Chapter Thirteen: Freedom at a Price
(Nine days prior to Spyro's death)
The morning before the Valley of Avalar was peaceful and refreshing to Spyro as ever as the sunlight shown through the small open spaces between each thick tree and leaves. Each vibrantly emitted ray of the warm sun set the dawn's cold dew ablaze in a shining, colorful display of beauty.
"Wow, I never thought each morning could get any better!" Spyro said in joy as he stretched his limbs, tail, and wings to the morning setting.
"You're up awfully early my dear," Cynder said with a smile as she yawned and dragged herself up from her sleep. "Come on, come back to bed with me." Cynder's joints ached with tension as she allowed herself to fall among the bed spread once more.
"In a minute hun, I'm going to try and focus my Convexity again." Spyro said as he tried to focus his inner thoughts into raw power. Knowing her attempts would be worthless in trying to get Spyro to respond, Cynder slightly growled in annoyance as she smiled towards a cozy nap.
"Spyro-o-o-o-o," a soft, ragged voice echoed through his mind. "You will pay for what you've done to me-e-e!" The voice suddenly stopped. The only sound which could be heard was the gentle sound of the cool morning current which brushed over Spyro's scales.
"The crystal is ready for transport Volteer, any suggestions or last minute orders before we commence?" Hunter said as he met Hunter inside the Dragon Temple.
"Is everyone within the city unaware of the transaction?" Volteer gestured as he surveyed the city high above in the temple.
"None, but a problem has been revealed," said Hunter who joined Volteer among the balcony. "The size of the crystal won't clear the chamber doors among the inside. I highly suggest we should transport it through the outside of the temple."
"Then everyone will wonder if the crystal is tainted with Dark Magic," Cyril said who looked up from his studies. "If Hunter could get the Mole workers to move the crystal at night however, that would be a different story."
"Can you work under those conditions my friend?" Volteer said to Hunter in a trustful tone.
"Consider it already done." Hunter said as he bowed and exited the room.
"What of the news of Draikor, have there been any sightings?" Cyril asked who closed his text books and joined Volteer among the balcony.
"None I fear," Volteer said as he looked towards the inactive ruins of the Volcano of Cripyro. "He could be anywhere right now."
"I still can't believe that a dragon, our own species, could kill for pure joy." Terrador exclaimed who just entered the room among the two other Guardian dragons.
"He was born into death and darkness," Volteer said, revealing and almost sympathizing for Draikor as he spoke. "No mother or father to care for him. Barely surviving off of insects for seven long years, curiosity took its hold over Draikor; he wondered what living meat tasted like. First he killed sheep like any other dragon would when he got strong enough to do so., except he liked how the blood was warm as it flowed through the spaces between his fingers."
"Sadistic since birth it seems, just another example of a misleading youth." Cyril said as he listened to Volteer's tale.
"Suddenly, he killed his first dragon when he was only ten. The victim was like any other dragon, sadly, nobody knew who he was and the murder was disregarded. Except one thing, Draikor found that he loved the experience and soon found later that he could kill while he used stealth and his newly found fire breath. To this day his sadistic mind still revolves around murder. That is why he should be found before anyone else dies."
The words rang through Spyro's mind, "Spyro-o-o-o-o-, why did you leave me? We gave each other imme-e-easurable po-o-ower!" Tossing and turning as he tried to sleep, Spyro couldn't relinquish the voice's verbal onslaught.
"Get out of my mind; you made me become something I wasn't!" Spyro yelled in his mind as the voice didn't submit.
"I showed you who you really are you speck," the voice yelled in irritation. "You are far darker than you could imagine, you are too ignorant to realize this fact however!"
"Shut up, make it stop, get out of my head!" Spyro yelled out loud, awaking Cynder with a start.
"Spyro, what's happening to you, what is wrong?" Cynder questioned as she held onto Spyro's waist, trying to comfort him.
"Something keeps threatening me, these voices won't stop!" Spyro yelled in anger as he kept hold the sides of his head.
"We need to see the Hermit tomorrow, he might have an answer for this," Cynder said, kissing Spyro's cheek. "Let's just try to get some sleep." Unknowing what else to do, Spyro simply nodded as he rested his head next to Cynder's and fell into a deep sleep, hoping dawn wouldn't bring bad news.