Disclaimer: I own nothing except my characters. Other canon characters are owned by their respective companies.

Exclaimer: To people who don't like the story, just don't read it.

Special Thanks to Alec the Dark Angel for being my beta for this story.

Chapter 4

Confessions

"Are you two okay?"

Spyro asked, looking at Sparx and Cynder who both had looks of devastation. Zaze however was just smiling and otherwise looked well than the other two. Seeing as the two ignored his question, Spyro turned to face him.

Zaze smirked. "Ignore them. Trust me; you'll know soon enough."

"Is this something I should be concerned about?" he asked worriedly.

"I think you should ask Cynder that."

Spyro turned to face the dragoness. "Cynder, what's going on?"

Cynder, who was looking down on the floor with a deep pondering thought, faced him. "I…uh…It's…uh…"

Clearly, she was having trouble stringing a sentence together. Her heart beat frantically as she looked at Spyro. Could she do it? Can she really do it? Can she actually kiss him? Briefly, her mind did a sort of flashback, as she remembered her specific words back at the volcano.

0 = 0 = 0

"I know what I need to do. Just get out of here, Cynder," Spyro ordered.

The entire place was beginning to break apart; the world was ending and the moment that was inevitable was finally here. The ground was shaking violently as rocks fell around them; the tremors caused even the lava that surrounded them to spill everywhere.

"Spyro, no…" she said. "You don't have to do anything. Let's just go."

"Where, Cynder? There'll be nothing left! The world is breaking apart. But I think I can stop it," he looked her in the eye, "I think I'm meant to."

Cynder looked at him, absorbing the meaning of the words he spoke. After a moment's pause, she nodded.

"Then I'm with you."

Spyro looked at her hopefully, before closing his eyes, and began to concentrate all of his energy. His body began to hover as it glowed white, the same as when Ignitus sacrified himself. As the quakes became even more violent, Cynder closed her eyes, and leaned close to Spyro.

"I love you…"

0 = 0 = 0

She had confessed her feelings for him, but it would seem that he wasn't able to hear it. Now, she was nervous on what to do. She could confess to him again, but she feared rejection. She could just kiss him upright, and tell him that it was part of a bet; but maybe this bet was the best way to tell him. Maybe this was the chance she was waiting for, deep down inside. And as Spyro stared at her, a faint blush formed on her face. What would he say?

"It's nothing."

But now was not the right moment to be thinking of delicate things. Spyro raised a brow, but eventually lowered it as he nodded.

"Okay then." Spyro turned around and went back to his place beside Zaze.

The four of them, Spyro, Cynder, Zaze and Sparx—whom had been surprisingly quiet—were standing before the Guardians and Hunter the Cheetah. Terrador was examining a scroll that was brought forth by Hunter, who was standing beside him.

"This is simply ecstatic!" exclaimed Volteer happily. "The Dragon City will finally be a city again! With dragons!"

"How many did you find Hunter?" asked the Ice Guardian.

"Ten groups in total," he said. "Five colonies and five scattered dragon nomads mainly composed of couples, hiding out in the mountain regions."

"Colonies!" asked Zaze. "Wow!"

"Yes; we've asked, and apparently, they've been surviving out there ever since the end of the war against Malefor…wait…" The cheetah stared at him; and realized that he didn't recognize him. "Who are you?"

He proudly puffed out his chest and said, "Zaze! Zaze the Dragon!"

"We've found him as we were heading back to Warfang a week ago," Cynder added.

"Oh," the cheetah said, "nice to meet you then. I'm Hunter."

"Likewise."

"When will they be arriving?" asked the Earth Guardian.

Hunter walked up to him and pointed to the scroll laid out on the table. "With the help of my fellow comrades, we've managed to make this map. As you can see here," —he pointed to the areas that had circles on them—"these are the locations where we found them. Most of them are far apart, and we'll take at least three days before they get here. However this colony right here," —he pointed to the circle closest to Warfang—"it being the biggest colony we've found, will be arriving later today."

"TODAY!" exclaimed Sparx.

"How many are they?" Cyril asked curiously.

The cheetah shook his head in shame. "I am sorry. They were too many for me to kept track."
Terrador, however smiled with glee. "Splendid! This is truly an occasion worth celebrating!"

"It truly is. I think we should host a feast!" said Cyril, brimming with excitement.

"Shall I inform the moles?" asked Volteer.

As the Guardians and Hunter were busy bouncing around ideas of a supposed party, Zaze just sighed dejectedly at it all.

"I freaking hate parties…"

Sparx, who was floating beside him, heard his statement. "You; hate parties? I hardly believe that."

Zaze however just snorted. "I was never one for social gatherings."
"And here I thought you'd be all over this? With you and your personality, I expected you to be a party animal."

"Nah" —he shook his head—"I'd rather hang out with you guys, rather than rock it out with dragons I don't know."

At the other side, Spyro and Cynder were having their own comments to the party that was currently being planned.

"A party?" Spyro asked puzzled. "What do you do in parties?"

"Well think of it as a gathering, Spyro. Groups of dragon gathering together for one specific reason; and our reason are that we're here celebrating that we're all alive."

"Oh, I guess that's a good thing."

Cynder twiddled with her paws, as she thought of something.

"Listen…Spyro, can I ask you something?"

He smiled brightly at her. "What is it?"

"Can we talk…later…?"

"Uh" —he was surprised at her request—"sure."

"In private?"

Spyro blinked dumbly. "Um…okay."

Back with the Guardians, things were going rather smoothly in terms of the planning.

"So a feast it shall be!" Terrador said proudly. "We shall welcome our fellow brethren with a warm welcome."

"It's a good thing we've started repairs. Or we wouldn't be able to accommodate everyone into the city. The Temple alone isn't too big to house all these dragons," said Cyril thinking loudly.

"I shall go then, and inform the moles guarding the gates, that we are expecting visitors,' said Hunter, putting his hood back on.

"Thank you Hunter. You're help is truly appreciated," Terrador said, smiling at him.

"Anytime."

And with that, the cheetah left through the door. With things set in motion, the Guardians immediately went to work into planning everything, leaving the four dragons to their own devices. Zaze headed out to the hallway and slumped himself against the wall.

"Well I'm bored…"

"What can we do?" asked Sparx, floating beside him.

Behind him, Spyro and Cynder left together, with Cynder leading the way. She was dead set in executing her plan, which consisted of her talking to him in private.

"Where are they going?" Sparx asked.

Zaze's brow rose, a smirk formed across his maw, and his eyes twinkled. "Probably somewhere private."

Sparx glanced at him and saw his expression. "Wait. Is she…"

"Yup…she's probably going to do it now."

"Well, what are we waiting for?"

Zaze turned to face the dragonfly. "Huh?"

"We should stop her!"

"And…why? I won the bet. She's supposed to kiss him."

"That's why!" shouted Sparx distraught. "This is not happening!"

Zaze sat on the ground and pondered on the thought. "What's the problem between you and Cynder anyway? She never did anything to you—as far as I know. And besides, you have no right to meddle with whom your brother chooses."

"You do know who she is right?"

"Uh…she's Cynder? The dragoness that helped Spyro save the world?"

"She's the Terror of the Skies!" Sparx shouted.

"Oh, I remember Spyro telling me that. Wasn't she alongside Malefor before she was freed by Spyro?"

"Yes she is; that's why she has that title."

"Don't you mean ex then? She isn't exactly a terror now is she?"

Sparx scoffed. "The point is, she's evil!"

"And by evil you mean?"

There was a pause. Zaze raised a brow, wanting to see what Sparx could come up with as a reason. Judging from the silence, he was going to guess that there was none.

"…I don't know." Guess was right.

"You can't let go of him can you?"

Sparx sighed. "Maybe your right…maybe I shouldn't meddle with my brother's relationships."

Zaze felt a question mark pop above his head. "About this brother thing…how are you brothers?"

"It's a long story."

"I like long stories!"

Sparx sighed, muttering something about Zaze being so inquisitive, before smiling.

"You're going to love this story then."

0 0 0 0 0

Meanwhile…

"Where are we going?" Spyro asked as they walked down the silent halls of the Temple.

Cynder turned to face him, but kept walking and said, "Just follow me Spyro."

Turning around the corner, they were soon at the balcony once again. The very same balcony they were on one week ago. Cynder walked off to the railing, and then turned around to face him.

"I guess this is a private place," Spyro commented feeling the wind brush against his face.

"It kind of is," Cynder said, looking around to check if they really were alone.

Spyro twiddled his paws, as he sat down before her. "So…what did you want to talk about?"

"Well…"

'Just tell him! Tell him your feelings! You shouldn't be afraid of rejection!'

"How do I say this…" said Cynder, looking up top, as if the answer was written on the Temple walls. Spyro however just waited patiently, looking at her as the wind blew across her scales.

'If only…if only she knew…if only…if only I had the courage…'

However, Spyro's thoughts were derailed, when he noticed something at the far off distance.

"Okay, I get it now. Spyro, th—"

"Cynder, listen, I—"

"No, Spyro, you listen. This is something important," Spyro blinked, a bit surprised. "This is important to me."

"I understand, Cynder." He nodded to prove his point. "It's just that I'd like to mention something as well."

Cynder's brow rose. "And that is?"

"Turn around."

Odd, but Cynder followed his request. "What are you—"

She cut herself off, as she saw what Spyro was referring to. Out at the distance, near the horizon, was an evident speck. Given a few seconds later, the speck grew in size, and both she and Spyro realize exactly what it was.

It was none other than the colony Hunter was referring to.

It would seem they had arrived earlier than expected.

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