Chapter Three: Questions

Three days ago,

The rain was really pouring now. The water came down in relentless torrents, drenching those who were unfortunate enough to be caught in the storm. The wind howled like some ferocious beast. Wrappers and other garbage were blown about the street. Spyro stood on the sidewalk, soaked to the bone. He stood in front of a store. Spyro walked up to the store door, he looked up at the sign and then opened the door. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. He sighed with relief now that he was out of the terrible tempest. He turned around and looked at the store before him. The store was small and simple. Gray ceilings, gray floor, gray chairs, the only ounce of color came from a pot of wilted yellow flowers. Spyro could tell that it was a store rarely visited. He looked around and saw the front counter with a rather bored looking clerk with his back turned toward him, his scales were of course gray. Spyro walked up to the counter. He coughed to get the store clerk's attention. The store clerk turned around. He looked quite surprised, it was obvious that he didn't get very many customers. The clerk spoke in a raspy voice,

"What can I help you with?" He said with a rather feeble attempt at a smile.

"I'm looking for an engagement ring." Spyro replied. The clerk's smile brightened, for a moment it seemed as if he was actually slightly less bored.

"Wait just a moment." The clerk said. He walked to the back of the store near some shelves and started sorting through them. Spyro sat down on a chair nearby, ignoring the coating of dust, and began to think.

He'd known Cynder for almost ten years now. He remembered when they had first met, back in the third grade. He smiled as he remembered the way he'd felt when she kissed him that day. He had asked her about it the day after but she told him that she didn't know what he was talking about. (though her blushing told Spyro otherwise.) He and Cynder had eventually become good friends. He had fond memories of their friendship. While many of the other boys had told him that it was just plain weird to be friends with a girl, Spyro didn't mind. She wasn't like other girls. She didn't care about what she looked like or what boy had the cutest horns and all that other girly stuff. She seemed more like a boy to Spyro, she could climb the money bars, she talked like a boy, she could even play kickball better than most of the boys. Of course that didn't mean she was normal. Far from it. She had at least a dozen imaginary friends, a few of which Spyro was pretty sure she changed every day.

Spyro's thoughts were interrupted by a cough from the store clerk. He walked up to the counter. The clerk had a small box with a half dozen of rings inside. Each one was equally dazzling, they were all topped with a rare gem of some kind. They had bands of silver, gold, and platinum. They seemed out of place in the shop. Spyro couldn't tell which one to buy. He had absolutely no idea what kind of rings Cynder liked or whether she even liked rings, he didn't even know what her ring size was! But then he saw it. It wasn't grand and amazing like the other rings, but somehow he knew Cynder would like it. It was a shiny black stone with a band of silver for its base. Spyro pointed at the ring and asked,

"How much for that one?" The clerk looked surprised about Spyro's choice.

"That one?" The clerk asked, with more than a little doubt in his voice. Spyro nodded. The clerk shrugged and said,

"That one's only half as much as the others." He said. Spyro handed the clerk the money. The clerk took it reluctantly, he seemed rather disappointed that Spyro hadn't chosen a more expensive ring. Spyro thanked the clerk and walked out of the store and back into the storm.

Spyro's mind was racing. His hands fumbled with anxiety. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. His meal was untouched, his appetite long gone. He saw Cynder's eyes relentlessly staring into his. His heart hammered inside his chest with every beat. He hadn't guessed that it would be this hard. He knew he should just say it instead of waiting like this, but he was too terrified to open his mouth, his tongue felt glued to the roof of his mouth.

"Is everything alright Spyro?" Cynder asked. Spyro looked up.

"N-no, everything's fine."

"Well, you're not eating anything, and you haven't said a word all night." She said. Spyro didn't know what to say next, after all her accusations were correct.

"I-I'm just not feeling all right." He said. Cynder's eyes narrowed.

"Well that's obvious, but why aren't you feeling all right?" Her voice had a subtle edge of anger to it. Spyro paused again. He was desperately trying to think of an excuse for his odd behavior. He couldn't very well tell her yet.

"I-I think I'm just a little sick is all." He lied.

"You think your sick? Well why did ask me out tonight if you weren't feeling well?" she asked. The anger in her voice had been replaced with concern. Spyro swallowed. He was digging himself deeper now, it'd be nearly impossible to ask her now. He sighed.

"It's nothing serious, I'm just feeling a little under the weather is all." He smiled, trying to convince her everything was fine.

"Well if you say so." Cynder replied, she went back to eating her meal.

A few minutes later they had finished eating and went out onto the balcony. It was a chilly night, but the stars were all out and the moon full. Spyro was grateful that the stars were so beautiful this night, he'd need all the help he could get. Cynder leaned on Spyro's shoulder,

"The stars look beautiful tonight, don't they?" she said.

"They certainly do." Spyro replied. He looked at the constellations shaped out by the gleaming stars. They still entranced him just as much as they had when he was little. He marveled at how it all was. The moon with its constant orbit around the night sky, Spyro wondered how it all happened.

He looked down at Cynder and smiled. She had her eyes closed and her head was resting on his shoulder. She nuzzled his arm with her snout. His mind was searching desperately searching for something to say. His heart was pounding and fear gripped his heart. Suddenly, an idea popped into his mind.

"Cynder."

"Yes?"

"Here's a riddle for you." Cynder smiled.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Why does the moon and the stars shine every night? Why do you think their light would travel millions of miles just to reach this earth?" Spyro said. Cynder thought for a moment.

"I don't know." She said, "Why do they shine Spyro?" Spyro smiled,

"They shine for you." He said, "Every night their light travels millions of miles just so they can illuminate your beauty." Cynder smiled.

"It sounds like you've given it a lot of thought." She said.

"Well it's true." He said. "And if I were a star, I'd shine the brightest just for you." He looked at Cynder and kissed her cheek . After a few seconds he pulled away and began to talk,

"Cynder there's something I want to ask you." He said, his anxiety creeping into his voice. Cynder looked at him perplexedly.

"What is it?" She asked him, her voice as gentle as the night sky. Spyro cleared his throat.

"Cynder, I… would you" He began reaching for the ring. He pulled out the small box it was in. His hands fumbled as he tried to open it. His fingers slipped and dropped the box. The ring rolled across the floor and came to a stop and Cynder's foot. Spyro's mouth was agape with shock.

"I-I" he stuttered, but before he could say anything Cynder grabbed him, pulled him into an embrace and kissed him. Their lips joined together. Spyro was caught completely off guard. He and Cynder had kissed each other before, but it had always been nothing special just a peck on the cheek. He eventually returned Cynder's embrace. For a few moments they felt and unearthly bliss. They were together and nothing could change that. Spyro was ecstatic, his mind reeled with the realization that of what was happening. He'd done it, without even words he'd asked her the most important question of his life, the answer of which would change his life forever,

"Yes."