(5 months after Simian's defeat...)

It was afternoon and it was slowly sunsetting in Warfang, the city of dragons. Some of these dragons were walking peacefully, the moles were meeting up to hang out with friends and the cheetahs were going home to rest after a hard day's work.

A young fire dragon was sitting, watching from one of the balconies of the dragon temple as night fell in the city. From that position, the view was beautiful not only in the city, but also in its surroundings.

However, watching the horizon was the reason why his inspiration came; in front of him, there were several books (some about magic, others about maps and even astronomy). However, they were separated because in the middle of them was a scroll, still half-written with a quill, in which he dedicated a few words to someone very special.

While he was distracted, someone knocked on the door of the room. Immediately, the dragon left the writing, and hiding it in a book, opened another one for show.

"You can come in" he said

A young dragon with purple scales and yellow horns entered the room.

"How are you, Johnny?" he asked.

"Okay Spyro, I'm just studying..." he replied, going back to reading the book 'The Celestial Moons', "Master Terrador told me that I should concentrate on learning as much as possible"

"And... did you find the gift you were looking for?" he asked, "You know, the one you said was for Edel"

Johnny closed the book and felt around the room to make sure they were alone. Then, he proceeded to show him what he had written. Spyro read carefully.

"It's not finished..." Johnny told him, "I'm not a poet, but I've been trying to find inspiration for several days and nothing... I'm pathetic"

"You're joking, aren't you?" Spyro asked in disbelief, "That's great!"

"I don't know Spyro, maybe I should stop writing this and find some kind of jewel to give her"

"Maybe you should talk to her father, Cyril. After all, he wrote poetry... or at least that's what he says... Anyway, I'm sure Edel doesn't care what you give her, but who you are."

"Who I am, isn't that right...?"

Jhonny approached a large spiritual gem, which could very well serve as a mirror.

"I'm not sure who I am..." he said to himself as he looked at his reflection, "I don't know if who I am now is that a self that was hidden all the time as a human, or I'm someone new in this world so different from the one I used to live in..."

Spyro sat down and put his front paws together, as if he were thoughtful.

"You're also too thoughtful," he said, "Both to me and to others, it doesn't matter if you're human, ape or dragon: you've proven to be a great friend, and a very promising candidate."

"That worries me too..." Jhonny replied, "In my human life, many expected various things from me. Back in your world, I applied to be a guardian because I wanted to accompany Edel, who was the first girl who asked me to help her from the heart. But, as your mother said, it was possible that on this path I would find a meaning to life..."

"You still haven't found it, have you?"

"It's difficult..." he said thoughtfully, "How can you be calm when someone have great expectations on you? With a burden on your shoulders but with the intention of helping?"

"Yes... I know what it feels like..." said Spyro, remembering his own past, "Still, it was my teachers who taught me. Calm down. Ignitus used to say: 'all in due time.'"

"It's true!" said Jhonny remembering that, "I lost track of time! I have to meet Master Terrador in a few minutes! Sorry, Spyro"

Putting the scroll back into the book, he hurried with it through the door where Spyro had entered. He followed him, just in time to see how he collided with a larger dragon, with jagged and pale horns, spines on his back, crests on his shoulders and ankles that resembled ice fragments.

"Woah!" Cyril exclaimed, "Take it easy, young dragon. Watch your path carefully and you will overcome the obstacles."

"I'm sorry, Master Cyril," he replied, picking up the book (which he had dropped.)

"Don't worry Cyril, I'll guide him to the meeting room," Spyro told him.

Spyro and his friend went to the meeting room. Meanwhile, Cyril had found that fragment of scroll that Johnny had been writing. His smile was marked as he read:

Reflection of your soul so white,

A precious gem, pure diamond bright,

A glow of stars beyond compare,

The radiant sun finds brilliance there.

"Well, maybe he has a bit of a poet inside him," Cyril muttered, "This young dragon has earned my respect and Edel's heart... Maybe Eira will be proud that our girl is with a male like him"

(In the meeting room...)

The young dragons arrived at the meeting room, where Edel, Thorr, Ray and Cynder were. In front of them, Terrador, Cynthia and Sybilla were waiting for them. As soon as he entered, Johnny panicked a bit because of what he had written for Edel.

"You almost arrived late," she said, "Did you get lost on the way?"

"Well... yes, a little. Hehehe" she laughed to dispel any doubts.

"I'm sure he was lost in that matter you talked about, right?" Cynder asked Spyro almost in a whisper.

"Yes, very lost"

"Well, since everyone is here, I will begin with what I must announce to you, Guardian apprentices" Terrador began, "As is well known, you successfully faced and passed the two tests that placed you as the most physically fit to be Guardians"

"So, the first two tests were only to look for the physique of a Guardian?" Thorr asked.

"Not quite" Sybilla explained, "What defines a Guardian is not only an excellent physique and elemental control. However, it is also important that they have them. In addition, the tests had a second purpose: to see the determination and teamwork"

"Exactly" Terrador continued, "And finally, in the third, they seek to see the honor of the applicants: one knows when to accept defeat or stand firm in the face of a possible defeat"

"But, we did not have any battle and yet we won..." Jhonny commented, "On the contrary, Flame accepted defeat"

"But you fought a battle against Simian, an enemy that seemed invincible and however you defeated him," Cynthia contradicted him, "If that is not standing firm in the face of possible defeat or even death, I do not know what it is."

The young dragons remembered that battle: it seemed impossible even if they had broken the first defense. Yes, it was exhausting.

"However, now comes your great challenge," Terrador told them, putting the apprentices on alert, "You know yourselves very well on the outside, but you still have to see inside you: that is the second aspect by which a guardian is known. First, you must prove your indomitable spirit in a test of survival..."

There was a minute of silence in which Terrador went to a wall and touched around until he found a mechanism that opened a hidden room behind the wall. The chamber was like a warehouse: helmets and ancient armor, pieces of scrolls and maps. The earth dragon took four scrolls of the latter; Each of them was wrapped in a red, blue, green and yellow ribbon.

"These are maps to places you must go to," Terrador explained, handing them the maps of their respective color, "Each place corresponds to its element: Ray, you will have to go to Lightning Peak. The worst lightnings on the planet falls there, be very careful."

"Yes, I will have it," he replied, receiving his map.

"Well, Thorr... your destination is the Western Rocky Mountains, a place with little vegetation and where landslides often occur. I hope you can handle the challenge."

"You can trust me, master," he replied, also receiving his map.

"Edel, your destination will be Mount Frost, at north of Dante's freezer."

"The coldest place on the planet," commented Cyril, who had just returned to the room, "Your veins can freeze if you're not an ice dragon."

"Wow, that must be very hard," replied Edel, as she received her map, "But, I'm going to pass this test too."

Johnny had a strong feeling that nothing in the world could stop Edel's determination. If it weren't for Cyril's warning, he would have decided to accompany her. That was one reason, the other was that Terrador had another destination for him:

"Lastly, Johnny," he finished, offering him the last map, "Your place will be in the Burning Lands, where the heat is so stifling that several plants are incinerated."

"It's a bad vacation spot..." thought Johnny. However, he received the map to accept his mission: it wasn't exactly to be a guardian, but he wanted to find out if he really had a strong spirit.

"Well, once the 5 days of survival are up, you have to return to your respective elemental masters to evaluate if your spirit is strong enough: Edel, you will return to Dante's freezer, and you will meet your father again; Ray, return to Silver Scale Village, Volteer will be there; Thorr, I will wait for you in Cave City..."

"What about Johnny?" asked Edel, "He doesn't have an elemental master"

"In fact, he does" answered Sybilla, "Isn't that right, young dragon?"

"Are you referring to Ignitus?" he asked, "Should I go to the white island?"

"Correct" said Terrador, "Good deduction. Well, you can take everything you need, but only for a period of 1 day. Remember, it's a survival test, all understood? Well, then, get ready apprentices, you'll leave early tomorrow morning"

As everyone retreated to their rooms, Edel said to Johnny:

"I don't like the idea of ​​separating, what do you think, Johnny?"

"I don't like the idea either, but I guess it's part of the training, right?" he replied, "Don't worry: I promise to complete this task to return to you"

"I know, you always try to keep your promises. As for me, I will also surpass mine and we will meet again"

Edel gave Johnny a kiss, leaving him frozen with love. However, he woke up when he heard Cyril calling him. Letting Edel go to her room, Johnny returned with the ice guardian.

"I see that my daughter has you frozen in horns and tail" Cyril laughed.

"Well... Master Cyril..." said the young dragon, a little redder than he already was.

"Don't be shy. You're as part of our family as all her friends. By the way, you dropped this nice poem"

The adult dragon showed him the piece of paper that Johnny had dropped a while ago without realizing it. At this, the young dragon felt totally frozen and twice as red, obviously embarrassed.

"Hahaha," laughed the dragon when he saw him like that and gave him back his written poem, "It doesn't matter, I won't tell her, but you should take better care of your things. Anyway, I want you to do me a favor."

"Whatever, Master," Johnny replied.

"Well, I know my daughter loves you very much and if something were to happen to you, I'm sure her sadness would be immeasurable. I hope you'll meet her again when you pass your test and I want you to protect her as you did before, promise that."

"You don't have to ask me, Master Cyril," the apprentice replied decisively, "I promised her that we'll see each other again, she's... she's the one who filled me with hope and desire to live again, she's very important to my heart. And, for what I know, she's very strong by herself. You don't nedd to be worried"

"A heart burning with hope, that's how they know you. Well, I see that you're sincere. Now go, you'll need all your strength for your next challenges"

Before Johnny returned, he stopped: he had obtained the missing inspiration. In a quick moment, he took back the pen and quickly wrote where it was:

Within your eyes, I find my peace,

A soothing light that grants release,

It warms my heart, so soft, so true,

A love like tales that dreams imbue.

Finished, he turned to Cyril.

"Here, please," he said, handing him the letter, "I want you to give it to her when you see her again."

Cyril took it as he said, "Yes, no problem. You're very important to my daughter"