Sometimes, no one can accomplish their destiny. Then again, you don't have to do it alone either.

Arrowheadlock (I came up with it myself)

Brian's POV

Something's off, there can't be two Cynders! I turned around and learned that I jumped to conclusions, The second Cynder was really the gray dragoness. Now with a new tail blade, I'd like an explanation for that but I don't want to integrate her either.

"That's why I'm here to confess, to surrender myself." She spoke.

Spyro's POV

"And she can read minds, this is gonna be a long story." Brian grumbled under his breath as he laid back down on the pillow. Apparently the gray dragoness just read his.

"Excuse me but what do you mean "Surrender yourself?" Volteer asked. Amber stepped forward and spoke up. "She's been experimented on, twisted, controlled by that ape for one soul purpose." Amber explained as she looked at me and Cynder. "To kill the both of you in order to "Avenge" Gaul the ape." Amber finished.

"I thought I could leave it in the past when the human supposedly killed him outside our room, But I'm still becoming more like you Cynder. He's still alive and he's nearby. I don't want to be a weapon!" The grey dragoness cried. I saw Brian and Volteer trade glances before Brian stood up.

"Don't lose hope, I can and will help you, You have my word." Brian promised as he looked around for a moment. "You ready, Shade?" Brian asked the Dragoness who held a puzzled look on her face.

"Shade, Nice name tainted by darkness, and yet still sees light. It suits you" Amber commented.

"Believe me I like the name but, ready for what?" Shade asked Brian.

"A gift, courtesy of the former dark master, and the Night Fury." Brian replied before he roared out releasing dark magic in the form of a pulse. Upon contact with Shade however her tail blade disappeared as a shadowy mist left her body.

"OK Brian two things!" Cynder practically yelled at him, "One that was unnecessarily loud and two, you do realize that you're using the same magic Malefor used right?"

"Correction Cynder, the same magic Malefor ABUSED, He wielded it irresponsibly, I do not. Besides it is wise to know your opponent before battle yes?" Brian explained.

"Yeah I guess you gotta point there," Cynder replied before turning to Shade, "How do you feel?"

"Free, Thank you." Shade replied with a smile on her face.

Dixon's POV

I was cleaning my rifle again as I whistled a little tune that I learned when I was a boy. Apparently Terrador thought it would be wise for us to show the strengths and flaws in various firearms, I agreed of course. Anything to save lives.

Loading my rifle I stepped out on the training arena. There was a lot of people in the stands watching as Terrador gave me a nod to begin.

"Alright, listen up." I began, "I'm going to skip the introductions and get right to it. This is an assault rifle, A fair balance of range, accuracy, rate of fire, and stopping power. However be warned that they are very complex and require routine cleaning and maintenance." I explained before I fired a double tap into a dummy. Setting my M-16 on the table I picked up the MK5. "This is called a sub-machine gun, It sacrifices accuracy and stopping power for increased rate of fire and portability." I explained, "Good for firing into a large number of enemies but not very reliable for one on one combat." I emptied a magazine's worth of ammo into another dummy. setting the empty gun down I picked up the M24, Too bad Brian wasn't behind the scope again, he was one good shot.

"This is a sniper rifle, in the hands of a well trained soldier it's capable of killing a man and probably even a dragon in one bullet at long range. Observe." I explained as I got away from the dummys. Jim was up in the rafters armed with a sniper as he zeroed in on the dummy's head, A poor little watermelon. Jim fired the rifle as the sound shrieked through the stadium, the red fruit was scattered throughout the arena. The audience was speechless at the devastation. I simply shrugged as I walked back out

Brian's POV

"So that's what you used Brian?" Cynder asked me as we watched the show. "Yeah, slow firing but once I've put the crosshairs on the target, they haven't got a prayer." I acknowledged, what I really loved about the bolt action sniper is that it was reliable in nearly any environment. Unlike the heavy full automatic MGs that the Mercs always paraded around with. In the hot humid jungle environment I fought in, complex full automatic guns jammed almost instantly. The look on their faces when they learn that the hard way was always good for a laugh.

I heard a stomach growl behind me and turned around to see the others looking at eachother. My guess is it was Spyro's.

"Alright I guess we'll all go eat now." I commented as I moved towards the door.

"What do you mean by "We" Brian?" Amber asked me while trying not to laugh.

"Funny thing about someone's stomach growling, It's like a yawn or a laugh. There contagious." I explained before Amber's stomach growled too. "See what I mean?" I laughed. I pushed the door open and walked to the food court.

A hour later. . .

How do they cook that goat meat! it was delicious! Well as long as they keep that flavor coming, I'll do my job and I'll let them do theirs. After that terrific dinner, Cynder Amber, and Shade went out together for the evening. Of course that left me and Spyro together, He told me how he Spike and Forge found the treasure chest in the forest playfighting. Volteer has been working hard but has been unable to decipher the runes engraved in the metal. I told him that if anyone can read a dead language, It's Volteer. Right then I heard someone trying to beat me at my own game, he didn't.

"Forge, I can hear you, come on out." I said out loud as if it was nothing new. Of course he whined as he came along side me and Spyro. Then I felt something tug at the back of my head, something unnatural and sinister. I stopped Forge with my wing right there.

"Forge, Go Home Now. It's not safe for you here, something's wrong." I growled as I looked around for trouble. The young dragon wisely obeyed and ran back to the temple.

As soon as he was a safe distance I turned to Spyro who was also looking around.

"What is it Brian?" Spyro asked as I echoed for threats or anything out of place. I found it.

"Not what Spyro, Who is it?" I asked back as I jumped up onto the rooftops. Spyro ducked behind some crates as a figure's shadow rounded the corner. . .

Come on admit it people! I tricked all of you with that cliffhanger last chapter. Now I've fully introduced Decode09's OCs Appa and Shade.

You all aren't to happy about me leavening you at another cliffhanger are you?

Just try NOT to fall off OKay?

Arrowheadlock