Chapter 5

The Valley of Avalar

The Straw Hat Pirates followed Spyro across the river and arrived at Cheetah Village in Avalar.

"Whoa, neat village!" Luffy exclaimed.

"It looked like nobody's home," Zoro said.

"It's where the cheetahs live," Spyro said. "They're still at Warfang, with Prowlus having a sit down with the Guardian Dragons."

"Cheetahs?" Usopp asked. "The last one I met was on Zou. Wasn't it?"

"Yeah," Zoro said.

The Straw Hat Pirates unpacked their stuff as the crew told Spyro and Cynder about their adventures.

"So you guys are from another world," Cynder said. "That explains it."

"You could say that," Nami said. "I wish I knew where to go if I got a compass."

"And in your world, you say there are these Devil Fruits that give powers in exchange for never to swim again?" Spyro asked.

"Yep, that's right," Luffy said. "And there's a legendary treasure known as One Piece, and once I find it, I'll be King of the Pirates."

"Maybe they got compasses in Warfang," Usopp thought. "You guys ever got navigational tools around?"

"I don't know any compass," said Spyro, "but I've heard about maps."

Robin checked the book of the Dragon Realms from page to page. But then she got to the chapter about Spyro's tale. "Oh, my," she said.

"What is it?" Usopp asked.

"This book shows Spyro's story," Robin said. She turned to Spyro. "The story says that you were raised in a dragonfly's home. And then you met Ignitus before flying to the other Guardian Dragons' locations."

"Wasn't he the skeleton we found in the catacombs earlier?" Usopp asked.

But hearing Ignitus' name made Spyro depressed, as he turned his head away.

"Spyro?" Cynder asked.

"I'm sorry," Spyro said. "Just hearing his name makes me sad, the day he sacrificed himself in that flame." His eyes tear up. "Oh, why? Why did he have to die?!" He ran into a hut and sobbed.

"Oh, swell," Sparx said sarcastically. "Now he's crying crocodile tears."

"I didn't think he'd be upset," Robin said.

"It's not your fault," said Cynder. "It was during Malefor's evil. Spyro and I witness Ignitus die in that fire, and Spyro hasn't felt the same since."

"Malefor? Who the heck is this Malefor?" Usopp asked.

Cynder sighed. "Let's just say I was his servant, being the Terror of the Sky. When Spyro broke the curse he had on me, we've joined together to defeat him." She rubbed her neck. "That snake chain he put on us was something I couldn't forget. And three years of being in that crystal..."

Luffy fell a little stunned. "That was...AWESOME!" He shouted with excitement. "How did you do adventures with Spyro!? Tell me more about it! Tell me!"

WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!

Nami hit Luffy on the head with her staff, and Luffy laid on the ground with bumps on his head.

"Will you control your excitement!?" Nami yelled.

"Yohohohoho! Luffy-san sure is a riot since I first met him!" Brook said.

"Shut up, Brook," said Sanji. "It could get embarrassing, you know."

"If you excuse me," Robin said. She headed for the hut and found Spyro crying. "Spyro? Are you okay?" Spyro sniffles as he looked at her. "I'm sorry I upset you. I didn't think..."

"No, it wasn't your fault," Spyro said. "It's just that...ever since I met Ignitus, he was like a father to me. But...but after he died helping me and Cynder through the belt, I..." He covered his eyes. "I just never felt the same."

"I see."

Spyro wiped his eyes. "All these years I blame myself. I'm sorry."

"Spyro?" Cynder said, coming in the hut. "You okay?"

"I, I'm fine. Just hearing that name..."

"Shh," Cynder hushed, putting her paw on Spyro's mouth. "Just remember that he's in our hearts." She turned to Robin. "I'll take it from here."

"Okay," Robin said.

"Hold on, are you really taking it from here?" Sparx said.

"Trust me," Cynder said.

Later that night, Robin checked through the book, checking the story of Spyro's adventures with Cynder, from being trapped in the crystal for three years to being bound by the Snake Chains, from the fight against the Golem to defeating the Destroyer with the dam, and the battle against Malefor. The tale, however, didn't show pictures of Malefor.

"I wonder what this Malefor dragon looks like," Robin said, closing the book.

"He probably sounds like a scary monster," said Usopp, "maybe scarier than Moriah's shadow powers."

"How would I know? We've seen scary stuff," said Zoro.

Sanji flicked his lighter, trying to light his cigarette. "Yeah, like your moss hair."

"Hey!"

Outside the valley, Spyro laid by the river. Luffy came to him as he had a chunk of meat.

"Hey, Spyro," Luffy said a mouthful.

"Huh? Oh, hey, Luffy. I'm sorry about earlier," Spyro said.

"Hey, I don't blame you. I think you're the nicest dragon I've ever met. It was awesome just hearing your adventures with Cynder, but being bound together by chain sounds a little uncomfortable."

"It was at first. But it all became useful."

"I have an idea. Why don't you guys join my crew?"

"Why would I? I'm just a dragon."

"Come on, it'll be fun."

"I'm hero for the Dragon Realms. I'm not meant to be a pirate. Do you know the difference?"

"Yep. Let's say a hero shares meat, but as a pirate, I want all the meat."

Spyro decided to change the subject. "Luffy... When you told us about your adventures, I felt like this Ace guy reminds me of Ignitus in a sense, both with fire powers." He lowered his head. "How they died despite having fire powers was beyond me."

Hearing this made Luffy remember his times with Ace, from the day they became brothers exchanging cups with each other and Sabo, and during their adventure in Alabasta. He ate his chunk of meat but then fell in the grass, snoring.

"Really?!" Usopp yelled. "Sleeping after eating?!"

This made Spyro chuckle a bit. He then yawned. "Well, we got a day tomorrow."

Usopp dragged Luffy back into the village as the Straw Hat Pirates gather in huts to sleep. Spyro slept with Cynder as Sparx slept on Spyro's back.

The noise from outside awoke Spyro and Cynder, as they open their eyes, not because of the sunlight, but because of the shouting and clashes. They got out and saw the Straw Hat Pirates fighting with the cheetahs while shouting at the same time. One cheetah got caught in arms sprouting from Robin's power, and another cheetah clashes his sword with Zoro's.

"Alright!" Luffy said. "Gum-Gum..."

"Hey, wait!" Spyro shouted as he ran. "Stop!" He breathed fire at the air, stopping the fight.

Chief Prowlus approached Spyro. "Who are these trespassers? Why are they brought here?" he demanded, growling.

"They're not from around here," Spyro said. "They said to have come to our world from a barrier."

"Barrier? Are you even telling a lie, for a dragon that defeated the Dark Master?"

"Spyro's not..." Usopp began.

"Silence! I will not have interruptions!" Prowlus said, his shout startling Usopp with hands up.

"They're not enemies here," Spyro said.

"We're the pirates here!" Luffy said. "You don't wanna mess with my crew!"

"Pirates? Pirates?!" Prowlus shouted. "How could you have brought enemies to our valley and defended them?!"

"Whoa, whoa, easy there," Sparx said. "I think we should let these guys discuss why they came to our world. I don't wanna go crying my head off over unanswerable questions. I mean, if you ask me..."

"Shut it, dragonfly!" Prowlus barked. "I'll be hearing explanations from this dragon."

"Well, we're gonna tell you anyway," Nami said. "We were in a stormy weather, and then we ended up in this world. We couldn't have seen the barrier, but that barrier took us here."

"Why should we listen to you?"

"Because Spyro has nothing to do with our existence here in this world, and neither does Cynder."

"Nami, I don't think they're listening," said Usopp.

Prowlus let out a huff. "A likely story. I shall have you punished for this, dragon."

Luffy stood by Spyro. "Hey! She said they have nothing to do with our arrival! I don't even blame them! You wanna blame them?! First you'll have to blame me! Got it?!" His last words echoed the very valley.

This startled the cheetahs and Luffy's crew. Prowlus and Luffy growled at each other, glaring like foes. Prowlus' tail flicked a bit as Luffy's knuckles crack from squeezing his rubber fingers.

"You seem to remind me of my rival," Prowlus said, sarcastically grinning. "But that won't save me the trouble of finishing this fight."

"Yeah? I'm not all furry like you. But I'll fight you to show Spyro's innocence!"

An arrow flew from out of nowhere and landed between Luffy and Prowlus. Everyone saw Hunter on a raft.

"That won't be necessary," Hunter said.

"Hunter!" Spyro smiled. "Thank goodness you're here."

"Stay out of this, Hunter," ordered Prowlus. "This is how we handle things."

"By blaming dragons for everything? Ignitus had told you, didn't he? Malefor was the only dragon that brought evil to this world years ago. It would still be here if it wasn't for Spyro and Cynder's bravery. Seems like your grudge against the dragons hasn't changed a bit."

"It's a cruel world," Prowlus said. "So?"

"If Spyro has nothing to do with their arrival, then we cannot continue the blame."

"How do you know that?" Zoro asked.

"Wait, don't tell me you've actually seen us," said Franky.

"Actually, I did," said Hunter. "But I didn't wanna face myself in front of you guys. I wasn't prepared to meet you all in person, until I get to see you all with Spyro."

Robin chuckled. "That's quite a cheetah I ever met," she said.

"I like him already," Chopper grinned.

Prowlus frowned. "How can you be so sure these pirates oughtta be trusted?" he said. "Outsiders not from this world cannot be trusted. You're a cheetah, you should know that."

Everyone heard noises and saw humanoid rats in loincloths emerging from the shadows of the forest, wielding swords and shields.

"The Rat Tribe!" Prowlus said.

"What are they?" Spyro asked.

"The Rat Tribe," Hunter said. "They used to be our allies sometime ago, but then Ratsono, their chief, betrayed us in a coup d'etat."

"I suppose they're not friendly," Cynder said.

"That would be too complicated to guess that," Zoro said.

"Cheetahs, prepare for battle!" Prowlus ordered. The cheetahs held up their weapons, knowing the battle is about to begin. "We will defeat those rats again! Attack!"