These last few months have been hell. My laptop broke down in the end of November, forcing my steady schedule of writing to come to a screeching halt. And when I published a new story last month a few days before Christmas, I decided... I'm never typing a new chapter on my phone again. Ever. It causes too many bloody problems.

So, now I have to update chapters slowly on school computers... The struggle is real...

Anyway, I've managed to finish this chapter earlier today, so... enjoy, I guess.

Note: The chapter's title has changed.

Disclaimer: No matter how badly I wished I owned The Legend of Spyro series or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I don't sadly. The former belongs to Sierra Entertainment, Vivendi Games, and Activision, and the latter belongs to Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.

'Thinking'

"Narrating"

"Speaking"

Dreaming and/or Memory Sequences

"Ancient speaking/Hardcore yelling"

Prologue

Deep within the shadows of the Swamp, the thick and sturdy branches of the powerful, magnificent willow trees quaked with the utmost uncertainty from the trembling ground below. Animals, once calm and peaceful, scurried away in trepidation, trying to put as much distance between them and the cries as possible. And said cries, both barbaric and wicked in all of their bestial glory, promised nothing but absolute bloodshed to any wondering ears within the area.

Tonight, the war has begun once more.

"The Year of the Dragon has come..."

The movement of something large jolts the slowing branches, forcing them to shiver from the sudden added weight. But as quick as the weight had came, it disappeared in a flurry of darkness, leaving the current tree to resume it's slowing posture, and picking yet another unfortunate tree to bare it's weight.

"And the Dark Armies draw closer..."

Faint moonlight flowing from the Celestial Moons, fluttered down to the earth below, bathing any creature and thing within it's touch. It was because of this moonlight that the cause of the trees' disturbance flashed it's features briefly... before retreating back into the shadows once more.

"My relationships with the Guardians have thinned over the years..."

A large male rat-like creature covered in a triad of brown, black, and white colored fur, and sporting a hooded maroon colored robe, dove into the shadows, leaving not a trace of his presence behind. His rounded ears twitched and the rancid smell of must, blood, and fire nearly caused him to grunt in disgust. However, he held his tongue and chose to keep moving.

"But I will not lower myself to abandon them in these dark times... such as Saki had done so many years ago..."

The rat's eyes, shielded by the hood above, narrowed at the memory of his former brother's treachery.

Shaking his head and banishing the thought to the inner depths of his mind, the rat opted to resume his trek back to the temple. Time was running out and distractions would not help him at the moment.

"I must hurry. The Dark Master has ordered the massacre of the newly formed dragon eggs..."

Taking off, the rat basically flew over the tree branches that hindered his path. Adrenaline began pouring in his body, coursing throughout his veins, and urging him to pick up his pace.

He was nearly there. He could feel it.

"And if I don't make it in time... then I fear he may very well succeed in his conquest..."

There! Faint purple light donned the temples entrance up above, making the rat all the more grateful for the giant glowing mushrooms and their offered dull luminous glow.

"I am Hamato Yoshi. If I fail in my task, then blood will be shed and innocent lives will be lost... just like Tang Shen's..."

As soon as the earth started to tremble, forcing the temple's occupants to dig their claws into the crevices below, as soon as the ceiling began to chip away and pelt the ground with fallen debris, and as soon as the sound of large footfalls reached his ears...

Ignitus, Guardian of the element of fire, realized with a sense of unsettling dread... that they were under attack. Under attack by the Dark Master, Melafor, his former student.

"Ignitus!" came a shrill cry.

Upon hearing the cry of his name, the large fiery red dragon whipped around in consternation. Behind him, stood a giant electric yellow colored dragon, whom struggled to remain standing throughout the rapid damage the temple seemed to be undertaking. Sinking his claws further into the ancient pavement beneath his paws, the dragon lifted his head.

Perturbed electrifying eyes made contact with anxious golden yellow ones.

Swallowing his nervousness, Volteer, Guardian of the element of electricity, mustered up his most determined stare he could manage.

"The purple egg," he started in a semi-firm tone, his voice slightly wavering, "you must save it before the Dark Armies arrive."

Ignitus looked conflicted. The rare purple dragon had to be protected at all costs. According to the prophecy, one day he was destined to bring the Dark Master's reign to an end. He needed to survive.

But... the thought of leaving unhatched newborn dragons so defenseless... in the wake of danger... at the mercy of Melafor and his bestial army of apes... unnerved him greatly. So many little lives caught in the ongoing war between the Dark Master and the Guardians and their allies... the thought of death on his claws made him want to snarl and lash out on the nearest enemy he could find...

Banishing away his morbid thoughts before they could get the best of him, Ignitus heaved a heavy sigh and met Volteer's worried gaze.

"Very well..." he conceded with a grimace, looking into his companion's troubled eyes. His shoulders sagged slightly at the very idea of taking only one egg with him and leaving the rest behind, but it had to be done.

His defeated look hardened some as he gave his command, "Fight with everything you have, Volteer. Try to draw the soldiers back against the walls if you can. And... protect the eggs," his voice lowered some and a tired expression nearly overtook his face, "We cannot let the Dark Master succeed this time,"

Volteer swallowed and earnestly nodded his head, ruffling his wings a bit in apprehension, "We will, Ignitus. May the ancestors stay with you,"

Just hearing those words made Ignitus feel his resolve slowly crack.

Whirling around towards the alter, the fiery dragon quickly yet carefully took the purple egg in his claws. Settling the shell in his right paw, Ignitus placed his left paw on the ground and took off on all threes. He channeled the fire building up within his chest and opened his mouth, letting loose a jet of scorching hot flames. Once the entrance was activated, he wasted no time in making a mad dash for outside.

Volteer watched him go, his little walls of determination crumbling ever so slowly. He was no fool. He knew they couldn't win this battle. He, along with Terrador, were the only Guardians that still trusted Splinter, a very dear old friend of theirs. A few months ago, the ninjutsu master had managed to uncover some rather terrifying information during his solo mission of tracking down Gaul and his followers. Some bits of info were more disturbing than the last. However, what horrified both the rat and the Guardians was the fact that Melafor had somehow discovered the birthing of the new dragons, and how he was gathering an army to attack. This prompted both Volteer and Terrador to inform the others of the news and up there defenses for the inevitable battle. Some time later, both dragons had discretely met up with Splinter one night and they discussed the war strategies. In the end, it was agreed by all three that Splinter would observe the enemy base from afar and warn them for when the time of the ruthless battle would come.

Which... was unfortunately tonight.

And even worse, their rat companion was nowhere to be found...

The electrifying dragon repressed a shudder. For Terrador's sake, he hoped Yoshi was unharmed. Despite his knowledge of the earth dragon's feats, he wasn't quite sure if the dragon could stomach another loss. He knew he surely couldn't.

Amidst his troubled thoughts, a question managed to invade his mind. One that irked him to no end, which was odd given his extensive mass of knowledge he so proudly withheld in his mind.

'Where are you this time, Yoshi?'

It was hard to combine both the Dragon Realms and Splinter and Shredder's past together at first... but eventually, I've found a way to make it work. I decided to give the Guardians a bit more dialogue and tried to make them act more realistically in their situation. I probably prevailed or sucked at their interactions. Or both. I don't know for sure.

The next chapter will have more character interactions and the turtle dragons, along with a little bit of action.

I plan to post it on Febuary 15th... that is, if I can finally get my laptop fixed...

Later, readers.