A/N: Hello everyone! So, two days before this chapter was released, the highly anticipated classic Spyro trilogy remaster was announced! After months of speculation and rumors, it finally happened! Sure took long enough, didn't it? Anyway, on with the show!
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Chapter 2 - Reunion
The journey proved to be a rather lengthy one for both Spyro and Cynder, but by the late afternoon, their destination finally came into view. The city of Warfang was an impressive sight from above, with four towering defensive walls surrounding the historic metropolis, with some buildings being tall enough to reach out for the sky, as if trying to capture the air itself up above.
"Well, here we are, at last," announced Spyro. "And we never got lost after all."
The dragon pair descended down towards the city, flying over the west wall and into an empty street lined with cobblestone flooring and beige-colored stone walls. There was evidence of the recently ended war against Malefor still visible here, with much rubble lying around and craters in the floor. Spyro looked all around him where he stood. There did not appear to be any other signs of life within the area, much to his concern.
"It's quiet," he uttered. "Too quiet."
"The war only just ended. I don't believe these streets would be crowded so soon after," Cynder added. "Maybe everyone's still in hiding."
"That can't be right. The letter we got from Hunter said that everyone in hiding is aware of the war's end," Spyro recalled. "There just has to be someone around here. Let's go look around."
Cynder cast any and all objection aside, despite the fact that she secretly was still uncomfortable about confronting strangers. Thus, the teenaged dragon duo set off on foot towards the heart of the city. Even along the way, the lack of any sort of activity or presence was evident. Spyro was becoming increasing more worried by the minute, slowly starting to doubt whether or not even just one other living being was within the city walls. With the battle against the foe over, it seemed commonplace for such a large gathering place to be filled with activity.
After a short time, the pair passed underneath a tall archway built into an equally-as-high stone wall. On the other side was the central courtyard, a decently-sized garden resting at the very middle of Warfang. Miraculously, the many trees and flowerbeds appeared to have survived the citywide assault from just days ago.
A large tree was situated dead center in the courtyard, sat within a circle of nutrient-rich soil, separated from the usual cobblestone flooring. Upon arriving closer to this tree, Spyro swore he could hear a slight voice. A voice that seemed awfully familiar to him, assuming the voice in question had not inexplicably changed once again. Then, a bright yellow glow came into view from behind the tree. It was then that Spyro truly knew who the voice belonged to.
The voice and glow belonged to a dragonfly, a small creature who was floating above the ground with his wings. He was circling the tree at a mild pace while whining to himself.
"And what if they choose not to come here? Those two probably like Avalar too much to even want to leave," he uttered to himself, unaware of the incoming company. "And then what will I do? Spyro will be out there, starting his own life without me, forgetting all about me. Gah, why must things be this way? The end of a great and terrible war should be a time of happiness, not worry!"
The panicky dragonfly held his head in his hands and began to shake his head repeatedly. Seeing this and hearing his ramblings, Spyro could not help but call out to him at the top of his voice.
"Sparx!" he bellowed, a hint of joy in his tone.
Immediately, Sparx, the dragonfly, jolted his head back up. He instantly saw a purple dragon running towards him. His face lit up, as if he had found a treasure trove of gold all for himself.
"Savior boy!" he yelled back.
Spyro halted his movement as Sparx drifted into his snout. He held on tightly, squeezing it hard with his miniature arms.
"You showed up after all!" celebrated Sparx, more relieved than anything. "Don't ever take so long to come back again, you hear me?"
"I promise, Sparx," chuckled Spyro, just happy to finally see his surrogate sibling again.
Moments later, the two broke apart, leaving Sparx to hover a few inches from Spyro's face.
"But wow, just look at you! Did you lose weight lately? That battle against the big brute must've knocked you into shape pretty good. I could get used to the thinner you, haha!" Sparx commented jokingly as he inspected Spyro up close.
Spyro laughed in response. He had missed the cheery and delightful banter he and Sparx often indulged in.
"Hah, it's probably that fish diet I've taken up recently," he commented enthusiastically.
At that point, Cynder walked to Spyro's side to confront Sparx herself. He was quick to notice, and snapped his attention towards her.
"Ah, Cynder, baby! I was afraid you took Spyro away from me to keep to yourself!" he spoke.
This remark resulted in a cold glare from Cynder.
"I kid, I kid," Sparx replied nervously. "You did good too. You even kept Spyro alive for me, just like you promised.
"Actually, it was more like him keeping me alive," Cynder corrected with her own opinion.
"So Sparx, where is everybody? Why is Warfang still empty?" Spyro inquired, his lack of information prompting such questions.
"Well, I'm not the only one in the city. Good thing too; I fear I'd lose my sanity if that was the case, especially without you around, Spyro," Sparx confessed. "Anyway, Hunter and the other big dragon guys are around. They're working to clear up the city before they let the other dragons and moles back in."
"Big dragon guys? So the Guardians are indeed here, in the city?" wondered Spyro.
"That's right, big guy. They agreed to not rest up until the deed was done," continued Sparx. "Besides, it's not like they have anywhere to go, what with the Temple gone and destroyed, and all. The green one said Warfang will likely become the new home for him and the others."
"The Temple... It's a shame to lose the Temple. It was a very important place for us dragons," Spyro said, somber and regretful.
"At least we all survived," Cynder reassured him. "Don't worry, Spyro. I'm certain the Guardians will think of another place to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. It's their duty and responsibility."
"Yeah, you're totally right, Cynder," Spyro's spirit was bolstered a little by the dragoness's words. "So why are you here alone, Sparx?"
"Long answer made short, I'm not much help. This tiny body ain't gonna remove debris, y'know," Sparx admitted, flexing his little arms to emphasize his point. "All I've been good at the past few days is worrying and moaning to myself about you." He then paused briefly to sigh. "I never worried so much about you before, dude. The big green guy knew you pulled the world back together. He knew you were likely to die down there. When we didn't hear from you at first, I-I...I thought the worst! Waaaaaaah!"
Sparx broke down into tears, the thought of his beloved surrogate brother no longer being with him tearing at his emotions. Spyro and Cynder looked towards each other in concern.
"It's OK now, Sparx. I'm here, and seeing is believing, right?" Spyro spoke to Sparx with a soft tone as he moved closer to him. "I'm not exactly sure how we survived. All I remember was a bright light, then we woke up back in the Valley of Avalar, the world at peace again. It's strange, but I wouldn't worry about it. We're alive. We're all alive. And I want to enjoy it as best as I can. So come on Sparx, don't cry. It's not right seeing you cry."
While unknown to Spyro, Cynder was smiling at what he was saying. Even so, her thoughts were with the fact that Spyro had failed to acknowledge a certain occurrence just before the bright light he mentioned, not just right now, but at all during the last few days. She remembered it greatly, but wondered if Spyro did too. The three words she whispered to him on a whim, though she believed her heart spoke true.
I love you...
The words she had spoken that time echoed in her head, turning her thoughts to Spyro's possible side of the matter, causing her smile to turn upside-down. Did he feel similarly of her? Was love truly his prime reason for sticking by her side long after the Dark Master's demise? Or is he perhaps not even aware of the concept of love for another of his own species? These were questions that Cynder pondered to herself, as she could not tell simply by staring long and hard at him, and it was driving her into great unrest.
Finally, she could not withstand the turmoil any longer. She had to tell Spyro how she felt about him. She did not even think about the possibility that perhaps he only had disappointment to give her in reply. Her heart begged to speak out to him. She opened her mouth wide to inhale strongly, ready to call out.
But alas, it was in vain. The only thing that could escape her mouth was a downhearted sigh, for she had given in to nervousness, restraining her from acting out her wish. Her continuing reluctance and secret uncertainty about inevitably confronting other members of dragonkind did not help her emotions much either. All she could do now was stand and stare silently at her purple savior, who was conversing with Sparx, who had quickly wiped away his tears and was back to his normal self. The pair were joking and quipping with each other companionably, as close friends would.
"Cynder!" Spyro suddenly called to her after a short time, snapping her out of her current state.
"Wh-what is it, Spyro?" she inquired.
"Me and Sparx are going to find the Guardians. You coming?"
"Oh, of course. Well, that is if you know where they are."
"Not me, but Sparx does. He'll lead the way."
"Yep, just like old times, I suppose," remarked Sparx. "Well then, don't lag behind, you two."
Sparx flew off towards an alleyway at the back corner of the courtyard, beckoning to Spyro and Cynder with his hand. The two dragons then moved on foot towards him, allowing him to guide them as he fluttered down the alleyway. Even here the atmosphere was gloomy and desolate, with not even the faintest trace of life. To not be able to see the results of his efforts when he arrived, to not see the city filled with those who could finally walk through the streets without any fear; for Spyro, it gave a sense of sorrow.
That emotional state would soon be proven to last only briefly, as once Sparx, Spyro and Cynder reached the end of the alley, they ventured into another wide open area further into the city. Before them lay a huge building with a hallowed tower situated on top, boasting a large bell of gold within it. Along the front of this building were a series of mighty pillars that held up the roof, which partially jutted outwards.
The sheer size of the architecture bewildered both Spyro and Cynder at first glance. A short distance away from the structure's site, where a tall and almost prideful-looking dragon statue rested, were a trio of large dragons, roughly three times that of Spyro's size. Their colors varied vastly from one another; one being yellow, another being blue, and the last of them green. The threesome were gathering rubble and debris from around the area, collaborating to collect it together into one sizeable pile to the side. Spyro watched in awe as the powerful trio shifted the larger pieces of wreckage with little effort, using only their raw strength to do so.
It didn't take long for Spyro's eyes to begin wandering elsewhere. He was swift to catch a glimpse of another presence in the vicinity. A yellow-furred cheetah stood watching the three Guardians go about their business with his arms crossed. His name was Hunter, a proud warrior of his clan, and close ally to the dragons. He wore his usual hooded coat, along with his bow and quiver stockpiled with arrows strapped to his back.
"Wow, everyone we know is here," Spyro observed. "Come on, Cynder, let's go say hello."
"Of course," Cynder obliged.
The pair trudged forward towards the center in order to present themselves to the Guardians and Hunter. As they drew close, Hunter was the first one to identify them. A welcoming smile came to his face upon spotting them.
"Welcome back, young dragons. It is so good to see you doing well," he saluted.
His words caught the attention of the nearby Guardians, who halted their current actions to swivel their attention to what was occurring. Spyro, Cynder and Sparx all approached Hunter together.
"It's good to see you too, Hunter," Spyro responded. "How have you been?"
"I've been just fine, thank you," Hunter replied. "We have all been anticipating the day when you would both return to meet us. We all had initial concern when we realized you pulled our world back from the brink of destruction. And yet, here you both stand, very much alive."
"Seeing is believing, as they say," noted Cynder with a nod.
"And I could not even applaud your efforts enough, young dragons. You've done us all proud, and at such a young age too," Hunter complimented.
"So you really have returned to us, Spyro. As have you, Cynder," another voice spoke out.
Off to the side, the Guardian trio stood side-to-side. The voice was that of Terrador, the Earth Guardian. His stern-yet calm-tone was easily distinguishable to Spyro.
"Terrador," Spyro uttered, turning towards him.
"We all had our concerns for your safety, young ones. But by some miracle, you have survived. Now, here you are, alive in the new age that you helped to bring," Terrador spoke.
"Oh, don't thank me for it all. Cynder was a big help too," Spyro insisted, briefly turning his glance round to the dark-scaled dragoness who stood beside him.
"Of course, we have you to thank as well, Cynder. To be on Malefor's side one time, and to turn to the righteous side the next, and even bring down your former master. It's quite extraordinary, if I must say so myself," proclaimed Terrador.
Cynder did not reply, only pointing her eyes down to the ground.
"Well, well, well, young Spyro. I too must confess my gratitude for all you have done for not just us, but all of dragonkind as well!" announced Cyril, the blue Ice Guardian.
"Allow me to congratulate you as well, Spyro!" Volteer, the Electric Guardian, suddenly blabbered quickly. "What you did for the Realms was, was commendable, utterly praiseworthy, simply exemplary, and, uh, uh, inspirational! You have set an exceptional example of what the purple dragon is truly capable of! I knew it was the correct thing to do, putting our faith in you! And now everyone knows about your endeavors. Everyone is extremely ecstatic about meeting their savior. You've certainly developed quite a following for yourself, Spyro. All those dragons swarming around you, pestering you for your paw-print, and, uh, uh..."
"Can we please ban all thesauruses from the city library? I don't want others becoming like this blabbermouth," demanded Sparx. "Like seriously, the smarter he gets, the dumber I feel."
"Th-thanks for that, V-Volteer," Spyro smiled nervously, mainly over Volteer's remarks, but also because he just wanted him to quiet down.
"All this praise making you bashful, eh Spyro?" Sparx quipped, nudging his shoulder with his elbow. "I dunno about you, but having fangirls swooning over you? It's like a dream come true! Don't let the opportunity slip away, big boy!"
Cynder's only response was to raise a brow in bemusement, shifting her eyes towards Spyro.
"Um, actually, I-I don't think I can handle a situation like that. Not without breaking a sweat, that is," Spyro explained, still feeling uneasy at the mere thought.
Cynder's eyes narrowed as she too began to feel anxious at the idea of Spyro being surrounded by many other dragons, especially females. Would they try to flirt with him? Not if she could help it. Trying to shake the feeling of potential jealousy, she decided to actually speak out.
"Above all else, just try to relax, Spyro. The excitement will die down eventually. Well, at least that's what I hope," she reassured him, looking into his eyes.
Spyro was giving her a look back. To him it almost felt like her emerald eyes were gleaming at him, as if beckoning to him. Even if it were true, he merely shrugged it off, and turned his head back to Terrador. This action made Cynder sigh silently in dissatisfaction; she felt as if she had failed to allure him with her deep and meaningful feelings for him yet again.
"So...Terrador, I...I need to ask you something," Spyro suddenly became forlorn as he spoke with the Earth Guardian. "Do you know about...what happened to Ignitus?"
Terrador could sense Spyro's grief in his words. "Hm, yes, we are aware of what happened at the Belt of Fire shortly after you departed with him. I am certain it has caused you much sorrow, Spyro," he replied gently.
"More than you know," Spyro sighed.
It was at that moment that he began to recall a recent memory. A recent memory that he would rather not remember again. It was of the last time he saw Ignitus, the deceased Fire Guardian. He had enabled Spyro and Cynder through the deadly Belt of Fire, en route to confront Malefor, but in doing so, his life was lost to the flames.
"Ignitus! Nooooo!"
Spyro's own cry of angst rang in his head. What followed was also fresh in his memory: Cynder attempting to calm him during his phase of utter denial, his wellbeing having plummeted like a boulder off a cliff, and the darkness that laid dormant inside his very being taking command of him, his heart having been weakened by grief. These few moments were a little hazy, but Spyro could recall faintly how his lustrous purple scales dimmed into a vile black, his intentions on diving back into the flames that had caused the loss of his fatherly figure, and the rushed rescue attempt that would surely have killed him too.
And yet, something about that moment was clear: Cynder's pleading. She had spoken to his darkened self with such a soft tone, as if to reach out to his very heart and pull him back into reality. It worked, and Spyro's willpower became strong enough to fight the temptation of the darkness. The black became purple again, and Cynder approached him, the look in her eyes comforting and serious at the same time.
"We have to go on. He wanted us to," she told him.
Spyro, on the other hand, was still feeling somber; that much he remembered clearly. "It wasn't supposed to be like this," he uttered, as if he would break down into tears. "...I feel so alone."
Cynder moved even closer to him, looking directly at his face. He raised his head to meet her eyes with his, hers shimmering with the reflection of the surrounding fire.
"You're not alone," she declared sweetly to him.
The next thing Spyro remembered completely altered the mood of the flashback. Cynder nuzzled the side of his head with her own in support, and possibly even affection. It had given him hope, and determination. It gave him the strength and will to push on ahead. With Cynder by his side, he believed he would succeed in taking down Malefor.
With the distinct flashback concluded, Spyro returned to the reality of present day. He did not hesitate to look over his shoulder towards Cynder, and the two shared a glance, and remained locked in eye contact for a number of seconds, speaking no words, yet their minds possibly filled with all sorts of thoughts.
"Spyro?" Terrador abruptly called out, causing Spyro's attention to snap back to him. "You've been quiet for almost a full minute. Is everything all right?"
"Y-yeah, I'm fine. But it's true, I'm sad about Ignitus," admitted Spyro. "Even though I only knew him for a relatively short time, I still felt like I knew him for years. He helped me to discover who I really am, he helped me to learn how to fly. I owe him so much, but I can't repay him. That's what I regret most of all."
"I've known Ignitus since the two of us were mere children; I know how you feel, Spyro," replied Terrador. But do not feel like you have regret. Ignitus would always want repayment last of all. He died without regret. And by the ancestors, I know he'll watch us over from the afterlife, relieved for the new age you've created, relieved for your own survival."
"Indeed," Cyril chimed in. "There's no use moping about when there's still life to enjoy. But of course, it would be most disrespectful of us if we failed to give Ignitus a proper valediction. We've organized a funeral that is to take place tomorrow, once we reopen the city to the public."
"A funeral? Tomorrow? Oh... I-I guess I never thought about that," confessed Spyro.
"There'll be many in attendance. Not just myself and the Guardians, but some from my own village will be there as well, so will all the moles and dragons who live within the city," Hunter detailed.
"Sounds like it'll be awfully crowded," noted Sparx.
"You'll attend, right Spyro?" Cynder asked.
"Of course! I wouldn't miss it for the world!" Spyro exclaimed somewhat anxiously.
"Even with so many others around?" inquired Cynder.
"Absolutely."
Cynder paused for a moment to gather up thoughts in her head. I'd never doubt he'd choose to go. He'll need someone there to help get him through it, she spoke in her mind. She then mustered up a smile as she looked to Spyro. "Then I'm with you," she told him, feeling slight warmth well up in her face.
"Thanks, Cynder," Spyro replied, showing her a touched smile of his own.
"Very well then. The funeral's due to take place at noon tomorrow, right at this very spot, outside the city hall over there," explained Terrador. "I shall be the one to ensure it goes according to plan."
"But there's one thing I still need to know... With Ignitus gone, who will lead the Guardians? Who will oversee the Year of the Dragon?" questioned Spyro.
"Myself," Terrador got straight to the point. "Among the four of us, I was always considered second-in-command. I've had some of the most experience in battle, so I believe it's only logical for me to take the helm. As such, I have taken it upon myself to fill in the role as leader of the Guardians going forward. I'm positive that Ignitus would have agreed with it being the best option." He paused briefly to lower his head closer to Spyro and continue with a slightly quieter voice. "And besides, Cyril and Volteer may be respectable Guardians in their own right, yet they lack the sense of...authority."
Spyro snickered to himself with amusement, much to the dismay of Cyril and Volteer.
"What complete poppycock!" Cyril argued, as if highly offended. "I have authority! I have tons of authority! My ancestors were always about authority!"
"Preposterous!" snapped Volteer. "I-I am as much of a respected figure as anyone who holds the Guardian appellation! I, uh, uh..."
"OK, you two, settle down," grunted Terrador.
Spyro chuckled bashfully towards Cynder, who gave off an amused smile back.
"Well then..." Terrador spoke to both Spyro and Cynder. "The three of us still have work to do. Once we gather the rubble in this area together and dispose of it appropriately, which should be done by tomorrow morning, we shall reopen the city. Then the streets shall be abuzz with activity once again. Until then, why don't the two of you rest up for the day?"
"Huh? Are you sure you won't be needing our help? I wouldn't hesitate to assist!" Spyro declared.
"We can handle it ourselves, Spyro. You and Cynder only just arrived here. You've been through so much, and deserve plenty of rest and relaxation," reassured Terrador to the young dragon duo. "And tomorrow's an important day, so you should recharge some of your energy for then."
"That's very kind of you, but where exactly are we going to stay for the night?" Cynder curiously wondered.
"We have accommodation for you two. It's a small room that we've picked out especially for you both. I hope it will be to your satisfaction," Terrador proclaimed.
"Whoa there, greenie. Just for Spyro and Cynder? Yo, what about me? I want somewhere to sleep at night too! And certainly not outside in the cold, like what I've been doing for the past few days!" snapped Sparx.
"Sparx, you are tiny and take up virtually no room. Space for you is of very little concern, if none at all," answered Terrador calmly.
Sparx puffed his cheeks out. "Touché."
"Now, Hunter will lead the way. He'll take you there," stated Terrador.
"Ah yes, it shall be my honor, Terrador," answered Hunter, resting a paw on his chest. "Spyro, Cynder, if you will."
"Oh, sure thing, Hunter," obliged Spyro. "Well, I guess I'll see you later, Terrador, Cyril, Volteer."
"Rest well, young Spyro. And you too, young Cynder. Make yourselves comfortable," said Terrador.
Spyro nodded to Terrador before joining up with Hunter, with Cynder and Sparx tagging along. The cheetah warrior proceeded to lead the two dragons away from the area and back towards the alleyway they had previously traveled down.
"Get rid of all that rubble back there? And how exactly are they gonna do that, huh?" Sparx wondered aloud, being the first one to begin a conversation.
"Oh, I guess I never gave that any thought," answered Spyro, he himself clueless.
"The Guardians plan to carry the debris out of the city to dispose of it appropriately," educated Hunter, having knowing the answer himself.
"What? But those pieces are bigger than they are!" exclaimed a shocked Spyro.
"Don't underestimate the Guardians' power," uttered Cynder. "I thought you of all dragons wouldn't do that." She then smirked lightly at Spyro.
"OK, OK, maybe that was a little silly of me," Spyro admitted, catching on to Cynder's expression. "But can they really finish by tomorrow morning? Now I feel more down with not getting to help."
"Spyro, dude, you're a big guy, in comparison to me, that is. But you'd be crushed under all that junk back there," Sparx remarked.
"Hehe, that's the naive Spyro I know too well," quipped Cynder.
"D-d-don't embarrass m-me, Cy-Cynder!" Spyro stammered with utter chagrin.
Cynder found herself chortling fondly at Spyro's reaction and embarrassed face. She could notice him flustering uncontrollably. As such, he hid his head behind his wings, shielding himself not from a direct attack, but from sheer humiliation.
Even Hunter could not help but allow a smile of his own to tag at the sides of his mouth at what was occurring behind him. Realizing that the dragon duo were getting along so dearly touched his heart. When there was peril afoot, the two of them combined their strengths and battled fiercely. But when threat levels were at a minimum, they were as close as friends could get, talking together, laughing together, and simply getting along well.
Sparx, on the other hand, appeared not too keen on the exchange. He crossed his arms and clenched his eyes shut tightly. He felt repulsed by the way Cynder made Spyro react with her lighthearted teasing, and refused to pay any further attention. Seeing Spyro conceal his unbearable embarrassment did not exactly help, either.
Naturally, it was Cynder who was relishing in the moment the most. For once it allowed her to push aside her worry and deep troubles of the past. Even if her nerves held her back from speaking of her ultimate feelings for the dragon she adored, being able to enjoy her time with him still made her feel at ease, even cozy in a sense.
After a short amount of time, the group of four arrived at the central courtyard of the dragon city. Hunter continued to guide Spyro, Cynder and Sparx towards one of the surrounding buildings, more specifically the one in the southern direction.
He led them towards the structure, through several pillars that held up the second floor and through a pair of front doors. Inside was nothing more than a long corridor stretching out both left and right, with a wide staircase directly ahead from the entrance, capable of allowing even the largest of dragons upwards to the second floor. At the top was a second corridor that stretched out in both directions, with a series of doors running all along the front side, each separated by a gap of roughly ten feet.
Hunter escorted his group towards the door that laid three doors down and to the left from where the staircase was. It was a wooden door painted a faint red color. Turning the handle, Hunter opened it. Inside was a quaint rectangular room, decorated with a beige carpet and white-painted walls and ceiling. To the left was a wide bookcase that presented at least one hundred books worth of reading material. To the far right was a desk with an oval shaped mirror built into the top of it, along with an inkwell and quill placed atop it. Dead center of the room were a series of cushions of differing colors. Just looking at them brought comfort to both Spyro and Cynder.
What was at the back of the space caught the dragons' eyes the most: a decently-sized balcony that overlooked and provided a delightful view of the courtyard below in its entirety. A set of midnight-blue curtains were also drawn aside in front of the balcony, allowing the sunlight in to brighten up the room.
"This is your room. It is where you shall sleep," Hunter mentioned.
"Wow, it's a lot better than I imagined," Spyro commented. "Of course, nothing beats Avalar, but I think I could totally get used to this."
Typically of him, at least to both Cynder and Sparx, the first thing Spyro did, having been introduced to his new headquarters of sorts, was dive into the cushion collection before him, rolling onto his back and stretching his entire body, wings included, before settling down motionlessly on the comforting pile.
"Aaaand thus he became lazy again," sighed Sparx.
"Oh, let him have his coziness, Sparx," Cynder defended Spyro's actions.
"What? Don't you know how hard it is to get Spyro up in the morning? He's one of those 'just five more minutes' guys," snapped Sparx.
"I know, but I don't mind...usually," replied Cynder.
After that, she stepped into the room to get a better look at its interior. She expressed extra interest in the bookcase in particular, possibly because she had a fascination with reading. But nothing arose her intrigue quite like the balcony. Passing by the relaxed purple dragon, she passed through the wide gap in between the curtains and stepped out onto the balcony, lined with white-and-brown tiles in a basic pattern. She lifted herself onto her hind legs, leaning over the guardrail for support, and looked up to the sky. The sky was clear and blue, with a tint of orange, though it certainly was not as tranquil as the valley. Cynder sighed lightly, as if already missing the lush green fields of nature, though deep down still appreciative of the view she had access to within the city.
After another moment, she turned her head to peer over her shoulder. "You joining me on the balcony, Spyro?"
Spyro groaned lightly and began to shift his position to get a better look at where Cynder was, then back to Sparx and Hunter, who had remained stood in the doorway. "Oh.. Actually, Cynder... There's something I need to do, in private," he announced to her as he squirmed back onto his feet. "I'm sorry, but I'll join as soon as I'm done."
"Oh... O-OK," Cynder responded, obviously disappointed.
Walking up to Sparx and Hunter, Spyro said to them: "Can I talk to you for a few minutes, somewhere quiet?"
"Huh? What about?" asked Sparx.
"It's private, and I don't want Cynder to hear anything," Spyro whispered back.
"I see. All right, let's go to the bottom of the corridor. We should be in privacy there," suggested Hunter.
"Thanks," Spyro answered.
He proceeded to shut the door, leaving Cynder alone, then traveled to the far end of the corridor with both and Hunter by his side.
"Well, here we are, the boring, quiet end of the corridor, like you wanted," remarked Sparx. "Alright, buddy, tell your bro what's up."
"OK, so..." Spyro began to speak, sitting down on his haunches. "Well...it's about Cynder. Earlier today, she was...uh, acting odd, out of character, even. It's as if she had a sudden change in mood overnight."
"Hmm? How do you mean?" Hunter pondered, his concern levels raising from Spyro's words alone.
"A sudden change in mood, you say? Nah, I wouldn't worry too much about it, dude; it's probably just the result of puberty or something," Sparx theorized.
"Sparx!" snapped Spyro, not amused by his suggestion, and glaring at him angrily.
"Sparx, please. Have some manners," Hunter spoke calmly, before clearing his throat. "Anyway, Spyro, would you care to explain?"
"She was hesitant on coming to Warfang, even though she promised she would yesterday. When I woke up today, she wasn't beside me like usual. I ended up finding her sat alone in the valley. I asked her what was going on and she started brooding about her past. Now, she's been bothered about her times serving under Malefor, but never like this. It even caused her to get angry with me briefly."
"Hmm, it's indeed strange that Cynder would act that way, especially so out of the blue," Hunter analyzed Spyro's words with his paw on his chin. "Maybe the fact that you were to return to Warfang triggered something in her mind. A great fear, perhaps."
"Well, she did mention how scared she was to meet other dragons, especially if they don't know that she helped to end the war Malefor caused. And I think the idea that many dragons would be flooding the city made her frightened," recalled Spyro.
"She will be surrounded by strangers of her own species. I'm sure anyone would be intimidated by the fact at first. But, I see no need for her to fear," Hunter sat on the floor to be more level with Spyro. "I do believe that once others come to understand that she fought beside the purple dragon of legend, bringing down her former master and saving the world in the process, they will eventually warm up to her, and finally accept her, even with the knowledge of her sinister past. Any and all skepticism about her, given the chance, will be negated when it is realized that she is no longer to be feared. I am certain of that."
"Thanks for the encouragement, Hunter. But...how can I be sure she'll be welcome here?" Spyro pondered, still clearly worrisome about the situation.
"It needs to be proved to her that she won't be made an outcast," urged Hunter. "Show her that she's welcome in Warfang. Ease her troubled heart."
"I-I guess you're right, Hunter. I do wish to do anything for her, after all," Spyro answered. "But, that's not the only thing on my mind about her." He paused for a moment to gather his thoughts together before speaking out again. "...Some things happened between us."
"What sort of things?" wondered Hunter.
"It happened just after we defeated Malefor," Spyro began to tell. "When we were at the world's core after the battle, and it was just me and her, and the world was breaking apart around us, I chose to avert it, and she chose to stay with me as I did so. I released a bright light from my body, and at that moment, I heard Cynder whisper something to me just before I blacked out."
"Do you remember what she said?" Hunter inquired.
"Very clearly," answered Spyro. He then stood back up, looked right, then left, and finally down to the floor. "She said..." He paused to take in air and gather his courage to say what he needed to. "...She said she loves me."
Sparx gave off a surprised reaction once those few words escaped Spyro's mouth, his eyes widening, as if trying to flee his orbits.
"W-w-w-whoa! First you go chasing after her, then you freeze her in crystal for three whole years, then you both get chained together. And at the end of all that she loves you?! Oh, brother...!" Sparx held a hand to the side of his head in disbelief.
"I've been just as shocked as you, Sparx. Nothing could prepare me for that," Spyro replied.
"A proclamation as sudden as that would surprise anyone," stated Hunter. "Tell me, Spyro. How do you feel about Cynder? Do you perhaps feel like you share similar feelings?"
"Well, in all honesty , I feel like I do, but this is such a new feeling to me. I can't quite make head or tail of it," Spyro sighed. "If you get this feeling inside you whenever you start thinking about someone else, the feeling that being around that someone makes you want to stay by them forever, is that what they call love?"
"Spyro, love can be a very complicated thing, both to understand and act upon, but if you feel like you are experiencing such feelings for Cynder, and if there's evidence that she may feel the same for you, it's not ideal to hold how you feel in," Hunter gave his honest advice.
"I...suppose you're right about that, Hunter," Spyro sighed. "After all, Ignitus did say there's a bond me and her share. It's as if he sensed it, maybe even predicted it."
Spyro then sat back down, this time keeping himself prostrate, lying his head atop his front paws. He began to recollect memories that were significant to him.
"When Malefor took control of her, and made her attack me against her will, I felt hopeless, like my entire world had collapsed on top of me. Then she demanded to know why I wouldn't fight back, and I answered honestly. Seeing her succumb to the darkness... I had nothing left to fight for. But when I said that, a miracle happened. She was able to snap out of Malefor's control. And she looked at me with this gentle smile, despite the chaos happening, and assured me that there is always something to fight for. That was when I realized...I might truly have such feelings for her.
It's been on my mind ever since she said she loved me, when we somehow survived the ordeal of saving the world, and woke up in the Valley of Avalar. Ever since then, she's never been happier, as have I. Yet not a moment went by during our time in the valley that I didn't think about those words she said. I would often ponder to myself if I should remind her about it, and if I should say the words back to her. I feel like I should, but... Well, I don't feel quite brave enough for that. Fighting the Dark Master is one thing, but love is another battle in itself. One much more difficult."
"Yo, if you're planning on asking me for dating advice, I'd hate to break it to you, but I'm not the one to give it," stated Sparx frankly.
"No, no, I know you wouldn't be able to help me with this," Spyro confessed to realizing.
"My ultimate advice to you, Spyro, is this: take as much time as you need to think it over. I've only little knowledge, but this is all the help I can give. And remember to show her signs of possible affection. Allow her to feel safe and reassured by your presence. When the time is right, perhaps that will be the best opportunity."
"Good advice. But we just got settled down here, and there's still the funeral tomorrow. I've been wanting to tell her how I feel, but my mind's been so preoccupied by other things. I can't seem to find a suitable time and place. Even at the valley, I'd just get too nervous. Oh, I feel so helpless," Spyro lamented.
"If you feel it's too difficult, go about it slowly," reminded Hunter. "Now, I suggest you return to Cynder, before she starts to worry over how long your absence is."
"O-OK. Thanks for listening to me, both of you. You coming, Sparx?"
"Oh, me? Nah, not just yet. You, uh, you go on ahead. I'll catch up," insisted Sparx.
"Um, OK then," Spyro raised one brow at Sparx. "But can you at least keep what I said to you from Cynder for now? It would be really awkward if she found out through you."
"Oh, sure thing, Spyro. Anything for you," Sparx promised somewhat woefully.
Believing the words of his surrogate brother, Spyro walked away from his conversation partners and headed back towards the faint red door that housed his current room behind it. Once he had stepped back within and shut the door, Sparx had a sudden change of attitude, holding his fingertips to his mouth in fear.
"Would Spyro really fall in love? The big guy's great, but could he really give in to that? Ohhh, but...what will become of me if he did? He'd end up with less time to spend with me, I'm sure of it! Ohhhhh! It's too scary to even think about! ...M-maybe that's also just puberty playing its sick tricks. Y-yeah, that's it! Spyro's just going through the change. My lifelong buddy would never abandon me for a girl! This'll all just blow over eventually!" he blurted out.
"Sparx, is everything all right?" Hunter inquired, concerned about the dragonfly's mood.
"Oh, me? In perfect condition, furry boy," Sparx dropped his worry and replaced it with pretend giddiness. "Well, I guess I'll reunite with my dragon. See ya later."
Leaving behind a puzzled Hunter, Sparx fluttered his way down towards Spyro and Cynder's room. He attempted to turn the handle downward to open the door, but his small stature had little strength in it. He continued fruitlessly, grunting all the way, before finally giving up.
"Bah!" he snapped in annoyance.
With his options quickly exhausted, he knocked on the door. Seconds later, Spyro opened to greet him.
"Sparx?" He showed confusion towards the one he was addressing.
"Yeah, this door ain't budging for me alone," Sparx declared.
"Come on in," Spyro sighed, leaving the door open to grant Sparx entry, before shutting it again.
With this slight interruption dealt with, Spyro returned to Cynder's side, who had remained stood on the balcony the entire time, having been waiting for the purple dragon to come back to her. He stood next to her and eyed the sky. There they stayed for a number of quiet minutes, just looking out over the courtyard below them. Meanwhile, Sparx was simply hovering above the cushions in the center of the room, circling around them repeatedly until he almost made himself dizzy.
Eventually, Spyro's eyes began to wander away from the view of the city laid out below the balcony. He turned back to spot Sparx, still moving around in his circular pattern, then he glanced over to Cynder, locking his gaze onto her as she remained completely unaware, still relaxing to the scenery.
Spyro wanted so badly to remove his stare from her out of fear of being discovered by her, but he could not bring himself to do it. He soon began to gather up thoughts about her appearance in his mind. Those smooth, silver-white horns protruding from her head; sharp, yet also elegant. The way the silver-made choker around her neck sparkled in the light like a polished mirror. The way her dark purple scales reflected light in such a splendid way, and how that magenta underbelly and wing membranes contrasted beautifully with the rest of her body.
And most of all, that pair of emerald-green eyes. Spyro looked especially hard into them, captivated by their femininity and grace. Once he locked on, he felt compelled to never look away; simply noticing them had the most profound effect on his thoughts. Was what he had spoken about to Sparx and Hunter really the truth? Even if he felt unable to admit his interest in her, one thing was certain: to him she looked stunning, without a shadow of a doubt. He felt his heart rate climb a little since taking in the sight of her.
"Spyro?" Cynder suddenly uttered.
Caught off guard, Spyro snapped out of his trance-like state and averted his eyes in a panic, causing his heart to race even faster. He looked dead ahead just in time for Cynder to look at him.
"Y-yes, Cynder?" Spyro trying desperately to hide his alarm.
Cynder gave Spyro a puzzled expression for a moment due to his odd reaction. "...I just wanted to know if you really think we'd be all right staying in Warfang."
"Oh? W-why do you say that?" wondered Spyro, still evidently jumpy.
"Well, a soon-to-be bustling city like this, compared to the peaceful grass-filled fields of Avalar. I was starting to get used to the latter. Honestly, nothing could possibly top it when it comes to a place to call home," Cynder sighed.
"Well... You're right when you say the valley can't be topped, but the choice to come to the city was entirely mine. Of course, I would never leave you alone while I traveled here, not after everything we've been through," Spyro lectured. "I wanted to come because I wanted to see our friends again, and I want to stay so I can attend Ignitus's funeral. It would crush me if I couldn't, and I know you know that. I could never forgive myself and move on if I never gave him a proper farewell."
"I understand your reasoning, and believe me, I appreciate your concern for me," Cynder replied. "But what will we do after that? Will we call Warfang our new home?"
"Oh, I guess I never thought of that... All I've been thinking about was tomorrow's funeral, ever since Terrador told me about it. I...I don't really know. Warfang could prove to be a great place to live. I mean, we'll have all we need right here. We can have this room all to ourselves, and it does its job well. And once the city reopens, all our daily essentials will be a wing flap away. ...And yet, the valley is just so beautiful, and away from all the chaos. Plus, all the fish you can eat..." The thought of fish made Spyro's mouth water. "Mmm, fish..." he mumbled with pleasure.
Spyro emitted a sudden yawn after that.
"Spyro?" said Cynder in response.
"Sorry, Cynder I know it's still early, but I'm starting to feel tired after all that flying," Spyro spoke lazily. "I think I should get some sleep now."
"Oh... I see... Well, I guess you're right," responded Cynder, somewhat disappointed.
"I know it's only dusk, but tomorrow's a big day for a few reasons, and I want all the energy possible for it all," mumbled Spyro. "Goodnight, Cynder."
He trudged on over back inside and towards the cushion pile, and pounced on top, stretching his hind legs and making himself at home.
"Wait, what do you mean 'for a few reasons'?" questioned Cynder.
"I'll let you know tomorrow, Cynder," Spyro muttered these few words indolently. "All that stuff about living in Warfang... We'll discuss it tomorrow too."
Cynder sighed to herself. She was not too pleased that the conversation between herself and Spyro ended so abruptly. Though before long she turned her attention to Sparx.
"Hey, Sparx?" she called.
"Yeah?" Sparx stopped to look towards the voice's source.
"I sure hope you don't plan on going to sleep early too," said Cynder. "Well, are you?"
"What? Me? Heck no, lady. I get tired nowhere near as early as Spyro," he claimed with confidence.
"Great. Then why not come over here so we can chat?" invited the dark-scaled dragoness, feeling somewhat lonesome without her favorite dragon by her side.
"What? You want to talk...to me?"
"I just feel like talking. Me and you don't get to talk much, especially considering how much you clearly hated me at one point," Cynder announced with great honesty.
"Oh... O-OK," Sparx stammered, but obliged nonetheless. He then flew over towards the balcony. "Well, here I am. Sooooo... W-what do you want to talk about?"
"I just wanted to know something," Cynder began to talk. "All that stuff between us before. You know, you thinking I was still evil, and not trusting me. We're cool now, right? You're all right with me, yeah? The last I'd need is to be antagonized any further."
"Oh, all that stuff? You're still worried about that?" Sparx acted legitimately surprised, before flying closer to Cynder's face, hoping to make what he had to say to her all the more clear. "Listen here, Cyn. I know you're not so bad anymore. That's all in the past, y'know? No hard feelings. Besides, you looked after my buddy Spyro for me when you both went away, just like I asked you to. And for me, that's good enough. So don't go worrying yourself sick, OK? You and me are alright now."
"...'Cyn'?" Cynder's response to the nickname made her feel unusually flattered. "...Anyway, thanks for that, Sparx. I guess I underestimated you a little."
"Eh? What do you mean by that?"
"Oh, nothing. I do appreciate what you've said to me. It's good to have others backing me up. I mean, I was the one who became scared by the idea of others disregarding me because of...what happened in the past. Maybe...maybe Spyro's right. Maybe nobody will be afraid of me anymore. I look nothing like how I looked when I was corrupted, like he said." She halted her speech momentarily to look at Spyro, who appeared to have fallen asleep surprisingly swiftly, though she could not tell easily. "And from the beginning, when I was returned to normal, Spyro always put me first, despite everything. He showed me understanding and sympathy, no matter what. He's...he's..."
She stopped herself, looking down at the ground in guilt for a moment or two.
"Hey, you OK there, girl?" Sparx asked with actual concern.
"No, I'm fine. I'm fine," Cynder convinced Sparx of such.
Even so, her mind once again turned to thoughts of Spyro. He seemed asleep, so she really was unable to act upon her feelings now. It pained her again to realize she had to delay delivering her confession for even longer.
"Thanks for hearing what I wanted to say Sparx. It's very sweet of you," she announced.
Sparx scratched the back of his head in bashfulness. "Yeah, you're welcome."
"It'll be a busy day for Spyro tomorrow, and I'd want to help him get through it. I think I should get some sleep too," Cynder decided. "You don't mind, do you?"
"Oh, not at all, Cyn," Sparx answered.
Without another word, though with a sense of relief owing to Sparx's lack of objection, Cynder tiptoed towards Spyro's side and carefully laid herself on the cushions next to him. Settling down with her head on her front paws, she peered over to Spyro.
"Sleep well, my hero," she whispered sweetly to him.
Then she closed her eyes, ready for her own descent into the realm of slumber.