Alone and isolated, Shadow was looking down at the group. "What a bunch of ammetures!" said Shadow. Then, Shadow heard something in the wind. He suddenly found himself shrouded in darkness. "What's going on?" said Shadow, confused. "Do not fear, Shadow the Hedgehog." said a deep low voice. A figure with evil yellow eyes appeared behind him. Shadow turned around to see the figure was a giant purple dragon. "Who are you?" asked Shadow. "I am Malefor, the Real Purple Dragon." The figure answered. "I see that your friends have lost their trust in you." "What makes you say that?" asked Shadow. "Spyro the purple dragon has corrupted the entire dragon realms and seeing your impressive skills, I think you are the best agent for a task that I think you can accomplish." Commented Malefor. "What task?" Shadow asked. "If you help me kill Spyro, I'll help you find your way back home." Answered Malefor "Why would you want me to kill that purple moron?" Shadow asked, confused. "Because I was the first purple dagon who was destined to save this world." Malefor answered. "But when my powers grew, the dragon elders banished me and let Spyro take my place and only you can help me. That is if you swear to devote your undying alleigance to me." Shadow thought about it for a moment. Maybe Malefor was right. What if Spyro was the real villain? Besides, he was so sick of Sonic and his friends. With an evil smile on his face, he said. "I'm listening."
"I've found it!" called Knuckles. Sonic, Spyro, Cynder and Sparx came to where Knuckles was. In front of them was the patterned cave that Meadow said about earlier. "Now, how are supposed to get through it?" Asked Cynder. "Incoming!" shouted Knuckles, as he rampaged past Sonic and the dragons with his fist in front of him. Then, Knuckles smashed his way through the cave. "Well, there's our answer." Said Sparx. Sonic, the dragons and Sparx went through the cave. Coming out of the other end of the cave, Sonic put his hand over his face. "Great!" said Sonic "Why does it always have to be water?" They saw Knuckles climbing sideways on the cliffs. Spyro, Sparx and Cynder flew away and followed Knuckles. "Hey, wait fo me!" shouted Sonic. Using his sword, he shoved the sword into the water, where giant rocks came out of the water and came together to form a path. "This is gonna be easy." Said Sonic. Slowly, Sonic put his left foot on the path and started to walk. He walked slowly and steadily. As Knuckles looked to see if Sonic was catching up, he was amazed at what he saw. "How did you do that?" asked Knuckles. "The sword!" answered Sonic. "I'll tell you more about it later." Knuckles and Sonic were soon able to catch up to Sparx and the dragons. Then out of nowhere, live walking skeletons came and started to attack. "What are those?" asked Sonic. "I don't know, but they don't look friendly." Answered Spyro. "Fine by me." Said Knuckles. "I hate monsters!" Knuckles jumped onto the skeleton and crushed it. Sonic used his sword and slashed through the skeletons. Spyro and Cynder attacked the skeletons as well. Cynder used her scorpion sting attack and used her fear breath, instantly killing them. Spyro made a ice tornado at the skeletons. The skeletons trapped in the ice tornado were frozen into ice statues. Sonic confronted one of the skeletons that was holding a sword as well. Their blades crossed. The skeleton nearly cut Sonic's arm. But the hedgehog was too fast, he jumped into the air and threw his sword at the skeleton's head. The creature screamed. Sonic grabbed hold of his sword very tightly, so that the creature could kill itself. The result ended with the skeleton, having its head split in half. "Damn, I'm good." Said Sonic. After killing the skeletons, the hermit appeared "Come closer, so I can see you in the light." The hermit said. They did. "Tell me, why have you returned?" ashed the Hermit. Sonic, Knuckles and Spyro were confused. "What do you mean? I haven't been here." Answered Spyro. "Not you." The hermit explained. "The female." Knuckles looked at Cynder in confusion. "You must be mistaken." said Cynder "Indeed, your appearance has changed. But not your eyes." Explained the hermit. "Your eyes give everything away. You are the black dragon, Cynder. The terror of the skies. The Dark Master's puppet." Those words rang into Knuckles' ears. This meant that Cynder was evil. "Is it true?" asked Knuckles, glaring angrily. Cynder was sorrowful. "I was. But I'm not anymore." Explained Cynder "I'm not proud for the things I've done." "Ah, is it so easy to turn your back on Malefor?" asked the hermit. "You don't have to listen to him. Cynder." Said Spyro. A roar cried out of nowhere. "Did you not recognise the creatures that moved in the shadows?" asked the hermit. "The apes too served him, but more for their own greed than any true loyalty to him. This is how Malefor repaid them, doomed to remain in the dark, feeding off the power of others never being fufilled." He turned to Cynder. "You can run, but you cannot hide, Cynder." The hermit sneered, laughing. Cynder hung her head in shame. Sonic had enough of this and drew his sword at him. "Listen, Kermit. If you're one of Malefor's pals, I'm gonna..." "Sonic, stop. He's not worth it. Let's go." Said Spyro. Sonic left with Spyro and the others. "The Dark Master will find you." Cackled the hermit. Spyro turned to Cynder, who had a tear in her eye. He felt so sorry for her. "Cynder, are you OK." Asked Spyro. "I'm fine. I'll be fine." Answered Cynder, sorrowfully. "Well I'm not." Interuppted Sparx. "Was I the only one who was freaked out by that guy?" Then the dragonfly smiled. "OK! At least it wasn't a complete waste of time. Ta-da!" Right in front of Sparx was the key for the supply cave. Sonic, Knuckles and the dragons were surprised. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" said Sonic. Then Sonic, Knuckles, Sparx and the dragons went back to the valley.
