This takes place after ANB but before TEN, just to clear things up.

A brand new start, a new tale to be told. Welcome, I am your host today and it will be my pleasure to entertain you. I present to you a tale of young love and of adventure. Daring and danger await our young friends in this story that i shall weave for you. Discovery, heartbreak, and harrowing escapes are what you can look forward to. Come, join the dragons in their realm and see what it is that i speak of. Join me and i will take you on a journey through the worlds to the Dragon Realms.

A voice sounds from the black around us. The stillness penetrated. The stars are calling and I shall answer.

The Stars are Calling

Spyro gazed across at the black dragoness, watching her fight against the training dummies in the practice room. She attacked them with a graceful flare, dancing around them before tearing them apart with a quick tail blade slash or a claw swipe. Two other young dragons were in the training area, but Spyro paid no attention to them. His focus was on the dragoness he had rescued days ago. She quickly finished off the two remaining dummies in the area before her and she turned to glance over at Spyro, a smile gracing her features.

"Spyro! Pay attention young dragon!" Ignitus yelled out at him for the fifth time in the past hour. Spyro whipped his head back around to face the fire Guardian and mumbled an apology

"Sorry, Ignitus." The purple dragon returned his attention to his lesson.

"No you are not. You have been disregarding my lessons quite frequently young dragon, now what is so interesting that keeps drawing your attention?"

Spyro felt the blood rush to his face, not wanting to tell the Guardian that it was Cynder. Beside him, his foster brother, Sparx the dragonfly, floated up to eye level with the red dragon.

"Well you see, Ignitus, our little Spyro here was-" Spyro leapt up and smacked Sparx away with his claw.

The purple dragon quickly made up an excuse. "I was thinking about what happened with the Dark Master. Why did he go mad?"

Ignitus let one of his warm smiles come to his face. "Well, young one. I will excuse your actions this once, for the question is one relevant to my teachings. Malefor, being the first purple dragon, was confused with his power, and with confusion came desire. Desire for more overtook him and he was driven to learn all that he could from the Elders. Once he could get no more from them, he abandoned them, searching for a way to gain more. This led him to the darkness. You see, Malefor…" his words faded form Spyro's hearing as the purple dragon's thoughts turned again to Cynder. He resisted the urge to look over at her, for he knew that it would result in yet another scolding from his mentor. He sat out the remainder of his lesson and as soon as he was dismissed, ran to the inner courtyard where he knew that the black dragoness would be. She was there every day after her training.

As he approached the courtyard, one of the other dragons residing at the temple stepped forward to stop him. It was the earth dragoness Lucresi. She blocked his path and stared him straight in the eye. A grin broke out across her lips and she asked him a question, one that he was not expecting. "Have you seen Drifton? He left the training area pretty quickly when he was done."

Spyro smiled and shook his head. "I'm sorry Lucresi, I haven't seen him since then. If I do see him, do you want me to tell him you're looking for him?"

The dragoness sighed and moved out of his path. "No, that's okay. Thanks anyway Spyro." She disappeared down another hallway, leaving Spyro alone with his thoughts.

He quickly made his way into the courtyard and spotted his reason for coming to this place. There, sitting off to the side of the cobblestone courtyard, was Cynder, staring into the night sky. Spyro cautiously padded to her side, plastering a grin on his face as he approached her.

"Mind if I join you?" Spyro asked as he stood beside her.

The black dragoness turned to look at him, the same smile as from before reappearing. "I don't mind, Spyro."

He sat next to her, looking up at the stars with her. She sighed, her voice growing soft, almost mysterious. "Aren't they amazing, Spyro?"

He nodded, his voice growing quiet as well. "They are. I feel so calm when I look at them."

"Yeah….they're the only thing that kept me going all those years." Cynder sighed again, her memories returning to haunt her once more. Spyro could tell; because every time they did, a far off look came into her eyes and she grew distant. Spyro moved in front of her and gazed into her eyes, asking the question he wished to every time he saw her like this.

"Are you sure you're okay, Cynder? You don't look well." Spyro's expression became one of concern.

Cynder chased the thoughts away at the sight of the purple dragon, her smile returning. "Thanks for the concern Spyro, but I'm fine." She felt strange feelings well up within her and she felt blood rushing to her face, but her black scales prevented the red from showing through. Nervousness prevailed over her courage and she hurriedly excused herself from his presence. "I'm sorry, but I'm very tired. Good night Spyro." She rushed from the courtyard and made her way to the room she had been given upon coming back to the temple with Spyro.

It was dark within and she walked over to the large window situated on the far wall. She pulled back the hanging curtains draped over the opening, letting the soft light from the stars and moon illuminate the room. She sat at the window, directing her gaze up at the dark night sky. Her gaze lingered on the almost full moon, her thoughts turning unbidden to Spyro. Why am I thinking of him? She wandered her room and ended up lying on her bed with her head on her crossed paws. Sure, he saved me, and I'm grateful for that. But what are these other feelings?

Meanwhile, Spyro returned to his room as well, staring out the already open window to the river below. He slammed his tail on the ground in anger, the aggravated motion drawing the attention of the golden dragonfly who shared the room with him. "What's the matter, buddy?" Sparx asked him.

Spyro spun around to face him, his expression advertising his aggravation. 'Why can't I do it, Sparx? Why can't I tell her?"

Sparx threw a thumb over his shoulder. "You mean the dragoness of doom? Well, look at her. She's pure evil man, that's why."

The purple dragon growled dangerously and lunged at his foster brother, pinning the dragonfly to the ground beneath his claws. "Never, EVER, say that about her again. She is NOT evil. She's the most beautiful creature in the Realms, and there's nothing evil about her."

Sparx threw his hands up over his head. "OK! Sorry. Jeez don't bite my head off." He squirmed out from beneath Spyro's claws and floated over to his small pad in the corner, mumbling about how she tried to kill him, and how he couldn't believe that Spyro liked her. The dragonfly settled down a bit and soon snoring reverberated through the room.

Spyro tried to sleep, but he could not, thoughts of Cynder running rampant across his mind and keeping him awake. From his spot on his bed, the purple dragon glanced out his window, up at the stars, the sight of the twinkling objects soothing his whirling thoughts. Cynder…when will you know? When will I gather myself enough to tell you? I want to be there for you…don't push me away. His eyelids drooped and he was soon asleep, the black dragoness's name foremost in his thoughts.

His eyes snapped open the next morning as sunlight poured through the window beside his bed. He glanced around the room and noticed that Sparx was gone. He probably went to get some breakfast with Lucresi. Sparx had taking a liking to the earth dragoness and hung around her almost as much as he did with Spyro. The purple dragon grinned and stood up, stretching out his stiff limbs on his bed. He leapt to the floor and left his room, walking down the hall and past Cynder's room. Before he reached the black dragoness's room, though, she strode into the hallway and heading, Spyro guessed, towards the garden. He ran to catch up with her. "Cynder! Wait up!"

She turned around and smiled when she saw the purple dragon running towards her. "Good morning Spyro. How are you?"

Spyro slowed down to walk beside her, his grin remaining in place. "I'm great, how about you?"

"I'm fine, thanks for asking." An awkward silence ensued, but neither minded, the other's presence leaving them at ease. An idea formed in Cynder's head to spend some time with the dragon beside her and so she asked, "Hey, Spyro?" He turned to face her. "You want to join me in the garden for a bit?"

The grin on his face could get no bigger. He beamed at her as he nodded. "Of course I do. That sounds great!"

They continued walking in silence until they reached the door to the garden, where Terrador was standing guard. He smiled at them and rumbled, "Where do you two think you're going? Breakfast is that way."

Cynder shot the Guardian an odd look and lied. "We already ate. We were gonna go for a walk."

The Earth dragon laughed. "Okay, just don't wander too far!"

"Don't worry, we won't," promised Spyro.

The two dragons strode past the Earth Guardian and out into the morning sun. The light hit them, reflecting of their scales and warming their bodies. They made their way to a tree at the far end of the large area and both lay down in the shade. With a sigh, Cynder lay down on the soft grass, absentmindedly leaning against Spyro.

The purple dragon's heart leapt as she leaned on him, his mind beginning to race. Was this the right time? Should he tell her now? He gathered his courage together from within himself and he turned to face her. "Cynder, there….there's something I need to tell you."

Cynder felt herself nearly jump, her own thoughts whirling around in her skull. Spyro continued. "Cynder, I…I think I'm in love with you."

Spyro felt immense relief when he got those words out, but the feeling was immediately shattered by her reaction.

She got up and gave him a confused look, as if he had a second head. "Spyro…I don't know what to say to that…I'm…I need some time to think. I'm sorry Spyro." She ran off and Spyro was left alone once more.

Spyro sighed and dropped his head to his paws. He had been so sure that she felt the same way, what had gone wrong? Did he say something wrong? Nothing seemed right anymore and Spyro wished it all would go away. But, reality had other plans for him, as Lucresi approached him as he lay there, dejected. Her smile grew concerned at his forlorn expression and she quickly voiced a question.

"Spyro are you okay? What happened?" She stepped closer to him and he sighed again. He made no answer; he just wanted her to leave.

Go away! He screamed in his head, but did not want to be so rude. Instead, he remained silent.

The earth dragoness moved closer to him and whispered, "It's Cynder isn't it? I saw her walking out just a moment ago, she looked confused. What did you say to her?"

Spyro's head shot up and he growled at her. "That's none of your business, Lucresi."

"Ah, so that's what it was…." She let her expression soften and she looked him in the eye. "Don't worry, Spyro. She'll come around. Just give her time.'

Spyro's depression lifted slightly at her words and he smiled. "Thanks. I needed that."

Lucresi grinned at him. "No problem Spyro! I hate seeing dragons depressed like that. Anything I can do to help I will." She walked away leaving Spyro with a happier disposition. As she padded through the grass, the green dragoness glanced around, searching for the dark yellow dragon that had been her original reason for coming to the garden. Where are you Drifton?

She didn't see him in the garden and moved on to the courtyard. She saw him sitting next to Cynder, talking with the black dragoness. Lucresi sighed. She knew that Drifton liked Cynder, but also knew that nothing would come of it. Cynder liked Spyro, she could see it in the dragoness's actions, and it was fairly obvious. She sat down and waited for them to be done. As she waited, Sparx came up beside her and she smiled at him. "Hi Sparx. How are you?"

Sparx smiled back and responded, "I'm pretty good, thanks." He turned his gaze to Drifton and Cynder and scowled. "That Cynder….she gives me the creeps. Why is Drifton talking to her?"

Lucresi sunk to her belly and crossed her paws. "He thinks that she likes him back, even though she doesn't. I just wish he could see that."

Sparx nudged her with an elbow. "Something tells me you got the hots for a certain lightning dragon." The earth dragoness giggled and made a playful swat at the dragonfly, which he easily avoided. "So I'm right?"

She nodded, confessing her attraction to the dragon. "Yeah, I like him a lot."

The dragonfly dropped to her shoulder, looking around the courtyard, as if looking for someone. Lucresi sighed again and lowered her head to her paws, watching the dragon she had feelings for converse with Cynder.

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The day passed quickly, and soon the evening lessons were drawn to a close, each Guardian training with a different student than the day before. Spyro was worn out from the intense regiment that Terrador always put him through and he wanted his bed. He trudged through the hallways, his paws feeling heavy as he walked. Traveling the short distance from the training area to his room took longer than he wanted but soon enough, he was standing before his quarters. He sighed with relief and strode through the door. He jumped straight onto the bed and lay down to sleep. He felt the comfort of slumber overtake him, but was brought out of it again sooner than he had hoped. A voice called out to him, quiet but familiar. As he slowly came back into wakefulness, it called again.

"Spyro, are you awake? I need to talk to you." Spyro knew the voice, but as his mind was still sluggish from sleep, he could not place it. He raised his head and opened his eyes, rubbing them to clear his vision. Standing at his door, was Cynder.

"Cynder, what are you doing up this late?" Spyro glanced out the window and saw how far the moon had risen. It had to be around midnight.

The black dragoness pushed his door open a little farther so she could come in. "I couldn't sleep, Spyro. I was thinking of what you said earlier." She crossed the room and jumped onto the bed to sit beside the purple dragon. "It caught me off guard and I needed time to organize my feelings. I wasn't sure of them is all. But now I am sure. I…I love you too Spyro."

Spyro almost cried in joy. Thank the Ancestors! He scrambled to a sitting position and faced her with a smile. Her head was hanging and her eyes were teary. Spyro lifted her muzzle with his and gazed into her watery eyes. "Don't cry, Cynder. It's all right, I'm here. We're together now, that's all that matters." He wiped her tears away and gave her a kiss on her cheek. "Now you must be tired. Sleep, I'm here."

Cynder curled up on the covers and Spyro wrapped his wing around her. For the first time, the two dragons fell asleep together.

Laters!