FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Again, sorry if it seems rushed, I just don't have the time anymore to invest in writing X_X

if you're under 18, get lost nao plz kthnxbai.

CHAPTER 23

"I tire of this..." Vale said, rolling a stone around on the floor. "Just let me go already, you have no need for me here."

"You will stay here," Terrador growled, "until this is over."

"What's it matter anyway if I'm the successor of Malefor? All evidence points to it." Terrador just rolled his eyes. Guarding this kid was grating his nerves. "Scarred and later captured by Cynder, locked away without trial or reason in Paralos, subjected to experimentation, now this link to the shadow creatures..." Terrador looked back in surprise when Vale suddnely jumped up with a snarl. "I WILL NOT BE LOCKED UP AGAIN!!! MY DESTINY IS MINE TO CHOOSE!!!" With that, darkness suddenly started surrounding him. Terrador tried to pin him with gravity, but Vale was completely unaffected.

"Stop this now!" He blasted Vale with an Earth Shot, but the blast was deflected and instead destroyed the wall. Vale took no time in dashing out. Terrador raced after him with a loud roaring alarm to the others.

Mere hours later Spyro woke up with a bad headache, and looked around to find blank gray walls again. I should've fought harder... Spyro banged his fist on the stone floor, the chains clanking against his wrist. Damn you...DAMN YOU!!! he thought angrily around the muzzle strapped to his jaw, his scales flashing dark and his eyes glowing. The chains flashed and he turned purple again, falling limp as his power was again drained. Falling into another short nap his mind went back...

~*~*~

Spyro's body went limp in the air, everyone passing through the tunnel of time power stretching before them as the world seemed to flash by under their wings. He watched them shoot away, his wings just barely holding him aloft as he glided. The Time Fury, though small, had left him drained. No one was there to catch him, unfortunately; the best he could do was glide and hope to recover his energy. His wings started to give out and down he fell, covering himself in ice at the last minute so he could float in the ocean. When he resurfaced he tensed himself and his icy power extended to create a small platform he could rest on. He sprawled on it, sunning himself the best he could through the growing clouds.

"Together or divided, we'll still fall if the Paralosin armies get through..." he mumbled to himself, staring off into space. "At least the Atllawa have caves that can easily lose pursuers..."

"Spyro!"

Spyro lifted his head a bit to look around. Was that Cal's voice? "Who's there?"

A dark flash erupted under him and threw him into the water, a purple paw flashing out to grab him just before he sank. "Good thing I found you, are you okay?"

"Not really...I need rest, but there's no time is there?"

"I have time powers too. We need to strategize." Time stopped around them as Cal's eyes glowed a slight blue. "Okay, we don't have much time. Those clouds are powering the portals, the mages and apes are working together to form them and power them. There's nothing we can do to stop this, but maybe we can do something about the generals. I can try to bargain something; they don't know I'm good again."

"Are you though?"

Cal glared at him and growled. "YES, already."

"I was joking..."

"Not funny. Anyway, you need rest. When you've recovered enough for a Fury attack we'll discuss more."

"Can you hold out that long?"

"No, but we're slowly moving back in time; by the time my power gives out, we'll have easily three more hours. You sleep." He put his paw on Spyro's head and a strange darkness filled Spyro's eyes, but it didn't feel bad...it felt relaxing and almost healing, restoring at least some energy.

Hours later Spyro awoke to find Cal napping near him; they were on a much larger ice sheet now. Just how much power did Cal have; was he superior to Spyro? Or did he just understand elements more? Either way, it didn't concern him all that much as he stretched and looked around. In the distance to the side he suddenly felt a strange flash, and turned to see himself back in time glide and then fall into the ocean. He turned back around and shook Caligin.

"It's almost time again," he said as the purple dragon opened his eyes.

"Okaaaayyyy..." Cal yawned, stretching. "Wow...sleep feels good. Okay, here's the plan, I spent the first four hours of time manipulation considering the angles. Paralosin guards know who I am, I can convince them that I have returned and am in disguise. However, that's not gonna work for long." He held his paw up, and on the ice between them a small diorama appeared. "Now look- wait, watch this." He pointed over Spyro's shoulder. Spyro looked back to see them in the distance; Cal was talking, then they suddenly started to fade. "That's us going back in time."

"Are we the real us or are they?"

"Can't say for sure, but until the moment they started to fade back into time, we've been an unseen mirror projection of ourselves. It's really hard to explain. Now pay attention." Spyro looked back down at the diorama. "They'll most likely be coming in with this machine. It's a match to the machine that the shadow forces attacked Warfang to acquire. This is a portal device. While I'm negotiating, I need you to slip in and destroy this machine with a lightning bolt. This is also the biggest source of their power for their weapons. Robbed of this, they'll have to resort to more basic weaponry force."

"What about the one they found in Warfang?"

"That's a rogue element, but it's beyond our influence at the moment, it's still on the mainland. I have a bad feeling that they'll warp to Tall Plains first, that seems to be the highest area of dark concentration."

"Damn it!"

"If we can rob them of this machine, we stand a good chance of forcing them to retreat long enough to shut down the portal nigh-permanently. If you can take it a step further and procure an Electric Fury, and attack the strongarms that will be surrounding this machine, they'll likely be forced back, unless this is a huge company they're sending. In that case, just take out the machine and be prepared to halt time so you can get out safely. I'm saving my energy in case of the worst; you're the more experienced purple dragon of us, but I'm the elementally stronger, so I'm the backup."

"You have this pretty down-pat."

"We have to, the fate of this world rests on us...at least I think. I keep hearing 'The children of two, born at once, are purest protection from evil's grip'...I have no idea what that could mean though."

"I hope it doesn't mean something will happen to..." Spyro gulped, suddenly afraid for his kids.

"Time's almost up, the energy is gathering such that the portal could activate soon..."

"What about other locations?"

Cal sighed. "Honestly...I don't know. Pray for them. That's all we can do now." He grabbed Spyro again. "We're teleporting there." With that they disappeared into his own shadow, emerging by Kane and giving him quite a scare. Everyone else froze in shock and a bit of terror when they saw Caligin.

"Stay calm!" Spyro ordered. "Everyone, return to the caves! The enemy is about to teleport here!" No one moved. He turned to Kane. "Kane, this is Cal, he's a friend. I know we just came out of nowhere, but the enemy is far beyond your warriors right now, they need to get to safety!"

Kane grunted, then nodded and raised his voice, still a bit shaky from the startle. "You heard Spyro! Inside, now! He is still a god here, heed his warnings!" There was a mad scramble and suddenly everyone was gone except Kane and the two dragons. Cal looked at Spyro with a cocked eyebrow.

"God?"

Spyro rolled his eyes and chuckled. "Don't ask, and don't bring it up with Sparx if you see him."

"Spyro and Sparx are the new gods of our tribe, as they have dominated our previous god of the shrine," Kane explained as he slowly headed away. "I pray you two have a good plan in mind. If this enemy truly is beyond us, we'll need all the help we can get." With that he sprinted off and disappeared into the tall grass. Spyro and Cal sat and waited, feeling the dark power growing. Spyro felt sick.

"Cal...when dimension transports happen, I get sick...have seizures..."

Cal's eyes shot open. "Why didn't you tell me this before?!"

"I forgot..." Spyro clutched his stomach. "It's gonna break soon..."

"Damn it..." Cal's paw hit Spyro over the forehead and suddenly the world around him flashed and sped by. Spyro felt time power wrapped around him, protecting him from the effect of the dimensional warp. In that brief passage of time around him he saw a sickly flash, felt the ground rumble, and saw smoke rise from the west. They had arrived.

~*~*~

Spyro sighed as he woke up, tears running down his face. Their plan had failed. His Lightning Fury had only charged the portal machine even further, and their actions had betrayed them to the Paralosins. Caligin was deeper in the dimensional prison they were trapped in; an extension of that portal machine, used to hold prisoners. What were they planning to do now?

His question was soon answered when the doors of his cell opened and the chains disappeared. "Get up," came a gruff voice. There stood a burly fire dragon decked out in glowing armor, dangerous floating blades hovering around him, linked to his mind by several diodes in the back of his helmet. On his forelegs were thick vambraces that were really leg-mounted folding fighting blades with sonic edges capable of cutting clean through stone as if it were warm butter. Spyro shakily stood up, an electric tether appearing around his neck and limbs and wrapping around his midsection to bind his wings to his sides. "You're wanted by the Master."

Spyro sighed and followed him, completely at a loss. In this dimension his supernatural warping ability was nil, and his time powers had been sapped by his anger-fueled dark transformations. His Electric Fury had sapped most of his power too. If only the light sources were stronger, he could use them to fuel his light breath and blast free... Something warped around him and he felt himself step into grass. Looking around quickly he realized he was back outside! What was going on? Straight ahead on a tall stone chair sat...Caligin?!

"Well played, purple dragon," Cal said with an evil grin.

Spyro's ethereal senses were on edge. "You're not Caligin are you?"

"In the flesh, Spyro, do you not recognize me?" Cal asked, stepping down. "Join me, Spyro, and your children can live." Spyro was about to lash out when Cal's voce in his ear stopped him. ~*Spyro, calm down, it's a ruse. Pledge your allegiance to me now while the conditions are vague so they're appeased. The plan is still on, I'm just playing along with them.*~

Spyro hesitated, considering this. Cal had a look of anxiety in his eyes, something he had never seen when he was evil. "If it'll save my kids, then fine..."

"Perfect. Unlock him." The guard stepped forward and unlocked Spyro's electric bonds. "Dismissed."

"Dismissal will not be necessary," came a familiar voice filled with pride. Spyro looked back to see a large deep-blue dragon stride forward with terrible scars along one side of his body. "In fact, 'Caligin', if anyone's to be dismissed, it will be both of you from this realm."

"What are you doing here, Valekon?" Cal growled. "You were supposed to be locked away in Paralos."

"I was, but I freed myself and grabbed a teleportation device back here. Apparently Miaqua still remembered me after you had Cynder scar me and then later kidnap me before her unfortunate fall." He still strode forward as he spoke, several armed guards following him.

"Why did you even bother to return?"

"Because this is my realm, you...or more accurately, the Shadow, promised me this realm in the event of your fall. I have struggled against this supposed destiny for years, but now I see that I am indeed your successor. Far more fit for it too, even if I'm not purple." He stood up and darkness wrapped around his body, transforming him into a tall creature very akin to Alex and Christine but with his head and neck still the same as before. "Behold the true abilities of darkness, Malefor, the ones you in your pride neglected to use!"

The guards all looked at Caligin uncertainly. Caligin was scared. Spyro could see that very easily. His ruse was in danger of being toppled. "Not all power is to be used the moment it is discovered, Vale, nor are all powers to be used in the first place. I learned that from my defeats."

"Then you were mistaken. You failed your duties, the Shadow has chosen me as your successor in this realm!"

Spyro growled and shot a beam of light at Vale, knocking him upside the head and sending him spinning backwards to fall flat on his face. "I knew there was something wrong with you, Vale...your mind is falling apart."

Vale slowly stood up, but with a strange smile on his face. "Shoot me again, Spyro, and your children will pay for it."

Spyro froze. Cal looked back and forth between them, noticing Vale's defiant, daring stare and Spyro's sheer panic. All at once there was a loud tearing sound and the air suddenly blasted forward so fast that everyone was knocked clean off their feet. Spyro had Vale's neck in his mouth, his eyes glowing with rage and his scales black and smoking with dark power. "You dare touch or harm my children, I will eat you alive," Spyro's voice growled around him. To prove his point he bit hard enough to make Vale scream in pain. "Call off the Paralosins now or you die!"

"Spyro stop!" Cal shouted, shaking the ground under Spyro. "This isn't the fight you should be picking!"

"What's it matter to you?" one of the guards asked, pointing his hovering weapons at Caligin. "You've really gone soft, you're no longer the Dark Master!"

"No, that's not-" Cal's sentence was cut short when a dart hit him in the neck and encased him in a shell of electrical energy. A similar dart lodged itself in Spyro's shoulder, but Spyro only growled and dug his teeth into Vale's neck a bit more.

"I'm not letting this bastard go until you all leave!" he shouted. "GET OUT OF MY HOMEWORLD!!" With that he quickly shimmered, just barely avoiding a hail of darts as he shifted to the supernatural plane, dragging Vale with him. Spyro's darkness wore off almost instantly as he regained his senses, allowing him to truly see the situation. Pulling Vale here was a bad idea...very bad. Vale towered over him as the shadowy essences gathered into him. All those shadow creatures he'd fought so hard against now had a corporeal host, and they were wasting no time in taking advantage of it. Vale laughed as he felt himself overflowing with power. The dark matter hosts before were now abandoned as the evil spirits bound themselves to Vale and added their power to his.

"Not what we had planned but it works perfectly," Vale jeered, looking down at the now tiny Spyro floating in the ether before him. "There's no way you can win this round now, Spyro!" Spyro shivered and whimpered; it wasn't just Vale speaking, but countless other demons he had defeated before during his journeys away from the Temple so many months ago. Against his willpower, their collected spirits were vastly superior. Spyro did the only thing he could: run. He ran away, shifting planes as he did so to find himself over the cliffside and falling fast. Spreading his wings he swept into the air and flew as fast as he could back to the Atllawa settlement. Out of nowhere the air suddenly thundered and a hideous laugh filled the air as Vale gave chase. Spyro wove his way between the tall stone totems of the Atllawas before ducking under a waterfall to catch his breath. What had he done now?!

~*Spyro!!*~

"Cal shhh, he's after me!"

Cal appeared from Spyro's shadow. "I know, I saw the whole thing somehow! Spyro, he can't use the demons in this plane just yet but his strength is magnified almost tenfold! What exactly happened? I don't understand!"

Spyro sighed, feeling the area for Vale's dark presence before looking back up at Cal guiltily. "I though I could weaken his resolve by pulling him into the ether with me, but I completely forgot that the souls of thousands of evil beings were waiting for a chance to gain physical bodies...before now, they used me and several dark matter bodies to materialize and gain control in this plane, but it seems all they needed was for me to become so enraged I'd forget about the danger and do something rash...what've I done..."

:You've just doomed your homeworld, that's what you've done, but not if we play our cards right. There's still a small chance we can defeat him. I don't know how he learned to use his abilities so quickly, but he can't possibly learn to use his stronger techniques to their full ability just yet. We need to get the girls to safety and get Solar's help!" He stood up and walked forward, stopping by the falling water at the mouth of the small pocket in the waterfall's wall. "I saved my time power in case of an emergency, but this may be what we needed. I can last us the trip to the Temple."

"What about everyone here?"

"They're only after us, the primary threats. Spyro, you and I are the only ones now that can face them. Your human friends may be able to help, but I haven't seen them, and I believe they may be tied up dealing with a sub-Shadow at the Chronicler's place. Here's the plan. We get to the temple, get the shields activated, and get the girls to safety in the lower tunnels. Then, we move out to the swamp where it's more open and familiar to us, use the advantage of terrain familiarity against these asses."

"I hope this works..."

"I hope so too..." Cal halted time and they took off as quickly as they could. THe flight back seemed to go a lot faster than normal, but Spyro was worn out again by the time they landed. Cal clumsily landed behind him on the balcony of the Temple and let his time control stop, but to his confusion it persisted. "Spyro...this isn't good. Something's horribly wrong..."

"For you, yes it is," came Vale's voice behind them. He stepped in out of thin air with a rather snide grin of malicious delight plastered over his face.

"H-How..." Cal asked in astonishment.

"Your time manipulation gave me the hours I needed to master these abilities earlier, and your exact locations just now. I really should thank you for giving me the upper hand so graciously."

Spyro edged between Vale and the stairway to the Temple. "You stay away you monster!"

"I take orders from no one now except my true master," Vale chided, then laughed and swung his shadowy humanoid arm in a wide arc. Spyro and Cal were both violently tossed aside, giving Vale full clearance to head into the temple. Spyro struggled to get up, but something laughed at him and he blacked out along with Cal.

Spyro woke up with a snap to find himself chained tightly, along the edge of a circle of dragons crowded around a large bowl-shaped arena at Tall Plains, in the center of which hovered a strange glowing metal container. The clouds overhead rumbled with thunder, a cold, dark feeling hanging in the air like a sickly mist. He looked around and saw Solar standing off to the side, bound with even more chains. To the other side were Cynder and Flare, both looking like they'd passed out crying. Craga too sat nearby looking deathly scared. Cal was nowhere to be seen. Spyro turned his eyes back to the floating container and searched it remotely with his light powers. His heart sank...he could feel six little heartbeats within, three of which were born of his own. What was going on?! Why did they have the kids sealed up in a metal container?! He struggled against his chains with a loud growl, only to be shocked into submission by the chains. The guard stationed near him kicked him, earned a muffled growl from Spyro as electric chains formed arouns him again, this time over his muzzle as well to keep him from using his breath attacks. Not too far away he also saw Ignitus, and Cyril's wing and Terrador's horns. Everyone was captured... Movement ahead within the dark arena caught his attention and he looked to see Vale walking forward, still in his dark anthropomorphic shape but back to his original transformation size. Right behind him came none other than the Shadow, its two crystalline green eyes narrowed in malicious delight at the proceedings that had transpired thus far.

"Paralosins," Vale called, his voice echoing over them with his new powers, "bear witness to this, the new dawn of your society! You imprisoned me unjustly, but here I give back to you even when I had nothing to give! I have fulfilled my word and shall seal it with blood! A blood oath!" He turned to the container by him and a small door on it lifted open. "Not my blood, but the blood of traitors and failures, for it must be spilled so that the true and worthy can survive!"

A dark beam flew in out of nowhere and smote Vale in the neck, sending him backwards. A purple blur flew in over them with an angered rabid roar and started assailing Vale viciously. The evil dragon roared even louder and Caligin was sent flying up into the air, suddenly stopping in place as a field of dark energy surrounded him. Vale stood up and turned to the guards.

"Cut him." Spyro watched in horror as blades were sent flying at Cal, cutting him deep. An electric jolt flew through him and sent him flying to the side. Spyro quickly focused his earth and crude wind powers to give Cal a safe landing by Craga, who immediately forced her way out of the guards' grips and held Cal, sobbing uncontrollably. A loud snarl alerted Spyro to Cynder's consciousness.

"You bastard, give us our kids!!" she screamed, earning a kick in the neck from a nearby soldier.

"Your children are the necessary sacrifice of this realm!"

"NO THEY ARE NOT!!" came another familiar voice. Flying in from above came Alex and Christine, their clothes torn and charred, weapons ready. "You touch their children and we'll rip you to shreds!"

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Vale said snidely, pressing a button on the container. "If anything happens to me, this container will be destroyed...and its occupants as well." Alex and Christine froze, unable to act as he circled the unit. "It's time for the childrens' roles to be enacted."

"No!!" Cynder cried, struggling in vain against her bonds. "PLEASE!!!"

"The world belongs to us now," Vale replied, his glowing eyes shining with malice and pride. He reached into the container and picked up Aleron. "You have failed to re-spawn the Shadow's essence, that was your sole life purpose, Cynder." He picked up Aurora, making Flare squeal in rage. "And you, Solar, you failed to pass on your superior genetics. Your children are failures." He started to squeeze them, making them cry with their shrill voices. He brought them down so he could see them. "Silence! Your deaths mark the death of this realm! Be proud of your symbolism!"

"DADDA!!" Aleron screamed.

"MAMA!!" Aurora screeched, her little tears falling to the ground.

Spyro could only watch in horror, his mind rooted on this horrific act. His son...his firsthatched, was about to die and he was completely powerless...He looked over at Cynder, a tear running down his face at the sheer despair on hers. Her whole life was now crushed... He looked at Flare and Solar, then at Craga and the dying Caligin...it couldn't end this way... It just couldn't!!

The Shadow stood behind the dark dragon, watching and waiting. "..Well?"

Vale was standing there staring at the two children in his dark clutches, watching them cry. Spyro looked up when he realized something was amiss. Everyone was watching the dark dragon intently. Focusing his air powers Spyro listened in on what was going on around Vale.

"So small and helpless..." Vale whispered to himself, catching Spyro's attention. "Such fragile life..."

"Well?" the Shadow asked impatiently. Vale didn't answer, his breath growing heavier with indecision. He strode forward slowly and put the two little dragons back into the containing unit as if he was shocked about something. "You fool."

Vale stood up quickly and faced the Shadow with a steel glance, shutting the unit and sealing the children inside safely, also disarming the self-destruction alarm. "I cannot do it. I will not do it. You promised me control of this world, and I exercise that in this act. Get out. These children are the true future of this world. All of them are."

"They are the spawn of traitors and failures."

"They are still children and I will not harm them! Aleron is the child of the bond of dark and light, and Aurora is the child of one world born in another! They are the new bonds between the realms, but not in death!!" With that Vale lunged forward. "GET OUT!!"

A short brawl ensued, but with one lethal strike of dark energy Vale went flying backwards, dead before he hit the ground, his dark anthro body fading away to reveal his real self. "Moron." With that the Shadow stepped forward. "This world belongs to me now."

"No," came Caligin's voice as he forced himself to stand up. "Your place is in hell where you belong!"

Spyro felt his binding chains fall from him as the guard near him took up his weapons. "Vale was right. These children are the special ones, the symbol of a new beginning. A new life. You have no place here." All the other guards and army members readied their weapons. Ignitus and the guardians were freed and Ignitus raised his voice.

"Spyro, Solar! Be prepared! Something powerful is coming!" He turned to the Shadow. "Your reign ends today!"

The Shadow looked at them in amusement. "You really think you can stop me?"

At that moment, a strange ethereal wind whipped around them. A voice that Spyro recognized and feared spoke to the evil figure standing before them. "They cannot touch you, but your time here is over." The Shadow suddenly screamed as something wrapped around him, making him corporeal. "Spyro! Solar! Alex! Christine! Now is the time!"

The four dragons rushed forward and surrounded their enemy as he stood there bound in place by the strange power. Spyro limped forward, his jaw glowing. "You dared to harm my children, my mate, my friends...my world..." he said haltingly, choking on his own rage. With a loud yell and a blinding flash of light he smote the Shadow where it stood, almost enjoying its pained shriek of rage. Feeling his energy almost gone he stepped back, then shot a last-minute beam at the Shadow's eyes. "That one's for Cynder having to take care of me in the swamp!"

Solar stepped forward, his whole body twitching with seething rage. Light glittered around his paws as he stood up on his hind legs. Everyone around him shook in awe and fear as he roared and madly assailed the Shadow, dark power flying like blood violently in all directions as the ice dragon almost literally shredded their enemy, reducing him to a formless cloud still bound to the spot by that strange entity's power. Finally exhausted he stepped away, going so far as to break into the floating container and retrieve the kids, who cried out loudly at seeing a familiar face. Cynder and Flare were released and they ran forward to their kids, crying in sheer relief that they were safe.

Alex and Christine stepped forward. "We'll take care of you later, but first..." Christine produced two arm-mounted knives of light energy and proceeded to hack and slice rapidly at the Shadow-cloud, its shrill screaming of pain and rage echoing over the arena. She stepped back and Alex stepped forward for his turn. Like at the battle months ago on the temple grounds, he suddenly turned completely silver. No one really knew what happened during his round, but the Shadow was screaming like never before, Alex twisting and lashing out at invisible speeds like a fluid metal.

"ENOUGH!!" Caligin strode forward, glaring at the weakened Shadow hovering before them. Alex and Christine stepped aside and gave him clearance, Alex turning back into his normal self. Spyro watched Cal carefully...what was he doing? He wasn't charging an attack...

"In the name of the highest power who blesses us with existence and grace, I bind you and all your powers and influences, and I cast you out of this world, and I lock you away to never disturb us again!!" the purple dragon commanded.

The Shadow started growling as a strange, bevevolent power began surrounding him. His growl turned to a strained continuous yell of defiance, then a strangled roar of defeat as he was finally swept away in a brilliant flash. Thunder rolled overhead and the rain began pouring in sheets, cleansing the wounded and washing away the filth of the Shadow and his armies. Cal collapsed on the ground, his wounds finally taking their toll on him. Craga yelped and rushed up to him, cradling him against herself.

"This isn't over yet," Ignitus said, looking up at the sky. "Spyro, Cynder, your power is needed again as it was three years ago. Seal the Shadow away from this plane."

Solar limped up to them and his starlight crystal floated forward. "They'll need this energy..." Their crystals floated out to meet his and the three gems began trading power rapidly. Spyro looked at Cynder with a smile.

"Let's do this."

She nodded and leapt up into the air with him. Everyone watched, a triumphant thrill coursing down their spines as the pair glowed with light, waves of light energy flowing into them. The star crystals floated around them in a rapid circle of brightness, shooting off beams that leapt into the sky.

"Cover your eyes!" Solar shouted. Everyone covered their eyes, Flare throwing her wing over the children to shield them as a blinding light swept over them, the land around them vibrating under the sheer power. As the energy continued to flow from them, Spyro turned and held his paw against Cynder's.

"I love you..." he whispered, his voice echoing in the light power he was giving off.

"And I you," she replied. She kissed him, and in that moment the crystals shattered and let off huge towers of glittering Convexity energy and the bright light dimmed. Lightning cracked overheard, the ground shuddered, and streams of fire and ice flew around them before quickly rising into the sky and swiftly spreading like a barrier along with the Convexity power. When it was all over everyone looked up again to find Spyro and Cynder collapsed together in a heap from the energy strain. Aleron, Flash and Kira shoved their way out from under Flare's wing and crawled to their parents.

"Awaba...?" Aleron said, nuzzling Spyro.

"Hey you..."

Alex and Christine walked over, holding hands. "We'll miss you guys...we're heading out to complete the seal you just cast."

"We'll try to come back...sorry for the shoddy goodbye." With that they suddenly disappeared, Spyro shivering at the dimensional warp. Aleron nuzzled Spyro and the purple dragon smiled just before losing consciousness.