Yeah, I know, cliche, but I wanted to see what I could do with it. So, here it is. :D
Cynder awoke with Spyro's paw over hers and his tail entwined with her own. She sighed. Life could not be better. After years of being controlled, of being used, it felt good to be loved. Honestly and truly loved. Spyro shifted in his sleep, but his neither paw nor tail moved from hers. Gently she extracted her paw from under his, and removed her tail from his grasp. He stirred, but did not wake. She kissed his jaw gently, and made her way to the mess hall to retrieve his breakfast.
She jogged down the hall, stretching her wings as her joints popped and stretched. She prepared to turn left, down the hall, but ran directly into a wall of gold and black scales. She, and the wall of scales, knocked horns and tumbled to the ground. A dull thudding in her head seemed to be her only injuries. She jumped to her feet, teeth bared.
She found herself looking into a pair of liquid gold eyes, outlined by deep black scales that tinted gold in the light. She growled, not recognizing the dragon.
"Watch it," she growled. She made to walk past the alien dragon, but was stopped short as he stepped in her path. "Move," she warned icily.
The gold and black dragon looked crestfallen. "Cynder, you don't remember me?" He asked with disappointment heavy in his words.
"Cynder, Cynder, Cynder, how typical of you not to recognize us," a feral, female voice crooned from around the corner.
Suddenly it clicked. She could never forget that voice. "Chaos?" She recalled, bitter resentment coated her every syllable.
A lithe, snake-like dragon appeared beside the male. Her scales glittered several different hues of red and pink. She looked much like Cynder in everything but color. Her blazing yellow eyes gave her a wild presence that no one dared to challenge. Except Malefor. A long, angry red scar ran from her wing joint all the way to her hip-bone. A mild example of what happened to those who dared to defy the Dark Master. Chaos smirked, proud to have made a lasting impression in Cynder's memory.
"Don't you remember Arson?" She asked, rolling her eyes.
"Arson…" Cynder repeated, narrowing her eyes in thought.
Cynder was still working up fuzzy images in her mind when someone's mouth pressed against her own. For an instant she thought of Spyro, but discarded that thought immediately. This was not how Spyro kissed her. Yet she remembered the feeling, and it brought a cold ice into her veins. Arson.
She jerked back. Arson stared back at her hopefully. He was smiling, but it didn't touch his eyes. He looked…very sad.
"Arson," Cynder said, her mind far away from where she stood.
In a cave, alone, at night; a forbidden place. A dragon, a kiss, a forgotten love. The one thing they thought Malefor couldn't take away. But he had.
Arson.
Cynders heart beat unevenly as she stared into his topaz eyes. Ooh, she groaned inwardly, what am I going to tell Spyro?
"Miss me?" He asked innocently.
Cynder just stared, in disbelief at her old comrades. "Why are you two here?" She asked, her heart still thumping to an awkward beat.
Chaos giggled. "May I?" She asked Arson.
Arson frowned, but nodded.
"I'm here because I have nowhere else to go, and since there's no Dark Master to serve anymore I figure it's about time to start looking for a mate to settle down with," she paused, "On the other hand, he's chasing old embers and is here for you."
Cynder blinked. She had not expected that.
Chaos continued. "Now, I tried explaining to him you were with the savior of the realms, but he is in denial. I figured you could set him straight though," she said sounding bored.
With that, Chaos turned and padded into the mess hall, leaving Cynder alone to face Arson. He sighed, looking ashamed.
"Cynder," he began. "I don't know what to say."
"Well, that feeling is mutual."
He chuckled, but sobered quickly. "It's true though, isn't it?" He asked.
"About Spyro?"
"Yes."
Cynder sighed. "It is. I love him, Arson." She said awkwardly.
Arson nodded stiffly. "I love you Cynder. I've never hidden that from you, and I won't now." He said boldly.
"Arson that doesn't change—"
"I know it doesn't change anything, Cyn', but gives you the option. I love you, and I know somewhere in here," he gestured to the center of Cynder's chest, "I know you must love me too."
"Well, don't ease into it or anything," Cynder said sarcastically. "It was nice seeing you again, Arson."
She turned to run back to her room, but Arson caught her tail with his. He traced her jaw line with his claw. "Just know you have options, you don't have to love him." His voice was wistful.
Cynder bristled. "I'll choose whom I chose to love thank you very much! You can't just burst back into my life after ten years and expect me to drop everything for you," she said hotly.
Arsons expression looked pained. "Let's remember who left who here." He said.
Cynder slapped away Arson's paw and yanked her tail free of the black dragon's, and ran much faster than necessary back to hers and Spyro's room. She burst into tears as she entered the room, and launched into bed beside Spyro.
Spyro awoke with a jolt, bleary eyed and confused. Cynder couldn't stop the anger-fueled tears that slid down her face. Her past, her pain, everything Spyro had helped her bury had just kissed her in the face, literally.
"Cynder!" Spyro cried, startled, wrapping his wing around her shaking body. "What is wrong with you? What happened?"
Cynder struggled for composure. "S-spyro, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry!" She cried, burying her face in his side.
Spyro made a face. "Why? What did you do?" He asked.
"Cynder."
Both Cynder and Spyro turned to face the voice, but only Cynder knew who they would see. The black dragon stepped into the earth walled room tentatively, keeping a keen, golden eye on the purple dragon.
"Arson," Cynder said, hastily wiping away her tears, "What do you want now?"
"I heard you crying, I wanted to make sure you were okay," Arson said softly.
Cynder snorted. "You might have considered my feelings a little bit earlier."
Spyro launched from the bed. "Who are you?" He growled.
Arson picked up his front foot, like he was going to step back, but left it suspended in mid air. He cocked a speculative brow at Spyro. "I'm her oldest and bestest friend!" He exclaimed sardonically.
Spyro scowled. "Yeah, sure looks like it," he replied.
"Spyro—"
"Get. Out." Spyro growled through clenched teeth. "Now."
Arson smirked. "Make me," he said.
Cynder rolled her eyes.
Spyro poised to tackle Arson, but Cynder positioned herself between the two males. "No, Spyro, he is an old friend. He's…he's not why I was crying. Arson is an old ally from the dark ages," Cynder said, shuddering slightly at the memory.
Spyro wasn't convinced.
"Yeah purple boy, I was her first." Arson said proudly.
Spyro's claws dug into the dirt floor. "What do you mean by 'her first'? He demanded.
"Arson stop it!" Cynder snapped.
Arson smiled bitterly. "Just remember this Spyro, I loved her first, which means I'll have always loved her the most," he said evenly.
Spyro saw red. "I'll kill you," Spyro said, shaking with restraint, "If you don't leave now."
Cynder sighed. "Please, Spyro, Arson, don't do this!" Her voice pitched over their names. "Spyro, love, we can talk about this! I'll explain, just don't be stupid."
Arson looked directly into Cynders eyes. "Do you love me?" He asked stiffly.
Cynder glared. "This is neither the time nor the place for that." She snapped.
Why so defensive? Her mind jested.
Because I do. She answered herself bitterly.
Arson grunted. "I knew it, you never forgot me," he said softly.
Arson's mouth crashed down onto Cynders, kissing her desperately, almost violently. Cynder grabbed his horns and yanked, trying to separate his face from hers, but her wrapped his forearm around her neck, pushing them impossibly closer. Cynder paused, closing her eyes, waiting for the kiss to be over, but it wasn't. His mouth felt right against hers, natural. Not like Spyro, who was always gentle, careful. Arson held back nothing, and his kiss felt like…like going home. Suddenly Cynders left cheek felt like it had exploded, her jaw snapping to the side.
She screamed, and fell to the floor, her head spinning like a top. Black paws helped her up, and it was Arson's voice that asked if she was okay, and it was his tail that steadied her. Had Spyro just…?
"Don't touch her!" Spyro's voice boiled with anger.
Arson lurched like he was going to fall, but recovered smoothly and remained on his feet. Cynder, however, was knocked down again, her head still spinning from the assault.
"Why did you hit her you dumbass? I kissed her, so if you're going to hit somebody, hit me!"
"Don't fight," Cynder murmured.
Despite her request, Cynder heard the loud snap of claw against scale, telling her that Spyro had taken Arson up on his offer. Could they be anymore immature about this? Cynder swung her tail, catching Spyro in the chest with the blunt edge of her scythe. It knocked him off balance.
Cynder gathered herself and moved away from Arson. He stared at her, his golden eyes bright with worry and amusement. She rolled her jaw, testing the pain. It hurt, a lot. She met Spyro's gaze, it was icy, his amethyst eyes ablaze with betrayal.
"You're an ass, Spyro, you know that? A real first class ass," she shot at him. "Arson is my friend, and he will always be. If you can't control your stupid pride then you might as well kiss this 'us' good-bye."
Spyro looked burnt out by her comment, he looked away, shamefaced. "He kissed you! How did you expect me to react? I mean—"
"Yeah Spyo," she injected pointedly. "He kissed me. So why am I the one with the throbbing jaw here?"
Spyro's face clouded. "I didn't see much resistance on your behalf."
True.
"I didn't have time to react! I didn't realize what was happening until you hit me!" She shot back.
Lies.
Arson smirked. "Felt like you knew what you were doing." He said.
"Zip it, Arson!"
"I agree with the jackass," Spyro muttered.
Cynder groaned. "Thanks for bringing hell back into my world, Arson, thanks a lot."
Arson looked seriously burnt by that. "I'm sorry Cynder I—"
"No, just go, please. Just, just get out and let me think."
"Think about what!?" Spyro demanded.
"Think about this, him, us! About ME for once! I'm staying somewhere else tonight…away from you!" She shot Spyro a livid glare.
Spyro was mortified. "Why? Cyn' you have all day to cool off I really don't think that's necessary…"
"I think I can decide what's necessary for me, Spyro! I can function without you. I don't need you shadowing my every doing!" She snarled.
"You can stay with me?" Arson offered casually. He saw the looks both dragons gave him, and quickly added, "Chaos will be there, too. You can bunk with her."
"Absolutely not!" Spyro exclaimed.
"Sure, Arson, I'd love to spend the night with you guys." Cynder said defiantly. She shot a dark smirk at Spyro. "It is very nice of you to offer. Chaos and I have a lot to catch up on."
Twenty minutes later Cynder was dragging a mat and blanket into Arson's room. Arson followed her, feeling awkward that he wasn't helping with something. He felt very . . . awkward.
Cynder paused in the middle of the room. The only additional bedding was Arsons in the corner. "I thought you said Chaos was staying here to." She turned and looked accusingly at Arson.
He smiled innocently. "Sorry, I thought it was the only way to get you out of there," he said.
Cynder smiled, but it didn't touch her eyes. "I appreciate your concern, but he's not as bad as he's made himself look." She turned away, rolling her eyes. Men.
Arson walked to her, his eyes tight. He placed his paw over hers, leaning in to look at her jaw. "He has quite a swing," he said lowly.
Cynder rolled her eyes again. "He could have been more graceful about the whole thing, yeah."
"I can't believe he. . ." His words dried up in his mouth.
Cynder turned her face away. "Arson…"
"I would have killed him for this back then." Arson said quietly, holding her face in his paw.
"I love him," she said lamely. "But…" Her voice trailed off, her face etched in pain.
This can't be happening! She hated this. She was hurting them. Both of them. Why had Arson decided to be noble now?
"But what?" He asked quietly.
She smiled weakly. "You can rip his jaw off now and I wouldn't care." She said, a little animation returning to her features.
Arson sighed. "But you would care in the morning. You love him, remember?" He meant it as a joke, but her jaw set, and her features turned stony again.
When she didn't answer right away, he turned her face so he could see her eyes. She stared up at him, her eyes wide with shame, and distant longing.
"But I never forgot you," she said softly, "And I want you."
Arson frowned. "You make that sound like a bad thing." He said.
Cynder shivered. "Please give me some time to think…" She muttered.
Arson nodded and stepped back, allowing her freedom to leave, which she did, forcing herself not to run.
The cold hard truth was that Cynder did love Arson. There was no doubt. Every fiber of her being wanted him more than she had ever wanted Spyro, and she was ashamed. Spyro was her best friend, her confident, her lover, and her comfort. When Malefor was defeated, she and Spyro had been through so much.
Spyro had struck her, and it hurt, but the pain had seeped far deeper than the flesh. She had hit Spyro before, but she had never struck him out of anger. It didn't seem morally sound to her. Her heart bristled a little. It had been inappropriate for Arson to kiss her in front of Spyro, but why had he unleashed his anger on her? If he really loved her like she thought she loved him…how could he have? Spyro had always been her protector…now what was she supposed to think?
--
Arson sat silently in his room, clinging to Cynders words.
And still want you.
He couldn't believe it. He had come after her with only a wisp of a dream that she would still love him, God that she would even remember him! Of course he had shown up and put up the bald faced truth right away. He had come back for her, and he was going to fight for that love. He had not suspected competition, however, with her past being what it was and all.
The purple dragon, the prophecy hero. He growled at the thought of the purple nuisance. How could his dark mistress have fallen for the ultimate light dragon? It didn't make any sense at all to him, then again, not much about Cynder made sense to him. But it pulled at his heart that she had been able to forget him; that Spyro had been enough to make him fade into a horrible past.
"Arson."
The gold and black dragon looked up, startled out of his thoughts. Spyro stood in the doorway to his room, still looking shamefaced. Arson stood stiffly, his feelings for Cynder building a wall of distaste between him and the other male dragon. He doubted there would ever be an inch of neutral ground between them.
"What do you want, Spyro?" Arson asked tersely.
"Cynder here?"
"Does it look like she's here?"
Spyro shook his head. "Do you know where she is?" He asked a touch impatiently.
"Even if I did, why would I tell you? So you can hit her some more?" Arson snapped viciously.
Spyro winced at his words. "I don't know what past you and Cynder had, but she loves me now, you're just a dying ember that has burned a hole in her already shattered heart. So don't act like she's yours to take care of." Spyro replied in a hollow voice.
Arson's heart flipped. Those words hurt. "I don't know where she is, Spyro. Get out."
Spyro nodded, and backed out of the doorway, looking smug.
Arson sighed and prayed to the ancestors.
Cynder, please don't think too long…