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Chapter 8

Reasons

Spyro couldn't believe his eyes. Never, in his entire life, had he ever seen so many dragons before in one place. He tried counting them all, but lost count when he reached twenty. And that was just the number of adults around. That wasn't even near the amount of dragons that were apparently the same age as him. Red, blue, green and yellow; dragons off all age and shapes, were there. Some looked as if they were old as the Chronicler, whilst others were as young as a hatchling. Most of the old looking dragons had approached the Guardians and were busy chatting away, whilst others were looking around, taking in their new surroundings.

But the others were busy boring holes into Spyro, metaphorically.

He felt self conscious, as numerous pair of eyes seemed to examine his every move. Whenever he tried to look at them, they'd just turn away, looking at something else. But immediately return to looking at him curiously, but never approaching.

"This feels creepy," said Sparx, resting on Spyro's shoulder. Spyro laughed sheepishly.

"You're not the only one," he replied.

"Hey!"

Spyro nearly jumped, taken by surprise by the voice. He turned around, to find a pink dragoness smiling at him, dreamy eyed.

0 0 0 0 0

At the other corner however, Izrayl and Cynder were fairing better.

"So…see anyone you remember?" asked Cynder, scanning the crowd. Izrayl bit his lip, trying as hard as he could to see if anyone seemed familiar. As far as he could tell though, nothing caught his attention. He sighed, shoulders slumping down.

"This is hopeless. I don't see anyone I recognize," he replied. "What am I going to d—"

"HEY!"

The high volume shout made their heads turn. Izrayl turned his head and saw three dragons waving at him. Almost immediately, the familiar sensation of a headache triggered at his head. He grunted in pain, almost keeling over as he closed his eyes, trying to bear the pain. Cynder saw him, and helped him up. She saw him grimace, as he tried to regain his composure. Images flashed across his head, as a bit of his memory came back to him.

"Are you okay?" she asked concerned for his well being.

"I-I think so. Those dragons," he gave them a glance. The three were approaching them. One was fire dragon, red scales and yellow underbelly. The other two were female. One was a pink colored dragoness, a necklace hanging around her neck. The other dragoness was an earth dragon. Green scales with an orange underbelly. All three of them had worried looks on their faces as they approached the two.

"Are you okay? What happened?" asked the red dragon.

"Hey! Aren't you Cynder!" said the pink dragoness.

Cynder blinked in surprise. "I-I am, and you are?"

"Ember! This is Flame, and that's Rave! I see you've met Izrayl," she replied, smiling at her.

"Y-you know who I am?" he asked.
"Of course we do!" said Flame. "What? Did you forget about us or something?"

"That would only happen if you hit your head, and had amnesia," said Rave, smiling at her. "You didn't hit your head right?" she asked, turning serious.

Izrayl just giggled nervously. "Well…I kind off um…"

"It's a long story," said Cynder, warming up to them. Honestly, she expected a far more hostile welcome. But standing next to Izrayl, she felt comfortable. She felt accepted. She felt like she could be normal.

"Any story is worth hearing," said Flame.

"Where's Spyro?" asked Ember giddily. She had a toothy grin on her face as she scanned the courtyard for her hero.

"Uh…I think he's over—"Ember already dashed off, a trail of dust behind her. "…you're welcome."

"Don't mind her. She's a die hard fan of Spyro. Always wanted to meet him," said Rave.

Cynder nodded. "It's nice however to meet the Ex-Terror of the Skies."

Flame smiled at her, trying to make it sound like a compliment.

"I'm not proud it…" replied Cynder, bowing her head.

"No one is." Flame said, putting it bluntly. "But you should be proud of doing the right thing."

At this, Cynder smiled at Flame.

0 0 0 0 0

"Terrador! Volteer!" cried a voice. "Cyril! It is good to see you again!"

The three guardians turned their head, to find a fellow dragon walking up to them. Face changed with age, the dragon's body however was in tip top shape, considering the fact he was as old as the Guardians. The color of his scales was faded, but the bright hue of blue violet was still evident. Same goes for his underbelly, which was a color of light yellow.

"Galen! It is good to see you!" replied Volteer, smiling at his fellow electric dragon.

"Likewise! I see not a lot of things have changed," he said, looking at the three of them.

"I assure you Galen, things have changed," commented Terrador.

"By the Ancestors! Cyril!" The four of them turned their heads to find another adult dragon approach them.

"You three are still alive I see," he said.

"And you're still jolly as ever, Colton. How's Ruka?" asked Terrador, to the earth dragon.
"She's fine, thanks for asking. We have a lot to talk about though," he said, his voice becoming serious.

"Does this concern about the Purple Light?" asked Cyril.

"Yes," replied Colton.

"What is this Purple Light?" asked Galen. "I for one witnessed it myself, yet it still baffles me. What does it mean?"

"Let us go inside. Such subjects are handled with care," answered Terrador.

0 0 0 0 0

Spyro blinked, a bit surprised at the sudden appearance of someone before him. He was shocked; someone actually came NEAR him. The dragoness was a striking of pink scales. But what caught his attention was her necklace. It was heart shaped.

"Wow…Jewellery…" whispered Sparx.

"You're Spyro right!" she said giddily. Spyro blinked, remembering his manners.

"I-I am. Nice to meet you!" he said smiling. This was his first contact with 'other' dragons of his age. He didn't want to mess this up. And the fact that he could see at the corner of his eye, that a lot of dragons were actually eyeing him; it would seem that some were even judging him.

Ember giggled. The purple legendary dragon was actually talking to her. It was the stuff of her dreams. She could die happy at that specific moment. She slightly blushed, seeing him in person. He was even cuter up close. But she couldn't help but wonder who the dragonfly was.

"My name's Ember! Nice to meet you Spyro," she said.

"I'm Sparx. Spyro's brother," Ember cocked her head.

"Huh? You're his brother?" she asked. How the heck was that even possible.

"It's a…long story," said Spyro, glaring at Sparx at the corner of his eye.

"So…Ember," began Spyro. "How do you know my name?"

"How I knew that?" she counter asked. "Everyone knows your name Spyro!"

"Really?" asked Sparx.

"I'm…famous…?" asked Spyro looking around discreetly.

"Yes you are! Without you, we wouldn't be here!"

"Well I did get help from Cynder," he replied humbly. Ember nodded.

"So how have you been?" she asked, walking up close to him.

"Uh…fine? Peachy I guess," replied Spyro.

He was having a hard time trying to have a conversation. He wasn't used to this…type of socialization. He didn't know what to talk about, and it was quite clear that Ember was the one leading the conversation. Sparx on the other hand found his brother's replies and responses slightly amusing. Unlike him, he was more outgoing and had the luxury of growing up 'properly'. Spyro didn't exactly grow up like a normal dragon would.

"Ember…um…are you hungry? I can lead you to the—"

"I would love to!" exclaimed Ember.

Sparx just chuckled to himself as Spyro led Ember inside.

0 0 0 0 0

Inside the Temple, Colton, Galen and the three Guardians were busy discussing the latest events that had happen the past few days. The ever growing concern for the cause of the Purple Light grew even more when news of the attack of the ape, reached the two dragons' ears.

"An ape?" asked Colton, not believing his ears.

"Yes. Spyro and Cynder told us that an ape had attacked them back at the forest," answered Terrador.

"But the apes…did they not dissolve when Gaul was taken out of the equation?" asked Galen.

"Yes…but that was then, and this is now," said Cyril.

"I'm beginning to understand why this is a very delicate matter," said Galen.

"Yes. We cannot risk this news getting out just yet. The panic and chaos would be hard to contain," replied Terrador.

"I can see why. The Dark Master has just been taken down, and another evil pops up," Colton sighed. "We can never seem to get a break."

"Nonetheless, we've already assigned Spyro and Cynder, along with Izrayl to deal with the matter. They're scheduled to leave later this afternoon, to seek out the Crystal," said Terrador. "No matter how much it pains me to send them."

"Just the three of them?" asked Galen.

"It would appear so," said Cyril.

"I do not doubt Spyro and Cynder's powers, but we do not know our enemy's capabilities. I suggest we send a few more to give them support," said Colton.

"Well spoken Colton. Who do you think we should send along?" said Terrador.

"I believe that question should be answered by the one who volunteers," said Galen.

"No one should be forced to come with them," said Cyril nodding. "Wonderful."

"I guess that's settled. But what about the ones that remain here?" asked Volteer.

"We proceed as normal." Cyril raised a brow.

"Return to teaching then I suppose?" he asked. Terrador nodded. "Lovely…"

"In the meantime, I'll instruct the other dragon families to stay at the vacant houses at Warfang?" asked Galen. "In case something bad happens, we can easily rally ourselves."

"Please do so," replied Volteer.
"I'll come with you," said Colton.

And with that, Galen and Colton left the room, leaving the three Guardians to themselves.

"Ah…teaching…how long I have waited to do it again," said Volteer.

"You and me both," said Cyril. "It's good to teach young dragons again. I think the last time I did it was before the war broke out." Cyril raised a brow, as he saw Terrador thinking deeply.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"It's just that, I'm a bit overwhelmed at the pace of things. I'm kind of surprised how normal we act, even though there is an unknown danger looming before us," he said.

"Life goes on Terrador. No matter what happens. We have to keep moving," said Volteer.

"And also for Spyro and Cynder; I feel that we should be doing the fighting. Not them. They're young, and they deserve a better life than what we have given them." Volteer sighed.

"Our time for heroics has long been behind us. Spyro and Cynder are the only ones strong, and capable enough to handle matters such as this. We have done what we can before, and now that we can no longer, we should only do what we can. And for that, we have to teach our new students," said Volteer.

"Volteer's right. I for one want to help, but I fear that I can no longer do an adventure. What I would do to be young again…" he shook his head. Cyril was right. Arrogant as he was, his statement held true. "Besides, we have a much larger task before us."

Terrador sighed, and nodded.

"Yes…we have to choose our successors; our Guardian candidates."

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