Reunion and Forging
The Battle at Munitions Forge had left many of the moles on edge. In a short time just as they were free from slavery the Apes returned to reclaim them again as slaves to mine within their own homes against their will.
If that wasn't as bad they had lost their leader and a group of their own when they had to travel to the outskirts of their territory only to be captured by the Skavengers. It seemed they were doomed to repeat a horrible cycle. But they had allies who saved them all.
Spyro the Purple Dragon along with Adir and his courageous family had come to their rescue twice now. By saving Mole-Yair and the group that was taken by the dreaded pirates and with the help of the other one known as Jim who valiantly defended Munitions Forge and the rest of moles until the others showed up the manwearesmalls were eternally grateful to those that had protected them without even the thought of reward.
With the Apes having retreated from the loss of their numbers and the coming the Dragon and the other humans everything was calm for the time being allowing everyone to take stock of their losses and recuperate for the moment.
Adir along with the rest of his family had taken refuge in one of the big huts that were left standing. Spyro and Sparx were joined in with them along with, Exhumor who was overjoyed to see his brother again.
"Good to see you, brother! We have thought you lost when you were taken!" Exhumor smiled and looked around the hut giving everyone present an appreciative grin. If there was ever any doubt in him about those present it was all but vanished.
"Yes, Exhumor. Thanks to our friends here we are reunited." He gestured to the Dragon and the other humans.
"It was our pleasure. Just glad we got here when we did." Rai said as took a drink of water from the cup he held before looking at his uncle we sat on a barrel holding his hammer upside down. "Anyway, Uncle you were going to tell us how you ended up here and you have the element of Earth along with armor that somewhat matches, Adir's own. What's the story?"
Jim tapped the handle of his hammer thoughtfully before he spoke. "Guess it is time to explain. It started after you all left with, Ignitus." He began clearing his throat. "Your Mother and I traveled with Cyril while your grandparents remained with Ignitus searching for Cynder. While Volteer continued his flight north Cyril suggested we come to Munitions Forge. Having been freed from the Ape occupation it was best we check on their status and see if they had any information concerning the rise of darkness that's coming."
"Wait!" Molly held her hand up when she heard the word mother. "You mean Mom is here too?"
"And Cyril as well?" Spyro asked next. This caught everyone's attention as only Jim was there and they didn't see, Cyril or their Mother about when they came to Volcanic land.
"Where are they!?" Sid almost shouted as he worried greatly for his aunt and the Ice Guardian.
"When we came here the Apes already had returned. We came down upon them from the sky on, Cyril's back. The Apes were many, but I wanted to repay them for the attack on the Temple. Your Mother came down with me as the Dragon dropped us off and we fought against them. She and I did our best to safeguard the moles that already were locked in chains. Cyril handled much of their force with the use of his Ice power. Have to say seeing him create shards of pointed sickles and skewering the apes was sight to see." Jim explained with slight marveled chuckle. He had seen much in his life, but never would he have imagined watched a great Dragon shoot ice from its mouth and taking care of an entire platoon at once.
"But how did you get your power and that armor? Despite some singes and scraps it looks new." Sid asked quite marveled by how the armor looked. He really seemed like a warrior from the medieval times. Adir's armor quite something to be admired but his own father's something else. The Craftsmanship was sharp and the detail to it was keen. He was a little jealous. He along with Molly and Rai just had something they put together back in the temple while he was decked out in something more battle efficient.
"Well…during the battle Tracy and I did what we could with what little we had. She with her sword and I with this hammer we fought against the Apes breaking them free from their chains, but the Apes were many and with the fighting starting to look bleak something happened that is hard for me to explain. A real big one tried to knock me down but when I locked fists with them my hands glowed green and suddenly I could strike with the force of a tumbling bolder. I could make a part of the Earth crack sending apes into a crevice in the ground. I could conjure up a big green ball and chain. It was incredible!"
"Sounds like it was quite something there, Pop." Sid smiled. He moved his left hand over to Jim pointing to the dragon marking on the back of his hand. "During our time with the Pirates I unlocked the power of Earth too. It seems our entire family is capable of becoming what Adir is. I guess its in the genes or something."
Jim nodded looking at his son's hand and proudly smiled. "Whatever the case I am glad we have something that allowed us to turn the tide and Tracy got her power too. To Cyril's pride she got Ice. When Apes were about to make off with some of the moles they caught she crafted wall's of ice that blocked their escape, and she created many weapons in her own hands. With her own sword and weapon, she could create with ice she struck down and freed what was last of the prisoners. Some of the moves she did I taught her myself." He laughed earning a chuckle from the others.
"And we are beyond grateful for your coming Jim. You and other two couldn't have come at a better time." Exhumor said raising his hand up to the middle-aged man and Jim shook it, but Sparx was annoyed.
"Hey! We all came here too! Where's the gratitude for us! We came over like hero's!" The Dragonfly scoffed folding his arms.
"Yes, yes we are just as glad you all came as well." Exhumor grumbled as the dragonfly was quite a little pest.
"But where is mom and Cyril? If they are here too how come we didn't see them?" Adir asked fearing that his mom could be in danger and Cyril as well. They didn't save the Ice Guardian all these weeks ago just to lose him again.
"After we fought back the first wave of apes and taking in the revelation that we now possessed elemental powers the moles around here wanted to help us out." Jim continued on with his explanation.
Exhumor stood up from his seat. "Yes. We believed we could show our gratitude by helping create something far more befitting for them both. The frail little pieces of cloth and thin plates would do little for protection. While we were still recuperating we ventured to one of our forges and gathered what materials we had crafted and designed armor more worthy of their stature. It wasn't even the least we could do to show our gratitude."
Sparx flew up to Jim and circled him looking up and down upon the armor he wore. "Yeah. You're looking quite sharp. More pointy than that hammer of yours." Sparx complimented.
"Appreciate it Tink." Jim smiled but the annoyed Sparx came up to his face.
"Hey! Names Sparx bucko!" The Dragonfly spat poking his finger upon Jim's nose.
"I'll call you what I see fit. You say my armor is sharper than my hammer? Why don't I try it on you and then you can really be the judge of it?" Jim suggested with a snicker, but Sparx quickly flew back to Spyro.
"No, I'm good." Sparx chuckled nervously.
"Anyway. You were talking about Cyril and Tracy, Jim?" Spyro asked against laying his head on his paws relieved that they could have some time to rest.
"Yes. After Tracy received her own armor she went with Cyril across the Island. We knew there had to be more apes around. They were coming from somewhere and they scouted. I remained here to safeguard the moles and as soon as Cyril left with her the apes mounted another attack. I did what I could be they were backing me into the mines. Their numbers again were too much to handle even with my new powers and the armor I am wearing certainly protected me from some shots and blows we were going to be overrun but that's you all came storming in. You made out like the Calvary and came down that hill and I do say I am overly joyed to see you all safe. I worried for you all when you left." Jim finally finished his explanation, and he was a cup of water from Exhumor, and he gratefully took a big gulp taking his glasses off and cleaned them before putting them back on.
"I hope Mom is okay!" Rai worriedly said wrapping his arms around himself. He couldn't bare the thought of losing his mother. Even if she did have the element of Ice at her control it was the one he loved so much. Already they lost their father years ago he couldn't imagine losing his mother next.
Molly wrapped an arm over her youngest brother and held him close. "Don't worry." Jim assured. "She is with Cyril that dragon swore upon his life he would safeguard her as they all did back at the temple."
"Which then begs the next question. What about Grandma and Grandpa? Who are they with?" Adir asked.
"They remained with Ignitus. Since he was looking for Cynder it would be best they remained the furthest from danger." Jim replied tightening his hold on his hammer. The Memory of being enslaved under that accursed black dragon made him angry. All the Guardians including Adir and Spyro have told him that she was under the influence of the one who truly ruled over and led the apes but that sounded too farfetched.
"Still can't believe he would bother with her. She disappears and suddenly the apes attacked the temple wouldn't be surprised if just gave them the order." Jim seethed.
Adir and Spyro along with the others looked at Jim with disbelieve except for Sparx. "That's not true, Uncle. She ran away because of the guilt she had. Its because of being constantly reminded of what she had done which we have told you wasn't entirely her own will." Adir huffed.
"Well, you weren't there, Adir! When I tried to make an escape from that castle of hers she personally held me down and had a guard whip me until my entire back was red with blood! She then made it clear if I tried anything like it then Sid would be flayed alive then Rai. From the youngest to the oldest among us she would see us all suffer slowly and painlessly until I would be the only one left! I don't understand why you all are so willing to speak good on her behalf when she made us toil and grovel for a whole year! It was far worse than the P.O.W Camps in Vietnam!" Jim yelled.
"I understand that, Uncle. We all do! We all suffered. Some of us more than the others. That is true!" Molly admitted though Sparx only scoffed at least one of Adir's family still had a mind within their heads about that dragon who nearly killed them all. "But we did find her or in a sense we did. Remember when we told you about our capture by the Skavengers? She too was a prisoner in that ship, and we forced to fight one another before the Apes attacked intending to take us all down."
"Should have finished her when you should have!" Jim bickered chugging down the last of the water in his cup.
"During our arena fight she was captured by the Apes. Key word 'Captured" they took her by force and to where we don't know! If she was against us then why would they do that? She didn't fly off with them. They snatched her and flew away. I tried to stop them, but they knocked me off before I could do anything." Adir replied getting more frustrated by his Uncle's arrogance. It was true that he suffered the worst among them when they were enslaved by Cynder. But it shouldn't make him this blind to see reason that deep within she was being used.
"Forget it! Don't want to talk about her anymore." Jim sighed not wanting to let his anger run wild right now. There were more pressing matters. "So, you were caught by the Skavengers and forced to fight in the arena ship. You managed to escape with Mole-Yair, and you told me that Captain with two talking parrots has a map that could lead you to where the Chronicler could be?"
"That's right." Spyro confirmed. "But as we explained they got away when Adir and I fought him in the Captain's Quarters of the ship. We would have gone after him, but we couldn't leave everyone else behind and the battle that waged outside was far too intense to fly through."
"I really am rather fluxed that you all went out as you did and ended up in far more danger than I first believed you would be." Jim sighed shamefully. "If I had have known you would have put through all of that I would not have allowed any of you to leave."
Sid walked over and sat beside his father putting a hand on his shoulder. "Its okay, Pop. We're okay. To tell you the truth none of us would have thought we would encounter a fleet of pirates. The Tree we were looking for turning out to be a monster and the fact that we all have powers now. I would have said we were just in one big dream that I wish we could wake up from. But we're in this together. And it also seems no matter where we go danger is going to be there be it big or small."
Jim took his son's hand and chuckled. "Yeah. Seems like we are in the storm now. The Question is what do we do?"
Spyro rose up and stretched for a moment. "First we should wait for Cyril and Tracy to return then we have to find Skabb and the rest of the Skavengers. We have to find that map. Its our only way to finding the Chronicler and stopping the darkness that's coming." Adir nodded in agreement along with, Molly, Rai and Sid.
Jim and Sparx were skeptical. "If they survived that fight and if that fleet of theirs is still intact or what is left of it they could be anywhere." Jim pointed out.
Spyro shook his head. "I don't think they are far. If we crashed near Munitions Forge then that means they could be just shortly out at sea close by. Their ships certainly were taking on a lot of damage. Surely they would have to go somewhere to repair them."
Jim nodded. "You are right, Spyro. After a fight like that they would have to go to a place to take account of their losses. Anything that's damaged like that would have to be great need of repair. They would not be able to move about or conduct anymore of their kidnapping or pirating schemes until then. We may have some time to think about the next move."
"And what do you propose we do while we sit and wait? Are we going to sit around a nice campfire. Sing some nice songs? I got a good one for you." Sparx cleared his throat, but a wing came over mouth.
"Sparx please don't." The Dragon asked politely but his annoyed looked showed he was not in the mood for another one of, Sparx's poor singing antics.
"Thank you." Molly said glad to see that Spyro shared everyone's collective thoughts. "But one thing I do agree with, Sparx on. What are we going to do?"
"At least someone has a brain." Sparx snorted but was met by surrounding glares.
Exhumor clapped his hands together. "I have a suggestion. While we have the time perhaps you three can come with me. Allow us to fit you all into something more worthy of yourselves as we did for your family here?" He suggested. "Let's get you into a set of armor that surely would fit you a lot better than those rags and piles of metal you wear about."
Sid snapped his fingers. "You know that's not a bad idea at all. Guess we all could use something that give us an edge. And I do admit the shotty job of what I am wearing has been rather itchy."
Rai and Molly nodded in agreement. "Yeah! Let's get upgraded. I'm in!" Rai beamed as he would like something fresh and new. He dashed out of the hut before anyone else could move.
"Excitable one, isn't he?" Exhumor laughed along with his brother.
"You have no idea." Adir chuckled along with the others as they all walked out of the hut. Around them many of the moles were repairing their huts while some were gathering the fallen apes and placing the corpses in carts and shoving them across the tracks and dumped what they had over the edge of a cliff down into the sea.
Some of the moles that were wounded were being cared for by those that knew healing the best fitting them with bandages and splints for broken bones. Some were in a state of misery while fear still gripped them tight. Even with being helped out their homes were still in ruins. The Mines were a keen target by the apes and their leader was taken twice. It seemed their home in Munitions Forge was no longer safe. But what could they do when it's all they have.
"You all go with them. I'll stay out here and help out the best can. Come back when your done and we will figure out our next move." Jim told his family as he went over a mole that was walking with a limp with no help but when, Jim came by he assisted him and took hover to a toppled barrel and set him on it to look over for injuries while the others went to one of the entrances to the mines.
"Follow me. I'll take you to one of our forges." Exhumor gestured for the group behind him to follow as, Mole-Yair walked beside his brother.
The Dragon along with the humans with Sparx staying close to Spyro followed Exhumor into the mines across one of the tracks that led into it. Adir and Spyro recalled their first venture into this place. Filled to the brink with apes and the walls in some of the catacombs were lined up with imprisoned moles they had to rescue.
Going across the tracks reminded them of their fight against the Conductor. The Ape that had Munitions Forge under his command. That maniacal locomotive of his nearly ran them both down. But when they faced him in more open ground they gained the upper hand once a strategy was made, and their powers served them well in that fight.
The Group continued to follow Exhumor as he led them through many pathways from the tracks that led deeper into one of the mines. The Air within was far more humid than it was outside. Hot sweat poured from the humans heads.
"I still can't get over the fact how you all can live here. Even after what you told us." Sid admitted getting some sweat in his eye making him seethe for a moment before he cleared the sweat away.
"We've made it our home for generations. With near endless materials to mine and forge with and with the forest just a short walk we made due with what we had found. Despite what all believe this place can be made suitable if one knows how to figure out how to live deep underground and avoid the Volcano's fury when it erupts." Exhumor replied as he pointed to a open room where smoke billowed out from it.
"Here's one of our forges. And we have many pieces of armor stored in one of the many adjacent rooms. During our slavey under the apes before, Spyro and Adir came along my people were forced to make weapons and armor for their forces. We crafted many designs mostly only to satisfy our occupants. But we continue to craft armor for our own use now. And given to my brother's enlightenment of our ways we best learn to take up arms. We cannot be oppressed again." Exhumor speculated. After having come under siege again and again and though they were not fighters they had to learn to stand up for themselves. How often were they ever going to have the likes of, Spyro or any of the humans or other dragons come to their rescue before they learn to properly defend themselves?
The Group made out many pieces of armor were being placed upon standings and shelfs upon the walls. Some Moles were busy drawing marks and insignias on some of them.
"Oh! My friends." Exhumor called out to the moles that were hard at work. Some were busy tapping and hammering away on hot iron arm sets upon anvils working near a great fire in the way when they were called by one who was second to his brother who led them.
"Come forth, Molly, Rai and Sid." Exhumor gestured the three to come forward and the three of them did what they were asked as, Spyro, Adir along with Sparx and Mole-Yair stepped back.
"Our friends here we owe them all a great debt. They require our help if they are going to continue to help us. Fit them all into something that would suit them as they have their parents." Exhumor commanded and the many moles around stopped what they were doing putting down their items and dropping their inflamed armor pieces into barrels of water with hot steam rising from the sudden insertion of something that burned red hot.
Molly Rai and Sid stood separately a short distance from one another as moles surrounded them and began to look them over. Some took measurements while others began to go over the stock that either laid upon or were stacked on the walls to see what would be more fitting.
Some Moles went into an adjacent room and retrieved some armor pieces that fit the height and length of the ones they were given charge over. Some of the armor sets had a rather artistic look to them. Forged steel crafted into curved edges. Some looking to be crafted into the heads of dragons. From Breastplates to gauntlets many types of armor sets were being looked over. Some Moles gathers some clothes that were personally tailored to fit numerous sized individuals.
All three of the humans who stood around the center of the room watched in astonishment as the moles hastily set to work in making sure the selected armor sets would be fitted and suited for their use.
One of the moles tugged on Molly's hand. "There is another room." He pointed to a separate room across from the forge. "It has some places with curtains that should give you all some privacy once your ready to outfit in them." The Mole said.
"Thank you." Molly replied and her youngest brother and Sid nodded in confirmation.
"Can you be sure the armors are colored for our use? Since I am a wielder of electricity perhaps yellow would suit me? It won't be the color of cowardice when I put it to use!" Rai asked growing quite eager to see his armor.
The Moles at work looked at each other when they heard that request. They had plenty of colored pigments to use perhaps it would be well suited for their individual abilities. They had crafted the first two humans in armor in selective colors earlier though they did not request it. Perhaps now that it has been asked they could do it now.
The Tailors and smith moles nodded as they all went back to work, and everyone waited patiently as it was taking awhile for all the measurements and adjustments to the armor sets to be just right. After nearly an armor each one of the sets were completed and ready to be outfitted. Molly was the first to take her armor set and head to where she was told to go. Sid and Rai followed her into the other room where there were rooms with curtains over them to give some the privacy needed.
Once they were all in their individual spots they all stripped out of the petty armor and clothes they were wearing. They had served their purpose and did them well but if they were going to continue to fight against more Apes and anything else they may encounter they had to be better prepared for it.
Spyro and Adir along with the others waited out in forge for a short while before Molly was the first to appear donning her new armor set that was red across the spaulders and the cuirass along with the tassets. Her Pauldrons were rounded along with her knee guards and upon the center of her chest place rested a red dragons head similar to the one Adir wore on his own armor.
Sid and Rai came out with their own sets of armor both colored in the fashion that was requested as, Sid's was darkened green in various spots his pauldrons that of a dragons head. Rai's own pauldrons were blocked shaped with his chest plate more rounded along with his knee guards. Both he and Sid's dragon headed markings upon the center of their armor sets were the same color their own marks were.
They stood together in admiration admiring just how well their armor fit them. Surprisingly despite how it looked the armor did not weigh them or not too much uncomforting in the slightest. Their Sets fitted well as the moles around them admired their handiwork. They were pleased with their efforts as everyone else looked upon them with equal admiration.
Adir came up to them first. "I hardly recognize you all now. Now you all looked real warriors!"
"You're saying we weren't to begin with?" Sid implied giving his cousin a playful knock to his shoulder. The Gloves they all wore were well and tight to their hands and like Adir's own on their left hands one could see the dragon markings upon the back of them. Their sabaton armored footwear protected their feet and they could walk easily in them.
Sid's armor had a similar edition to it much like, Adir's. A Furred neck guard provided a bit of warmth and some protection to the back of his neck.
"We look awesome!" Rai beamed looking over himself feeling so better now. The Armor was fitted to his form perfectly. He had to give credit to the moles. They knew well how to tailor a set of armor. "Thank you all! This will certainly do!"
Molly nodded in agreement. "Yes. Thank you everyone."
Sid raised his arms and tightened his fists. He felt ready now. The Armor gave him new motivation and he couldn't wait to give his new armor a trial.
The Moles all smiled and bowed grateful that their hard work was appreciated, and they could only hope their work would do the three of them well.
Spyro and Sparx came up next. "You guys look like your ready to pound some heads now!" Sparx chuckled.
"Why don't you come closer, Sparx. You can be the first." Sid welcomed but Sparx put his hands up defensively. "No thanks. I'm good." He chuckled nervously.
Spyro looked upon the three humans proudly. They certainly looked a lot like Adir now. It reminded him of the time when Adir was given his own armor back at the time. And with the designs of the armor, he wondered was it really the ancestral dragons that made him that armor or did they have some help with it? He wondered. Did Dragons and Moles work together once before? His Thoughts were interrupted when a mole came running in from behind them.
"The Apes have returned! Their coming on Dreadwings!" The Mole cried.
Spyro made a serious look along with Adir. The other humans nodded as they gathered their weapons that they put aside when they outfitted themselves.
"Time to break in the armor boys and girls! Let's get out there!" Sid shouted grabbing his axe and stormed past the others following the paths that came from that led back outside. The Others followed him with equal eagerness. The Apes were going to be met with force this time.
They all came running back out from the mines and saw in the air a couple dozen Dreadwings were flying about screeching out their terrible cries while Apes started to storm the grounds.
Reading themselves the purple dragon and the humans with their weapons raised high and the armor upon, Molly Rai and Sid gleamed catching the attention of the apes that were dropped in by the Dreadwings.
"Alright. I've grown annoyed seeing you all. Leave or die! Your Choice!" Sid warned holding his axe over his shoulders his eyes narrowed at the snarling apes that didn't show any bit of intimidation.
"Fun way it is!" Sid snickered before he delivered a blow to the first ape that came close while the rest of his family and friends spread. They took offense against the apes that once again tried to take back Munitions Forge.
Most of the Moles already fled into the mines thanks to the lookout from Jim who alerted everyone the moment he saw the first Dreadwing come into view in the red clouded sky above.
Rai stayed close to Molly keeping low under the swipes from the Apes. His short sized always being his keen advantage as armor kept him relatively safe. He was kicked in the chest by a small ape, but it barely was even felt as he tumbled back but he got back up and with a thrust with his two swords he handled the ape easily who was without a weapon to protect itself with.
Molly's own armor didn't slow her down for a moment. She twirled her spear in the air while the flaps that protected the sides of her legs flung around with her. She had range with her weapon, and nothing could come close to her. Knocking aside or piercing an ape that came close and met an untimely end. The Armor was perfect, light weighted stuck to her form well. She owed the moles a great deal.
Sid rallied with his Father as they got back-to-back with more apes surrounding them. They both nodded to each other acknowledging what they had to do here. The Apes tried to come down on them from any direction but with sharp turns and a good swipe of their axe and hammer the apes fell one by one.
Jim and Sid had been in a few fights long before the events that brought them to the realm. If it wasn't a bar it was out in the street with a few punks that thought they were easy pickings, but they would come to regret it as the men they fought did not have muscles just for showing off.
The Two of them kept their strategy in play as no ape could seem get to either of them. But a bigger ape came out from the bunch with a long sword seething at the idiocy its compatriots couldn't accomplish.
The Ape charged at them with its great sword raised high at the father and son coming from their side. Sid noticed and grabbed his father from the backside and twirled downward just before the sword could take their heads just grazing the dragon headed pauldron on Sid's armor.
"Wrong head, numbnuts!" Sid snorted as he and his father laid on the ground in front of the ape and they raised their hands at it and before the Ape could react it was met with two large earth sphere's that collided into it so hard it sent it flying up into the air and collided with a Dreadwing knocking it out sending it and its rider along with the ape tumbling to the ground dead.
"Triple play!" Jim laughed triumphantly as he and his son got back to their feet. "Let's get this done, son!"
"You got it, Pop!" Sid nodded as they ran ahead to continue the fight against the apes.
Spyro and Adir with Sparx keeping close fought together. With so many Dreadwings in the air the Dragon stayed on the ground alongside his friend. They both used their powers at their disposal to counter the oncoming apes.
Spyro let out a chilled ice breath freezing a few apes in place before shattering them while Adir threw a fire ball the feet of another group of Apes that exploded upon impact killing all of them.
The Riders on the Dreadwings above saw their ground forces were getting decimated. Not going to lose Munitions Forge twice they were about fly down and destroy the purple dragon and humans but before they could a loud roar came from atop of the mountain catching every combatant by surprise.
All looked to the sky and coming down in a blaze of blue fury was Cyril the Ice Guardian taking a swipe at one Dreadwing with his tail knocking it to the ground below. Another Dreadwing came flying to his right but was met by a flurry of ice shards coming from a rider upon his back.
"ITS MOM!" Adir pointed up to the sky with his sword as he saw clearly the woman riding on the back of Cyril she raised her sword high as the Dragon flew around attacking any Dreadwing that tried to come close. Tracy swung her sword at the riders of the Dreadwings that attempted to attack the dragon with their own weapons.
Tracy pointed her sword at some of the Dreadwings and from it shot out more large ice shards at some of the Dreadwings hitting some in their side making them collapse midflight.
"Fine hit, fair lass!" Cyril complimented as he sunk his teeth into a Dreadwing that tried to attack him in the front but was met by two rows of sharp teeth and thrown to the ground below.
"You flatter me!" Tracy replied as the Dreadwings were becoming fewer by the number. She looked to the ground below and saw the Apes were still attacking but their numbers were becoming short as well. "Looks like we weren't too late."
"Indeed. Let us drive this mercenary filth from this land!" Cyril roared as more Dreadwings attempted to attack him. Tracy called out some that came to close alerting the Ice Guardian in time before he could be struck or stabbed while in flight and allowed him to counter.
But when Tracy's sight befall to the ground she saw not only her brother Jim but saw there were more armored warriors around them who currently in battle against the Apes. It didn't take her more than a second to realize those warriors were nephew and children.
She gasped at the sight when the apes were starting to gain momentum below and were ganging up on them.
"Cyril get me down there now!" She shouted her heart filled with both worry and anger. Those Apes dare attack her children. She didn't know how or why they were at Munitions Forge when they were supposed to be somewhere else but that didn't matter now.
"Understood. Hang on!" Cyril flew downwards straight as a arrow as came to the ground at breaking speed. Once close enough Tracy leapt from the Dragon and planted her feet upon the ground gripping her sword tightly with both hands.
"STAY AWAY FROM MY CHILDREN!" She shouted so loud that most of the apes turned their backs to see what was coming up from behind them. Tracy charged swiping her sword about killing one ape after another. Her mind and heart aflame seeing her children in a dangerous situation.
She conjured up a spear of ice and threw it ahead piercing another ape from the back. With being attacked from both the front and the rear the remaining apes began to falter. The Dreadwings above were killed off by the Ice Guardian and their reinforcements were no where to be found.
"Let's finish this!" Jim yelled seeing the enemy was becoming panicked their numbers were deteriorating by the second and they had no advantage.
Spyro and Adir pushed ahead while the others took care of the sides cutting down any ape that tried to outflank them. Tracy pushed from the rear determined to make it to her children. Cyril above shot out a heavy ice blast that covered the three remaining Dreadwings at once and they fell to the ground and shattered on impact.
The Apes below were becoming less and less until there was one left that barely able to dodge Tracy's thrust from the back. It rolled around and backed away as it was facing the Purple Dragon and the other humans who had their weapons held tightly. Their faces giving it a frightening look as it backed away slowly.
The Dragon and humans stopped in place as the Ape continued to back up not understanding why its enemies just stopped until a shadow come from above it. It looked up only to be met by a large foot from the Ice Guardian that slammed down upon it so hard it completely crushed its bones killing it instantly.
Cyril rose his head and roared in utter triumph the battle was won and the others followed his motion raising their weapons and Spyro let out a triumphant roar of his own.
"And that my friends is a victory well earned!" Cyril chortled shaking himself a little blowing soft cool air from his mouth.
"You got that right, Cyril!" Adir cheered as they all had done it. Again, they defended the moles and Munitions Forge itself. The Apes were all gone and there was no doubt they were all dead. No more would come here again as least for a time.
Once everyone calmed down from their momentary celebration Tracy came up to Adir and grabbed his face. "Are you okay?" She asked breathing heavily having been so worried over her son and the others who looked to be no worse for ware other than a little shaken.
"Mom. I'm fine. We're fine." Adir assured but his mother kept a firm grip on his face.
"You have a lot of explaining to do." She seethed in anger, but she hugged her son close just relieved to see he was alright as her other children came over and hugged her back.
Jim and Sid stood together with Jim resting his arm over his son's shoulders while Spyro and Sparx watched happily along with Cyril at the loving display between Tracy and her three children.
"Reunited and it feels so good." Sparx chirped and for once Spyro laughed at that and Cyril joined in the merriment.
"Indeed, young one." The Ice Guardian agreed as there was a lot to discuss and little time. They had their victory here but looking up into the sky above the Celestial Moons were starting to come together through the partial cloudy sky. Time was not on their side if they didn't act soon it would be doom for them all.
