Chapter 4: Acceptance

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters in the Wings of Fire or the Legend of Spyro series but I do own any and all original characters in this story.

1 year...

The dragonet known as Cynder looked wistfully out a window in the small room. She'd been told to read the book set before her by some big Ape. But she had no idea what half the words meant!

Laughter drifted in from outside, the sound of young Apes having fun. She gazed longingly out at the field outside, wishing she could join them. But instead she had to stay here, doing boring things under the watchful eyes of the other big Apes.

But she hadn't seen any other Apes around. After the big one had deposited the book in front of her and told her to read, he'd left and she hadn't seen any other adults since.

An idea began to form. Maybe she could sneak out and play a bit before returning before anyone noticed. She peeked around the door. The corridor was deserted. She slipped past the door and padded out.

Suddenly there was a loud slamming sound behind her and she jumped, startled. Her tail had caught on the edge of the door! She retreated before scanning around. Nobody seemed to have noticed the commotion. Well, she thought, now or never, and she darted out to the field.

She arrived on the fields huffing and panting. Nobody seemed to have seen her. A thrill went through her. She'd never done this before! She scampered up to the biggest Ape, the one who looked like the leader.

"Can I join in?" asked Cynder.

"Yikes!" the Ape yelped, startled by the sudden appearance of the black dragonet. "Where did you come from?"

"I was in that tower but I snuck out," she said, glowing with pride at her achievement.

"You're that dragonet, right? The one the adults brought home?" the Ape asked. By now his pals were crowding around, trying to get a better look at the dragonet.

"Yep," she replied. "I'm Cynder."

"Well, uhh, Cynder," the Ape said. "I'm afraid you can't, rules say Apes only."

"Huh? What kind of rule is that?" Cynder demanded.

"It's a rule," the Ape said. "If you break them, you can't play. I'm sorry."

Cynder felt terrible. All her hard work had been for nothing. "Well, okay," she said awkwardly. Plenty of the other Apes were giving her pitying looks. She slunk away. If I can't join in, maybe I'll just watch, Cynder thought as she settled amid a tuft of tall grass.

From a distance away, unbeknownst to anyone, lurked the Assassin. He was impressed at the bravado of the dragonet, sneaking out like that. But he has to take some credit for that, he was the one who had told the guards to take the day off. He had wished to test the dragonet's capabilities.

He felt a little indignant when he saw the young Apes leave Cynder out of their play and was about to step in to handle it. But then he saw something else that made him hesitate.

Back in the grassy knoll, Cynder watched miserably as the Apes played hide and seek. Then she caught sight off a lone Ape sitting by himself. She approached him and, out of curiosity, asked, "Why aren't you playing with them?"

The young Ape jumped, startled. Why is everyone scared of me, wondered Cynder. But unlike the Ape leader, this Ape smiled and said, "Hello there, I'm Bartimeus." He stuck out his hand. When Cynder gave him a blank look, he explained, "It's a friendly sign, you just shake it."

"I'm Cynder," she said and reached out a talon tentatively and the Ape took it, smiling. "So why aren't you with them?" Cynder asked.

The Ape's face fell a fraction. He pointed to his left leg. It was withered and malformed, barely of any use for moving. "I was born with this limp," he explained. "Makes it hard to run about."

"I'm sorry, Bartem-Bart," Cynder said struggling with his name. "Do you mind if I just call you Barty?"

"Not at all," Barty replied, sitting back down.

"What're you doing?" Cynder asked, noting the drawing in his hands.

"Just designs for a machine. I'm thinking of calling it Steam," he explained. "It's supposed to be for

transport purposes. Seeing how I can't walk, I thought it's a viable way of getting around."

"That's cool," Cynder said. A viable way of getting around? An idea was beginning to take shape. "Maybe you and I could help each other out," she said.

"I'm what way?" Barty asked.

"Well, if you can't run and I can't join in because I'm not an Ape, perhaps if we team up we can we can both join in," she suggested.

Barty's face lit up. "That's a great idea."

"You could sit on my back," she said. "Come on!"

Barty clambered on. "Wow, it's going to be difficult to stay on," he commented.

"Just hold tight to me," Cynder said.

The unlikely duo approached the Ape leader again. He saw them and asked, "Brother, what are you doing?" Barty's his brother, Cynder realised.

"I'm joining in," said Barty. "Cynder and I can team up. That way, both of us can play!"

The Ape looked uncertain but he was pleased that his brother was here. "Alright," he agreed. "Welcome to the game!"

Far off, the Assassin watched, beaming as Cynder and the other Apes ran off laughing. Beside him, Gaul snorted.

"Oh come on, my King," the Assassin said. "You're not still sore over the eye, are you?"

"I really hope she's worth it," was the reply he got.

"She will be," the Assassin said confidently.

"She's a world apart from any of us Apes. Don't forget that," Gaul said. He harrumphed and trudged off.

"She may be a world apart but perhaps we could all learn to be a little more accepting," the Assassin mused.