Trek through the Ancient Grove

Dawn quickly had come over the lands. Far too soon as many within the temple only felt like they had just shut their eyes by the time the sun began to rise. It was difficult to sleep after the siege that nearly destroyed the temple and almost ended the lives of those within it.

However sleep or no sleep everyone in the temple had a duty or a quest to take upon. The Earth, Ice and Electric Guardians already had set out on their missions making haste they took from the balcony outside the temple soon disappearing out of sight only having said their goodbyes and hopeful wishes before they had departed.

There was only one group that were to be the last to leave. Spyro along with, Adir and his brother and sister along with, Sid and Sparx were going to find the tree that, the purple dragon and Adir had seen in their dreams. If that tree held any significance to their survival with the coming terrors ahead they had to take that chance.

Ignitus had spent the rest of the night prowling through the pool of visions to try and find out where the tree would lie. To search without aim would take far too long. Time was not on their side and the quest that the small group would make had to be fast. To lurk about in the lands was far too dangerous with the coming darkness. As the morning came is when, Ignitus finally discovered where the tree could be discovered but within such a land where it resided it possessed some of the worst creatures to spawn from such a poisonous land. The Journey would take courage and fellowship. Something the group already possessed but they will have to rely on each other if they were to find the tree.

The Fire Guardian was awaiting the group that would soon take on their quest at the balcony. He would take, Molly, Rai and Sid upon his back while, Adir will ride with Spyro to where they would begin their search.

In the temple the humans were preparing themselves for their quest. Some of those that called their children still possessed a great deal of worry.

"I am still greatly unsure about this." Tracy said as she helped her youngest son, Rai adjust his two swords behind his back.

"Mom, we went over this." Rai reminded her about what they all agreed on the other night.

Tracy nodded remembering clearly but as the mother she was who was allowing all of her children to willingly leave her side and into a place that will be great danger to them all it was taking a heavy toll on her hear.

Adir who had finished putting on his footwear of his armor went up to his mother with a smile on his face. "Don't worry, mom. Everything will be okay." He assured trying to cheer her up although he knew deep down this quest was not going to be easy. "We will look out for each other. And once we are done will be back before you know it."

Sparx who was nearby talking with, Spyro overheard, Adir and flew up to them. "Yeah…let us hope we can get there and back before I lose my mind over this." He mumbled getting a glare from Tracy and Adir. "Alright, alright…sheesh. I just want us all to do what we have to then be back were family and friends are."

"I kinda do agree with, Sparx." Rai admitted getting a surprise look from the dragonfly.

"Really?" He asked shocked that for in the rarest occasion someone agreed with him.

"I do want to go out there and help but the sooner we leave the quicker we can do what we can and be back so you don't have to worry so much, mom." Rai admitted getting a smile from his mother. It was good to see that he cared so much about her feelings that he wanted to put them at ease.

Molly and Sid had finally finished preparing themselves for the quest and came up to them all. "Then let's say we get this show on the road then!" Sid exclaimed. Everyone agreed as it was time to depart. Together they all walked out through the entrance that led to the balcony where the fire guardian awaited them all.

Spyro and Sparx first made it to the red dragon while he was followed by, Adir, Rai, Molly and Sid. All the other humans all came down with them as they would watch their loved ones depart.

Tracy gave each of her children and her nephew a final hug goodbye even one to, Spyro and even, Sparx bringing him close to her shoulder. Despite his arrogance and mischievous nature she at least wanted to show that in a way he was a friend to them all and wanted to wish them both the best of luck.

"Good bye everyone. Please…look after each other. Remember what you all were taught and come back soon." Tracy told them all as her voice began to break up as, Jim her brother stood by her putting a comforting arm over her shoulders as, Adir mounted, Spyro and his brother and sister along with, Sid were helped upon the back of Ignitus.

"Take care of yourselves now!" Jim called to them all.

"Be safe!" Adir's grandmother, Aria called out to them standing behind, Tracy who looked like she was ready to drop to her knee's.

"Follow what you all have learned and you will do well!" Adir's grandfather, Gary called out next holding the hand of his wife next to him looking on to the youngest of their family as they were about the leave on a quest that would determine the fates of many.

"We will!" Adir called back waving at his family trying to hold back a tear. It pained him that he only just had gotten them all back and now he had to leave most of them again. He only could hope that the Quest would not be a long one.

Spyro flapped his wings and rose from the ground. Ignitus did the same as the three humans on his back quickly made sure their weapons were well strapped and held onto the dragon's back.

Rai waved at the eldest of the family. "Bye everyone! I love you!"

"Love you all very much!" Adir yelled with one final wave before taking hold on Spyro as they continued to rise up until they were a good distance from the ground along with, Ignitus. They circled the balcony once flying around it letting those they carried to look upon their loved ones one more time before they flew away into distance following the rivers.

Tracy and the rest of the family on the balcony waved at their youngest as they left beyond their sight and that's when, Tracy finally collapsed and began to cry into the shoulders of her comforting brother as her heart prayed for the safety of those that were her reason to live.


"So, where are we going, Ignitus?" Rai called out from far back of the red dragon as he along with, Spyro close by have continued to fly above one of the rivers that they have been following for over two hours.

Ignitus turned his head behind him. "We are heading for an Ancient Grove within the forest at the end of the Silver River." He called back at them as the Fire Guardian explained with all those around listened. " It is a secret place, untouched by civilization. The waters there are poisonous, as well as the creatures who are nurtured by it but you shouldn't encounter any real danger."

"Oh, boy." Sid grumbled lowly as he watched the land below them that was rich with life or as much life that began to bloom began to dissipate. The water in the river began to change into purplish color indicating its toxic look. The Two dragons carrying their quarry began to fly low just above the dark purple color water. It reeked of something hideous and tiny sprays of water driblets from the windblown from the dragons wings landed on some of the humans exposed skin and very faint burn came causing them to wince showing the water was slightly acidic as well.

They flew past into a forest that held a gloomy look. It was dark within it and it brewing with life that was horrible sight. The leaves of trees were as purple as water. Mold grew upon nearly everything in sight. Insects were far sinister looking than the ones encountered around the temple grounds.

The Dragons soon found a small clearing to land and the humans all got off their friends and took a look to see where they had landed. It was horrid looking sight to see a forest filled with such features. It held a poison feel to it as, Ignitus said earlier.

Sid was rather nervious. Rai tried to keep a brave face but the eeriness of the forest put a chill down his spine. Molly only shook her head at the sight of the dark and ugly looking wood in front of her. It couldn't be possible that life could exist where the water was anything but life giving and yet the woods proved that she was wrong.

Adir however was the bravest among them. Given to the past experience he gained from his previous adventures in other lands across the realms this forest did not worry him as much as it did his family.

Spyro and Ignitus remained behind the humans as their companions looked around for anything nearby that was a danger but for the time being there wasn't anything that would do them harm just yet.

Once everything looked alright, Sparx began to speak. "Oh, yes lovely!" The Dragonfly drawled sarcastically. "We always get sent to the nicest of places!"

Spyro smirked. "Come on, Sparx. It's not that bad." In that moment a deep roar rang out through the dark woods causing all the humans to draw out their weapons. However nothing appeared after a few moments passed.

Ignitus now had to take his leave. He lowered his head down. "Trust your instincts, young ones. I shall be waiting for you all back at the temple when your task is done."

"Alright, Ignitus." Sid confirmed. "We will try to be quick."

"We will find that tree in no time!" Rai exulted holding his swords high and his hands began to trickle with electric streaks.

"Thank you for flying us here. We will do our best." Molly thanked putting a hand on the fire guardians muzzle and rubbed it earning a soft smile from him.

"Stay together and trust in each other. May the ancestors watch over you." Ignitus prayed for them as he then took his leave raising his wings and flapped into the air and flew back off into the direction of the Temple.

When Ignitus was gone the group faced each other. "Alright, sleepy heads. Any ideas where we are supposed to look in this place?" Sid asked his cousin and the purple dragon. However they both shook their heads.

"Other than we know it's in a misty lake and gloom, not much else." Adir shrugged his shoulders.

"In other words we could be out here for some time!" Sid scoffed looking around the dark forest feeling like something was watching them all from the endless shadows.

"Oh, wonderful!" Sparx grumbled throwing his arms up as his voice was filled with terror. "So we have to go through this place while ignoring the terrible beasts that within it! Visions of doom and eternal darkness!" Sparx flew behind, Spyro fearfully.

"Oh, and we have to frolic through this creepy magical forest for a stupid tree!" What's not to love?" He finally finished throwing down his arms and looking down worryingly.

Rai only chuckled at, Sparx's fearful rant. "Well he's psyched as well as I am. Let's do it!"

Adir nodded glad to see that his brother was not scared at all but if they were not careful anything within the forest could end them quickly. "Alright. I know we don't know where exactly we're going to find this tree but let's get started. Keep your weapons drawn out. Remain close each other and let's stick to the most open of paths." He suggested earning nods of approval from everyone.

"Let's go then." Spyro began to walk as the humans followed as Sparx flew beside them beginning their search for the tree from the visions both Spyro and Adir had.

They began their trek through the forest keeping themselves vigilant for any trouble. As the plan was they would remain together as with so much ground to cover it would be logical to split up to cover more ground to search but given to the poison and dark atmosphere the forest gave off no one would suggest such a thing.

It wasn't long before they encountered their first batch of enemies to take care of. Some mites of the grove as large as human hands tried to bite on them but they were easily swatted away or sliced by a weapon.

They followed the clearest of path ways until they seemed to end. They next followed some stream would take them through the forest more encountering more grove mites that seemed to fester around the poison waters. A breath of fire took care of them as well as a weapon could. When no path's seemed to be around the group made their own by slicing and knocking down tree's to open new ways through the forest.

The Tree's around them were so thick the group could hardly see the sky anymore. It got darker as they continued on through the forest when they reached another clearing there was a loud rustling noise of snapping twigs followed by a few growls.

The Group stopped as they growling got louder. The Sounds of running feet were then heard jumping through the thick brush a pack of wild death hounds appeared all howling and growling as they began to circle the group. These hounds did not seem to be pets of the Apes which are why they were without anything that meant for restraining use. They were wild animals ready to make a meal out of what they had found.

"Steady everyone! We can do this!" Adir declared gripping his sword tightly watching each of the death hounds circle them with drooling mouths eager to feast upon their flesh.

"Yeah, that's right! Take these fur balls!" Sparx flew high up to avoid the upcoming battle and cheered on those below though a bit worried.

One of the hounds then ran at, Sid jumping at him but a slice of his axe he cut it down. With the sudden death of one of their own all the hounds attacked the group at once.

The Humans ducked and rolled in different directions and the purple dragon flew up into the air and landed back down on the ground roaring and hounds and engaged them along with the rest of his friends.

Adir and Rai stuck close together getting back to back and with using their element powers, Adir shot fireballs and Rai sent streaks of electricity out incinerating and shocking each hound to death.

Sid was ganged up upon as the death hounds wanted to take down the largest among the prey first. Sid slashed out his mighty axe and kicked and punched any of the hounds that got near. One hound jumped on his back sending him to the ground but, Spyro charged and knocked it off of him. Sid nodded thankfully to the dragon getting back on his feet as the battle continued.

The Death Hounds were in a grand pack. There almost seemed to be no end to them. Molly on the other hand was having a tough time keeping the death hounds at bay. She got separated from the others as they were a short distance away. Seeing how one of the prey the hounds were after was away from the protection of the others many started to move onto the young woman.

Adir gasped to see his sister was starting to become the key target. "Hold on, Molly!" Adir tried to make it to his sister but there were many death hounds in the way who then turned on him when he tried to get past them.

Molly slashed her spear around keeping the hounds back from her. She managed to kill a couple with the bladed tip and knocked some to the ground with blunt parts of her weapon but the hounds continued to come closer.

One death leaped at her causing her step out of the way but her spear that she held in her left hand was snatched by the open mouth of the death hound snatching it from her grip leaving her without a weapon.

The Young Woman could feel within a sense of hopelessness. How could she have just started this quest and now she was rendered defenseless? She had survived a year of enslavement and an attack on the temple only to now be at the mercy of bloodthirsty pack hunters.

The Death hound that was closest to her from the front eyed her with a gapping drooling maw showing its sharp teeth ready sink them into her. Molly was afraid but then her fear began to change. Her eyes began to go aflame. She hated how helpless she felt in the time when she was forced to do a once evil dragons bidding. She despised how she was nearly killed back at the temple if it wasn't for brothers and friends coming to save her. Now again she faces possible death due to allowing herself to become nearly helpless.

She was supposed to be the one to protect her brothers. She was the eldest among them. She had a duty to family and to those she had lost. As the first born of the family she would protect her family. Those that she loved greatly. As helpless as she was she never gave up on hope nor would she give into the fight.

The Death Hound was nearly upon her ready to sink his large teeth into her. Adir tried to push through the many hounds to save his sister but there were far too many in the way. The others took notice that Molly was without her spear and with one of the hounds so close they had to get to her as they fought through the pack to reach her.

Molly gripped her fists as fire filled her heart. She was not helpless! She never truly was! As the first born she would watch out for those she loved and she would allow herself to feel the sense of helplessness again. The Death hound in front of her leapt at her its mouth wide open.

Getting on her left knee, Molly allowed instinct to take her over. She raised her hands at the beast making a stern face. "YOU WILL NOT HAVE ME!" She screamed loudly as streak of spewed out her hands catching the death hound by surprise causing it to fly over her as its body was enflamed.

The Death Hound yelped and howled in pain as the flamed consumed it walloping over the ground until it was too much and collapsed dead. Molly let out a loud battle cry and aimed her hands at the surrounding death hounds and unleashed flames of pure fury at all that were within range.

Adir and the rest of the group all were in shock. Sparx flew back down seeing that battle has now turned into the favor of his friends courtesy of, Molly's newfound power which was element of fire. Every death hound that still remained alive then began to retreat back into the brush of the forest. Their losses were far too great and the one unleashing fire from her hands that had killed many of their kin frightened. Soon enough all that remained in the clearing were over two dozen corpses of death hounds which most were taken down by, Molly.

The Young woman calmed herself when she realized there was nothing left to fight having saw the last death hound escape into the woods. For a moment she didn't have a realization of what she had down but then she looked at her hands to see tiny flames trickle upon them then vanished and on the back of her left hand she saw that there was a mark of a dragon upon it that was red in color.

Molly turned around to see the shocked looks of her family, Spyro and Sparx. She too was just as shocked as they were.

"Molly! You have the element of fire!" Adir cheered running up to her and embraced his sister amazed that she too has gained a power to wield and was glad she was okay. Rai came running to her and embraced her as well.

"That was amazing! You're like a female human torch!" He laughed so happy that his sister was okay and she now had power like him and their other brother.

"Gotta say, niece that was something!" Sid beamed heading up to the embracing siblings who finally let go of her.

Spyro too was quite impressed. " Incredible Molly! It seems you too possess the power to wield an element."

"Yeah, sister!" Sparx cheered flying around, Molly. "You flamed those dogs and served them on a platter! That was awesome!"

Molly couldn't believe all the praise she was being given. All she really did was felt an urge to protect her family and to never allow herself to feel powerless or helpless again. "I…I just…" Molly stuttered taking a moment to sit down.

"I just couldn't let them harm any of you. I didn't want feel like I was helpless again like I always was. I want you all to know that I am here for you all. I will not let anything happen to any of you." Molly told them in her truthful words.

Everyone smiled at her so glad to know she was someone with good heart and now with that she had gained something incredible. Standing back up she looked at her left hand to see the red dragon mark and showed it to everyone.

"This is indeed something incredible!" Adir bubbled. "Perhaps what, Ignitus said was true. I am a descendent of those from the past that possessed these powers perhaps all of us have a power within?" He theorized.

Sid put his axe next to his side and folded his arms. "Who knows? But first it was you, Adir who got powers, then Rai and now, Molly I think that could be true."

"Maybe." Molly agreed still looking at the new mark on her hand and still trying to acknowledge the fact she now had the ability to shoot fire.

Spyro nodded along with Rai. It was a sound theory of, Adir's. If the humans did have an element within them then their new powers will provide that much more assistance their quest.

Sparx however as amazed as he was like everyone else they still were standing in the middle of the clearing and if they dally perhaps the pack they dealt with may come back.

"I hate to rain on the parade here but shouldn't we get going before those hounds come back and try make us their dinner?" He suggested.

"He's right." Sid agreed getting, Sparx to smile glad to see he was being agreed with again. "Let's continue on to find this tree." He picked up his axe and Molly went to get her spear that was dropped by the death hounds when she frightened them off with her new fire element power.

Once they were ready they continued making a new path through the wood to find the tree in the visions and hoping they would not run into anymore trouble too soon as, Molly needed time to gain a true feel for the power within her as Spyro led the way again with his friends following close behind.

They encountered more opposition along with way as they continued their search for the tree. However the combined use of the now four element wielders proved favorable. Just like Rai, Molly by sheer instinct used her power against those that attacked them.

Adir and Spyro as they did so with Rai they told, Molly what she had to do to truly unleash her new potential. With some of advice from those who had more experience in using the power of the element of fire she managed to conjure up fireballs and even throw fists of fire upon each encounter of more death hounds, grove mites and even large beasts that were greatly tainted by the grove.

These gigantic beings were only encountered if the group stepped into an area that seemed to be its territory. With its towering size two times larger than that of Sid the group had to make strategies, use of their elements and the environment around them to bring the beasts down.

However it seemed after nearly three hours of traversing through the deadly forest they still had yet to find the tree from, Spyro and Adir's visions. After another encounter with a grove beast which, Spyro used his ability to slow down time to avoid its attacks and brought it down after a few fire blasts and the humans dealt with the small pack of death hounds they came into a clearing that was filled with blue butterflies

"Can we take a break?" Rai asked as he slumped to the ground exhausted from all the searching and the battles they have been through. He had used his element power so much that it drained his energy.

"I think that would be a good idea." Molly agreed taking a seat next to her youngest brother.

Sid too got down next to, Rai. "Yeah. We've been searching for hours and have yet to find anything but the next thing that wants to take a bite out of us!" He griped dropping his axe.

Adir too nodded. "Yeah…I am not sure exactly what we are supposed to be looking for. It's not like we were given a map to find this specific tree!" He sat down with his family as, Spyro too felt some frustration build up in him.

"I think we may be lost." Spyro sat down with the others while, Sparx looked at the butterflies hungrily.

"Well then let's just rest for a while and think of where we should search next." Adir suggested which everyone agreed. They were all tired and needed a break. While they gathered their thoughts, Sparx started to snatch up each butterfly and began to eat them.

"Hey! Have any of you tried any of these yet?" Sparx mumbled as he munched on another butterfly moaning at the taste. "Mmmm… their delish!" Sparx continued to grab more and eat as his munching of the little insects started to annoy and gross out some of the others.

"Ewwww! Sparx!" Molly gagged watching him eat the butterflies that were part of the poison forest.

"Jeez! Are you out of your mind, bug boy!" Sid chided shaking his head as the dragonfly continued to eat each butterfly he came across.

"Sparx don't eat those!" Adir yelled at him. "Who knows what those have in them!"

"I agree, Sparx! Cut it out!" Spyro demanded only for the dragonfly to have eaten his fill coming down to the dragon then began to belch.

"Nonsense!" He replied letting out another belch that was louder than the first one. "Their perfectly editable!" He belched again as the humans and Dragon looked away with disgust.

"Man, Sparx! You have no manners whatsoever!" Molly exclaimed at him angrily.

"Now look I…" Sparx was about to retort but then, Adir put up a hand to silence everyone.

"Hey…do you hear that?" Adir asked as his ears began to hear something that was not the chirping of insects. It sounded like…voices.

Soon the others could hear it. "Yeah!" Sid nodded standing up taking hold of his axe. "It does sound like we are not the only ones here." The voices started to get louder.

"Take cover quickly!" Adir ordered as everyone began to take cover within the brush and behind some gnarled roots. Within a few seconds coming into the clearing from the foliage a short distance away some strange figures emerged. They looked rather canine and their mouths were a bit drolly and were black and white in color. They were dressed and red and white garments and one of them was waving a cutlass around.

"Alright, maggots, time to spread out!" The one that was waving the cutlass that was larger than the other three around it snarled. "Don't bother snaring anything smaller than a scurvy wing. Skabb only wants prize fighters this time…and double the bounty on whoever captures, Arrrborick! The other three hound like creatures cheered.

"Who the heck are these guys?" Sid asked as the canine like beings that walked and moved much like the apes but were far different than them being to prowl around.

"Not sure." Adir replied. "But something tells me they are not the friendly bunch."

Molly nodded as they all watched as the canines began to sliced and throw around objects looking around for something. "Obviously these guys are not part of the forest. I thought, Ignitus said this place was uninhabited?"

Rai scoffed almost too loudly. "Really? After what we encountered!? I wouldn't think that is true. No 'real danger' my foot!"

Sparx flew next to, Rai and gave a thumbs up at him showing that he was thinking the same thing.

"Then this means we may have taken a wrong turn somewhere." Spyro queried.

"All those in favor of turning back?" Sparx asked raising a hand to vote on it while, Spyro began to walk back as, Adir looked at, Sparx to give any answer to his question but suddenly he along with the dragon suddenly began to grow dizzy and their heads got heavy then they collapsed with a loud thud that the canine creatures overhead from the short distance away from where the humans were hiding.

"What was that?" The Leader of the canines then looked to where he heard the noise. "You lot! Check it out!" He pointed his blade to where he heard the noise.

"Oh no!" Rai gasped both at seeing, Spyro and Adir had collapsed again and now they were about to be discovered.

"What's going on?! Wake them up!" Sid demanded as the canines got closer each step. Rai and Molly tried to shake both, Spyro and Adir awake but they were not moving.

"Not again! Of all times!" Rai grumbled as he knew exactly what happened.

"What do we do?!" Molly asked as the canines were nearly upon them. Sparx was about to say something but then his stomach grumbled as he clenched and realized that the butterflies he ate may have not been wise to eat as the others told him.

Sparx hawked putting a hand over his mouth letting out a small burp. " Oh…not now." But not able to keep it in he let out a loud belch that echoed around getting glares from the humans as he just compromised them all. Now even more curious the canine beings got closer and Sparx figured if he could appeal to their curiosity perhaps they will go. Without taking another moment he flew up and towards the canine beings causing them to stop in place.

The Dragonfly chuckled nervously as the eyes of the canines stared at him. "Uh…hi…so…how is everyone?" He asked sheepishly. As the humans in hiding all just a hand on their faces infuriated with, Sparx's idiocy and got their weapons ready knowing there was a fight coming.

One of the smaller canine beings just chuckled at the dragonfly. "Ha! Lookit! Bug's no bigger than a bog rat!"

Sparx took great offense to that remark. "Hey! Who are you calling a bug, you crazy eyed, mangy drool-mut!" However his remark was met with angry growls by all the canine beings. "Uh-oh."

"Get him!" The Leader shouted.

"Mommy!" Sparx cried out turning around and fled while those behind pursued them but they were immediately met by the humans lying in wait as the first two canines were killed by, Sid's axe and Molly's spear and, Rai sent the third back with a streak of electricity lifting it up as it screamed in agony and blasted it into a tree. The Canine leader immediately retreated with the loss of his men but the humans knew if there was a group of these things that could talk and it sounded like there were more of them they are in for a fight if they didn't' find better cover.

"Come on!" Sid grabbed, Spyro lifting him over his shoulder. "Get Adir! We gotta find some place to hide before that mut man gets back with reinforcements."

Molly and Rai nodded as they lifted up the unconscious, Adir carrying them with an arm over each of their shoulders as, Sparx who had finally calmed down after flying a short distance followed them.

"Oh man! I hope those two wake up soon!" Sparx shuddered fearfully as he followed the three humans into the forest as now the forest was now becoming more active as he could hear the shouts and cries of more of those canine beings. Whatever they were they were a danger and just when he thought apes were a nuisance now they had a new enemy to deal with.