Stick with the drama right now, it'll fix up by chapter 5...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Spyro darted into the Dragon Temple, flying past Flame and Ember as he streaked through and straight into Cryil's classroom. He slid on his claws and skid to a halt right in front of the Guardian.

"Late?" Cyril asked, a growl escaping his throat. "Unacceptable." Spyro hung his head as the Ice Guardian stood over him. "You are the future of the Dragon race, Spyro. How can you assume such a responsibility when your punctuality is so...limited?"

"I...I'm sorry," Spyro stammered, still holding his head down. "I've been busy..."

"What could be of so much importance to make you forget your exam?" He glared at Spyro with one large eye, waiting for a decent answer.

"I...I've been working," Spyro came clean, lifting his head slightly to meet his mentor's eyes. "I only have a week left, though. After that, I swear I'll be punctual." Cyril shook his head and turned his eyes to the doorway, just as Cynder walked by.

"I also see where your focus is, young one." Spyro turned too, seeing the tip of Cyn's scythe tail just before it vanished passed the door. "Spyro, is all of this because of her?"

"No...well...maybe..." he stuttered nervously before sighing. "Yes. Yes it is, but you can't tell her anything!" Cyril smiled, a first considering Spyro's situation.

"Unlike Volteer, my lips are sealed."

"Good," Spyro replied, standing to his paws. "I'm building her something for Christmas, but it requires a lot of...time...and effort."

"Oh?" Cyril asked, raising an eye ridge. "And what could you be building?" Spyro lowered his eyes.

"I can't say." Spyro turned his eyes back to the door Cynder passed by. "I suppose I am too late for the final, huh?" Cyril chuckled softly, swishing his tail behind him.

"Young one, you can take it tomorrow." Spyro smiled at his teacher, realizing the slack he had just been cut.

"Oh thank you!" exclaimed Spyro joyously. He turned to head down the hallway, hoping to catch Cynder before her exam with Terrador. He was just in time, seeing her standing elegantly in front of the doorway to the class.

"H...hey Spyro," Cynder stuttered briefly. "How was studying?" He watched as a smirk crept across her face. "Though, studying doesn't help when you miss the test." Then, her face got serious, a look of worry in her eyes. "What's going on, Spyro? You've been acting really strange this past month. You...feeling okay?" She inched her muzzle closer to his in an attempt to brush her snout to his own. "I'm worried about you." She made contact, scraping her scaled side of her cheek affectionately against his.

"I know," he replied, rubbing back. "Just be...be...ACHEW!" The sneeze came out of nowhere, but erupted from Spyro's maw just as Cynder brushed against him. She leaned back and took a look at him, just as Spyro began sniffling.

"Bless you?" she said in the form of a question. Suddenly, shivers took to his body. The cold; the night before! Hunter warned him not to stay out too long. "Spyro, you're shivering!"

"I...drank some cold water from the stream awhile ago," he lied. She sighed, seeming to believe him, but then her eyes cut clean through it.

"It looks to me like you were swimming in it." She smiled and turned to her classroom. "I guess I better take care of you, Spyro. I'll make up for the test later on today."

"No!" Spyro suddenly cried out. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. Take your test, okay?" Cynder cocked her head at his behavior.

"What? You look like you're getting sick, Spyro, you need rest and I can help..."

"I know, but not this time. I...I'm ACHEW!" He sneezed again and groaned as he realized how terribly he was presenting his lie.

"That sneeze tells otherwise," she protested. Spyro let out a groan as Cynder stepped closer, entwining his tail with hers. "Come on, Hero. Let's get you taken care of."

"Cyn...I'm fine!" he continued to argue. "You don't have to..." Suddenly, Spyro found himself pinned against the side wall of the Temple, Cynder's paws on his chest holding him in place.

"You know what?" Cynder growled. "You're right! I don't have to. Maybe I should just let you sneeze to death in your room? Or maybe I should have left you alone to fight Malefor?" She dropped him and turned her back, hiding tears. "It seems you've forgotten me since then." Pain soared through Spyro's heart as Cynder turned away. "I've told you too many times, Spyro, how I feel. I...I've never heard it once. Why?" Spyro gulped, he couldn't get out of this.

"Cynder...I never have forgotten you. J...just trust me, okay?"

"Trust?" Cynder asked, whipping her body around to face him. "How can I trust the one dragon who's never there? It seems whenever I want to be with you, you disappear? You've been gone every night for the past month!"

"I know," he replied nervously, trying hard not to give his secret away. "Just please, Cyn."

"Please what? Do you know how hard it is watching Flame and Ember cuddle together while I'm all alone?"

Not for too much longer, Spyro whispered inside his mind. If you knew, you'd understand.

"Spyro!" His eyes shot back to her. "I'm getting so distant with you, you know that?" She inched closer, pressing her nose to his worriedly. "Please, tell me what has taken you from me?"

"I...I can't." She suddenly turned away, swinging her scythe tail just inches from his hindlegs as she walked away in a huff. Suddenly, Spyro decided something to say. Something that wouldn't give it fully away. "It's...a gift!" Her eyes turned back to him, her smile coming back to her face.

"For whom?" the dragoness asked curiously, her tail regaining its innocent wag once more. Spyro only smiled back, though another sneeze caused it to disappear. Cynder let out a giggle and stepped towards him again. "Come on, Spyro. Let's get you better." This time, Spyro complied, allowing her to wrap her tail around his and guide him to her room.

"Go lay down," she ordered him once they stepped inside. Spyro's eyes wandered as he saw her living quarters. It was neatly kept, books and writing material all in their rightful place, though her bed was not made and her covers were tossed about on it. "I'm going to see if I can get a tea bag from Volteer. Those Moles know best when it comes to colds and Volteer always keeps up with them. Stay here, and DON'T move." Spyro sighed and padded over to her bed. He climbed on top of it and inhaled, taking in her sweet precious scent. Heavenly, was the only way to explain it.

"Oh," Spyro muttered, crashing down on her bed and shutting his eyes as he sniffed her aroma that she had left. The inhaling caused another giant sneeze to build, but Spyro was smart. He flipped his body to where he was on his back, and sneezed with his muzzle skyward. As it was about to erupt, Spyro clamped his jaws shut to trap it within. "How can I let this happen? I have to go back tonight!" Spyro suddenly leapt up from Cynder's bed, growling with worry as he did. "I have less than a week to finish it. I have to go! If I stay, she won't let me leave." The dragon gulped and made up his mind. He had to desert her; he had to leave.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Despite Spyro's sudden sickness, Cynder was strangely happy. For once, she was to take care of him, as if she were his mate. A smile crossed on her lips as she gingerly padded out of Volteer's room with a tea bag dangling by its string from her muzzle. She wanted to spend the holidays with Spyro, and had been counting down the days until this moment.

I wonder what color hatchlings we'd make, Cynder began to think. Obviously they won't be purple, but still... Her thoughts diminished as she began to hum to herself while she made her way to her room. Upon opening her door, she gasped and dropped the tea bag. Spyro was gone, but in his place was a note.

Cynder,

Thank you for trying to care for me, but I feel much better. I had to leave and, I know this looks bad but you have to trust me.

Her eyes scanned down to the bottom of the letter, looking for three words she had longed to hear; there were none.

"Spyro," Cynder whispered, dropping the note. Did he even love her? He had never told her...ever! The dragoness sniffled and sulked over to her bed, leaping up and circling twice before flopping on her side. Just when she thought Spyro was hers, he leaves again.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Sorry I'm late Hunter!" Spyro told the cheetah breathlessly. "Did you get the stuff?"

"It's all ready to be picked up, Spyro," Hunter replied happily. "And you, are you ready to start building?"

If you think this is bad, wait for chapter 4

PEACE!