FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Author's notes:

Took me long enough to post this one.

Anyway, here we have the third and last part of the Battle at Tall Plains. Some things will happen in this chapter as did in the last one.

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The Legend of Spyro: Origins_Chapter 34

Ramirez ducked the axe that was meant to take his head. Taking the opportunity, he reached for the knife he had kept in his right boot and, with a quick thrust, sank it into the belly of the ape that was mere centimeters away from him. The ape, for his part, stopped his forward momentum he had carried and slowly, began to kneel over. Just before the creature completely fell, Ramirez yanked the knife out, allowing a torrent of blood to come out.

With equally fast movements, Ramirez drew his arm backwards before throwing the knife with all the strength he could muster. The knife flew, spinning rapidly before hitting an orc that was still rushing towards him. The throw was a very good one as the blade sank itself into the neck of the enemy with a soft thud... one of the few unprotected areas from al the armor the dark soldiers carried. The orc took only a second to register what had happened before falling to the ground.

Ramirez quickly focused on his next enemy, which was jumping over the orc that he had just killed. Taking aim with his pistol in his left and injured arm, Ramirez fired two shot into the approaching enemy. The first went wide, but he was able to shoot in the right direction as the second shot made the orc fall dead seconds later.

The newest enemy jumped over his fallen comrade and ran towards Ramirez. The human took aim with his weapon, but, unfortunately, when he pulled the trigger, a click was heard.

'DAMN!' Ramirez though as he looked at his gun, which had run out of ammo.

He had already fired his last bullet; and without ammo, his weapon was useless.

Ramirez threw the pistol weakly with his injured arm towards his enemy, which bounced on the steel helmet of the soldier, making him stagger and falter for a while.

Well... almost useless.

Things looked grim as he saw more enemies approach. Without modern tech of guns and grenades, he would have to resort the only weapon left in his arsenal... cold steel.

Ramirez pulled out the Tomahawk he had carried the whole time with his right hand; as well as a knife on his left as he prepared to engage in hand to hand combat. Even though he was bleeding a lot from his injured left arm, which had been bitten by a grublin, he still could use it, but not without pain. He wasn't that bad in hand to hand combat. Having been part of a street gang back home in Los Angeles, he had taught himself how to fight the hard way.

Snapping back to attention to the now, he jumped back as a sword threatened to cut him in half by the stomach. Momentarily losing his balance, Ramirez turned and retreated for a few short meters deeper into the crevice in which he had taken refuge.

He was surprised when he suddenly found out the enemy was right next to him. He quickly jumped out of the way and, whilst the grublin recovered from the attack, used the opportunity to use his knife and stab him.

When he had crashed, he immediately noted that enemies began to approach his crash site. He could not hold out his crash site; or anywhere in the open for that matter. With superior number, the apes, orcs and grublins would have had him surrounded and cut down in a matter of moments. He decided that the best tactic at the moment was to run away.

Sprinting as fast as he could, he took the occasional shot with his pistol whilst he reported to Parker what had happened. A few enemies fell, but more just kept coming. He hoped getting the high ground or a small crevice in the mountain side where he could hold out for a while until his friend arrived. In the end, he had been lucky, since he found a small crevice.

He immediately went for it and saw the crevice was more like a deep cave. Once he had his back secured, turned around to face the approaching enemies. He barely turned around before he had to duck least he lose his head. He quickly took his knife form his right boot and struck home in the belly of the ape.

And that how he found himself in this position.

The narrow space he was fighting at made him difficult to sidestep any attack; but it also meant that only one enemy soldier could face him at a time since two of them would not have been able to stand side by side. Also, the bulky apes had troubles moving in this enclose space. Spears were near useless, but swords and axes were still fair game.

Ramirez sidestepped at a stabbing attack with a sword. Using the opening in the enemy's defense, Ramirez counterattacked. He placed his knife behind the orc's sword guard in order to prevent him from recovering it from his strike. The enemy soldier yanked hard, making Ramirez grit his teeth in pain and almost losing his hold on the knife with was in his left hand. But now, with a now clear way to strike, Ramirez swung his Tomahawk in a diagonal chopping cut, severing arteries and breaking bones where it landed in the orc's exposed neck.

The orc fell soundlessly to the ground as Ramirez retreated one step and waited for the next enemy, which was coming over the just dead orc, to face him. Ramirez barely deflected the blow from the mace from an ape with his Tomahawk. Moving fast, he used his knife to make a long slash on the ape's arm that was holding the weapon. The pain and injury, made the ape release his weapon with a howl of pain. Ramirez once again struck, hitting the ribs area with his faithful little axe before giving another strike with his knife. The blade went past armor and hide, sinking into the chest of the ape. He must have hit a lung, because blood started to pour from the ape mouth with each foul breath he released.

His death was followed by the arrival of two grublins; one earth bound and the other a winged one. These creatures were small enough to fight two at a time... a serious challenge. Ramirez had to retread a step at a time with each coordinated attack both of them made. This was made more difficult by the fact that he could not counterattack, because when he did, the one of them would protect its partner, who was recovering from the attack.

"These little guys are starting to PISS ME OFF! I had ENOUGH of this!" Ramirez growled at yet another failed attempt to strike.

In one quick movement, Ramirez flipped his knife on his left hand so he was grabbing it by the blade and threw it will all the might he could muster in his injured arm. The blade spin as it flew. It was not the perfect throw, but it got the job done. Hitting the flying grublin, it made the creature fall from the air. The earth bound grublin, jumped in surprise as he looked at his fallen comrade, and that distraction cost him. Ramirez stepped forward swinging his axe, ended its existence. As for the flying grublin, the fall had left him dazed, which allowed Ramirez to stomp with his boot the head of the small creature

Thus continued for a few minutes; Ramirez using counterattacks to kill most of his enemies. Over a dozen grumblings and a handful of orcs were dead by his hand. However, all the fighting was making him tired and his movements were becoming slower and slower each time he fought a new enemy. Blood loss had also taken its toll due to the bleeding in his left arm. It was clearly that the foes he was facing would not have that problem. Each one of them that tired out, or was killed, another would take its place. It was a matter of time before he made an error or he couldn't move fast enough and the end would be upon him.

Ramirez tried to block a sword attack with his knife since he could not evade the attack. He managed to block the attack, but the force behind the attack of made his knife slip from his hand, losing him his only weapon expect the Tomahawk, as well as send him send him back towards the wall, where his breath as expelled from the impact. The hit made his mind be filled with pain.

Seeing his opportunity, the bulky ape once again attacked, but Ramirez used his Tomahawk to parry the strike. The weapons locked with each other, and both human and ape could not dislodge their weapons to deliver the strike.

"Shit!" Ramirez grunted as he struggled in close proximity with the ape.

But, with the superior strength of the ape, Ramirez found himself losing the match. Sooner or later, the ape would force the Tomahawk out of the way and smash him to pulp. In order to break the deadlock he found himself in, Ramirez decided to play dirty. After all, who said that this was a fair fight?

Extending two fingers in his left hand he poked the ape's eyes... one finger in each socket. The ape reared back with a howl of pain, only to raise an octave when Ramirez placed a well-aimed kicked between the legs.

"Like that?" Ramirez questioned the ape in a mocking tone.

Before Ramirez could deliver the finishing strike to end the miserable and annoying sound the ape was making, the earth beneath Ramirez feet trembled, making him, as well as the ape, loose their footing. Ramirez fell face first to the ground with an 'Omph' as he heard a dull explosion nearby. Ramirez, out of training instinct, rolled away from his opponent and stood up.

Dirt fell in his head, making him look up. He saw dust was falling from the ceiling, as well as a heard a rumbling now that the explosion sound had subsided.

"Uh-oh!" Ramirez muttered as he saw a small chunk of rock detach from the cave celling and fall to the ground.

Then, a loud crack was heard and the cave in began.

Ramirez covered his face and head with his right arm as rocks fell in front of him as if it was rain. The ape, who by now had managed stand up, ran and went out of the crevice the fighting had been taking place with his hands between his legs, covering the tender area. Ramirez was not so lucky. The rocks falling were between him and the exit outside world.

The cave in started to become bigger as more rocks fell. In the end, it became so big that rock were starting to fall just in front of Ramirez

"Shit!" Ramirez muttered as he went deeper into the small tunnel, away from the falling rocks.

The fall of rocks behind him blocked all source of light from the interior, leaving the human in complete darkness. The rumbling resounded through the dark tunnel for a few more seconds. Apart from Ramirez breathing and occasional coughing due to all the dust the collapse had caused, everything was silent.

"Now then, Ramirez..." said human said as he moved in the darkness. "What have gotten yourself into?"

Ramirez brought out his lighter and, which a flick of his thumb, lighted it, providing illumination with the small flame. The front part of the tunnel had completely collapsed. Large and small rocks covered the entrance from where he had entered only a few minutes ago. It looked highly unstable so opening a passage through all the debris might be a bad idea since more rock could fall on him whilst doing it.

"I guess we try the other way" Ramirez told himself, holstering the tomahawk he still had in his hand, before looking at the dark tunnel that stretched in the other direction. "Better get started then, but first..."

Using the light provided by the lighter, he managed to take from one of his many pocket some bandages as well as some penicillin. It would do no good if the wound got infected. Tending his injured arm under the dim light, Ramirez quickly bandaged his limb and used the antibiotics. He was soon ready to go.

He walked in the dark tunnel for a few minutes with his lighter held up high as the only source of illumination. After walking a while, he noticed that the tunnel was getting smaller; as well as the celling was starting to get lower. In the end, his trip made him to lie down and begin a slow crawl through the tunnel. Thankfully, Ramirez was not claustrophobic or he would be freaking just about right now.

Squirming his way in, Ramirez advanced long meter by long meter for who knew how long. His lighter was still faithfully providing him with illumination in front of him as he advanced.

After what seemed agonizing long hours, he finally saw the end of the small tunnel and cramped space. When he reached the exit, he poked his head out of the tunnel.

He was in what looked to be a massive cavern inside the mountain. Below him, a huge hall was carved from the mountain itself. Huge pillars rose from the ground to hold the roof above them. Torches were lit and provided ample illumination, as well as light, to the massive cavern. The place looked kinda ceremonial if you asked him.

"Looks like I just found the back door to this place" Ramirez muttered.

By the looks of it, he was inside the main chamber of the temple the Atlawas had built.

But also inside the cavern, he noticed movement. Looking down to the ground down below, he saw movement. Dozens of apes scurried around, carrying debris and digging equipment. He also noted a few ugly and special looking grublins that stood as statues as they watched the apes work.

"Well look at that" Ramirez muttered to himself. "Look like they are busy"

"Have you found it yet?" a voice that was commanded respect and fear said. Ramirez even felt a small chill crawl down his spine at the voice.

"We are now on the final process of digging it out, my lord. We fear that the use of more explosives could damage it" The biggest ape and thus, the leader, answered to the now approaching figure that appeared from a well-lit and mutinied tunnel. "We will find it any moment now"

The figure that appeared from the dark tunnel was clad in a dark garments from head to toe. A black cape covered most of his body, but the rest of his garments were equally black. A hood also covered his head, thus preventing Ramirez from seeing his facial features. He also held a wooden stick, most likely a crane, to help support him. Whoever and whatever this guy was, it gave him the creeps.

The figured in dark cloak was a lot thinner than the ape it spoke to, but it was almost of the same height. That only meant that it must have been powerful enough to command respect from the much bigger ape... if what the dragons spoke of how the apes decided who was leader was true.

"We must not linger here" he dark figure commanded. "The battle has stretched out long enough as it is. Had you arrived in time we would have been gone by now, but I was told by your master to wait. We cannot delay any longer"

"Yes, Lord"

They waited for a few moments before an ape came from another tunnel that looked as if it had been hastily made and esthetic was not a priority. The ape knelt before the ape leader and the mysterious figure.

"We have reached the other chamber, excellency" the lowly ape said. "We have located the item and we are bringing it back. It was exactly where you said it would be"

"Excellent" the dark figure said without any hint of happiness.

"The other chamber is quite imposing. It is huge!" the little ape exclaimed. "Statues lined the wall but all of them are broken. We managed to identify a few of them as dragons, Excellency. If there were any carvings or paintings, those must have been destroyed as well"

Just as he finished speaking, a small troupe of apes exited form the same tunnel that the messenger had come from. The lead ape held a small object in its hand that was covered with a filthy rag of cloth. Just when the group reached the leader, the small ape offered the item to the dark creature.

The hooded creature took one quick peep, not long enough for Ramirez to see what it was.

"Excellent" the dark figure said, before covering the treasure with the cloth again. "Is everything ready for our departure?"

"Yes lord" the ape commander said.

"Good. Then let us leave this place. It stinks" the dark creature replied.

'I don't smell anything' Ramirez though as he took sniffed several times.

With that said the dark hooded and cloaked figure and the ape commander left. The ape miners, if that what they were due to the pickaxes and shovels they carried, followed them. And lastly, the special looking grublin guard left with them leaving the area completely desolate. The silence was kinda strange after so much noise.

With the enemies gone, Ramirez decided to exit the small tunnel he had been laying at. Unfortunately, the tunnel exit was quite high and any drop would probably result in a broken bone or two. He would play it safe this time.

He turned so he was facing upwards. His plan was to use the cavern wall to exit the small hole he was in by climbing a little bit. Then, he would start climbing down. He probed with his hand a little bit, trying to find a hand handhold he could use.

Finding one, and testing its firmness, he pulled himself out of the small hole he had spied what had transcended below. But only his upper part came out. He repeated the process again and, and this time, his thighs came out. Only one more and he would be completely out.

Finding the third hand hold, he prepared to pull himself out. When he was in the middle of the operation, the handhold gave away, leaving him grasping nothing but air.

"AHHHH!!!" he screamed as he felt gravity take course and pull him down.

His decent was slowed down by a table that had been just beneath him. He hit the wooden table with his back, making the wood splinter and the plank break in half just by the middle. Then, he continued falling the rest of the way to the ground.

With an 'Ohmp' he finally hit the dirt. Ramirez remained motionless for a few seconds.

"Oowwwww..." he whined, stretching out his complaining, as he stared at the cave celling. "Eso... va a dejarme una marca"

Slowly, as to make sure there was nothing broken, he tried getting up. There was no sharp sudden pain; meaning that there was no broken bones. He, however, knew that he would have a big bruise in that spot later.

Standing up, he looked around himself for a few moments. He decided to take the same route the dark creature had taken since he was sure they were heading for the exit. He took several steps in that direction before looking back at the tunnel that had been excavated... where they had come out with the item they had taken away.

There had been something in there... something of interest. The ape had said that they had reached the other chamber and that it held statues and the like. The dark minions had taken something from there. Perhaps he could find out what it was? It would be his duty to find out what it was. Besides... it would also satisfy his curiosity.

Retracing his steps, he went towards the hastily made tunnel. Unlike the other ones, this passage didn't have the surfaces smoothed out, making Ramirez pay attention where he placed his feet. It wasn't a long trek so he found himself looking at the new chamber. Ramirez couldn't help but gawk at the size of the huge underground cavern he found himself in.

It was higher and more ample than the previous one chamber he had been in, since it was obviously a chamber of some sort. It was so huge that the several torches, no doubt placed by the apes, could not illuminate the whole room. What he did manage to see was that there roof was supported by dozens of pillars that, by the looks of it, had been stalagmites at one time. They had been engraved with figures, but time and water had slowly decayed them.

He also saw that, at one point or another, paining's had covered this place. He could see some parts on the walls, but the color had all but vanished, so he could not say much.

He also found dozen of statues. All of the ones he managed to see where damaged... if not completely destroyed. He managed to recognize a few of them as dragon statues. The feet, tail and scale pattern on the lower parts of said sculpture gave it away.

There were other statues, but, as like said before, were damaged and had missing parts. The lower part of a creature that seemed has been clothed. A sword made out of stone, which had obviously been part of the statues, lay broken at it feet.

Ramirez was no archeologist, but he knew that this was a great discovery.

Before he could go further in, he heard a small sizzle behind him. He quickly turned, jumping and landing in a defensive position.

He saw nothing.

He listened intently for the sizzle again, only to hear it behind him. He once again jumped to face whatever was stalking him. Instead of an opponent, he found a small light that was traveling rather fast on the ground. Paying closer attention, he could see that the small light was actually fire... and it was burning rather fast a small rope.

Suddenly, Ramirez noticed that the fire separated into several more and headed into different directions, each of them following each own rope. Following with his eyes one of said rope, Ramirez noticed that it ended on a rather large cluster of barrels. The same proved to be true for other two. Ramirez found the sight quite familiar.

'Not a rope... a match!' Ramirez thought as he realized what it was.

A second realization came to him a half a second later. A loud 'boom' would be heard when the fire reached the clustered barrels and Ramirez didn't want to be there when it happened.

"NOT GOOD!!!" Ramirez yelled out loud as he turned tail and ran as fast as he could away from the place.

He ran through the rugged terrain of the excavated tunnel as fast as he could. Only once did he trip in his haste to escape, but it cost him precious seconds. He then reached the antechamber, the place where he had seen the ape commander and the dark creature speak. Following the same path the enemy had taken back then, Ramirez pumped his legs as fast as he could. Adrenaline coursed through his body in his mad dash towards safety. He passed statues and paintings in his run, but he paid them no mind in his haste to get out of there.

He could see the end of his path when he heard behind him the explosion. Moments later, he felt the searing heat and shockwave hit him like a brick in the back, making him fall to the ground as the temple around him began to collapse.

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Cynder jumped back as she swished her tail blade as two of the elite grublins jumped at her. Her attack was blocked by a shield carried by one of the small soldiers, who tried to cut the exposed tail of Cynder. Cynder was quick and she yanked her tail backward, thus preventing her from missing a limb.

The fight has been going for a few minutes. Both she and Spyro found themselves fighting against two enemies at once. The fifth and last grublin held back, not doubt to take the place of a fallen one, which would give them the advantage, since he would be fresh and not tired like the rest. Not that it mattered much because both dragons had been fighting the battle since its beginning and were slowly, but surely, getting exhausted.

Both dragons covered each other's back, thus preventing being attacked from the rear. It was a good strategy, allowing them to focus only on the sides and front, where they could see more easily.

Cynder spat a blob of poison at one of his enemies, which spattered against the shield it carried. Smoke and an acrid stench rose from the ground where some poison had landed amidst the grass. Spyro also used his fire, engulfing one of the grublins in flames. Instead of incinerate like a normal grublin would, this one jumped out of the flames. It was panting and hurt, but he was not yet out of the fight.

"You were right, Cynder" Spyro panted from all the exertion. "These guys are though!"

"Keep your wits about you" Cynder warned.

Spyro gave a slight nod before an enemy jumped at him with his sword raised. Spyro jumped back whilst he spat an ice shard. The grublin deflected the projectile, with a quick twist of his sword as he touched the ground where Spyro had been.

Cynder, for her part, used her wind element to blow a strong gale in their general direction. Both grublins crouched low and sank their sword in the ground. Holding their weapons in a strong grip, the dark minions prevented them from being blown away by Cynder's attack.

Spyro took a step back least he was killed. He, like Cynder, was been pushed back before he even got the chance to start any real offensive move. He had only thrown half powered strikes and blind shots. He never had any chance to focus his energy and unleash a devastating attack. They had been slowly pushed back until they stood fighting in the clearing expanse in front of the temple shrine.

His back suddenly touched Cynder's, indicating that they were back to back.

"We can beat these guys, we just need to fight like a team like they do" Spyro said.

"Just like old times?" Cynder asked.

"Exactly!"

"Then I'm with you"

Spyro remembered how she said those words after they defeated Malefor and the world was breaking apart. Not even in the most desperate of times did she abandon him.

"Follow my lead!" Spyro told her as he dashed towards one of the enemies, Cynder following just behind.

The enemy that they had targeted readied his sword as he saw Spyro run towards him. The grublin started tossing his sword in a horizontal strike, but Spyro jumped over it and his enemy as the last moment. The swing he used to hit Spyro left the grublin open for an attack, which Cynder, who was just behind Spyro, took without hesitation. She slashed at the grublin's neck, severing arteries. Blood started to pour out of the creature like a fountain. The grublin immediately fell, clutching his wound with his hand in an effort to prevent the dark liquid from coming out his body.

The other grublin that was near, tried to attack Cynder with his sword now that she had made her movement; but Spyro was faster, who was already behind him. He spat one big earth missile from his mouth. The hard and fast projectile hit the grublin on its back. The impact made several pieces of the grublin armor to fall in shattered to pieces, leaving him exposed. Spyro's attack left him vulnerable and disorientated. Cynder, who had just was barely touching the ground from her previous strike, took that moment to give a quick slash with her new learned ability of poison filled claws. She spun and she gave her enemy just a small scratch; but even the smallest cut was enough for the deadly poison to kill her enemy.

Cynder jumped back and watched how her enemy rapidly lost his strength and fell to the ground, struggling to breathe as his body burned due to the poison inside its veins. It was only a few seconds before it stopped breathing altogether.

The three remaining grublins, seeing that two of their own had been killed in quick succession, clustered together to protect each other. Spyro started walking around the clustered grublins and, when he reached the opposite end, Cynder started to walk the same path of Spyro. Both dragons were slowly circling their enemies, slowly looking for any mistake made by their enemies so they could finish them off. They seemed as if two predators were stalking the prey.

'How ironic' Spyro though. 'Only moments ago, we were the ones at a disadvantage, now the tables have turned'

They continued circling their prey when the grublins made their move. Two of them moved to make an attack against Cynder whilst the other faced Spyro. It was his job to stand between Spyro and her friend, preventing the purple dragon from aiding her.

Fortunately, Spyro could move faster than his foe. A lot faster. Activating his Dragon Time powers, he slowed down the time. He could see how slowly the two grublins ran towards Cynder were moving, as well as how Cynder slowly moved into a defensive position.

Without wasting time, even if it was slowed down, Spyro ran towards her friend. Since maintaining Dragon Time required a lot of focus and he could not distract himself, he completely ignored the opponent that stood in front of him, passing him centimeters away without laying a single claw on him. Instead, he ran towards the two grublins that were going to attack Cynder.

As he neared on his target, he used his Comet Dash ability. Enveloping his body in flames, he ran straight towards his foes and rammed him with his horns. His fast movement, thanks to the Comet Dash as well as the Dragon Time ability, was enough to break the armor and some bones. The hit made him loose his concentration in slowing down time and everything resumed to its normal speed. The grublin that received the full brunt of Spyro attack was sent flying away, just to land in front of Cynder.

With a wicked and knowing grin, Cynder attacked the foe that was just in front of her paws. She plunged her tail blade deep into the body of the grublin before he had a chance to recover from Spyro's attack. The creature only muttered a small scream in pain before falling silent for all eternity.

The other grublin of the attack force, upon seeing his friend flying forward, slashed blindly in the direction he thought his enemy was. And his suspicion would have proven to be correct has he acted second before, since Spyro had already jumped high in the air, avoiding the slash.

The grublin, upon seeing that Spyro was high above him, turned his attention back towards the dark dragoness, who was the initial target. Only thing was... she was not where she had been moment ago. He quickly scanned the area, looking for the black dragoness, but found nothing. Suddenly, darkness exploded underneath him as a massive force sent him high into the air.

Cynder, upon seeing that the grublin focused on Spyro, used her Shadow ability to sink into the ground and become invisible. In this state, she advanced closer to the unsuspecting grublin. Just as she was underneath him, he unleashed her power, sending him flying into the air... just into Spyro's waiting paws.

The purple dragon got hold on the grublin that was sent to him. Biting in the grublins neck to keep a firm hold on him, he used his hind legs to rake deep gashed along its torso. Muscle and blood fell on the ground below as Spyro continued his attack. To finish his weakened foe, Spyro wrapped his forelegs around the grublin and, stopping beating his wings, started to drop to the ground. He dove with his opponent held tightly against his chest, plummeting and reaching incredible speeds.

Just before they crashed into the ground, Spyro released his opponent and kicked with his hind legs. The grublin fell the remaining distance and hits the ground with a loud thud, colliding with the last grublin, the one Spyro had bypassed earlier whilst using dragon time.

Dirt, dust and rock flew into the air, blocking the view to any outsider. Cynder immediately used a gust of wind to clear the area so they could see through all the dust. When the dust cleared, they saw that both grublins were starting to get up, albeit slowly.

Without giving their opponent any chance, Spyro dived from the sky whilst Cynder sprinted on the ground. They were both over their opponent in a second. Teeth found their marks in the necks of their opponents as the dragons attacked. The sharp fang from the dragons pierced the unprotected area as their powerful jaw muscles crushed the enemy's neck. The enemy only struggled for a few moments before remaining still.

Both Spyro and Cynder released the broken neck of their opponent before they looked at each other with eager looks and smiles plastered on their faces. They had moved as if one knew what the other would do be before they even made them. It required a lot of coordination and a level of complete trust to accomplish it.

It had been a while since they had fought with this level of teamwork. They had done it last when they still had that magical chain that linked them together. With that chain, one could not go far from the other. That was why, they needed to fight together to defeat their foes.

A sudden clapping broke their reverie, sounding too loud in the silence that had fallen after the battle. Both dragons turned to look and they saw a dark hooded creature clapping his hands in approval as the crane he carried with him was resting against its shoulder. Next to him were several dozen of enemies. Many of them were apes; but there were also a handful of orcs and grublins. But the most shocking part was that there were at least a dozen were of the special grublins they had fought against moment before.

"Very impressive, young dragons" the dark hooded creature said in an amused voice. "That fight was quite impressive. You are obviously adept fighters"

Both dragons crouched into defensive positions. Cynder immediately remembered the dark creature she had seen that day at the ambush, just prior to reaching Tall Plains.

"Who are you?" Spyro growled.

"That is not important. What is important, however, is you" the dark hooded creature pointed at Spyro with a finger.

"What does that supposed to mean?" Spyro said slightly confused.

"I never expected that another purple dragon would appear" the dark creature said. "My Master will certainly would want to hear this news"

"You mean Malefor?" Spyro asked as the word 'master' registered in his mind. "We beat him once; we will beat him again!" Spyro said in determination and confidence.

"So you were the ones who defeated him in the first place? Not surprising really. Only another purple dragon could come up with such amount of power to defeat him. After all, purple dragons have always been the most powerful of the pathetic creatures the dragons are"

Spyro and Cynder growled menacingly as he insulted dragon kind, but they did not jumped to kill the insolent creature.

"It is very interesting, you know" the creature continued, "I would like to know why you came into existence, purple one. The line of the purple dragons was supposed to have been broken ages ago"

Spyro reared back in shock and his eyes went wild at hearing this. His legs began to shake at the implications of hearing this things began to settle in his mind.

'More purple dragons? A whole line of them?' Spyro mind was trying to grab the concept. "How... when... why...?

"I first thought that Malefor was just a fluke... or an accident. A freak spawned because of a whim of nature. Like the lame comeback of a bad joke" the creature continued. "But now I am beginning to wonder at that. Why their sudden reappearance... especially after so much time has passed" the creature continued to talk as he ignored Spyro's wild look. "Why now? Why now off all the times? It might be because of the role purple dragon always have had played in the past. It was their duty, after all, to cleanse the world"

If Spyro was not shocked by hearing about the line of purple dragons... but those last words did. His mind immediately sent him back in time. He remembered what Malefor had told them when he has faced him moment before their final battle. He remembered that terrible and awful day when he had felt all hope leave his body.

----(Flashback)----

"Cynder!" Spyro exclaimed desperately as he saw how Cynder was once again claimed by darkness.

Spyro saw how darkness started to swivel around her body... as if the evil was radiating from her in waves. She was barring her teeth in obvious pain... trying to resist the corrupting darkness. Malefor was laughing all the time... looking at his shocked and terrified expression at seeing the companion he had fought alongside with turn to darkness.

Then... the turnover was complete. Cynder opened her eyes and Spyro felt his heart drop when he saw her eyes were completely white. They held no emotion, no recognition, no warmth... no nothing. Just blank and empty orbs.

"Cynder! No!" Spyro exclaimed again, hoping and desperately trying to bring her friend back.

"Ignitus should have warned you" Malefor continued speaking to him, clearly enjoying the look of distressed from Spyro. "You are alone here, young dragon. You have always been alone. Still, here you are, trying desperately to save this miserable world..."

Cynder approached him slowly as Malefor was talking. Spyro watched in shock, not being able to move a muscle as he saw how her friend had been changed by the darkness. She then tackled him, sending him to crash against a stone pillar.

"...refusing to accept the true role of the purple dragon" Malefor kept talking confidently as the purple dragon stood up. "I'm sure you have been told that I was the first of our kind... but I assure you, there have been many"

Cynder walked next to Malefor, trusting the evil dragon completely. A master and her slave.

"It has been the duty of our predecessors to resurrect the Destroyer and the Golems of the deep to bring about the Great Cleansing" Malefor went on, sure of himself and of what he was saying. "This is the true nature of our kind. Your destiny it to destroy the world"

Whilst he was paying attention the Malefor, Dark Cynder had come closer and whipped her tail. It hit him in the cheek, and sent him sprawling backwards. Painfully, Spyro tried to stand up

"No! I don't believe that!" Spyro yelled to Malefor as he punched the ground in a sign of stubborn determination, but he was slowly faltering.

"Of course you don't'" Malefor replied as if speaking to a little child. "But you have fulfilled your destiny nonetheless. In my time, I was stopped... prevented from completing my quest. But you; you have carried the flame... be it through your own will or not. And soon, the world will be destroyed, you along with it"

"No..." Spyro said, fearful of what Malefor was planning to do, wanting this seemingly nightmare to stop.

But where his fears truly lied about what Malefor had told him was in what he had been told about his kind.

'Is it true?" Spyro though with sad, desperate and unbelieving though. "Is it true what Malefor had said? Is it true that purple dragon were meant... destined to destroy the world? To destroyed everything? I have already fallen to the darkness twice! I can go back into it at any moment! Will I harm those I care about? Sparx...mom and dad... the Guardians... Hunter... Kane... Mole-Yair and his brother Exhumor.............. Cynder? Will I end up destroying them? How could I live with myself if I know that I was the cause of their demise? I cannot let the monster inside me be released"

He was sparkly brought back to the living nightmare he was in as Cynder used her tail as a whip and hit his cheek.

----(End of Flashback)----

"I would like to stay and delve deeper into this, but time is running short" Spyro was brought back to the present when the creature continued speaking to him.

A suddenly explosion sounded from within the temple. Stone cracking and falling could be heard clearly from within. Dust flew out from the main entrance as the mountain that the temple was built in caved in.

"What was that?" Spyro asked, automatically in guard at the sudden noise.

"Oh! Just something I didn't want to be found by prying eyes. The past can be a dangerous thing to know" the dark creature said. "It is a shame, really. But I have to leave. But you are a threat to my plan and you must be dealt with" the creature continued. "Commander?"

"Yes, Lord?" the ape commander, the biggest one from the apes, stood at attention.

"Finish them off"

"With pleasure" the ape said with a wicked smile that showed several missing teeth and a glint in his eye as he saw the two dragons. "Surround them!"

Immediately, the small army of dark minions stated to surround the two not yet fully grown dragons. Spyro and Cynder stood back to back, each of them watching one side of the slowly approaching mass of enemies.

"Any bright ideas, oh mighty one?" Cynder asked sarcastically

"I'm open to any" Spyro replied solemnly as he gazed to the enemies that surrounded them.

"Well, I got one" Cynder supplied. "But it could be risky"

"I'm listening" Spyro responded.

"We could use convexity" Cynder suggested.

Spyro's mind took a moment to process her words. He had not used convexity since the siege of Warfang a while back. If they could manage to channel enough energy to use convexity, they could quickly dispatch all of their foes in one quick and decisive strike. Whilst it was a very powerful elemental technique, it also required a lot of energy. And tired as they were, that would leave them exhausted. If they missed one enemy they would be too tired to defend themselves if there were no energy gems nearby. And even worse, if the power got out of their paws, it could bring great destruction to the surrounding areas.

Thats if the enemy gave them enough the time to charge the attack first. It took a few moments to begin the attack and even in that small amount of time, the enemy would be upon them.

"I don't know" he hesitated.

"If you have a better idea, I'm listening" she countered.

Spyro hesitated for a moment considering the pros and cons. In the end, he decided that they could not hold out forever.

"Ok, fine; but we will have to be fast in order to unleash our attack" he warned.

"How do we distract them long enough for use to use our attack?" Cynder asked.

Both dragons stood silent for a few moments, pondering their dwindling options. Spyro looked this way and that, looking for anything that might give them the advantage. But before anyone of them could come up with something, a battle cry sounded from within the vegetation that surrounded the combatants.

"YAH!!!" yelled a certain small green dragoness that both Spyro and Cynder knew.

"Gaia?" both dragons asked simultaneously.

All eyes turned to the petite and bulky dragoness as she appeared from the bushes that were so abundant here.

"CHAAAAAARGE!!!" Gaia yelled as she ran straight towards the black hooded creature.

The sudden appearance and her seemingly reckless charge made everyone falter for a few moments. The bold and foolish move gave her enough time to close in with her opponent and ram her horns into the dark hooded creature.

"Take that!" Gaia yelled triumphantly as she hit home.

The dark hooded creature was sent flying backwards due to the impact. The creature landed on it back and when he hit the dirt and, Spyro noticed, that a small cloth parcel had slipped from his hands. Spyro took a quick looks around him and noticed that everyone was watching in shock at their fallen leader and at the one who made him fall. It was then that he knew that this was their chance to tip the scale on their favor.

"Cynder, now!" Spyro said to her companion as she noticed that the grublins attention was focused on elsewhere.

With a slight nod, Cynder began to concentrate to unleash their convexity fury on the enemies that surrounded them. Spyro did likewise, closing his eyes and willing the mysterious energy to come forth. It took a few seconds for it to come flooding into his being like a tidal wave... an unstoppable force of nature. Warmth filled Spyro's muscles as raw power began to course through his body. The purple dragon opened his eyes and scanned the enemies around him. His eyes fell on one ape who was trying to sneak behind Gaia. Having acquired his target, he opened his mouth, willing the energy to pour forth.

A purple beam of energy and lighting came out of his mouth and it hit the ape straight in the chest. The power and intensity of the attack lifted the ape from the ground and sent him flying hundreds of meters away.

The dark minions, having seen the flash of purple, looked towards the two dragons as both Spyro and Cynder unleashed their attacks. Purple beams of light and energy came out of two draconic mouths, striking enemies.

The amount of energy and power released in the attack made quick work of anything they targeted at. A small grublin was completely vaporized as a beam shot by Cynder hit him. A beam went through an ape's body, leaving a sizable hole in the torso of the creature where Spyro could clearly see the other side. Armor melted and the creature underneath it screamed in agony as it was burned in the metallic oven.

The dark minions were being cut to pieces. Energy came out of the two dragons like a never ending tidal wave. An infinite power source. The sheer power both dragons were releasing was making the stone crack underneath their paws.

However, there were a few soldiers that did not fell as easily.

Spyro followed with his beam breath one of the special grublins. They had been fast enough to act and evade the first strike. They jumped and moved around, trying got evade the deadly beams of light. They tried to use the pillars around the main entrance of the shrine as cover, but they soon found out that it was nearly useless. Stone pillars were cut in half as the beams went through. Trees turned into millions of splinters, creating deadly wooden shards. Rocks were completely shattered and the energy hit them.

As much as infinite this power was... the users could not hold out long.

With one last attack, Spyro fell on his belly followed by Cynder moments later. Both of them were panting from the effort and exhaustion of using that amount of power. They had tried to push further and finish all of the enemies, but their bodies had limits and they had given out. The silence that followed seemed strange and absolute after the sound of rock smashed and trees being turned into splinted by loud explosions.

Spyro lifted his head and turned to look around him. The once clearing in front of the temple was barely recognizable as it used to be. Most of the pillars were destroyed. Many of the surrounding trees were either ablaze or reduced to splinters. Even the temple had suffered as a stray beam of light left a deep and obvious line of destruction in the façade.

Suddenly, ruble shifted and a dark hooded creature slowly emerged from the rubble of rocks. Miraculously, the hood had not come off. He took a look around as he laid on his hand and knees, seeing the devastation caused by the latest attack. His dark face then faced the two exhausted dragons.

"Curse them!" the creature hissed in anger and disbelief. "It seems that the purple dragons have more power than I originally thought. And not only that, the black dragoness by his side has an incredible power too. I believed Malefor reached the power he had through the dark arts; but if these two can reach this level..." he trailed off for a few moments.

Spyro saw, to his dismay that several of the enemies he had though he had vanquished, started to rise, several apes rose from hiding holes. Thankfully, no special grublins had managed to escape.

Spyro started to stand up, but his muscled screamed at him in protest. He did not even managed to get half way up when they failed him and he collapse on a heap again. Cynder attempted a similar feat, but she ended up failing to.

"It does not matter; they are exhausted" the creature then fully stood up as he searched in some of his pockets and grimaced. "Curse that small insect of a dragoness; she made me lose my prize"

The creature started to scan the ground from the small item Spyro had seen that he had dropped when Gaia tackled him.

"Oh my! Looking for this?" a new voice came.

All eyes turned to look at the voice. Gaia was there sitting on her haunches, waving a small clothed item with her paw. She held a smug look on her face, clearly happy with herself at annoying someone.

"Foolish creature..."the dark hooded entity said. "Give me that!"

"It seems that you are very concerned of what is this" Gaia said in an interested tone. "Let's see what it is hidden beneath it, shall we"

With that, Gaia lifted the dirty cloth with her claws, revealing what was underneath it. Spyro could not help but gasp in surprise as he laid his eyes upon a familiar object. A crystal green pure gem stood upon Gaia's paws. The color, the size and the shape made Spyro's heat skipped a beat as he laid eyes on the familiar crystal.

'Impossible! Another of those crystals has appeared!' Spyro yelled in his mind.

He immediately remembered the dream he had a long time ago. A huge transparent crystal floated high above the ground. Around that crystal, six other gems floated around it. Red, blue, yellow, green, black and white where the color of these crystals. He knew he had already seen four of such crystals. Spyro himself had found the transparent one... seemingly the most important one. He had lend the crystal to Volteer prior to his coming to tall plans to he could try and figure out its purpose, since they knew not.

Then, the human Parker had appeared with one when the official negotiations between human and dragon began. Was surprised him the most was that, whilst in his dreams, Spyro had seen Parker... and the human had also seen him in the dreams the human had had. Spyro knew not how this happened, but he knew for certain that the crystals had something to do with it.

Parker claimed that he had taken the crystal from an ape... an ape that it seemed had taken it from Shockwave, who was being held captive at that time... who had had it inherited it. According to the leader of the clan Shockwave belonged to, that crystal had been found in a sort of ruined temple....very much like the one Spyro had found. Right now, Shockwave was in possession of said crystal.

Then, in the hidden city of Aerie, located in the middle of the impassable Kalakean Mountains, another crystal had appeared. It had been found underneath the statue of what the locals said was Aereo, the founder of the city. The statue was located in the main building of the city, the city hall... a building that had a striking resemblance to the Temple in Warfang. Gale had been allowed to keep that crystal, since it had some sort of reaction when he touched it.

And now... here, a fourth crystal had appeared.

Spyro gazed at the new green crystal. Despite the size difference from his dream and in real life, there was beyond a doubt that these were the crystals in his strange dream. And he knew... deep down inside him, that there was more than he knew about these crystals.

'What is the meaning of this?' Spyro though rapidly. 'What are these crystals, why are they appearing suddenly from all over the places, each far away from the other?'

His eyes traveled towards the dark hooded creature.

'But it seems the enemy is looking for them as well' Spyro tough grimly as he saw. 'But why? What are these crystals?

Spyro gawked even more as a green glow and light started to emanate from the crystal that Gaia held in her paws.

***************************++++++++++1+++++++++++++************************

Far away, in the grand city of Warfang, in the dragon temple that was still under reconstruction; inside a room where hundreds of books and scrolls lay; atop a wooden desktop inside the room of a very talkative electric dragon, lay a crystal clear gem.

It seemed that the crystal was nothing more than a paper weight, that is, until something started to happen to it.

Suddenly, the transparent crystal started to vibrate lightly as a soft green glow emanated from within. The vibrations made the pot of ink next to it tilt and spill it content all across the desk. The glow illuminated fairly well the rather dark and large room.

The scene lasted only for a few moments, and it suddenly stopped just as a yellow dragon passed through the doorway.

The dragon looked around the room from where he stood, as if searching for something that he knew was out of place. His eyes lay on the desk where the green crystal and the spilled contents of black ink lay. The dragon slowly approached the desk and, after a quick look at what lay atop it, picked up the crystal.

"Now that was odd" the electric Guardian, Volteer, simply said as he gazed into it.

***************************++++++++++1+++++++++++++************************

"What... was... that?" Gaia said in a slightly confused voice as the glow started to fade from the gem she held.

Spyro could not help but gawk at Gaia. The crystal had reacted towards her... just like Gale's had when he touched the crystal they had found in Aerie.

"Impudent child!" the dark hooded creature hissed dangerously. "If you do not wish to die, then you will give it to me this instant"

"Make me" she challenged.

"I guess we do this the hard way. Kill her" the creature commanded.

All of the apes nearby surged forwards with the intent of killing the small dragoness that had so openly disrespected and challenged them. But Gaia was calm; she lowered herself to the ground and prepared to defend herself with a smile.

"Bring it!" she said with a smile.

The group apes rushed forwards, brandishing their swords and axes in a display of bravery. Gaia shot an earth missile towards the lead ape, denting the armor and breaking several ribs. The hairy creature collapse after a few more steps carried by momentum, but the other ones jumped over their fallen comrade and continued towards the dragons.

Gaia jumped to the side, evading the first blow from the ape at the front. Gaia retaliated by lashing out with her tail, her axe looking appending piercing the armor and flesh behind it.

"Take that!" Gaia exclaimed.

She then turned and rolled out of the way as another ape tried to kill her with a sword. After standing up again, Gaia pounced on the ape. The tackle brought the ape towards it back, where Gaia took the opportunity and began to slap it face with her paws.

"Take that! And that! And that!" she said after each slap in the apes face.

As if sensing danger, Gaia jumped away from the ape just as two apes brought down their weapons where she had been moments before. The attack destined for the dragoness ended killing up the ape that Gaia was atop of. His yelp of surprise ended quickly when an axe fell on his face.

"To slow! A snail could be faster than you!" Gaia taunted the soldiers, who were enraged by her playful demeanor and insults thrown their way.

Gaia evaded another attack by jumping backwards and using her wings to gain more distance. When she landed, she gave a small smirk in confidence.

"This is fun!" she proclaimed with a joyful whoop. "And since you have already attack, I guess that it is my turn"

However, before she could make the move, a voice broke through the battlefield.

"Gaia!" someone shouted, making Gaia halted in mid step. "Gaia, get back here this instant!"

Spyro, who was too tried to go and help Gaia, managed to move his head to see an electric blue dragoness appear in the edge of the courtyard. He remembered her from before; she was called Electra and was Gaia cousin. She was older and thus had a more level head of the two. Electra's eyes budged wide open when she saw all the enemies her cousin faced alone. She was even more surprised to see both Spyro and Cynder on the ground and barely moving.

"Gaia! Come here this instant! This is a very dangerous place for us to be in!" Electra yelled from the side lines.

"Nu-uh!" Gaia shook her head. "I have a grudge match that needs to be settled with this prick"

Electra shook her head in surprised denial, snarling a soft curse at her reckless cousin. She then dashed towards where Spyro and Cynder were.

"Are you all right? Are you hurt? Do you need help?" Electra said in a worried and rapid voice when she reached Spyro side.

"Tired" Spyro grunted. "We... we gave up all... of our energy"

"We can hardly... move" Cynder grunted as she attempted once again to stand up.

Electra looked at both of them, clearly not knowing what to do. But she knew that they needed to get out of there.

"Gaia! Help me move Spyro and Cynder into a more safely place" Electra yelled at his battling cousin, who was engaged with a few dark soldiers.

"Not now; I am a little bit busy!" Gaia answered back, clearly not interested in leaving the fight.

"This is no place for a child dragoness to be around" Electra yelled reasonably.

"I am not small anymore!" Gaia snapped harshly towards her family member. "I am grown up and can take care of myself!" Gaia responded sharply before facing the approaching enemies.

"Do not be reckless! You are putting not only yourself in danger, but all of us as well!" Electra warned with fear and worry in her voice.

Gaia, however, ignored her family's plea as she continued to nimble evade every enemy attack and deliver one of her own. Spyro saw how Electra watched desperately as her family member sent her opponents flying in every direction.

Suddenly, Spyro felt a small chill crawl down his spine; a feeling of fear and despair... as if all happiness had been drained. He had felt it when he had battled Cynder, Gaul and lastly, Malefor. They had all used Darkness at one point or another during the battle. Each time, he felt sudden fear and despair.

It seemed that Cynder had felt it too, since she was looking this way and that, looking for the dark magic user.

Turning his head quickly, Spyro's eyes caught sight of the dark hooded creature. It was standing somewhat away from the brawl and had its hand stretched out in front of him with it palm upwards. Above his palm, a dark sphere of energy swirled. Spyro felt the dark energy coming from within it. That ball of energy was pure evil and it made Spyro heath beat faster in fear.

Then, with what Spyro guessed was a smile, the dark hooded creature hissed as he looked towards where Gaia was battling.

"Die... insolent whelp" it said with a tingle of amusement.

"GAIA! NOOO!!!" Electra yelled as she saw what was about to happen.

Before Spyro could stop her, Electra dashed forwards, right into the path of the now flying energy ball and Gaia. Electra spread her wings in a symbol of protection as she formed a barrier of flesh and bone.

"Ungh!" Electra grunted as the energy hit her in the chest.

Gaia snapped her head towards where Electra was standing. The yell had obviously alerted her that something was wrong, but she still was unsure of what had happened.

"Electra?" Gaia asked, unsure of what had happened.

Electra did not respond, she just stood there, unmoving. Then... slowly, Electra toppled to the side and landed on her side.

"ELECTRA!!!" Gaia yelled, now fully understanding what had happened.

Gaia completely abandoned the fight she had been in order to go towards her family. She released from her grasp in her haste the crystal she had held... the one she had used to incite the enemy to attack.

"Electra...!!!" Gaia sad as she stood next to her.

"Ga... Gaia" the blue dragoness wheezed.

Spyro could not see clearly the wound from where he was, but he knew from the wheezing of Electra that it was bad... very bad.

"Don't talk! You... you are going to be all right!" Gaia said before reaching a paw towards her.

Gaia took in a sharp breath and her body stiffened as she touched her chest. Gaia lifted her paw momentarily and Spyro saw that it was covered in red blood. And not only was the chest covered in the red liquid, but also the ground around her as blood seeped through the wound.

"Electra?" Gaia asked, the confidence in her voice all but gone.

"Gaia" her only remaining family wheezed. "Rrr... run!" Electra said though gritted teeth.

Gaia could not answer... could not move. She could not leave her side even after her cousin had told her to run.

After a few more labored breaths, the flanks of the blue dragoness stopped to move. Even in her last moments, he blue dragoness still wanted her younger family member to be safe.

Gaia stood still for a few seconds, numb... shocked... to paralyze to move or say anything. Then, she slowly reached both of her bloody stained paws towards the electric dragoness on the ground and started to shake her.

"Electra?" Gaia said as she shook her once. "Electra!!! Don't die, Electra!!!" Gaia yelled desperately as she shook her more violently. "ELECTRAAA!!!"

The apes that were still alive stopped fighting at seeing the dragoness that had seemed too tough before them so broken. None of the present moved except for the dark hooded creature. It walked just past the grieving dragonesses without bothering to look at them. He went towards where Gaia had dropped the crystal before bending and picking it up.

"It is a shame" the dark creature spoke. "She warned you several times to stop fighting. Yet you remained. Had you listened to her, she would still be alive. Your arrogance and stubbornness got her killed"

"No!" Gaia said, denying what had happened.

Spyro could only watch in sadness as the tough dragoness seemed so broken.

***************************++++++++++1+++++++++++++************************

Cynder watched with pity as Gaia sobbed over the dead body of Electra. The petite dragoness may have been rude and not at all friendly... but she would not wish this to anyone.

Cynder turned sharply her head, swinging it too look with burning eyes in anger at the one who had taken the life of the young dragoness. She wanted desperately to rip this creature's throat and end its miserable life.

Cynder, using her overtaxed body, slowly pushed with her legs, willing herself to stand up. Her muscles screaming in protest; the many small cuts she had acquired during the day reopened again and began to bleed again as blood rushed through her body. But she paid no mind to them; her sole focus was on the creature that she wanted to kill.

Besides her, Spyro was also slowly standing up. His anger was displaying itself as much as her own. His eyes were burning and his fangs were revealed with the snarl he held.

The dark hooded creature seemed to notice their efforts to stand up as he turned to look at them.

"I admire your efforts; you do not give up easily" the hooded creature said.

He then raised his hand with its palm pointed at them. Energy started to swell around the hand before and energy orb, very much like the one he had made earlier, albeit much smaller, shot out of his hand. Cynder watched the attack came her way with open eyes. She wanted to move, but her body did not respond appropriately to evade the attack.

Before the attack hit her, she saw a wall of purple scales appear just right in front of her. Spyro had jumped at the last second in an attempt to protect Cynder from harm by receiving the attack himself.

The dark orb did not hit Spyro directly, but it landed just at his paws. The explosion that followed sent Spyro flying backward, colliding with Cynder in a heap of limbs, tails and wings. Both dragons groaned in pain as they lay on the ground... their energy all but gone.

"Now that I have what I came here for, it is time for me to leave" the dark hooded creature said as he finally found and picked up the crane that he had dropped thanks to Gaia tackle. "But do not worry, I will leave you in good company" he said as he motioned the apes behind him.

The apes, seeing the two dragons were weak, chuckled in amusement at seeing easy prey.

"I take my leave then" the creature said.

The hooded man closed it eyes and raised it head in concentration. Within moments, darkness started to swirl around him like floating water. The flow of darkness covered him like a soft blanket. The darkness completely covered the creature as if it was inside an insect cocoon. Then, as if the wind was clearing the smoke from a fire, the darkness started to dissipate. And when the darkness completely dissolved, the creature, who had been mere moments before standing there, was nowhere in sight.

Cynder's jaw dropped to the ground as he saw the massive amount and skill of dark energy this creature controlled. She could not help but gawk at such display of incredible dark powers. The only two creatures he had seen with such dark magic had been Gaul and Malefor... and both had been though opponents to beat. This meant that this creature...whatever and whoever he may be, would be difficult to kill.

But that was for another time. Right now, several apes closed on the two exhausted dragons that had not an inkling of energy left to defend themselves. Once again, both Spyro and Cynder stood up, deciding to fight even when it seemed so hard for them.

As the apes closed in, a cry of loss and pain ripped the air. All eyes turned to see that Gaia had finally broken and was crying into the air. Her loss could be heard clearly in her wail, as well as in the tears that were falling freely from her milky green eyes. It was all evidence that the proud and small warrior was broken

Suddenly, a soft green glow emanated from the petite dragoness. Rising on her hind legs, she lifted both forepaws in the sky and, with a last wail of despair, she brought them down unto the ground with a smash.

Hundreds of sharpened stone spikes rose from the ground around her an instant later. They raised high into the air as they jutted form the ground at least six meter in length! But it did not end there; as Gaia wail rose in intensity, more spikes continued to jut of from the ground in an outwards motion away from her... like a wave when you throw a rock into a pond.

The apes nearest her where skewed by several long and pointy spikes when the wave reached them. The rest, upon seeing the wall of spikes were heading their way, tried to run away from them as fast as they could. It did no good to them though, as the attack that Gaia had made up in rage was faster. The hairy creatures were pierced from one end to the other in many places of their bodies by the spears of stone.

Unfortunately, the wave of spikes did not end when the last ape fell victim to this attack. Cynder gave a yelp of surprise when it continued forwards... just towards them. Cynder yelled quickly at Gaia to stop the attack, but either the petite dragoness was too far grieving with her loss to listen to her or she just didn't care.

It was coming too fast! She couldn't possible hope to snap her wings open and fly... much less in the state she was in! But before she could do anything, she felt a sudden weight in her back, pinning her to the ground.

"HOLD STILL!" Spyro told from above her with a yell.

Cynder having trusted Spyro in situation like this before, remained as still as a stone. She only hoped that that whatever Spyro was planning, it happened in the second they had before the wave of spikes reached them.

A soft and warm green glow enveloped her and Spyro above and suddenly, a rocky wall surrounded them like a protective barrier was formed thanks to Spyro elemental Earth magic. Half a second later, they were thrown backwards inside their sphere of protection. The many spikes that rose form the ground tried to piece the though stone that surrounded them, but it only ended in pushing them away violently, making them jerk from one way to the other inside their safe haven.

As fast as it had begun, it ended. Spyro kept his control over the rock around him, waiting to see if any more 'stray' spikes hit them. They waited in the darkness that surrounded them for over a minute in silence, waiting for anything to happen.

"Are you all right, Cynder?" Spyro finally asked from beneath her in the darkness that surrounded them

Thanks to all the jostling around their protective sphere, they had ended upside-down from the position they had started, with Cynder lying on her back atop Spyro's stomach.

"I'm fine. And you can let me go now, you know?" Cynder said as he felt Spyros limbs around her.

"Oh... sorry!" Spyro said; slightly ashamed.

The purple dragon released his control over the stone that protected them through Gaia's attack, which crumbled around them. Cynder rolled to the side.

"It good to be outside. I was beginning to feel crowded in there" Cynder answered with a hint of humor in her voice. "Not that I minded the company I was in, though"

Spyro chuckled slightly at that remark as he too rolled on his belly.

Once both dragons had their spinning head reoriendted, they took a look around. The landscape that surrounded them was beyond recognizable from what had been earlier. The blast area from Gaia's attack had been quite large! Everything inside that area had been destroyed. The trees were leveled, the bushed uprooted, the pillars toppled and the earth cracked.

Amidst all the destruction, a single figure stood, weeping over a corpse of a deceased family member.

"Should we..." Spyro said unsure, wondering if they should go to and try and console the weeping dragoness.

"I think she need some time on her own for now" Cynder suggested wisely, seeing the obviously distressed dragoness.

"Maybe we should..." Spyro began again, trying to do something to ease her suffering.

"Spyro!" Cynder said somewhat forcefully.

"All right! All right, Cynder" Spyro said abashed.

The two dragons watched a few more moments the grieving dragoness, waiting for any sign that they could make their move. However, Spyro's body surrendered first before that happened.

With a groan in protest, Spyro lowered his head to the ground.

"You're all right?" Cynder asked with concern.

"Yeah. Just... I guess I am too tired" Spyro answered. "The constant fighting has finally gotten on me"

As if the word had power, Cynder's fatigue settled on her shoulders, wanting her to lie down and sleep for a while. She could help but look at the place next to Spyro as it looked very tempting right now.

"Damn!" Spyro suddenly exclaimed, making Cynder heart jump.

"What?" Cynder asked, believing that an enemy had pooped out of nowhere and what about to attack them.

"I forgot about Ramirez!"

"What?"

"He was supposed to be in this area, but I haven't seen him"

"Don't scare me like that" Cynder admonished.

Still, she sighing in relief that no enemy was to jump on them.

"I should look for him" Spyro said.

Spyro started to stand up with a lot of effort, but it was obvious for any blind observer that he was way past his point.

"No you don't" Cynder said in an orderly manner as she placed her paw and forced him down again. "You are in no condition to be moving around; you need some rest"

"But..."

"I'll look for him" Cynder declared as she slowly stood up. "You just stay here; I'll be back"

Spyro tried to stand up again and protest, but a look from Cynder made him reconsider.

With a small assertive snort and nod from Cynder, the black dragoness proceeded to look for the missing human with slow and weak steps. She walked away from the main battle zone they had fought in since she had not seen a trace of the human around there. She started walking towards the left, deciding to circle around the temple from the outside, hoping to see any sign of him.

She had nearly three quarters of the way around when she noticed several death bodies lying around. She was positive there weren't from the initial skirmish Spyro and she had been in. And there was also a dreadwing with a broken neck by the mountain side the temple was built inside of. Stepping closer to one of the deceased orc, she noticed that there were neither claw marks nor any elemental injury on it body. The only wound she could see was a small and deep puncture on the creature's chest.

'Must be the human weaponry' she though.

Sure enough, after looking around, she noticed several brass cylinders lying around that always came when the humans used their weapons. It was still a mystery to her how the weapons operated, since the humans had not told them how their worked... not that she had asked anyway.

Following the trail of bodies and small brass cylinders, Cynder tracked the path the human must likely had taken. The trail took her towards a small crack in the cliff side where the human must have taken refuge in, evidenced by a footprint of a boot in the dirt near the entrance.

Entering the small crack, she noticed that it was a tunnel, and a narrow one at that. A further way more inside the tunnel, she found that a gruesome battle had taken place here. Several orcs and apes and grublins bodies lay almost atop each other. The humans must have decided to make his stand here.

'Clever' Cynder thought. 'Fighting here, he would only have to face one at a time due to the narrow place he was in. And he was doing it without having to worry about someone sneaking around his back'

Confided that she was drawing nearer to her goal, she proceeded a little further in. Her hopes were swept away when she found a road was blocked by a collapse.

'A cave in' she thought. 'And recent too'

Cynder picking a rock at random and pulled it free from the pile. The sudden missing piece made many more small rocks started to fall from the ceiling. She quickly scampered back to avoid being hit in the head.

'Unstable' Cynder mused. She took a quick look around, but she could see no sign of the human.

She yelled several times to the human, hoping to get any response from the other side of the collapse. But she received none.

'M_aybe he went further in the tunnel'_ she guessed. 'I just hope he avoided getting killed by the collapse'

Getting outside, she looked at the cliff the human had squirmed into. It was the same piece of mountain that the temple had been built in.

'Maybe the cave connects to the inner parts of the temple' she guessed. 'If that is so, then I guess I have to look for him there'

With a new path set, Cynder started to walk at a fast pace towards the main entrance of the building. However, a sudden sense of danger reached her in a moment. Having lived in danger all her life, instinct kicked in immediately, making her jump forwards in an attempt to save herself from the unknown danger.

That move allowed her to survive, but not unscratched. The force of the blow sent her flying a good deal away before hitting the ground. An arrow of pain entered her mind when her injured side collided with the ground, making her howl in pain.

It took a few moments for Cynder to regain her senses before she tried to stand up. As she moved her injured limb, she gave a howl as the sudden pain exploded on her hind leg, making her to remain completely motionless.

Cynder took a quick look to her limb and saw that the scales where the hit had landed were cracked over a large area. Blood was oozing from between the scales, testament to the injury he had suffered.

A shadow fell over her and, with a gasp; Cynder turned to see her foe.

It was an ape of the medium variety. He was covered from head to toe in brown dust, preventing another color from been seen, except for his eyes. He had two bloodshot eyes, meaning her had suffered trauma on her ocular organs. He had in his hand a war hammer, whilst in the other he had a small shield.

Out of instinct, she scampered away safely. Even with the adrenaline coursing through her body, the pain was great in her limb. She turned to face her enemy, an angry snarl in her face. Before she did any movement, she experimental tried to move her leg. It hurt... a lot; but it was not broken as she had feared. She tried to place weight on her leg, but she found that whenever she did, pain flared in her limb. She would have to move around on three legs for the time being.

Deciding to avoid physical combat, Cynder tried to attack with her fear element at the ape. But instead of a siren scream, the sound that came out of her mouth was more akin a kitten mewling. Her elemental magic had all been depleted in the latest attack she used with convexity.

Seeing the weakened state the dragoness was in, the ape swung at her head. She ducked the strike and at the same time, she tried to bite the apes arm. Her attack was blocked by the shield he had, making her retreat before her head was smashed with the defensive item. She clearly saw a kick coming her direction. She tried to jump out of the way, but with her injured leg, she lacked the speed and grace she always seemed to possess.

Cynder was thrown on her back and landed with a groan, but she quickly stood up with some difficulty.

'I can't win this myself' she though urgently. 'I need help'

"SPYRO!" she yelled at the top of her lungs for help.

She hoped that the purple dragon was close enough to listen to her call and come to her help.

Upon noticing that the dragoness had called for aid, the ape proceeded to try and kill her faster. He swung his hammer in an unpredictably pattern, making dodging that more difficult with the injured leg she had.

She succeeded in scratching several times his opponent, but all of those were superficial wound, nothing that would put down the bulky ape.

In a strike of bad luck, Cynder stepped on uneven ground, making her balance, with was already strained by fighting on three legs, falter. The ape took the opportunity without a second to spare. His hammer whooshed just at Cynder head, but she managed to evade the deadly strike. She could not evade, however, the shield that was coming after it.

Cynder saw stars when the shield smashed in her snout. Some blood came out of her nose as an added bonus for the ape. She tethered back, her brain refusing to from coherent thought. The ape once again moved forwards, ramming her with his shoulders and sending her back flying towards the ground.

Cynder managed to look through her hazy eyes the dark figure loomed above her, ready to smash down his weapon on her.

If Spyro was to arrive, this would have been the best time to do it. But someone else beat him to it.

Suddenly, a certain white dragon jumped on the ape, sinking his claws on his body so as to get a good grip whilst his teeth wrapped around the ape's throat.

"Gale?" Cynder said, surprised at seeing the white dragon.

Gale sudden tackle and weight made the ape loose his balance and fall. Once on the ground, the ape started to trash around violently, hoping to dislodge the white dragon that was atop him. But Gale bite did not falter for one moment; he held his fangs firm and did not release the pressure around the ape's neck.

It took only a few moments from the ape's erratic movement become twitches, followed closely by no movement at all. Cynder stood up and turned to face Gale, who still was on latched to the ape, eyes shut tightly in effort to not have his grip broken.

Slowly, Gale opened his eyes and started into the ape's face, whose lifeless expression was that one of shock from seeing the white dragon appear from nowhere. Gale slowly unclenched his jaws form the ape's throat, getting a mouthful of blood from the ape as it flowed out of the gaping holes like underground water springs from the severed veins and arteries Gales fangs had caused.

"Gale?" Cynder asked, looking at the white dragon.

Gale slowly stood up, still looking at the dead ape that he had killed. Is expression was one that of disbelief and horror.

"Gale?" Cynder once again asked in a stronger voice.

Yet, Gale did not answer. He didn't even acknowledge her as he stared at the dead corpse before him. He was in too much of shock to notice anything that was around him.

"GALE!" Cynder shouted, making Gale snap his head in her direction.

"C... Cynder?" he said, as if he had never known she was there.

"Gale... are you all right? Are you not hurt?" she asked with concern as she hopped on three legs towards him.

"I... I..." Gale stammered, faltering.

Then, Gale body visibly twitched once, followed by a second time moments later. His stomach heaved once... twice... and a third time before gaging. Cynder knew what was about to happen and turned her head away as Gale wretched, throwing outside what he had inside his stomach with a putrid smell.

After the action had been done, Cynder one again turned to face him, looking at the white dragon with sadness and pity. Gale limbs were visibly shaken and he was spitting to get out the taste of his mouth.

"Are you all right?" Cynder asked one more time.

"I can still taste his blood in my mouth" Gale said as a shiver coursed through his body before spitting once more.

"It all right; spit it out" she told him in a tender voice as she carefully patted him with once forepaw whilst being careful not to lose her balance.

Gale complied as he spat the remaining taste in his mouth.

"Feeling better?" she asked him.

"I... I guess so" Gale said in a low voice as he spit once more time to the ground. "But at the same time... " he stretched off as he started to turn his head once again to look at the ape.

"Don't look at him!" Cynder said somewhat forcefully. Gale head snapped back to look at her eyes. "Don't look" she told him again.

Cynder knew that this was the first time he had been in a situation like this. He was on the verge of having an emotional collapse and here would be a bad place for it to happen. He needed a strong support to help him ease through it for the moment... and after his collapse as well. Cynder knew that thinking too much of what he had done... and seeing what he had done, would do him no good.

"But Cynder..." Gale said as he started to turn his head once again.

"Don't look at him, Gale" Cynder said again forcefully, using her tail to make him turn to look at her. "Come on. Let us just get away from this place" she urged.

After a small and weak nod from the white dragon, they proceeded to leave the area. Gale walked with his wings and tail dragging on the ground whilst Cynder hopped on three legs besides him.

They traveled slowly and in silence for a minute. Cynder had hoped that Gale could hold out longer to his doubts and concerns, but what he had seen had clearly shocked him.

"I...I killed him" Gale muttered to himself as he stopped walking.

"It was not your fault, Gale" Cynder told him trying to ease the guilt and turmoil that must be raging inside him.

"But it was!" Gale said loudly. "I... I killed him!"

Cynder remained silent, waiting for Gale to continue. Having an emotional collapse right now would be bad, but if he didn't vent it... it would be worse in the long run. She knew he needed to vent out all his concerns and worries that was why she remained silent. She needed to counter his fears and concerns with rational and kind explanation; else he will likely suffer from trauma and go further down the path of depression.

"I... I... I... I j...just... saw how he... he had you; a...a...and I had to do something" Gale said, stammering. "I... I... I felt the... the flesh beneath my teeth! I tasted his... his blood in my tongue! I... I felt his struggles...on his very last moments! I..."

"You saved me" Cynder cut him. Gale looked at her with wide, moist and red eyes.

"But...!" Gale said as tears started to fall from his eyes.

Cynder could clearly see that he was distressed and he was in a lot of emotional pain. She tried her best to console the grieving friend beside her.

"He was a servant of the darkness, whose sole purpose it to conquer and kill. Had you not killed him, he would have killed me. Had you not killed him, he would have killed you too if he had seen you. Not only you saved your life, Gale; you saved mine as well. Gale... I owe you my life"

His eyes were sore and most from the tears he was shedding. With a sob, his legs gave under him and he collapsed on the ground.

"I... I can't!" he stammered. "It's... it's too hard... to awful! I can't!"

"Yes you can, Gale" Cynder told him. "I know you think that you are a weak dragon, and that you cannot do it. But I know otherwise. I know you are a strong, Gale. I have seen you show strength when other had faltered... I have seen that you take the right course of action when they mean the most. I know that a strong dragon fight for his friends. I have faith in you, even if you don't have it in yourself, that you are a strong dragon... and that you can go through this"

Cynder knew that Gale needed a strong and firm support to hold him in this unsteady time. But after Gale remind silent after her firm side, she needed to change to that one of compassion and undertraining; sympathy and pity.

"I imagine what you must be going through" Cynder said sympathetically. "But you did the right thing"

"It doesn't make it any easier" Gale said in a low voice as he looked back at the ground.

"I know Gale. I know" Cynder said in a tender voice. "Come on. Let us go"

With a little coaching from Cynder, Gale stood up and started to walk alongside her again. He was still had his wings and tail dragging and his head looking at the ground, but he was moving again.

"Was it like this for you too?" Gale asked as he turned his head to face her again. "Your first time?"

"I don't remember my first time, Gale" Cynder said sincerely, clearly understanding what he meant. "And I don't wish to"

With a small and silent nod from Gale, the two dragons continued their way.

***************************++++++++++1+++++++++++++************************

The Warfang market square was full with bustle of activity. Cries of wares and people negotiating about the right price in each stall and shops were heard everywhere. Gossip filled the street as females passed the latest news and children laughed as they played chase around the fountain.

It was in this place, where one could get almost everything for the right price, that the dragon Incendio and the human Kelly were. Doctor Kelly had kept good of his promise to help Incendio buy the things he needed for his home.

"Now, leave the things I bought at this address, if you would be so kind" Incendio told the vendor of the furniture shop as he gave the shopkeeper the small several golden gems that served as currency in the Dragon Realms.

The small mole, with nod of his head, started to organize the delivery with several other workers he had. Incendio turned and exited the shop, where Doctor Kelly was waiting for him as she sat on the fountain ledge. She was moving her hand on the water, twirling around and making waves.

"It's done" Incendio said as he approached her. "I told them to deliver it in a few hours so as to allow us finish here"

"Excellent" she said happily as she stood up. "Those new tables will look good on your home. You can put some flowers on those vases you bought, it will get along nicely with the new tapestries. It will look lovely, good choice"

"Thank you" Incendio replied. "But I must say that it was your suggestions that helped a lot"

"Think nothing of it, dear" Kelly said in a dismissive manner as she waved her hand. "It was my pleasure... really"

After they had lunch in the dragon's home, Doctor Kelly started to see the house and offered suggestion as to what to buy and where to place it. Incendio imagined quite well all of what she said. A table in the corner with a vase of flowers, a new tapestry on the empty wall, some candlesticks, a chest that is was a storage place and a decoration... and much more.

After the quick look at the house, Incendio had grabbed his savings and, both of them, had walked to the market. There, they entered the stores where they would buy things as well as to take a look at what the shopkeeper had to offer. Kelly was fascinated with all the small trinkets that the stall and shops offered. She nearly spent as much time looking at them as helping Incendio help with his stuff.

It was late afternoon, but still an hour or two away from night, when they finished buying furniture. Then, they went to the food shops. The first stop what the fruit and vegetable stalls, where they bought some of it. Dragons can survive on meat alone and thus, did not required plant food in their menu. Still, it was good for their health.

Cheese and bread came in next. Dragons had taste for this as well. And after that came the spices. Many a dragon liked to season their food with a great varies of spices... if it was prepared food of course.

At the end, they got the meat shop. Incendio eyes expertly analyzed all the select choices of meat the meat vendor had as he licked his chops, savoring them with his eyes alone. They had the most complete set of cuts. They ranged from venison, ribs, complete legs, even the prized heads. And it came from all varieties. Lamb, deer, beef and boar were the most common; but there were also rabbit, chicken and duck for more refined tastes. They also had ample selection of seafood: crabs, shrimps and fishes of many types.

Incendio bought a great many number of cuts from all types of meat, as well as other type of food. His job did not let him have that much free time, so he would supply himself until he had once again free time to resupply. He ordered all the meat to be delivered at his home latter during the day.

To put all the food he had brought, Incendio had worn a harness with pouches on his sides. On those pouches he could put the food and take it with him as well as the smaller things he had bought. Even though he had ordered things to be delivered at his home. the saddle bags were brimmed with food and other stuff... and it was heavy.

"Let me help you" Doctor Kelly said as she attempted to take some of the things he carried.

"No. It is my things and I shall carry them" Incendio replied a she inched away from her, preventing from taking anything from his bags. "I would not like you to burden yourself, so do not concern yourself" Incendio replied.

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely" he said as he puffed out his chest, making his muscles bulge out as if showing off his strength.

Before they returned with their wares back to the dragon home, they stopped in the plaza to have a small drink.

"I would like some wine please" Incendio said to the female mole waitress.

"You like wine?" Kelly asked, surprised.

"Yeah... do you?" Incendio asked.

"Of course!" Kelly replied happily. "I have drank wine since I was young"

"Would you like some?" Incendio offered.

"Thank you. I would like that very much"

"Waitress, bring us a full jar of wine" Incendio ordered with a laugh.

With a small bow, the mole left to get what the pair had ordered.

"I am quite surprised really" Kelly said. "I didn't think dragons drank wine"

Incendio gave a small chuckle at that.

"Yeah, we do" he said. "Not a great number of us like to drink it since it is a little bit to sour for our tastes, but some do like them. Most prefer the mead since it is more common and sweet. Stronger alcoholic beverages are very popular as well, but we do not usually give those to children"

"HA!" Kelly laughed. "I guess that our worlds are a little bit more common than we thought. Underage humans are not allowed to purchase alcoholic beverage"

"But you said that you used to drink wine when you were younger" Incendio pointed out her last remark with a hint of accusation.

"I said buy alcoholic beverages. Mother and father gave me little sips now and then when I was a kid" Kelly explained. "And when I got a little bit older, I use to drink one goblet when my family lunched, but they never let me take more than one until I was of age. So, I got a taste for it"

The mole waitress returned with a rather large pitch of wine and a small wooden cup and a bowl, both made of timber. She then poured for both of them before retreating and giving them privacy.

Kelly took the small wooden cup in her hand, whilst Incendio used both paws to hold the blow.

"Cheers" Kelly said as she extended raised her cup towards Incendio.

The dragon looked a little bit confused by that. He looked at her raised cup with a tilted head.

"Is this some kind of toast?" Incendio inquired.

"Oh..." Kelly exclaimed. "Yeah it is. It is a custom from our world where we toast to happiness and good health before we clock our cups together"

"I understand" Incendio said with a nod of his head. "Very well, then. A toast to happiness and good health"

"Cheers" Kelly said as both of them clanked their wooden drinking ware.

Kelly tilted his cup slight so as to sip the red liquid, whilst Incendio needed to raise his blow a little higher and tip it, so the wine could pour out from the wooden vessel and fall into his parted lips.

"Tasty" Kelly said.

"Very good" Incencio replied as he licked his chops.

"You know, mother used to say that some wine is always good for the health, but not in excess" Kelly said as grabbed the cup and started to twirl it. "She always used to say things like that" Kelly gave a sad chuckle.

"You must miss your mother a lot" he commented since he did not miss the sadness from her voice.

"Aye" Kelly answered. "That I do"

"If you do no mind my asking, but..." Incendio began, unsure if he should continue, but Kelly took where he left.

"How she died?" she asked with a sad tone. When Incendio did not say anything she continued. "It happened nearly seven years ago. I was mid-way through my medical studies when she was killed"

"Was she murdered?" Incendio asked with surprise.

"Yeah" Kelly confirmed. "Our world has a lot of unrest and conflict. There are many different nations, religions and cultures; and combined make a one big mess. One of said cultures does not see my country with good eyes. They often make quick and sneak attack against the populace to instill fear"

"Attacks against innocent citizens? But that is horrible! How can people do such a thing?" Incendio asked quite shocked and mad at such revelation. "That is such a cheap and sneaky tactic! A coward's way! Only made by those who are unruly and unworthy!

"They care not who they hit as long as they do hit something that serves their purpose" Kelly explained. "Their target it to instill terror on the populace, and thus trying to force the government to their demands"

"And it works?"

"Rarely, but they still do it" Kelly explained. "It was on one of such attacks that my mother was hit. My mother was on the wrong place and at the wrong time when one of such attacks happened. Seventy six dead in less than a second plus hunderds more wounded"

"That many?" asked quite surprised.

"Aye" Kelly said as she exhaled her breath. "It was one of the worst attacks. "Father never forgave himself for what happened to mother. He is a soldier, and it is his duty to protect the citizens of the nation. He thinks himself responsible for the death of my mother because he should have tried harder to stop these attacks since he knew it was coming, but not when nor where"

"Is that why he protect you so much?" Incendio asked.

"Aye. Mother's death hit him hard. He loved her very much. He protects me so much because he does not want something bad to happen to me. He would not bear it"

Incendio nodded in understanding, a little saddened at the tale Kelly had told her. And yet...

"I still do not understand how so many people could die so fast" he said.

"Humans are fragile and vulnerable, you see. Physically, I mean. We do not have any natural defense like scales or fur to protect us... nor do we have strong muscles or bones structures to help us with strong impacts. Sometimes, even the most simple of accident or injuries can kill us or leave us gravely injured. Compared to other animals, humans are not resilient"

Incendio eyes her small body with concern. She had a small body and she looked quite fragile. He felt from the start as if she was something that needed to be protected and cared for... as if even the smallest of things could break her. But he did not expect them to be this vulnerable. Dragons could sometimes survive the most grievous of injuries, sometimes even shaking it off as if nothing. But there must be some positive traits in the humans species.

"But you have come so far" Incendio said. "That means that there must be strength in your species... unlike other animals" he supplied.

"But enough about me" Kelly dismissed the matter. "What about you? Do you have some family?"

"Not any more" Incendio said with a sigh after a few moments of pause.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."

"It's all right" Incendio said. Kelly had told her about his mother, so he guessed it would be only fair to tell him about his parents. "It was nearly six years ago. It was a dark time for dragons. We were at war. Cynder and her armies smashed any opposition they encountered"

"Cynder? You mean that lovely young black dragoness?"

"The very same. At that time, she was being controlled by darkness, forced to do the Dark master's bidding. She brought the dragon armies and their allies to their knees and allowed her soldiers to kill any and all dragons they encountered. I lived with my parents in a fairly small town, but it was attacked by the dark forces. My parents and I managed to flee towards the hills, where we hid ourselves in some caves. We remained there for a while, but we were tracked. A bunch of apes appeared one morning at the entrance of our cave. My mother told me to enter a small crack, at far end of the cave that would lead me towards an exit. It barley large enough for me to slip through, but I managed to squeeze through. She also told me once I made it out, to fly towards Igntius as fast as I could. Ignitus took care of me after that and I never saw them after that."

"I'm sorry" Kelly said when he finished his story.

Both of them remained silent for a minute at the memory of their lost family, remembering those tragic moments. But they also though of happy moments they shared with their loved ones, as evidence by Kelly sudden chuckle.

"What?" Incendio asked with a tilted head.

"Mother always used to be so cheerful" Kelly said. "She used to say that life is so short that she wanted only to focus the good things. The bad moments she left behind whilst she kept the good ones. It was so unlike father... who is always so serious and worrying a lot. I think that is why he loved her so much. She always made my father smile"

"I guess you have inherited that trait from your mother then" Incendio commented.

"Huh?"

"I mean, when you laugh, people around you always seem to smile" Incendio explained.

"Really?"

"Of course!" Incendio replied cheerfully.

Kelly looked with a raised eyebrow at Incendio, who seemed to grin even more by the moment.

"You are making fun out of me" Kelly soughed.

"Maybe..." Incendio said in a mysterious manner with he chuckled under his breath.

And thus, both of them laughed even hared, enjoying their small chit chat and stories they exchanged as the afternoon went on.

***************************++++++++++1+++++++++++++************************

Spyro had waited where Cynder had left him and as she had told him to do so. The reprieve of fighting had been good to him since it allowed him to recover a little bit of his energy that he was sure he would need to continue the fighting. It was midafternoon and both armies had some fight yet to give. It would be hours before this conflict ended.

Spyro looked at the grieving dragoness, Gaia, who still remained weeping over the dead body of her cousin. He had tried to pull her away, but she had adamantly refused to move as much as a millimeter.

He waited patiently for Cynder to return with the human Ramirez, who had been stranded on this very same plateau. He just hoped Cynder finds him alive and well.

Upon looking around once more, he managed to discern the form of Cynder approaching slowly from afar. He expected the human to appear beside her any second now, but he did not expected for Gale to be her companion. Spyro found it immensely strange that Gale had somehow managed to appear in a battle zone. He would have to ask him about it.

But those questions were thrown to the winds when he noted that Cynder was limping. Spyro's heart faltered as seeing her hoping to advance. He immediately stood up and ran with a feral gait towards her. He stumbled once due to his body having gotten cold, but he stood upright again and continued his mad dash as if nothing had happened.

"Cynder!" he shouted in concern as he approached, skidding to a halt a breath away from her. "What happened? Are you all right? Are you injured?" he asked as he proceeded to look over all her body for any sight of injury or harm.

"I am. Just some injury on the leg, but it will heal" she told him.

"I should have gone with you" Spyro chastised himself. "That way, you would have come to harm"

"Spyro... you were about to fall over" Cynder sighed. "Besides, you don't need to look after me all the time"

Spyro felt a little abashed at the mention that she didn't wanted him over her the entire time. He knew that she could look after herself; but it was just that he could not stop worrying about her.

"Who did this?" Spyro growled, upset at Cynder having been hurt. "I will make sure that..."

"It has already been taken care of" Cynder interrupted him from going further.

"Very well. But are you sure you all right? Are you injured anywhere else?" Spyro said as he once again examined every inch of Cynder's body.

"I will be fine" Cynder sighed as he hopped around him to continue her way.

Spyro followed after her, walking close to her in a protective manner and watching her take every step, ready to jump in should she falter. Cynder noticed how he hovered next to her and gave a small sight.

Spyro hear a twig snap behind him and, as fast as lighting, snapped his head to look at the one who approached, ready to defend Cynder. But his eyes fell on Gale, who was looking very downcast as he dragged his wings and tail on the floor.

"Hey, Cynder" Spyro whispered next to her. "What's with him?" he asked, tilting his head towards Gale at the mention of 'him'.

"In a moment I shall tell you" Cynder replied.

Spyro opened his mouth to say something else, but the look Cynder gave him made him think better of it and snapped it shut.

He followed Cynder as he walked besides her, ready to offer his assistance of she so much as faltered. But she didn't need it. She arrived towards one rather large tree that had been uprooted in the battle that happened around here and led Gale there.

"Now, stay here" she told him. "You will be all right"

Gale said nothing as he lay down and wrapped around himself, making himself as small as possible and forming a protective barrier against the outside world.

With a small move of her head towards Spyro, she left the heap that was Gale. Spyro went a little way away from the withe dragon so as not to be overheard and sat down next to Cynder.

"So... what happened?" he asked in a low voice, so as not to disturb Gale.

"He just killed an ape" Cynder said calmly.

"I fail to see how that is a problem" Spyro replied in confusion.

"You are so thick sometimes" Cynder accused him with a glare. "This is the first time he had fought and killed someone... not just an animal we hunt for food. Gale just killed his first sentient being... and it hit him hard"

Spyro remembered the first time he had killed, not an animal he used to eat or a plant, but a person. It was when he knew that there was a world outside of the swamp he had grown up in, and that that world was dangerous. He and Sparx were playing a game of tag and had wandered too far from their usual stomping ground. Several apes had appeared and had captured Sparx, whilst other fought against him. At first, he fought only to incapacitate or knock out, not wanting to kill them. But he had to when they nearly killed Sparx... the same moment when he had learned at that moment to use his fire breath. That was when he knew that these guys were serious about killing him and that he had entered a kill or be killed situation. He and acted accordingly.

After the battle, he felt depressed and elated at the same time. He felt good because he had saved his foster brother from an unjustified attack and he had the adrenaline high; but he also felt bad that he had to kill them. That night, he had woken from a nightmare that consisted of seeing the dead bodies of the apes around him that he had killed. The mouths of the corpses were moving, muttering many things. They mostly consisted on how they cursed Spyro for killing them and how they wished they had done a particular thing in life.

He had felt depressed the next following days after the battle.

"I guess I see your point" Spyro murmured to Cynder. "Does he need any help?"

"Yes he does; but right now we shall wait here for a bit" she answered.

Before Spyro could say anything else, he heard footsteps behind him. He jumped around, like Cynder, and crouched low, assuming a defensive position and ready to fight if needed be. But he released a sigh of relief as he saw a trio of humans approaching. Two of them held the weapons they usually wielded whilst the third one had a bow and a quiver of arrows at his back. He knew of the plight the humans had at the lack of ammunition for their weapons, so they had begun using weapons they had managed to get their hand upon; weapons that he COULD understand.

"Spyro!" called the front soldier as they approached, who he recognized as Sargent Jackson.

"Human Jackson" Spyro called back one the soldiers had stopped in front of him.

"Spyro, have you seen my boy around here?" he asked the dragons. "I heard he got himself into trouble"

"We were looking for him as well" Cynder said before she explained what she had found. "My guess it that he went through a side entrance into the interior of the temple... or he is still trapped in that cave"

"Then we shall look inside the temple first" Jackson decided. "Now, move you two" he barked at the other soldiers. "We have no more time to waste"

Just as the humans were starting to get towards the entrance of the shrine, a shadowy figure appeared on the doorway. The humans, with a yelp of surprise, trained their weapons on the unknown creature. Spyro and Cynder also took defensive positions as they crouched low.

But they need not worry. It turned out to be Ramirez as he walked, leaning against one side then the next, as he struggled to keep his balance. Spyro could clearly see that he was covered from hair to feet with dust, leaving no part of him uncovered. Apart from the dirt brown that covered his entire body, only his white eyes could be seen.

"I wouldn't go in there if I where you" he said as in a hazy voice as he pointed with his right thumb at the entrance that was on his back. "The architects did a poor job on making the building safe, and thus the ceiling is highly unstable... prone to collapses"

Then, Ramirez sneezed, releasing a lot of dust that covered his body that floated around him for a few seconds before being blown away by the wind. But even then, he was covered completely by the brown dust

"Are you all right, Private?" Jackson asked a she lowered his weapon.

"I think I need a drink, Sarge" Ramirez replied as he reclined his back against a rock and slowly slid himself to the ground. "A big drink"

"Like hell you would" Jackson growled. "You are on duty, Private"

Ramirez grunt was the only answer he got.

Before anyone could say anything else, war horns sounded from the battlefield. Spyro raised his head, remembering that there was still a battle to be fought. He prepared to take flight until he sensed that something was odd.

There was something strange... something missing.... and he just couldn't put his claw on it. He tried to find out what it was. He listened hard... and he suddenly heard it. Or more accurately, the lack of it.

There were no sounds from battle coming from within the city. No clash of metal against metal, the battle cries, the yells of pain. It was eerily silent.

"Cynder?" he asked, confused.

"I hear it too" she answered as she looked to the sky, listening.

Before they could ponder and guessed what was going on, Jackson reached for his radio and spoke.

"Lieutenant?" he asked. "What is going on? We heard the war horn"

"The enemy is retreating" Parker answered in a voice that showed that he did not believed what was happening.

"Retreating?" Cynder asked, confused. "They still have enough forces to press on the attack, so why leave?"

"I don't know" Parker replied when Jackson put forwards the question "All of a sudden, they started retreating"

"That is unlike of them" Cynder said more to herself. "The Dark Army just doesn't fall back like that. Someone higher up must have told them to"

"But why is the question" Jackson said. "It does not make sense? Why leave if they haven't taken the city? They had enough forces to continue pushing us back"

"Maybe some higher up did not want to see his soldier massacred" the human with the bow guessed.

"No" Cynder replied. "They care not for their soldiers. The only reason they chose to leave was because the battle was lost and did not want to lose more soldiers because he will use them latter in another endeavor; or because they got what they want"

"But they didn't get what they wanted, didn't they?" the other humans asked.

"Yes they did" Spyro said gravely. He remembered something that the enemy had taken from this place not so long ago.

"So... that mean we won?" the same human asked as cheers rose from the main battle lines far away as they saw that the enemy was retreating, celebrating their victory.

Spyro though that the human was right. They had won the battle and forced the enemy to retreat and thus, kept the city safe.

Still, he could not help but feel that they had also lost.

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Author's notes:

Here you go. So, how was it?

As usual, Ramirez seems to be the lucky bastard that always gets away with it. Only this time, he did not got away unscratched. He got a couple of reminders of it. I hope this serves him as a lesson................Nah, impossible.

A new crystal has appeared. It is the fourth one. The crystal clear gem; the yellow one, the white one and now the green one. But still the question remain... what are those crystals? What do they have to do with... well, everything?

And it seems that this dark hooded creature has some rather interesting knowledge. He knows dark magic... and he knew where the green crystal was located. And who is he really? Why is he here? What is his true purpose?

Gaia has lost a family member, her last one. And she knows that it was her stubbornness to had gotten her killed. I wonder how she will cope. It must be hard for her to know that.

Speaking of coping with things, it seems Gale made a sudden appearance, acting so very out of himself. And he seems to be traumatized because of it.

And lastly, Incendio and Dr Kelly. It seems that those two share more in common than they know. That part was to mean a break from the battle (like the last two chapters).

Comments, reviews, critics, praises, pep-talk, 'good-job' speak and a pat on the back thing. Anything is welcome.