Chapter 30: Old Friend

Silver: Just as I promised this chapter is longer than those previous. Last week I gave you guys quite a short chapter so this week's makes up for it….hopefully. Anyways time for the good ol disclaimers.

I do not own any Spyro characters nor the story only my own OCs and storyline. If you don't like the gosh darn story then don't read it. Simple as that.

Silvus' POV:

For what felt like an eternity Ignitus and I stared at each other. I in disbelief and he in truth. I opened and closed my mouth trying to get words out. Finally I managed to get one word out.

"What." It wasn't a question, but either way Ignitus nodded his head. "No."

"This is the truth young dragon." He said trying to convince me but I wouldn't have it.

I stood up started to pace back and forth. "No no no no no no." I kept on muttering. "I refuse to believe that I'm special." I said. "Not again." First it was my scales and now I might be a light dragon? No.

"Silvus." Ignitus said getting my attention. I stopped and looked up at him. "Every dragon is special, even if they don't realize it yet." I thought he was referring to me but I was sorely mistaken.

"But I do know I'm special I just don't want to be." I said starting to pace again. Ignitus gave a small smile.

"I wasn't referring to you." He said with a knowing smile. "I was referring to your sister."

Now that stopped me in my tracks. How does he know my sister? How could he possibly know who my sister is and know that she wanted to be special?

"How do you know my sister?" I asked without looking at him.

"I'm surprised that your first question wasn't asking that she is still alive." He said. My eyes widened and I still didn't not look at Ignitus for fear of him seeing my shame stricken face. "To answer your question I intercepted survivors of Windig on my way to Warfang. Your father and sister were with them." Ignitus said, This time I turned to look at Ignitus with a hope filled expression.

"Are they here? In the city?" I asked. Disappointed overweight the hope when Ignitus shook his head,

"They left the group for an unknown reason." Ignitus said.

Memories of my past flooded my mind. The time when father showed me his elemental power, my mother walking on water with me on her back, all the training sessions with Rose, Amelia and….Aerio? Aerio! Maybe he survived the attack. He could be here in the city.

"Can you take me to the survivors?" I asked. Ignitus nodded and gestured towards the electric door. I moved towards the door with Ignitus following right behind me, but that change rather quickly. Ignitus walked ahead of me to breathe fire onto the transparent crystal which began to glow a soft orange. The door opened without a sound.

"Might I ask why you wish to see the survivors?" Ignitus asked as we began the long walk through the temple.

"I want to see if my friends from Windig survived." Was my answer.

"What do they look like?" Ignitus asked.

"Both are my age. One is a pink dragoness that hangs around Hadriel." I said.

"Ah, Amelia, I've met her." Ignitus said with a smile. "Didn't see her in the group." I was disappointed to her that.

"The other is your typical wind dragon." I said. "His name is Aerio."

"I have heard the name before. I can't say I know what he looks like though." He said. The conversation seemed to end as we walked out of the temple into a courtyard with the symbol of electricity in the middle. Several dragons can be seen around as well.

Ignitus spread his wings in preparation to take off. I followed suit and soon enough we were flying through the air. Two dragon appeared to be flying either side of us, I think they are guards. Looking around I noticed other dragons flying out of the way of us.

Other than that the view was breathtaking. I could see allot of the city from up here. Everything that the tall structures was blocking. In the direction we were heading I could see the large Warfang walls blocking whatever was on the other side of them.

Soon we reached our destination, a group of relatively small buildings that look new. Maybe they were there for surviving dragons.

We landed near a small group of wind dragons gathered in front of the largest building in the area. Ignitus immediately approached them and I followed. At the sound of our claws tapping at the courtyard the wind dragon turned to face us. Many of the glared at us for some odd reason until they realized who Ignitus was.

"Ignitus thank goodness you're here." The one closest to us said. "The earth dragon living to the north of us are much of a bother to us. We were hoping that we can relocate?" The other wind dragons nodded in agreement.

"I will be sure to discuss your relocation with Terrador." They didn't look to pleased by the answer but nonetheless they looked slightly satisfied. "Do any of you know the wind dragon Aerio?" Ignitus asked.

Each and everyone of them shook their head. None of them knew who he was nor where. I was disappointed by this. Ignitus gave thanks to them and we walked through the streets in search of more wind dragons. We soon came across a small park we several wind hatchlings. None of them looked to be Aerio but we approached them anyways.

As we walked through the gates of the park all the hatchlings sitting in their circle looked at us. Some of them in ah of Ignitus and some in recognition at me. The eldest of the group seemed to be older than I.

"Greetings young dragons do any of you know a wind dragon by the name of Aerio?" Ignitus asked.

Instead of giving a response they all simultaneously pointed a claw near the back of the park at a tree with several bushes around it. Next to the bush a female wind dragon was laying down next to the bushes. Inside the brush you could just make out a tinge of grey. Ignitus gave a nod of thanks and they went back to whatever they were doing.

As we approached the brush the female wind dragon lifted her head up to see who was approaching. She held the same glare as the other wind dragons until she recognized the dragon to be Ignitus. She sat up onto her hunches and waited for us to arrive.

"What brings the fire Guardian here?" She asked while giving a small bow.

Ignitus returns the bow. "We are in search of Aerio, who I assume is hiding in the bush." He said lifting a paw towards said bush. A sharp breath could be heard from the bush.

I was about to approach the bush when a grey paw appeared in front of me. "What do you need Aerio for?" She asked suspiciously. When Ignitus didn't answer I looked back at him, he gestured me to answer.

"I'm a friend of Aerio's." Was my response. She continued to look at me suspiciously until her expression changed from one of suspicion to one of recognition. Hesitantly she removed her paw.

"Aerio come out here." She said. When no one appeared she tried again. "Aerio there is someone here to see you." She said.

Slowly but surely a hatchling wind dragon emerged from the bushes with his head down. For the most part Aerio looked the same from the last time I saw him. Same light grey scales and dark underbelly. Same little spikes for horns and same sized wings as I. But he still had his head down, like he was ashamed for something.

"Aerio?" I said. He still didn't lift his head up. "Do you remember me?" I asked. Hesitantly he lifted his head up to make eye contact. What I saw surprised me. He had the same stormy grey eyes but his left eye had a scar over it. Though it seemed that he is still able to see out of it.

After a few minutes of silence which felt like hours, Aerio finally said something. "You were they one that kept the bullies away from me." He said quietly. I gave a small smile. He remembers.

"Silvus." Ignitus said behind me. I knew that he wanted me to leave now that I wound my friend, but I wanted to know what happened. Ignitus seemed to realize that. "I will send someone over to get you." I nodded in thanks. Ignitus gave a nod at Aerio's mother and Aerio than took off flying right where he was.

I looked back at Aerio with curiosity. I wanted to know how he got out and what caused him to receive that scar. I was about to voice my questions but Aerio's mother beat me to it. "So how did you make it out Silvus." She asked. As much as I didn't want to relay my story I was going to ask the same for them. It's only fair.

So I began from the attack. From the moment my mother took me away. I struggled to get through her death. I nearly bursted into tears but I managed to compose myself. After that I left out Gabriel, no one is suppose to know who he is for whatever odd reason. So instead I said that I landed on Boyzitbig and that's where I found Ignitus. I told them why I went to Dante's Freezer and about the battle that happened there. Aerio's mother didn't look to pleased about the mention of the other elemental villages. I told them my time in imprisonment, but I left out the fact that dragon hatchlings are a top target for the apes for fear of scaring Aerio; then again he is the same age as I. Then I finished up with my journey to Warfang.

"That is quite the tale Silvus." She said. "Ours isn't as amazing. Aerio found me soon after the attack began. We were hiding away with other wind dragons because we ran straight into a large group of apes. One of the wind dragons that was with us...sacrificed himself so that we could escape, but that wasn't enough. The apes caught up with us rather quickly. We were so close to the main gate when I happened to trip up. Aerio ran back to me against what I was yelling. Just as I got up the apes were upon us. Both of us we injured greatly...that's when Aerio's eye was marked." She stopped there to point at his eye.

"I can still see out of it. The spirit gems just saved my eye, but I-" He stopped there.

"Aerio has to live with that scar for the rest of his life." She leaned down to whisper into my ear. "Like he has been bullied enough." She said pointing towards the group of hatchlings near the entrance. More joined them from the last time I was over there. There some adolescents over there as well.

"What happened next?" I asked.

"We were nearly killed if it wasn't for Sev." She said. I was about to ask who Sev was but she seemed to realize that before I even asked. "He was the general of the Windig army. He…..he died saving us." Both her and Aerio looked to the ground sadly. Like Sev meant something extremely important to them. "We soon joined up with the rest of the survivors and we made our way to Warfang. That it's."

I couldn't think of anything to say. We all sat in silence in memory of our old home and all that died defending it. The sound of wings flapping is what broke the silence. I turned around to see Trak landing in the middle of the park. Every young dragon in the area looked at him in wonder. His armor had a detailed engraving of the symbol for earth. His armor also had the symbol for messenger but as far as I know, no one actual knows what that means. As he approached me I heard Aerio's mother growl a little bit.

"Silvus we have to go." He said. I gave a nod. I looked at Aerio.

"Well I guess I'll see you around then." Though I knew that wasn't going to be true. Without giving me a response he just gave me a hug. I was so surprised by that, that I didn't do or say a thing.

"Bye Silvus." He said in his high pitched voice.

I gave him a small pat on his back. "Bye Aerio." I gave a nod at his mother and turned to take off. Trak followed behind me.

"You act older than you are." Trak said in a serious tone that I've never heard before. I don't know if that was a good or bad thing.

=0=0=

Ignitus POV:

Nothing. Nothing in the pool of visions. Ever since I arrived to Warfang all I've done was wait for something to appear in the pool, but I haven't seen a thing. Nothing on the purple dragon egg, nothing on Cynder….Cynder. Her capture and demise is all my fault. All my fault. The sound of the door opening broke my train of thought. The heavy footsteps let me know that Terrador has entered the room.

"Has the ambassador arrived?" I asked without looking at Terrador.

"Yes." Terrador giving a one word answer is never a good thing. I looked over to see if anything was wrong visually. Next to Terrador was a cheetah wearing a red cloak.

"Apologies-?"

"Hunter." The cheetah said kindly.

"Apologies Hunter." I said. "Where are my manners. I am Ignitus Guardian of fire." I said introducing myself.

Hunter gave a bow. "It's an honor to meet you." He said kindly. "It's good to know that a treaty has finally been signed with our village. We've been living close to each other for a long time. I tried many times to get a message into the Council of Warfang but we were always denied. It's until recently when you answered our message."

"I arrived a couple weeks ago when the message was given to me. It's good to know that we are allies in this war as well." I said. "We will need all the help we can get. Whoever your commander is let them know to keep your army at the ready."

"You're looking at him." Hunter said while lower his hood. He also revealed the bow and quiver at his side, along with a short sword. "Are the Guardians in charge of the armies now?" He asked.

"We are going to discuss this with the Warfang council." Giving my response. "They are difficult to convince but I need two other Guardians before we can push the topic."

Hunter gave a nod and took the chance to take a look around the room. He seemed to take interest in the pool of visions. I realized that he may need a place to sleep. I can just give him a room in the temple for now until we can make some other arrangements. "We will have you rest in the temple for now." He gave a nod of thanks then a bow and left the room.

I turned to look into the pool of visions once again. Searching for anything. Memories about my visit at Shimmering Shores. The young dragon Silvus. He has been through too much for his age. We all have been through much. He is going to go through more now that he is going to be a light dragon. Gabriel is planning on training him to be the light messenger.

"Ignitus."

"Yes?"

"You're not yourself." Terrador said. I looked over at him with sad eyes. He approached me and placed a paw on my shoulder. "I've known you all my life. What's wrong?"

I looked down at the ground. Partly in shame, partly in sadness. "I couldn't save them. I couldn't save her." I said with my voice breaking. The barrier of confidence breaking only in front of those that know me best.

"You weren't the only one that failed that night Ignitus. All four of us did and we have to do what we can to make it right." Terrador said.

"But the only way to make this right is to ensure the survival of those who survived. Cynder being one of them, but now...she is gone." I said, turning away from Terrador and looking back into the pool of visions. "I just feel like I could have done something."

"Ignitus look at me." His tone soft and caring. "Do you remember what you told me all those years ago. When I was unable to save...her." Memories of me comforting Terrador after losing what he loved most came flooding in.

"I told you that you can't blame yourself for things that are not in your control. Don't let things that happened in the past affect you for the future. Instead use that to drive you to do better." I said remembering the words that I said to Terrador years ago.

"Don't forget Ignitus, you save the purple egg. That could be the one thing that will save us all." Terrador said. I took a deep breath and then let it out.

"Thank you." I said. Terrador gave a nod in place of words then began to make his way towards the western door. "Terrador." He stopped and looked at me in acknowledgement. "We need to find it." He gave another room then left the room.

Once again I began to look into the pool of visions. This time with my head clear and no thought of regret plagued my mind. I saw something. An image. It was a temple. The temple. Then I saw a swamp with a river. Something was beside the river..something purple.

Then the image was gone as soon as it was seen. Then another image came through, another temple. Except this one was made of black brick. This was the temple in the village of Schatten.

=0=0=

Unknown POV:

I flopped down into my room given to me in the temple. Today was another exhausting day of element training with all three Guardians. I am learning new techniques that will be helpful me in the future, but all at the cost of putting up with them. Their methods of training are leading me to struggle, maybe even more than my normal combat training. Either way I really wait to just lay down and sleep but I know I cannot just yet.

I used my new skill in the shadow element to literally sink into the shadows of my darkened room and travel under my locked door. Even though I've been training with them for a month the Guardians still don't trust me. With their combined efforts my training has progress quickly and efficiently.

Though I wasn't allowed to practice my shadow traveling due to said trust issues, I still did it anyways. They may be right not to trust me, but I'm going to need them to if my plan will pull through. I've been given a year to complete my task. I cannot fail.

All these thoughts passed through my mind as I traveled through the floor of the temple all the way outside. There I dived out of the shadows into an alleyway. This was a city that was bigger than most I've seen, there are allot of places to hide and escape the walls surrounding this place. I quickly and easily flew over said wall with help of my wind element. Even though the wind Guardian isn't present I still have been given some sort of training with said element.

The area surrounding the village was darkened due to the tall trees in the area. This forest that the city resides in contains some of the biggest trees in all the dragon realms. Megalos Dentro is the name in the a unknown language, but in common the literal meaning is Big Tree. That is why everyone sticks to the other name.

As I flew to the ground I slipped into the shadows once again though it was harder due to all the energy I used to hide the first time. I went as far I as could before I physically couldn't anymore. I jumped up in the middle of the forest startling a few nocturnal creatures. One specific big shape ahead of looked especially frightened by my appearance. I broke character and smirked at his frightened expression. Fear is an element that I don't even need to use, my appearance is all it takes, I thought wickedly.

"Good you got my message." I said, with a daring smile.

"Y-y-your Majesty wishes s-s-swiftness." He said finishing like a snake.

"He is not my King!" I said adding vicious growl for emphasize. "And tell him that I will take as much time as I like!" I yelled angrily.

"Y-y-y-yes Mistress." I smiled with fake kindness.

"But have my armies ready." I said lowly, emphasizing the word my. Though I know for a fact that my training will be complete within the year.

"Yes M-m-m-m-mistress." The ape said saluting and scurrying away.

=0=0=

Ignitus POV:

The vision ended as quickly as it appeared. I only got bits and pieces, the only thing that I truly understood was that the city of Schatten will be attacked within the year. I need to get Kafto on this. So began my long trek around the city in search of my messenger.

Silver: So ends chapter 30 and my longest yet. I hope you enjoyed my little POV jump around. I'm going to be doing more of that in future chapters.

See all of you people next week!