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He was a pawn; a mere tool used against his own kin by a narcissistic bigot. He knew that. They all knew that.
Yet, Red did not blame the other dragons for their distance or lack of trust.
To make amends for the Dark Gems, the resurgence of Gnasty Gnorc’s armies, and other sinful acts committed under The Sorcerer’s influence, Red asked if he could join the Dragon Elders in teaching the younger dragons dragon magic. Tomas, despite the history between himself and Red, thought it was a splendid idea to help the red dragon feel at home. However, some of the other elders, like Titan and Sensei, were against the idea of Red being designated an instructor so soon. In the end, the vote resulted in Red’s favor … despite the lack of young dragons who attended his classes.
Even Spyro the Dragon’s trust in his former enemy didn’t help shift the trust of those within the Dragon Realms.
Some dragons, younger than adolescents but older than hatchlings, showed the Elder a kind smile full of child-like innocence. That is, until their parents or guardians dragged them away from the red elder.
Well, Red old boy, he thought to himself, another evening to pack up the old scrolls early.
“Oh, are your classes over for the day, sir?"
Despite his old age, Red whipped around. Before him was a young dragon, pink in color, who wore a golden heart-shaped necklace. The old timer had seen her running around the Artisan Realm before, usually in the company of a young dragon a brighter red than himself.
“No, not at all my dear!” Red smiled and held a hand toward the dojo. As they walked through the corridors, his mind wandered. Months of no young dragons joining his classes, and now this young dragon shows up out of the blue. “If you don’t mind me asking …”
“Ember.” Her voice was as sweet as a fairy.
“Ember, what led you to seek out my classes? I have to admit, you are my first student due to my … reputation.”
Ember looked down, her bright smile wavered into a hesitant frown. “I know about what you did with the Dark Gems, Elder Red.”
Elder Red. A title he hasn’t heard in years. A title that he wasn't sure if he deserved in this day.
“I know you worked with Gnasty Gnorc and his minions.” He led them, but Red didn’t bother to correct her. “I also know that weird Sorcerer guy made you do all of those terrible things. Spyro and Elder Tomas have been going around trying to explain that across the Dragon Homeworlds.”
The mention of the Sorcerer and how Spyro and Tomas have continued to try to mend his name made Red clutch his staff. There was a tale, lost to time, that only he, Tomas, and other Dragons from that decade knew about.
“I was under the Sorcerer’s control, young dragon, but I can’t say that my banishment from the Council of Elders, or the Dark Gems, was the result of that self-righteous narcissist.” Red breathed. “I once believed that dark magic could be studied and harnessed in a way to be used for the greater good. Light and Dark; yin and yang, balance. That led to the creation of my Dark Gems …, among accidentally opening a portal that allowed a great beast from another plane to enter our realm.”
Ember blinked.
Red smiled nervously. “A complete accident, with a punishment I may have resented, but in retrospect, wholeheartedly deserved. My actions not too long ago have made me infamous, but many among my generation remember when that behemoth destroyed many homes and the very dojo we stand in now.”
Red looked at an illustration of the Dragon Elders on the wall. “Sometimes I wonder if I made the right decision coming back to the Artisan Realm. I could have made myself a home in Molten Crater … or the Gnorc Gnexus. Somewhere that I wouldn’t be a burden.”
“But you’re trying to teach young dragons like me how to defend themselves if that Sorcerer jerk comes back!” Ember exclaimed. “You’re trying to make amends for your past actions!”
“Noble, but without anyone’s trust—”
“Elder Tomas trusts you!” Ember cut him off. “Spyro trusts you, and … I trust you, Elder Red.” Again, with Elder Red. “Trust … is something you have to earn, right? You’ve already begun taking those first steps. Now, it’s up to the others in the Dragon Realms to take their own steps and see you for the dragon you are today. Not the dragon of the past.”
Red closed his eyes and held his staff. It begins with trust, right? It was such a childishly naïve thing to say; to ask.
A naïve question. A simple question.
With an easy answer. “Then, young Ember, why don’t we get started with your first lesson?”
Ember piped up when Red used his staff and dragon magic to conjure up some training dummies. He went on to demonstrate the banish spell, but told her that they were going to begin with an easy teleportation spell. It was similar to banish, except that it involved moving the target from one place to another without harming them.
“It’s all about focus and balance, young one,” Red said as he began to demonstrate both spells.
Unknown to both dragons, Spyro himself saw and overheard most of their conversation. Red may have been a former adversary, but he wasn’t like Ripto, Gnasty Gnorc, The Sorceress, and especially not The Sorcerer. Red respected his fellow dragons and did not see himself above them. Spyro was happy to see the former Fallen Elder back among the Artisan Homeworld and the Dragon Realms. Even if, for now, it was just a dragon at a time.