The flight to Munitions Forge was long but the time seemed to race by as the guardians shot over the ground. Each young dragon had a new power and resolve. Behind them the sun was already rising, but far ahead the young dragons could see the black clouds of ash covering the sky and blocking out the sun. Already the tiny pieces of basaltic ash were hanging in the air around them; the ancient volcano was still active.
Cynder flexed her talons anxiously as they soared across the early morning sky. The fire breathers were both edging for a fight now and the air around them began to sizzle. Candice had suggested they take the lead and allow the rest of them to fly in the slip stream of the thermals they created. The ice dragoness flew in front of Tremor who wore the same stern look for the entire flight. He still wasn't fully recovered from his previous bouts so he was going to have to be in top condition for what lay ahead; they all were.
Spyro groaned as he began to regain consciousness. His head was spinning and his vision went by in blurry flashes. After a while he shut his eyes tight and struggled to rid the swimming feeling in his head.
"Feeling a little out of it there, Spyro?"
The purple dragon opened his eyes. His vision was still blurred and it took several minutes to focus. He was locked inside a cage that hovered approximately ten feet off the ground. The bars were glowing with green energy which was flowing into a violet crystal down below. When his sight finally cleared up he saw Liun staring up at him patiently on the ground below. The black dragon smiled when he saw Spyro's startled look.
"What's the matter? Surprised to see me?" He gave a mocking laugh. Spyro growled angrily at the black dragon. "Oh come now." Liun laughed. "You should know better than to waste your energy young dragon," Malefor's influence clearly present in his voice.
Spyro wanted to say something slashing to the dark dragon but wouldn't give him the pleasure. Instead he sat back on his haunches and sat staring hard at the black dragon. Liun only continued to smile as he paced around Spyro's cage.
"So bold aren't we Spyro?" He chuckled. "You fight so hard to protect this world and the ones you care for only to get yourself into these sorts of situations. Just when you think you've brought about the salvation of the world it plummets into darkness yet again." The black dragon stopped and leaped high on top of the cage, his tail swishing mockingly in front of Spyro's face as he stared down at him. "It's such an unending cycle. Don't you find it pointless?"
"Not when scum like you hangs about." Spyro growled.
Liun ignored him. "Why don't you just let the Dark Master take over?" He waved a paw to the surrounding area they were in. It was the same space Spyro had rescued Terrador from so many years before when Malefor had Cynder acting as his general. "You don't have to have the conflicting sides battling it out all the time. There are always losses on both sides. And for what? For one to triumph long enough for the other to rise up again? The cycle just never ends."
"It could if we try hard enough." Spyro glanced up at Liun who continued to smirk and let his tail sweep from side to side.
"I don't get you." Liun sighed, shaking his head. "You'll just die in the dirt working hard for Ancestors only know what. Probably something that would just get destroyed over time as it is. I say just give in to the Dark Master while you're still alive and have the chance." Then his eyes began to glow with convexity. "Or rather, while your dragoness still has a chance."
That did it. Spyro lunged for Liun through the cage bars. The black dragoon laughed as he jumped off the top of the cage and landed safely on the ground. Spyro glared daggers at him.
"Ah, so you do have some fight in you after all. Good, I was hoping that you wouldn't be too boring." With that Liun leaped up and slammed his tail into the side of the cage. The metal prison flew with surprising speed and shattered against the far wall. The bars shattered and Spyro fell to the ground. As he picked himself up, he laughed.
"Good job Liun. You've busted your own device." He shook his head and staggered to his feet. He was already feeling weaker from the power drainage. His scales had diminished in brilliance even more and were becoming a deeply faded hue.
"You think so do you Spyro?" Liun sneered as he walked up to him. "Look around you." Spyro glanced around. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until he saw the metal spikes extending towards the ash-filled sky. Now that the cage was busted, Spyro's energy was slowly being drained into the tips that curved over the crater like a cluster of sinister claws. The purple dragon began to space out before shaking himself back to reality.
"You see," Liun continued, "Your power is being drained as I speak. You're miles away from your friends and allies with no way out except through me. And since there's no chance that you'd be any sort of formidable match for me, you have two options left. To join me, or die. It's up to you."
The black dragon's smugness was beyond irritating to Spyro. "I'll never join you!" Spyro hissed and bolts of electricity crackled angrily around his mouth. "And I'll die before I let you anywhere near Cynder ever again!"
"Oh I'm sure you don't have to worry about your dear Cynder." Liun laughed. "I've dealt with her already."
"What?" Spyro's joints locked in place.
Liun held up his tail to show Cynder's blood on his tail blade. Spyro's heart sank and his jaw dropped.
"No!" He gasped in disbelief. "You...you didn't!"
"Oh but I did." Malefor began to surface again and Liun's eyes began to shine an evil yellow. "The other guardians I'm not certain about but your black dragoness I'm sure is quite dead by now. She tried so valiantly to save you but..."
Spyro slammed into Liun sending the black dragon skidding across the burned ground. Liun raised his head as Spyro charged forward. The purple dragon gave an agonized roar as he leaped into the air. Liun rolled to the side as Spyro slammed his paws down into the burning earth.
Liun coughed hard as the dirt and ash filled his lungs. Spyro emerged from the cloud of dust with eyes glowing white with hatred. His scales had turned darker than the night and purple tufts of convexity were flowing from his nostrils and mouth. A genuine fear struck Liun for a brief second before Malefor began to take over.
"Ah, there you are." He laughed. "I should have known it would only take Cynder to bring out your true nature."
"Shut up!" Dark Spyro bellowed, the distortion in his voice giving him an even darker persona. He opened his jaws wide and hit Liun with a blast of convexity. The black dragon soared back and slammed into the wall of the crater. Dark Spyro stood glaring at the hole in the wall as the dust and rocks settled onto the ground. Liun got up and shook himself.
"Good shot," Malefor sneered, "Now it's my turn."
Cynder and the other guardians stood on the beach of the island below Munitions Forge. They all stared up with wide eyes at the billowing smoke coming from the mouth of the volcano.
"Wow." Candice gulped nervously. She was beginning to feel somewhat light headed from the intense heat.
"You alright?" Tremor asked when she leaned against him for support.
"I think so." Candice nodded. "I wish there was drinkable water around here."
"I think water is the least of your worries." Sparx pointed out. "Look!"
Farther up on the side of the volcano they could see wolves pacing along the edges.
"Those things are worse than the apes, I swear!" Cynder hissed as black flames burst from her nostrils.
"Let's stay focused everyone," Flame interrupted, "We have a job to do. Now what do we do here Cynder? You know this place better than any of us."
"Right." Cynder nodded and began to scratch a picture in the volcanic rock that was the beach. "Okay, we're right here." She pointed to the spot on the volcano in the diagram. I'm not certain if the Dark Master has Stella and Spyro together or not. But if not then I'm certain he's using the prison block to hold at least Stella so he can keep Spyro isolated from any allies. The prisons are here in the middle section of the volcano on the northern side." She tapped her talon on the diagram. "We'll split into teams once we're inside. Flame, Ember and Candice will go try and find Stella. Tremor will come with me. If Malefor is keeping Spyro separated then I'm going to need Tremor's earth powers to find him."
"You can count on me!" Tremor nodded sternly.
"I know I can." Cynder smiled at him. It was then she noticed the worried and frightened look on Candice's face. They locked eyes and Cynder gave a silent apology. "We'll meet back here." Cynder continued, pointing to the central chamber of the volcano. "If you meet any heavy resistance after finding Stella, don't wait for us." She looked around the circle of faces. "Do I make myself clear? Do not wait under any circumstances. Malefor has the advantage in this place. We need to be smart about this." The others nodded. "Alright then. Let's get going."
"Hey what about me?" Sparx demanded.
"Do you really need to ask?" Cynder rolled her eyes. "You're going with Flame. You've been here before. They'll need your help and guidance."
"Oh." Sparx scratched his head sheepishly. "I knew that."
"We're following Sparx?" Flame raised a brow.
Ember laughed nervously with the other guardians. "We're doomed."
Before the dragonfly could say anything a thunderous explosion rocked the island and a bolt of convexity shot into the sky. The shot came from higher up on the massive towering volcano.
"We have to hurry!" Cynder called as she began to run towards the base of the burning mountain. "We're running out of time!"