"Come on, it's over here!" The two black dragons soared over the peaks.
"Niner, what are you playing this time?" His childhood friend Blaze was the same age as him.
"You'll see. Trust me." Niner called back over his shoulder.
"We're not gunna get in trouble again are we? I just off of being grounded last week."
"It's just something you need to see." Niner replied. "We shouldn't get into any trouble at all."
Blaze just rolled his eyes. "Yeah I've heard that one before."
"Just come on!" Niner snapped. The two dragons had always gotten into mischief when they were younger but these days, his friend seemed more reserved. "We're getting close!" Niner pointed ahead where a hole had been blown clean through one of the mountains.
"What the hell could have done that?" Blaze raised a brow as he followed his friend into a dive.
"It's just up ahead." Niner came to land in front of a cave.
"In there?" Blaze swallowed hard. He had a slight fear of closed in areas where he couldn't spread his wings.
"It's only a few yards in." Niner assured him and disappeared into the darkness. Blaze stuck his head in and instantly felt a chill run down his spine. Already, he was getting a dreadful feeling about the cave. More than he normally would have. "Hurry up!" Niner's voice echoed from inside.
"Um...I'll just wait out here for you." Blaze called back and sat down.
"Fine, whatever." Niner grumbled to himself as he marched deeper into the tunnel. It was one of the few times he was glad he was a black dragon, since they possessed the ability to see in the darkness.
At last he spotted a glow up ahead. The black dragon rounded the corner and squinted at the bright light. Laying there, in the middle of the chamber was a crystal, nearly the size of an adult dragon. It glowed a deep red-violet and the aura seemed to pulse as he drew closer.
"Wow." Niner gasped. "You don't see crystals like these every day." He reached out and touched his paw to it. The aura brightened and a hum buzzed throughout the cavern.
Suddenly Niner felt a shock rush through him and a stabbing, burning pain in his head. He let out a cry and crumbled to the ground. The pain continued and his body began to burn. Niner coughed out black fire and the flames swirled around his body. The crystal pulsed quicker as the unknown entity invaded the teenage black dragon's mind. There was a piercing crack as the crystal brightened then shattered.
Outside, Blaze heard his friend scream in pain.
"Niner?" He jumped to his feet and peered into the darkness. "Niner!" He called desperately. When his friend didn't answer he cautiously took a step forward. Just then there was a loud crash and the sound of breaking glass. The dragon jumped back and bared his teeth. He heard the sound of footsteps approaching and he backed up cautiously. The steps grew louder and Blaze swallowed hard.
Just then Niner emerged from the cave. Blaze sighed in relief.
"Niner, damn it! You scared the crap out of me!" Blaze shook his head angrily and snorted a couple puffs of smoke from his nose.
It was then he noticed the black flames surrounding his friend's body.
"Niner? What's going on with you?" The darkness of the cave seemed to leak out and form the dark flames around his friend. Blaze watched as the flames seemed to shroud Niner from view.
Niner began to laugh. Not his usual joking laugh, but a very sinister and evil sound rumbled from his throat. The sound seemed to carry into the aura as it manifested into the shape of a dragon that towered over both teenagers.
Blaze's eyes widened at the sight before him.
"N-Niner?" He stammered and stepped back. The aura was creeping towards him, threatening to grab him up a well.
"You can save your breath young dragon." The manifested dragon growled. "Your friend is no more. His body is mine to control, and there's nothing you can do anymore to save him."
Blaze trembled in fear and his heart threatened to burst from his chest.
"No! That can't be!" He shook his head desperately and looked at his friend's glowing purple eyes. "Niner! Snap out of it!" He cried and lunged for his friend. Niner side-stepped Blaze's swipe and struck him in the chest. The force sent Blaze flying back into a pile of rocks. The impact shattered the rocks and stunned the young dragon.
Blaze's eyes grew wide. "W-when...did Niner get that strong?" He wheezed. He cried out in pain and coughed hard. When he opened his eyes, the ground was covered in his blood and breakfast. Blaze looked at Niner as he approached him, the aura slowly surrounding them both. "Niner..." Blaze choked. "Snap out of it buddy. This isn't you."
Niner just stared down at him. The manifested dragon laughed and Niner, laughed in unison.
"Niner..." Blaze reached out to his friend. The black dragon opened his mouth wide and unleashed a wave of dark fire. Blaze's eyes grew wide and his scream echoed throughout mountains.
Spyro awoke with a shudder and a loud gasp. The sudden movement caused Cynder to wake up as well. She looked up at Spyro who was panting heavily.
"Spyro, is everything okay?" She asked worriedly.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Spyro answered plainly.
"Are you sure?" Cynder pressed, knowing fully well what Spyro may have been dreaming about.
"I'm, okay. Really." He assured her. "Just a chill, I guess."
"Okay." Cynder sighed, not fully believing him. "But if you ever need me to talk to..."
Spyro smiled and lay back down beside her. "Thanks Cynder." He sighed and nuzzled her cheek. The black dragoness smiled softly and draped her wing over him. Spyro waited until she was fast asleep again before letting out another sigh.
"That feeling..." He pondered to himself. "What was it?"