Hi, here we have a new chapter, but I must warn you about this one, since it contains some strong images that could hurt someone's sensibility. Thank you very much for the reviews I received, I hope to keep up with the good work. Have a good reading and a nice day.

-Azotac

His vision flickered momentarily, before falling back into obscurity. His mind was completely blank, as he couldn't recall what appended to him before he lost his senses. No matter how he tried, his head seemed to be stuck, unable to think, unable to remember. He didn't know if he was breathing. He didn't even know if he was alive at all, as he just felt nothing. Eventually he sensed himself slip away again, as his dim consciousness faded again into the void.

An indefinite amount of time later, he gained back his dulled senses and he managed to slowly open his eyes and weakly raise his head. His vision was all blurred but he could still distinguish some basic shapes around him. He found himself in what seemed to be a cave, dimly illuminated by a violet light that came from the ceiling. He tried to gaze at the source of the light, but as soon as he did it, a sense of terror began to rise in his chest.

It was a dark crystal.

He tried to move his limbs, but he quickly found that he had been chained with his back to the humid wall with a series of tight metal restraints. With his senses now gradually returning, he now was also beginning to feel the magical drain and the unbearable hissing of that abomination over his head. He felt every bit of his remaining energy being slowly and almost painfully took away by the crystal.

Spyro tried again to move, forcing his weak limbs to jerk out from the wall but it was no use. Panic began to take him. He tried to scream for help, but he found that also his muzzle had been constrained with tight knotted rope, which barely permitted him to breath. The purple dragon dropped his head in defeat and exhaustion, trying to reflect on his current unknown situation. A river of unanswered questions flowed through his mind.Where was he?Why was him captured?Is the city safe? Most importantly, are Cynder and his friends safe?

"I hope they're fine, at least…"He thought. Then, all of a sudden, a strong noise came to his ears and, soon after, a small, contorted creature entered the cave where he was held prisoner.

A small grublin walked towards him and stopped in front of his figure, watching curiously the dragon. Spyro snarled threateningly at the creature, which didn't divert its gaze from him.

Its face tinted with a devious grin, before extracting what seemed to be a dagger, from a pouch on his back. The purple dragon instantly frowned at the sight of that blade. Spyro studied as best as he could the weapon held by the grublin. It was composed by small wooden handle and an oversized blade which seemed to be made of some sort of shining purple glass. Then he realised a terrifying truth. The blade was made of a dark crystal, as it radiated the same dark energy as the one on the ceiling.

The grublin meanwhile got closer, studying curiously the purple dragon. It finally posed the tip of the blade at the height of his flank. Spyro watched terrified the creature, as it began to feel the drain from the crystal. The small figure in front of him, eventually raised its head, grinning creepily at the dragon and without hesitation it pushed the blade in his flesh.

A jolt of indescribable pain coursed through the young dragon, as the monster before him slowly dragged the dagger from his flank across his chest, leaving a not deep, but pretty agonising wound. Crimson blood poured over his purple scales and onto the floor, slowly forming a puddle underneath his paws.

Spyro wanted to scream, but the rope didn't allow it, leaving out just a muffled wail. He was almost fainting from the pain, when a sudden good sensation flowed into his body. He opened his eyes, only to find the grublin with a red gem in its hand, pushed against his scales. As soon as the blood stopped to pour out, the creature removed the gem, leaving just an open gash into the purple dragon scales. Pleased by its work, the grublin moved away from the dragon and disappeared in the darkness.

Spyro felt his senses slip away once again, his vision fell into obscurity.

"At least I won't feel the pain anymore…"He thought lastly.

No peaceful sleep came to Cynder that night, as her worst fears came back infesting her dreams. She saw Spyro's body being found, broken and battered. His once glistening violet eyes were now spent and without life. A sense of grief and despair rushed in her, as she woke up painting heavily, trying to convince herself that it was just a terrifying nightmare. She didn't close her eyes from that moment until dawn came to illuminate the sky and her room. Cynder didn't manage to get up, as she was just too tired from her restless night. Eventually she fell asleep and, once again, her dreams were haunted with her dreadful fears.

"…"

"..ss Cynder…"

The black dragoness heard a voice, but she wasn't sure if it was in her mind or if it was someone that was really calling for her. A loud knock followed closely to the call, making her understand that it wasn't a dream after all.

"Miss Cynder?"Said once again the unknown voice. Cynder opened her eyes, squinting them briefly for the sudden presence of light in her room.

"What time is it?"She asked to her self. Then another loud knock came from the doorway.

She groaned and pushed herself onto her paws a dragged her tired body to the entrance. She opened the door only to find a mole in front of it.

"I'm sorry to bother you, Miss, but the Guardians requested your immediate presence to a meeting."Stated the mole.

"Yes, of course. Tell them I'll be there in few minutes."She sighed, trying to close the door, but the mole stopped her, putting his paw on the handle.

"Please, Cynder. They said it's really important."Said the small creature. The black dragoness, sighed again, before exiting her room, following the mole.

The furry mammal, guided her down the stairs and to the main hall, but weirdly the mole kept on going, to another door situated on the opposite side. Cynder followed him curiously, as she never seen that part of the Temple before. They walked for few more minutes, crossing a large corridor that led to the other side of the great building.

Finally the mole stopped in front of a wooden door, guarded by two Temple soldiers. The mammal gestured the entrance bowing his head, then left. The black dragoness watched quizzically the door and the two guards, before pushing it open. As soon as she entered, she remained stunned by the structure of the room. It was a circular space with a great round stone table placed in the middle. The walls were filled with bookshelves, packed with thick tomes and ancient scrolls. The place was illuminated by a circular opening in the middle of dome-like ceiling, which casted a column of bright light in the middle of the table. The three Guardians stood in front of her, at the other side of the table. Near them the two captains were also sat, this time without their armours. The last guests were Hunter and, surprisingly, Sparx which hovered silently over the cheetah's shoulder.

They all gazed at the young dragoness that had just entered the room.

"Ah, Cynder. Please have a seat, we were waiting for you."Said Cyril, gesturing an available spot near the fire captain. She moved to where the ice guardian had indicated, taking place near Ashen, which smiled briefly at her. Just then, she noticed that in the middle of the table there was a round space filled with a some sort of grey sand. She wanted to ask the Guardians what was this place, but in the end she kept her curiosity.

"Well, since we're all here, we can begin our meeting."Said Terrador, placing his paw on the stone table. The pad of his foot suddenly began to glow with a glint of green earth energy, as the sand in the middle of the table began to move and take the shape of what seemed to be a mountain. The guardian finally removed his paw from the stone and the material stabilised, taking form of the mountain range that towered over the Burned Lands. Cynder recognised those peaks almost instantly, as she and Spyro glimpsed them during their journey and ascension to the Floating Islands.

"So, the scouts that we sent yesterday have returned from their mission."Began Terrador.

"They reported to have glimpsed a small group of grublin soldiers directing towards this mountain range, which it's sited in the north-eastern zone of the Burned Lands. They followed them as close as they could, without being spotted, but the enemy group disappeared in a cave beneath the slopes of the mountains." Concluded the guardian.

"It's our belief that these peaks are where there's more probability to find Spyro, as they are also near to where the grublins came to siege Warfang the last time, before the end of the war."Added Cyril.

"We know that it's risky shot, going into a rescue mission without having the certainty of the holding place, but right now is the only track we have."Admitted the ice guardian.

"So what's the plan, big guys?"Asked Sparx, breaking the silence.

"We are here to discuss this, my young friend. "Answered Volteer to the dragonfly.

"Our idea is to set up a small squad, fifteen elements at most, which will travel to the designated location. The route we studied is quite longer, but we greatly reduce the risk of any kind of ambush, since we won't directly pass over the Burned Lands" Stated Cyril.

"The journey will take us, at best, a full day of flight, before we arrive at the slopes of the mountains. There we will set our base camp and rest for the night."Continued the ice Guardian.

"At the first lights of dawn, we will depart for the peaks and bring back our Spyro."Concluded Cyril. All those presents nodded with determination.

"What about the formation of the squad?"Asked Cynder, gazing the guardians. Terrador was about to speak when Baldur interjected.

"Sir, I can gather few specialised soldiers from our ranks. I'm sure they'll be willing to help."He said. The elder nodded in agreement, then addressed the back dragoness.

"Cynder your help would be very welcome, but we don't oblige you to-"The guardian was interrupted.

"Of course I will help, Terrador."Replied firmly the dragoness.

"I'm coming too. "Said suddenly Sparx, raising his hand.

"Me too."Said Hunter.

"Very well, that's set. Cyril and I will accompany you, while Volteer will stay back in order to keep the city safe. Captain Ashen will assist you."Said Terrador, turning to his electric colleague.

"Good decision, Terrador. "Replied Volteer.

"Since we decided everything, this meeting is concluded. We will depart in two hours, from the eastern wall. I suggest to bring some gems for extra safety and a light armour."Said finally the earth Guardian, standing up. All the presents did the same, moving for the door. The group left the council room and moved along the corridor and to the main hall, where they separated.

Cynder directed to her room, where she took a small pouch with some red and green gems and soon after she returned in the main hall to ask the Guardians where she could find a proper armour. The elders directed the young dragoness to the armoury, which was a couple of minutes of flight from the great temple. Cynder exited the great wooden door and took flight, moving to where the Guardians pointed her.

The armoury was a great building just aside the barracks. There were many soldiers walking in and out from the place, which made it seemed to be rather busy after the assault.

She entered the structure, where she found a long counter with a lot of mole artisans and blacksmiths working on several different pieces of armours and weaponry. Cynder got closer to the first one, who was momentarily free.

"Excuse me sir."She said. Immediately the mole raised his head to watch who called her. He slightly adjusted his glasses, then his face tinted with a bright smile.

"Ah, Miss Cynder. What can I do for you?"He asked.

"The Guardians sent me here to gather a light suit of armour, do you think you can help me?"She asked politely.

"Of course I can help you. Stay here, I'll come back in a minute."Said the mole, before moving behind the counter, where there was a series of wooden shelves and ledges, containing many spare pieces of armours. Meanwhile Cynder sat on her haunches, gazing wordlessly the stone floor. She tried to recap all that happened in the last day or so, how the beautiful and peaceful life she was finally enjoying plummeted again into chaos and strife, just from a day to another.

Her thoughts went to Spyro once again, as grief began to grip her chest like last night. Luckily the mole attendant returned soon after, breaking her sorrow from growing any bigger. The furry mammal posed a leather bag onto the counter.

"Here it is miss Cynder, a strong and light armour."Stated the mole.

The dragoness peeked inside the sack, studying the armour. It was a solid but lightweight set, complete with chest and shoulder pads, in addition to all the standard components. It obliviously wasn't enchanted like the ones she and Spyro found during their journey and lost after the recomposition of the planet. Still it seemed more than sufficient to protect her. She finally closed the bag, with the leather lace and addressed the mole.

"Thank you very much, sir. Have a nice day."She replied, strapping the bag on her flank and moving for the door.

"You too, Miss."Said the attendant before she exited the building.

Cynder took again the sky, directing back to the Temple, as she wanted to rest a bit before leaving. Once she was over the courtyard, she glimpsed three familiar figures approaching the staircase. She dived quickly and landed beside them.

"Guys, what are you doing here?"She asked. The three youngsters yelped for the fright, but quickly relaxed at the sight of Cynder.

"We came here for you as soon as we heard the news about Spyro.I still can't believe it."Said Auros gently.

Her expression darkened a bit a those words, but she quickly tried to shove away the sadness.

"Thanks guys, but there's no need to worry about me. What about you Auros, is your wound ok?"She asked, genuinely worried. The white dragon nodded, lifting his left wing in order to show the flank. Luckily the slash wasn't very deep, so it took only few gems and a good night of rest to seal the wound. Still, a long and jagged scar remained on his scales.

"Sorry if I ask, Cynder, but what do you have inside that bag?"Asked suddenly Nix.

Cynder watched her three friends, before sighing, almost in defeat.

"It's a suit of armour. I'm departing with the Guardians for the Burned Lands. We're going to rescue Spyro."She said.

"You found out where he is?"Asked astounded Gaia.

"Well, it's more of a supposition. Let's say there's a high probability to find him there."Admitted Cynder.

"But it's the only track that we have right now."She finally sighed again.

The three youngsters watched each other silently. In their eyes a firm determination, as they probably all thought the same thing.

"I want to come with you."Said the white dragon.

"Me too!"Also said Gaia and Nix in unison.

Cynder didn't know what to say. One side of her, wanted them to be present, as it would mean to have more help in their mission and also have friends to sustain her. The other side knew that it will be very dangerous and she didn't want to put their life at stakes.

"Guys, I…I don't know if-"She was interrupted by Auros.

"Spyro is our friend and now he needs us. What kind of friends would we be if we didn't come to help when he need the most."Said the white dragon, with his eyes glistening in the sunlight.

"Yea, please let us come."Pleaded Gaia. Cynder didn't know what to say, but she felt comforted in knowing that she could have friends to rely during the journey.

"Guys, I'm not in charge of the mission, you need to ask to the Guardians. If you want, we can go to see them now."Said the black dragoness. Her three friends nodded excitedly, before following her to the staircase.

They arrived in the main hall, where Terrador and Cyril were discussing. The three youngsters pleaded the elders to let them come with the rescue party. At first they were firmly contrary, but in the end, also after Cynder vouched for them, they consented, at the sole condition that they should have sticked constantly with the Guardians. They excitedly thanked the elders and moved towards the armoury to gather their own suits of armours. As soon as they got ready, the trio returned to the Temple. Auros picked up also a small pouch containing a painkiller herb given him by Aramis under advice of Volteer. He strapped the sack onto his right foreleg and returned in the main hall, where the others where waiting for him. Once everyone seemed to be ready, the group saluted Volteer and took flight toward the eastern wall, joining Baldur and his five soldiers. They landed on the bastion all together. Terrador turned to face the squad in its integrity.

"All right team, the journey we're about to face is to be considered very dangerous. We'll delve into enemy territory, without knowing what to find. Still our motivations are strong and I want to thank you all for deciding to participate."Said the earth guardian.

"We will flight until sundown, then set up a camp for the night."Added the ice guardian. The whole squadron nodded in agreement and short after took the air, following the lead of Guardians.

The sun was far up in the sky, as it was almost midday when they departed. Cynder glanced the terrain getting more distant , as they ascended over the clouds. The group decided to fly in V-formation, since it would be more easy to travel at greater speeds. She stood just behind the earth Captain, behind her there were Nix and Gaia and, on the opposite side, there was Auros, who was flying silently just behind an electricity soldier. The one who was having the worst time was definitely Hunter, since he was mounted on Cyril's back. He was firmly gripped, almost with his talons, onto the ice guardian's neck. Cynder giggled to herself at the scene, as the firm and stoic cheetah became no more than a scared kitty. The black dragoness turned her head and focused her gaze far away from her companions. She glimpsed in the far distance a series of peaks emerging form the clouds. The group didn't know if they would ever find Spyro in those mountains, but Cynder almost knew they were going in the right direction, she could feel her beloved purple dragon getting closer and closer.

"Hold on Spyro. We're coming to get you."She thought with firm determination.

Spyro let out another muffled wail, even if inside he was screaming with all his lungs, as that cursed dagger penetrated in his flesh and slowly tore it apart. His tormentor had come back another two times since he first woke up, and every time the torture he received was always and painfully the same. His body was marked with three large gashes departing from his flank and ending in his chest. Even if they weren't bleeding, the amount of agony inflicted to the purple dragon was immense, as for him every movement now was painful, even breathing. Many times he hoped to faint, to lose consciousness and to never wake up again, but in those same moments he thought about Cynder and his friends, how much they must have been worried for him and how much he felt lost without them. This was what he drew strength from, trying to endure the agonising pain and wait silently that someone or something came to save him, since he knew that in his condition it was almost impossible to escape. Even if he miraculously managed to free himself from those damned restraints, he would surely lose himself in the labyrinth of caves and eventually captured again from those monsters. In addition he was too weak even to walk, since both the dark crystal in the ceiling and the blade used by his torturer had drained every last bit of energy from his strained body. Every time his tormentor used the gems to stop the bleeding he tried to absorb as much energy as he could, but it wasn't never enough for him to properly cure any wound on his body. Eventually he resigned himself to wait, immersed in the obscurity of the cave he was prisoner. Spyro closed his eyes, trying to divert his focus from the pain he was enduring from what seemed like days to him, even if he had completely lost the sense of time during his imprisonment. He tried to think once again to the good moments he spent with Cynder, during the last month or so, after their dire battle with the Dark Master and how much he missed her in that moment. He hoped with his all heart that at least she was safe and sound, it was the only thing that mattered to him. A sense of warmth filled his wounded chest, and eventually a small tear fell down from his cheek and onto the blood stained cave floor.

After an indefinite amount of time, the same grublin returned and, with the same method, he drew the crystal dagger from the sheath, he got closer to the terrified purple dragon and again, stabbed the poor youngster with the blade. This time, with the indescribable pain, Spyro felt another strong sensation flowing through his broken body. It was oddly and fearfully familiar, like a cold rush of anger and hate. Around him, small tendrils of obscure purple energy began to expand and envelope his form. The figure before him retracted the blade from his chest and began to step backward, smiling creepily. The young hero used all his remaining strengths to fight the darkness swirling in his body, but he felt himself slowly and inexorably losing grip on his body. Meanwhile the blood from the open wound poured on his chest and down to the floor. Luck wanted that the sudden lost of so much of that precious lifeblood was enough to make faint the purple dragon and so avert the unchaining of the dark beast that dwelled in his heart. Eventually Spyro let out a last muffled cry and passed out, as the tendrils of obscurity around him instantly dissipated in the humidity of the cave.

The grublin frowned in what seemed to be disappointment and, after storing the dagger in its sheath, extracted a red gem from a pouch and partially cured the bleeding wound. Then he disappeared in the darkness of the cave once again.

The creature walked quickly across the labyrinth of caves and tunnels, only to arrive after an indefinite amount of time into a bigger cave with a dome-like ceiling. It moved towards the centre of the place, where stood an enormous dark crystal, which expanded for the entire height of the grotto and sprawling partially on the floor. It seemed to be the supporting column of the whole cave, as it was firmly embedded in the stone beneath and above its shape. That abomination born from Malefor's evilness radiated a powerful dark aura, illuminating of an intense purple light, all the underground room. The grublin moved carefully around the crystal, almost with fear, then disappeared into a side tunnel, its form completely engulfed by obscurity.

Thank you again you for reading, I hope to see you again next week.