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

Chapter 12

Surprises

Spyro ran as fast as he could, after the ape that had sabotaged the bridge. It was definitely clear now. The apes were clearly up to something. The ape attacking them back at the Forest of Avalar wasn't an isolated incident. However, the apes usually only functioned if they had a leader. Spyro clearly remembered that he had killed Gaul, the leader of the apes. If he was dead, who was commanding the apes now? He shook his head, as he saw the ape running for his life ahead of him. He'll just have to think of it later.

With the range he was now, he could use a fireball and hit the ape square in the back. And that was what he did. Since he had now managed to get some rest, he realized his powers may have come back. And there was only one way to check. Opening his maw, Spyro summoned the fire deep inside him and launched a fireball.

It launched out of his mouth, rocketing towards the ape who yelped as it exploded in contact. The ape was covered in a black cloud of smoke. Once the smoke cleared, he approached the body of the dead ape. It was smoking, literally, as its dead body laid there.

He turned around, seeing Sparx, Izrayl and Cynder arrive.

"Is that…an ape?" asked Cynder. Spyro nodded.

"This is bad," said Izrayl.
"You know it, the apes are back. But I wonder who's controlling them?"

Sparx scratched his chin. "Maybe its Gaul."

Spyro looked at him curiously. "But we killed him already. It can't be him."

"Yeah Sparx," said Cynder. "It's not like he came back to life or anything."

"Who's Gaul?" asked Izrayl curiously.

"He's the Lord of the Apes. He was the one that took control of them after I freed Cynder, who used to be in that sort of position back then," answered Spyro.

"Oh…" said Izzy nodding.

"And the fact is, we killed him already. I killed him myself," Spyro said, emphasizing it.

"Well, maybe it could be the dragon we're up against," said Izzy.

Cynder raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

"Well, it could be the same case as Cynder, where in, another dragon took control of the leadership of the apes," said Izzy.

"If that's the case, it definitely took them a long time," said Sparx.

"It was just a theory anyway. All we know is someone is sending apes after us; that's a fact."

Spyro nodded. "I agree with him. That's all we know for now. We'll just have to be on guard to avoid being ambushed."

"Stay frosty then," said Izrayl.

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After the short discussion, the team began to move on, trying their best to move as fast as possible, while being wary of their surroundings. The event that had happened at the bridge was a sad attempt at trying to get rid of them. The apes will try to do something bolder now to step up their game. As Spyro leaded on, he managed to see at the far distance, a faint trail of wispy smoke. They must be getting near the Village of the Atlawa now. He smiled, remembering his experience there. Though, rocky as it was from the start, Kane proved to be a good ally to him as they fought the apes that had taken over the leader's tribe. Rude and stubborn, Kane changed to friendly and cheery once he realized that Spyro was actually helping him.

However…the smile on Spyro's face slowly disappeared as the village came closer and closer.

"Oh my…" said Sparx.

"What happened…?" asked Izzy.

"Things just got serious…" said Spyro.

The trail of smoke they had seen wasn't the only one of its kind. As they got atop of a hill, the village came into view. Wild fires, small and large were being put out by panicked and frantic Atlawa. Shouts and cries were heard as some were ordering others to get more water from the river. There was what seemed like wounded being taken away into a small hut where a group of Atlawa clustered together. All around them, a burned down village, with little to nothing left.

Everyone was taken aback at the sight before them.

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Flame sighed as he listened on as the lecture continued. It was quite boring to be honest. To just sit there, and listen, and be taught Dragon History. He felt quite sad that he couldn't come with Spyro and Cynder. But he couldn't change the decision that was made. So now, here he was, stuck back at the Temple, studying. Rave, who was sitting next to him, was busy tracing circles idly with her claw as she listened. Ember, who was seated to his left, was somewhat the same. A glazed look on her eyes as she seemed to stare off at the distance, no doubt lost in her daydreams again, starring her and Spyro. Almost everyone was like this. There was one yawning; another idly tapping the table, looking outside; and one was even half asleep, dozing off on his cushion.

It wasn't long after that though, that things took a brighter turn. Flame felt giddy, realizing what the next class they were going to have. It was Elemental Training. There, they get to actually learn how to fight, and harness their elements. He tapped his paws rhythmically against the stone floor as he waited for his turn to be called. He had studied vehemently earlier the hour and wanted to excel badly.

"Hey Flame?" someone whispered into his ear. He turned his head and saw it was a fellow fire dragon, named Asher.

"Yeah?" he replied back.

"Did you understand the whole…concept of making a fireball?"

Flame thought for a moment; a fireball? That was easy to do. He nodded.

"Mind teaching me after class?"

"Sure."

"Looks like someone wants to be an overachiever," whispered Rave to him.
"Hey, it's not my fault I'm jealous of how strong Spyro is. I want to be as strong as him," he replied back, giving her a glance.

A few minutes later, Flame was called upon by their teacher, who was Terrador, to demonstrate a few techniques of his element to him. From there, he'll judge how good he performed them, and give him a grade. Flame braved himself for whatever Terrador might ask for him to do.

"Since the earlier dragon already performed an Electric Ball…I want you to demonstrate to me a Comet Dash."

Flame blinked. That was easy enough. Nodding, he breathed in deeply and accessed his inner flame. A comet dash was basically a charging technique where in the dragon would cover his entire body with flame, as he charged towards his enemies. It was a good way to shield oneself as it was a good technique both offense and defense wise. Flame breathed in deeply before beginning to charge at the dummy that was summoned by Terrador. As he ran, a spark ignited in front of him, before suddenly engulfing his entire body in red hot flames.

Everyone was visibly surprised at how Flame successfully pulled it off. Almost everyone had their turn and they weren't as successful on their first try. Flame rushed and collided with the dummy, destroying it completely, before it faded back into thin air. Terrador clapped his paws, as Flame stopped himself, and turned back around.

"How'd I do?" he asked. He was trying to catch his breath. All that heat made him a bit thirsty.

"To be honest, you're the best one…" said Terrador with a smile to him. Flame smiled proudly to himself as he excelled greatly at the Training session.

"…yet." Flame turned his head surprised at Terrador's statement.

"I thought I was the last one?" he asked.

Terrador shook his head. "No. There's one more."

Without waiting to be called, a dragon moved from the crowd of students. Everyone almost in sync turned their heads to find a crimson red dragon, with an orange underbelly quietly walk up to Terrador, with a blank expression. Flame blinked, a bit surprised at seeing the dragon. That was the first time he saw him. Was he here yesterday? He wasn't sure. With raised brows, he walked back to Rave and the others and watched on.

"Who's that dragon?" asked Flame.

"Okay Li, think you can try and top off what Flame did?" asked Terrador with a challenging smirk. The dragon named Li just shrugged.

Flame was flummoxed and confused. He didn't claim to know EVERYONE that lived at Shattered Vale, but he could at least recognize familiar faces. Just no names to put them on; however this dragon…this was the first time he ever saw him.

"Do you know that dragon?" he asked, turning to Rave.

"Hmm…I'm not sure. I do think he seems familiar to me though," she replied.

Rave had this sense of…for some reason, Li reminded her of someone she knew close to her. She couldn't put a name on it, but it was Li had a strong resemblance to someone she knew.

"Whoever he is, I kind of like him," said Ember. "He has this…mysterious aura around him."

Flame and Rave just stared at Ember before turning back their attention to Li and Terrador.

"I'll take that as a yes. Let's see…what's the next hardest thing…I know," Terrador turned to face him, a serious look on his face. "I want you to try and hit the three dummies I'm going to summon with your fireballs. But here's the catch. You can only launch your fireballs up in the air. It's up to you how you're going to direct them towards your three targets."

Flame's jaw nearly dropped as he heard the animosity of the task. "What?"

Ember was visibly shocked. "Is that even possible?"

All around them, their fellow classmates were murmuring to each other, questioning the same thing. But one thing was for certain on everyone's mind, even though it wasn't spoken. Li was just unlucky. No one in the room could do such a thing, aside from Terrador. That level of technique must have been way advanced.

Terrador stood idly, "Ready when you are."

Everyone turned their attention to Li. He could have easily back down from this challenge, and Terrador would have given him a simpler task, but it would seem he wouldn't. He stood there, pondering for a moment, before nodding off to Terrador. He was really going to do it. Flame, Rave and Ember watched curiously, as a classmate of theirs was either going to humiliate himself, or succeed.

Li closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath, before doing his attempt.

Opening his maw, he launched out three fireballs up in the air, consecutively. At the same time, Terrador quickly summoned the three dummies, his targets, a few feet away from him. Moving fast, Li jumped, making everyone what he was going to do. Using thrust from his wings, he quickly spun around, before wowing everyone as he smacked the fireballs out of the air, one by one. With a quick twist, he launched the last one with his tail blade, sending it towards the wooden dummy. A thud greeted everyone as he landed on the floor, his three targets on fire.

Flame was flabbergasted. "How in the world did he—"

He was cut off as Terrador's voice broke everyone's trance. The Earth Guardian was even clapping his paws. "Marvellous! Simply amazing!"

Li on the other hand just brushed it off, and the same stoic expression was plastered on his face.

"That everyone is what we call Elemental Redirection. The art of redirecting elemental attacks; that is what we will be learning next time we meet. In the meantime, I suggest all of you study up. It's not an easy technique to learn. However, if you advance study, like Li over here, you'd be able to do it too; class dismissed."

"Did you see that?"

"That was amazing!"

"I wish I could do that."

"I'm so going to the library later and look this technique up."

"Count me in!"

Dragons all around Flame chatted animatedly at the technique that was demonstrated before them. It would seem the shock of seeing a great technique, made everyone forget who actually did it. Li just blended into the crowd, before discreetly exiting; making Flame curious, as to who exactly he really was.

Author's Notes:

And now things start to move at an even pace, so to speak. New characters are introduced. Makes you wonder what happens next.

Please take some time to R&R.

And favorite it, along with the author!