A Dragon out of Time, A Crash and Spyro Story

Chapter 22: Because Spyro Reappeared

It felt almost exactly as Crash described it, jumping off a cliff in complete darkness. The lack of any tactile sensation was surreal, even though the trip back to his time was supposedly instantaneous. A large spherical bubble appeared in the middle of a prehistoric swam and Spyro tumbled to the ground in a heap as the portal collapsed into a singularity behind him. Crash had also mentioned that landing gracefully once exiting one of these portals was quite tricky, since the sudden onset of gravity caused you to fall to the ground unprepared. Well he was right once again. Spyro laboriously got up and took a look at his surrounds. It was really happening, he had finally returned to his time, and had so much to do and so many menacing adversaries to defeat. And he was doing this, potentially endangering his life to save total strangers. No, that wasn't true. They were people he was meant to befriend, others who could have potentially been a part of his surrogate family had he never met Crash. Elora, Hunter, the Professor, Sheila, Bently, Byrd, Flame, Ember, Ignitus, Cynder... And for all of them Spyro found the courage to return to this time and be the hero he apparently was always meant to be. "Courage in the face of those who'd harm others, and to those whom he'd never let harm come to," the words Crash (communicated using sign language) rung inside Spyro's mind once more. Man, I've been here for ten seconds and I'm already starting to miss him. He inhaled slowly and then exhaled though his mouth calm himself and draw in his confidence. I'll be strong, for him and because of him. Spyro heard noises emerging from deeper within the dense woods; right on schedule Ignitus.

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Ignitus saw a bright flash of light emitted in the distance where all the commotion had been and flew towards it. He had been tracking the three thieves who had stolen a Dragon Egg for quite a while, determined to find it before they delivered it to who he presumed was the Sorceress. That yet born Dragon's fate was intertwined with the fate of all Dragonkind. A lot of Dragons feared the return of another Purple, some other's embraced it. But if one thing was for certain, he or she deserved a chance at life, a chance to be the hero we so desperately need, or just live for his or herself. The prospect of destinies, to be burdened with the protecting every Dragon, Ignitus couldn't even imagine it what that would feel like. Being the Guardian of Fire was hard enough for himself, but to master all four Elements and be expected to put their life on the line for the greater good, it seemed like so much for just one Dragon. To have that kind of power with that level of responsibility, it was unfathomable.

Ignitus arrived at his destination and was astounded at what he found: a young, healthy purple Dragon of about eight to ten years standing where the missing Dragon's egg should be.

"So you're Ignitus?" the purple Dragon asked. "It's nice to finally meet you. I've... read a lot about you." It was actually happening, Spyro thought, there was another Dragon standing in front of him for the first time - large, intimidating - a future mentor and father figure of his. Any reservations Spyro had about returning home instantly vanished and was replaced with excitement.

"Whoever you are, it is very important that I find and rescue a stolen Dragon Egg before it falls into the wrong hands. You wouldn't have happened to see the group of thieves that stole it? They are in the area."

"Don't worry about the egg, Ignitus. It ended up in some very capable hands. It's a long story that I'm sure I'll be better able to explain later, but for right now, I'm the Dragon whose life you are trying to save."

"You're what? Look, I don't think you understand. The 'egg' I'm searching for was stolen from Artisan's not too long ago, and if I don't hurry that infant Dragon will be killed."

"That unborn infant was a purple Dragon, wasn't he? Prophesized to protect the Dragon Realms and eventually save the whole world from the previous purple incarnation, Malefor. Seems like so much for one Dragon, for one child. I hope both he and I are up for it."