Here's the second chapter of my little late valentine's gift. I had a really fun time with this one, as it's the first time I develop a dynamic between Sparx and Cynder. I just love their love hate relationship.

Tell me what you think about the story, and how it's developed.

Chapter II:

The newsprint companies of Warfang were no fools when it came to preparing headlines that would get the city talking. Early in the morning, before the rise of the sun and throughout all the districts, young feline lads ran to small booths set up by the busiest intersections. Their shouts could be heard as soon as the first early birds were out and about.

"Spyro, our great dragon leader, and his alleged mate, the she-dragon Cynder, celebrate their supposed anniversary! Read about it here, ladies and gentlemen! Get all the news you need about Warfang's most controversial couple!" they would shout as they fluttered various newspapers with covers that were less kind than the boys' yells.

"The City's 'Beloved' Couple: A Curious Tale of Controversy," one paper would read.

"Spyro and Cynder: Is their "Mateship" Legitimate? Temple Servants Reveal the Truth," would state another journal.

It wasn't until later in the morning that Cynder arose. The dawn had become lovely as the dragoness first opened her eyes. It was warm for a winter day and the sky was clear. Birds sung their sweet melodies, welcoming those leaving sleep's grasp.

Cynder lifted herself to her haunches, and felt a shrill rush of energy through her back which tensed her body. She stretched and yawned deeply, allowing every muscle to loosen up. She noticed how tender her flesh was. Everything, including the warmth of the air and soft hay of her bed, was notably palpable. The inner thighs of her hind-legs were warm, and pulsed lightly. As consciousness struck the black dragoness, she remembered the dream she had just had. Spyro was in it, and his strong form brought her a deep sensual desire. Cynder was wanting, which was odd indeed, as the sensation of self provoked longing was new to the dragoness. Cynder was somewhat fearful of her lust, as she felt that it was too instinctive.

But experiencing this desire without his direct presence brought her a strange euphoria now. It made her want to see him before the world would begin to turn.

She looked about their room, but realized that the dragon had never joined her in the night. When she had arrived yester-night, the dragon was working tirelessly on the city management plan of the eastern districts. She approached him that night after hiding her anniversary gift, and helped as best as she could; but the dragoness grew tired before Spyro had finished, and went off to bed hoping Spyro would follow suit but a short while after. Cynder cursed in silence, realizing that his mate must have surely sacrificed yet another night's rest on the ceaseless task.

Cynder rose and headed for the room exit, but before she could leave, she heard the distinct whizz of Sparx wings behind her. She turned her head rapidly, and noticed the irritating gnat holding her recently purchased book. The dragonfly turned the pages carelessly, not minding Cynder's presence by the least. Sparx was rather good at that. Personal space meant nothing to the bugger.

"Hey! Don't touch that!" Cynder clamored, surprised to see Sparx holding the book. Spyro's little brother proceeded to pay no attention as he further browsed through the book He finally reacted when Cynder turned her body entirely to face him. A mischievous smile grew on his face.

"You got him a book for your anniversary?" Sparx remarked in a teasing voice "Wow, doom-and-gloom, I knew you weren't creative… but this?"

"Oh, be quiet, Sparx!" Cynder spoke as she struck a defensive pose and fixed her eyes on him. "Are you here to only bother me?" Sparx looked up, and gave her a quick playful grin before he shook his head. He lowered in altitude and put the book in the drawer it was in. Cynder's glare deepened.

"Cynder, Cynder, Cynder…" Sparx started, as he turned back to face the dragoness. "Why would you think your humble, humble message carrier would be so unkind and cruel?" He placed his hands down on his hips tauntingly. "Come on, It's me, Sparx!"

"That's what I don't like," Cynder replied as she bit her teeth. She began to walk closer to the gnat as he flew over a small table they had in the room. He leaned on a vial of fine perfume. "Tell me, messenger," Cynder spoke sarcastically, as she caught the fine flask just before it nearly fell on its side. "What news do you have today?"

"Geez!" Sparx remarked, as he gave himself some distance from the 'female fright.' "You seem to be put off today. What's got you in a little knot, missy?" Sparx began to chuckle as he noticed Cynder losing a bit more of her patience. "Aww… is it because poor little Cyn-ie-winnie didn't see Spyro last night?" At this, Cynder hissed, brandishing her teeth.

"You little gnat!" Cynder shouted. "Why would you say that?" At the escalation of Cynder's voice, Sparx raised his hands. He wanted to tease her, but did not know that it would go this far. Cynder jumped and swung a paw at the distant Sparx, which rapidly avoided it.

"Woah, woah!" the dragonfly started. "I didn't mean to touch your buttons that badly. I'm sorry!" Cynder stood breathing heavily for a moment, but calmed down as she caught her loose emotions. She frowned, her eye ridges closing in.

"Sorry, Sparx…" Cynder remarked in a weary voice. "It's not your fault that I got angry, you just triggered me." Sparx crossed his arms, as honest concern for her rose within him.

"Are you really that bothered that he wasn't here last night?" he asked.

"It's not that… Not exactly," Cynder answered. "I just don't like how they treat him."

"Oh, you mean those block-heads-for-leaders?" Sparx retorted. "Yeah, me neither. You guys have been working far too long on that reconstruction project. We barely do anything anymore."

"Yeah…" Cynder replied. Silence was kept for a moment as the two sunk into their own thoughts. Cynder scratched the floor with her claw, and Sparx rubbed his forehead. "Sparx," Cynder spoke. "What's your opinion about what they say of us?"

"Who? The people of Warfang?" Sparx inquired. Cynder nodded and looked down. "Oh, well… I don't know. They seem to go a 'little' too far with their hate for you, even in my standards. Heck, I've been with you guys for more than a few years and you haven't killed us… yet."

"Sparx…" Cynder murmured…

"Kidding!" the dragonfly replied. "Geez…. Anyway, what makes it stranger is that they don't even fully trust Spyro. Spyro, the all-mighty-lord of selfless sacrifice. He's more willing to move give up a seat over killing a fly." At this, Cynder chuckled. The little dragonfly was vexatious at times, but his humor never failed. Spyro was, indeed, a little too caring.

"So I see," Cynder mused, as she shook her head humorously.

"Have you heard what they have been saying recently?" Sparx asked. Cynder tilted her head to the side. "Well," he continued. "Word's been going around that your mateship is not legitimate. They say that you two have not 'consummated'." Cynder rolled her eyes, but was unable to look down in slight shame. "Funny how they used that fancy word when they could have said that there's a possibility that you two haven't…" he blabbered on before he gazed down and read Cynder. Sparx eyes widened. "You haven't…" he started, as Cynder blushed deeply. "Have you?"

"No… we haven't" Cynder confessed.

"Woah, woah, now that is a biggie," Sparx remarked. He let a laughter go. "And I thought it was all hearsay; then again… I knew my little purple blob would never have the gonads…"

"It's not him," Cynder interrupted. "Spyro really wants it…" She sighed as her confession to the little tricksted became harder. "It's me. I've had a hard time." Sparx floated down to Cynder's level as he began to scratch the back of his head. He gave a look that the black dragoness could best describe as 'foolish.'

"I don't know what bothers me more: the fact that you just kind of grossed me out by telling me that my fat brother 'wants it,' or the fact that you not wanting it kind of turns me off." Before he could finish, Cynder had him grabbed with both forepaws. She looked right at him with burning eyes.

"I… will… crush you, you know," the she-dragon bellowed.

"Don't kill me!" Sparx pleaded half jokingly, before the dragoness began to tighten her grip. He then realized that she was not bluffing. "Really!" he shouted more severely this time. "Don't kill me!" Cynder scowled at him, as her grip began to loosen. Killing Sparx would solve nothing, after all.

"What you said is not funny," Cynder started. "It's a real problem, and I think it bothers Spyro."

"Oh, come on… something bothering the big lug?" Sparx replied. "I really doubt that. He's got the patience of a prophetic savior… oh wait! He is one! Or so they say…" Sparx chuckled at a crack that Cynder herself found more provoking than anything. "Point is, that I think something like that can't bother him. He really likes you."

Cynder smiled as a blush came on. She thought back to the moments they had shared even before their adventure to stop Malefor began. The dragon was always there, no matter what the consequences were. He followed her when she fled from the temple, and risked his life countless times to save her. He froze himself along with her and Sparx to keep them well, when the great usage of this power could have killed him. When Cynder fell into darkness before the dark master, and she struck the dragon continuously, the dragon did not fight her back. She remembered his words of when she furiously asked him why he would not fight back: 'Because you've left me with nothing to fight for,' he said.

She then thought back to when the purple savior asked her to be his mate. She remembered the splendorous waterfall walk, and how the moons lit the sky in eternal beauty. He remembered Spyro's gentle smile, and the sweet, silly conversations they had as they sat to enjoy the chill of the fall: She remembered talking about Sparx –which was an unavoidable topic with Spyro, as his care for him seemed ceaseless-, and about the mole they met with the curiously burnt half-moustache. She then thought back to the moment it happened.

"Cynder," Spyro had started, seeming nervous in a manner which appeared obvious to the watchful black dragoness. "I… wanted to ask you something."

"What is it, Spyro?" Cynder answered back, looking at him intently. The dragon gazed down to the ground nervously, as he began to draw circled with his claw.

"Do you remember what you said on the day we stopped the world from breaking apart?"

"Yeah," Cynder answered, nervous herself. She remembered exactly what she said. There was a long pause and only the rush of the falls and the rustling of leaves filled the air with sound.

"Do you want to know what I think?" Spyro asked half awkwardly. The black dragoness' heart rose to her throat. She nearly choked at the pure suspense.

There was a long pause, and it seemed to Cynder that the male had frozen. She felt as if the tension of the moment was reaching the point of killing her. She felt such a desire to break the anxiety that she nervously looked to the sky.

"The stars are beautiful, aren't they, Spyro?" As Cynder turned her head, her lips suddenly met with his. At that moment, Spyro's mouth felt like the warmth of the eternal sun, and tasted like the rarest and most delicious of fruits. Cynder felt like all the particles in her body were instantly charged with euphoria unprecedented, and knew that the source was Spyro. The moment lasted millennia in Cynder's mind, and parting from his kiss was the greatest of injustices Cynder had ever suffered.

"I love you, Cyn," Spyro spoke, filling the air with his beautiful, melodious voice. "And if you love me too, I think we should be mates." Cynder looked to him. He gazed at his precious, amethyst eyes. "Let me be your other half, Cyn," he spoke again, as his lips met hers once more.

Returning to reality, she realized that Sparx was right. Spyro would always be there, and would always understand her. She wanted to give her his best though, and this she began to hold as she started to head for the door.

"Hey, where are you going?" Sparx asked.

"I'm going to see Spyro," She remarked, as she opened the door of her room "It's our anniversary, after all."

"Don't do anything too dirty in places where you're not supposed to!" Sparx teased, as Cynder headed out the door. She simply grinned.

"Sure," she responded hurriedly. "Sure…"

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