Chapter 4

Hello Again

Night of the Meteor Shower

Past Midnight

Kaida was showing Cosmo throughout the dragon city showing him all of the sites to see and places to go. Cosmo was amazed at the city.

"For dragons, they do a pretty bang up job with this city. It's . . . beautiful. And Kaida has been so nice. I couldn't imagine what I would have done if she wasn't there in the forest with me. And that meteor shower was incredible. But there was something odd about it. I thought I saw a falling meteor but no one else seemed to notice it. Oh well", Cosmo thought.

Kaida stopped in front of a busy looking building, "And this is the school. I used to go to school here. Well used to."

"School? Amazing, we have school in our world too",Cosmo explained.

"Really? I would have never guessed, I thought us dragons were the only ones with a school. Heck those fairies don't know what is right and what is left but we have a school!"

"Fairies? Are there any other mythical creatures I should know about?",Cosmo grinned.

"Umm, there are fauns, I saw one before. Have you ever seen a minotaur before?"

Cosmo shook his head, "How could I? I was just born two hours ago."

Kaida giggled, "Oh yea, that's right. Well I don't know if they are still existing or not. I heard they were going extinct or something."

Cosmo watched all the other dragons in front of the school. It seemed it was still under construction.

"Any idea what happened to it?"

"I don't know what happened to them. They used to run wild but one day."

"Not the minotaurs",Cosmo interrupted. "The school, what happened to it?"

"Oh, can't believe I never mentioned this to you before. All the construction sites you have been seeing, they are damages from the war we had."

"War? So sudden, how long ago?"

"Like, four days ago."

"So the war was between the dragons I'm guessing and . . . ?"

"Another dragon named Malefor. He was an evil dragon. He was supposed to be a special dragon like Spyro but in his early days he began to have a quench of thirst for power."

"I see where you're going with this. I think I can piece together the puzzle. So you say there's another dragon like Malefor?"

"Same in color, but not in heart. I seen Spyro before but I never spoke with him in person before. It's kind of frightening."

"Frightening? How, he's a dragon like the rest of you?"

"He's like, a hero. Him and Cynder. Cynder is a dragon that used to be evil from what I heard. Something about being cursed by the dark master or something. Spyro saved her and they both took on Malefor. I'm sure you can piece the rest in."

"Yea I guess I could. So where does this Spyro live?"

Kaida thought for a second then answered, "Not sure. But I think I know where Cynder lives."

"Then take me there, we are gonna meet this Spyro."

"What? But it's almost one in the morning. I was wanting to get some sleep. And Cynder might not like it that we would visit her at this time of the night."

"Hmm, maybe you're right. Sorry I was getting ahead of myself."

Kaida smiled, "Of course I could show you where she lived at because from here we pass by her home to get to mine."

"Alright then, let's go!"

Ten Minutes Later

Cosmo was beginning to become a little drowzy. All of the walking with Kaida and seeing all the sites with her and the strange encounter with that strange being had made him tired. But he wanted to see this Spyro character.

Kaida suddenly stopped in front of a lonely small house on the left side of the street. A small white picketed fence was surrounding the territory and two windows was on the front of the house. It was evidently only one story in height and the roof was slightly at a diagnal angle on both the front and back. In the small front yard was some grass taking a brown effect with its occasional daisy flower here and there. The chimney on top the house was a little stubby and short but Kaida didn't see any smoke. She studied it for a few moments then smiled. "This is it, Cynder's house."

Cosmo looked at it for a few seconds then turned to Kaida, "Doesn't look like much for a hero."

"She's only been a hero for four days though. And she has been quite busy helping with the repairs lately. From what I've heard she is going to be helping with the school repairs tomorrow morning around five."

"Woah five in the morning? Why so early?"

Kaida looked over at her friend, "Shivertail wanted the school finished as soon as possible so he put someone in charge of its construction. That someone evidently doesn't like Cynder too awful much."

"That's just stupid, does Shivertail even know of this?"

Kaida shook her head, "I don't know, I couldn't picture him making dragons work that hard though." Kaida turned her head back down the street. "Well, we should get moving. To my house. Have you seen my house yet Cosmo?"

Cosmo didn't say anything. His silence answered her obvious question.

Kaida giggled, "Oh yea, so forgetful am I?"

"Indeed",Cosmo replied.

The two began walking back down the dark street but then suddenly Cosmo stopped. Kaida looked back in curiosity, "What is it?"

"Did you hear something Kiada?"

"I heard you does that count as something? Yay I'm not deaf!"

Cosmo listened in harder then looked over at the bushes to the right of Cynder's house. "It's coming from there, in those bushes."

Kaida couldn't help but saying, "Be careful Cosmo, it could be another evil snake of terror."

Cosmo ignored the comment and slowly walked past the picketed fence and onto the grass. The same rustle came from the bush but whatever it was, it was making a run for it.

Cosmo couldn't tell who it was in the darkness but yelled, "Hey you!"

The figure didn't stop. It jumped the fence and ran off into the pitch black darkness where Cosmo couldn't see it, but he ran after it regardless. He too jumped the fence and ran straight into the darkness.

"Cosmo!",Kaida yelled as the front door to Cynder's house opened. Kaida turned her attention over to the front door and to her surprise, Spyro was there.

"You!",Spyro exclaimed and ran over to Kaida. Kaida was speechless. "So you have been the one snooping around Cynder's home! If I were you I would start running",Spyro said as he stopped in front of Kaida.

"No no it wasn't me! It was someone else! I saw him!",Kaida explained.

Spyro carefully examined the silver dragon, "Why should I believe you?"

"Look, Spyro, my friend ran after him into the pitching darkness you see behind Cynder's paradise. Whoever it was was fast and I'm worried."

Spyro looked over into the darkness with a squint, "Your name?"

"Kaida, my friend's name is Cosmo."

"Cosmo?", Spyro repeated. "I'll go find your friend, you stay here Kaida."

"No Spyro, it's pitch black darkness back there!"

"I know what is back there. It's a small forest in the middle of the city. You stay here where it's safe."

"No, I'm going with you! You have no idea how much Cosmo means to me!"

Spyro cocked an eye, "You mean, relationship wise?"

"No",Kaida immediately said. "He's the only friend I have, I'm going with you!"

Spyro couldn't resist, "Fine, but stay close."

Meanwhile

Cosmo ran with only a noise of the crackling leaves the character Cosmo was chasing. Cosmo was blind in the darkness. His heart was rushing, adreneline pumping, but he didn't know why he was doing this. He didn't get to even see this so called Cynder but yet, he was chasing an obvious future thief through the forest.

"Where is he? I'm loosing him! The sound is fading! I must run faster!"

But the sound was still fading and Cosmo was beginning to slow down due to fatigue. Then just so sudden Cosmo began hearing some other noise. It wasn't what he was chasing, it was someone saying something in his head.

"Your courage has been proven please allow me to reveal one of your hidden strengths."

"Excuse me?",Cosmo said. "Who are you? Where are you?"

Then suddenly everything in Cosmo's sight turned bright. Cosmo covered his eyes in reaction but he still saw brightness. Then the brightness was gone. He uncovered his eyes and everything in the forest was clear. It was a colorless view, but he could see clearly in the darkness.

"Night vision?", Cosmo thought then noticed the figure still running in the distance. Immediately he ran after him with a renewed vigor. As the figure was beginning to tire out Cosmo was able to gain distance on him.

The figure thought he was in the clear. He turned around and stopped with a evil grin on his face. The figure stood up as Cosmo approached making Cosmo slow down to a stop a few feet away from the figure. Then Cosmo realized who it was.

"You!",Cosmo roared. "What were you doing at Cynder's?"

The dark figure with the cloak frowned, "Why would you want to know? Cosmo is it?"

Cosmo hesitated, "Why?"

The figure hissed, "You will soon find out Cosmo. But for now I must leave. The gods will be watching you . . . Steven."

Cosmo grew wide-eyed, "How did you know?"

The figure grinned, "If I were you, I would get used to the dragon life for a long time. You're stuck here, just like I am."

"Cosmo!"

Cosmo looked back and saw two dragons. He guessed one of them was Kaida but he couldn't tell who the other one was. Cosmo looked back in front of him and the figure was gone. Cosmo quickly looked around but the figure was nowhere to be spotted. Cosmo turned back around and began his short walk to Kaida.

Kaida was startled by the sound of Cosmo's voice, "Kaida?"

"Yes Cosmo, it's me. I'm with Spyro he's here to help."

Cosmo chuckled, "I know it's you Kaida, I can see both of you clearly. With the exception of everything being colorless in the dark."

"Wait a second",Spyro interrupted. "You can see in this pitch black."

"I'll have to explain on the way back. Follow me you two so we won't get lost."

Kaida could barely see Cosmo but managed to follow him with Spyro behind. It was quiet for the first few moments but Spyro broke the silence, "So who was it?"

"Who was who? You mean that dragon that was at Cynder's?",Kaida asked.

"Yea",Spyro replied.

"He wasn't a dragon",Cosmo answered. "Kaida, do you remember that cloked character we stumbled into in the forest?"

Kaida answered after a second of silence, "Yea, it was him?"

Cosmo uselessly nodded then said, "Yea, I don't know why he was here. He disappeared without a trace."

"Wait, dark cloked figure?",Spyro repeated.

"We don't know much about him either Spyro. We know as much as you do at this point."

After a few minutes of walking the trio finally arrived back at Cynder's house. Spyro yawned as the colors rushed back into Cosmo's eyes. Cosmo guessed it was only in the dark that everything turned colorless but it would be quite useful in the future. Spyro walked up to the front door of Cynder's and stopped.

"I'm sorry I can't thank you properly for warding off that person away from here. So I was wondering if you two were available tomorrow at noon?"

Kaida and Cosmo looked at each other. Cosmo just shrugged and Kaida nodded, "We sure are."

Spyro showed a small grin, "Meet me and Cynder at Lateef's restaurant tomorrow if you can make it. I'll buy you two some lunch."

"Thanks Spyro but it's not necessary",Cosmo replied.

Spyro shook his head, "I won't take no for an answer. So be seeing you two. I gotta get back inside. Hopefully Cynder is still sleeping."

Kaida smiled, "Okay, see you tomorrow!"

Spyro smiled and walked back in the house and shut the door. The last thing Cosmo heard was the sound of footsteps going through the house as he and Kaida began walking to Kaida's house where Cosmo was unpatiently waiting for a good snooze.