Chapter 44: Search

Rift slowly creaked open the door and peaked in. Darkness. He quietly slipped inside and motioned at the door. A black dragon with goofy goggles joined him. They started heading to the laptop when the lights suddenly turned on, Silver looking down at them with an unimpressed expression.

Silver: Where have you been?

Rift: Sorry, I've been a little… you know… busy.

Silver: Unless you were getting laid or something, you're in trouble.

Rift: Well you see… I was…

Silver: Oh… oh my…

Black Dragon: I greatly apologize for the lack of introductions. I am Sithris Agon, Rift's real life mate. While he's grossing Silver out with details, I'll do the Disclaimer. Silver doesn't own any Spyro characters or storyline, only his OCs and story. I am owned by a hooman, Sithris Agon. Rift is owned by me… if you know what I mean. If you don't like the story, be lazy and don't read it.

Silvus' POV:

A year and a half, that's how long we've been searching for. There were only two of us searching for them, Hunter and I, searching for the one dragon that could stop the Dark Lord. The others were defending Warfang.

Eighteen months ago, I went back to the dragon temple after I met with my mother's spirit, all four Guardians were there. Fire, electricity, ice, and earth, All of them. They told me what had happened in my absence. Spyro had defeated Cynder and reverted her back to her original form. She was different now, but the sound of her name still made me cringe, though I didn't feel like tearing her apart.

They were all surprised when I returned without horns. I told them what happened, where I went. Who helped me. Ignitus looked down at the ground when I first mentioned Void. The others looked at him in shook. But that was soon dismissed when I heard about the recent events.

I was informed that Spyro went missing a few weeks prior to my return, searching for a mysterious dragon by the name of the Chronicler. Cynder also went missing. They were yet to be found, so I was sent out to search for them while they returned to Warfang. I wasn't the only one searching for them to, a cheetah by the name of Hunter was searching for them a few days after Spyro first left.

We've been searching for a long time. No one else had joined the search for the two dragons and an insect. Apparently, Spyro had a dragonfly brother. The lantern, was my initial thought to hearing that.

I was currently searching the Great Desert of Simra, the place was large. Flying over it took days. Nothing was found in the hot place. Thanks to being able to control my body temperature, it was no problem. Getting water and food was never a problem thanks to both my satchel and several rodents found along the way.

Today did mark the last day I was to search the desert. It took me nearly two months to search the entire plains and now it was time to head towards a different place.

I landed on the hot sand of the desert and took out my map of the Dragon Realms. There was still a vast majority of places that I hadn't searched yet. I stared down at one possibility that I've been putting off for the longest time. The dark region containing the Mountain of Malefor. It was a possibility, but from what Ignitus told me about that day the moon's combined, I didn't exactly want to go there. Especially after what Terrador's Messenger reported from there.

But I had no choice. There was a possibility that Spyro was there, and maybe even Cynder as well. I had to looked, no matter how much I didn't want to.

I wish there were more of us looking. But no more dragons could be spared to do so. Shortly after the Guardian's return to Warfang, the great dragon city went under siege, and is still being fought for. This confirmed the sign of Malefor's return that Trak reported. Not that anyone didn't believe him.

I sighed as I rolled up the map, staring off in the direction of the accursed Mountain. It was a couple weeks flight from here. Better get flying then.

With a flap of my wings I was already in the air and shooting towards the the location.

The two weeks it took to get there went by quickly, much to my dislike. I could not believe I was going to the place I told myself I was never going to go when I first heard about it. But here I am, staring straight at the broken mountain. The place looked caved in and the side of the mountain had a huge hole, like something forced it's way from the center.

This was the first place I had to look, the place in which Malefor returned from. No one knew where he was now. It's like he disappeared, waiting for something. I didn't know what.

With a flap of my wings, I flew towards the hole in the side of the mountain. When I reached it, I landed on the edge, all I could do for the moment, was stare down it. It was a deep hole that I really didn't want to go down. But began my trek down the large tunnel.

Even though there were no reports of apes around the mountain, that didn't mean that there weren't some still residing inside. With that in mind, I softened my footsteps and I didn't have to do a thing about my armor. It hardly ever made a noise, which is why the symbol for stealthy had been engraved on my nearly repaired chestplate. My armor was repaired once I returned to the dragon temple.

Eventually, I made it to an open cavern with multiple tunnels I could go through. I gave each one a look. Realizing that the far most tunnel on the left lead further down the mountain, due to some stale smelling air, I choice that way. Though I didn't make it far to see that most of it had collapsed, leaving behind a hole big enough for my nearly fifteen year old body to fit.

I squeezed through the hole, barely being able to fit in the first place. I began crawling my way down. My underbelly was almost touching the ground, but I was able to move my paws so that I could move some what quickly through the tight tunnel.

My pace was quickened when I saw a faint orange and yellow glow at the end of the tunnel. As I got closer, the glow got brighter and brighter. The very edge of the tunnel was tighter than the rest, not allowing me to get through to the strange glow. With a growl, I covered the very last bit of the tunnel in ice until the exit was covered. I then willed the ice to expand up and downward, which in turn expanded the tunnel, allowing me an entrance into a bigger area.

The area looked recently dug out, tools for digging lay abandoned on the ground, but that wasn't had my attention. The source of the glow was a large crystal in the center of the room. It looked as though whoever was digging in the area was freeing the crystal.

From my extensive elemental knowledge, what stood in front of me was a time crystal, able to preserve the minds and bodies of whoever lay inside, though those inside can still age normally. I circled the crystal many times, not really looking to see what lay inside, but only to see if it was completely free. It seemed to be moveable from what I could tell.

Once I came to that conclusion, I decided to see who or what was inside the time crystal that made whoever freed it from the rocks to do so in the first place. What I saw made my heart stop. Spyro…

The one dragon I've been searching before was inside this crystal. He must've created the crystal to preserve himself when the mountain collapsed.

I then raised my paw to begin to break the time crystal, a closer look at what else was inside made me stop. Under the left wing of the suspended Spyro was none other then Cynder. Though her body was now small, I could still recognize her black and magenta scales. Who else would it be. Though I didn't notice it, the dragonfly was in there as well.

Seeing the one dragon that caused all the pain in my life made me hesitate. My paw raised, unmoving. Then I lowered it. She deserves to stay in there Not even giving freeing Spyro a second thought. I was about to turn and walk away when words from my mother made me stop. Let it go.

I stared up at the floating dragons, one thought in mind. It wasn't her fault. I need to do this.

I raised my paws again to break the crystal and touched it, I heard something in my head, like a distant memory. Get close to me! Now!. I took my paws off the crystal when I heard the drawing of a sword behind me. I whipped around to see a large crowd of apes behind me, from the other side of the crystal, more emerged. They looked different...almost skeletal. I didn't pay any mind to that.

I took a mental note on how many apes were here. The odds were not in my favor. With one glance at the two dragons I searched for and now found, I knew that this was not the time to free them, but I didn't want to leave them at the mercy of the apes. I got into a fighting stance, prepared to protect the dragons inside.

The ape directly in front of me chuckled, he didn't have a broken speech, so I assumed that this was the only smart ape in the group. "Kill him. Do not destroy the crystal."

The words confused me, but I didn't have time to dwell on it when all the apes charged for me. I shot an icicle toward the one closest to me, killing him instantly. Then I jumped into the air, landing behind the apes who charged me. As soon as I landed ,the floor turned to ice and with a flick of my paw, several spikes emerged from the ground, impaling all the apes that tried to charge me.

Shooting a powerful stream of ice directed at the lead ape, he ducked at the last second, causing the stream of ice to bounce off of the time crystal. By this point, I was turned away dealing with a different ape, so I yelped in surprise when I was frozen in my own block of ice.

Though muffled, I could still hear the laughter of the apes. I inwardly groaned when I realized what happened. But no matter, I could easily break out of my own ice. Unfortunately, I think the ape leader knew that. I heard him yell something to his apes, but I couldn't make it out.

I began concentrating on breaking apart the ice. I successfully did in a matter of seconds, but those seconds gave the apes enough time to cause several large stones to fall from the low ceiling and hit me in the head and burying me. My armor may have saved my life, but didn't save me from being knocked out.

A groan escaped my maw as I woke up. My head was hurting greatly and when I tried to lift it up, I couldn't. My eyes shot open when I realized I was buried under several stones. I couldn't move, nor could I think of a way to escape.

I slowed my breathing as I thought about the situation. I was buried under heavy rocks that I couldn't move at all. If I wasn't wearing my armor, I would have several broken bones, and I would have most likely died. Bringing my thoughts away from almost dying, I thought of a way that I could free myself.

Engraved in my armor were several ice crystals. They were spread out in key places to provide me with extra elemental strength and endurance. I thought about how I got in this mess in the first place. I froze myself in a block of ice. If I can do that again and expand it, it should create a force powerful enough to get these rocks off me.

I focused my energy all throughout my body and then released, creating a sort of mini fury. The rocks atop me were knocked into the air, giving me a split second to move out the way. Thankfully, my reaction time was good and I successfully dodged the falling rocks. I landed on my side in the middle of the room I was in.

My eyes widened in realization. I spun around, noticing I was in the same room as before except something was missing. The time crystal.

I slammed my paw against the ground in anger. I can't believe it! They moved it!

I then breathed in, then out. Calm down Silvus. Just go back to Warfang and report this.

I looked up to see that there was an easier exit then from where I came, which was blocked off by the rumble. With a flap of my wings, I flew out the Mountain of Malefor and headed for Warfang. Well, not straight there. I wanted to make a quick stop at Dragon's Claw, just to see how Rift is doing.

I landed in the hidden area where Dragon's Claw lay…..it was gone, destroyed. The village lay in ruins with nothing left. There was one specific area that looked to be incinerated by something, like a powerful fire dragon used some sort of mega fury. Uncle Void...I thought with a tear in my eye.

I searched the whole village, desperately for survivors ,though the village looked like it was destroyed for a long time ago. I did not find any.

Rift...

They were all dead. All those I knew in Dragon's Claw, dead. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I took off my helmet and bowed my head in respect for all those who died here.

All I wanted to do was sit here and sulk.

All my family is being taken away from me. I just got over mom, but now Rift?

My anger from losing the time crystal containing Spyro and Cynder, disappeared for the time being.

I did not feel anger for the death of my family, only saddened. I couldn't feel angry. I didn't want to kill who did this. Revenge will only tear you apart.

I opened my eyes and looked down at the ground. I have to make my report.

I let out a sigh as I opened my wings to make a beeline straight for Warfang.

It's been eight and a half years since I was last at the great dragon city. There were some parts that were destroyed, ruined in the bombings of war. The northern plains of the city were filled with apes attacking the city. I came around a different side and quickly flew over the wall.

After and quick talk with the guard regarding who I was, I flew straight towards the northern wall. According to the guard, that was their current location, and he was true to his word, I saw all four Guardians watching as some dragons were firebombing the army of apes.

I landed with silence just behind them. Terrador was the first to notice me due to vibrations in the ground. "Silvus, have you found either of them?" The Earth Guardian talking suddenly caught the attention of the other three.

They all turned to see me, each giving a nod of greeting. "I did, but then I lost them again."

They looked saddened by this information. Volteer looked shocked. Pun intended.

"What happened?" Ignitus said, voicing the question of all four of them.

I then explained the events of the past week, how I found them in the Mountain of Malefor, both of them. How I got knocked out, and that the time crystal was gone. I didn't however tell them about Dragon's Claw.

"A time crystal? That is extraordinary, amazing! Spyro never ceases to amaze!" Volteer said, his tongue quick as usual.

"You said both of them were in there?" Terrador said.

I nodded my head once.

Ignitus opened his mouth to say something, but a loud boom and several gasps coming from the guards interrupted him. We all turned to look out on the battlefield. Expecting something completely different from what we saw.

The huge mountain in the distance was erupting. That caught the attention of everyone. The dragons bombing stopped in mid air to watch as the fire was shooting up into the air.

We watched as the land surrounding the area was shrouded in flame. A huge wall of fire could be seen surrounding the volcano.

Out of the corner of my eye, coming from the west was….a large land mass. Floating towards the volcano. I didn't understand what was happening, but all this seemed all too coincidental. Someone or something was behind this. But who?

"Malefor." Ignitus said.

Sithris groaned as Rift and Silver were locked in conversation.

Silver: So if you two had babies, what element would they be?

Rift: Hmm… while we can't have hatchlings as we are both male, I'd say plasma. I have tried to use potions so we could…

Sithris knocked out Rift with a baseball bat.

Sithris: Such a pest. Moooving on… See you all next week.