Author's Notes:

I AM SO SORRY GUYS! I TOTALLY forgot to post this last week! It had COMPLETELY skipped my mind! I thought I had posted this chapter, but it seemed I didn't. Oh well, I guess double post here on FF I suppose.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except my characters. Other canon characters are owned by their respective companies.

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

Chapter 18

Dragon Grove

"What are you bothered about?" asked Malik.

"Well it's just that, last night…" began Flame.

Then Flame began to narrate to him what he had heard last night. It was specifically the part where he had heard someone talking at the Pool of Visions. He told them everything, including the dialog that he could remember as best as he could. He finished telling them, along with the details of what the conversation was about.

FLASHBACK:

Time Frame: Chapter 14 Odd Events

"Is it there?"

"No Master. I am afraid not. But I will try and find it still. There are still some things that have taken my…interest. The dragons here are…interesting."

"I believe they are. Keep searching, the rest has come back with empty paws. We're moving to the next place. I'll keep you informed."

"Thank you Master. How goes your condition?"

"…fine. In the next few days…I'll have enough strength to look up high. I can feel it…somewhere above the mountains. In the meantime…I hope you're…keeping up your guise…"

"Your gift has not been wasted."

"Make it so."

END OF FLASHBACK

"Master…?" asked Malik.

"Gift?" asked Ember, wondering what it may have been. "You're not pulling our leg about this? Right?"

"Yes. I'm not pulling your leg. Malik was there with me, though he didn't hear the dialog," replied Flame, looking at Malik.

"Yeah, I saw him that night. Gave him a scare too," he said, with a grin.

"But what do you think this means?" asked Ember.

"I have a feeling…this is related to Spyro and Cynder's adventure," he said.

"You think?" asked Malik.

"There's only one way to find out," he said.

0 0 0 0 0

The three of them immediately went inside, and walked down the halls of the Temple. There destination was the Guardians' Room. It was only right to report this strange, odd and unsettling conversation to them. It seemed rather important to be left unnoticed; especially the fact that someone was referring to someone else as a Master.

"You know, I just realized something," said Malik.

"What is it?" asked Flame.

"Do you think they'll believe us? Or more specifically you?"

"Why wouldn't they?" asked Ember.

Malik shrugged. "I mean, it's just that, the story seems…strange enough as it is."

"Trust me, the Guardians will believe us, or at the very least, look into the situation," said Flame.

"I guess so," replied Malik.

After a few minutes of walking, they arrived at the Guardians' Room and walked in. Cyril was there, arranging some things on the desk.

"Um…Cyril," said Flame, approaching the Ice Guardian. The Guardian turned his head and was surprised at the trio being there.

"Flame?" He looked at them. "What are you three doing here?"

"Well, we have something to tell you," said Flame.

"What is it?" he asked.

0 0 0 0 0

"I know. I'm not much to look at," he said. Malefor blinked.

"Wow, you're the first dragon that ever talked to me, aside from Sera, from this village," he replied.

"And I think I may know why…Mal," said the dragon.

Malefor looked at him, surprised that he knew his name.

"H-how do you know—"

"Your name?" The dragon chuckled and smiled at him.

"I know more than just you're name…Malefor."

Malefor was stunned. He was completely floored by the statement of the dragon before him. How could he possibly know who he was or his name to begin with? Ever since he arrived here, he had been using the pseudonym Mal. One question just popped into his head.

"Who are you?" he asked, looking at him.

The dragon chuckled at him. "I'm surprised; you don't know who I am."

"Should I know you?"

The dragon nodded. "Of course; you were my pupil."

"Pupil? What are you talking about?"

Malefor stared at the dragon carefully, trying to rack his brain into remembering who he was. He was a pupil of him? How was that possible? All of the dragons that had taught him were…

Malefor's eyes widened. It couldn't be. But it fit. The color of the scales was equally the same; his age fit the bill as well.

"You're…you're…you should be dead!"

The dragon scoffed at him. "Really? The first thing you say is that I am supposed to be dead? Can you remember my name?"

Malefor mumbled. "…Zephyr…"

The dragon nodded and smiled at him.

"H-how is that you're here? I mean…what happened? I don't understand," said Malefor, shocked.

"I know, shocking isn't it," said the old dragon. "I guess I have a lot of explaining to do."

"Yes. You do," replied Malefor.

"Well go ahead then. Ask me anything you want," said Zephyr.

"Okay…how is that you're alive? I've always thought I've killed everyone…back at the Temple."

"Not everyone Mal," he began. "When you had your outburst, caused by the awakening of your Dark Essence, Gale assigned to me the task of getting everyone to safety. Much to my dismay, I had to follow the order. Thus I had to get everyone out of the Temple and into a safe location, which is this place."

"You took them to the Ancient Grove? Isn't it the last place you should take them?" asked Malefor.

"Contrary, that's actually the best place. It's usually the last place one would go, which is why normally it would be disregarded. The waters are polluted and it's inhabited by dangerous creatures; the perfect place to find refuge, despite the environmental hazards. And as you can see,"

Zephyr motioned to the river that was flowing freely into the village.

"Not all rivers are polluted. That point aside, you even missed this place when the War began."

"I see…" said Malefor, finally understanding who exactly these dragons were. And how come he had never heard of this place before. It was meant to be isolated.

"What do you call this place anyway?" he asked.

"We've just come to call our home, the Dragon Grove," replied Zephyr.

"The Dragon Grove…fitting," said Malefor.

"Yes. Now that I've answered your question; can I ask you one?" he said.

"Go ahead."

"How much do you know of your magic?"

"Uh…why do you ask?"

"Because I'm wondering if you know how to change your appearance. You can't exactly approach Spyro and Cynder looking like that now huh?"

"How do you—"

"Gale informed me. He came to me in my dreams. And I had Sera follow you. How do you think I know you were in the village?"

"Good point—wait, Sera followed me! What are you talking about?"

"I had her sublimely lead you here. Didn't you ever get this feeling that someone was following you before you got here?"

Malefor thought back to how he got here. Zephyr spoke true. Someone seemed to have been following him ever since he made his trek into the Ancient Grove. Before the two could continue to chat with each other, their conversation was put to a halt.

"Zephyr! I've been looking all over for you!"

The two of them turned around, and Malefor was surprised to find Sera walking over to them.

Zephyr raised a brow. "May I ask why?"

"Well I was wondering if—Mal?" she asked.

Malefor grinned sheepishly. "Hello Sera."

"I see you've met one of the Dragon Elders, Zephyr; everything coming along great?"

"Mal is a bright young fellow," said Zephyr, winking discreetly at him.

"But enough about us; what did you want to talk about?"

0 0 0 0 0

"I guess this is the river huh?" asked Izrayl.

The three of them were standing at the riverbank, examining the crystal clear water.

"I never expected that there was a river this clean near Ancient Grove. A river that isn't poisoned as well too," said Sparx, flying near the water. He then proceeded to take a sip out of it.

"So where do we go from here?" asked Cynder.

"Yeah? How do we exactly know where a dragon fly village is supposed to be located?" asked Izrayl.

"That's easy. They're usually located upstream, where there's a large growth of plants," said Spyro.

"So what are we waiting for then?" asked Sparx. "Let's go!"

The four of them then began to head upstream, with Spyro and Sparx walking a few steps ahead.

"So Cynder, have you seen Spyro's foster parents before?" he asked.

"No…but I am curious as to who they are." Izrayl nodded, before thinking deeply.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"What is it?" asked Cynder.

"Do you know who your parents are?"

The question seemed to have hit homerun with Cynder, as she had stopped walking, and bowed her head.

"…no. I don't."

Her tone was sad, and a tinge of loneliness was accompanied by it.

"I understand if you don't want to talk about it," said Izrayl, fearing that he was brushing up against a rather touchy subject.

"No it's okay," said Cynder, starting to walk again. "It's just that. I never thought about it."

"You never did?"

"It never came up."

"I see…"

An awkward silence reared its head as they kept going up.

"But now that it has, have you ever wondered who your parents are?" asked Izrayl trying to break the ice.

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