Chapter 4

It was late at night, not only had the past two days go slowly for Cynder but the dragon elders were in so much shock about Spyro turning evil that no one spoke for some time. The new dragon, Cryo, made his place though. Ignitus recruited him onto the clan, knowing that with a powerful dragon of his age with them would increase their chances of winning this war. Cynder really didn't even notice him there most of the time; she would spend her time alone with no one to be with. She walked into Spyro's room one time, looking at the empty bed he once slept on. Tears began to fill up her eyes again; Spyro was one of the few people that could comfort her when she cried. The black dragon merely turned away from the bed, tears falling silently off her face.

She made her way to the porch she and Spyro sat at during most of the nights. More then ever she wished she could go back to the night before he ran off, if only she talked to him and found out what it was that was causing him so much anger before the previous event. The moon was out tonight, looking up at it made her smile a bit. The giant rock in space seemed to have that effect on people no matter how bad they felt. She thought back at how Spyro would always look at the moon with her, the two sharing a moment with each other that made it seem the hardships of a world were put to rest.

She heard footsteps approach from behind her, turning her neck to see who it was. It was none other then Cryo, who seemed to know what she was going through. The white dragon walked up to Cynder's side and kept looking forward.

"You mustn't give up on him." He said.

"What do you mean?" Cynder asked.

"I know what your friend is going through, I was once a servant of Kel'thuzard…." The white dragon admitted.

"You saw the Dark Master?"

"I am fortunate to say that I have not seen him," Cryo said, "however Kel'thuzard was not always evil."

"Go on…" Cynder said, now interested in what he had to say.

"Before he became the Dark Master's new servant, Kel'thuzard was my master. He found me as an egg and took me in from the freezing cold. After I hatched he gave me the name Cryo, which he told me was the word for 'cold' in a lost language."

"That seems like it would make sense," Cynder said, becoming more interested into the story, "so what happened?"

Cryo closed his eyes and sighed, remembering the events that took place before meeting Cynder and Spyro.

"Two years passed and soon he found another infant creature. This time it was a young tiger. She was a young one, a year younger then me. Because of her sapphire fur he named her Glacia. I became a foster brother to her, always making sure that she never got into trouble. We were a happy family, me, Kel'thuzard and her. It seemed nothing could break apart our bond."

"But if he was so close to you what happened?" Cynder asked, Cryo looked up at her with a sad look in his eyes.

"It was my 15th birthday six months ago," he said, "that day was the same day that Spyro managed to save you from the Dark Master, that vile villain wanted a new servant and more power so he came to my fath-…Kel'thuzard and used his powers to turn him into his newest general."

Cynder's eyes widened in shock, it seemed the Dark Master was an omnipotent being. Cryo looked at her and nodded his head as he continued his story.

"Then he came towards me and Glacia, telling us that we no longer had to fear the power of the Dark Master as he had made 'good terms' with him. I didn't trust him, Glacia seemed relieved at this little lie but I wasn't fooled. Humans can never lie really well."

"Kel'thuzard was a human?" Cynder asked.
"A powerful wizard," Cryo told her, "he taught me how to harness my ice breath and the tough winter weather and deadly environment made it easier for me to get my physical strength up. But besides that, the point it was only a day after he told us about him meeting the Dark one when I heard Glacia scream in terror. I woke up at her cry and ran towards her room. That's when I saw what happened to Kel'thuzard."

"What happened?"

"He had become a gorgon, one of the most hideous creatures to ever roam this planet." Cryo said, snarling in anger, "he told me 'Join my Cryo, your sister has and now she is in the service of the Dark Master.' I refused to let myself become a puppet for someone as disgusting as what Kel'thuzard had become. So he sent Glacia at me," Cryo hesitated for a moment, "I had to fight with my sister…I tried to reason with her but she would not listen. I fought with all my strength, but I could not kill her."

"Then…what about your horn?"

"Though I didn't kill Glacia, I was able to knock her out." Cryo admitted, "I turned to Kel'thuzard, angered at the stupid decision he made and attacked him. He merely took one finger and sliced off one of my horns." The white dragon said, lowering his head so Cynder could see the spot where his left horn was. "He told me that I could not defeat him, the day I could kill him is when I would received my severed horn. I had to get stronger, if there was one thing the Dark Master would want now it would be the purple dragon, your Spyro."

"But you were able to defeat Spyro completely, even when he was under Kel'thuzard's control." Cynder said, "How come you couldn't do that before you got here?"

"I went under the training of the ice mages in the deepest part of the mountain, begging them for help and power. Power to save my sister, power to destroy Kel'thuzard, power to stop the Dark Master. I was granted this power with the training they gave me, so I came down here to give my assistance to those who needed it."

"Well your strength is here now." Cynder said.

"It's a pleasure to help you." The white dragon said, lowering his head.

"Thank you for helping us though…I really didn't want to fight him, my heart felt like it was breaking in two."

"It's the feeling of love that you're feeling now." Cryo told her, which made her face turn red.

"L-Love? No way he's a really close friend that's all." Cynder said, smiling as cheesy as anyone could be, Cryo didn't change the look on his face. It was like he could read right through her mind, she sighed in defeat. "All right fine…" she said, "I do love him…I just have a feeling for him that makes me feel that I know he is the dragon for me."

"Love works in weird ways Cynder," Cryo said, "most of the time it's sometimes unexpected. One time you're trying to burn someone then you realize the next thing you feel feelings for him."

"Heh, yeah." Cynder said blushing; she recalled the event to where she was fighting with Spyro for the final time before becoming free from the Dark Master's control. Cryo turned around and began to enter the temple, before he completely entered though he turned to her.

"You should rest now," he said, "tomorrow we begin to look for Spyro."

Cynder nodded her head as she followed Cryo into the temple. This new dragon seemed trustworthy enough for them to trust in. He was powerful, wise, and showed loyalty to the elder dragons. So she knew that he could be a powerful alley for them. She frowned to herself now; Spyro was now under the control of the Dark Master. She could only imagine what it was like when she was following the orders of the vile villain. Cynder looked up to the moon one last time before entering her room.

"Where ever you are, we will find you Spyro…" she said, "I promise we'll bring you back."

Back in the realm of the Dark Master, Spyro snarled as he blasted a horde of minions in anger. He enjoyed watching them fly into the air from the shock waves that his flames created. They were annoying and useless anyway, his wounds from his battle with Cynder and Cryo had healed now but his power needed to be restored. He sensed Kel'thuzard slithering up behind him; the purple dragon didn't even need to turn his head around.

"I know you're there," he said, "You don't have to try to sneak up on me."

"Your senses are getting better dragon," the gorgon said, "the Dark Master wishes to see you."

"If it's about what happened I already talked to him about it." Spyro said, not really in a happy mood, "Besides, how was I to know that there would be a third dragon there?"

"That's what he wants to talk to you about," Kel'thuzard said, "he wants to know more about this white dragon you met."

Spyro raised an eyebrow at the gorgon, but he didn't argue. He opened his wings and flew to the Dark Master's thrown room. When he landed he walked up to the throne where the shadowy force was. He stopped in front of the shadows and looked straight into them, unlike the other forces of the Dark Master he was not all too loyal to him.

"You called Dark Master?" he asked.

"Yes, I have been thinking about what you told me about this third dragon you told me about." The shadow said, his voice full of curiosity about the new for.

"Yeah and what about him?" Spyro asked, feeling a bit impatient.

"Tell me what he looked like young one." The Dark Master said, Spyro looked a bit confused for a bit but began to explain what Cryo looked like.

Spyro told the Dark Master about his encounter with Cryo. The void seemed to listen in very carefully to the words Spyro told him. Even though only a few could see it, his evil grin could be seen. He looked down at Spyro and seemed pleased at the information that his new servant told him.

"Excellent Spyro," he said, "this information is more then enough for what I need to know."

"How does that help you? He's a white dragon with strength that is superior to my physical powers." Spyro asked, a little annoyed at the Dark Master's tone.

"Ah yes, but he can not beat you in your elemental powers though now can he? If that is the trouble then I shall grant you something."

The shadows at the foot of his throne began to move towards Spyro, which began to engulf Spyro. The purple dragon snarled as he tried to fight away from the shadows, but when he felt the power that was being bestowed upon him he stopped struggling. When the shadows were done with their task they returned to their original source. Spyro now was pulsing with more dark energy and power, his light purple skin now dark purple. He looked up at his master, his eyes glowing like red orbs in the night.

"I see now…" Spyro said, his voice sounding more demonic, "This power I feel is incredible."

"Only the best retrieve the power I bestow on them," the Dark Master said, "only you, Kel'thuzard, and the four captains are the ones I trust most now."

Spyro nodded his head as he turned around to leave the room, he didn't want to talk to his new master anymore for now. He came across Kel'thuzard down the hall, the gorgon looked down at him with a new look in his eyes.

"So you received his gift?" he asked.

"Yes I did," Spyro said, "he also wants to speak with you."

The gorgon gave Spyro a weird look, but the dragon's glowing red eyes told him all he needed to know. Kel'thuzard nodded his head and left the purple dragon alone, Spyro snarled a bit at him, and then began walking towards his new room. As he walking he looked at himself in the mirror. His new look, his new power, it felt like he was alive again. It made him feel great, he smiled to himself at his reflection seeming to like his new look. He's eyes however spotted something else, in them he saw Cynder lying on the ground. Bloody and beaten, surrounded by Spyro and some of his own minions as they began to attack one last time, a bright light flashed. The purple dragon shook his head to regain his control over his mind.

"Stupid girl," he said, "even now she still is on my mind."

He turned away from the mirror and began heading to his room again. A part of him however, did miss Cynder. Though he may have not realized it when he was fighting her that he did hurt her not only physically but emotionally. A piece of his heart remembered Kel'thuzard promising those he cared for would not be hurt. However, that piece of his heart would remain dormant. The rest of him was pure evil and it seemed like nothing could change that.

Back in the Dragon Realm, Cynder was having a nightmare. In it she saw four lights high in the dark night sky. Three lights were shining brightly while the fourth one was surrounded by pulsing darkness. In an instant the three lights flew towards the dark one, which in turn flew towards them. The lights collided in a clash that caused an explosion of power. Flames were everywhere, bits and pieces were falling apart, but still the four lights clashed with each other. Cynder woke up sweating; the nightmare was almost like a vision to her. Normally she would tell Spyro about it, she usually would have nightmares ever since she was freed from the Dark Master and he was always there to make her feel better.

"Spyro…when I need you the most you're not there…" she said, tears falling off her face. She looked at the picture she had of him by her bed and pulled it close to her. She smiled sadly at it as tears fell off her face onto it, even if he was under the control of the Dark Master she would not give up on him just yet. How could she just give up that easily anyway? No matter what way she looked at it, she knew that she was in love with him. Surely somewhere in that heart of his now, he must feel something there as well. She gently kissed the picture and placed it back on its original spot and laid down once again, trying to get a good sleep for tomorrow.

The next day the new group that consisted of Cynder, Sparx, and Cryo set out. Cryo taking the place as the group's leader, Cynder didn't bother to argue with him about it. She knew well enough that he could be trusted and with his strength you wouldn't doubt him. Sparx floated above Cryo's head a bit, his mind on many thoughts.

"So tell me again," the dragonfly began, "where are we going?"

"Ignitus told me of some kind of flying creature," Cryo said, "it is said that this beast is a deity made by the gods, part eagle and part lion."

"I heard tales about those kinds of animals," Cynder said, "The Dark Realm's library had a book on creatures in this realm."

"Exactly," Cryo said, "this one however is special. Not only would he be able to help us, but with his power we could begin our invasion on the Dark Realm."

"That's a day I am not looking forward to." Sparx said grimly, "War does nothing but cause pain for everyone."

"However sometimes it's the only way to victory." Cryo said, "I promise you both we will stop the Dark Master and get Spyro back.

The two nodded their heads once at this statement. The trio kept moving, keeping to the ground in case Spyro was in the air looking for them. Cynder was looking at the ground the whole time while Sparx and Cryo kept a watch out for anything that could attack them. The white dragon then stopped dead in his tracks, something was in the air and he could smell it. Cynder looked up as soon as she almost ran into Cryo, the black dragon walked up beside him looking confused.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Something's here…"

Before he could say anything the two saw a powerful fire ball flying towards them. Quickly rolling out of the way the two dragons looked up to see Spyro floating in the air. This time he was different however, besides his new purple skin and glowing red eyes, both could sense the power he now possessed.

"Spyro!" Cynder called to him, "please come back to us! We can fix this whole mess!"

"Hmph." Is all Spyro said as he whistled for his back up, giant flying bats with soldiers of the Dark Realm flew behind him. The purple dragon smiled at the three companions. He obviously liked the odds that were on his side now, this time he would get them back.

"Give it up Cynder," he said, "I'm not going to go back to the weak elders now, if they didn't want me against them they shouldn't have pushed me so far."

"Well if you won't come back for them come back for us! For Sparx! For me!" Cynder yelled, tears forming in her eyes again, "Please come home Spyro!"

He ignored her crying pleading and turned his attention towards Cryo, the white dragon immediately tensed up his muscles. Spyro's eyes narrowed at his sight, because of this dragon he was unable to complete his previous mission from before.

"The Dark Master has given me new found strength. You maybe stronger then me at combat Cryo but you're no match for what I ascend in, Mystical powers." Spyro said, "prepare for payback you bastard!"

Spyro charged down towards the two dragons, the group of bat riders following close behind him. Cynder looked back at Cryo who was right behind her. She looked back up at Spyro and knew that she would face him alone this time.

"Cryo, let me handle Spyro." She said

"No Cynder, I'm the strongest of the three of us here." Cryo said.

"Please…just let me do this." Cynder said, he voice trailing off. Cryo looked at her for a bit, confused to why she would want to fight him herself. He did see the wishful thinking in her mind though, he nodded his head and began to attack the bat riders while Cynder flew towards Spyro, her front claws open and ready for combat while her eyes were now full of tears that fell down towards the earth below them…