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.

Author's Notes: Message to "ThatGuy"

~ The update for this is weekly, usually alternating in between Saturday or Sunday evening, my time.

Chapter 21

Convexity

"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?"

"Well, it's just that…" Sera trailed. Malefor raised a brow.

"What is it?" Zephyr asked the dragoness.

"I was wondering if…you can help me…" she trailed, her eyes slowly glancing towards Malefor.

Malefor's curiosity was now genuinely piqued. Sera was stumbling in her words. Yesterday night was completely contradictory to what she was displaying now. It was like…she was afraid to say something.

But what? Malefor began to think about it correctly and came to a hypothesis. Was she afraid to say something in front of him?

"What is it young one?" asked Zephyr, being patient.

"Can I…talk to you in private?"

Malefor blinked. Now this was getting interesting.

Zephyr nodded. "This will only take a minute Mal," said Zephyr, before walking a few feet away from him.

Once out of earshot, Sera began to talk.

"Zephyr, can I ask a favor from you?" she asked.

"What is it?"

"Can you…help me…with…"

"With what?"

"…In changing Mal's mind. I don't want him to leave."

Zephyr blinked, and discreetly glanced at Malefor who was twiddling his paws at the background. He then turned back and examined Sera's face. One thought came into his mind, and it seemed rather plausible. But the question was could it be?

"May I ask why?" he asked.

Sera sighed. "Do I really have to tell you?"

"Maybe."

Malefor cocked his head to the side, as he wondered what the dragoness and elder dragon were talking about. It seemed rather important since it was being done in a hush-hush manner. He became even more curious when Zephyr glanced up to look at him. After a few minutes of talking, Zephyr nodded to her, and Malefor heard Sera chirp.

"Mal," said Zephyr as he and Sera walked up to him.

"Yes?" he replied.

"Sera here has told me that you were leaving. Are you?"

Malefor blinked. This he didn't expect.

"I…" Malefor sighed.

He was still confused. He wanted to go. But now; now with the knowledge he knew that Zephyr was on his side. He was beginning to have second thoughts. Zephyr was his only ally in his mission to find Spyro and Cynder. And the fact that he has changed sides. Everyone else knows him as Malefor, the Dark Master; public enemy number one. Zephyr was the only one that could vouch for him, if ever his guise were to be blown.

It would be stupid of him to leave the side of his only ally.

"…don't know."

"You know, you should be grateful," said Zephyr.

Malefor glanced at him. "Why is that?"

"The leader of the Grove is specifically for you to stay."

The leader of the grove? Leader?

Wait…what?

"Leader?" he asked, looking incredulous at him. He turned his head to look at Sera, who seem unable to look him in the eye.

"Sera's the leader of the Grove!"

"She is," said Zephyr flatly. "You didn't know that?"

"I…kind of left that detail out when I told him my name," said Sera, looking at him.

Malefor was completely surprised this time. For one thing, this was the last piece of detail he did not expect. And the other, was the fact that the leader of the Grove was a female. It was rare for females to be leading groups of dragons. Usually it was a male. The only time it ever was a female was during special circumstances.

"Sera here, as obvious from her position, is the strongest dragon in this village. We're too old to be fighting Mal. We had to choose someone. And we did it the old fashion way. Everyone who thought they had it in them to lead was allowed to join, unlike where it usually was an only male competition. Surprisingly, she beat out every male dragon running for the position at the time. But that was the fact, and we had to accept it."

"I'm sorry…for not telling you about that," said Sera smiling sheepishly.

"It's okay," said Malefor. He was feeling a bit apprehensive. Never had it ever occurred to him that Sera was that strong. He felt bad that he missed that detail. He was loosing his skill in scrutiny.

"As leader, I'd like to ask you to stay," said Sera. "We could use a strong dragon like you…" she then mumbled something to low for Malefor to hear to herself.

"So what do you say Mal? I could use the company, and I think you could to," said Zephyr winking at him again.

Malefor scratched his head. It was an easy choice; and an obvious at that.

"I guess my decision is to—"

He was cut off as a loud explosion rocked the place. He turned around to find a tower of light, briefly flashing across the sky, before disappearing. He recognized that light. Only one being could do that.

"What in the world?" exclaimed Sera, shocked to see the light. "What the heck was that!"

Zephyr and Malefor briefly glanced at each other, and both came to the same conclusions.

It was Convexity.

"We have to check it out," said Malefor.

"I'll go with you," said Zephyr. Sera was left to stare as the two males left her side and began to head out.

"What just happened?" she asked herself. "Wait for me! I'm coming too!"

0 0 0 0 0

Convexity just exploded out of nowhere. Now that is something you don't see everyday. There is only one thing that could cost that. And Malefor's mind immediately went to that conclusion.

"What's Spyro doing here?" he asked himself.

"I am assuming that Spyro was the one who caused that?" asked Zephyr who was walking close behind him.

"Yes…wait, what? Why are you assuming that?"

Zephyr blinked. "I don't know who he is. I don't know what he looks like. All I know is is that he's a purple dragon like you."

Malefor's thoughts came to a halt as a peculiar thought crossed his mind. He didn't notice it before, but now, he did. How DID Zephyr know who Spyro and Cynder were? Earlier, he had remembered that he was told about them by Master Gale. But the question then transformed to, how did Master Gale know who Spyro and Cynder were? He was dead, long before Spyro and Cynder were born.

Who told him?

The question hung onto his thoughts, and it began to burn with curiosity. He wanted to satiate the curiosity, but left it there for now. He had other pressing matters to attend to.

"I'm coming too!" shouted Sera, before catching up to them.

"Should we let her come?" Zephyr asked.

"There's a high chance that Spyro is there; I think it's time I tell her the truth. You'd vouch for me right?" Malefor asked.

"Of course."

"And I suppose I should also get you and her on the same page. Tell me, why didn't you move to Warfang after the war had ended?"

"We thought it must have been overrun by the apes, and must be left to wastes now," answered Zephyr flatly.

"Well, you're wrong. I think it's time you went out of seclusion, and bring back the Grovers to civilization."

"I suppose you are right," said Zephyr. "We've been out of the loop for years now. Frankly, the last updated news we've heard off was that the Dark Master had been defeated but we don't know who."

"What are you guys talking about?" asked Sera, as she caught up.

"Oh it's nothing," replied Malefor, looking at her. "We have to hurry. I think we should really look into that purple light."

0 0 0 0 0

The three of them made their way through the forested path, and eventually came upon a clearing, located at the base of the mountain.

The scene before them was unlike anything they could have possibly imagined.

Trees were bent everywhere. Green colored fire was scattered about, slowly burning away some trees that were on the floor. There was even a crater at the center.

"What the hell happened here?" asked Sera, examining the place.

The three of them walked around the area, scrutinizing the details of the battleground. Malefor took a glance and saw that there was a trail of blood, leading out and back into the forest. There were two separate paths.

It must have been Spyro and Cynder's.

"I think Spyro and Cynder had a run in with whomever it was that took your Essence," said Zephyr in a light tone.

"I agree. And I think the battle was a draw…with the duo having taken a greater damage…"

"I think we should follow where that blood trail leads," said Sera, noticing the blood trail as well.

Malefor glanced at Zephyr.

"Let's go then," he said.

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