The Mountain of Malefor

Spyro along with Adir, Zima and Sparx found themselves in a cave lit up by crystals formed into the walls. There was a dark light at the end of the entryway of the cave and they hurried up to it and found themselves standing upon a cliff as snowed all around giving, Adir and Sparx a chill. But what they saw in front of them all was frightful.

It was the very mountain they were told about. The Mountain of Malefor standing tall like a beach of evil. They could make out the dragons head upon the peak and far into the sky the celestial moons were halfway across from each other. It was now only a matter of time before they would come into an Eclipse. When that happens the monster they were recently told about. Malefor the first purple dragon will return and unleash darkness upon the world around.

Sparx looked rather fearful. Zima shuddered at the sight of the mountain. She had been in many places that were dens and havens for all manner of vile men and creatures of menace. But that mountain radiated a dark presence that made her fur stand on end.

Adir too looked upon it was some fear in his eyes. He was determined but he couldn't help but feel rather afraid. The Mountain was unlike any place he had been yet and most other locations he along with, Spyro was at each time they were fortunate enough to get through, but that mountain would be a tremendous challenge unlike anything they faced yet.

Spyro, however, stood tall in front of everyone. He was going to see this through. He would save Cynder and stop the coming of the Dark Master. He looked behind him and gave Adir a confident look. The young human smiled back at him. They were together in this but the other two. This was truly not the place for them both to be.

Sparx flew up next to Spyro with the dragon turning his head to him. "Sparx you don't need to come with us." The Dragon said to him with a frown. His dragonfly brother had followed them into all sorts of danger, but this was the most dangerous place for anyone. He could not ask him to remain with them now and be at such risk.

Adir walked up standing by the dragon nodding in agreement with him. "Yeah…look we won't think less of you. This is too much! I know we risked our necks and in a way we have put you in danger. You can go back to where its safe. I promise we will be back for you."

Sparx however shook his head. "No way! And miss out on the opportunity to live out my worst nightmare?" Chuckled the Dragonfly though he was nervous. The Dragon and human nodded but coming to Adir's right was Zima.

Adir gave her a worried look. "Zima this is not what you signed up for at all. We don't know exactly what will be in there but it's going to be a heavy fight. I know you made your promise, but you don't have to risk yourself this much just for us."

Though Zima was rather afraid herself she gave Adir a smile. "I made a promise, and I will keep that to my end, my friend." Assured the Snow Leopard putting a hand on the humans shoulder. "I will follow you all and whatever happens I will be right there by your side. We either come out in victory or we die but I would rather perish keeping my vow than breaking it."

Spyro and Adir smiled at her. They admired her courage and determination. She has proven by now to be not only a capable warrior but a good friend. Adir patted her hand thankfully and she grinned giving him an affectionate look. With everyone determined to not return to the Chroniclers domain, Spyro took the lead and Adir and Zima followed with, Sparx following though he questioned why did have to be soft when it came to his brother and friends?

The Group moved up to the mountain seeing wooden bridge leading over a lake that appeared green instead of blue. The Water below was acidic seeing the steam come off from it and, Adir stepped on a rotten piece of wood and fell into the water below and it sizzled and melted.

"One would think they would make a better bridge?" Adir nervously stepped safely on the other side along with, Zima and Spyro flew up beside them.

"Would have hated the journey to end on a bad step!" Shrugged Sparx and Adir just shook his head in amusement. In front of them was a gate upon a wall surrounding the mountain itself. There were no guards looking over the wall. It seemed no one would be expecting to attack the mountain. How wrong they were.

Spyro gestured to the Leopard and human flying up and held out his paws. They grasped them and he pulled them up until they were over the wall, and he settled them on the side. In front of them was an open entryway into the mountain. Adir pulled out his sword and Zima readied her bow. Spyro snorted and they charged into the mountain with, Sparx staying at a safe distance.

They went into a large courtyard and at first the surroundings were empty but the group knew that it had to be far too easy for the mountain within to be unguarded and their beliefs were right when all around them apes were coming over walls and within other caves all howling and growling at them while one large ape came out from a grander door wielding a large sharpened shovel and a two bladed claw on his right wrist.

"Intruders!" He bellowed. "Get them!"

Spyro charged three apes with knocking them down with his horns before spraying them with fire breath incinerating them within seconds.

Zima took aim with her bow shooting down some apes that came at her from different sides shooting them down before they got too close. One Ape did but she jumped up flipping over and shot it right in the head before landing on the ground.

Adir charged at some apes that came out him with only their fists easily cutting them down with a few swings of his sword, but the apes continued to keep coming. Sparx stayed above far from anyone's swings and tried to help by calling out to his friends on what to look out from and to turn at the right moment.

The Three in the fight kept up until the numbers were finally starting to dwindle. No match for the purple dragon and the human wielding elemental powers and a snow leopard that had reflexes too quick for any one of them to get to but while, Spyro and Adir were dealing with grunts the head ape in the courtyard angry at the force that was not holding its own ran towards the closest intruder, Zima!

"Watch out Zima!" Cried Sparx and the snow leopard saw the large ape coming at her with its shovel raised up. She was about to shoot him but grabbed nothing in her now empty quiver. Throwing her bow at the Ape causing him to stumble when it struck him in the face rolled forward narrowly avoiding his strike.

Hissing she took out her two daggers and leapt onto the apes back. She stuck one dagger in its armor less back causing him to roar in pain, but she then stuck her second dagger in his neck killing him in seconds and he fell forward landing on the ground with a loud thud.

Spyro and Adir finished off most of the apes but seeing how they were outmatched what little remained of the apes fled through the various doors in the courtyard. They needed to alert more of the Mountain defense and put everyone on alert.

Sparx flew back down and checked on Zima. "Good moves there kitty!" He complimented but she glared at him holding up a dagger at him.

"Don't call me that! Or ill clip your wings!" She warned before sheathing her daggers and retrieved her bow and quickly went around gathering up the arrows lodged in many of the apes she shot. She had to reserve her arrows as much as possible.

"Jeez can't pay a compliment let alone say thanks for alerting her!" Scoffed the Dragonfly as, Spyro and Adir took a quick moment to gather themselves. The Courtyard fight was tough but doable, but they knew this was just the start.

Once Zima had gathered her arrows putting them back in her quiver she went to others. "Where to now?" She asked.

Spyro and Adir looked at each other in confusion. "Truthfully I don't know. But I believe should continue inward. We either find Cynder and save her or we find Gaul. I believe he may be the key in stopping the Dark Masters return. We stop him and we may stop the Eternal Night from happening." Spyro exclaimed.

Adir nodded as that was a good plan as of any and Zima too agreed only Sparx shrugging his little shoulders. "Great! A Frog weed would have better idea of direction." None of them listened to him and continued inward going out from the courtyard moving through the mountain.

They encountered more apes as they carried on but everywhere they looked the catacombs and halls were filled with statues and statuettes of a dragon that they only saw through the Chroniclers tales.

"Seemed this Malefor was worshipped here immensely." Pointed out Adir at one point when they came to a catacomb that had more acidic water spilling out through the walls into a pool below and they all to hope and climb up platforms to go higher.

"Yes. I would figure given to how that dragon built this place a beacon of evil. And with so many blackhearted creatures drawn to this place it stands to reason they would worship him with such grandiose." Zima replied with Adir helping her up a final platform as they headed for another hall.

"Yeah…can't wait to get statues of myself back in Tall Plains they will need to respect their god!" Grinned Sparx but everyone just shook their heads. How can such a small dragonfly have such an ego that's bigger than himself?

But right when they went into the hall a green beam came out from the mouth of a statuette of a dragon at the end of the hall that nearly hit them, but they jumped back in time.

"That was close!" Breathed Spyro thankfully. But Adir was about to step back into the hall but the moment he did the beam aimed in his direction and he stepped back out.

"That beam aims for anything that steps in there. It has to be some sort of defense build in." He pointed out.

"How will we get passed it?" Asked Zima. Adir used his ice element to shield his arm and put it back out in the hall. The Beam aimed at his arm and near instantly melted through the ice almost getting his arm as he pulled it out fast.

"Dang it! An Ice shield won't work either!" He grumbled.

Spyro however had an idea. The Beam moved at anyone but if he could be quick enough and slow down time with his ability then he could everyone across, but they would have to trust him.

"Everyone! I went you to hold onto me. Zima ill carry you under me wrapped yourself around me and hold on very tight." Spyro said. Everyone looked at each other in confusion but they had not time to question him. Adir mounted Spyro on his back. Sparx clung to his tail and the dragon fly up and opened up his paws and back legs to, Zima. He embraced her and she clung onto him from his underbelly.

"Hang on!" The Dragon called upon his time controlling ability and hoped it would work. Everyone on the dragon braced themselves and shut their eyes putting their faith in the dragon.

Spyro felt the world slow around him as he entered the hall flying through the as the beam followed him but slow enough to allow him to avoid it. He twirled and rotated in the air narrowly avoiding the beam until he came to the end of the hall and flew out of through the side and stopped using his ability just as he exhausted its use and he fell to the ground with a thud everyone falling around him and, Zima getting trapped under the dragon.

"Woah! That was some intense flying!" Laughed Adir rubbing his head and helped, Sparx back up for he was laying on the floor next to him.

"Yeah! Crazy man! Crazy!" Sparx agreed shaking his head rubbing his eyes never wanting to do that again soon.

Zima, however, was getting partially squished under the exhausted dragon. "Uh…Spyro can you get off…please!" She wheezed and the dragon recovered enough to stand up to let, Zima crawl her way out.

"That…was a good plan. You were great!" The Snow Leopard complimented though she stretched out cracking some of her bones from having the dragon lay on top of her.

"Really?" Asked the Dragon but seeing how Zima was hurt a little he gave her an apologetic look. "I'm so sorry just by using that ability…it takes a lot of me."

Zima sat up and patted his head. "Its alright. You got us through. That's all that matters." She stood up and stretched again as the others gathered around.

They guarded the dragon keeping an eye out for anymore apes letting him take a few moments to recover. Once he had his strength back they continued on. They were in another catacomb with more acidic water pouring into a pond below. There was a very large platform in the center and, Spyro helped the human and snow leopard upon it but just as they stepped onto it an aura of dark purple light illuminated on the other side of the platform.

"I don't like this!" Fretted Sparx.

"Feelings mutual." Replied Adir as he readied his sword and, Zima with her bow. Spyro took a stance and growled.

"Be ready!" The Purple Dragon stated, and they all nodded. Appearing through the aura were a group of menacing armored skeletons growled at the group. Wielding large axes and swords with one armored individual was sitting on top of a skeletal armored horse. It neighed and the skeleton mounted on it pointed a long lance on them and charged with the rest following in the attack.

Zima tried to shoot them, but their armor was too thick, and the group ducked and flew to avoid being knocked over.

Adir went to fight with two smaller skeletons coming at him with an axe and spear. They tried to thrust at him, but he moved out of the way and kicked it back. The other one took a swing at him with its axe. Adir deflected it and then punched the skeleton right in its face where no armor was protecting it. It stumbled back and when it was right on the edge, Adir proceeded to run and kick it square in the chest making it fall off the platform and it fell into the acidic pond below.

Spyro handed the horseman coming down upon it from the air using the Earth element to make a wreaking ball and bashed the horse right in the head causing it to shatter and drop back dead. The Horseman shouted through a series of enraged grunts and attempted to pierce the dragon above but, Spyro flipped through air and brought the Earth ball down on the skeleton first shattering its long lance before hitting the skeleton completely decimating the skeleton completely causing its bones to scatter in all directions most of them going off the platform.

Zima however was having a difficult time with the large skeleton. Its armor was far too thick for both her arrows and her daggers. All she could do was avoid its attacks but the more she dodged the less room she had as she was being pushed back towards the end of the platform.

Sparx was watching his friends battle on. Spyro was handling the other skeletons along with, Adir. Both of them had remembered a similar encounter back in Dante's Freezer. Using fire was essential though the Earth element worked just as good but while they were preoccupied, Zima was nearly at the edge of the platform.

Getting herself trapped she could only brace for the impact when the large skeleton balled up a fist and punched her straight in her gut knocking her up in the air and she began to fall. She screamed as she gravity took hold and, Spyro and Adir heard her. The Dragon immediately went to the air and raced for the falling, Zima.

Adir pressed on attacking the skeletons with more fury storming for the large one who knocked Zima off. Charging up his fist with the earth element he screamed out a large cry of fury before implanting his charged up first right into armored skeleton sending it hurling off the platform.

Spyro flew down to falling snow leopard who thought in a brief moment she was done for having tumbled over and saw the acidic pool getting closer by the second but just before she could impact, Spyro snatched her leg and flew up with her and just at their side was the very skeleton that sent her over and she and the dragon grinned watching it impact onto the pool and melt away and heard, Adir's cry above.

Adir finished off the last skeletons using a streak of electricity and sent them off the edge having lifted them up and tossed them over. Once the platform was clear he ran for the edge to see if Zima was okay but, Spyro flew up with her and settled her carefully back down on the platform.

"Are you okay?" Asked the human helping her to her feet.

"Yes." She replied before looking at the dragon. "Thank you, Spyro. I owe you."

Spyro only smiled. "I am sure you will repay that soon. Now we…" He was interrupted when the platform they were on began to rise. They stood in alert as they were taken upwards through the chamber rising a few stories. They didn't know what to expect but there had to be a reason they were taken upwards.

However, when the platform finally stopped they saw a door across the platform upon a small edge. A Quick jump over it and they all ventured onward other than, Sparx who stayed close this time coming up to snow leopard.

"Hey! You took a good hit there. You sure your okay?" Asked Sparx with concern seeing how she was holding her stomach and walked slowly. She was in pain, but they had to keep going.

"Yeah…ill just walk it off. I took far worse hits in my travels. But thanks for you concern, Sparx." She said finally giving him a soft smile. Maybe the bug wasn't too bad after all. If only he would get rid of that arrogance of his and lowered his ego then he would be far more likeable.

Spyro and Adir noticed how Zima looked hurt, but she gave them an assuring look. They wanted to stop but given to how the moons were eclipsing at any point in time now they could not waste a single second but as they coming to the end of the hall turning to the left and feeling the cold winds indicating they coming back outside again but then heard the sound of beating wings.

As they came closer to the edge leading them outside higher above the mountain the sounds of wings were heard again and rising above the cliff was a large Dreadwing followed by two more carrying a number of apes on them. But upon the Dreadwing in the middle was a familiar assassin that called out to them all.

"Yhhhhh hvvve smmee nevvve cmming hreee!" He bellowed through the thickened helmet as, Spyro and Adir couldn't believe it was the same one who led the attack on the Dragon Temple.

"Well if it isn't Mr. Mumble again!" Adir grunted pulling out his sword and, Zima though hurt readied her bow and, Spyro prepared himself. That Assassin may not speak fluently but he was deadly. They survived their first encounter with him but this time it would be a question of which one of them will be walking away with their lives.