Tremor walked down the halls of the upper towers. His body felt heavy and each step made him ache even more. He had been wandering about for a couple hours now. He thought about going back to his room, but something kept him from turning back. Was it that he didn't want to be resting when he knew he should be? Or was it because he knew the ice dragoness was probably waiting for him still? Tremor shook those thoughts from his head. He didn't want to worry about anything or anyone right now.
Tremor was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice Candice up ahead. The dragoness stood looking out over the railing at the moles activities far below. It wasn't until she noticed him approaching that he spotted her. He was hesitant to walk over to her but not wanting to appear as a coward he stopped next to her. Neither said anything to each other and just stared out into the distance. Both dragons continually made side glances at the other until they both turned at the same time.
"I'm sorry." They said simultaneously and chuckled in embarrassment.
"You first." Tremor thrust his head at her.
"No you." Candice shook her head.
"Ladies first." Tremor insisted.
Candice raised a brow skeptically. This was yet another side of Tremor she had never seen before. She sighed and stood as upright as she could on her good legs. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry about what I said back there. I was out of line."
"Well so was I." Tremor smiled softly. "I should have taken your concern graciously. And I'm sorry that I didn't." He gave a slight bob of his head. "Your concern is deeply appreciated. Thank you."
Candice blushed slightly. "Well I was worried that you'd hurt yourself again. You already do so much and you've had so much happen to you in the past eight months. You're a strong dragon Tremor. And I would hate to see that go to waste."
Tremor just laughed. "Like I said Candy, I can take care of myself. But I'm glad you think that anyways. It means more than you know."
The compliment was enough for Candice to let the nickname slide. She smiled slightly and looked down at Tremor's bandaged chest. She had remembered seeing the horrible wound when he lay in the medical clinic when she was being patched up. Miraculously the bolt hadn't pierced through his heart and had just managed to burn through his thick pectoral scales.
"Does it hurt?" Candice asked as she eyed his wound.
Tremor looked down and gave an amused laugh. "Yeah. It does."
Candice looked up into his emerald eyes. "You should really try to rest and let it heal up."
"I've had worse." Tremor tried to boast and puffed his chest out only causing himself the cringe in pain. "But yeah, you're probably right." He turned back the way he had come then looked back over his shoulder.
Candice jumped and gave a startled squeak when Tremor wrapped his tail around hers. The touch felt slightly uncomfortable due to its suddenness but it left a soft tingle running up her spine.
"You could join me you know." Tremor invited. "That leg of yours doesn't look much better either."
"I don't know." Candice blushed and turned away from him.
"Come on, we can get a fire going and then we don't have to worry about being in the cold. If you won't let me catch a cold then you're not allowed to either."
Candice giggled. "Alright. I'll lie down with you. But only because I want to make sure you get your rest. Got it?"
"If you say so Candy." Tremor raised his brows and smiled, knowing full well what she was trying to say. As the two walked along Candice felt her mind wander to what they were going to do.
"I can't believe I'm actually going to hang out with Tremor. In his room of all places." She thought to herself. "Well I wouldn't call it hanging out. More like making sure a friend is okay." Then she paused. "Well, I wouldn't really say we're friends. Are we?" She glanced at him for a moment before returning to her private conversation. "I guess you could say we're friends. I mean, he has been less of an asshole to me lately. And he saved my life the other day, plus we spent time together in the eastern city. But does that really make us friends?" She glanced at him again. Despite the darkness of the clouds, his eyes seemed to glow slightly. "I guess we are friends." Her expression hardened. "But we're just friends, and nothing more. There's no way we could ever become anything more than friends. We don't get along well enough for that to happen. Plus he's nothing that I would look for in a guy to begin with. But here I am about to sit beside a warm fireplace with him as if we were a couple." Then she froze.
"What's wrong? You alright there Candy?" Tremor asked as he turned to face her.
"Um...perhaps my room would be a better place for a fire."
"Oh man, this is not good." Flame shook his head in despair. "Not good at all." The young fire dragon had completely recovered due to Ember's special healing techniques. And now the two stood alongside the other guardians and Hunter, listening to the news Mole-Yair had brought them.
"Don't despair yet young guardian." Cyril said and puffed his chest out. "We have not yet resolved this problem so you need not fret over it unnecessarily."
"But Flame is right." Terrador pointed out. "This news is very disturbing indeed." He looked down at Mole-Yair who stood before the guardians.
"I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news." The manweersmall shook his head sadly. "But my people lost their home when the Dark Master and his forces invaded many days ago. From what some of our scouts were able to discover, the Dark Master is looking for something deep within the volcano. Something evil."
"What is he talking about?" Flame asked.
"Can it be? Is Malefor planing on awakening..." Volteer looked at his fellow guardians.
"If he is, then we will be in for a very rough fight." Terrador growled. He looked back to Mole-Yair. "We thank you for bringing this information to us. If there is anyway we can help you and your people out, do not hesitate to ask."
"You are very kind." Mole-Yair nodded. "I would request my people remain here for a short time so they may recover from their long journey. Perhaps we may be of assistance if there is a battle to come, hm?"
"Your assistance will be very much appreciated." Terrador bowed his head slightly. "But we would not allow those who come to us seeking help to be harmed."
"Oh, you need not worry my friend." Mole-Yair chuckled. "We are due for some payback to the Dark Master, seeing as how Spyro has saved my people on more than one occasion."
"I thought that was Sparx." Flame raised a brow.
Mole-Yair laughed again. "I suppose that little dragonfly did do his part."
"We should begin making preparations soon." Hunter interrupted. "If we are going to be attacked, then we will need every element at our disposal to stop this foe."
"Agreed." Terrador nodded. "Hunter, I would ask that you send your falcons across the land. Alert any other neighboring tribes of what is coming, but be sure not to mention Malefor or there will be panic throughout the land."
"Understood. I will have Meadow and any other healers we may have tend to the young guardians to see that they are back up to full strength soon." Hunter bowed and dashed out of the temple.
"Volteer. You will be in charge of assisting in the city's defenses. Cyril, help tend to the refugees. If there is anything at all that they require, we must make sure they are comfortable."
"No need to worry about us too much." Mole-Yair waved a paw. "We manweersmalls may be small and somewhat fragile, but we are no less capable of making it through tough times."
"What should we do Terrador?" Flame asked.
The earth guardian paused. After a long sigh he turned towards the hall. "Flame. I want you to come with me."
"Uh, okay." Flame raised a brow. He and Ember exchanged a look. Something about the guardian's tone didn't sit right in their stomachs.
"Ember, you may come too if you wish." Terrador continued. "But be warned, what I have to tell you may not be pleasant."
"I wouldn't leave Flame to do anything on his own." The dragoness said sternly and puffed her chest out.
Terrador smiled at the young couple and nodded. Seeing the determination in their eyes gave him hope. "Very well then. Follow me."
Cynder looked around the halls. She had never seen this place before, yet there was a slight familiarity about it. Everything was quiet except for the clicking of her talons against the floor.
At the end of the hall she could see a white light up ahead. As she rounded the corner she came to a small portal in the middle of the room. She paused staring in awe at the light. Then without even truly realizing it she stepped through to the other side. The light blinded her for a moment and she squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them she stood in a vast library. Books lined the shelves which stacked up to the ceiling where the light was unable to reach.
"What is this place?" She asked as her eyes gaze came to fall upon a large hourglass stationed in the middle of the room.
"This, young dragon, is where all the records of dragon history are stored." The sudden voice made her jump and she spread her wings, hissing defensively. "Calm down Cynder." The voice said again. "You are safe here."
The dragoness seemed to recognize the voice. "Where are you? Who are you?" She squinted into the darkness. A large pale blue dragon stepped out from behind the hour glass. Cynder's eyes grew wide as she recognized him. "Ignitus!" She cried and bounded over to him.
"Cynder. It's good to see you." The old dragon bent down and nuzzled her as she kissed his muzzle with tears of joy running down her cheeks.
"Spyro told me that you were the new Chronicler." Cynder paused to get herself under control. She hadn't seen the former fire guardian since they had made the pass across the belt of fire to confront Malefor. She caught her breath and looked around. "But how am I here? Is this a dream world?"
"Yes and no." Ignitus chuckled. "This is a sacred place and the Chronicler is a spiritual dragon, therefore able to communicate with others through thoughts and dreams. But if a dragon of spiritual purity so wishes to make the journey, then they too may find this sacred place." Ignitus watched as Cynder looked around the room in sheer amazement. "Cynder." He said, getting her attention again. "I have called you here to give you a warning."
"A warning?" Cynder raised a brow. "Is it about the Dark Master?"
"In relation." Ignitus gave a half nod. "But it revolves more around our dear Spyro."
"What about Spyro?"
"You witnessed the attack on Spyro yourself. The Dark Master has returned and wishes to regain his lost powers." He turned towards a book that had floated down from a high shelf and opened to the desired page. Cynder moved closer to the old dragon and stared into the pages. "You see, when Spyro brought the world back from the brink of destruction, he expelled the crystal mass that sealed away the Dark Master from this world in hopes of purifying our home. However the mass that contained Malefor shattered and fell back to our world." Cynder looked at the meteors falling to the planet's surface.
"Whose that?" She asked pointing to two figures in one of the pictures.
"Your friends Flame and Ember." Ignitus replied. "They had been finishing their tour, when they witnessed the descent of Malefor. There was no way for them to have known what it all meant."
"So how did Malefor possess that black dragon's body? Is he able to move freely?"
"No. Thankfully." Ignitus shook his head. "Malefor is scattered throughout the land leaving him weak and broken."
"I would hardly call him weak." Cynder curled her lips at the pages. "He nearly killed Spyro and the others.
"If Spyro had fought Malefor in that state when he was at full strength, he would have defeated Malefor with a breath. But Malefor is no fool. He wore Spyro down to the point where he could hardly fight back at all." He looked at the black dragoness. "It's lucky that you and Spyro care for each other so much that you have such a strong connection to one another. Otherwise neither of you may be alive today."
"Hm." Cynder glanced up at the old dragon then back to the pages.
"In order for Malefor to take control of a host's body, he must come into contact with it and be stronger than the host he wishes to control. I am glad to say that the amount of training Terrador, Cyril and Volteer are putting the new guardians through makes them invulnerable to such problems."
"That's a relief."
"Indeed." Ignitus nodded. "But it does not mean that they cannot be influenced. You all will have to retain strong minds and wills if you are to overcome the coming challenges ahead."
"What exactly do you know Ignitus?" Cynder asked. She knew the old dragon well enough to know that he would try and help her and Spyro in any way possible. It made her sad to think that Ignitus still held himself accountable to her and Spyro's rough pasts.
"As you know, Spyro is a purple dragon and is viewed as a symbol of hope to the world. But he will be needing your help more than ever before, along with your guardian friends. In the coming weeks, Spyro will begin to grow weaker and weaker. Eventually, he is going to lose his powers all together."