The Legend of Spyro: Origins_Chapter 14
#14 of Spyro Origins
Finally, chapter 14.
There was a lot to explain in this chapter, that is why it turned out to be and extremely long chapter (50 word pages). I had to cut in half!
Sorry for the delay. School was a taking a lot of my time... and I wasn't in the mood for writing... and the long chapter (actually, it's 2 chapters); made me take so much time to finish this one up. But I KNOW... that the wait will be worthwhile (at least to me it was).
There might be a little confusion because of the time changes! I tried to make it easy to understand, but I guess I just have to wait and see how people react to it!
I will not write this for the next chapter, so, PAY ATTENTION! I do not own The Legend of Spyro characters nor plot. This story is mine, as any new character that appears. Any resemblance in any from whatsoever is purely coincidental.
Enjoy.
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The Legend of Spyro: Origins_Chapter 14
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Slowly, Spyro opened his eyes only to immediately shut them again. The light was too bright! He tried once again, this time more careful to give time his eyes to adjust. He opened them, only to find that he was in the room that he had slept since he arrived in Warfang.
He tried to get up, only to fall feeling very dizzy. His muscles were completely sore! He could not even think straight! He waited for a little bit in bed to try for the complete dizziness and disorientation to pass.
He heard someone slowly open the door. He opened his eyes and turned to kook.
"Hey purple boy! About time you get up!" came a voice form a golden light that was floating in front of him.
"Sparx!"
"Hehe! Yeah, it me everyone!" he said as he lifted his hand as if receiving praise from a huge crowd. He looked at Spyro. "How are you today? Ready to once again go and save the world and defeat evil with your helpful and trusty friend?"
"Sure. Any time!" said sarcastically as he looked toward the window. He saw the city though it, and saw that it was well past morning. "Wow! I must have overslept!"
"Are you kidding me? You have slept for a whole day!" Sparx said.
"One day? Wow! I must have been very tired!" Spyro tried to remember all of what he had done during the last couple of days. He had overtaxed himself in his search for the humans and his return to Warfang. Then, there was the attack. No wonder he had fallen asleep on the spot!
"Heard that you collapsed on the ramparts just after the dark army had retreated. Some humans had to carry you here while you were snoring!"
"I do not snore!" Spyro protested.
"Sure you do! And really loud!" Sparx was laughing at Spyro's discomfort. He would never hear the end of it.
"So, what happened?"
"After you had decided to take your little nap, humans began to tend to most of the wounded"
"The humans?" Spyro asked.
"Yeah! They say their equipment and medicine is better than ours! As I would need it!"
Spyro began to get up, getting used to moving the sore muscles. After he had stood up completely, he looked down and it seemed that the ground was moving. He tried to keep his balance. He felt weak! He needed something to eat!
After the disorientation had passed, he stretched all of his limbs to get the blood moving again.
"Sparx, do you know where I could get something to eat?"
"Well, the humans have promised to give some kind of food since there is really not that much food left in the city after the attack. But they are not giving anything tasty"
"Have you tried it?"
"They have not brought it yet. The medicine had priority. And besides... why taste that kind of food? I´m sure it's unappetizing! The butterflies taste batter!"
"Well, do you know where food is being served?"
After Sparx told him, he made his way outside of the room. The dragonfly was following him, saying everything he had done during the battle.
"I carried important messages across the battle field. Not any species could have done that! But a dragonfly... was perfect! But not any dragonfly could have done that either! It had to be a very brave and courageous dragonfly, willing to face countless enemies, meet many swords and dodging flying arrow to deliver his important message! AND the dragonfly has to have nerves of steel not to break at the enemy if he was captured! Such messages were of such importance, that my position is a respectable one and of great importance! With my help... we won this battle. Do you know that..." and he continued on, much to Spyro's annoyance.
He reached the outside of the city hall and started to look for something to eat.
He found many moles trying to repair the damage that had been done to the city during the siege. Many buildings were destroyed on the lower city due to enemy catapult rock, human mortar explosions, a troll smashed it apart, dragon destruction to clear a house... for many reasons! Debris filled the streets, and there was also an abundance of the remains of the human's weapons.
Soon, he found somewhere to eat. There were a lot of people there, trying to get some food to eat like Spyro. Humans and some moles were preparing food, where it was later distributed. He sighted and asked how he should get some.
These were the last pieces of food left in the city. Spyro received a bowl with what looked like some kind of soup with whatever was edible that they could find in the city. Not much of a meal, but it was something! Spyro lapped at the hot soup! It wasn't that bad... or perhaps it was the hunger!
Too fast for Spyro, the blow was empty, and his stomach was still rumbling.
"Can I have some more?" he asked the cooks.
"Sorry Spyro! That's all there is for now!" a mole answered. "Warehouses were destroyed during the siege and we have not much food left. The humans have promised us to bring some kind of food with them, but right now, they are still busy moving wounded and medical equipment"
"Ok. Thanks!" As he turned to leave, he remembered something. "Oh! Wait! Do you know where Cynder is?"
"She is still being treated in one of the improvised hospitals. That way!" he pointed in a direction.
"Thanks!" Spyro tried to find the hospital in which Cynder was.
During this time, he saw some humans soldiers were patrolling. Alliance soldier still kept some kind of vigil after the dreadful attack on the city. He asked more direction until he reached his goal. He got to a plaza, where the humans had first arrived to help defend the city. In a corner stood a big building that served as hospital.
When he entered, he was greeted by an ugly sight! There were a lot of wounded soldiers and civilians. Moles... cheetah... dragons! This place had a lot of human activity, busy with medics that were tending the wounded, but there just were too many of them
He looked at the wounded with some kind of bile rising in his stomach. Some were missing limbs, other had been stabbed on the chest and other had just scratches compared to other wounded soldiers.
What got his attention though, was that there were no humans wounded on the hospital. He paid no mind for the moment, intent on only finding Cynder. He asked where she was, and soon she looked at her black body. She was lying on the floor, resting atop some white blankets. Spyro did even have to ask why she was not on a bed. There were just too many wounded.
He made a dash at her and looked over her. She had a huge bandage that covered her entire torso. She was breathing, which was a relief to Spyro. A human doctor past by and Spyro called for him.
"You know how she is?" he asked.
"Unconscious. She had some fractured bones, but she'll survive". That was the best new Spyro had heard in what seemed ages. Cynder would live!
He spent some time looking over her, guarding her against anything that might come to her. What will come to her now that she was safe? Who knows, probably nothing; but Spyro was there to protect her nonetheless! He stood there for a while, until he heard a voice.
"Ah! I thought I might find you here!" Spyro turned to look and saw Parker coming at him. He wore the same fatigues Spyro had seen him earlier, minus the helmet. He also had left his weapon somewhere, because he didn't really need it now.
"Hello!" he greeted him as Parker got closer and sit down in a nearby chair.
"How is she?" he asked once he has gotten himself comfortable.
"She will recover!" Spyro answered as she looked back at Cynder. "I have to thank you for asking for a medic... when she needed it. And also for having some humans here tending our wounded"
"That's ok! Most of our casualties were evacuated to our base to have better treatment. We tried to take as many as we could of the more critical wounded ones also; but there were too many. We did what we could"
"Thanks! How are things going?" Spyro asked. "I want to know what happened after the battle"
"Well... after you literally fell asleep... the defenders of the city kinda followed your example! They almost got asleep on the spot, but none like you did! I and some of my men you help defend against the wyvern and troll attack carried you to your bedroom!"
"Thanks!"
"You're welcome. It was some challenge, but with some a couple if us, we managed. After that, I and some other of my soldiers did some surveillance on the nearby area since the alliance soldiers, as you call them, were too tired to do much of anything. We had some skirmished near the forest with the remains of the dark army. Nothing serious! The next morning, medical supplies started arriving to tend all the wounded because the initials supplies had already run out. Not much has happened since"
"I also heard that you will provide with food. Is it true? I have already gotten my breakfast and I'm still hungry"
"I didn't eat my breakfast and I'm still hungry" Parker shot back.
"You didn't? Why not?"
"I gave mine to a mole kid that I saw asking for more food"
This was new! Spyro didn't expect so much generosity. Well, he didn't even know what to expect of the humans. One moment, they appear they are blood thirsty, the next they are giving charity.
"So... what are you doing here?" asked Spyro.
"I came to check on Cynder and to see how you were doing yourself after I found out that you had woken up"
"I feel fine. I'm just worried about Cynder"
"What is she to you?" came an unexpected question from Parker.
"Uh... friends! Very close friends!" Spyro answered a little hesitant. Thankfully, the human did not press further.
"I also wanted to tell you another thing" Spyro turned from Cynder and looked at Parker's face. "The leaders of my expedition are coming to try and create some form of alliance. Now, I don't exactly know if you will be invited, but I would like for you to be there... since... it was you that brought us here"
"I will" he promised. "When will they arrive?"
Suddenly, the characteristic sound of a human helicopter could be hard in the distance. It was getting closer by the second until Spyro though it was just outside.
Parker looked at something attached on his left wrist and exclaimed "Right on time!" Then he stood up. "Coming to meet the leaders of my expedition?"
Spyro nodded and got up. Parker turned to leave but Spyro lingered. He turned to Cynder one more time and nuzzled her tenderly on her snout.
"I'll be right back!" he whispered only to her his promise to the unconscious Cynder before he left.
As they exited the building, Spyro noticed a helicopter hovering above them. Parker halted next to Ramirez, who had a large backpack and was ready to receive receive those who came out of the helicopter. Hunter was there also as some moles that Spyro thought must be important. Just then, dragon guardians arrived.
The first he noticed about them was that Volteer was unusually talkative. He seemed really excited, which was common if something caught his interest, about the flying machine. Then Cyril; he was limping form an injury he had on the left foreleg. Apart from that he looked fine, although tired. Both of them had some bandages over different sections of their bodies.
Then there was Terrador. He stood tall and proud, but Spyro gasped when he saw the state he was in. He was more injured than the two other guardians. But the worst injury was in his left eye. He had a patch covering his eye, but some blood was still dripping from it. Spyro thought that it had caught his eye!
"Terrador!" he gasped.
"Spyro!" he acknowledges him.
"Your... eye!"
"A little bastard grublin jumped out of a window when we were clearing the city! He landed on my head and attacked me in the eye!"
"Will you be able to...?"
"Not a chance! I have already lost my sight in that eye!" Terrador confirmed Spyro's fear.
"Sorry!"
"So am I!" Terrador said in a low voice. "My fighting days are really over now" he seemed depress at this notion.
The helicopter was going down and was just landing in the middle of the plaza. Once it had touched ground, the scandal that the machine was doing was slowly dying away. He saw how the long poles that extended from the top of the aircraft slowly decreased their speed.
A man came out of the helicopter. He was wearing the same fatigue as Parker and Ramirez. He looked around the city, as if inspecting the state of the things. He seemed as if he were a soldier, and by the looks of it, an old one. Out next came a female. He wore different clothes that the rest of the humans in the city. She seemed younger that the man that had come out first.
The next passenger that came out shocked Spyro and everybody to the bone, except for Parker and Ramirez. It was a dragon! A yellow dragon! Somehow, he had managed to get inside the human vehicle and brought here! All of those who were waiting for the humans leaders gapped at the sight. The dragon apparently was stuck!
"This is embarrassing!" he was complaining as he tried to get out of the vehicle. "I was brought here flying... FLYING... in machine! That's so wrong! That is NOT natural!! A dragon should only fly by his own two wings!"
"Well... until that wing of yours heal, you are stuck to the ground" the human female said.
Just then, Spyro noticed that there were some bandages around one of the wings of the yellow dragon.
"I just can't wait to be able to fly again!" he complained further as he continued to struggle to get free.
The human male started to make his way toward them, but he seemed to be going to Parker and Ramirez. Both humans stood rigid and saluted the other one, who in turn, returned the salute.
"Lieutenant Parker! It's good to see you alive and well! I hear you did an excellent job here" he said with a funny accent.
"Coronel Flanning, sir! There were some complications, but we managed"
"So I hear" Flanning said. He then turned to Ramirez, and his expression changed completely. He was like if he could shoot flames out of his eyes. "And Ramirez" he said with venom in his voice, causing everyone to stand on edge. "It seems that I just can't' get rid of you!"
"I like being around............ sir!"
"I had hoped that this battle would finally be the end of you and I could finally be free from you! But I guess that was not my lucky day!"
"Well... it seems fate wants me to be around here for a little more time! Why so angry sir?"Ramirez asked with a voice full of innocence
"You didn't think I would notice, did you?"
"Sir?" he asked as if confused.
"You smuggled some unauthorized equipment while you were fighting here! Some mortars and shotguns for starters. Plus, you took also smuggled more medical equipment and who know what else you smuggled!"
Spyro remembered that Parker had asked if Ramirez had smuggled the shotguns when the dragon first saw them. He had denied it, but apparently he had done it!
"I should put you on chains and be held for the remainder of this expedition... no matter how long it lasts!" he threatened.
Spyro looked at Ramirez with worry. It seemed that the human commander was very hostile to Ramirez, and Spyro feared that he might to something bad to him. However, Ramirez held himself with a calm demeanor, as if he knew that everything would be all right.
"BUT..." Coronel Flanning lifted a finger as his murderous expression softened. "I'm prepared to let bygones be bygones if you actually manage to pull this one off!"
Just then, the human female stepped in.
"I... apologize for his behavior. We had had some very busy days with not much of a rest!"
"I understand!" Terrador said. "I am Terrador, Dragon Guardian and current leader of the defense of this city. We would like to thank you for your assistance these past days".
"You are welcome" said the female. "My name is Doctor Maria Espinoza, leader of the human expedition!"
"Coronel Flanning, military leader of the expedition" Coronel Flanning introduced himself.
"Welcome to Warfang!" Terrador said before looking around at the destruction. "Sorry about the looks of the city, but we had some troubles recently. Your would have been amazed at how it looked before the siege"
"So I heard!" Maria said as he looked at Parker and Ramirez.
"This is Cyril and Volteer, also Guardians. We guardians are leaders of the dragon race. Next is Hunter, the cheetah, leader of the people of Avalar Valley. Following next are the moles. They are General Melin, Turon and Mason. They are important people and leaders of this city!"
"Glad to meet you" Maria said, and Flanning nodded at each and every one of them as Terrador told their names.
"And lastly is Spyro, The Purple Dragon!"
"A purple dragon? For real?" the yellow dragon barred his way forward once he was free. He went straight to Spyro until he was hovering over him... his eyes wide with wonder and surprise, but above al exaltation! He was young, not yet adult, but was older than Spyro! "It is amazing! Dragons I have always been with said that the purple dragon was only a rumor! But I knew that what they said was wrong! I always knew the rumors were true and that the purple dragon had come to save us! I still can't believe he is real! A purple dragon, for real! It's such an honor!"
Spyro began to feel somewhat uncomfortable. He did not like being the center of attention in such a way!
"I'm sorry, but who are you?"
"I´m Shockwave!" he replied enthusiastically. "I have heard a lot about you! I have heard and memorized every rumor that was spread of you across the dragon realms! It seems like a dream come true!"
"I... I don't know what to say"
"You don't have to say anything! It's just unbelievable... a purple dragon!"
"Calm down young one!" Terrador urged with a chuckle at the enthusiastic ramble of the young dragon.
Do all electric dragons talk that much? Spyro wondered.
"And the Dragon Guardians! Also such an honor!"
"Please... calm down! We would like you to tell us how you came to be with the humans".
"Well... I was..."
"I think it is best... if we talk somewhere more comfortable!" Maria said. "Is there a place where we could talk?"
"Of course" Terrador said.
"But first..." Flanning interrupted and turned to look at Parker and Ramirez with and angry expression "where is she?"
Ramirez immediately showed some signs of fears on his face as the man made his question. Somehow, all of the previous threats and outburst Flanning had thrown him, this particular question made his face show some kind of fear. This also seemed to after Parker as well!
Both humans immediately pointed to wars the hospital Spyro had just exited. The human coronel stepped purposefully into the building.
"What was that?" Volteer asked, curious about it.
"Father-Daughter relationship!" Ramirez answered.
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Doctor Kelly was checking on some patients that were in the hospital. He had barely slept since he arrived. All of her concentration was on the wounded ones! Thankfully, there were no more people that were in danger of dying. Right now, it was more to check and help patient. But that did not mean that there was still a lot of work to do.
He was checking the vitals of those she had tended since he arrived here. Out of who knows who many Kelly had operated, only three moles and one cheetah had died. The rest were still alive.
She passed the first and only dragon the she helped. She turned to see how the poor fellow was doing. His big side was slowly rising and falling with each breath he took. His heart beat was strong and he did not seem to be in any kind of danger. She smiled that this one would actually pull it thought! When she found him, he was near death. It was like a miracle that he had survived!
Just when he was about to finish, a voice became from behind.
"Kelly!"
Slowly, she turned to confront the one who had spoken to her. "Father!" she greeted him.
"Why did you disobey my orders?" Coronel Flanning said as he took a hand to his face.
"You can't order me around father! I am not in the military! I had to come!"
"This was a war zone! You could have died!"
"Father... I am not a child!" she said a little bit angry. They had had this conversation many times over. "I have grown up, no matter how much you wish for me to remain a young one!"
"How can I protect you if you leave my side at every chance you get?"
"Father..." she said sadly, knowing that this will hurt him "you have to let me go! I have to live my life! You want to protect me from everything, and I really appreciate it, but you are choking me while you are trying. I know you want to atone for not being there with mother when she died. I cannot stay under your wing forever!"
Coronel Flanning sighted. He knew she was right. "I just can't let anything happen to you!"
"I know father! But you can't protect me from everything... I have a life to live!"
"I am sorry" Coronel Flanning was near tears. "I just don't want to lose you!"
"I know" Kelly answered in a soft voce before she hugged his father.
"Just put up with your father quirks sometimes, daughter!" he teased and she laughed. He looked at her eyes and said. "You look so much like your mother!"
"So you tell me every time!" she laughed.
"I have to go!" he said suddenly, being his though old Coronel self. "I have to see if we are going to form some kind of alliance. Take care!"
"You too, father!" and with that, she left. She smiled as he watched his father go. He was the only one left of his family, and she loved him dearly. But as his father... she had work to do.
She turned back to finish checking how the dragon was doing, only to see that he was watching her with one eye half-open.
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The group made their way toward the city hall. They entered the room with the dragon statues and paintings indicating the foundation of the city and important events. Spyro had been here before! He guessed that this was the first time it had been used since the war against Malefor for its true purpose: politics!
Slowly, each of the involved sat themselves facing each other in a round table. The dragons sat on their haunches while the rest sat on some chair suitable for their sizes. Each species sat themselves in groups, as if they were still hesitant to mix. Spyro sat next to the guardians.
"Well..." Maria said as she sat herself "I think it is time we began"
"Agreed!" Terrador said. "If you don't mind, I would like to know a little more about yourselves"
"Yes!" Volteer put in excitedly "I have never seen nor heard about your species before in any form of information that I have ever come across! In addition to that, I have neither found any indication of you humans in any of our vast document of recorded history; which is astounding as it is! This, in terms of purpose and practicality, is the first time our two species have come in contact! Isn't that something wonderful?"
Maria and Flanning looked at the electric guardian with a strange look and their mouth hung open in a confused way! Obviously, they had never met someone as Volteer!
"Yeah! It is!" Maria said after some moment of confused looked at Volteer. "This is also our first time... seeing... dragons! We have never encountered them before!" Spyro noticed the pause she did when she said about seeing dragon, which seemed to him odd.
"Have your species have not seen or heard about dragons before?" Cyril asked, somewhat hurt that there was a species that did not know about the dragons.
"Well yes... and no! Not exactly!" Maria answered as she scratched her head, confusing everyone by her answer.
"Everyone in the Dragon Realms knows about the dragons!" Cyril again said.
"We are not from this Dragons Realms you speak of!" Flanning said.
"WHAT?" Terrador almost yelled, causing everyone to jump in surprise. "Are you not from the Dragon Realms? Then, where do you come from if you are not from here?"
Maria turned to look at Ramirez and nodded. Ramirez stood and grabbed his backpack, placing it on the table. As he started to rummage of something inside, Maria talked.
"We come from a place we call Earth." She said as Ramirez finally took out some kind of sphere held by pins on two extreme points. It had a base so it could hold itself without rolling. He also took out some kind of parchment.
Ramirez walked and placed the strange looking sphere in from of Terrador, who looked at in intently, trying to figure out what it was. Ramirez also spread the paper in from of Terrador, which it turned out to be a map! Spyro also noticed that the sphere had the same looking landmasses that the one on the map held.
"Hhhmmmm! I do not recognize any of the landmasses!" Terrador said as he looked at the paper map intently.
"Neither do I!" Volteer also said. Cyril also shook his head in denial.
"What is this?" Terrador asked the question many wanted to hear.
"That's Earth!" Maria said with a calm expression as Ramirez sat down again beside Parker.
"Are... are..." Volteer stammered, something really rare for him, as realization hit him "are you trying to inform us that you come from a complete different world?"
"Yes!" Maria stated flatly. There was some silence in the room as the news began to sink into the brains of the assembled. Spyro once again looked at the map, curiosity taking control of him. Then, he remembered something that had really confused him a little while back... and some conversation he had with Parker and Ramirez when he first saw them.
"Terrador, do you have heard of this... Earth before?"
"No!" he answered Spyro's question, somewhat confused about the question.
"Has anyone ever heard about it? Is there a record about it? Anything at all?" Spyro turned to look at the rest of the assembly, except the humans. They denied they have ever heard of it.
"Spyro... what are you trying to get at?" Terrador asked, but Spyro turned to look at the human female.
"Maria... you said you have never seen nor heard about dragons, but at the same time you confirmed that you knew! What do you meant by that?"
Maria sighted and put a hand on his face and slowly moved it in a downward motion. The rest of the assembly looked at her, expecting an answer.
"You are perceptive, Spyro!" she said. "In truth... we have never seen nor heard about any living breathing dragon"
"And dead?" Spyro asked, leaning forward. The dragon guardians also leaned forward, wishing to hear what was about to be said.
"Not dead! Dragons... appear on our mythology" she said slowly. "They are considered mythical creatures!"
"What? Dragons... myths?" Cyril huffed insulted at such notion. "We are very alive as you can see!"
"We do see!" Flanning said.
"But not only that!" Ramirez put in. "Dragons are in mythology, yes, but in all of Earth's ancients mythologies of different civilizations!"
Parker looked at Ramirez with wide eyes. "I didn't now you knew so much about it!"
"I did my homework!" Ramirez said with a silly grin on his face.
"So what about it?" Hunter asked, speaking for the first time.
"How do you explain, that people who had never... ever... had any contact in any form, have the dragon as a mythological creature in one way or another?" Ramirez asked.
"In one way or another?"
Ramirez took out something that resembled a thin black box. He opened the top part and Spyro saw how he fumbled with something! It appeared that it was another machine of theirs. After he finished doing whatever he was doing, he passed the device at Hunter.
"What is this?" Hunter asked skeptically.
"A computer. A device that stores information basically!" Maria answered.
Hunter looked at the device the human had pass and Spyro noticed how he slowly his eyes began to open inch by inch at whatever he saw.
"But... these are dragons! There is also something that resembles them! How do you get these?" Hunter asked in disbelief
"Painting from various people from our own world. Art!" Ramirez said as Hunter passed the device to Spyro, who looked at it.
It was a screen that held a dragon picture in it! The dragon seemed ferocious and it was battling with a human. Suddenly, the image changed and another dragon was seen. This one was taking a bath sun near a cave.
There were dragons he recognized, but also there some kinds of serpent with wings, dragons that walked on two legs, and some kind of wyverns! There were many pictures, and all of them held some kind of dragon. Some looked evil and ferocious while other seemed generous and kind.
Terrador who was looking over Spyro, asked. "But why do you know of dragons if you have never encountered the before?"
"That's the mystery!" Parker put in. "The only think we know of dragons come from histories, legend and mythologies. Until I came across this city the first time, I thought dragons to be fantasy tales! Now I begin to wonder!"
"Then why are dragon stories in a place neither of our two species have ever been before?" Cyril asked.
"Coincidence!" Flanning replied. "There are several creatures back on Earth, like the Komodo Dragon, that could inspire such stories. Of course, stories tend to be exaggerated, and a small animal that can fit in my hand suddenly turned a huge fire breathing monster! Or perhaps some remains of dinosaur could also explain it! People might imagine some things in prehistoric times!"
"Or perhaps not! Have your kind ever traveled to another world?" Maria asked to the dragons.
"We do not tend to travel to other worlds, but yes; we have traveled to other worlds; but only in extreme necessity!"
"Are there other worlds?" she inquired further.
"We know of some, but those are dark places! You do not want to go there!" Terrador said as if lecturing a child. "I do not know of one that isn't a dark place if I recall!"
Spyro remembered the time he had gone to the convexitivity realm, where he fought Cynder to prevent her resurrecting the Dark Master. He remembered the cold place and how lonely it had felt! He shuddered at the memory.
"Have you ever built a portal?" Maria asked further.
"To create one requires great deal of magic and a lot of knowledge and power! There are other portals that are to be used to travel in the same world, but dragons do not use that kind of portals! We travel in our own world by our own means! So, no... we have not build a portal!" Terrador finished.
"Which bring the question" Volteer interrupted. "Have you ever made a portal?"
"No! We do not have magic... at least, I don't think so!" Maria said.
"Then, how did you come here, and why?"
Maria took a lungful. "I guess I should start from the beginning!"
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----(Several days ago)----
Jonathan Parker was reclining against a wall of a building as he saw the expedition making the final preparations to cross the portal. This would be the most important expedition of the history of mankind! Imagine... traveling to another world!
What seemed as a grand moment had actually beginning a time of chaos. This expedition had a dark beginning two years ago!
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Parker was a second lieutenant of a US family that had always been in the marines since it was formed. He always held himself with honor and dignity! He would always protect the civilians and his county... even if it cost him his life!
He had been detached here since all this began.
About two years ago, strange creatures had begun attacking the populace. They killed everything that got in their way! People, dogs, cats, mice, everything alive that moved! Many people had died on those first few days! Those who were attacked and managed to escape described them as a huge fly. It had two arms and tow legs instead of the usual six of the insects.
This caused quite a stir in the local government! Before the country had time to act, the rest of the world found out because of a news channel that had been nearby one of the towns when an attack occurred. There were hundreds of them, swarming unprotected civilians as they tried to flee, killing them without any form of mercy!
The world governments met in a quick session at the UN and the cover up began. It was a strange mutated creature that had evolved due to radiation... like Godzilla! Of course, no one knew what it really was! The world bought the story and that gave the nations time to move.
Civilians were evacuated of the nearby areas due to 'radiation proximity'! But the truth was that it was being assembled a multination task force to eliminate the treat and regain the ground that had been lost. Parker was in that force as a second lieutenant.
Troops started rolling in and killing every bug! They were no match for the combined troops of the UN forces. They were killed easily, but they were still coming more each day! Some engagement had thousands of the creatures flying around! No one knew where they really came from.
Someone had to do something!
That 'something' was a recon mission to try to discover where they came from. And that 'someone' included Parker.
-+-
"Hey!" a voice came which caused Parker to jump. "How are you Lieutenant?"
"Ramirez! Fine, I'm fine!" he responded. "What is it?"
"We are just about to go and I was wondering if you wanted anything to take to the other side!" he offered.
"No!" Parker exclaimed a little bit angry. "I already told you I only asked for your help on that one occasion. I would not rather have anything from you!"
"Just offering sir!" Ramirez defended himself with his palms up. "Ninguna forma de agradecimiento!" he grumbled as he left.
Jose Ramirez! That guy was incorrigible! The son of Mexicans immigrants on US soil. The guy had made thousand of contacts in the army and outside! He could get anything... ANYTHING... he wanted due to the amazing network he had! He became a sort of market for all of the troops. If someone wanted anything... anything at all, he could get it; from chocolate to weapons to a leave to visit ones family... even personal information of another guy! He always had a friend who had a friend who could get what he wanted, no matter if it was outside of the regulations. And he charged for his 'goods, not with money, but with favors. He used favors to bring more material and to sell it to people! Because of this, nearly every member of the base owned him some kind of favor, including officers!
Parker himself had only one time asked for Ramirez services. His mother had an accident and she was in critical condition and near death. He was denied leave to visit her mother, so he turned to Ramirez to get him some kind of pass. That was the only time he had asked for Ramirez 'merchandise'. Parker did not like it, but he was forced.
The only one everybody knew that had not asked anything out of Ramirez was Coronel Flanning, who seemed to hate the private on sight for the lack of discipline and his actions. The Coronel had tried to get the private out of the base several times, but with his contacts, Ramirez always managed to stay. Flanning also tried to imprison him several times, but he never had managed to get any real evidence and people would not talk because they would lose all the things Ramirez could offer. Of course, this annoyed Flanning to no end.
Truth was, Ramirez had some problem with authority. He followed orders only because it seemed that they were with what he thought was correct. The only one who could really control him was Parker to some extent because of their history.
-+-
Parker and Ramirez had met in the recon mission to find out where the bugs were coming from. At once, Parker had not liked what he had seen, nor heard, of him. But he was stuck with him.
Three helicopters had been sent to try and pinpoint the location of where the bugs were coming from. Each one separated and began the search in different areas. Parker was stuck with Ramirez, who always had a joke under his sleeve! At least that made the job seem a little less tedious.
Unfortunately, the creatures ambushed them before they could get out of the helicopter. They killed everyone in the squad except for Parker, Ramirez and another soldier called Tom. They had run trying to find a more defensible position. When they did, they beat back the enemy.
With no way to radio for help, Parker decided, since he was the superior, to start to head back. It was during this time, that Ramirez began to see Parker with more respect, because it was his tactical orders that actually got them out alive.
-+-
"Listen up MARINES!" someone shouted, interrupting Parker train of thoughts.
He smiled when he saw what was about to happen. Sergeant Jackson was about to give his usual speech. It was Speech Time. Many soldier stood at attention, not daring to smile in fear of Jackson retribution, but eagerly awaiting the Sergeant orders!
"I got a problem soldiers! Thanks to these bugs, I can't sleep! You know how annoying is to have a mosquito flying near your ear while you are trying to sleep? IT'S ANOYING!!! And because of that, I WILL go to this Wonder World and solve this problem! I WILL ensure that these flies do not bother 'ME' while I am having my beauty sleep! And guess what; you are coming with me!"
Parker could only laugh at the troopers discomfort from afar. Some seemed that they wanted to laugh when they couldn't while others were shacking with fear of what was to come. But Jackson wasn't finished!
"Once we have taken the fight to their lair, I will give them a reason to fly. We will cut their wings and shove them of a cliff to see if they want to fly near US again! After we have smashed them, and killed the queen of the lair and all of his bastard sons, I will SIT in HER THRONE, surrounded by her dead bastard larvae, a bug skull full of wine in my hand enjoying the moment! After we had our good laugh at our victory, we make a toast! A toast to 'Long Live the Sarge'... AND VICTORY!!!"
"VICTORY!!!" the soldiers shouted after Jackson had given the speech.
Parker smiled at the antics of Jackson and his gift with his tongue. Sergeant Samuel Jackson was an old style sergeant. He was old for a sergeant, but he said he liked being a sergeant because it gave him the opportunity of shoving recruits. The marines were his life. He enjoyed and lived for it!
He always had problems with Ramirez not because of Ramirez smuggling operation, but because he sometimes tried to be a smart mouth, something Jackson didn't like because he was the KING!
Parker could not keep help but remember the insults and curses Jackson shouted at the bugs when they met!
-+-
On their journey after the disastrous ambush in their search for the place of origins of the infestation, they found a lone black man fighting a horde of bugs all by himself! He was shouting beautiful curses at them as he blasted them apart with his rifle. With the help of Parker and company, they managed to fend off the bugs and save the man. He identified himself as Sergeant Jackson. He was in another chopper before being ambushed by the bugs and separated from the rest.
Night arrived and they had to spend an uncomfortable night. They found a nice cave where they could take refuge during the rain that was soon to come on them. But that night was not what they expected.
During the middle of the night, just when everything was deadly quiet and every animal was asleep, a commotion came. The screeches the bugs made, was heard nearby. The noise awakened the tired soldier, putting them on edge and with their weapons held close. It was not long before the commotion ended before it started again, but with less intensity.
Parker ordered, much to Ramirez grumbling, to investigate. They moved through the area in search for the bugs. They arrived at a small hill and what found behind, made them drop to the ground in a prone position. There were many of bugs just down the hill! There had to be thousands of them!
The screeches rose and fell from the swarm below; they seem to be doing something! The four soldiers looked intently though binoculars at the assembly. Parker nearly fainted after what he saw next.
They held some human civilians captives! They were pushing them until they stood at the center that had suddenly formed. They were pushed to a very thin rock archway. The swarm had formed a circle around the human captives. The screech was at its loudest! An especially big bug came forth and raised its hand. All the commotion ended in a heartbeat!
Just when Parker was about to order they should retreat, a sudden crackling began to sound. Some form of pink-blue-red cloud was beginning to form out of nowhere in the middle of the archway. After some more cracks, this clod seemed to grow bigger and more solid.
Parker could not believe what he was seeing. This cloud was totally strange as it was, but he knew no one had ever seen such a thing. A really loud crack was heard, and Parker knew something was about to happen. And it did!
More bugs started to appear out of this strange cloud! That's when Parker understood. It was some kind of portal!
As more bugs arrived from wherever they came, the huge bug that had silenced the crowd went toward the human captives, who were whimpering in fear. The fly raised a hand which held an ugly looking knife and brought it down on one human.
Tom could not help but gasp when the knife went down and killed the person. Unfortunately, a few bugs heard him. They began to screech loudly, alerting the rest of the swarm.
Parker could only run ahead of the huge swarm that was following him and his men. Parker thought about when the fly had killed the human with the knife. It had seemed strange, not some kind of animalistic event. That was when Parker understood that they were not fighting just an animal! They were creatures that could reason to some extent!
After running for who knows how long, they somehow managed to escape the bugs. The only problem was that Tom was missing. He could have run in a different direction after they started running away.
Parker, Ramirez and Jackson spent the next couple of days trying to avoid getting killed by the bugs as they made their way to human lines. When he got there, the three survivors were ushered into a medical tent without getting something to eat first after their ordeal!
-+-
"Lieutenant Parker!" he heard his name being called and he lost his concentration again.
He looked around and saw Coronel Flanning making his way to him. Parker stood firm and straight and saluted him.
"At ease Lieutenant" he said as he returned the salute. "How are you doing son?"
"I'm fine sir, just, somewhat nervous!"
"Aye, this is no small event in history lad!"
"This is the biggest enterprise of human history!" Parker said reciting what he had heard a thousand times already. "I have heard what the politicians say"
"Do not mind them! Although this is indeed a grand voyage!"
"Yes sir"
"HA! Come on! This is a Grand Adventure! Be happy about it!" Flanning tried to cheer him up.
"It's difficult to be happy if I know this could be very well my last adventure"
"Is not being in the armed forces the same?" Flanning asked. Parker saw some login in that and could only accept it as true. "Lad, many soldiers and civilians alike have asked me that they want to be the first to step though the portal! But I wanted to offer it to you. You can go first if you want. After all, you deserve it!"
Parker thought for a moment. Getting first thought the portal? Being the first human to step in another world? His name would be remembered for eternity!
"Thank you sir! I will!"
"Good! Get ready! We are about to leave!" Flanning said after he left.
Parker saw the British commander and military leader of the expedition leave. Coronel Thomas Flanning was a hard man and had a temper that could explode at any second. He had a hard life as a child while living in London. His family was poor and could not give really that much to their children. His family had died in a plague that had swept across England. Although it was not deadly with proper medicine, those who could not afford it had a very hard time.
Flanning was left alone at a very early age. He survived as he could, but ended joining the armed forces as a young boy. He spent his life there, slowly ascending in rank. He married and had a daughter, Kelly. They had a nice live together until a traffic accident had killed his wife. Kelly was now his only pillar left to support him! That made him overprotective of her. When it was a matter between father and daughter... everyone scattered and got out of the way!
As for Kelly, she studied medicine and graduated at the head of the class! That was why she was assigned to the expedition. She just was the best!
What she lacked in family, she had it in her hearth! She was such a generous person that always thought of others health first! Everyone loved her for that! She could not hold a gun, much less fire one! Her conscience dictated that she could not harm a fly, even a mutated one! She had a golden hearth and was liked by every member of the expedition!
Parker remembered how he had to report to Coronel Flanning and her daughter after their fateful mission.
-+-
After being ushered into the tent when they arrived to the camp, they saw Coronel Flanning and her daughter. She immediately began to inspect them as the Coronel was asking questions. She pronounced them clean and Flanning learned everything of what had happened.
A few weeks of struggle passed before they arrived at the place Parker had seen the portal. It was still there, but bugs were no longer coming out of it.
Of course, many were surprised at the portal, but they had orders to accomplish. And unmanned vehicle was sent thought the portal with the entire instruments need to see if the other side was safe from humans to live in... or dangerous! Unfortunately, nothing came back. No video feed, no sound, no feedback, no nothing! It was as if the robot didn't exist. Of course, this did not deterred to send some probes in the future, hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever was on the other side.
They task force began to build a military base around the portal to prevent civilians from getting to close, and to prevent ant more bugs from coming trough. They were to be the defenders if any more surprises came out of the strange cloud portal. And surprise came!
Bugs came out of the portal, but they were easily killed because the human had prepared themselves for this for quite a while. They had to defend the portal quite many times! Bugs would just continue to come from wherever they kept coming! But nothing could be done.
They spent two years fending off the bugs that kept coming, and preparing for an eventual trip thought the portal if it came available. Sometimes, the bugs came in big groups, other times, a lonely bug would be sent forth. But they were contained. During that time, parker was promoted to First Lieutenant. Everything was routine... until yesterday!
The portal stared to go crazy! The base went to high alert, ready to receive anything that came out of the portal. Light started to pour from the portal and crackling could be heard! Purple energy bolts started to appear on the cloud! That thing was like a bomb ready to go off!
After a really loud crack, the light and sound show ended. The portal had changed its appearance! Instead of the pink-blue-red cloud, it had turned completely blue!
Immediately, an unmanned vehicle was sent. This time, they received feedback! The video showed a forested area, and the reading showed that it could be inhabited by humans! And the lab rat that was attached to the probe was alive and well! Humans could cross the portal!
In less than an hour, all of the counties involved in this little project decided that the expedition team should be sent. Members of the base should go because they had the experience dealing with these things.
Of course, no one knew who long the portal would stay like such; so they had to move fast! And the people who crossed, had to be volunteers because it could be a one way trip!
The portal was not big enough to let armored vehicles nor bulky things go thought! However, Humvees would manage, and choppers where partly assembled and they would be brought! They would be assembled on the other side!
The weapon on the base were picked and packed. Javelins and mortars would be brought! Grenade launchers, grenades, claymore TNT, C4 were also brought. Practically, the newly formed expedition picked the base clean! Now, only volunteers were needed.
Some of the base personal was ready to be sent forth. Also, other soldiers from across the globe volunteered and were sent forth here in the fastest way possible.
Of course, those that remained would have the duty to try to send more provisions and personal during the length of the expedition. But there was always a chance that the portal could close and be stranded in a hostile world.
Speaking of hostile world, a fast mission debrief was made and distributed to the members of the expedition. They were to neutralize any threats they found! No big surprise. Of course, everyone knew what that meant... find the bugs and kill them! Other than that, investigate! Scientists were coming along to see if they could do something out of whatever they found on the other world, and the military was supposed to protect them.
The leader of the expedition was decided to be a civilian. Her name was Maria Espinoza, a Spanish woman of great character and an iron will! She had a lot of experience in leading projects and had the good habit of always managing despite the circumstances! She would do fine!
The reason she was picked... a civilian, was that this was a humanity expedition; and an international at that! It would look bad internationally that the military ran the expedition. Of course, that did not mean that the military had a say in the matter. Coronel Flanning was going too and he was in charge of the defense and security of the expedition.
The hurriedly assembled expedition was ready in less than a day and a night!
-+-
And that lead to this moment. Parker was standing just in front of the portal. He was standing by the rock archway that held the strange misty colored cloud that was the portal. He was ready to start a crazy voyage with an under strength and undermanned expedition behind his back! He stood hesitantly in front of the blue cloud. He was having second thoughts now that he was here!
"You want me to go first sir?" Ramirez asked behind him. He had stuck to his company since they had returned and Parker had asked for Jackson to be placed under his command.
"Like hell I would let you!" he replied.
"I was just saying sir!"
Parker took a breath before releasing it in one go. It was nearly time to go!
Just then Maria Espinoza made her to the portal with a megaphone on her hand. Once she got next to Parker, she turned. She was about to address the expedition. Parker turned to look at the assembled members. They were all brave souls, and were looking expectantly at Maria as she made her way forward. They were all having backpacks stuffed to ripping apart with equipment, the same as Parker. A lot of crates holding supplies stood out amidst the packed humanity. Vehicles were ready and the disassembled helicopters were ready to be towed across.
"People! We have to do this fast, so I will make this speech short! This is a very important voyage... a voyage that is the first of its kind. Humanity is about to go through this portal and emerge on a new world. Humanity will step another world. We have forever wondered what's over the horizon, on the other side of the hills. That same curiosity that drove our ancestors to risk their lives to discover what was beyond the hills, drive us forward to find out what is beyond this portal. WE know that it could be dangerous! That is why, I ask one last time... those of you who wish to stay, do so. They will not be thought of less!"
Some few decided that this was too much for their liking, and stepped down. After no more people left, Maria spoke again.
"Now, the journey begins!" she said as he looked at Parker. "Whenever you are ready!" she told him.
Parker looked back at the portal. He looked at the cloud that floated in front of him. It looked as if he was looking at the deepest ocean. He looked back at those that controlled the unmanned vehicle for confirmation that it was safe to go through.
"Looks clear sir! Everything green!" they said.
Parker looked back at the portal and he felt his head began to spin with the mere idea of what he was about to do. Another world!!!
"Don't' worry sir! I will have some aspirins for you once we are on the other side!" Ramirez said.
"Are you already smuggling things to this expedition too?" Parker asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course not sir!" Ramirez denied.
But Parker knew the truth. Who know what Ramirez would have smuggled! That guy could have a battleship in his backpack and no one would know!
Parker took a deep breath and took a step closer to the portal with his weapon raised... ready to receive anything once he crossed the portal.
"One small step..." he heard Ramirez behind him say as Parker entered the portal.
He felt some tingling sensation across his body and everywhere he looked, he saw blue. But then, he just stepped out of the blue portal. He looked around. He was in the same forest that the unmanned vehicle had recorded. In fact, the unmanned vehicle was there.
He looked around a little before giving the clear signal through his radio.
"Looks clear!" he said. He turned back to see the portal. It was very much the same looking kind of portal that was back on Earth: a rocky archway holding the strange looking cloud.
"One giant leap!" he heard Ramirez said as he exited the portal a few moment later.
-+-
----(Four days later after the passage of the portal)----
Four days passed and the portal was still active and more equipment and personal was coming thought and intervals. What at the beginning started somewhat as a ragtag expedition, it now seemed more like one! There were a few skirmished with the same bugs that they had encountered on Earth. They also had some skirmishes with some kind of zombies and ugly creatures that were blood thirsty.
Some buildings were starting to be lifted up to build a base of operations. About that time, the first helicopter was already assembled and ready to use.
"I want a layout of the land" Maria Espinoza had told Parker one morning. "I will send with you another solider and I want you two to see how things look up from the air. Explore to the west"
"Yes ma'am"
To Parker's display, his companion was no other than Ramirez. As the chopper was revving up, he saw him running and jump into the helicopter and strap himself.
"Looks like we are the first to fly on this bird!"
"This isn't a tour!" Parker snapped. "Just focus on our mission "
"Sí sí! Ya lo sé!" Ramirez dismissed it away with a wave of his hand.
They lifted of the rapidly from the base, and began to travel westward. Nothing out of the ordinary could be seen. Just plains, forest and hills... and one big cloud that was rolling its way in a low altitude.
"Damn! That's a big cloud!" Ramirez said.
"Sanders! Can we fly though?"
"Yes sir!" the pilot.
"I always wanted to touch a cloud!" Ramirez continued speaking to himself.
They flew blind for a few minutes, not seeing anything. They were starting to get bored.
"I wish something interesting to happen!" Ramirez complained.
And just about that moment, they exited the cloud.
"What the...?" they heard the pilot exclaim. Immediately, Parker and Ramirez looked outside of the helicopter and saw what was below.
It was a city! And flames were sprouting from it!
"What the...?" Ramirez was without words. "Looks like a city? But what is happening?"
Parker looked rapidly as he tried to determine what happening. It looked as if there were inhabitant on the city... and they were being attack! He had seen enough!
"Sanders, turn this thing around and head back!"
"Yes sir!"
"LOOK OUT!" The copilot yelled. There was a sudden lurch and movement as the helicopter tried to evade.
"Qué demonios...?" Ramirez said in Spanish.
"Some kind of flying creature attacked us! Oh shit, it' behind us!" the copilot again tried to maneuver.
"You were wishing for something interesting Ramirez? You should be more careful with what you wish for because it may come true!" Parker told his companion as another sudden movement came.
"They care of them!" Sanders suggested.
Parker and Ramirez leaned outside and took a good look at what they were facing. They looked to be some kind of flying worms.
"Que fea es esta cosa!" Parker heard Ramirez spat as he fired his weapon. Parker followed suit as a wyvern almost got inside the helicopter. He saw how it fell dead to the ground.
"Turn this around!" Parker ordered.
With the two of them, they managed to repel the wormlike flying creatures.
"We are nearly there!" the copilot said hopefully as they were making their way back to the cover of the cloud.
"INCOMING!" Sanders shouted just before a huge rock shook the helicopter. It began to spiral out of control.
"MAYDAY MAYDAY!" Parker herd the copilot say though his radio. "WE ARE GOING DOWN!"
The g-forces nearly threw Parker out of the helicopter, but he managed to stay inside. He saw how the ground was rapidly approaching.
"MAYDAY MAY..." the copilot's calls for help suddenly ended.
Parker was trashed as the helicopter crashed on the ground. He hit his head pretty badly during the shake! Somehow, he maintained consciousness after the crash, but he was slowly slipping away. He vaguely remember voices that come from outside before he slipped into the darkness.
*******************************+++++++++++++++++++++++************************
----(Present day)----
"So, you came here to explore and eliminate the grublins that threatened your world?" Terrador asked.
"Yes, and also to explore!" Maria said. "Of course, at time we considered everything in this world hostile... considering what little we knew"
"You must be bold and adventurous to go to a new world without any knowledge of what is on the other side!" Cyril told the humans, which made all of them nod.
"If we hadn't, we wouldn't be here now would we?" Parker asked metaphorically.
Spyro remained quiet for a few moments, considering what the humans had said about this whole expedition thing. But there was just one thing nagging at his mind.
"So..." he began "why did your portal suddenly allowed you to enter our world? I mean... for two years, you could not enter! What happened to allow you such travel?"
Why did they came now and not when there was the war with Malefor?
"We do not know what happened" Parker said. "I was there when the portal went crazy, so let me explain it. I remember being there, doing whatever, when suddenly crackling were herd. Purple light came forth and purple bolts emanated from it. I can tell you that it seemed like energy was coming from it. A lot of it!"
Spyro pondered the explanation for a few moments.
Could it be?
"When did that happen? How long ago?"
"If I am not mistaken... I would say that twenty... twenty one days ago!" Parker said.
Spyro mind began to race... and it showed on his face because Terrador asked.
"Spyro, what is wrong?"
"Its... I..." he shook his head trying to clear it. "I think I know why you were able to come here"
At his statement, all eyes went to him. Some held surprise while others disbelief.
"Spyro... explain yourself!" Terrador said.
"If you recall Terrador, it was twenty one days ago that the world was breaking apart. I used all of my powers to prevent that from happening"
Terrador's eyes went open with realization.
"You may be right!"
"What? What is it? Explain it to me! Vamos... don't leave us here guessing!" Ramirez said as he stood and leaned forward from his chair.
"Twenty one days ago... our world was suffering a cataclysm by a war. The world was literally breaking apart. Huge chunks of rock were lifting themselves into the air!"
"Sounds like the apocalypse!" Ramirez said as he sat down.
"Whatever you want to call it" Terrador continued, "Spyro managed to prevent that. He, being the purple dragon, is capable of using great power! He used this power to heal the world and bring it together!"
"I can't believe this!" Flanning said. "If a world is destroying itself, the energy required to keep hold of it would be... infinite! However, let's say that it is true for a moment. Then, how does Spyro releasing his power changed the portal?"
"Spyro power encompassed the entire world, and did some changes that we still do not know of. I believe that altering the portal was one such change" Terrador voiced his thoughts.
"WOW! Did Spyro actually do that?" Shockwave put in. His eyes were wide opened and with admiration. "I remember feeling the earthquake! Did he actually use his power to prevent the world from breaking?"
"He did!" Terrador said, and Spyro though he heard some pride in his voice as he threw a glance at Spyro. "And what is your story young one? How did you come to be with the humans?" he asked Shockwave.
*******************************+++++++++++++++++++++++************************
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