7
*disclaimer* I do not own any of these characters, not this time at least.
this story is basically a rewrite of "The Eternal Night" with the exception of cynder's decision at the beginning of the game. read on and you'll see what i mean.
Cynder's Decision
Chapter 1: A Fire Ignites
"What am I doing?" The question rang out across the forest, fading off into the starlit night. A lone figure strode down the path away from a large building that showed signs of withstanding numerous assaults. It was from this creature that the question originated.
The creature stepped into a patch of light, revealing its form. A young dragoness with scales of black and red stood in the center of the worn path looking back at the beaten temple that she was leaving behind. She turned back around and resumed her trek into the shadows of the trees, asking herself if what she was doing was right.
Her thoughts turned to her only friend that she was abandoning as she walked. An image of the purple dragon who saved her from the darkness that had once consumed her came to mind. "Spyro…" she spoke softly, "Will you ever forgive me?" She could imagine what her desertion would do to him and it brought a tear to her eye.
She shook her head, remembering why she had chosen to leave the temple in the first place. She wasn't wanted. The things she endured in that place were the very reason that she was running away.
As she jumped over a fallen log, she heard a twig snap behind her and she spun around when her feet hit the earth, finding herself nose to nose with the very dragon she had been thinking of. She had hoped that just this wouldn't happen.
"Cynder, What are you doing out here? It's dangerous."
She turned around again and he walked up beside her. "You shouldn't have followed me Spyro."
Sparx interrupted. "That's good enough for me, let's go. See ya!"
Cynder spoke again. "Please, don't make this harder for me than it already is."
Spyro looked her in the eye. "I'm just trying to understand."
Cynder lowered her gaze. "I'm leaving Spyro, I don't belong here. After all I've done, all I've put you through, I can't stay.
Spyro seemed hurt by her statement. "Cynder, nobody blames you for what happened."
The irritable dragonfly interrupted again. "Huh, I do. Speak for yourself."
The purple dragon shot him a death glare. "Sparx…"
Cynder shook her head. "No, Sparx is right. And every day that goes by, I'm reminded of it. Your place is here, mine isn't"
"Cynder, I don't want you to go." He sounded on the brink of tear.
"I'm sorry Spyro, goodbye." She walked away, leaving her friend alone in the clearing. As she stalked off, she heard the glowing annoyance speak up.
"Well, I'm glad the female-of-fright is gone. Maybe now we can finally get some sleep." He paused. "Hellooo? Spyro, buddy, we should at least get inside first. Hey, you feelin' okay?"
She heard a dull thud and whipped around to see Spyro lying unconscious on the forest floor. This sight tore her heart in two. She had to make a decision. "Ooohh! Why'd it have to be now?" Her eyes flicked between the horizon and the fallen dragon. She made her choice and silenced her doubts by running back to his side. "Sparx, what happened?"
The glowing dragonfly rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "Great, you're back. Well, if you must know, oh black 'n' evil one, he just fell over. No explanation, just collapsed. Must be tired. I know I am, I mean since you-"
She swiped a claw at him. "Shut-up Sparx. Better yet, go back to the temple for help."
He shook his head adamantly. "No way. I am not going back there to leave you alone with Spyro."
Cynder suddenly crouched low to the ground in a defensive stance, shushing him as she listened to the noises emanating from the woods around them. "Quiet! You hear that?" More strange call came from their surroundings.
Sparx shivered. "Yipe, creepy stuff." He flew back over to Spyro and tried to wake him. "C'mon buddy, time to get up now. Anyone home? Hello?"
A groan escaped the dragon's lips and he slowly crawled to his feet. Cynder stepped up beside him to help him and he glanced at her with a warm smile. "You stayed."
She smiled back and put a wing over him to assist his walking as they began to make their way back to the temple. "You're the reason I did. Are you okay?"
He nodded, but still leaned against her as they walked.
Sparx followed them closely, muttering something about the unnatural sounds all around them and how they should be going faster.
Silently agreeing with him, Cynder sped up her pace slightly as they took the path back the way they had come from.
When they reached the door to the temple, the looked back and saw bat-like creatures rising above the trees. These odd-looking animals flew straight at the temple with an evil glint in their eyes.
The two dragons hurried inside and found the Guardians already awake. Spyro rushed forward to Ignitus. "There are things heading towards the temple and I think they mean us harm."
Ignitus nodded in acknowledgement. "We know, young dragon. The apes have returned."
Cynder shuddered at the mention of the primates and the memories of what she had been forced to do for them. As the thoughts faded, she asked, "What do they want?"
The electric dragon, Volteer, stepped forward. "It is most probable that they seek you two, considering that they sever the Dark Master."
Cyril added his thoughts as well. "we can not afford to lose you, so you can not join in this battle."
Terrador motioned toward the interior of the temple with his wing. "Find somewhere safe and stay there. We will find you when they are gone." An explosion sent a shockwave through the ground. "Go, quickly!"
The two dragons ran through the temple, finding a room close to the center with no windows and a thick curtain across the entrance. They rushed in as another explosion went off even closer to the temple.
After her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Cynder saw Spyro yawn and curl up in a corner, seeming to not even notice the battle raging outside. She tried to do the same, but the memories of her past plagued her mind. A sudden crack of thunder sent her mind over the edge between worry and fear and she let out a startled cry, scooting over to lay against Spyro.
He draped a wing about her shuddering form to comfort her. "What's the matter Cynder?"
She looked into his eyes, her own sapphire-emerald orbs wide with fright.. "What if they find us Spyro?" I don't want to go back!"
He pulled her closer to calm her. "Don't worry, I'm here. I'll protect you no matter what. They will never get you while I'm here."
Cynder blushed slightly as her feelings towards the purple dragon beside her surface with a greater intensity than ever before. She curled tighter against his side and shivered as another bomb went off outside. He put a comforting foreleg about her shoulders, making her smile softly up at him. She felt the comforting warmth radiating from his body and it helped to settle her wild nerves. Despite the noise of the explosions pounding the temple, Cynder quickly fell asleep to the gentle sound of Spyro's breathing.
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"Cynder, wake up. It's over now. We're safe."
She opened her eyes to see Spyro looking softly down at her. He smiled as she awoke, making her blush again.
"How are you feeling?" His voice had concern lacing through it.
She lifted her head and smiled back at him, yawning and stretching as she slowly got to her feet. He stood up with her and gazed deep into her eyes. "I'm fine, but what about you? What happened to you last night?"
He sat down on his haunches and scratched the back of his head. "I had some sort of dream where someone called the Chronicler talked to me about my powers." His voice grew excited. "I learned that I can control time and I got my fire back!" As if to prove his point, he let fly with a small jet of white hot flames.
Cynder grinned at his exuberance. "That's great!" They both fell silent; Spyro studying the floor intently until Cynder spoke again. "Hey Spyro?"
His head came back up as she walked over to him "Yeah?"
She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, feeling him stiffen in surprise. "Thank you."
Just then, Sparx pulled back the curtain to their hideaway. "C'mon you two sleepyheads, Terrador sent me to get you for breakfast." He turned and flew away again with Spyro following closely behind. Cynder sighed and followed as well, wishing that she could have had more time alone with the purple dragon she was falling in love with.
After they finished breakfast with the elders, they were given permission to go out into the garden for a while. The two young dragons leapt at the opportunity to get some fresh air. Spyro ran after Cynder as they laughed, enjoying the calm afternoon. After staying ahead of him for a bit, she let him catch her.
He tackled her from behind and they tumbled forward in a ball. They came to a stop with Spyro standing atop Cynder, pinning her to the ground. His smile turned devious and he leaned down to look into her eyes. His own eyes closed halfway and he placed his nose against hers.
Cynder's heart beat faster as he gave her a gentle kiss on her lips. Shock sparked through her mind at first. She hadn't known that Spyro shared her feelings about them. Now that she did know, her own love grew inside of her and she kissed him back, drawing a slight twitch from the dragon on top of her. As he pulled away he spoke a single word. "Cynder…" His tone was low and he slowly let her stand up.
Her tail swung gently behind her and she took a step towards him. "Spyro, does this mean…?"
He nodded, the strange smile never leaving his face as he crooned, "I love you Cynder. That's why I went after you last night. It had finally hit me that we were meant to be together." He closed the gap between them and gave her a peck on the cheek.
She brushed his back with her wing. "Oh Spyro, what would I have done if I had left? I can't even imagine." She put her paws around his neck in a passionate embrace. "I love you too." They kissed again, until Sparx stumbled upon them on his "walk."
Surprisingly, the dragonfly did not make any snide comments or rude remarks. He simply told them that the Elders wished to see them.
As they strode back inside, Cynder let her tail wind around Spyro's in a loving gesture. They met the elders in the room containing the Pool of Visions.
Ignitus stepped forward and addressed them in a stern voice. "Young ones, I'm afraid I have some disturbing news. The Dark Master has made another move. He has called his apes to the Well of Souls." They gathered around the green pool and watched as an image of the evil place rippled into being.
Spyro's eyes widened in fear at the picture in front of him. He trembled as he spoke. "I-I've seen that mountain before. In my dreams."
Ignitus turned to glare at him. "Young dragon, you've been keeping secrets! Is there anything else you'd like to share?"
He looked to Cynder for help but she just giggled. He wasn't getting out of this. He sighed. "Last night I had a dream. I heard someone talking and the voice helped me get my fire powers back. He called himself the Chronicler."
At the mention of the name, all four Elders audibly gasped. Terrador whispered, "He couldn't have known. No one told him."
Cynder glanced from one to the next, totally lost. "Who's the Chronicler?"
Cyril cleared his throat. "The Chronicler is an ancient and wise dragon, legends of whom are almost always intertwined with prophecies of Armageddon. And if the Chronicler really has communicated with Spyro, then these are dire times indeed. More so than we thought."
Volteer asked, "Did you see anything else in you dream of the Chronicler Spyro?"
He nodded. "There was a small glowing tree standing in a swampy glade and he told me to seek him out."
"Then seek him you shall, Spyro. Terrador and Volteer, you two go to the mainland to learn what you can. Cyril, go and rally what fighters you find. I shall stay and guard the temple." Ignitus began.
Spyro jumped in. "What should we do?"
"You three shall travel to the forested swamp at the end of the river. Begin your search at the Enchanted Glade deep within the forest. May the Ancestors keep you safe!"