Prologue

"So you were using dark magic?" a voice said behind them, making them both jump. They turned to meet Cynder standing there with a look of anger and disappointment. "How could you Spyro?" Draco leaned towards his brother.

"Is she one of the ones you wanna tell?" Spyro slowly shook his head.

"I couldn't help it."

"Couldn't help it?" she questioned as her face morphed into a snarl. "How could you not resist its influence? You resisted the Dark Master's control for more than three years and you tell me that you couldn't keep your paws off of his spell book." Spyro hung his head. "I hate you. I don't care how you feel about me. From here on, we are no longer friends." Spyro's eyes widened. This wasn't what he wanted.

"No Cynder, wait…"

"Just leave me alone." She screamed as she began to grow. In a matter of minutes she was once again corrupted by darkness, but this time she didn't fight it she just let it have its way.

"Cynder, no, stop."

"Goodbye Spyro…" She said, coldly as her claws swiftly and silently struck through his chest.

The real Cynder was forced to watch in horror as she saw herself impale his heart, again and again and again. She couldn't bear watching it but she couldn't take her eyes away. After a while the image slowly faded and Cynder was standing in front of Spyro, blood was pouring out of his chest where he has been impaled. The same liquid dripped from her claws as she stared at the corpse before her. Suddenly a familiar voice spoke to her.

"Why Cynder?" she looked down at the body before her and screamed as she saw his grey, lifeless eyes stared at her. But that wasn't the only thing scary; he was standing on his feet with a clearly visible hole that you could literally see through. "Why did you do it? I loved you and this is how you repay me."

"No I didn't mean…"

"It's your fault,"

"No I didn't-"

"Your fault…" She continued to deny it while he kept on chanting those two words. She finally couldn't take it and collapsed on the black expanse and cried, grasping her head with her claws. It wasn't until she finished crying did she find out that he moved. Now he was standing over her, his emotionless eyes boring deep into her soul. "Time to return the favor." With movement as quick as lightning, he grasped her around the neck and hauled her up off the floor. He stood on his hind legs as if he's been doing it all his life. He slowly reared his arm back as he found the right angle.

"Please don't, Spyro!" she begged. Everything seemed to go in slow motion as he thrust his arm forward. "Please, I love you." The tip of his claw entered her chest and then...

Cynder bolted awake from her sleep with a scream, sweat dripping from her brow. She panted and looked around frantically. Next to her, her current boyfriend, Scorch, was laying next to her. It had been a year since Spyro left and everyday she wished he would return. They needed him. A few months after he disappeared Warfang was attack very frequently by these strange creatures. Whatever they were they were highly intelligent, using tactics that have been unheard of and got the job done nicely. Almost every attack they were so close to defeat but they always retreated just as they were about to take the city.

Sparx, after returning from his lengthily trip to the swamp, continued to pester Cynder about Spyro, making it very hard to forget him. Although she couldn't stand the little pest but he was used to having someone to bug (no pun intended) so it was the least she could do. Spyro, when will you come back? she thought.

She looked around the room once more before laying her head back on her paws, not noticing the shadowy figure standing on the adjacent building. The figure was covered in a cloak and a large hat so its form was hidden. When Cynder turned to the window it jumped off the building and freefell to the ground. It then took one more look at the window before walking down the empty, damaged streets of the great dragon city.