Well it's Valentines Day, so I figured I'd let you guys enjoy the next chapter. I personally think this holiday is over rated but why be a grinch and kill the love. We have enough jerks in the world as it is so why should I add to the group. Enjoy.
"Are you guys all set to head home?" Flame asked as he and Ember marched up to their friends. The dragons were waiting outside the mouth of the cave after having said goodbye to the elders at the main gates. The sun was high in the early morning sky and warming the dragon's scales.
"You bet." Spyro nodded, forcing a smile.
"Hey, has anyone seen Stella or Tremor?" Candice asked, looking around. "They should have been here by now."
"Coming!" The dragons turned to see Stella coming towards them with a black dragon of a bout the same age walking beside her.
Spyro froze as he saw the dragon and looked around to see if his friends had noticed the dragon.
"Sorry we're late." She apologized. "We were finishing a late breakfast."
"Whose your friend?" Spyro dared to asked and thrust his head towards the black dragon.
"Oh." Stella turned and blushed sheepishly. "This is Liun. He was one of the few black dragons that was able to escape during the attack."
"Thanks to you." The black dragon nuzzled her cheek with his nose before turning to the group. "I'm Liun. It's a pleasure to meet you all." He gave a respectful bow. "Thank you all for coming to our aid. If it weren't for you all I probably wouldn't be alive today, or have met this stunning dragoness you brought with you." Stella blushed and turned away slightly.
"Well, you know. We do our part." Sparx yawned and rubbed his knuckles against his chest. The dragons just rolled their eye and laughed.
"By the way Candice." Stella turned towards her friend. "Since when did you become concerned whether or not Tremor was with us?"
Candice felt her face temperature flare up. She gave a huff of frost and turned her nose up. "It's not like I care about that jerk." She scoffed. She was completely unaware that the earth dragon himself was approaching her from behind. "I just feel a guardian's duty should supersede over one's personal comfort. And since Tremor is the only one somewhat competent to become earth Guardian, I suppose I can tolerate him as long as the world doesn't fall apart again." The other dragons looked past her to see Tremor standing a few feet behind her. "But if it were up to me I could live the rest of my days happily without ever seeing that annoying boulder-headed pebble-brained idiot again."
The guardians cringed slightly at her words and glanced at Tremor. The earth dragon stood motionless for a second before a smile spread across his mouth.
"Candy!" He called cheerfully. The ice dragoness jerked in surprise. There was that name again. She turned to face him with a heated look in her eyes.
"Do not call me that." She hissed.
Tremor just continued to smile as he approached her. "How are you sweetie? Did you enjoy your vacation?"
Candice walked up to the green dragon and brought her face so close to his that their noses touched. "And if you ever call me sweetie again..." She pressed her tail blade to his chest, letting the tips hover just over his heart. "I will kill you."
The grin refused to disappear from Tremor's face. "Well I guess it wasn't as restful as it could have been. But it's good to be back and heading home."
"It's about time." Candice sneered. "Maybe now we can finish our training."
"As long as I have beautiful dragoness like you to train with it will all be worth it Candy."
"My name is Candice." The rumbling growl echoed in her throat.
"But Candy just sounds so much sweeter."
"Okay, come on you two." Stella coaxed as she stepped in between the two rivals. "We have a long trip ahead of us. You can argue all the way home if you like, just as long as we're making ground."
"Works for me." Candice sighed. The dragons turned to the west and sprang into the air. Spyro, Sparx and Cynder took the lead followed by Flame and Ember. Stella and Liun followed close behind leaving Tremor and Candice to bring up the rear. As the two of them walked forward to spread their wings, Tremor moved up alongside Candice letting his side brush with hers slightly. The ice dragoness jolted from the contact and glared into his smiling face.
"You know, I really think we could be happy together." He chuckled.
Candice narrowed her eyes at him. She felt somewhat flattered and she did her best to hide her smile. "You say that to all girls."
Tremor nodded. "Yeah. But with you, I mean it."
Candice gave an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes. A moment later the two were in the air and headed home.
As the dragons approached the city of warfang they noticed the unusual amounts of heavy activity high upon the city walls.
"I wonder what's going on?" Cynder pondered as the dragons soared over the top of the walls. The squad of dragons landed in the main courtyard, doing their best to stay out of the way of the moles running back and forth with tools and equipment.
"Is it always this lively?" Liun asked looking around. "It seems really busy and loud here."
"I know it's a little different from home." Stella nuzzled his cheek. "But you'll get used to it. It's not like this all the time."
"I guess the guardians aren't taking any chances in case the wolves decide to attack Warfang." Tremor said as he eyed several moles working in a catapult high up on the wall.
"I don't think the wolves would have a fighting chance of taking on the city of Warfang." Candice pointed out.
Tremor looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "Doesn't mean they aren't stupid enough to try."
Much to everyone's surprise Candice giggled. "Yeah, I do suppose you have a point. For once."
"Okay, listen up everyone." Spyro grabbed their attention. "We have a lot of work to do. I want Flame and Ember to report to Terrador and the others about the situation from the eastern city. Stella, you go with them as well and inform them about our new guest." He shot a quick glance at Liun who failed to notice it but Sparx did. "Cynder, you take Candice and Tremor and see if the moles need any help with what they're doing."
"And what about you?" Cynder asked.
"I'm going to go check something out for myself." Spyro replied. "I'll be back as soon as I can. Now let's get to it."
The dragons all went their separate ways, but Sparx hung around. "Hey Spyro, is something on your mind buddy?" He asked as he followed Spyro up the many flights of stairs. "You seem more tense than usual."
"Than usual?"
"You know what I mean. I know when something is on your mind."
Spyro paused and looked around before leaning in close to his brother. "Sparx, you can't tell anyone about this. Do you promise?"
"My lips are sealed." Sparx zipped a finger across his mouth.
Spyro paused. He trusted his brother but sometimes his loud-moth personality got him into more trouble than needed. "Something bad is going to happen soon. I'm not one hundred percent certain what it is, but we all need to be ready for it."
"So why not tell the others then? That way they can be ready as well."
"Because it will only hurt them if they knew. Ignitus once told me: A relaxed paw moves faster than a clenched talon."
Sparx rolled his eyes. "Great. More riddles."
"It means, Sparx, that if we're tense we won't be able to do anything productive to prepare for what's to come. If we're relaxed, then we will be able to move much quicker and stand more of a chance against what ever is about to hit."
Sparx searched his brother, still not fully satisfied with his answer. "Does this have anything to do with that new black dragon?"
Spyro was surprised by the question but he shook his head. "I don't know. I have no idea what's going on right now. I don't know what to think anymore. I just need a little bit of time."
"Well buddy, if you need me, I've always got your back."
Spyro smiled. "I know you do. Thanks Sparx."
"No problem big guy." The dragonfly patter his brother on the snout.
"Why don't you go see if anyone needs some extra help right now. I'll catch up to you when I've found what I needed."
Sparx mouth twisted slightly to one side but he finally nodded. "Alright. Just don't go taking your sweet time with it and make us do all the work."
Spyro chuckled. "I won't. Now go on." He watched as his brother flew back down towards the outer wall. When he was out of sight Spyro spread his wings and flew up straight towards his room. Once inside he went right to his treasure chest in the corner and flung the lid open. He began rummaging through his various armors. He dragged them out, letting them clatter onto the floor at his feet. He was hoping that they would help fit his friends as well.
He was suddenly interrupted by a tap on the door. Spyro whirled around.
"Hello Spyro." The black dragon sneered.
"Malefor!" Spyro gasped in astonishment.
"Preparing for a fight I see." The Dark Master's voice emanated from the black fire hovering around the dragon's feet. Before the purple dragon could do anything the black dragon hissed and charged forward at an incredible speed. He barreled into Spyro, cracking his ribs on impact and knocked him out onto the balcony. As Spyro struggled to get up the black dragon lifted Spyro up onto his feet. Spyro fought back and the two grappled, until Malefor struck with his tail blade again. He cut into Spyro's side, leaving nothing more than a small cut but the pain was enough to break the smaller dragon's concentration. The black dragon forced Spyro to the railing and was about to push him over when he stopped. Spyro looked over his shoulder to see the rest of the city far below. He looked back up to see Malefor's face manifest in the flames above him.
"Foolish dragon. You actually believe you can prepare for what is to come?" He growled furiously. He began to dig his long claws into Spyro's chest and the purple dragon did his best not to cry out in pain. "You will not be able to protect this place or the rest of the world for much longer. I would advise you to give up while I'm still willing to spare your life."
"N-never." Spyro glared daggers at the dragon.
"So you would willingly throw away your own life? Then how about Cynder, hm?"
Spyro's eyes grew wide. "Don't you touch her!" He unleashed a wave of fire at the manifestation and Malefor howled as the flames died away. The black dragon dug his claws in deeper causing Spyro to stop resisting.
"You will suffer for your foolishness young dragon." Malefor raised one hand, ready to strike again.
"Spyro." Cynder's voice called from down the hall. Both dragons stopped and looked at the doorway.
Malefor growled in irritation. He released Spyro who gasped as he fell to the floor of the balcony, bleeding openly. "This isn't over." Malefor growled and disappeared into the shadows. Cynder's footsteps came closer and Spyro began to panic.
"I can't let her see me like this." He gasped. He looked around trying to find some place to hide. At the last moment he dove off the balcony and spread his wings. His chest throbbed as his heart pounded against it. "I'm sorry Cynder." He cried internally as he headed for the healer's pavilion.
"Spyro are you there?" Cynder walked into his room. It was empty except for the various bits of armor scattered about the room. The dragoness cocked her head curiously as she walked over and picked up one of Spyro's helmets. "Spyro, what is going on?" She thought aloud. She looked out towards the balcony. She squinted at something on the ground and walked over to it. As Cynder studied the drops closely her eyes grew wide. "Blood?" Her head shot up as she looked around the room and over the edge of the balcony. The skies were clear, with no signs of dragons coming and going. "What is blood doing on Spyro's balcony?" She thought to herself before taking off running.