//------------------------------//
// 5: Fire Training And First Flight 
// Story: The Legend Of Spyro And Spike 
// by dragonfan101 
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Spike and Spyro followed Ignitus back into the temple not to long after they're little talk, they went back into the room with the dragon statue to begin they're next talk, Spike had a pretty good feeling on what he was about to show them, and he was honestly feeling really eager to see what it is.

"So Ignitus, what did you want to show us exactly?" Spike asked while they entered the ancient temple again.
"To make it simple for you, your style of fighting is a bit easy for most to counter, but what you've done is enough to get the job done, you both did your parts when taking back the temple, and you should be proud of that." Ignitus explained as he looked over the huge statue above them.
"Thanks, I guess.. but what are you trying to say?" Spyro asked still wondering what he's gonna show them. 
"While you two don't know much about what it means to be a dragon, you both have been raised differently, but you are still dragons at the end of the day. " Ignitus said looking down at them again.
"But if you both are going to have a chance at standing against Cynder and her armies, you will need to learn, far more." Ignitus said ominously which could only mean one thing.

"Oh good.. school" Sparx said sounding a bit uninterested with it.
"Hey, School's fine with me, I have no problem with it at all." Spike said shrugging his shoulders.
"This is unlike any school you've ever known my friends, it is something far different." Ignitus explained moving over to what looked like a switch.
"It is time to unleash the true dragons within you two, each of us guardians is a master of an element. I as you may know by now, am the Master of Fire." Ignitus said while pulling down on the switch, this somehow made the dragon statue begin to lower down into an area that can contain it, and the area opened up a huge amount, so they both can have a dojo from the looks of it. 
"Wait, you mean your gonna teach us fire techniques?!" Spike asked sounding a bit excited hearing this.
"Yes I will, and when you master them, perhaps one of you will be as well, let us begin you two." Ignitus said before he moved over to the door to watch over them both.

Spike and Spyro looked at the center of the room and both knew what to do, they both slowly walked into the center to wait for what happens, Spike never thought he would be trained to learn fire techniques, and something tells him he's gonna learn far more then just fire.  Soon enough, some dummies that looked like the apes they've fought before dropped down from above and were ready to be taken down. 
"You both have unique fire breaths to you, but they can be one and the same, they are both strong and burn with a passion, and you two should start off with learning something simple, and that is shooting a fire ball, it's simple to learn, just focus on one target, and fire it at them, and the fires will surround them both." Ignitus explained as the dummies were moving around them somehow.
"Fireballs huh? Sounds easy enough.." Spike said as he took a deep breath.
"Let's see what we can do.." Spyro said while they took aim at them all.

Spike took the deepest breath he could and homed in on one of the enemy's, and with one move, he shot another fire blast from his mouth, but he was able to make it into a circular fire ball like Ignitus instructed, and the blast exploded around the enemy's as soon as it touched them, and Spyro was able to shoot a fire ball as well, it was easy enough to learn, but it felt so good to be able to use, it would definitely come in handy in the future.
"We actually did it!" Spike said proud to see they did it well.
"That felt really great, I didn't think it would work!" Spyro said amazed as well.
"Good work you two, now onto the next lesson, knock your foes into the air, and use your fire to finish them off." Ignitus advised as even more dummies dropped down, they must have a stash of dummies to use for training.

"Okay.. let's do this!" Spike said confidently while they both charged at the dummies, Spike readied his arm and came right to one of the dummy's heads, and with a confident jump, Spike punched the dummy in the chin and sent it flying into the air, Spike then took another deep breath, and shot another blast at the largest ones which roasted them to ash, while these were simple lessons, they did help Spike learn how to fight more, Ember would be proud. 
"Wow, we actually won! This is awesome!" Spyro said amazed while they landed down yet again.
"This is really cool!" Spike said looking at his claws with awe which Ignitus chuckled at. 

"Okay you two, now you must try to harness the fire in your claws, try to move it around you, let it flow, unleash it to all the foes." Ignitus encouraged again which was a new lesson to learn.
"Hold the fire in our claws.." Spike said looking at his own, he had an idea of what it meant, and knew what to do. Spike breathed his green fire onto his claws, they swooshed around it like they were trying to escape, but Spike moved his claws around to keep them contained, Spike and Spyro both did this with they're fires, and they were able to start forming they're fire into something, Spike tried stretching his fire out just enough to keep a grip on it, those crystals must've given him knowledge on how to do something special, because with a few more twists, Spike was able to make his fire look like a sword, which he was able to wield around.
"A fire sword! Awesome!!" Spike said swinging it around as the dummies charged at them yet again, one of them swung they're swords at Spike, but he blocked it with his own and parried it back, Spyro joined in by shooting another stream of fire at it and pushing it back, Spike then jumped in the air and raised his fire sword high up, and with one little slice, he was able to cut through the dummy in half with no trouble, it felt awesome to use, and something any dragon back home would be jealous of. 

"How can you learn this so fast young ones? I don't think I've ever seen a student progress this quickly before?" Ignitus asked surprised with they're quick learning.
"I'm a fast learner, I have a lot of ways to learn things easily, and this is one of them." Spike said as his fire sword finally dispersed again.
"Yeah, and the fact we're purple dragons could lean into this more too you know?" Spyro asked while they walked up to him again.
"That could explain it, now onto the next lesson. Knock your foes into the air, and hit them back to the ones behind them." Ignitus instructed again as the dojo had a couple more they had to take down.
"This is something we'll get used to." Spyro said while they moved up to the dummy's again.
"Let's hope this just doesn't drag out." Spike said as they got ready again.

Spike and Spyro charged at they're respective targets, Spike slid on the ground before he used his feet to knock the large dummy in the air, he quickly got up and jumped up into the air as well, he then took aim for where the next dummy was behind it, and delivered and air kick to it's head which knocked it down into the other dummy, and Spyro managed to do it too with a horn dive. 
"Done and done." Spike said confidently while they stretched they're arms.
"Wait till the folks back home hear this!" Spyro said as they high fived eachother.
"Oh I hear that!" Spike said with a smile while they went back to the start.
"Now you must try and take down your foes from afar, there is a fire wall that will block you from reaching the enemy's, use your fireballs to take them down from a great distance." Ignitus said again while a fire wall appeared in the middle of the room, and they both had to attack the dummy's from the other side.

Spike and Spyro both went up to the wall a good distance, and they could see the dummy's moving around on the other side, they both took a deep breath and jumped in the air again, and with a careful aim, they shot more fireballs at the dummy's through the wall, and with the right spot, they were able to take them down once more, Spike hoped the lessons wouldn't go on forever, but something tells him they're on they're last one.
"Okay Ignitus, what's next?" Spike asked ready to go now.
"Yeah, what's out next lesson?" Spyro asked eager to know too, Ignitus hummed being asked this, and knew they were ready to learn his own fire storm technique, even if they were training for 10 minutes.

"You two must continue taking down each foe that attacks you, let the fire inside you both build up as it continues on, and when the moment is right, unleash it all like a storm, and destroy the rest of them." Ignitus instructed as more dummy's came down and surrounded the two of them.
"So we're learning that move Ignitus used to finish off those apes, this is gonna be good." Spike said getting in his stance.
"Let's take em down!" Spyro said confidently while they began to fight the enemy's yet again.

Spike breathed his fire into his claws again and quickly formed a fire sword again, Spike quickly swung it at one of the largest ones and sliced it down easily, Spyro charged his horns at another group and knocked it in the air, he then jumped up and delivered a tail swipe to sent it into more foes, the camera circles around them both as they kept fighting off the dummy's, Spike jumped in the air and delivered a roundhouse kick to one of the dummies, and Spyro breathed fire on a couple more to toast them, Spike then slid under another one and kicked it behind it's back, and Spyro knocked it back to Spike with his tail, and they both kept knocking it back to eachother like it was a game. 

But as they continued to kick these dummies butt's, they could feel the fire in them start to be built up, Spike's never felt this before in his life, but even with the little training he's done now, he was learning something no dragon back home could do. The fire in him was building up, he could feel it start to burn him the longer they contained it, the more they fought the dummies, the fire kept swelling inside of them until it was ready to burst out like a storm, just like Ignitus said.

"Now you two, unleash the fire within you!" Ignitus announced as they were both surrounded, Spike breathed smoke out of his nose and could feel his body start to be surrounded by his green fire, Spyro's body began to ignite up too and they're fires started to swell around them both, they could feel the fire over take them as they began to float into the air, the fire was so strong, much stronger then anything Spike's felt before in his life, and Spike's pupils could be seen having the fire inside them too, and with a loud scream of rage, they both unleased a powerful blast that was like the one Ignitus used.

Spike breathed heavily as they both landed down, that was a feeling Spike's never felt before, he felt his anger build up more and more until.. it just burst out like Ignitus said, it was something so amazing.. and Spike's never felt more alive.
"We.. we actually did it.. We leaned how to use our fire.." Spike said completely amazed with what they just did.
"I.. didn't think we'd be able to learn it.." Spyro said amazed at this achievement as well.
"Okay I'll admit, that was really cool you two, or really hot I should say." Sparx joked coming up to them again after seeing them do great with they're training.
"Well done you two, while you have learned a bit for today, I believe you are skilled enough, to get ready to save the first guardian." Ignitus said before he pulled on the same switch which began to rise the dragon statue back into the room.
"I didn't think we'd be able to do it, to be able to control my fire like this.. it feels amazing.." Spike said as he could still feel his fire swirling inside him now.
"That is what happens when you master your element, you both will go through more training in the future, but these are the basics that will help you both." Ignitus said as they began moving back into the room with that green pool from before. 
"I wonder what else we'll have to learn.." Spike said fascinated with this, even if he just learned to use his fire, if he really is connected to Spyro in a way.. he could learn far more then he thinks..

After they finished up with they're training, they went back into the room from before, Ignitus was looking into the green pool, seemingly trying to look for something, or someone. 
"What are you looking for Ignitus" Spike asked trying to see if there's anything he could see.
"I am trying to locate one of the other guardians, this is what we call a Vison Pool, certain dragons like me can see visions in it, which allows us to prepare for what to do next." Ignitus explained which was interesting to know.
"This day just keeps getting stranger and stranger.." Spike said really amazed with this information.
"Are you seeing anything Ignitus?" Spyro asked hoping there was something to learn. 
"I do see something, one of the next guardians, Volteer, is being held at a ice fortress called Dante's Freezer, Spyro, Spike, while I look for where the other's are, I need you two to go there, and find out what you can, and hopefully save him too." Ignitus advised which they were surprised by.
"Dante's Freezer?" Spike asked confused hearing that name, it did sound like a tough place to go to, and it may get worse the further they go through it.
"Yes, but I must warn you, if you see Cynder there, run or hide from her. You are not ready to face her, especially if she manages to capture you Spike.." Ignitus warned which worried the two of them.

"How can we go there? It's probably really far away, and I can't really fly at all.." Spike said as they saw he didn't have wings.
"Neither can I, being able to fly? It's something that sounds like a dream.." Spyro said not sure he can do this too.
"You may not believe you can Spyro, but you can. Even if Spike doesn't have wings, he's still different compared to us, and something tells me he'll grow them at one point during this journey." Ignitus encouraged as he knew they could do it.
"But.. how can we? How can I fly?" Spyro asked looking at his wings, he's only been able to glide at points, but never fly completely..
"Allow me to help you.. follow me outside please." Ignitus said as he started making his way to the balcony from before.
"Oh great, this I gotta see." Sparx said interested to know as they all made they're way outside again.

They all went outside to the balcony once again, and Spyro was wondering how he can do it.
"Alright young one, all you need to do, is close your eyes, and focus your mind. Concentrate, feel the powers of your ancestors flow through you, and in times of crisis, they will come to your aid, it will unlock powers you both never knew you had." Ignitus instructed while Spyro had his eyes closed.
"Come on Spyro, you can do it.." Spike said hoping he could actually do it. 
"Just forget everything you thought you knew, forget yourself, be at one with the world around you.. and embrace it.." Ignitus encouraged while Spyro had his head down, but soon enough.. they started to see Spyro's wings flap rapidly and he began to float in the air.
"And only then will you feel your ancient blood flow through you.." Ignitus finished as Spyro finally opened his eyes, he looked extremely surprised to see he actually is off the ground.

"Your doing it, your actually flying!" Spike said amazed to see him be able to do it.
"I am! Oh my gosh I actually am! I'm flying!" Spyro said amazed as he was flapping his wings properly, it made Spike glad to see him achieve this, and he only wished he had wings too, hopefully he will get his during this journey like Ignitus said.
"Good, now you three best be off, you must be careful when traveling there, Cynder's forces will be on the look out." Ignitus instructed while Spike tried hopping on Spyro's back, if he couldn't fly now, going for a little ride wouldn't hurt one bit.
"Don't worry Ignitus, we'll be careful." Spyro assured as he got ready to go.
"Spike, remember what we talked about, be careful, if Cynder is after you specifically, she won't go easy with you, be on your guard, and push past whatever pain you feel inside you, and I know you will make it through this." Ignitus said looking at him who had a serious look.
"Don't worry Ignitus, we will. You ready to go Spyro?" Spike asked looking at him.
"Let's go, hold on tight Spike." Spyro said as he began to take off into the skies at fast speeds, Ignitus watched them leave together, on a journey that could save this world.
"May the ancestors look after you, may they look after us all." Ignitus prayed as they finally left to save the next guardian.

After taking off from the temple, Spike and Spyro flew through the skies that led far off the main land, they could see dozens of islands far off in the distance, and they knew it was leading to their next location, Spike looked around the sky's with amazement, even if he wasn't flying himself, the feeling of moving through the air and feeling the wind pass by him as they flew around this new wonderous world, it was something that Spike never thought he'd feel.
"So how's it feel Spyro?" Sparx asked while they kept flying in the air.
"It feels amazing, to be able to go wherever we want, and go so far.. it's just something that I never thought we'd be able to do.." Spyro said amazed with what he's feeling.
"I know.. and with all that's happened just recently.. it's hard not to appreciate sights like this.." Spike said really taking in this moment to appreciate the beauty. 
"Yeah well welcome to the club guys, enjoy your stay." Sparx joked which made them chuckle a bit.
"Yeah, we could get used to this!" Spyro said amazed as they kept flying through the skies at fast speeds.

They all continued to fly their way past the lands beyond the edge, it was such an amazing experience to fly through a world like this, even with the devastating state it's in, it's sights like these that help calm Spike down, even with all he's going through right now, it still feels like something he'll never feel again..
"So Spike, gotta ask, what was going on with you earlier before we got into the temple? You looked really hurt when we left to restore the statues?" Spyro asked worried as he recalled the incident.
"Yeah dude what's going on with you? Your arm's been like this since we met you, I know it was from an injury and stuff, but something tells me there's more to it.. isn't there?" Sparx asked crossing his arms again, Spike knew they would catch onto this eventually, while the story of him being from Equestria should be explained later, he should at least tell him what's going on with his arm..

"I guess it's about time I explain it.. you remember that commander we fought against? And how you asked that we met before?" Spike asked ready to tell them what happened.
"Yeah, you said he was the one who captured you from your home right? What else did he do to you?" Spyro asked concerned for him, Spike sighed and prepared to answer this question, it was a bit hard to explain, but he tried doing it the best he could.
"When he took me from my home, II was injected with something before I was imprisoned, it was something that I keep feeling through my body as we keep going through this journey, even with the extra strength I've got now, it still hurts badly from time to time.." Spike explained looking at his arm with worry.
"What were you injected with dude?" Sparx asked worried on hearing this.
"Well.. from what Ignitus could see.. he said it may have been Cynder's own dark blood.." Spike said with fear as he recalled  the scary news he was told.

"Wait what? Why would you be injected with her own blood?" Spyro asked really worried hearing that.
"It may be because she's been searching for me, because if we're believed to be the purple dragons of legend, my being captured by her would definitely be a priority, and I think this blood is meant to try and slow me down.. and.. corrupt me.." Spike said shivering at the thought of it.
"What do you mean.. corrupt?" Sparx asked suspicious of that statement. 
"From what I know.. this blood will spread throughout my  body.. and it will.. start to morph my body to look more like Cynder's.. I've already noticed the affects.. and if it hurts now.. I'm really afraid of what else I'll feel the further it spreads.." Spike said as he showed them his right arm again, and they could now see that a part of it has become way darker, and more black them purple.

"So you mean.. you could be turned into a monster like Cynder if we don't stop her in time?" Spyro asked scarred to hear this.
"I think so.. I don't know how we can fix this.. if I get corrupted before I can find my way home.. I don't know what I'll do.." Spike said with some tears in his eyes while he thought of it. 
"Whoa dude.. that's.. really harsh.. that's like losing your own free will.. what kind of world is this?" Sparx asked feeling really bad for him knowing this.
"Spike, why didn't you tell us this before?" Spyro asked looking up at him.
"I was just.. afraid of what to do, I had just met you two, I didn't wanna overwhelm you with such a story, and I didn't know when to properly tell you.. but.. now you know I guess.." Spike said ashamed to have kept it from them.

"Spike, i'm really sorry for this, but know this. Even if your at risk of being corrupted, I won't give up on you. We'll find a way to save you, and this world too." Spyro assured which did make things a bit better again.
"You really mean that Spyro?" Spike asked having a bit more hope hearing this.
"Of course Spike, I'm here for you, count on it." Spyro said confidently which was really nice to know.
"Yeah don't worry buddy, we got your back, just like you got ours alright?" Sparx asked flying next to him too.
"Thanks guys.. I really appreciate this.." Spike said gratefully as they could feel the temperature began to become really cold, and they could see icicles in the water's below.
"No problem Spike, anything for a friend. Hang on, I think we're here.." Spyro said as they could see a huge fortress in the lands ahead, which meant they had arrived, at Dante's Freezer..