own storms, make ourselves living volcanoes, or create snow, all from using just our own bodies. We can fly, we can fight, and we can be civilized and cordial to each other, and sometimes to even our worst, most feared enemies."
"And, we've done so much as well. Built entire villages, towns, and cities. We've fought many wars, done so many things, many of which seems impossible. But, you know what?"
"...What?"
"We've done the impossible, Spyro. And, it seems that overcoming and recovering from this mess is just that; impossible."
"S-so, what you're saying is?"
"There's a chance, despite all that's going on, that you're going to live to keep your promise."
For the first time since it all started, Spyro's lips curved into something else. A smile.
"Y-yeah, maybe you're right. Thanks, Cynder."
She yawned and nodded, letting her eyelids sink as she went to sleep. Spyro watched her belly rise and sink as she fell asleep.
What was he worried about? This wasn't the first time the world was flipped upside down before. They'll pull out of this, he was sure.
Meanwhile, Ignitus had a question that he hoped to finally get answer to.
"What is the meaning of this? Are you the cause of this?"
Napalm chuckled at his good counterpart. "Nope. But, we knew it would happen. Why would we let Gaul run amok with so much power in his hands without a plan?"
"What do you mean?" Terrador inquired.
Hail spoke, "That monkey was always highly predictable. We knew he couldn't handle the power of the Dark Temple. Little did he know, he just opened a new door of opportunity for us."
"You see, he just unleashed all of the dark energy within the world. And, I'm sure you know of exactly what we're composed of."
Ignitus's paws grew sweaty, his body began to shake. "You mean..." he trailed off.
"That's correct. He's allowed the dark energy to run amok, and thus, as the days go by, we get stronger and stronger. Soon, we'll surpass the power of any god, any star, and even the universe itself."
Cyril spoke in distraught. "I-if that's the case, then why wait until now? You had years to do this, when no one stood a chance against you."
Brontes darkly cackled. "You should've hunted us down while you had the chance. As with light energy, dark energy fluctuates in intensity as well. That's both a pro and a con of being composed of either of the two. You may have managed to defeat us if you'd managed to find us when the world wasn't torn by times of other evils and darkness. Only, that's why the war was such a huge advantage for us. It allowed us to remain at power with so much of the negative energy it released."
"Now," Napalm said, smirking to his counterpart with an evil glint in his eyes. "It seems we have a problem. It would appear that this world is only going to need one set of Guardians to... look after it. It's pretty obvious what we'll have to do with the four of you..."
Ignitus shot a defiant glare at them. "I don't want to use deadly force, but if that's how you want to play this game..."
"Good. Be happy, 'Guardians,'" Napalm said, his tone sharp and mocking. "You'll get to die together!"
The forces clashed above the explosive island.
"Long time, no see, my boy," Falzar spoke warmly to Spyro.
The Purple Dragon's dream had him back in Falzar's out-of-this-world home. Only, it was a dark, twisted version of the once-enchanting place.
Books had been thrown around and we spread all over the floor, pages and covers in shreds. The bookshelves that had towered high now looked like they'd aged thousands of years, missing pieces of their wood, leaving behind sharp, jagged edges. All desks were ruined, the supplies either destroyed or heavily damaged. The room was once surrounded by a blanket of stars, but now, all he could see was a purple pool, flowing slowly. He had no idea what it was, but the dragon could make out blood red eyes in the liquid, ones that stared back at him.
"W-what.." Spyro started forward in the ruins, looking for the Convexity Dragon. "What happened in here?"
Falzar materialized in front of him. The dragon had clearly seen better days. He was wounded all over, purple blood leaking from scratches and gashes. His eyes were tired and bloodshot, and his wings were torn, just above the level of flightless. He was a complete mess.
"Gaul tried to unleash all of his dark energy at once. 'This,'" he gestured to the top of the flowing ceiling," is what happens when one tries to do that."
"Why would you take him here?"
Falzar sighed. "It was the only place I could bring him in which he could cause the least amount of damage. Had he managed to detonate himself in your world, he would've destroyed it in moments. That's not the worse part, either..."
"His powers would've unleashed a hell upon the world unlike anything you've ever seen. It'd make your predicament now look like a playground."
"That's why this place is such a mess. It took days, but I managed to suppress the beasts and the poison that he unleashed, thought barely so." He finished.
"The way it looks now, we'll be lucky if we survive much longer. As time passes, the world just gets worse and worse."
This time, the Convexity Dragon smiled. "You're correct. However, that Cynder, she's correct also. We dragons always find a way to bounce back, no matter the situation. That, my boy, is why I've called you here."
"You've a plan?"
"Of course! Hope and fate smiled down on you, son, more than you could ever imagine! The Guardians are even dealing with Dark Ones as we speak, so let's not waste any time!"
"Wait, they are?! Have they gone mad? They'll kill them!" Spyro panicked.
"They'll survive, Spyro, but you must do what I say in order for them, and everyone else, to do so."
"What do you ask of me, sir?"
"You've lost your mind."
"No I haven't."
"I don't know who this 'Falzar' guy is, but he should be tested and monitored too."
"Leave my father alone."
"You mean to tell me that you're going to go through with this?"
"Yes."
Spyro stood on the roof of the temple. He had nothing on him, but a piece of the of Wishing gem, a health gem, and a look of determination on his face. Cynder, on the other hand, was pretty sure he was mental.
"What if the gems aren't down there?"
"I'm not swimming down to the bottom of the ocean to grab the lost gems, Cynder. This plan will solve everything. I... I just have to get close enough."
"And if you can't make it?"
"I die. Then, we all die."
"But if you do make it?"
He smiled at his friend. "Then we save the world."
Ignitus growled in pain as Napalm's claws raked against his side. He swatted him with his wing, and the monstrous dragon back off, only to barrage him with fire-balls. This time, they hurt like hell, but they didn't nearly knock him out of the sky in a ball of black flames.
He knew it. These dragons were holding back! Just toying with them, like a cat and a mouse it's caught in between it's paws!
'Bastards,' he thought as he twisted and turn in the air, dodging hot balls of magma. 'They aren't even trying to do any real damage!'
He searched for his allies as he flew. Sure enough, the others were holding up, injured, but still more than capable to fight. Terrador had a black eye, Cyril had a broken leg, and Volteer was missing his tail blade. Yet, all were flying around, returning attacks with the same ferocity that which they were sent. It would be a while before they began to tire themselves out.
'What game are they playing?' Ignitus thought. 'Are they stalling?'
They had to be up to something. They wasted no time to kill their parents. They had no mercy, no second thoughts. Yet, here their children were, decades later, fighting the same dragons. They all had years to grow stronger, and improve themselves for this very fight. Yet, there was no land gained, neither side actually gaining a true advantage. Hell, the Dark Guardians themselves had injuries of their own! They were up something alright, but what?!
Ignitus halted, glaring at his opponent. He was going to find out. "I know you're holding back on us, Napalm."
A crazed and amusement smile grew on his face. "About time you figured it out."
"We've been going nowhere. You could kill us right now, but as you are, we could kill you. But, you're setting yourself that you're just weak enough to harm, but powerful enough to stay standing. You're stalling."
"My my, it seems that you're the smart one in your group. Well done. It seems that you've figured us out. Too late for you anyway, though. We've already gotten what we want. It's already starting... right now."
"And what's that?"
"That's a good question. What is the darkest thing you can think of, Ignitus?"
The Dark Ones gained knowing smirks on their faces. They noticed the change in the planets gravity immediately, but the Guardians had seconds now to feel it.
"Stop playing with me! I know that you're toying with us! Tell me what you are doing, now!"
"Nyahahahahaha. You stupid, worthless maggots! You've fallen into our trap, and now, you'll be the first ones to DIE!"
"W-what?"
"It's a black hole! We've been tricking you, deceiving you this whole time while we fought. It's almost too pathetic to laugh at!"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Volteer roared. "What black hole?"
"That volcano there? That's a product of the dark energy! All it sprouts is more undead monsters and, of course, magma from the world. We just manipulated it's energy to make it bigger and more powerful! But, our game all along was to allow the planet to corrode and corrode until now, and you fell for it!
"That's right. The dark energy has become so strong now that it's going to destroy everything. What is the pure embodiment of darkness?!"
The answer hit the guardians like a meteorite. "A black hole," Ignitus said.
"CORRECT. And, we led you right to the source! ENJOY your first-class ticket to your own deaths!"
And then they felt it. Ignitus and the others felt like someone had grabbed them, and were slowly dragging them to the ocean below. The weight grew stronger and stronger as they sunk and sunk to the ground, gaining speed as they moved.
Below them, the island itself was already being sunk into the source. The trees, the grass, the lava, everything warped around the whirlpool of pure energy below them. They were stretched and twisted as they flew into it, and they spun down it, before finally, they disappeared. Entirely, and utterly gone.
"Damn it! MOVE. NOW!" Ignitus shouted as he flapped his wings, the others following suit. It was like trying to drag mountains behind them. They struggled hard to gain distance, but they were already tired, and their wounds were beginning to burn as they tried frantically to escape.
"Mortal fools!" Brontes roared. "Nothing can escape black holes!"
"Accept your fates. You failed to protect your planet," Hail's voice chilled them. "The world is no more. You're all doomed!"
"W-what about you?! You're still here! You're in just as much danger as the rest of us!" Ignitus shouted in the chaos.
"We'll just disappear for a while, and watch the planet get swallowed whole. Then, we'll just keep moving, from planet to planet, galaxy to galaxy, and leeching off the energy from everything. We will be the end of all things!" Napalm shouted in psychopathic glee.
"Goodbye, Guardians."
Poof. They disappeared, fading to nothing. Leaving the Guardians to fly for their lives.
Spyro had to do this alone. It took some convincing, but Cynder stayed behind. The only selling point for her was another promise...
"Come back to me," she said, "Alive." Her eyes were pleading, almost tearing up. It was clear that this wasn't because of what he had for he when they survived. It was because she wanted him. She wanted to him to come back to her, just as he is.
He rushed as hard as he could, flying over the black water as fast as he could move. He could sense the black hole already, dragging him forward. It was becoming easier and easier to move forward, mostly because he was just being pulled against his will. He didn't have much time left. His plan needed to work, or it's all for nothing.
Before him, a sight of pure pandemonium was unfolding. An ungodly thunderstorm had formed, massive cyclones had erupted and were rampaging all over the place. The ocean was warping towards the black hole, the waves traveling at super speeds towards the center. In the distance, he could barely make out a massive whirlpool that swallowed everything hole, islands, the water, clouds everything. It all bent toward it, like they were magnets.
"Damn it!"
There's only one shot. He has to do this, just right.
He stopped, and leaned back, while continuing to flap his wings. He pulled up his gem, and the green gem he had brought. He searched his memories for just the right spell to cast.
He took a deep breath, attempting to tune out the chaos around him.
He drew his hands away from each other, keeping a tight grip on the stones. Then, in a swift motion, smashed the two together. He barely heard them break, but he didn't miss a beat as he began to chant.
"Yatsfuf jodedo rastagu des!"
"That's how it'll work?"
"Yes. I studied the green gem's properties after that little incident you and the gems had when they reacted to each other. If you smash them together, and chant this little spell I crafted, it will create a magnet effect that just might attract the other gem pieces together.
"What if it doesn't work? Since I smashed them together..."
"The gems are quite resilient. Using the green one will allow the wishing gem to overtake it. In a way, the two fuse together, thus creating another gem piece that you can use, while still holding the odd properties of the health gems."
"Alright. Are you postive?"
"What have you got to lose?"
"That... was a stupid question."
In the seconds after the chant was finished, he noticed a little light coming from the chaos before him. It was the missing gems! All five of them! It worked!
He held his piece out and the two collided in a bright light. He had stop himself from falling and losing control, the light had nearly blinded him. But, in his hand, he held the complete wishing gem! It was right there, and he could use it!
But, of course, luck wouldn't have it that way...
"YOU INSUFFERABLE LITTLE WHELP!"
A massive force slammed into Spyro at speeds he couldn't even fathom. His body exploded in pain as he sailed. The gem started to slip from his paw, but he managed to grab it, just before it flew away. He felt fresh blood flow down from his forehead, but he shook it off and regained his balance.
A dragon with burgundy scales, matching eyes, and large, menacing horns curled towards the top stared at him with pure rage and hatred. Spyro held his fear in as best as he could, but he still felt himself shake. He could feel the Dark Dragon's power radiating, making the air thick and hot around him.
"YOU," Napalm seethed, "you almost did it! We were just ready to begin popping the other nearby planets like balloons, but I had to return, just to stop you from letting us win! Do you realize what you almost did!?"
"You bastards! You're the reason this war ever started! You're the reason that so many have suffered, so many have died, all because of YOU!"
"That's right, boy. And, soon, you'll be joining your little friends soon enough! DIE!"
Spyro wanted to question his meaning, but he had no time to think about that. He had to make his wish, now!
But Napalm fazed right into his face. He hadn't seen him move, hadn't seen him flap his wing, nothing. The dragon grabbed hold of him, and it was unshakable, like he was glue to him. Try as he might, he was stuck. Still, the young dragon held his hand firmly onto his gem.
Napalm chuckled. "It was nice playing with you kid." He opened his maw, ready to blow the dragon into tiny bits.
But Spyro hadn't noticed. His mind was being assaulted, the castle was being sieged. Voices invade his head, alien thoughts broke into his mind.
"STRIKE HIM DOWN!" One roared in a demanding tone.
"GUT HIM, PULL OUT HIS INSIDES!" Another shouted.
"DESTROY HIM UTTERLY, Purple Dragon!"
"Y-yes..." Spyro spoke in a creepy, deadpan voice. A feeling welled up in his stomach, one completely alien to him. His mind was momentarily shrouded with complete darkness. He listened to the voices, and they commanded him, controlled him. His scales began to darken...
"What in the world?"
Napalm shouted out in shock as a powerful blast exploded out of his back, melting right through both of his wings. His body began to tremble like the dying planet below him, and he turned to look at his injury, each movement causing pure agony. For the first time, his eyes widened in surprise, terrified surprise to be exact. His insides... had just become his outsides, and were likely being swallowed up by the black hole at the moment.
He turned back to a disturbed dragon child. His scales had become completely black, his eyes pure white, psychotic, with no pupils. A dark aura of flowing dark energy strands radiated off of him. His expression was one of sheer joy, a wide, insane smile pasted on his face.
"You got 'got,' Napalm. Goodnight."
Without another word, he threw the Dark Guardian off of him, not even watching as the shocked dragon flew into the void of the black hole. Released from the hold of the Evil Guardian, the dark energy quickly subsided. The voices were shouting, then they whispered, and then, they were silent. His scales returned back to normal, his eyes regained their normal color and look.
Tears flowed from his eyes gently. He'd just ended a life. He was going to have to live with that for the rest of his life, until he died.
No.
"I... I know what I want to wish for." He glanced at the gem, still firm in his paw. "I know just how I can make this right!"
He closed his eyes, tuning out all the chaos, the feeling of the black hole's power as it drew him near it. He tuned out his thoughts about the horrible act he'd committed, and about all the sadness, suffering, and all tragedy he'd seen. He shut that away, locking it in a box in the back of his mind, for the moment at least.
He took another deep breath. He made his wish.
Spyro's POV
"H-how?" Jade, my daughter said, her twin, Shade, just as confused as she was.
"Hey! What did you wish for?" Tyrone, my son said. Tero, Orpheus, and Scorch also had anxious looks on their faces. They were dying to know the answer.
"That's for me to know, and you to find out... when you get older... or if your mother explains it."
"Which," Cynder said, a smile playing on her face. "I won't spoil for you guys."
"Awww." My children groaned. "Please tell us?"
"Nope. Anyway, it's time for school now, kids. Get going, little ones."
They groaned some more. Cynder sent me an amused smile as they pouted their way to the door of our massive mansion.
"Be sure to stop by the temple to say hello to our Guardians."
"Yeah, yeah, alright."
"Whatever you say, dad."
The door closed quietly. It was silent in my house, aside from the gentle wind blowing outside, the trees' leaves ruffling under their gentle pushing.
"You know, sooner or later, it'd be nice to let them know about your wish to convert the dark all the dark energy into light energy." Cynder told me.
"Yeah. Who knew that it would do this though? Can you believe that all things are actually composed of positive energy as well as negative energy? Who would've thought it'd manage to heal the world, bring back the Guardians, and even cleanse the evil Guardians as well."
"I'm just glad you managed to keep both of your promises, love. I don't think I'll ever be able to stop thanking you."
"And I don't think I'll ever stop telling you that I keep my promises."
"Oh, shut up."
"I love you, Cynder."
She laughed gently. "I love you too, Spyro the Purple Dragon.
WHOOO! IT'S DONE! SO MANY IDEAS FLOODED MY HEAD, I GOT SOOOOO OFF TRACK! BUT, IT's DONE!
Once again, I want to thank everyone who stopped by to read this story. Especially, I also want to thank those who stuck by, despite the struggling and the issues this story of mine had. It was a huge learning experience for me, and I hope that I've managed to satisfy you with this ending. It's not the original path, but I just couldn't keep the original story line together without ideas coming together!
Finally, thank you for keeping this story alive. It would've been dead had no one spoken up and said they wanted me to continue it!
Anyway, that's it for me! I won't be accepting anymore request, and I'll be leaving this account. If there's anything you'd like to tell me, please do so within the next few days! After that, it'll be a miracle if I'll ever be back here!
Thanks again!
Ahero