Disclaimer: I don't own Spyro.

Spyro was exhausted. His short legs wobbled as they struggled to keep him standing.

The little dragon's enormous journey to defeat Gnasty Gnorc and rescue his friends was starting to take it's toll on him. He had been racing through the worlds, trying to avoid being eliminated by Gnorc's minions that had been sent out to stop him. They were nothing a charge or flame attack couldn't defeat them with, but the journey was tough enough without the pesky critters going after him. Not helped was the fact he also had to recover all of the treasure they'd all stolen. His mission would not be complete until all the dragons were rescued and he had gathered every last gem. Spyro sighed wearily. He had come a long way - and still had a long way to go.

"Phew!" exclaimed the young dragon. "I'll be taking a nice long rest once we've toasted Gnasty Gnorc! I'd say I've earned it! Wouldn't you agree, Sparx?"

"Bzzz, bzzz bzzz bzzz, bzzz bzzz!"

The small golden dragonfly circled around Spyro's head as he buzzed his reply. Sparx wasn't feeling the least bit tired. It was amazing how a tiny creature like himself could have so much energy on a diet of butterflies.

"Exactly! I'm all for stopping that big ugly Gnorc, but I never thought this mission would be so tough!"

Spyro cast his drained expression to the large dragon in front of them had was encased in crystalline. A small smile found its way onto his face.

"Still, if it means saving all our friends, then so be it." He made his way towards the turquoise statue, preparing to free the beast trapped inside. "I'm sure this guy will give me a useful tip to make the journey easier! He'll definitely want to after all the trouble I went to in order to free him!"

As soon as Spyro touched the statue, it began to rumble and shake. He stood well back as the crystalline casing burst into pieces, releasing the large reptile that was trapped inside.

Spyro grinned broadly. He was pleased with himself for rescuing another one of his friends. He gazed eagerly up at the dragon he had just reached, waiting patiently for him to give him a useful tip.

The elder dragon stretched his limps and wings, relieved to be released from his prison. He looked around to find the one who had freed him - ending up having to cast his gaze downwards to see the small, young purple dragon.

Smiling gratefully down at the one who had saved him, the elder dragon opened his jaws wide. Out of his throat came the words which he just had to pass onto Spyro in return for his rescue.

"Thank you for releasing me!"

With that said, the elder dragon disappeared completely in a flash of light - just missing the irate scowl that was forming on Spyro's face.

"I hate it when they do that," he muttered bitterly.

"Bzzz?" Sparx asked.

"I hate it when after all the trouble I go through to find these dragons, putting my life on the line to seek them out and free them from their prisons - all they ever say to me is those useless, cursed words! No advice, no tips, nothing! Just 'Thank you for releasing me!'"

Spyro flopped down tiredly onto the ground, his legs unable to keep him on his feet anymore.

"It ain't easy to be me!"

The end.