Episode 3 - Changes and Secret Relations
#4 of Spyro: Dragon of Destiny - Season One - Rising Destiny
Oh boy, Spyro is in for it now. Elora is back and she isn't happy with the current situation at all. Let's see if he can keep the two females in his life for maiming each other too badly. Oh, before I forget I have to put the disclaimer down so you guys will be able to continue to enjoy this story as it unfolds. Otherwise, I'll be in jail and I seriously doubt they will allow me to take my laptop to prison with me. I don't own the Spryo characters or their world. They are property of Universal Games. I only own the new characters and ideas that are being created for this series. Blah blah blah... Let's move on... Okay, that's done. Now, let's continue.. shall we...
- * Ember: "PREVIOUSLY ON SPYRO: DRAGON OF DESTINY: RISING DESTINY..." "Fine. I have been doing fine, pal. I am sorry I nearly ran over you, but I was just so excited to see you. Spyro, it is so good to see you again." Blink said as he finished his examination of his old dragon buddy. "You are looking well. How was your vacation? My uncle has something he needs to tell you and I think..."
- * "Spyro, what's wrong?" Blink asked as he looked at his friend. Spyro didn't respond but he did fall to his knees scaring his friends. Ember touched his shoulder gently and he opened his eyes to look up at her. "Spyro, are you alright?" He nodded and tried to smile, but then he growled low and gritted his teeth as he again held his head as the same strange pain hit him again. Something is wrong with him. Ember thought to herself as she glanced over at Flame and Blink. Flame and Blink both noticed her worried glance and they silently nodded in agreement that something was indeed wrong with their friend. Spyro noticed the frowns on Blink, Flame and Ember's faces and gave them a small comforting smile. "Hey, I am okay guys. It is just a headache. I have been getting them lately but it is nothing serious. Don't worry about." Ember, Blink and Flame looked at each other but their frowns didn't go away. Spyro noticed and sighed. "Spyro, what is wrong buddy?" Flame asked as they started walking again. Spyro frowned and closed his eyes. Flame and Ember looked at him and noticed that he was doing something they had never seen him do before. He was chanting. "Spyro, what are you...?" Ember was interrupted as Spyro started to glow white and then gold. "What's happening? Spyro.." She said as she, Flame and Blink backed away from him. As they did the golden glow vanished and Spyro opened his eyes. "I am fine, guys." Spyro said as he held up his wrists. Ember, Blink and Flame stared at them because they saw the gold arm bands that had appeared around both wrists.
- * As soon as they entered Nestor's large home a familiar face greeted them. In fact, three familiar faces. Spyro's mouth fell open as Hunter, Bianca and Elora appeared in front of them. Spyro and his companions walked over to them. "Hey, buddy, I bet you missed us! Right?" Hunter said as he placed his left paw on Spyro's right shoulder. "Well, say something."
- * "Ouch, that hurt!" Ember screamed as she got back on her feet. "Spyro, step aside and let me take care of her." Spyro remained where he was and that made Ember laugh as her body started to glow. "Okay, I'll just go around you. Hey, Elora, this one is for you, you thieving wench!" Ember launched her magical ice attack from her paws and it was met by a wall of flames that came from... SPYRO A very angry Spyro who was glowing white slightly. "STOP IT NOW, EMBER!" A golden eyed Spyro roared making Ember cancel her attack in shock at her friend's sudden change in mood. Spyro canceled his own attack and turned his body to look at Elora who was holding onto him from behind. "Let go of me, Elora." He said gently as she looked him in the eye. "Please.." Elora looked more closely at Spyro and noticed flames of anger that burned in his now golden eyes. Gold eyes, what the... How? Spyro, what happened to you? She thought as she continued to hold onto him. "Spyro, I..." She started. "I was only trying to show her that you was already taken." Ember growled. "How dare you claim I started this fight, liar! You are the one who started this with your own actions and I will gladly put an end to..." "ENOUGH!" Spyro yelled. "Shut up both of you!" Both females shut up as they looked at their friend in shock, because in all the years they known him, they had never seen this side of him before. Spyro shook Elora off him and started to walk away from them holding his head. "I have headache and you and Ember, Elora aren't helping it get any better. I am not going to standby and let one of my old friends fight with my new friends." "But, Spyro, I thought we were more then friends. I thought..." Elora said but Spyro held up his paw making her stop. He sighed as he turned his golden gaze on Elora. "That's enough, Elora. I am glad to see all of you, but I am in no mood for this bickering and fighting over who gets to have me. I am not property that you or anyone has a right to possess or own. Get that through your heads. Now, if anyone needs me I'll be in the kitchen fixing dinner." Spyro said as he turned his back to the two females and walked away. Everyone just looked at each other in silence for while. "Okay, I have seen Spyro get angry before, but this is totally different." Hunter said with a worried expression on his face. "What's wrong with him?" Everyone else just looked at the cheetah and dropped their heads because they had no answer to give him.
- * Now "Come on guys." Hunter said as he looked at each of his friends."Some of you must have a suggestion or two. No answer came as Hunter and the others continued to stare at each other for a few minutes longer before they decided to head for the large kitchen. As soon as they entered they found Spyro sitting at the head of the long dinner table, that was often used for celebrations and parties that the Elder Dragons usually had at certain times of the year, with his head bowed low in his hands. He wasn't happy and they could tell from his depressed look. I have never seen him like this. Ember thought as she started to head over to comfort him, but decided that maybe that wasn't such a good idea to do at the moment. Instead she sat at the table three chairs away from him. The others followed suit and also sat as far as they could from their friend. With thoughts of dinner temporarily forgotten, Hunter and everyone else sat quietly glancing over at their friend with feelings of concern. This silence lasted for thirty minutes... After that time had come and gone Hunter carefully stood up and walked down to the head of the table and looked at his depressed friend. "Okay, enough of this, Spyro. I am sorry if this sounds rude or hurtful but we need to know! What is wrong with you? We need... no, as your friends, we deserve to know." Spyro looked up at Hunter with teary eyes and Hunter took a slight step back in shock and frowned. Hunter noticed that Spyro's eyes had returned to their normal purple color and he sighed to himself quietly but the frown didn't go away. In all the years I have known him, Spyro has never let his emotions get out of control like this. He has always been so cool and collected. Hunter thought with a frown. Maybe, this has something to do with what happened two weeks ago. Okay, I know I should have helped Spyro with that fight but what could I have done. Well at least he saved my life from that black dragon. Man, that guy was a good fighter. I wonder if that is what is bothering him... Flashback - Two weeks ago... It had happened while me and Spyro were out walking along the ocean shores of Dragon Shore. We had been talking to each other about many things. The discussion mostly surrounded me and Bianca. While we had talked Sparx buzzed happily around us listening to every word we said. It had been a good day for me as Hunter recalled because I had earlier that day finally got up enough courage to finally propose to Bianca. She had said 'yes' and that had put me on cloud nine. "Congratulations, Hunter. I am happy for you and Bianca. You two will make the perfect couple." Spyro had said as he gently patted me on the back to keep from knocking me to the ground. Spyro had been his usual self then... happy and not an emotional wreck. We had kept walking along the beach heading in the direction of the fair grounds when all of a sudden it had happened... Spyro had stopped talking and his eyes had narrowed as he started glancing around nervously. I noticed that Spyro's mood had shifted to one of caution. "Spyro... buddy, 0what's wrong?" I had asked and Spyro had looked at me with a worried expression. "Hunter, move... NOW!" Spyro roared as he jumped to the right quickly. I hadn't questioned Spyro's command, I had just jumped left and it turns out that it had been in just nick of time, because a black portal opened up where we had been standing just seconds before. "What the...!" I had said as a dragon neither of us had never seen before floated through the portal and just hovered over the ground looking at both of us with a calm expression. The dragon had been totally black from head to tail. Only his horns and the spikes that flowed down his back to the tip of his spade shaped tail were a different color. They were silver and from their appearance they were dagger sharp. The dragon had also been much larger then Spyro was by two feet and he wore metal arm and leg bands that were decorated with unusual patterns or runes. He also had muscles, powerful muscles that were easily seen by both of us. This dragon was much older then both of us and he was obviously a warrior from the way he looked at us. That look was one of total confidence and it was that look that scared me. "Who are you?" I had asked trying to keep the obvious fear out of my voice as the black dragon had stopped hovering and landed gently on the sand. He then walked toward me in a stalking manner. His manner raised red flags in me and I started to back away from him. The dragon had carefully sped up his approach as a sinister fang-filled smile appeared on his face. "Does it matter, kitty cat?" He had asked in a deep powerful voice that had raised the fur on my back just as he suddenly struck. I was caught unaware by his speed and fell to the sandy ground winded as he elbowed me in the chest. He had then reached down and picked me up by the throat. As he lifted me up off the ground with his left arm, he laughed and tighten his grip on my neck. I gasped as it became harder to breath. "You are about to die anyway so there is no time for proper introductions. I hope you enjoyed your life because as of now it is over." His claws seem to extend at just that moment and just as he was about to use a little more of his strength to crush my neck, Spyro had dived at us and knocked me loose from what would have been the end of my of life. "Leave my friend alone, you jerk. If you want to fight someone then take on someone your own size." Spyro had roared as he stood back up on his feet. "Hunter, get out of here, I'll handle this jerk myself." I had quietly nodded and moved out of the way as my friend quickly charged toward our new unwelcome visitor. I looked around and found that Sparx was unconscious in the sand. He must have been knocked out by the energy that dark portal was putting off. That meant Spyro was on his own and that if he got hurt too badly he could and would die. 'Oh no, be careful Spyro.' I had thought. I had had a plan but seeing Sparx out cold changed that. Whatever plan I had been thinking up died in my head at that moment because without Sparx there was no way to get help. I was stuck here powerless as I watched my friend take on our unwelcome visitor. 'Wait a minute... maybe I can help him out in some way.' I thought as I looked down at my waist where my new folded wrist bow rested. The new bow had been a gift from Spyro for my birthday a week ago. The new bow was small enough to be mounted on my new metal gauntlets that Bianca had given as birthday present. The bow and gauntlets combined were special due to the fact that both of them were able to fire different elemental energy arrows that, if I remembered correctly, materialized right when I activated both of them. Bianca had told me that the new gauntlets allowed me to tap into whatever magic force that was present and make that force into my arrows. I could make an endless supply as long as I focused my will on that task and didn't become distracted. I smiled then as I closed my eyes and moved my gauntlet-clad firing arm down to my waist. 'I don't know who you are but you'll find out that this so-called kitty kat has claws that can kick your scaly behind.' I had thought as the metal gauntlet found the bow, connected to it and powered up. 'Oh yeah, now it is time to party, Hunter style.' Meanwhile... while I had been making my preparations to assist my pal, Spyro had already struck and missed his large target. The black dragon had laughed and just jumped aside as Spyro had came within a hairs breath of striking him. "How pathetic you are, Spyro! I expected you to be more of a challenge considering the fact that you defeated so many enemies over the years." Spyro had looked at the black dragon and frowned. "Who are you anyway? I am not surprise you have heard of me considering the fact that I am famous across the realms and..." "As arrogant as hell." The black dragon had said with a laugh as he interrupted Spyro making my friend growl in anger. "Well, if you think you can beat me, 'hero', then bring it on. I hope you don't take it too personal after I get through knocking your scaly hide into the sand where it belongs." He had then turned his attention toward me and smiled. He didn't notice my right arm gauntlet was completing the last connections to my bow as he said, "Don't worry, kitty cat, I haven't forgotten about you. Just be patient and I'll take care of you once I get through with your pal." I had just kept a straight face as he spoke as I felt my right arm gauntlet finish connecting to the bow. 'You have no idea, pal, who you are dealing with.' I thought with a low growl. 'Spyro will kick your scaly hide and I'll be right there by his side to finish the job.' Our unwelcome guest had then resumed his battle with my friend. In fact, after he had threaten me, he seem to change gears totally as he went on the offensive and started to attack Spyro with styles I had never seen before. I wasn't worry because my pal had been training with the Peace Keeper Clan for the past year. In fact, after the defeat of Red three years ago, my buddy Spyro had seem to change. He had started traveling around the Dragon Realms and Avalar wearing a cloak and training while he visited all his friends. I think he even went to the Forgotten Realms but that is only a rumor, then again this was Spyro after all so maybe there was some truth to the rumor. No one could get a hold of him for months at a time but then again there was no threat to the Realm so Spyro's help wasn't really needed. I had asked him about his decision to travel. He had looked at me and smiled. Apparently, from what Spyro told me during his vacation here with me and Bianca, he had just been so restless lately. I had asked him about it and he had simply told me he had woke up a day after we defeated Red feeling bored and restless. He had tried get rid of the feeling by ACTUALLY cleaning his home and polishing his large gem collection. That task had obviously took him a few days to complete, but unfortunately when he finished he was still restless. He decided to help Nestor and his old school teacher, Mrs. Shoutfire. That hadn't helped so he had decided to go see Tobin, a young Peace Keeper who was the son of a respected family and a friend of his. Apparently, that had been enough to relieve his restlessness, because he had stayed with Tobin and his family to train for six months. Afterward, he had started traveling going wherever 'the wind and his adventurous spirit took him' as he put it. He had kept traveling for about a year and a half coming and going at will. He always seem to show up on either my doorstep or one of our many other friend's doorsteps at around the time they were about to celebrate their birthdays. Dumb luck... strange coincidence... nah, just Spyro being himself. In fact, he had just recently returned from the Peace Keepers' Home after spending another six months training with them. I wasn't that surprised considering how Spyro was calmly handling this guy's attacks with equal fury and skill. Spyro had first flew up into the air as the black dragon's attacks came at him. Spyro had then dived down and air kicked the black dragon in the head sending him flying backwards a few feet into the sand. The black dragon had quickly jumped back on his feet and had started going at Spyro full force with a flurry of kicks, punches and claw slashes. Spyro had just smiled and blocked each of the attacks. "You call this fighting? Come on! I am barely using any of my true skills on you. Stop fooling around and hit me!" Spyro had said as he had rapidly unleashed a series of punches, kicks and a graceful spin kick to which the dragon blocked but he still took a punch in the face and chest that dazed him. Spyro had then flapped his wings and slowly head up into the air. Unfortunately, Spyro had underestimated the other dragon's reflexes. The black dragon had smiled as he quickly recovered from Spyro's face and chest punch. He had opened up his mouth and fired BLACK FLAMES right at Spyro. Spyro had dodged it by flying beneath it and closer to the ground and that had been a mistake because the black dragon had simply reached up and grabbed Spyro's left foot. "Alright, if you insist, I'll stop playing around and just kick your arrogant purple ass into the ground!" "Hey, let go of my foot!" Spyro had growled as he looked down at the black dragon and breathed fire down in his direction. The black dragon had merely raised his elbow and blocked the fire attack to the shock of both me and Spyro. "How did you...? No way!" Spyro had said as his opponent laughed. "My metal arm band protected me from your attack. What? You didn't honestly think I wear these metal arm bands just because they look pretty. Did you? Heh heh, you may have spent time training with the Peace Keepers but that still changes nothing. You are STILL so predictable, Spyro. I am not Gnasty Gnorc or Ripto or even that loser Red. I am Reeco, leader of the Shadow Dragon Clan and you, Spyro are my enemy. My clan fought your warrior clan ages ago and my clan lost. Now, I intend to avenge that lost by making absolutely sure you never fulfill your true destiny." He calmly said as he yanked down hard on Spyro's leg making my friend growl out in pain and flap his now much larger wings harder to maintain his position in the sky. "Reeco, what the hell are you talking about? What is this so-called destiny I am suppose to fulfill? Tell me!" Spyro had screamed as he gritted his fangs and unleashed a spinkick in Reeco's face with his other foot freeing his left leg. Spyro had then flew up higher and hovered looking down at his dazed opponent. "Please, Reeco, let's stop this fight now before it goes too far and one of us ends up dead. I don't understand your claims of past wrongs. How can I if you don't want to sit down and explain it to me." Reeco had simply roared in anger and pain as he looked up at Spyro making Spyro shake his head sadly. "I don't want to kill you, but if you don't stop then I'll have no choice but to carry out my duty. I am Guardian of the Dragon Realms, Reeco and as guardian I won't let you or anyone threaten this realm or its people. You have a choice, Reeco. Don't throw it all away by being stupid!" Reeco had grabbed the left side of his face. I had wondered why until I saw blood dripping between Reeco's paws and then I knew. Spyro had hurt him when he had kicked him in the face. Reeco removed his blood stained paw and revealed three bloody claw marks on the his left cheek. The marks were deep enough to cause a scar and they dripped blood. Lucky for him that Spyro's kick missed his left eye or else he would have had to change his name to Reeco the one-eyed black dragon. "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS!" Reeco roared in anger as he flapped his powerful wings and soar up into the air. "I have to admit that was a pretty speech 'hero' but that changes nothing. I still choose to continue this fight whether you understand my reasons or not. Now, Spyro, you will die! And once I am done with you I'll kill all of your friends including Ember and Flame. The Vanguard Clan will never again rise to stand in the way of my clans true destiny. Goodbye, Spyro!" He then roared as he started glowing with black energy. Spyro looked down at me then and screamed, "Hunter, get out of here now! This guy is serious." I had looked up at him and shook my head as I cocked my bow and fired off a flaming energy arrow. The arrow had struck Reeco and he had responded by shooting a black wave of energy at me with his left paw. I had quickly dodged the wave and fired a second energy arrow. This time it was an arrow made of ice. The ice hit Reeco and froze him for about fifteen seconds give or take a second or two before he broke free with a very ticked off look on his face. "Not bad, kitty kat, I seem to have underestimated you after all!" Reeco had roared as he raised his right paw and a black bubble of energy formed around it. "But don't worry, I don't intend to let that happen again! Say goodbye." I don't know what Spyro saw but he had then screamed, "HUNTER, LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY TO ME! DON'T TRY AND BE A HERO. GET YOUR FURRY BEHIND OUT OF HERE... NOW! I RECOGNIZE THIS ATTACK. TOBIN TOLD ME ABOUT IT. THAT IS THE BLACK DRAGON TECHNIQUE ATTACK. THAT ATTACK CAN RIP THE VERY LIFE FROM YOUR BODY IF IT HITS YOU!" "What the hell... You have to be kidding me!" I yelled back as I started running and firing energy arrows back at Reeco. "Hunter, stop firing your energy arrows. You are helping him gain the power he needs to use his attack on you. Just run." "What about you, buddy?" I screamed back to him as I stopped firing arrows and retracted the bow. "I can't just leave you here to fight this guy. You need my help to..." Spyro shook his head interrupting me. "No, Hunter, you can't help me now." He then paused as if a thought came to him at that moment. "Wait, you can help me. Go get Bianca and bring her back here. Her magic will..." Spyro didn't get the chance to say anything else as Reeco exploded in dark energy and sent a huge dragon-shaped shockwave of black energy that flew toward both of us Wait... BOTH OF US. "Oh, HELL!" We both screamed as I ran like hell while Spyro tried to dodge the wave. I managed to get out of the range of the wave, but Spyro hadn't been so lucky. The wave had hit him, even though he had managed to fly up high enough to lessen the effects of the wave as it weaken the farther it had to travel and shield himself, it still HIT him and hurt him. He roared in pain as the wave sent him free falling toward the sandy grounds below. "SPYRO, NOooo!" I screamed as I quickly fired off another arrow toward him. As the flew toward Spyro, I closed my eyes and focused on the arrow. My gauntlet started to feel warm and I opened my eyes, looked up and smiled. The arrow had transformed into bubbles of air under my falling friend just like I had wanted it to do and had slowed Spyro's descent long enough for him to regain control over his flight. Spyro looked over in my direction gave me a thumbs up and then he turned and flew back toward Reeco, who was also in the air but at a much lower altitude. Spyro was hurt but he push himself to go on. As he neared Reeco he took a deep breath and fired a large fire ball at Reeco. Reeco slapped the ball of fire aside. Spyro shot another fire ball at him and then sharply changed directions. Reeco didn't see Spyro change direction, because he was busy getting rid of the second fire ball that Spyro had sent his way. Spyro circled around and dived into Reeco from behind. Reeco roared as Spyro collided with him and as he fell toward the ground below he turned his head around and shot black flames straight at Spyro. Spyro crossed his arms in front of him and started glowing white as he powered up what looked like a magical barrier. Yep, it was a magical barrier, in fact it was the Celestial Barrier. I recognized it immediately as the same one that Ember and Bianca had taught him how to use last year. How Bianca learned how to use a dragon defense barrier? Hmm, now that was the million gem question I wish I had a answer for. Unfortunately, it is a mystery I have yet to figure out the answer too. As for the Celestial barrier, it could block many elemental attacks, but it all depended on how powerful the attack was and how skillful aka powerful the one who was using the barrier was. If the barrier user was not strong enough to hold the barrier up against the force of the elemental attack being wielded at it then it would fail leaving its user totally drained and vulnerable to whatever attack that was currently hitting it. Because of this fact, few dragons ever use this magical defense barrier unless it was in desperation. 'Oh man, please let Spyro be strong enough to block this.' I thought this thought simply because Spyro was getting tired and he had been hurt by the Black Dragon attack Reeco had fired at both of us. I feared that even though he was very tough that he was either nearing or was already over the limit of his physical abilities. If he continued to push himself at this rate he wouldn't last much longer. The black flames hit the barrier and for a brief minute the barrier held... at least until the flames exploded. Which surprised and scared me because I have never seen that before. Apparently, the explosion was too much for Spyro's already weaken strength to handle and the barrier flashed white and then shattered like glass sending a screaming Spyro flying toward Reeco. Reeco laughed as he powered up again. "Goodbye, 'hero'!" Reeco fired another much smaller Black Dragon wave at Spyro. Spyro saw the wave and somehow managed to dodge it. "Shut up, Reeco! If you think you are going to win against me then you are in for a major surprise. I won't lose. I will win this fight. Now, let's get this over with!" Spyro gasped tiredly as he dived toward Reeco at full speed. Spyro changed his breath attack and breathed a small beam of ice at Reeco. Reeco slapped the ice attack aside. "Okay, whatever you say, 'hero'!" He calmly said as he had grabbed Spyro in mid-dive. He kneed Spyro in the stomach knocking the air from him and then he grabbed his left foot and threw him down making Spyro roar out in pain as he was sent slamming into the ground at full force. Once he was down and dazed by not only the pain in his injured left foot and stomach but also fatigue, Reeco smiled, changed gears again and went into ass kicking mode. Spyro was so battered and tired from the fall and his injured left leg that as he tried to block the other dragon's attacks he wasn't able to do so quite as well as before. Reeco took full advantage of Spyro's condition and punched him in the face and chest repeatedly making him growl in pain and fall to his knees. "Having fun yet, 'hero'? I told you I was different from your old enemies. I am no push over like they were and you arrogantly thought you could beat me. Don't make me laugh! Well I hope you enjoy the view of the sandy ground because you are going to be seeing it a lot after I have buried you six feet under it!" He then picked Spyro up by the throat and held him in the air as if he weighed nothing. After holding him there for a little while he tossed Spyro up into the air and as Spyro came back down to the ground dazed Reeco jumped up into the air, spinning around using his black wings to help, and kicked him in the chest hard sending Spyro flying five feet through the air. He landed roughly on his left leg making the damage done worst and making him roar out in pain as he sat down in the sand taking deep breaths. "I... can't... give... up...." Spyro had growled in pain, as he struggled to get up. As he looked over at Reeco he screamed, "You are going down, Reeco. One way or another!" Reeco clapped his paws. "Bravo, your determination is truly inspiring, Spyro but then again I expect no less from a Vanguard warrior. I am honored that I had the chance to fight you to the death." Reeco then seemed to vanish into a black beam and shoot across the ground slamming into Spyro sending him to the ground face down. "Now," He said as he rematerialized and started to bring his sharp talons down into Spyro's unprotected back. "It ends!" "Actually, no it doesn't," Spyro growled as he quickly turned over and grabbed Reeco' taloned paw. Spyro then smiled and kicked Reeco in the chest with his good leg as he back flipped to his four feet or three feet in this case. "My my my aren't you overconfident, big shot. I am not finished yet, Reeco! I maybe tired but I refuse to give up and let you win." Spyro had then took up a battle stance on his three legs. "Time to lose, Reeco." Reeco smiled at Spyro's comment and dropped down to a four legged stance, copying Spyro. Seeing that Spyro was more hurt then he was letting on I quickly ran over to him. "Spyro, you have to stop before..." I didn't get to say much as Reeco unleashed a black beam of energy my way. Thank god it wasn't a Black Dragon beam but it could still kill me. How did I know? Just call it a hunch and leave at that. As the beam flew toward me, its speed increased and I knew there was no way I could move out of the way in time to avoid being hit so I just closed my eyes, threw my arms up in front of my face and prepared myself for the end. Instead, it didn't happen. I opened my eyes and saw that Spyro had blocked the attack. "Are... you... okay..., buddy?" Spyro gasped as he looked at me with a smile. Blood was dripping out of his mouth and as I looked down my eyes widened as I saw the smoking chest wound. I looked back up into his eyes as tears started to fill mine. I knew he was dying and there was nothing I could do to save him. "No, Spyro! You didn't have to risk your life like this for me!" That smile I have always known never left his face as he looked at me and shook his head. "I... had... to... do... it... because... you... are... my... friend, Hun...ter. I... always... pro... tect my... friend... s." His eyes then closed and his head fell back lifeless into my arms. As that happened it felt like time just stopped for me. My friend, Spyro had been the one person who I knew I could always count on. Watching him die to save me changed me. I no longer thought of Spyro as just my friend... he was my brother-in-arms. We both were fighters... warriors... protecting all that we held dear from people who only knew how to cause misery, suffering and pain to accomplish their twisted goals. I looked up then and glared at Reeco as my face creased into an angry snarl. "I swear, Reeco that you will pay for this!" I then looked back down as I cradled Spyro head in my arms. "Spyro! You can't be gone. Come on buddy, please say something." Tears started falling as I softly cried. I hadn't cried like this since I lost my family years ago and became an orphan. "Please don't leave me like this!" I cried as I shook him. When he didn't respond it felt like a dam behind my eyes had just burst because I just broke down and started crying uncontrollably, because I knew he was dead. He had died saving me. I gently laid his head down on the sandy beach before I glance up angrily, with tears in my eyes, and saw that Reeco was smiling. He was taking his time to gather dark energy to attack again. I growled in anger and glared at the black dragon from my crouched position. I knew if someone didn't stop him before he finished powering up then I was going to join Spyro in death. I looked back down at Spyro one last time as I powered up my bow to fight Reeco to the death, if necessary. "Come on, Spyro. Please come back. You have to because you are the Guardian. Who is going to protect us from people like Reeco if you aren't around? SPYRO!!!" At that moment, Reeco unleashed his attack and a miracle took place. I don't know how it happened but it did happen... Spyro started glowing gold and as I looked back down at him he grabbed my left paw with his own in a tight grip. The energy from my left arm gauntlet flared up and then flowed into Spyro. The flow stopped and then I felt a powerful energy flow through me. The energy was warm, bright and full of a a type of power I had never felt before. "What's happening...!" I screamed as the energy started to flood my system. I felt like I was drowning in it and as I reached up in a silent plea for help the world flashed gold as a taloned paw grabbed my paw and pulled me out. My eyes opened and I looked down. "SPYRO..." I calmly said. Flashing with golden energy, Spyro, with his eyes still closed smiled. "I am okay, Hunter. In fact, I feel quite good. Thank you for being a true friend and helping me out when I needed the help." The golden flash had then vanished and he had opened his eyes. When I looked at his eyes I gasped in surprise at what I saw... "What the..." In place of his normal purple eyes were golden ones. He turned those gold orbs to look at me as he quickly sat up, totally healed. "Hunter, don't move." He said in a whispery tone of voice. I had only nodded because I was too shocked to respond. Spyro had died in my arms and then he had miraclously come back somehow. I have never believed in miracles considering all my life I have felt alone. I lost my family tragicly to a disease that was caused by something unknown. My villiage also got destroyed by a fire and I grew up depending on myself. Until I had met Spyro and Bianca and my other friends I had thought that some worldly force hated me for some reason. It had felt that way to me for years, but Spyro had changed that with his friendship and Bianca with her kind heart. I never thought I would meet people like Spyro, Bianca, Elora and my other friends, but I did and I thank whatever god that exist out there for giving me the chance to meet these wonderful people I care so deeply for. What tragedy once took from me, Spyro and my friends had given it all back to me with their kindness, friendship and most of all their love. If I was about to die here then at least my friend, no brother Spyro was here with me at the end... Spyro turned his eyes to the approaching attack and quickly jumped to his feet. "Darkness, be eclipsed by the light and begone!" He roared raising his paw at the coming dark wave attack. A few moments later, the attack was obliterated by a golden beam of energy that shot out of Spyro's paw. "NO, IT CAN'T BE!" Reeco had roared as he watched in horror as his attack was destroyed by the one person that shouldn't have been able to do anything because he had died. "HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!" Spyro started walking toward him and he started backing up. "YOU DIED! YOU SHOULDN'T BE HERE!" "But I am, Reeco." Spyro said calmly in a tone of voice that surprised me. He seemed different somehow and I couldn't quite figure out just how that was possible. I watched as he continued to walk toward Reeco, who now was in panic mode. "Please leave and take your darkness with you. As long as I am Guardian you will never achieve your goals here." "NOooo!" Reeco had roared as he unleashed a flurry of dark attacks at Spyro. Spyro had just kept walking toward him with an expression on his face that was neither a smile or frown. It simply was a serious expression. I had to do a double take because the way Spyro was acting it almost seem like he had grown older somehow. As he had continued to walk toward Reeco, a white glow had formed around his body. The glow was obviously the Celestial Barrier but this version of the barrier was much more powerful because it didn't merely block Reeco's attacks, it completely shattered them. Reeco finally decided that wasting his energy was a bad idea and he turned and ran toward the dark swirling portal. Spyro slowly followed him and as soon as Reeco reached the portal he turned and looked at me and Spyro with red glowing eyes. "This is not over yet, 'hero'! I will be back and next time you will not win!" He roared as he stepped through the portal. The portal closed and Spyro walked over to where the portal had been. He examined the location and for the first time since he had come back from the dead... he frowned. I walked over to where Spyro was looking and looked at him. "What's wrong, Spyro? You look troubled about something." Spyro looked at me with his strange glowing gold eyes. "It's the black portal Reeco used to come here, Hunter. I can feel a trace of the dark energy that was in that portal. I remember feeling this same energy three years ago during our fight against Dragon Elder Red." I sighed and rubbed my head as a headache suddenly materialized. "You mean to say that Reeco was using dark gem energy like Red did." Spyro just quietly nodded as he looked over at the horizon watching the sun as it slowly set and as day was slowly transformed into the starry sky of night. I just groaned and shook my head as I took my wrist bow off my gauntlet and reattach it to the metal clip on my belt. "Great, now we have to deal with another misguided dragon. Spyro, I have a bad feeling about this guy. I think we maybe in for the fight of our lives." Spyro had simply looked at me with those gold eyes of his and nodded in agreement as the two of us had headed back to the new house I had recently built. Later that evening... Bianca had shown up not too long after we got back and she had got a good look at the new golden eyed Spyro. She said nothing at first but as we all sat down to eat dinner she spoke up. "Hunter, what happened to him?" Bianca asked as she looked at Spyro and ate her salad. I looked at her and sighed. "I don't know the exact details, Bianca. But I will say that today we met a black dragon named Reeco and he tried to kill us." "Actually, Bianca, Reeco killed me but due to some unknown reason I am not dead." Spyro said in that same whispery tone of voice as he looked at the her. She had looked at Spyro strangely and then closed her eyes. A few seconds later she opened them again and her facial expression took on one of shock. "Spyro, I don't know how but your death has some how changed your magical signature." She said as she gave Spyro a hard look. Spyro looked at her and arched an eye brow as he seemed to return to his old personality. "Say what...? What do you mean, Bianca? What has happened to me?" Bianca shook her head and looked down at her feet. "I don't know, Spyro. All I do know is that you seem different somehow. Your dormant magical abilities must have awakened fully as you were dying and when you somehow came back they were altered. I am guessing it might be a built in survival instinct that dragons have. Or maybe, you just got lucky." Spyro frowned and then looked down at the table. "Hunter, I want you and Bianca to keep this to yourselves for now. I don't want anyone else to know." I looked at him and arched my left eye brow. "Why do you want us to do that, Spyro? Maybe you should tell Elora and everyone else what happen to you. They are your friends too and they have a right to know." "But that is the problem, Hunter, even I don't know what has happened to me." He said in a tone of voice that made me and Bianca sit back in our chairs in shock. Spyro was afraid... deeply afraid of what had happened to him on the beach. I hadn't realized it until now that he was scared and that made me stand up, walk around and place a comforting paw on Spyro's right shoulder. "Please, guys, until I figure out what has happened to me and what my change might mean I need you guys to keep this to yourselves. Okay!" He then stood up slowly with my paw still on his shoulder. As he turned his gold eyes to me I saw tears and finally I realize that I had been right about him looking older. He had grown older in the last three years and I had never noticed until the fight had occurred and he had died.... only to be reborn a little later. I had then hugged him as he cried and I cried. "It's okay, pal. We'll get through this together. I promise..." Spyro had looked at me and Bianca who had joined in on the hug. As we both watched his eyes changed again. The gold colored pupils faded and his original purple colored ones returned. When we both looked at each other in surprise, Spyro had looked at us and asked, "What is it, you guys? What do you see?" Bianca pulled a mirror out of her new blue jacket pocket and held it in front of Spyro so that he could see his reflection. "What the... my eyes... They are back to normal. How?" "I have no idea, Spyro. Maybe your emotions affect when they come and go but since this change in you is still so new there is no way of knowing." Bianca said as she put the mirror back in her jacket pocket. "I'll do some research and maybe I'll find something. What do you say?" Spyro just nodded his head, stood up quietly and left the room leaving me and Bianca to stare at each other in concern. "Bianca, what are we going to do? Spyro asked us not to tell the others about his change. I can't keep this a secret from our other friends. It isn't right, but Spyro is like a brother to me. I can't go back on the promise I made him. If I do I would be betraying him and I can't do that to him. Not after all that he has done for me, you and everyone else. I don't know what to do, Bianca!" I had said as Bianca hugged me. "Don't worry about it now, Hunter. Let's just spend the night together under the moonlight and let these problems go for now. There is always tomorrow." She said with a smile and I nodded and kissed her. We cleaned up the dinner table and spent that night together looking up at the stars. That was a happy time and then the next day came and we woke up to find Sparx buzzing around our heads in anger. Spyro was gone and he had left before we woke up because as we walked into the kitchen we noticed that the table had been set. Our breakfast was prepared and sitting on the table was a note. I picked up the note and turned around to face Bianca as I read it: Dear Hunter and Bianca, Sorry I left like I did, but I have to clear my head of the events of yesterday. I understand that the promise I made you both keep is unreasonable and I won't hold you to it. It is up to you what you want to do. I promise you guys I will see you again soon. Thank you for your hospitality and I hope you enjoy your engagement present from me. I made this breakfast specially for you guys. Take care. P.S. I know Sparx is still there with you guys. Please tell him I am sorry I left him but I couldn't afford to wake him up because he might have woken you guys up and spoiled the surprise breakfast I fixed for both of you. Hunter, please see to it that he gets back to Dragonfly Falls. I'll go there and get him later. Bianca, I look forward to hearing from you once you have done your research. Your best friend, Spyro the Dragon After I had read the note me and Bianca looked at Sparx and Sparx began buzzing around like he had lost it and he probably had considering the fact that Spyro had started forgetting to take him with him wherever he went after Red was defeated. Then again Sparx had also been rather moody lately. I think he likes Ember's dragonfly, Blaze, but I could be wrong considering the fact that Blaze, unlike her partner who loves Spyro, isn't interested in Sparx. She does however like Sparky, Flame's Dragonfly. Yeah, I know it is screwed up but what do you expect. This is the Dragon Realms and everyday something strange always happends around here... Present "You know what, Hunter." Spyro whispered as he looked at him. "I am scared. For the first time in my life I am scared. These new powers still scare me even though I have had them for two weeks now. What am I going to do?" Spyro looked back down at the table and Hunter put his paw on Spyro's left shoulder. "Spyro, I think it is time to tell them the truth of what happened to you at Dragon Shores." Spyro looked at Hunter and then looked down the table at his gathered friends. He then looked back at Hunter and nodded yes. *Screen fades to black*
- * Episode Three - Changes and Secret Relations Avalar - Summer Palace - Day Earlier... A faun stood in a large clearing outside the palace walls. She was putting on a performance for her two friends, a bunny and cheetah. I hope I don't mess up. She thought to herself as she begun... Hunter and Bianca, her two friends watched as she executed a complex combination of magical routines and agile flips through ice rings she made with her magic. As she did her moves she thought back to what she had seen and heard earlier. Ember loves my dragon. That little pink powder puff thinks she can take what is rightfully mine. I'll show her just how wrong she is. No one takes what is mine. NOBODY! As she thought this she finished her routine and looked at her small audience. Hunter and Bianca smiled at her as she bowed and walked over to them. "How did I do, guys?" Hunter stood up and helped Bianca to her feet before patting Elora on the shoulder. "Excellent! You did excellent, Elora. I am sure Spyro will be very happy to see you." Elora frowned and dropped her head and Hunter cleared his throat. "Ah, maybe I shouldn't have said that. I know how you feel about Spyro. Ember..." Elora growled. "What about that pink powderpuff of a dragoness? Say it! What about her?" Hunter frowned and started to back away but Elora grabbed him and held on tight. "WHAT... ABOUT... HER?!" "Can't... breath... here... u... are... choking... me." Hunter gasped as Elora held on to him tightly and shook him like a wet rag. "Blacking... out... very... soon." "Elora, stop it! You are hurting Hunter." Bianca said as she touched her friend's tense shoulder. "Let's talk about the problem instead of killing my soon to be husband. Okay!" Elora looked at Bianca and sighed letting go of Hunter in the process. "Hunter, darling, are you okay." Hunter coughed and gasped as he slowly took deep breaths to keep from passing out from the temporary lack of air. He gave her a thumbs up as he kept taking deep breaths. Elora dropped her head in shame as she said, "I am sorry, Hunter, I had no right to do that to you. You were only trying to help me." Having caught his breath Hunter looked at Elora and smiled. "It's okay, I know how you feel. I shouldn't have brought up Ember and your feelings about Spyro." Elora nodded and help her friend to his feet. Once up he looked over Bianca and nodded. "Ready to head to the Dragon Realms?" Elora and Bianca nodded as he checked his carrying bag. "Uh oh, I think we are missing someone." "No we aren't, Sparx said that he was going to go ahead and meet us there. Besides, I think Spyro will very surprised to see us waiting for him in Nestor's home. Speaking of Nestor, Elora, where is he and the other Elder Dragons? "I believe they are in a meeting. You do know that Elder Red is missing from his jar in the Professor's lab, don't you?" Hunter and Bianca looked at each other and frowned at this revealtion. "No, we hadn't heard that he had escaped from his jar. Elora, how could he? I mean he was so tiny that even Sparx and his dragonfly buddies could beat his but." Bianca said as Hunter laughed at the picture that formed in his head. "No one knows because it happened during the night and the lab wasn't disturbed. It was as if someone..." Hunter frowned and looked at Bianca and nodded. "As if someone portaled into the lab, took Red from his container and then left the same way they came in. Is that what you were going to say, Elora?" Elora looked at Hunter and Bianca and nodded. "Wait a minute, what are you saying, Hunter? Who do you think could have done that?" She asked and Hunter turned and started to held for the nearest Avalarian Portal. "Hunter, wait! What is it? What's wrong?" "I'll tell you later, Elora. Right now we have to get to the Dragon Realms. Spyro has to be told this at once. This might be the first sign of a much bigger problem. I hope not but then again... I think its better to be safe then sorry." Hunter said as he turned and started walking toward the nearest portal. "Well, come on guys. Let's go!" Elora and Bianca followed and together they left for the Dragon Realms.
- * Unfortunately, they didn't notice a Black Dragoness watching them from the shadows as she opened a black portal. "Foolish, young ones, you have no idea what awaits you. Enjoy your last days of freedom, because soon.... very soon you will lose that freedom forever. Soon we, Shadow Dragons will rule all realms." Ryua said with a laugh as she stepped through a black portal. A second later, the black portal vanished leaving only a small trace of dark energy that a young white dragon picked up. The young male Cloud Runner frowned as he flew overhead. "I must tell father of this development. The Shadow Dragons are on the move again and fear that what they are planning this time might be something none of us can handle. I only hope that my father has luck in finding this Dragon of Destiny." He said as he closed his eyes feeling the energies around him. As he focused he turned his large slender body to where the energies were the highest. He opened his eyes, gestured with his clawed paw and a white portal opened. He looked around Avalar one last time and then he entered the portal closing it behind him as he did.
- * Next Morning... Spyro and his friends were all gather around the long dining table in the kitchen eating breakfast and passing notes and knowledge around about last night and the events that had happened two weeks back on Dragon Shores. Hunter, Bianca and Elora told Spyro what they had learned about his change and that had been nothing. During their meal, Tobin, a young green Peace Keeper dragon who was best friends with Spryo, showed up and took a seat at the table. Hunter was just finishing his recount of the events that happened on Avalar as Tobin sat down and joined them. "So after that happened we came here to wait on you, Spyro. Oh, by the way we found Sparx and he wasn't too happy when we saw him. He said that you forgot to go pick him up at Dragonfly Falls in your hurry to get back here." Sparx flew out of Hunter's new jacket pocket and gave Spyro a look that said, 'You are so dead, pal!' Spyro noticed his dragonfly's look and rubbed the back of his head with his right paw in embarrassment. "He he, sorry about that, Sparx. I really am. I didn't mean to forget you like that I just.... Okay, maybe this will show you how sorry I am. I got these this morning for you." Spyro opened his left paw to reveal five butterflies and seeing this Sparx smiled and began chasing them chomping them down one by one. As soon as he finished he started fluttering around Spyro kissing and hugging him as he did. "Thanks, for the breakfast, partner." Sparx buzzed. "Your welcome, buddy." Spyro said with a smile before he turned his attention away to look at Hunter and Bianca. "Now, let me get this straight, Red is free. When did this happened?" "It happened two weeks ago." Blink said as Spyro and the others looked at him. "Two weeks ago, I was fighting Reeco on the beach at Dragon Shores. I even died there and came back somehow. This must have happened during the fight. Blink, was there anyone nearby who heard anything?" "Excuse me, I hate to cut into this important conversation," Tobin said as he gave Spyro a serious look. "but, we have a major problem. Me and Amanda did as you asked, Spyro. We went back to Dragon Shores and checked the location where Reeco appeared." Spyro frowned and nodded. "Hold on, Blink we'll get back to what you were saying soon enough. Well, Tobin what did you guys find out?" Tobin frowned and pulled out a data displaying device. "You won't like it, but we found out this..." He turned on the device and a holographic 3d map appeared in front of everyone at the table displaying the Trans-Realm Portal Network. "From what we learned, Spyro, me and Amanda were able to pinpoint where Reeco came from. It is the Shadow Realms." Tobin touched the holographic display with a claw. The display changed and showed dark lines. "These dark lines are part of a secret Shadow Dragon portal network. See anything strange?" Spryo looked at the map and then at Tobin. "That location is the exact same exit point at Dragon Shores as the normal portal system link. But how is this possible?" Tobin touched the image again and as he did it changed showing the network lines changing directions over and over. "This is the current portal feed we have. This is what the portal network looks like currently. Me and Amanda checked the magical database and learned that the portals have been malfunctioning for the last five plus years." "Five years!" Hunter said as he rubbed his chin in thought. "Wait a minute, five years ago was around the time Red was banished from the Dragon Elder Council. Am I right?" Tobin smiled. "Yes, you are indeed correct, my friend. Red was tossed out five years ago because of his Dark Gem research. The other elders, including my father, Titan, and Ember, your father Nestor thought he was risking the safety of all the clans so they had the research stopped." "Let me guess, Red didn't take the announcement that he was to stop all Dark Gem research so well." Ember said as she looked at Tobin. "Your assumption would be correct, Ember, Red didn't take it well. In fact, from what I remember, since I was present in the council chambers at the time, Red called the elders, 'Old fools who only wanted the clans to live forever in the past and never advance into the future.'" "Was that all Red said, Tobin?" Spyro asked as his friend sat back in his chair. Tobin smiled and said, "No, Spyro, Red said some other things that made my father get up from his chair and knock his lights out. That was the funny part seeing Red bad mouthing the other elders and getting knock out cold. My father asked the council to forgive his rash behavior but Red was acting like the stuck jerk he had always been and that he was doing everyone a favor by removing the jerk from the table. Red was then dragged out of the council which kinda proved to be ironic because he was later voted out of the Elder Council by every single Elder, including my father who had rather a big grin on his face as he cast the final deciding vote." "Ouch, that had to hurt. Tobin, are you absolutely sure that every elder voted against him?" Spyro asked. Tobin nodded. "Voted out with unnamious vote by your own peers has got to really suck big time. Was Red present to hear the vote be given?" "No, not exactly, Red was still out cold on a big couch in the main hall. Like I said before, Spyro, my father knocked him out. Trust me when Titan knocks you out you stay out for a while. Also, Red has a glass jaw and even your mother Sandra aka Mrs. Shoutfire, Ember, could have knocked that loud mouth excuse for a dragon elder out cold for a few hours. I have to admit though it was funny seeing Red's expression when he woke up and saw all the other elders standing around him." "Let me guess my mother gave Red the 'bad news'. Right?" "Yep, leave it to our old teacher to give Red a send off he probably never has forgotten." Tobin said with a grin. "Man, your mother sure knows how to rub salt into a wound. She told Red that due to his arrogance he had been voted off the council. Red had snapped and slapped your mother in the face. Ember frowned. "He did that? Oh, boy, he really screwed up bad." "What do you mean, Ember?" Blink asked. Spyro groaned and Tobin, Flame and Ember all laughed at their friends obvious discomfort. "What she means, Blink, is that no one hits her mama and gets away with it. Sandra has a rather nasty temper when you make her angry. Believe me when I say I know that what Red did was definitely the wrong action." Spyro said as he fidgeted nervously in his chair. "Yeah, Spyro knows that because he always was getting his scaly but whipped by Sandra nearly every single school day. I am surprise he still has a tail considering how many times he got it kicked by her. In fact, all of us ran betting pools every single day to see what trouble Spyro would cause on that particular day to get a but kicking from Mrs. Shoutfire. She earned that name from yelling at Spyro everyday. She was relentless. In fact, I remember she kept telling Spyro that no matter how long it took she was going to beat some common sense into his hard head. Apparently, it didn't..." Flame said with a grin. "Okay!" Spyro said as he cleared his throat, "I think we have strolled too far down memory lane and now we need to come back to the present and discuss our current problem." Spyro turned and looked at Hunter and his other laughing friends. "Stop laughing at my past. There is nothing funny about getting a beating from that..." Spyro shivered as he thought of his old teacher. "Woman! She was brutal but she did have a point I do act reckless at times and for that I have paid the price many times." All of Spyro's dragon friends looked at him with wide eyes and mouths. "WHAT?!" "Oh nothing, we were just surprised to hear the great Guardian Dragon himself admit he regretted the times he acted reckless." Tobin said with a grin on his face. Spyro frowned and pointed to the holographic display. Tobin laughed and said, as he cleared his throat, "Okay, let's get back on track. Like I was saying before we took a slight trip down memory lane." Flame giggled and was promptly slapped gently in the back of the head by Spyro. "Red got K'Oed by Sandra and she and some of the other female elders tossed his but out the door. Although, in my opinion, it looked more like they first kicked him where the lights don't shine before tossing him out because I recall hearing him later groaning in pain outside." As Tobin said that all the males in the room groaned in phantom pain as they thought about that. The females in the room just smiled at the obvious discomfort. "Okay, after that happened, my father had some of the other Peace Keepers keep an eye on Red. Good thing he did because we learned where Red was getting his supply of dark gems from." Tobin tapped the holographic display point with a talon that read: Shadow Realm. Everyone in the room went quiet for awhile. "But if that is true, how did he get the dark gems by the portal guards. I mean the guards would have seen Red or a shadow dragon coming and going." Blink said as everyone looked at him. "Well, wouldn't they?" "Unfortunately, Blink, they wouldn't have because Red didn't use the main network. He used the Shadow Dragon's dark network. Remember what Tobin told us earlier about the network malfunctioning. I remember during the time we were fighting Red that all us had to use your uncle's gadgets as substitute Realm travel devices. By the way, tell your uncle that the rolling ball transport was fun but it gave me a headache. Anyway, I believe that the main network was being hijacked by Reeco and other Shadow Dragons for their plans." Spyro said. "But when we stepped in and defeated Red it must have thrown a major wrench into their plans so they gave up on those original plans and moved on to their back up plans." Hunter said. "It makes perfect sense. I wouldn't be surprised if Reeco had back up plans." "But what was their original plans anyway?" Blink asked as he looked around the table at his friends. "I believe that Reeco was using Red just like Red was using Gnasty Gnorc and his other lackeys to do his dirty work for him. Tobin, can you display a graphic animation of all the Dragon Realm portals at the time of Red's take over attempt?" Ember asked and Tobin nodded as he touched the display bringing up a series of past maps. Then he created an animated overlay chart and map. The data on the screen began to move as five years of network tracking data combined into an animated representation of the changes the portal network had gone through over the last four years. Everyone quietly watched as network links seem to change course and link up with Shadow Dragon's network. "Bingo, I think we have figured it out." Spyro said as he pointed at the connections. "Look at the all the links. All those places are the same locations that were corrupted by the dark gems three years ago. It seems that the Shadow Dragons were trying to expand the borders of the Shadow Realm itself." "But what would that accomplish, Spyro?" Elora asked. "It would accomplish a lot, Elora. Reeco, I believe, was trying to take over the portal network." Spyro said as he point to the Shadow Realm portal connections. "They were doing a lot more then just hijacking our network... They were trying to take it completely over." "But the mystery still remains, Spyro. Why were they trying to take it over?" Blink asked. Flame rubbed his chin and frowned as a unsettling thought came into his mind. "I think I know. It is all quite simple. Reeco wants to invade our Realm. The hints are all right here in front of us. Red being used as a pawn, the network connections being manipulated, and the fact that Reeco knew who you were, Spyro. It all adds up to the same thing. He has been planning this invasion of his for many years. Hell, he may even have been the source of many dragons disappearing over the years." Tobin frowned as he growled, "Flame is indeed correct, Spyro. Many dragons who were very knowledgeable on the history and knowledge of the ancient Vanguard Guardian Clan have been disappearing over the years. Some have been returned but their memories are either mixed up or totally blank." Spyro groaned and rubbed his head. "There is that name again. I have heard of the Vanguard Clan but aren't they just an ancient myth." Tobin looked at Spyro and shook his head. "Spyro, the Vanguard Guardians were one of the most powerful magic using dragon clans that have ever existed. They built the Trans-Realm Portal Network, for petes sake! Even now their power still flows through the network keeping it alive and working. Without them we wouldn't even be here. They are the ones found this realm years before the Sorceress..." At the mentioning of her old boss, Bianca growled and tensed up. Hunter rubbed her shoulders and she calmed down. "Sorry, to interrupt you, Tobin, but every time I hear her name I just want to strangle her. To think I once served someone so vile as her makes me want to cry. I was blind back then. I didn't understand what kinda person she was but I do now and I swear that I will never again work for someone like her." "Okay, as I was saying, the evil witch from the Forgotten Realm banished us here thinking it was a wasteland we would die in. But thanks to the Vanguard Clan we survived. That Clan had made contact with many races including humans, but during the Dragon Wars that happened before the Banishment, the portals to the human world were forever broken to protect that world from the Shadow Dragons. In fact, the Vanguard found the Shadow Realm and built an incredible Trans-Realm traveling city known as Vanguard Command." Hearing that name, Elora eyes opened wide. "I can't believe it, I once read something about a magical floating city that appeared on Avalar during one of our warring periods centuries ago. The inhabitants of that city were dragons and they called themselves the Vanguard. They helped bring peace to our world and then they left. But before they left they promised that they would always be around to help us if we needed their help ever again. After that they created a network portal from Avalar to the other Realms. Over time they became nothing more then a myth that my people spoke of with great respect. Until now I hadn't believed that there was any truth to ancient myth." Spyro seem to smile as a thought came to him. "Well, Elora, the myth is true and my clan has an ancient mural that proves it. Anyway, I believe that since the Vanguard traveled to many different realms and worlds in Vanguard Command the knowledge of their existence is known by many races and clans. In fact, Blink how did your uncle get here?" "My uncle found some old info that spoke of the Dragon Realms. Along with that info was bits and pieces of ancient knowledge on how create portals between realms. My uncle deciphered what he could and left the rest back at his lab in the Forgotten Realms. He tried to come here directly to find the dragon clans to help fight Ripto." Spyro smiled at the mention of 'Shorty' the second villain he had fought after defeating Gnasty Gnorc the first time. "Instead, my uncle ended up on Avalar and because the Avalarians remembered the Vanguard dragons my uncle used the knowledge he had gained from deciphering the ancient Vanguard text to try and bring a dragon from the Dragon Realms instead of going there himself." Spyro smiled and said, "And that dragon just happened to be me. I was on my way to Dragon Shores for a well earned vacation. Ember and Flame had already gone ahead of me and I was going there to join then when the portal changed directions sending me and Sparx to Avalar where I met you guys." Blink nodded and smiled. "All because of an accident made by my uncle you got to meet Hunter and Elora as well as the rest of us. As for the knowledge my uncle left behind in the Forgotten Realms I believe Agent 9 is still researching that info right now. Spyro, maybe we should pay him a visit sometime in the near future." "Good idea, but first there is so much info to go through. We have to do some history research and figure out how the past links to present because it will be those links that will shed some light on our possible future. Now, that we have talked about the Vanguard for the last couple hours and still haven't gotten anywhere let's move on to other present matters. Blink, as you were saying earlier." Blink thought back to the question for a moment before he said, "Yes, I think Moneybags heard something. He did say that the power in his shop was going on and off so he went outside to check the power generator to see what was wrong. He had checked and found nothing wrong so he had started to head back in but he ran into someone." Hunter scratched his chin as they all started to think about what Blink was saying. "Okay," Ember said, "You say that Money-bags ran into someone. Who was it?" "Moneybags told my uncle that he didn't k .0 now. The only thing he did know was it was a female, she was tall, and she had black scales. I think we can safely say she was a dragon and considering the fact that there are no black dragons in the Dragon Realms we can also say she wasn't from around here. I willing to bet she was a Shadow Dragon considering all the info we have heard so far. I bet she was the one who broke Red out." "In case you young ones are curious: her name is Ryua, and she is the younger sister of Reeco, who you know is the young leader of the Shadow Dragon Warrior Clan. I hope that answers your questions." said a very deep and familiar male voice. They all turned and saw Nestor, the Artisan Dragon elder and leader standing in the doorway with a smile on his face. "Hi, young ones. Has anything unusual happened while me and Sandra have been gone. Ember, do you have anything to report." "Actually, we have discovered a secret Shadow Dragon plot." Ember said with a smile as everyone nodded in agreement. Nestor smiled. "Good work, everyone. Keep it up." He looked at Spryo and gestured to him to come with him as he slowly turned and walked out of the dinning room. "Spyro, I need to tell you something in private." "Ok," Spyro said as he followed Nestor out of the kitchen dinning hall and down the hall way that led to his office.
- * Nestor's Office Nestor led Spyro into his office and took a seat behind his large desk. "Take a seat, Spyro. What I have to tell you will take a while." "Actually, Nestor, I want to go talk to Moneybags and the Professor about our so called black dragon problem. Whatever it is you have to tell me it can wait until later." Spyro said as he started for the door. Nestor frowned waved his paw and the door locked. "Oh come on, Nestor. Surely what you have to tell me isn't that important that it can't wait until later!" "Spyro, in all the years that I have known you you have been a smart ass with a tough guy attitude. You never listen to us elders when we say don't do something or go anywhere. You just take it upon yourself to do whatever the hell you want to do and.... "Excuse me, Nestor but if I did whatever you old ones wanted me to do without question Gnasty Gnorc would be ruler of the Dragon Realms right now and all of us, including me, would be statues in either his garden, dining room or... he would have shattered us into a million pieces by now. So please don't go there because you know that it was because of my disobedience that we are all still here. Besides I am sure you heard what we said about the Vanguard and the Shadow Dragons. Nestor, I fought their leader at Dragon Shores..." "And you died and were reborn. Yes, I know, Spyro." Nestor said calmly making Spyro's eyes open wide in surprise. Nestor smiled. "Nice to see that even an old dragon like me can still surprise a young dragon like you." "But... but..., how did you find out?" Spyro asked as he thought about it for two seconds and then looked around for Sparx. "Okay, Sparx, come out wherever you are because I know it was you who told Nestor." Sparx buzzed and showed up with a 'I am sorry I told' expression on his face. Spyro frowned and looked at his dragonfly. "Traitor!" "I am sorry, Spyro, I was angry with you and Nestor was nearby so I told him what I knew." Spyro smiled and patted his friend gently. "I deserved it, Sparx, for mistreating my lifetime partner and friend." He said as he sat down in front of Nestor desk. "Okay, Nestor, you have my attention. What do you want to tell me that is so important that you couldn't wait until later to tell me?" Once Spyro has asked his question he watch as Nestor's smile faded to be replaced with a seriously sad expression. "What's wrong, Nestor?" "Spyro, you need to know something about Flame." "What is it, Nestor?" Nestor hesitated and Spyro frowned as impatience began to make him feel irritated. "Well... Come on, Nestor tell me before you forget. I swear your memory is getting worst as the years pass. Well..." Nestor sighed and calmly said, "Spyro, Flame is your younger brother." After Nestor said that Spyro just looked at him with a silent unreadable expression. "Well, Spyro, say something!" "What do you mean, Nestor?" Spyro asked as he looked over at the elder dragon in shock at the revelation that had just been dropped on him like a fire bomb. "You heard me perfectly well, Spyro." Nestor said in calm tone. "Flame is your younger brother." "And you are just telling me this now! What the...!" Spyro said as he seemed to lose control of his voice and stood up, turned and walk over to the closed door. Once he got there he ripped the door open with pure dragon strength. Nestor frowned and got up to follow Spyro. He could tell that Spyro was not happy about the truth being withheld for so many years from him but if only he gave him the chance to explain why then maybe the coming fight could be avoided altogether. "Spyro, wait!" Nestor said as he walked after him as quickly as his old legs could take him. Spyro turned around with nostrils flared and smoke billowed out as his anger seemed to grow in front of the elder. This growth caused his newly awakened powers to flare up in him. The gold arm bands flashed white as Spyro's paws started to glow. "Stay the hell away from me, Nestor! I trusted you and you kept this secret from me. I bet you know who my parents are too. Well, answer me!" Spyro screamed as he glared at him. Nestor frowned and dropped his head slightly. "Yes, Spyro, I know who your parents are and that they are still alive. I am sorry I didn't tell you the truth about you and Flame being brothers. I was trying to protect him and you from those who would try and hurt one or both of you. Please, Spyro, forgive me." Nestor said sadly as he looked into Spyro's glowing purple eyes. For a few minutes no one said or did anything. After enough time had passed, Spyro had roared in anger and pain. Nestor and everyone else who was present appeared in the hall to see what was going on. Spyro looked at his friends standing in the kitchen doorway and then he turned to Nestor with his fangs bared in an angry snarl. "Go to hell!" He growled and as he did, his glowing eyes changed from purple to gold and he sent a wave of energy flying knocking Nestor off his feet and sliding him down the hallway into Mrs. Shoutfire who was knocked into the wall putting a dent in it. Spyro's temper seemed to drain from as he looked at his paws in shock. "What- have- I- done!" He looked over at Nestor and Mrs. Shoutfire aka Sandra as tears started to fall from his eyes. He noticed that his eyes had changed gold again thanks to his anger. Bianca was right, my emotions are what trigger my change. I have to learn how to control these feelings or someone I care about might get hurt or worst killed. "Nestor- Sandra- please forgive me! I didn't mean to...." After Spyro's shock silenced him he turned and ran out the front door taking flight as he did. "SPYRO... WAIT!" Nestor yelled as Sandra helped him back to his feet. Nestor's facial expression took on one of total sadness as he looked at his mate. "Sandra... what have I done?" Sandra only closed her eyes and shook her head. "No, Nestor," She whispered as she opened her eyes and looked at him with an equal expression of sadness. "What have we done...?" TO BE CONTINUED....