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Exclaimer: To people who don't like the story, just don't read it.

Chapter 5

Homecoming

"So Warfang is this Dragon City?" asked Izzy.
"Yeah! It was built by the moles! We have a Temple there too. Where the Guardians are located," answered Spyro as he flew in close to him.

The three of them were flying up the blue sky, lazily gliding over the currents and pockets of air that occasionally appeared. Up ahead, the skyline of the Dragon City of Warfang slowly appeared. Cynder turned her head to see Izzy looked dazzled at the sight. It seemed like it was the first time he saw it.

"Amazing isn't it?" she asked. Izzy nodded.

"It is. It really was built for us?"

Spyro chuckled. "I was surprised too you know. But when I saw it the first time, it was pure and utter chaos. It was under siege at the time. Seeing it now though, I just realized how beautiful it really is, even though it still hasn't fully recovered."

The three of them gazed upon the city that was now passing underneath them. It looked like it took a heck of beating. The buildings had cracks at the wall that showed the interior. Scaffolding were everywhere, moles busy working under the bright sun; too busy, to even notice them fly by. Some buildings were completely torn apart, a gaping hole in them, while others were currently being refurbished. All in all, Warfang was a city that needs fixing.

"Where's the Dragon Temple?" asked Izzy, looking for the particular building.

"Over there," replied Cynder, pointing to it.

The building in question had no clear signs of destruction to it. Compared to most of the buildings they have seen, it was the only one that seemed to have survived the onslaught of the siege. Two large cannons, manned by two moles standing guard, stood proudly on each side of the long winding staircase that ended onto the courtyard. The large courtyard served perfectly as a landing zone for them. Following Spyro's lead, Cynder and Izrayl began to descend, slowing their pace.

0 0 0 0 0

Hunter was silently mulling as he sat at the edge of the window. His tail was lazily swinging outside, the momentum brought on by the wind.

The recent news of the Purple Light was a cause of concern. A new evil has reared its head at them, and Spyro and Cynder were nowhere to be found. Though, hope resided in him as optimistic he was, he felt it slowly flicker away as the days pass. More so, the direction as to where one of the Purple Light headed, made him…wary. One of them headed north-east, easily flying over the Tall Plains as the rate it was going.

Beyond those lands…were Shattered Vale…and the Enchanted Forest.

The Enchanted Forest was notorious for housing dangerous critters and beings. Most dragons and cheetahs stay clear from that place, due to the hostility of the animals that live there. Desolate mountains surrounded the area, making a habitat for feral wyverns and the like. If it had landed somewhere there, it would be like looking for a needle at a haystack. Not to mention, a dangerous haystack.

"Hey Hunter," called a voice. He was interrupted from his musings as he turned his head. It was Sparx.

"Oh hello Sparx; what are you doing here?" he asked.

Sparx raised a brow. "I could ask you the same thing."

"I just needed a place where I could think."

"About what?"

"About the recent news; I'm thinking of possibilities of where it might have landed," he replied to him. "How about you? What brings you here at the library?"

"Eh…I just wanted someone to talk to," he replied, shrugging shoulders.

Hunter offered his shoulder as Sparx sat on them.

"You really miss your brother don't you?" asked Hunter. The dragonfly sighed.

"I do. We're supposed to be the duo…and then…"

"He did that to keep you safe. You have to understand that."

"I know."

Hunter just patted Sparx gently as he was lost in his thoughts.

The silence between the two however didn't last long. The doors suddenly flung open, as a mole rushed in. He was panting and gasping for breath. It was like he saw a ghost.

"Hunter…Sparx…I finally found you two…" he said, in between pants. The two just stared at him, quite surprised at the sudden intrusion. Hunter however regained his composure quickly, and stood up.

"What is it? What's seems to be the commotion?" The mole looked at him, a bright broad smile on his face.

"It's them Hunter! Spyro and Cynder! They're back!"

Hunter and Sparx could only just stare at each other, flabbergasted by the news that had reached their ears.

0 0 0 0 0

Volteer couldn't help but let out a happy grin. He was right at not giving up hope. Spyro and Cynder were alive, and as the three of them greeted them, the rest of his fellows couldn't restrict their emotions. Terrador, who was rather firm and strong, let out a single tear as he nuzzled Spyro and Cynder. Cyril on the other hand choked up, as he too greeted the homecoming heroes. Sparx was ecstatic hugging his brother at his muzzle, whilst Hunter greeted Cynder and checked on her. He was surprised to find a piece of bandaging placed on her side. The moles were crowding around them too, eager to meet the dragon duo that had saved their lives.

As Spyro and Cynder were washed with nothing but hugs and warm welcomes, something caught Volteer's attention. At the corner, shuffling his paws was a blue dragon. He even had a knapsack strapped to him. He was idly watching from the distance, as if eager to just melt away and disappear from the scene. It took a few moments for Volteer to realize what was in front of him, and when he did, he gasped in shock.

"Spyro! Cynder!" he called, grabbing everyone's attention. "Who is that!"

Volteer pointed to the dragon in question, who squeaked and tried to hide from everyone's piercing gaze. Spyro, who had turned around to face Volteer, sheepishly scratched his chin as he grinned.

"Uh…I guess we have some explaining to do." Cynder sighed.

"Izzy! What are you doing? Get over here!"

"Izzy? Is that his name?" asked Cyril, who had now seen the blue dragon. "Peculiar name."

"That's his nickname," remarked Spyro.

"Come over here, young dragon," called Terrador firmly, as the blue dragon shyly walked to them. He stood meekly beside Spyro and Cynder, trying his best to avert everyone's eyes.

"Who are you?" asked Sparx.

"M-my name's I-Izrayl," he replied shyly.

"Like I said, we have a lot to tell you," said Spyro.

"Starting with this," said Cynder, getting the scroll inside Izrayl's bag. He flinched a little, but stood still as Cynder took it out. Terrador took the scroll, and as he saw the seal on it, he gasped.

"Hunter! Is this what I think it is!" asked Terrador, giving Hunter the scroll. He too saw the seal and smirked.

"I guess we found our missing messenger."

0 0 0 0 0

Spyro couldn't believe how FAST the day went. After their initial encounter, things began to take a darker tone and everyone became serious as news began to be relayed to each other. It was night time by the time they were finished. The addition of the fact that Spyro and Cynder were attacked by apes, and the mere fact that there were apes, gave the Purple Lights more priority. Speculation soon ensued on who this new enemy they were up against. But one thing was for certain. Spyro and Cynder needed to take him down, while the Guardians rallied everyone.

Apparently, the scroll that Izrayl had been carrying was the response message from the dragons that had been at Shattered Vale. It basically was asking for them to reply back, if everything was alright now, for it seemed that the earthquakes had stopped. A reply was soon made, and Chase—Hunter's pet eagle—was dispatched; flying at the fastest speed she could go.

"What's Shattered Vale?" asked Izzy as he sat down, resting his paws.

"I don't know, never heard of it," replied Cynder, shaking her head. Her wound that was caused by the ape was now fixed, thanks to some spare red gems they had.

"You weren't there when they mentioned it," said Spyro. Sparx who had been sitting at his shoulder, turned to her.

"You ran away during that time," remarked Sparx.

Cyril turned to Izrayl. "It's the place us dragons decided to retreat back when the Dark Master came."

"I see; so…we weren't really the only ones alive?" asked Cynder.

Cyril chuckled. "It might have looked that way, but no. We, the Guardians, were the only ones that fought back when the Dark Master came. Sad to say, everyone cowered in fear," he said, a tone of arrogance in his voice.

"Oh…" replied Cynder, discreetly rolling her eyes. They were used to Cyril's pride and arrogance by now.

"So what happens now? We have to stop whoever it is that's causing trouble." asked Spyro. Terrdor, who had been silently pondering, sat up and sighed.

"At best, the dragons from Shattered Vale would arrive by morning. By the end of the day tomorrow—you two would be off," said Terrador.

"Hey! Count me in! I'm not sitting this one out!" said Sparx.

Cynder sighed exasperatedly. "Great…"

"Can I come with them?" asked Izzy, speaking up again.

Spyro glanced at him surprised. Izzy didn't look like the type to be courageous and be a bit adventurous. Cyril on the other hand, nodded his head after a few minutes of thinking.

"I don't see why not," he replied, glancing at Terrador. "We don't know what we're up against, so I guess the more the merrier."

"I agree with you on that one," said Terrador. "Are you sure about this though Izrayl?"

"I am sure," he said, nodding. "I can't do much with my missing memories. I don't know what's going on. So I guess it's just best for me to go with them."

"Great then! You can babysit Sparx!" Izzy just chuckled sheepishly, as Cynder and Sparx began to argue with each other. Spyro on the other hand, turned serious, and faced Terrador.

"Where do we go though?" he asked. Terrador scratched his chin.

"We're not sure yet. Volteer's assigned for that; I think he's at the library, looking for a map."

"I'll go find him," said Spyro standing up.

"I'll come with you!" said Sparx, following behind him. The two brothers then exited the Guardians' Room.

"Good riddance," said Cynder.

"You two should get some rest. Your injury needs to heal Cynder," said Cyril.

"I understand. Come on Izzy. I know you don't know your way around the Temple," said Cynder with a warm smile. Izrayl just grinned sheepishly, following behind Cynder.

As the young dragons left the room, Terrador sighed deeply.

"What bothers you Terrador?" asked Cyril.

"If only Ignitus is still alive…he'll know how to handle this new…situation we have," he replied.

"His death was untimely, but gave us the edge we needed to win the fight against the Dark Master. He died a noble death," said Cyril, patting him at the shoulder.

0 0 0 0 0

"Wow, you sure know you way around," said Izrayl.

He had been following Cynder for a few moments now, and it seemed like they were turning around corners, walking down halls for a long time. Cynder chuckled.

"This is technically my second time around here. The first was when we slept here for the night after the siege of Warfang," replied Cynder.
"I see…hey Cynder?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I ask you something?"

Cynder's brow rose. "What is it?"

"Are you Spyro's sister?"

Cynder stopped in her tracks and stared flabbergasted at him. She blinked dumbly as Izrayl cocked his head curiously. The question had completely caught off her guard.

"Well, I don't know. I don't very much about my childhood actually, only that my egg was stolen by Gaul when he and the apes raided the temple to destroy Spyro's egg; later to be raised and be corrupted by Malefor." She sighed. "I don't know anything at all about my family, so I can't really tell if Spyro could actually be my brother...Hmm, but maybe the Guardians know something..."

She then stopped, blinking at him.

"W-what makes you say that anyway?" she asked, trying to make it make sense. Izzy scratched his head, surprised to see her look him in the eye.

"Well, it's just that…I don't know, the way you look at him. The way you stare and give glances every now and then makes me say you give him great care."

Cynder stared at him with shock. Never has someone be so upfront with her about it; it being her demeanor towards Spyro; in other words, her feelings.

"Cynder…are you blushing?"

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