Legend of Spyro: Stormfront

Chapter 30

Well here it is.

The black dragoness let loose a snarl, prepared to pounce upon the unfortunate soul that had snuck up on her. However, she dropped her guard when she saw the single dragon and three dragonesses approaching her.

"How…?" She paused, regaining herself. "How'd you sneak up on me?"

Flame tilted his head and snarkily replied, "I don't know; maybe you're losing your touch, Cynder?"

Flare quickly berated him with a slap to the back of his head as she passed. "Quit it before you have an angry dragoness to think about."

Flame rubbed his head with his wing and mumbled a few words under his breath, all the while giving Flare a piercing glare. Eventually, he regained his courage and said, "Anyways, we're going to help you finish this. You made us promise."

"That was stupid of me. I need to do this on my own," Cynder answered, stamping a paw and puffing.

Glacia stepped forward. "What makes you think you can take on three crazed dragons by yourself and win? Sounds like a fool's errand to me."

Electria stepped back, eying the two dragonesses carefully. Cynder took a step forward so that she was eye-to-eye with the blue ice dragoness, an unforgiving sneer across her face.

"What makes you think you could even be of any help?"

"Why don't you go back to—" Glacia began, but Flame placed himself between the dragonesses.

"You two are acting like drakes having a horn-length contest. Why don't you save it for the guys down there?" He motioned a wing to the basin.

"He's right for once. We have to focus on what matters, guys," Flare said, stepping next to Flame.

Electria took a step forward closer to the group. "Mm-hm." She nodded.

Cynder turned her back on the rest of the group, sighing. "Fine." She walked to the ledge from which she had previously been eyeing the force below. "I was figuring out how to get to the volcano from here without having to fight every single grublin."

The small group of dragons looked at each other doubtingly.

A new voice broke the din of the volcano. "May I make a suggestion?"

The group spun to face the newcomer, but were glad to see a familiar feline standing upon a boulder with his usual scarlet cloak and bow.

"Hunter!" Flare exclaimed.

The cheetah warrior jumped from the boulder, landing perfectly as all cats do, and joined Cynder kneeling at the ledge. Flame, Flare, Glacia and Electria gathered behind them, out of sight from anything below the ledge.

"There is a lava trench that runs from the volcano, about an adult dragon's height deep and about two of you wide." Hunter motioned with his bow, dragging it up the basin beneath them. "It leads about half-way up the volcano. I used it to scout the grublin positions earlier without incident."

"Thank you, Hunter," Cynder said, turning to him and fixing him with a steely glare of conviction.

"One more thing," he answered. "The Guardians and General Erwing await my final report before launching the attack. When I return, they plan to assault the grublins."

"You have to convince them to let us try first!" Flare snapped at the cheetah.

"I don't think I can do that…" he answered. "However, I think there are a few grublin positions I might have missed somewhere," he finished with a wink. "Now hurry, you five, you don't have much time."

Flame unfurled his wings. "Right, let's get this over with before I miss dinner."

Flare shook her head in disbelief. "I don't even have anything to say to that."

Glacia and Electria unfurled their sky blue and golden wings. Lastly, Cynder's magenta wings opened in the face of the rising, hazed-over sun.

"Are you guys ready?" she asked.

"We're with you," Flare replied, moving to stand next to her.

Electria looked to Glacia, and then back to the group. "I-I am too."

There was a moment of silence, but then Glacia also joined the group. "When we get back, I want a scrim against you, Cynder."

"Whatever, let's get going." Then the black dragoness leaped over the edge and drew her wings close.

"Twenty gems on Cynder," Flame said as he jumped, followed closely by the others.

Cynder's talons were nearly scraping the blackened and charred wall of the basin. When she neared the floor, she kicked her hind legs out, making contact with the wall and changing her downward momentum into horizontal. She then flared her wings, spotting the lava tube's collapsed roof. She dove into it and made a running stop, making room for the others to land by running further up tube. Flame was first, followed by Flare, Glacia and finally Electria. When they had all gathered, and without a word, she turned and began their trek.

*.*.*

The Guardians and General Erwing led the multiple columns of dragons behind them, a din of clanking metal armor accompanying their advance. Throngs of dragons kicked up a black cloud of charcoal that rolled over the hills, slopes and crags of the Burned Lands.

A quick nod from Terrador to the captains of the columns signalled for them to begin fanning out to form ranks, gradually turning their many columns into rows. Terrador kept an eye on all of the columns, including those that belonged to Erwing. The great Guardian watched as the dragons behind him began the transition in perfect formation, a small hint of smile coming to his face.

We haven't lost our touch in these days of peace, at least.

The leader of the Guardians then eyed the fast forming ranks under Erwing. And neither have they…

The Earth Guardian said a quick prayer for peace in his mind, but was careful to keep in-step and show nothing but confidence to his subordinates.

The green dragon took the final steps over the rise, the caldera of the volcano rising to greet him. He looked down into the valley below, hill sides of black gravel leading to the basin where, there for all to see, were torches and spears sticking up from behind rock barriers. Each one had pointed rock stakes angled to prevent a charge from crashing headlong into them, and behind it was room for twenty or so grublins. There were about two-hundred of these fortifications between their position and the eaves of the volcano.

He took a quick moment to survey the surroundings.

Whatever you are doing, young dragons, may the ancestors be with you.

The captain of the unit had reported to him, quite furiously, at the last march rest that all of them had gone missing from his formation. The Guardians had then decided that nothing could be done at the moment, and that they would have to trust Cynder's judgment, which, if anything, he felt was a safe bet.

The other Guardians and Erwing grouped together and reached his position, so he began, "As soon as Hunter arrives, we'll begin the charge."

Erwing sighed. "The casualties will be high…but I suppose it is our only option."

"If only we had those cannons," Cyril finished.

Volteer nodded in agreement. "The combustion armaments could have been used to great consequence on these ramparts."

"Doesn't matter now. Good luck." Erwing gave a stiff salute with his wing and left to take up the lead of his column.

Terrador looked each of his companions in the eye. "You two see to your battalions as well. Good luck, my friends."

Volteer was the first to answer. "May the fortunes of the ancestors gift us with their graces."

Cyril waited a moment to see if Volteer would say more before simply answering, "To you as well, Terrador."

*.*.*

The group of young dragons emerged from the lava tube, black soot coating much of their bodies. The towering hulk of the fire mountain loomed over them, spewing the occasional molten boulder high into the smoke and haze above.

Flame coughed and spat at the ground. "I think I would have rather fought the grublins."

Electria looked up at the daunting mountain. "Now what?"

"We find a way in, of course," Glacia answered curtly.

Cynder pointed a bladed wing skywards. "I saw dragons on that plateau there before you guys arrived."

The formation dwindled out to a knife's edge, slightly sloped above the rest. The base was mostly volcanic gravel, but towards the ledge it gave way to pointed spires of black rock. The group of dragons eyed the high ground before Cynder signalled them over.

"We'll surround the plateau. Flare, take the point. Electria and Glacia, come in from above. Flame, take the left edge, and I'll take the right. Be careful. We don't know what's up there."

The dragons each nodded their heads.

"Go."

Cynder back-flipped out of the circle and took off with powerful pushes of her magenta wings, launching into the air. A grim feeling began to stir her stomach. She clenched her talons together, trying to suppress any feelings. Focus. Calm.

She watched as Glacia and Electria passed her on their journey. Taking positions in the dim sun, they would be hard to spot and would form the hammer of their attack. Flame separated the distance from her to move around the other side of plateau. His and her own position would be the most critical, keeping any enemies occupied until the blow was struck. Flare would take the point of the plateau, preventing anything or anyone from escaping.

Cynder flew up the steep slope, staying as close as possible to the rock and gravel to prevent anyone from seeing her if they happened to peek over on watch. The edge of flat rock was clearly defined now, every point and crag jutting forth as if in defiance to the general order of the rest of the mountain.

Cynder prepared herself by coating all her blades in green venom. She reached her talons to grasp the edge. Using it as leverage, she launched herself over the edge, glowing poison spitting and foaming, ready to strike down any dragon she saw.

Except for Flame, who was also pulling himself over the opposite edge, fire licking the edges of his bared teeth. Flare did likewise, her body glowing with fire ready to comet dash. Electria and Glacia hurtled out of the haze and sun, electricity crackling and ice spears glinted in the light.

Nothing but barren, blackened rock greeted them, and the whole group stopped. A gust of heated wind blew across the plateau, taking a bit of volcanic dust with it. Glacia and Electria landed, ice crystals clattering to the ground around them.

Flame looked around the empty plateau. "What a waste of my talent. We must be in the wrong spot."

Flare shook her head slowly. "Look again," she whispered, as if scared to be heard.

Flame looked to his right, where Flare was staring. The black maw of a cave stared back at him, and despite his will, he felt a shiver go down his spine.

Cynder stood resolutely glaring back. "Is that the cave where you were held?"

Flare nodded her head affirmatively. "I'm sure of it."

"How long is it?" Glacia asked, grating her talons against the ground.

Flare stood still and thought a moment. "I wasn't conscious when I was brought in, but from where I was being held it wasn't very far."

Cynder shook her head in frustration. "Doesn't matter. There are two earth element capable dragons in there; it could be totally different now. We'll have to go in blind."

Flame interjected, "But what if it's a trap? We'd be walking right into it."

"We don't have time to debate alternatives," Cynder's voice rose an octave. "And we don't even know if we'll find another way in."

Cynder turned, flicking her tail blade in annoyance. "Let's go."

Flame looked at Flare, who shrugged before she began to follow the black dragoness. The group only took a few steps before a rumble shook the ground.

"Hold on!" Flame yelled, lying flat to the ground.

Gut wrenching cracks reached out from the rest of the mountain, proceeding to surround Cynder, who was the closest to the cave. The black dragoness began to unfurl her wings, but to her surprise the ground beneath her wrenched itself upward, slamming into her head and stunning her. The rest of the group watched in horror as the rock formation tilted upwards, forming a ramp. The dazed Cynder began to tumble down into the black maw of the cave, swallowing her whole.

"Cynder!" Flare screamed as she and the rest of the group began to dash as best they could on the unsteady ground to her aid.

The slab of rock suddenly reversed its motion, falling back into place from where it originally separated, slamming to the ground in a giant cloud of dust that momentarily blinded the dragons. Many more crashes and bangs sounded in rapid succession, each one making the ground shudder, as if they were in a vengeful ocean. Then, silence.

Glacia was the first to recover. Looking up from the ground, the dust clearing, she saw boulders and rocks of all sizes covering the entrance to where the cave had been.

"Quick, help me shift this rubble!" she yelled in desperation as she sprinted to the now settled pile of rock.

Above her, she saw movement from higher on top of the mountain, and a glimmer of hope reached her mind. Maybe Cynder got out! However, another twin figure emerged next to it, descending from some unknown crevice or pit.

Glacia, realizing she was now alone and ahead of the group, made a hasty retreat by back-flipping away. The two figures approached from above, soundless except for the steady beats of their wings, and came to land between them and the blocked cave.

The two dragons stood before them in battle stances, darkened bodies matching the grim scenery. Flame, Flare, Electria and Glacia stared at their opponents; their former friends. Another heated gust of charring wind blew across the plateau.

Flame stepped forward cautiously. "Quake?" he called.

Glacia took the cue and called as well. "Rey?"

The pair of dragons didn't move, standing totally still in their battle stances. Flame took another step towards his friends, but Quake reacted with blinding speed, jumping back and preparing to launch an earth bolt. Rey jumped to his side in perfect unison. Quake launched the earth missile, and Rey disgorged a swath of fire that covered the missile in flames.

Flame and Flare were forced to jump to one side to avoid the flaming missile, which crashed into the ground with an explosion that sent dust and rock into the air. Flame looked to see Glacia and Electria had dodged it as well, and noticed Rey charging at the pair. He opened his mouth to call out to them, but was shoved aside by Flare. Her tail blade crashed into Quake's mace-like tail, saving the red drake from having had his face battered. She grunted under her breath, while struggling to hold back Quake's power.

"If you don't mind, sweetie, you could help any time!"

*.*.*

Cynder coughed the dust out of her lungs and throat as she opened her eyes lazily. The black dragoness hobbled to her feet. The memory of the past few moments crashed into her mind, and she flipped around to see boulders and rocks of all sizes blocking the entrance.

The dragoness stared at the cave in for a moment before turning around to face the long dark tunnel in front of her, and began her trek.

The tunnel wound its way through the mountain. With no light to guide her, Cynder proceeded by feeling her way along the bottom. After a few hundred feet, she was able to deduce that the cave was rounded, and she could make her way by feeling for the flattest part.

Cynder kicked a rock with her paw, sending echoes throughout the cavern ahead and back to her left.

Another tunnel. It must fork.

The dragoness made a quick decision to keep going down her current path, the other tunnel leading back in the general direction of where she had come. She began to move again, the tunnel becoming increasingly hot, and a stench filling the air. It wasn't long before parts of the walls began to steam, and even occasionally glow. Cynder, glad for the light, began to progress more quickly. A deep flickering glow began to fill the tunnel.

Cynder began to stalk down the tunnel as if at the end was a calm forest deer. Slinking her way through as quietly as possible, she came to a curve in the tunnel. She nosed her head around it to see the cave finally giving way.

But her eyes focused solely on the area's single inhabitant. A purple dragon, turned away from the entrance, sitting calmly at the end of a ledge. A bright glow emitted from somewhere below in the volcano's depths, lighting the chamber. The walls danced with the light of the flames from below, as if alive.

Cynder jumped into her shadow on instinct. The purple dragon made no move, seemingly entirely focused on whatever was beyond the ledge.

The black dragoness felt her stomach begin to churn, but slowly, carefully, made her way in her shadow into the chamber. It was quite large, the ground forming a very narrow triangular ledge, which tapered off to where the purple dragon was still sitting, back turned.

A cloud of swirling brown fumes burst from somewhere below, followed by a deep rumble that shook the mountain.

Cynder paused, waiting for it to subside before continuing. She was now a few feet from the other dragon, and still no reaction. She pressed on.

She reached a strike position just behind him. A single burst from her shadow and it would be over.

Do it! Her mind screamed. Finish him! You'll never have a better chance.

Cynder reached out a paw, underneath Spyro's neck. One swipe and he would be dead.

Dead. The word rang out in her head. Killing Spyro; assassinating him. The thought of killing him stayed her paw.

It's not fair. Why me? Why him? We… we were supposed to be…

Spyro's tail twitched. "You had your chance."

Cynder didn't have a chance to react. Spyro turned, throwing a glowing purple paw, grabbing her by the neck through her shadow and lifting her out into the open.

"So weak." His cold dark voice jarred the black dragoness's bones before he threw her across the ground. She skidded to a halt against the hot wall of the chamber.

Cynder regained her footing, looking to see the purple dragon walking slowly towards her.

"You had your chance to join me, and be with me in the new age…" he growled, stamping his paw in a fit of rage. "Now you will have nothing."

Cynder spat a glob of venom at the purple dragon. He froze the venom solid with his ice breath. It fell to the ground and shattered. Cynder followed it with a charging slash of her claws, but Spyro sidestepped and sent his tail spike for Cynder's gut. The metal tail blade of the black dragoness intercepted it before it pierced her. She blasted the purple dragon with a gust of wind from her maw, sending him reeling into the air.

Spyro stopped his tumble mid-air with a flare of his wings, beginning to glow green with earth energy. Cynder recognized the attack and back-flipped, just avoiding a bed of spikes that formed where she had been standing. Spyro dropped to the ground in the meantime, once more opposite Cynder in a face-off.

Cynder, through panting breaths, began, "I thought you…you were different… Why? What happened?"

Spyro laughed deeply, echoing all across the chamber. "Maybe you thought I was different, but maybe I was just tricking you all along. So pathetic; can't even see what is right in front of you."

"Then why destroy Malefor? I refuse to believe that you lied to me! I know you, and this isn't you!"

Spyro laughed again. "Where's the pleasure in letting another do your destined task?"

Cynder screamed in rage and fear before hurling herself at the purple dragon, slicing and biting in a frenzy.

*.*.*

Terrador stood resolutely at the head of his company, still waiting on Hunter to begin the assault. Signs of battle could be seen a distance away on the slopes of the volcano; bursts of flame and ice, followed by electricity and earth. The Earth Guardian couldn't tell any of the battle's participants, but came to the conclusion his side was winning, even if might not be true. He remembered back to a time when he was a little drake, and the lessons of the previous Earth Guardian.

Confidence is the key to victory.

A particularly large burst of lightning from the battle made the soldiers behind him flinch in their armor. The green dragon turned to encourage his men, but he spotted a lone cloaked figure fast approaching from the rocks.

Finally.

The figure removed his hood as he came upon the earth dragon, revealing his feline features, and bowed curtly.

"I thought something might have befallen you, Hunter. What is the situation?"

The cheetah warrior turned to the fortifications below him. "The grublins have pulled in all of their patrols, as far as I could tell. The only forces I have seen are right below you."

Terrador turned towards the other Guardians and stamped a foot, tremors running through the earth. "Then we can begin. Happy hunting, my friend," he finished, turning back to the feline.

"To you as well, old friend," the feline replied, pulling forth his bow.

A great chorus of armor clattered and clanked as the forces prepared themselves for the charge. Terrador stomped the earth again with a bit of power, issuing the pre-planned signal, and lurched his body forward down the slope. Gravel kicked up in his gallop as he made his way. A roaring din of battle cries, armor, and footfalls rose above everything else. To his right, he could see the other Guardians and Erwing leading their companies.

The great dragon watched the grublin lines, expecting arrows and projectiles of all kinds to come forth…

But none came.

Did we catch them off-guard?

He charged on regardless, his limbs at blinding speed for such a large creature, carrying him towards the fortifications and spears of his enemy. He summoned his earth element and sent the largest boulder he could muster at the first line of spikes, trenches, and barricades. The shot breached a smoking hole large enough for him to fit. He burst through the gap, ready to stampede any opposition he found…but there was nothing.

Spears leaned up against the barricades with no bodies holding them. Torches hung lit on the walls rather than held by grublins as was previously thought. The trenches were not manned.

He pressed forward cautiously, the charge slowly grinding to a halt behind him as dragons filtered over the walls and through it with force, only to find nothing. The battle cries turned to calls of confusion and bewilderment. Terrador sensed the break in the attack and attempted to spur the troops onward.

"Press on! Be wary of ambushes and traps!"

The dragons acknowledged promptly, and together they resumed their advance.

*.*.*

Cynder leaped with her talons for Spyro's neck. Frozen in fear, he only just avoided it by sidestepping, receiving a slash to his cheek. The golden-horned dragon retaliated by scratching Cynder's flank as she passed, breaking the skin and drawing blood.

The enraged Cynder again went for the kill, slicing her tail blade where only moments before Spyro's head had been. Spyro opened his maw wide with flames, disgorging them at Cynder, only for her to dive into her shadow to avoid the scorching heat. She burst from the shadow behind Spyro, who rolled forward to dodge the attack.

The black dragoness screamed in rage before hurling herself once more at the purple dragon. She sent as many blows as she could: a slash, a thrust of her tail blade, another slash, and an upper cut with her horns. Spyro dodged them all with years of honed skill, but was unable to retaliate because of the speed of the blows. Forced to give ground, he back-stepped towards the ledge, all the while dodging. Cynder began to lose sight of her opponent in her rage, only pressing forward with the next blow. She swung her tail blade forward in a mighty stab.

She felt something brush her cheek for the smallest of seconds, and then there came the sickening sound of metal meeting flesh.

*.*.*

Quake's raw power, being complimented by Rey's finesse, was proving to be a match for the four dragons. Flare circled behind Quake as Flame engaged him. Flame drove in with a blinding comet dash, only to be blocked by a wall of earth that chipped and cracked under the onslaught.

The barrier burst under Flame's pressure, blasting the red drake away and a ring of shrapnel with him. The drake regained his footing, minor cuts and scrapes covering his face. Charging once more into the fray, he blinded the earth dragon with a swath of red-hot fire. Flame butted heads with the green dragon, locking horns, turning it into a strength war. Quake quickly began to take the advantage, forcing Flame to his knees.

Flare dashed in from the flank, seeing her chance and starting a comet dash of her own.

The dragoness was surprised to see another comet dash appear in front of her, intercepting her own. The collision jarred her entire body. Digging deeper into her elemental energy, she again pushed forward. She took a step forward in her opponent's direction, pushing him back. Flames from both attacks whipped and turned the surrounding air into a furnace.

Then, her opponent blasted forward, pushing her off her front paws and striking forward right into her. She cringed as the searing flames won out over her own and scorched her underbelly. Back-flipping, Flare retreated, only to have her pursuer continue his dash towards her. Rounding another back flip, she pressed up against rock—the shelf of the volcano. Seeing the incoming onslaught, and with no time and nowhere to go, Flare prepared for the impact that would surely kill her.

A stunning chill of cold filled the air, followed by a tremendous hiss of evaporating steam. Flare opened her eyes to see an ice-armored dragoness in between her and Rey. The two pushed and shoved for a moment, all the while ice and fire turning to steam in tremendous puffs.

Flare took this moment to get out of her situation, and moved once more to a blind spot. She looked over to Flame, who was now out of the horn lock, having been assisted by Electria. Multiple bolts of lightning burst from her mouth, attempting to penetrate a rock boulder, while Flame waited to pounce as soon as he found an opening.

The boulder exploded outwards, showering the area in semi-liquefied rock and sharp fragments. Flame and Electria were sent reeling away from its epicenter, tumbling helplessly across the ground.

"Regroup!" Flare called to Glacia, who was still holding her deadly elemental lock with Rey.

She ran over to the stunned pair of Flame and Electria, looking over her shoulder to watch as the ice-blue dragoness disengaged expertly by back-flipping and gaining altitude before dropping and landing next to her. They assisted their battered comrades off the ground, Flare giving Flame a quick nuzzle.

"You alright?" the bloodied and filthy drake asked as he regained his battle stance.

"Could be…worse," she answered him between labored breaths.

Rey and Quake once again stood between them and the cave opening, bodies bloodied but not showing any signs of fatigue.

"They aren't even panting," Electria cried in exasperation, rubbing the soot and dirt from her eyes.

Flare answered her, trying to keep her voice from quivering. "We…have to keep trying… They are bound...to wear down eventually."

Glacia shook her head. "Maybe we should join the rest of the army. We might not be able to break that blockage anyway."

Flame turned, having to clench his paw to prevent himself from slapping her. "We are not abandoning Cynder."

"Calm down, fire brain, I'm just offering suggestions," the ice dragoness shot back.

"When we get back…" Flame began, only to be interrupted by Glacia again.

"You'll do wha—" she began, but was interrupted in turn by Flare.

"Look!" she screamed.

The quartet fixed their eyes where Flare had motioned. Rey and Quake both began to clutch their heads, moaning in pain before collapsing.

"Should we…" Glacia began, but got her answer as Flare, Flame, and Electria ran towards their former friends. She hurried over as fast as her battered body could carry her.

By the time they reached the pair, they had begun to seize up, shaking violently and foaming at the mouths.

"What do we do?!" Electria yelled in horror.

"Hold them down! Don't let them hit their heads!" Glacia yelled.

*.*.*

Spyro scratched the black dragoness along her flank. Then, hearing the swish of Cynder's tail blade, he ducked and narrowly avoided it. The purple beast felt deep within him for his internal fire, and opened his mouth wide, showing his glowing jaws before releasing the flames, forcing the black dragoness to retreat into her shadow. He then felt for her presence in convexity and rolled forward, avoiding the shadow burst.

The black dragoness yelled in rage once more before flinging herself at him again. With deadly attacks flying at him from all directions, the purple dragon began to retreat towards the ledge of the chamber, drawing on Dragon Time to dodge the claws, horns, and tail blade of the black dragoness.

His back foot reached the ledge.

As good a place as any.

The purple dragon brought time to a near standstill, where seconds became hours. He stared at the frozen black dragoness for a moment, her scream of rage silently frozen and her tail blade gleaming with deadly intent as it came forward to strike him. He looked into her emerald eyes, seeing the pain and hatred he had caused her, and his stomach turned.

"I'm sorry," he whispered in a message that she would never hear.

The purple dragon made a small mental effort, calling back the darkness that was a part of the others. Once that was done, he stepped forward to her side, nuzzled the black dragoness's cheek, and kissed it ever so fleetingly. Turning around and eyeing his doom, he placed himself where it could not miss.

Taking one last look at her, he prepared himself for the pain, and let loose the flow of time.

*.*.*

Cynder opened her eyes.

Blood dribbled down her tail onto the rock. Further up, the tail blade was buried deep in the purple dragon's flank, almost to its base. Cynder's mouth hung wide and she pulled her blade free, watching as the purple dragon fell to the ground, lying on his uninjured side, breathing heavily with precious blood leaking with every heartbeat.

Cynder stood over the purple dragon, unable to move or speak, tail blade lying beside her covered in gore. The black dragoness watched numbly, not knowing whether to cry tears of relief or sadness.

The purple dragon cracked a smile. He took one last look at his beloved dragoness, and closed his eyes in finality. Cynder noticed that his fist was glowing green and jumped back, fearing a last ditch attack, but it was not so. The purple dragon turned over slowly, and crashed his glowing paw into the ground. A resounding crack echoed throughout the chamber.

Cynder was unable to move as she watched the ground underneath Spyro begin to slide, then disappear, purple dragon and all. She rushed to the ledge screaming, "Spyro!" only to be greeted by the tremendous magma geyser that shot forth from below.

*.*.*

Rey stood in the dark stone hallway once more. In the distance, another torch gleamed, except this time he sat in the dark, one with the shadows.

A familiar voice echoed from somewhere in the blackness. See how you likesss the dark? Isn't it…fun?

Rey remembered the character from last time. The shadowy melted version of himself was here…somewhere.

You can't denies it… You likes it… You wants more of it…

The drake began to walk down the hallway once more towards the light…but there was no panic this time. It felt…almost like home. No longer was he scared to be in its comforting darkness.

Sees, you do… You do…

He reached the perfect cone of light, and paused just outside its border before stepping once more into its embrace.

The voice spoke again, but this time…he felt his own mouth moving. Once the beast has been let out of its cage, it'sss not so willing to go back in.

The drake then realized his paw had turned black and seemed to ooze. He stared incredulously for a moment before frantically looking over the rest of himself as a surge of panic took him. His eyes were greeted by the same dripping black form.

The voice that was his but not then broke out into a fit of laughter.

The master calls us… Maybe next time…

The drake felt something glide over his eyes, his vision going completely black for a moment. He could feel something shifting, morphing, and then slide down his paws. He regained his vision to see a black pool forming around him, growing from what was still coming off his body. Then it began to slowly scoot and crawl away from the light, back into the blackness, and just like that it was gone.

A blinding light seemed to come from above, and when it faded he saw the faces of two familiar dragonesses.

"Rey?" the blue and yellow dragons whispered.

He heard another name, whispered close by. "Quake?"

"They're coming around!" one of them shouted.

Rey tilted his orange head to where he heard the other voices. Quake was already looking at him, and gave the slightest of nods.

The orange fire dragon responded with the same, and turned back to his friends. "Well, are you going to help me up or what?"

Glacia and Electria each offered a paw. Electria began and then stuttered, "It's…it's good to have you back."

"Eh…er, yeah, it is," he said with a smile as he stood.

*.*.*

Cynder padded slowly up the tunnel, mind numb, only thinking about the next step. Eventually, she heard a voice coming from further up the tunnel. Without a word in answer, she continued until she reached its source. Emerging into the open, Cynder had to shut her eyes against the blinding sunlight.

"Cynder?!" she heard a familiar voice call. Looking up slowly, she saw Flare and Flame rushing towards her.

The couple landed next to her. "Are you alright? Are you okay?"

What felt like a bombardment of questions rained down upon her. The black dragoness paid them no heed. Pushing past her friends, she lifted off with slow steady flaps of her magenta wings. Flame turned to Flare, his expression grave and worried.

The volcano then shook violently, the earth groaning and buckling under the force. Boulders that had been jarred loose began to roll down the slopes of the mountain.

"We should go!" Flame yelled over the volcano.

Flare unfurled her wings, sore joints aching at the movement. "Get the others! I'll follow Cynder!"

Flame nodded, and disappeared further down the mountain. Flare got a running start, leaping into the air and flying after the black dragoness.

*.*.*

Terrador rushed over the next vacant line of trenches and barricades, revealing still more unmanned positions, abandoned weapons, and untended fires. The great dragon turned to the trooper closest to them and barked an order.

"Get the other Guardians and General Erwing now, and return to me."

The Guardian leapt into the air with a single bound and flew towards the rear of the corps, which was still advancing through the empty trenches. Eyeing a spot big enough for the four adult dragons beyond the fortifications, he landed and awaited his comrades. He glimpsed the other Guardians and Erwing in the distance, each leaving the heads of their columns. The green drake began to pace in the gravel, trying to think what this meant. Volteer was the first to reach him, his company being the closest.

"I see you are as perplexed as myself, Terrador."

Soon the remaining Guardian arrived, closely followed by Erwing.

"We must get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible," Terrador began. "Those grublins could be roaming the countryside burning and pillaging. We should proceed at once back to Warfang."

"I agree," Cyril answered.

"The entirety of our predicament has exponentially increased in mystery. The only innocuous conclusion is to return to Warfang and safeguard the welfare of the civilian population," Volteer finished in one breath.

"It is settled, then. Trooper!" Terrador called to the same dragon as before. "Have the captains organize an immediate cease to offensive actions and prepare for evacuation back to Warfang."

After the trooper had left with the message, Terrador spoke again. "I do not know what devilry allowed them to disappear underneath our noses. We'll have to be on our guard."

"Agreed. I did not pin Spyro as one this clever," Cyril finished, wide-eyed.

Volteer turned to the unusually quiet general. "What do you have to say on the matter, General Erwing?"

"I think…we might be getting some answers soon." The General pointed to a flock of dragons approaching.

*.*.*

A deep rumbling again shook the ground. The black ground of the Burned Lands began to fall apart, plateaus crumbling, ravines collapsing. Then a deafening explosion rocked the land. Even flying away at this distance, they could feel the power of the shockwave passing.

Flame turned to look back at the volcano, which was shooting lava and gas high into the air. Smoke poured into the already choked sky, and ash and dust began to rain from the heavens. It took several minutes for him to be able to hear the sound of his wings again, and still more before anything that was spoken was more than just mumbled garble.

Flare flew closer and brushed against his side. He smiled for a moment, but then, when his gaze passed over the magenta-winged dragoness to his front, it disappeared. Seeing the blood that still coated her tail blade, it was easy to guess what had transpired within the volcano.

Spyro, his friend, was dead.

The epilogue will follow shortly sometime tomorrow or the day after. Along with my final notes and 'thank you's to everyone.

As always, all reviews are appreciated, and I attempt to respond to everyone of them.