Chapter 2: A City Reborn
Spyro and Cynder landed near the gates of Warfang, the wood had been covered with a thick lamination to ward off magic, with reinforced metal locks and ballistas on the walls, looking ready for anything that is considered hostile towards them. As they came towards the gates, 2 guards saw them and drew their weapons, as they were just blobs in their eyes till they got closer.
"Halt, state your name and business here in...Master Spyro, Cynder."
The guards immediately withdrew their weapons and ordered someone to tell the guardians immediately. A small mole with incredible speed dashed off towards the new Dragon Temple, and within minutes arrived inside.
"MASTER TERRADOR, SPYRO AND CYNDER HAVE RETURNED, AT THE SOUTH GATES" He was shouting at the top of his lungs, causing all the guardians to turn their heads and rush past him and fly towards to the gates, to see this with their own eyes. They landed and stood behind the gate.
"Why have the gates not been opened, OPEN THEM NOW". Terrador's voice was furious, and the guard were startled, and rushed to open the gates.
The metal locks clanked and shifted until they unlocked, faster than Cyril thought they were capable, and the gates swung open, revealing Spyro and Cynder standing in front of them, both showing smiles of glee and. The Guardians were amazed, but Terrador noticed Ignitus was not among them.
"Terrador, Volteer, Cyril, you're all alright" Spyro ran towards them, eyes beginning to swell up with tears. Cynder did the same, but her eyes just shined with emotion.
"Spyro, Cynder, you're safe, and by your efforts so are we" said Terrador, who stood up strongly and proud.
"Hahaha, i knew you 2 had made it, never had a doubt in my mind." Cyril was probably the happiest of the 3 Guardians.
"This is Amazing, Extravagant, Marvelous, Tremehmmhmhm" During Volteer's senseless speech Terrador placed a paw over his mouth, muffling his voice.
"It's been a long time Terrador, im sure you will have questions for us, but we both could use some rest first, especially him", Cynder and Spyro both nodded, confirming that was what they wanted.
"Alright, our small friend Drem will lead you to your rooms, meet us in the Dragon Temple Hall in the morning" With these words Spyro and Cynder followed the small mole towards a building unknown to them.
"Um...Drem, what is that place" When they were last in Warfang, the building they were looking at never existed before they left to defeat Malefor.
"Well, with the Dark Master destroyed now we need to bring all the dragons out of hiding, and we built this Academy to train any young ones not to descend into the path of darkness".
After a few minutes of walking they arrived outside the structure. The building was bigger than Spyro thought, and Cynder's expression was the same, although Spyro was wondering why she had been so quiet. The doors were made from a thick type of wood, stronger than most forms of metal.
When they opened the doors, their eyes gazed at the long hall filled with torches, food and moles were flourishing the area,everything in the building looked refined and polished to perfection.
"This way, the dormitorys are not far" Drem walked towards a corridor with several rooms on either of it, "Ok I'll take Master Spyro to his room then yours" Drem walked down the corridor till he approached a unique purple door, with gold jewels all around it.
Drem opened the door, the room was large, containing a bed, a balcony overlooking the city and training area of the academy, several empty shelves and spaces for other items
"Wow, you guys made this room...just for me" Spyro's jaw was open, he couldn't believe that in 2 days the moles had achieved so much. Cynder, who was next to him just smiled, and started to fantasize what her room would look like.
"I would love to have a really nice room like Spyro's, maybe a few decorations on the door" Her daydreaming was cut short by Drem tugging on her tail, avoiding the sharp point at the end.
"Come, your room is this way" Drem backtracked down the corridor, Cynder and Spyro following, untill they approached a black door covered in ruby-lined markings, which represented her pink markings and diamond encrusted horns covered the sides.
"Oh wow, the door is amazing", as she was admiring it Drem opened the door, revealing the room: Same size as Spyro's, has a balcony, same kind of bed except the framework was different.
Spyro was too amazed, but not of the room, while Cynder examined her room he would simply stare at her, admiring her sleek form and graceful movements as she walked around different parts of her room. Cynder had noticed this but did not mind him staring, in fact she enjoyed having the purple dragon admire her. The sun still shined onto the balcony, rays reflecting off the polished stone. Cynder took advantage of the weather and stepped into it, absorbing some of the heat, and let her scales gleam, which seemed to increase Spyro's heart rate by a few beats.
"Food will be served in 3 hours, but after i suggest some rest, as Master Terrador will want to see you tomorrow morning, I must return to him and make sure everything is ready". Drem was about to leave when Spyro snapped out of his trance.
"Drem, ready for what exactly" Spyro was curious as Drem turned with a smile.
"I'll leave that for you to figure out". With those words he dashed down the corridor, and vanished in a matter of seconds.
"Spyro, what should we do for the next 3 hours" Cynder had finished examining her room and perched herself next to Spyro, who was looking down the corridor where Drem had left. As he was focused Cynder took the time to carefully examine him. His scales had turned back to a bright purple, and his chest and horns were golden as ever. He had a few scars on his body from the amount of battles he had been in, though she was relatively unscathed, aside from a few scratches. Unlike when he stared, Spyro didn't notice her looking at him, as he though she was looking the same way.
"Maybe explore Warfang, that is if your ready incase we get swarmed with people wanting to thank us". Spyro had a sly smirk on his face, realizing that wherever he may go, it's very likely he will have a lot of moles, cheetahs and dragons cheering and crowding him.
"I'll race you" Cynder dashed in front of him, making Spyro jump before realizing what just happened, and immediately chased after her.
"Hahaha, i thought you were fast, maybe i thought wrong" Cynder's mocking words sparked a new fire in Spyro's heart as he jolted forwards, overtaking her much to her surprise".
Cynder sped up till they were neck and neck, making sharp turns through the corridors till the reached the hall, but didn't stop till they were outside, with Cynder smiling.
"Spyro, you forget i have wind on my side" She summoned her wind powered and pushed herself in front as they left the Academy.
"Hey, did we even say about elements" Spyro looked at Cynder, who turned around smiling
"Nope, didn't hear a thing" Cynder smiled as she stretched, allowing her muscles to relax after the race.
Both turned to look at the newly built Warfang, shops were flourishing and sounds of happiness filled the air, and in the distance they could spot Terrador ordering the gates to opened revealing a group of cheetahs approaching before bowing in front of Terrador
"Master Terrador, we have returned, did you receive our letter" Ghost was the only one out of the group not panting. He had an orange fur, which matched his eyes. He was wearing a cloak, similar to Hunter's on the day he found Spyro and Cynder.
"Yes, Ghost, but you will not need to venture out again, Spyro and Cynder have returned, but no sight of Ignitus, we will know of his fate tomorrow morning" Terrador's voice saddened slightly over mentioning the unknown guardian.
"I understand, May the sands of the desert whisk in the wind". Ghost bowed again before signaling his cheetahs to rest up in the barracks inside Warfang. The barracks are a medium-sized building, bigger than most of the huts in a village put together. Ghost insisted not to but the moles took the liberty of making a room inside for each cheetah. Ghost soon followed his group, and Terrador proceeded to return back to the temple while the gates locked behind him.
Spyro and Cynder took much of their time either talking to fans or looking at the stores.
"Cynder, we should head back to the Academy, food will be ready soon". As Spyro said this, his belly grumbled, causing Cynder to giggle slightly.
"Ok, by the sound of it your stomach agrees, so let's go". Cynder motioned Spyro to follow as she began to return to the Academy.
Within a few minutes, they arrived back inside, but to their amazement everyone was outside, with 2 dragonflies holding a banner saying: For Spyro and Cynder, Saviors of the World. Both were amazed by this, but Spyro was knocked in the face by a glowing object, which untill he opened his eyes, realized it was Sparx.
"Spyro, my purple idiot, your back". Spyro hugged Sparx tightly, almost choking him.
"Sparx, it's so good to see you again". Spyro was filled with joy, which placed a smile on Cynder's face.
Spyro let go of Sparx, who whizzed towards Cynder. hugging her in the process, catching Cynder off guard and shocking Spyro
"Thank you" Sparx almost shed a tear but restrained his eyes from doing so.
"For what?" Cynder's face turned to confusion. Sparx let go of Cynder as he replied.
"For keeping your promise to bring this lug back, i guess you're not that bad after all". Sparx and Cynder both smiled in unison.
Drem approached from the crowd, wearing a tunic.
"By your faces i can tell you could never work out what we were doing, but now i think its pretty obvious". He smiled and with some hand movements told everyone to go inside".
A lot of people had attended, Terrador, Volteer, Cyril, Hunter, Chief Prowlus, Ghost, they were just a few there.
"Come Master Spyro and Cynder, your friends and guests await you" Drem led the two dragons inside, the hall had been completely redecorated, the walls shined more than ever, torches were placed for light since the sky was dimming towards darkness. Food littered the long table in front of them, ranging from meats to cakes.
Spyro and Cynder walked together through the party crowds,both enjoying being so close, but holding this feeling in their heads untill they saw Hunter speaking with Ghost.
"I see Hunter, but who is that" Spyro pointed towards Ghost, Cynder looked but pulled the same expression as he did.
"I don't know, lets introduce ourselves to him" Both dragons walked up to them, both the cheetahs noticed them and finished their conversation
"Spyro, Cynder, its been too long old friends" Hunter was glad to see them.
"Same here, Hunter, but may I ask who is this?" Spyro pointed to Ghost, who was drinking some water.
"Ah, i forget this is Ghost, a friend I met a long time ago". Hunter decided to drink some of the water he had while Ghost introduced himself
"So, you are the legendary purple dragon Spyro, and this is Cynder, it's a pleasure to meet you both" Ghost bowed, but making sure he didn't spill his drink all over them. Ghost reared his head up and put his drink on a table while Spyro spoke.
"Any friend of Hunter's is a friend of mine" Spyro smiled as he lifted his foot to shake Ghost's paw.
"It's a pleasure to meet you to Ghost" Cynder repeated what Spyro did, which Ghost replied in the same way with Spyro.
"Ghost was leading the search party for you two while you were missing" Hunter had finished his water, and placed it where Ghost had.
"Thank you" Cynder was the first to say this.
"Yes, Thank you Ghost" Spyro and Cynder gave a quick glance to each other before nodding.
"I would like to continue this conversation, but i must return to the barracks and rest". Ghost turned towards Hunter and spoke a line he knew so well.
"May the sands in the desert whisk in the winds" Ghost bowed towards Hunter.
"And may the oceans shine across the land" Hunter bowed before turning to Spyro as Ghost left the area.
"What was that about" Spyro and Cynder both looked a little confused as Hunter had never said that in front of them.
"Me and Ghost are friends, while i grew up in the village, he grew up in the desert, and when he says goodbye he says an ancient line for luck to that person, and any cheetah who knows the response will say what I said. Deserts and oceans are 2 parts of the land, and both are majestic in their own way". Hunter had finished his sentence
"I see, so the response is returning the luck he gives". Cynder was intelligent and worked it out relatively easy
"Yes, exactly" Hunter nodded at Cynder before waving as he left.
For the rest of the party, Spyro and Cynder mainly talked to the guests, or ate/drank something, once the party was over, they both headed to Spyro's room.
"Well, I'll see you in the morning" Spyro had opened his door but Cynder's voice stopped him in his tracks
"Spyro...did you hear anything when you used...whatever you did" Cynder's face was anxious.
"Uhhhhh...Not that i know of, why?" Cynder blushed when he asked but her scales covered this for her.
"Ohhh no reason, see you in the morning". Cynder turned around and headed to her room, Spyro was caught in another trance as her body swayed side to side, his heart rate jumped again before snapping out of it. He entered his room and collapsed from pure exhaustion.
Cynder had noticed Spyro staring with the reflection off the walls. She didn't mind, though she was a little upset about him not hearing what she said. "Maybe he doesn't feel the same way about me". Cynder's eyes let a tear loose but she remained poised as she entered her room, which still sparkled like brand new. She relaxed on her bed and slowly fell asleep.