I have a confession...I've only played 1 Spyro game, Year of the Dragon for PS1. All the info I place in my chapters is thanks to Fresh Blood (great writer) and numerous cutscenes and tributes from Youtube. If anything is off, please inform me, so I can fix it and make it more believable. Thank you,
G.I
Chapter 2: Sparx Will Fly
Spyro tucked his wings in and touched down on the cool shaded forest floor, Cynder just behind him.
"I don't get it," she said somewhat breathlessly. "You said the ceremony is here. Where is everyone?" She took a look around her surroundings, scanning through the numerous tree trunks for any sign of life. Nothing.
"We still have a little ways," Spyro replied in a soft whisper. "Come on." He started walking deeper into the forest with Cynder cautiously creeping behind him. "Why so nervous?" Spyro asked. She stopped and shot him a glare.
"Nervous?" She let out a stuttered chuckle. "Why would I be..." she trailed off to turn her head away from him and towards the darkened woods, letting out a surprised gasp as she did so. "Who's there?" Spyro quickly snapped his neck around to see what she witnessed. He suddenly hunched down and growled, taking his tail to force Cynder behind him and holding it firmly against her chest as protection. After two moments of silence, Spyro turned back to face her. "I swore I saw someone." Spyro folded his tail back from her chest and sat it back on the ground. "Why'd you do that?"
"I don't know," he replied quietly, taking his eyes off to look at his own tail. "Instinct, I suppose." He said nothing more and took the lead again. "Come on, it's down this way." Suddenly, the sound of a snapping twig echoed throughout the forested region, extremely close to the two dragons. Spyro stopped in his tracks when he heard it and whipped around towards the woods with his jaws clinched in a ferocious growl. He forced Cynder back again and hunched over with a snarl directly where he had heard the noise. The dark dragoness crept forward, craning her neck to look through the gap in Spyro's wings just above his spine.
"Spyro, what's going on?"
"This is ridiculous!" Spyro frustratingly called out. "Look, whoever is out there, come out now. Don't make me go in after you." Cynder cut her eyes towards Spyro and took in a strong glance of him in his protective stance. It felt strange that, for once, someone was protecting her, and even odder at the fact that Spyro was the defender. Usually, they'd fight together. Why was he pushing her behind him? She shook her head and padded over to his side, deciding not to dwell over the issue.
"It's got to be nothing, Spyro."
"No, I swore I heard something, too." He kneaded at the ground with his claws and turned to face her. "Wait a moment." Suddenly, the dragon turned and inched towards the closest tree next to the two. Cynder attempted to follow, but a quick glare from him forced her to remain still.
"Why are you doing this?" Cynder asked nervously. "Since when have you turned into my guardian?" Spyro shot his head back, as if hurt by the remark she left. He remained speechless and turned back to the tree. After a quick sniff, he dropped his head and let out a chuckle.
"Oh come on," he muttered. "We have to go, Cynder. We'll be late." She walked towards him, expecting to be told to stay in place. Instead, he willingly invited her over.
"What is it?" Spyro's eyes shifted and the tip of his wing twitched. "Well?"
"Some creature just stepped on a stick, Cynder," Spyro covered up. He lifted his forearm up and scratched the trunk of the tree with his longest claw. "It's nothing for you to worry about." Suddenly, Cynder growled and used the top of her head to slam it against Spyro's hindquarters, spinning him like a top and forcing him to face her.
"What is going on with you, Spyro?" she asked forcefully. "First, you find me almost ten whole miles away, and now you treat me as if I can't evade a deer in the forest. What has gotten into you?" Spyro regained his composure and fanned his wings out to look more intimidating.
"Why are you upset?" Spyro shot back. "All I did was look after you."
"No, you held me back." She stepped closer. "I am not a hatchling, I am a dragon. I can handle myself without you stepping in." She dropped her wings and let them dangle on the floor, watching and waiting for Spyro to make a response.
"Cynder," he said in a faint whisper. "I am sorry. I don't know what's coming over me." Cynder turned her growls of aggravation into those of sympathy as she moved closer to him. "I know we fought together, but...something just forced me to do it. By the time I knew, it was too late." Spyro looked up at her. "I'll see Ignitus tomorrow. He'll know." Cynder let out a soft laugh and offered her paw to him.
"This is a truce," she said firmly. "I won't get angry like that again."
"Sounds more like an apology," Spyro countered slyly. He placed his right forearm on top of her left one for a kindly shake. "You're forgiven." A smile found its way on Cynder's face once again. "Now Cynder, I have to ask if you'll forgive me."
"For what?" Spyro backed away, the grin still plastered on his face.
"For this! Surprise!" As if on cue, all of the fellow warriors and friends from both Cynder and Spyro emerged from the forest. Cynder gasped and instinctively took a step back at the advancing creatures swarming around her while Spyro couldn't help but let out a laugh. Everyone was there from Sparx all the way up to Ignitus, except for one. Spyro's good friend, Hunter was not found among the crowd. Cynder turned to face her friend and glared at him.
"You did this," Cynder growled, facing Spyro. "This was why you wanted me to come, huh? Wait, why aren't you surprised?" Spyro walked forward, still holding his grin. He leaned in close to her ear and placed his paw on her own.
"Because this isn't my party, Cynder." She trembled slightly as his delicate voice passed through her mind. "This is yours." Spyro took his eyes away to watch a shadowy figure walk forth from the woods behind her. "Hunter, what's the deal? I thought we agreed to have it closer to the temple?" Cynder turned her body around in time to see the strong and stealthy cheetah emerge from behind a tree trunk.
"I came up with a new plan of my own," he replied cunningly. "I wanted to surprise you both, but I only succeeded in the beginning."
"So it was you?" Cynder asked Hunter. He smiled, his white fangs showing brilliantly underneath his hooded muzzle.
"Yes," replied the mysterious companion. "I almost had you two until Spyro caught my scent on the tree I was propped up beside."
"Don't step on sticks next time," Spyro laughed. "Better yet, next time why don't you just stay with the original idea?" Hunter let out a chuckle and shrugged his shoulders.
"Don't make it too easy to switch them, then."
"Done." Hunter suddenly raised his hand and cleared his throat for everyone to grow quiet around him.
"Listen up," he called out, his voice ringing through the trees as he spoke with clear authority. "Let's head back to the dragon temple, friends. Food is prepared and there's a band setting up for some music." The crowd dispersed and began to walk in the direction of the temple, leaving only Spyro and Cynder once again.
"You sly rascal," Cynder said with a weak smile. "Why did you do this for me? What about your party...the ceremony of your victory..."
"Our victory," he replied. "Cynder, this is for you, but it's not for winning the battle."
"Then what is it even for?" she countered. "I just don't get it." Spyro snickered and turned towards the disappearing crowd.
"Don't try to, Cynder. Think of it this way: if these friends despised you, why would they go through the trouble to do this?"
"Good point." She quickened her step to walk beside him, her tail swaying comfortably behind her. "Hey Spyro?"
"Yes?"
"That was very smooth what you pulled back there." She tossed her head back. "Playing like I was in trouble..."
"Who was playing?" Spyro asked. "The surprise was supposed to be another mile ahead."
"What?"
"I told you, I'll have to speak with Ignitus tomorrow." He lowered his head. "Hunter did scare me; I wasn't expecting him."
"Yeah," she replied. Suddenly, her swaying tail collided with Spyro's and instinctively intertwined around it. "What the...?" Spyro stopped and looked at the knotted tails behind him. "Let go!"
"You're tied to me," he said with a nervous laugh. "You have to unwind it. Be careful though, Cynder. That blade of yours is pretty sharp." She let out a sigh and looked down.
"It's comfortable though, isn't it?" She turned away and blushed slightly. "Spyro, you've been such a good friend throughout all of this. What can I ever do to repay you?" After a brief struggle, the tails unwound and took their places behind their owners. Spyro turned to face her and gave a soft, comforting smile.
"Just stay here, Cynder," he said happily. "This is your home...our home." She let out an amused snort and turned to keep walking, this time leading the way herself.
"Well, the party will decide that for me." She replied sarcastically. Spyro watched for a brief moment as the dragoness huskily padded in front of him.
What's wrong with me? Spyro thought to himself. I've never tried to protect her like that before. And what was up with our tails? He looked back at his and sniffed it. Weird.
"You coming?" Cynder suddenly called. Spyro snapped back into reality and gazed at her. "What now? Any other surprises?"
"Ancestors, I hope not," he replied worriedly. Spyro jumped into a jog and caught up with her. "Cynder?"
"Hmm?"
"You ever wonder about..." he trailed off and turned his head away from her.
"About what, Spyro?"
"About us...and the future," he forced himself to ask. "Like, where else will fate lead us?" She faced him, her sapphire-like emerald eyes shining in the dark forest.
"I wonder about that all the time," said Cynder. "Sometimes, I can't help but think where I will be. What is the chance that the darkness that took me over so long ago could come back?" Spyro laughed and inched closer to her side. Without even hesitating, he took his left wing and draped it over her.
"If it does, it's in for one nasty fight." She laughed and placed her head against his, their horns interlocking with a subtle clink.
"Spyro, you are the best friend I can ever have...or ever will have." Spyro took his eyes down to gaze into hers. "I'm going to regret this later but...you were right."
"What about?" He lifted his eyebrows and waited to hear her.
"Don't make me go further," she begged. Spyro laughed and pulled his head back to unlock their horns.
"Alright, but...as you said, I was right." The two dragons continued their trek in silence with Spyro's wing still covering Cynder. The top of the temple was in sight, its roof gleaming in the upcoming moonlight overhead. The sun was completely gone now, and the only light was off of the dragon temple ahead of them.
"So what are you thinking?" asked Spyro to Cynder, "I don't like long silence." Cynder craned her neck to look at him and trusted his wing to guide her on the pathway towards the party.
"Well," she said with a sigh. "I'm wondering what is going to be at this party." Spyro smiled and took his eyes off the path to look at her.
"No you're not. I know you too well."
"Fine," she replied with a snobby snort. "If you really want to know, I was thinking about you."
"Me? Why me?" She turned away, blushing like mad.
"I just wish I could be like you, Spyro. You have enemies, but they are evil. It seems you get along with almost anybody."
"It's a curse," Spyro laughed out. "Look, you live here too now, meaning, in a way, you are like me. My friends are your friends, and my enemies will be yours too."
"Yes, but I don't get along with them." Spyro took his wing off her and folded it back behind his spine. Cynder shivered at the loss of warmth, but regained control over her body almost instantly. "I just...cope."
"Well there's your problem, Cynder. Stop 'coping' and start mingling." Suddenly, he crouched down with his right forearm extended and his spine arched upwards. He turned to face her and smiled. "Come on, for old time's sake?" Cynder let out a groan and mimicked his position beside him. "Last one to the party has to get the drinks."
"What if we tie?" Cynder asked. Spyro just laughed.
"We get them for each other. Ready?"
"I guess."
"GO!" They both took off down the dirt path, sprinting like mad to reach the temple. Their wings were laying low to the ground, giving both the advantage in the footrace. The temple grew in size with each quick step they took. Torch lights illuminated the front of it in an amber color, waving immensely with the flicker of each flame. At the last second, Spyro slammed on his feet and skid to a stop, sending Cynder straight to the entrance of the temple's courtyard...exactly where the party had begun.
"No fair," Cynder panted out as Spyro casually trotted over beside her. "You lost on purpose. Wait...why?" He just smiled and walked towards Hunter, who was near the sidewall of the temple. After a few moments of conversing with him, the young dragon walked off and came back standing on his hind legs with two cups of fruit punch clutched tightly in between his two forepaws. Cynder reached out with her right arm and clinched the cup with her claws. "So," she began after taking a sip, "why'd you lose?"
"Its customary for the guest of honor to be served," he explained slyly. "Hunter just told me the band is inside, too. Apparently, the dragonflies can play some good stuff." He took a sip, taking his barbed tongue and licking around the rim of the cup just before taking in the reddish liquid in full. "Well, we can't stay here at your own party. What do you want to do?" She sighed and looked around. Everyone was in their own social circle talking and laughing amongst themselves in shear enjoyment. Cynder tapped Spyro on his head softly with the dagger-like end of her right wing.
"You told me to mingle, so..." she trailed off as she examined the multiple groups of creatures around the temple courtyard. "Let's get to it."
"That a' girl," Spyro said happily. He draped his wing over her and, with the cup still in his claws, hobbled over towards the multitudes, smiling wider with each greeting Cynder received.
It was a surreal feeling for Cynder. Those she thought hated her, held absolutely no resentment. Sparx, who was quite busy at the time helping the other dragonflies and their business, still managed to zip in for a quick "how you doin'?" before taking off once again. Cynder's eyes were bright with compassion; she had more friends than she had figured.
"How you feel, now?" said Spyro. She nuzzled against her friend and sighed lovingly at the warmth his body gave her in the autumn night.
"I can't believe it," she began. She suddenly had to stop to say hello to another partier who wished to leave his kind comments and thanks. "If I didn't come...I would have missed this."
"I told you that people couldn't dwell on the past for too long. It drives them all mad over time." She took another sip of the drink Spyro fetched her and let out a pleasing moan. "Still think you're evil?" Cynder dropped her eyes down and stared at the rolling red liquid in her drink.
"I know I'm not," she replied. "I just can't get over the fact that I was." She took another drink while Spyro led her to a corner in the courtyard. It was slightly concealed, but not to where no one would be able to find them. They both sat on their haunches on a concrete slab in the corner and sat their drinks down beside them. "I just get scared, Spyro. You don't know what it's like living with fear that you'll wake up encased in darkness again. I don't want to go through that. I'd kill myself before I turn into that...thing I used to be."
"No you won't," Spyro soothed her. "If I ever find out you try something like that, I'll kill you myself. Cynder, you're the only one who understands me, and I you. What would I do if I find out my best friend and companion took her own life? I...I can't even fathom!" She suddenly stood up. "Where you going?"
"I...need time to think." Before Spyro could stop her, she disappeared into the crowd.
"Damnit!" Spyro muttered, tossing his head down in frustration. "How can you manage to turn everything I try to do into a sad thing?" He sighed and took the last few sips of his drink.
"Rough night, buddy?" Spyro turned behind him to see Sparx flying overhead.
"You don't know the half of it, Sparx." Sparx fluttered down and took a seat on his friend's shoulder. Spyro still held his gaze directly where Cynder disappeared to, sighing occasionally in the hope that she'd come back to him.
"I see what's going on," Sparx said with a slight laugh. "Spyro...you're in love." The purple dragon snapped his head and popped Sparx off of his shoulder with his snout.
"Don't be ridiculous," Spyro countered. "Love? How could I manage to take care of a female? I'm on call to save this world at any given chance. Sure the Dark Master has been defeated, but, for all I know, there is something else out there." Sparx dusted himself off as he flew beside the dragon and then sat in the exact spot.
"Listen to me, buddy," explained the golden dragonfly, "if you keep worrying about things that can come up, you'll miss the things in front of you right now."
"And what would that be?" As if to answer his question, Cynder emerged from the numerous creatures standing on her hind legs with two drinks in hand, just like Spyro.
"Bail!" Sparx shouted, before ducking into the bark of a nearby palm tree. Spyro was speechless, mesmerized by her phenomenal grace and balance on two legs. She looked pleasing, addicting, and stunning; seeing her multiple mature curves with each step she took through the crowd almost drove him off the edge. He shook his head to clear it.
Get a grip, Spyro! He told himself. She's beautiful, but I can't think of her that way...at least not yet. She came closer and stopped when she was snout-to-snout with him.
"It was my turn for the drinks this time," she said, handing a cup to him. He willingly took it and sat it down to his right side while Cynder propped herself back up on the slab beside him. "Spyro?"
"Yes?"
"Why do you put up with me?" Spyro choked out a cough and quickly downed some punch to regain his composure. "There are so many other ones here, why do you just want to be with me?" Spyro turned his head and scratched the top of his brow with the claws attached to his right forepaw. "This time, I am the one that wants the answers."
Come on, buddy! Thought Sparx as he listened attentively to the conversation behind him. Now's your chance! Tell her!
"I really can't tell you," he replied nervously. A subtle groan was heard behind him. "Hold that thought, would you Cynder?" She nodded her head while Spyro climbed to his feet and peeled down a piece of bark with one of his claws. He took in a breath and released a small jet of flame into the palm tree Sparx took refuge in. A loud yelp echoed throughout the tree and a seared golden dragonfly emerged, frantically flying towards the river to cool the heat and refuel his pride. "Now I can tell you." Spyro sat back down on his haunches and watched as Cynder giggled and covered her muzzle with her left paw to hide her teeth.
"I'm still waiting." Spyro gulped slightly and turned to face her.
Alright Spyro, he thought to himself. You can do this. Just tell her..."you're my friend" and it's all over. You can't be in love, you're not allowed to. How can you keep her happy when things take a turn for the worse again? His eyes lifted up, slamming directly into Cynder's bright greenish ones. Oh no, Spyro. Just say it...We Are Friends. Do it. His hand lifted up and found itself right over Cynder's. I can't.
"I love you, Cynder." She let out a surprised gasp, her eyes starting to tear up. A single tear formed at her cheek, but Spyro moved quickly to catch it with his claw before it fell. "I can't explain it and I don't want to. The fact is, you are special to me and, when you say no one cares for you, my heart breaks." He took a breath and removed his paw from hers. "I know that isn't a male-like thing to say, but it is the truth. You hurt me every time you bring up what happened to you."
"Spyro, I had no idea." She lowered her head to look down at her paw that Spyro had just released. "I never had someone say something like this before to me. Why do you even love me? I mean, I was evil...I tried to kill you! What if that darkness comes back?" Spyro placed his claw against her muzzle, silencing her.
"Will you stop worrying about the darkness for one second, Cynder!" he exclaimed jokingly. Spyro lifted his wing up and shrouded Cynder with it, flexing it to pull her close to him. "Forget the darkness. Just give in to the night...with me. You're my best friend, Cynder. Even Sparx can't compare to you. Now please don't bring up this 'darkness' anymore and focus on what's in front of you!"
"Which is?" she asked, almost as if she knew the answer.
"Me. No matter what happens, I will always be there for you. If anything comes up, even if you think it's small, I am here." Spyro sighed but kept his wing exactly where it lay over her. "If you don't like the way I feel for you, then I'm sorry, but it will never change. I love all my friends, but I'm only willing to lay my life down for one." He reached down and took a sip of the drink she gave him while she did the same with hers.
"I feel the same about you, Spyro," said Cynder. "I've met many creatures and people, but the only one I constantly worry about is you. Tell me, though. If we lay our lives for each other at the same time, wouldn't that mean we actually failed to do it?" Spyro cocked his head at her strange remark.
"What?"
"Think about it." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and took off once again. Spyro watched her walk into the crowd, but she suddenly stood up and motioned for him to follow her. "Come on, Spyro! The music should be starting soon."
"Ha," Spyro muttered aloud. "Looks like the night's calling her name."
PEACE!
