Act I : Rising Storm Within

Chapter 6

Confessions of our Fears

Feeling like the most substantial weight had been lifted off of his shoulders, Tango let out a massive sigh of relief as he reached up to the spice rack, pulling off a pair of mason jars filled to their brims with cloves and cayenne peppers. The one thing he liked most with his meats were spices that carried a sweet, savory taste with just enough heat to satisfy his taste buds. And he knew how to cook well enough to properly season his food when his parents weren't around to assist him.

"What I would have given up all those years ago to have this spice rack?" Tango smiled, holding the two jars up to his eyes. "They'd have made my life easier."

He chuckled at the thought of trying to survive in the woods where his spices were the only thing keeping him going. It was a little morbid, but in Tango's mind, those were distant memories that he wished were a bit brighter than they turned out to be. It felt they were going to be plaguing him to the point of fear and disability forever. But he knew that the answer was right in front of him.

"The sooner I get this problem figured out, the better," the young dragon murmured.

The yellow drake placed the spice jars on a small table next to the fireplace where the beef was still slowly cooking. He continued to turn the meat on the spit roast occasionally as he began to craft a sauce with the cloves and cayenne and other minimal ingredients. He blended the spices and other pieces almost seamlessly, creating a thicker sauce that took on an inviting red hue. Feeling completely satisfied, Tango dipped a claw into the smooth sauce and licked it with his tongue, humming his approval as his taste buds yearning for more, to which he obliged without question.

"I am a master of spices," Tango sang out proudly as he stared at the masterpiece that was a spicy sweet sauce to smother his breakfast. "And just in time, the food is done with cooking."

Being careful not to burn himself, Tango removed the meat from the spit roast and set it down on a wooden plate on the dining room table. He returned to grab the bowl of spicy goodness and took his seat. The fragrant aroma of the meat alone made his mouth start salivating as he drizzled his spice concoction over his breakfast, not having any concern for over adding his special sauce.

Keeping himself from acting like a complete savage and tearing into the delicacy he finished preparing, Tango took fair sized bites of the meat. Each time the meal touched his tongue, he felt himself tingle with delight, the heat of the sauce tickled at his taste buds, creating a content wave of warmth that spread throughout his mouth, throat, and finally his stomach.

His mother, Cynder, had taught him the ways of the kitchen a few months after Tango became fully settled in his new home. Everything he knew came from her or various cookbooks that the family possessed. Through cooking, Tango found that he bonded with Cynder quicker, making his new life all the more unusual, despite how drastic of a change he had gone through. It was also around this time where he started calling Cynder mother rather than her real name. He reminisced the face she made and the happiness that filled her gaze.

Before those times, Tango very rarely left the family home, only choosing to go anywhere near the dusk and dawn hours when not so many eyes could penetrate his scales. But it was during those times of intentional insolation that he shared the fondest memories. Calling his parents' mother and father for the first time was his favorite because he knew it made them extremely happy to hear their adopted son say those particular words. It made him happy too, knowing he was apart of the family that he had dreamt about since his time in his egg.

Even if they weren't his family by blood.

Tango had learned a valuable lesson from his father about the concept of family, and it was something he carried with him ever since. "Family isn't always about blood, my son," Spyro had said. "It's about the individuals in your life who want you in their own; the people who accept you for who you are. The ones who would move heaven and earth to see you smile and love you no matter what great challenges life brings. So, I may not have been the one to create you, but I'll be damned if I don't take you under my wing and raise you as my own." His father's words hit him right where he needed it to be: the heart.

The titanium yellow dragon finished the meal faster than he would have wanted to, but his stomach had taken some control over his body, forcing him – not that he didn't mind – to complete his only reason for coming to the kitchen: to satisfy the needs of his growing body. And he was happy to go to the conclusion that he accomplished that mission.

But he quickly realized that it also came at a terrible cost.

The cost of the sanity that remained in his mind.

Tango felt the weight of his past rest once more on his shoulders. What he thought had been subdued since Avala had left quickly came undone and flooded his mind with painful memories of the Whispering Wilds and his seven-year sentence there. He felt an immediate sickness in his stomach as he pressed his forehead against the edge of the table. The memories of his past started flashing in his mind and didn't have any reason for stopping, no matter how hard he tried to shut them out. He clenched a fist and proceeded to punch the smooth wood floors, not giving a care in the world for how it felt.

Because the real pain came from within in a swift, decisive blow.

The lightheadedness he felt made him feel hot and yucky as it felt like bile was rising in his throat. His mouth felt dry, and a light ringing sound erupted in his ears which he desperately scratched at, but to no avail, the ringing continued as the terrible memories became clear once more.

Each haunting memory played like a moving picture in his head. All the times where he was attacked, scratched, beaten, bruised, and bitten washed over him like a tsunami of wild, raging emotion that had no reason or intent of stopping soon. Tango felt his heart rate begin to accelerate and his breathing started become inconsistent and labored as it felt like his throat was being squeezed in a vice. His eyes struggled to form tears as the panic attack completely consumed him, making his legs tremble in sheer terror.

It didn't take long for him to collapse from fear as he like he was helpless once more, being attacked by a horrible entity that inhabited the dark, haunting woods that were the Whispering Wilds. It felt like each strike from the evil creatures that lived there were coming back at full force, as though he was just receiving them for the first time once more. Tango curled himself into a tight ball, shielding himself from the mental beating.

He felt so alone and vulnerable in a city of thousands. The electric drake slowly started to let out a pain-filled bawl, each cry for help – which never took the form of actual words – expended the air from his lungs, causing him to gasp for breath with each sad sob. Tango remembered the days where he was still fresh out of the egg; the days he felt like he was the only one on the planet. A little electric dragon hatchling that cried each night, waiting for someone to answer his pleas, but that never came for many years to come. Tango wrapped himself in a tight cocoon with his wings, even if it didn't make much of a difference. Laying on the floor made him feel weak and pathetic, but with how he was feeling, there wasn't a place that he would think of that didn't make him feel that way.

"Tango?" a distant voice called out to him, feminine and familiar. "Is that you?"

Mom! Tango quickly realized, uncovering his head to see his mother standing on the landing. Her figure only a distorted black and ruby blur as his tear-filled gaze was hazy.

Cynder's expression was clearly evident despite not being able to see her. Her motherly instincts were firing on all cylinders, hunting for the source of the distress filled cries. It didn't take long for her to spot Tango's small form curled up by the table, and it wasn't even half a heartbeat later she was by his side. Her composure was quickly being put to the test as she searched his entire body looking for any signs of injury. But she found that he was clean of injuries and that he was fighting something on the inside. Cynder wrapped her body around him, gently nuzzling his head, trying anything in her power to get him to relax.

"Shhh," she whispered softly. "I've got you now. You don't need to cry anymore."

Tango continued to cry into her chest as she continued to nuzzle him. Her words did feel soothing and feeling her warm body against his scales made him feel increasingly safer. It reminded him of when they first met when he came down with an intense sickness, and she wrapped her body around him to keep him from freezing. He always found that his mother held him in the tightest and warmest embraces. He was relieved to see himself becoming more and more relaxed as Cynder kept whispering reassurances in his ear.

"There we go," Cynder said in a sigh of relief. "That's my little one. Just breathe easy now."

Tango sucked in a deep breath of air, his whole body shuddering as he exhaled slowly. He still quietly sobbed to himself as his mother began to softly knead the back of his head just behind the horns. The poor drake looked up at his mother, seeing the comforting gaze in her emerald green eyes. It filled his body with warmth and reassurance. But he could also know that she knew something was wrong. Something to do with her piercing look instilled within him the urge to let her know about his issues with his power.

Cynder wiped away his tears and helped lay him upright. But Tango still looked distraught as he carried himself in a moping and depressed manner. She pulled him in close, allowing him to lean into her and again feel comfortable. The former Terror of the Skies stared down at him, a new look of worry and interest spread over her features.

"Baby, what's wrong?" Cynder asked tenderly. "I've seen you act strangely before, but I've never seen you have a panic attack. Can you tell me what's going on?"

Tango screwed his eyes shut, pressing his face into his mother's chest. The memories were still playing in his head, striking down any walls of confidence he attempted to build up, making him shed tears once more. He had to tell her now knowing this was starting to escalate further into this abyss of insanity. So, mustering up the inner strength to disclose his problems, he looked up at his mother and nodded. Cynder took the nod seriously and rolled onto her belly, allowing Tango to curl up against her chest. He collected his thoughts, opened his jaws, and let the words flow right like a river.

"For a while, I have been fighting an inner battle that has taken a huge toll on me," Tango began, sniffing his nose and swallowing the huge lump in his throat. "Master Volteer and Avala have pleaded to help me, and I've refused every time. I snapped at Avala because of it, and I guess my problem finally pushed me over the edge."

"Is that why you two were fighting last night? Because your sister was trying to help you and you didn't want it?" Cynder asked confusedly. "Why?"

"Because I believed that I could figure it out for myself," Tango said, his head still downcast. "That I could have it taken care of before having to get anyone involved. I see now that I was very wrong. My pride got the best of me, and now I'm paying for it."

Cynder sighed. "Have you two talked since last night? I hated watching you two quarrel for as long as I did. Wish I had of separated you two sooner."

"You don't have to worry about us," Tango whispered. "I think Avala and I got things sort of figured out before she left for the nursery. Argued at first, but it seemed like we left on a good note. No true solid ground made, but at least we're not mad at each other anymore."

"That's good," Cynder replied. "And there is not a day that goes by where I don't worry about you two. But at least you two aren't fighting anymore. Speaking of which, why did this dispute occur? I asked Avala, and she mentioned that this defensive behavior of yours started the same day you met with Master Volteer for training."

"I realized after talking with Avala this morning how inappropriate my behavior was and realizing how much help I need. And that so-called training with Master Volteer earlier this week wasn't even a training session at all," Tango admitted with a bit of relief. "It was an assessment."

"An assessment of what exactly?" Cynder said slowly. "When he informed your father and I that he wanted to give you a personal lesson, he seemed sort of…..different from how he usually is. I just assumed he was trying to contain his excitement differently. It was foreign to me to hear him talk slowly and calmly.

"Believe me, the entire time he spoke in a relaxed tone," Tango added. "It was weird seeing someone I've grown up with and become excellent friends with change character like they were flipping a switch."

"I'm sure it was, but you two are like peas in a pod, and he cares about you enough to know when it's time to be a different kind of friend," Cynder explained. "He was a completely different kind of mentor when your sister's egg came into our lives. The time of peace has changed him dramatically, but he always means well."

"What was Master Volteer like before the war ended?" Tango asked, looking up curiously at his mother.

"It's nice to see you taking such an interest. It means you've relaxed," Cynder beamed a bright smile followed by a simple chuckle. "But that is a topic for another time. Right now, I think we have more pressing matters to talk about. Can I get a raincheck on that for now? I promise when we get this sorted out – if you're still interested – we can talk about it in a better setting."

Tango sighed pitifully but nodded his agreement.

"Good," Cynder said, leaning down to kiss him on the forehead. "So what exactly did Master Volteer assess?"

"He wanted to assess my abilities with my power because…..," Tango droned off, pausing to finally realize that the truth was only a few smartly placed words away.

"Because of what?" Cynder pressed gently. "Sweetheart, I want to help you, but I can't do that if you stay locked up like this."

Tango bit his lip – not wanting to look his mother in the eye – and took a deep breath. "Because I've been falling behind in my elemental class…..I can't keep up with my classmates. I'm not consistent, no strong base and my forms are nonexistent. I'm…..I'm…." He felt his mother wrap her arms around him, squeezing him tightly, her sympathy dripping off her body like sweat. His eyes started to water, and his quiet sobs filled the surrounding air.

"I'm so sorry," he cried into her arms. "I shouldn't have kept this to myself for so long."

"Why didn't you tell us you were having trouble sooner, Tango?" Cynder pleaded. "Your father and I could've helped you. We could've fixed this issue easily."

"I know…..It was something that I've meant to tell you for a long time, but…..I've just been so scared," Tango choked up, swallowing his pride heavily. "When it first started, I wanted to tell you and Dad so badly it was eating chunks off of me, but I didn't. In fact, I told myself that I shouldn't."

"Why?" Cynder asked curiously. "

Tango sighed. "Because I believed that if I told you, it would make matters worse. That you and Dad would be angry with me for hiding my problems instead of sharing it. I didn't want to disappoint you guys and bring you shame. I may be your son, but many people still see me like a wild dragon that doesn't belong here."

"No one in their right mind believes that, Tango," Cynder reassured. "And you shouldn't either. Not a lot of people can comprehend the times you went through and the many troubles you've faced against unfavorable odds. And no matter what you do regarding this problem, no shame or dishonor will come from it. You and Avala make your father and me proud every second of every day."

Tango looked up at her and smirked at the praise before leaning into her chest, hearing her gentle heartbeat and the gentle rise and fall of her healthy lungs. He closed his eyes, allowing the basic sounds and movements of his mother to relax him.

She was softly massaging the multitude of scars on his young body. "I've always admired your scars. Reminds me how much of a fighter you are. You know that most people in this city have lived their entire lives without leaving it? Meaning many of them have lived a full life without so much as a scratch on their body. You, however, have more scars on your own body than most young dragons your age, even a lot of the elder dragons are completely unscathed."

"What do my scars have to do with my inability to conjure simple electricity?"

"Your scars are a reminder of your past. A past you shouldn't forget, but move on from. If you let people see that it gets to you, your past is going to drag you down further than you want to go," Cynder explained. "Now I've had you in my life for the past ten years. Ten years I wouldn't trade for all the riches in the world. I thought life was perfect when Avala was born, but I realized I was wrong the day I held you for the first time."

"The day that changed my life for the better," Tango said, taking to his feet to sit in front of his mother, his eyes downcast. "But….I'm afraid the past has finally come back to get me."

"How so?"

"I've been having flashbacks of where I was born," Tango admitted. "Vivid, crystal clear and utterly terrifying flashbacks. I see things that aren't there, and I'm losing more sleep than I can gain. I'm acting up more and more and today was when it finally got the best of me. I've…I've never felt more scared in my life than how I just felt."

"How long has this been going on?" Cynder asked, her voice clearly filled with concern.

"Nightmares have never left me since I was born and flashbacks and now panic attacks have been going on for a couple months. I don't know what triggered them, but they haven't been getting better. Part of…," he paused, feeling like he was suffocating. "Part of me hasn't left the Whispering Wilds yet, and it has left a permanent mark in my mind, and it scares me."

"You don't have to be scared anymore because I will be with you every step of the way," Cynder reassured, holding him in a firm hug and wrapping her wings to completely shroud him with a sense of security. "I've been in your position before. Where I felt so helpless not even those I loved could help me. Where the sins of my past continued to haunt my dreams, making me feel like I was still a bad person. And instead of seeking help, I ran away from those I knew I could trust, hoping I would find my answers elsewhere."

"Did you ever find it?" Tango asked quietly.

"I never found the answer I thought I had to go to the ends of the earth to find," Cynder said shaking her head. "But I realized after being trapped in a time stone for three years, my true answer was by my side for every second of it. And I have had nothing but a happy life ever since. The nightmares, the hate, and frustrations have all gone away, and many families of unfortunate victims have forgiven me for what I did. I just had to put more faith in the one I loved most."

"Dad," Tango breathed.

Cynder dipped her head. "He has a certain persistence and a peaceful way with words where even those who doubt him have to take a second to think because how he says things can hit you just right. I can't tell you how many times I've lost an argument with him just because he said the right words at the right time. I start stuttering like a cowardly ape, and then he dares to make fun of me for it. Your father may be an adult, but he still has the heart and mind of a child."

"But you love him," Tango smirked. "I noticed that when I first met you two. I wasn't familiar with the concept of love at the time, but I figured it out immediately when you looked at each other. There was also a high level of trust I sensed as well. I knew that you were both genuine when you said you weren't going to hurt me."

"Do you still trust us?"

"I've always trusted you two," Tango replied. "You're my parents after all."

"So why hide your power issue from us if you trust us?" Cynder asked. "Your father can tutor you here at home. Make you faster, stronger, balanced, and conservative while simultaneously getting rid of the bad memories that clearly still bother you. We can get Master Volteer on board as well as your power training instructor, Professor Sygra. The four of us can create a training routine that suits your style while we conquer that darker parts of your mind, getting rid of all the unwanted thoughts and memories."

"You'd do that…..for me," Tango spoke slowly.

Cynder smirked lovingly at him. "Your father and I would climb the highest peaks of the coldest mountains or cross the depths of the deepest seas or pull the entire world back together again for you and Avala. Because we love you more than anything else in this world and would never allow ourselves to let any of our children – or any child for that matter – fail because we wanted to sit on the sidelines and watch."

"And we'd do it without skipping a beat," came a new voice.

Tango snapped his gaze in the direction of the all too familiar masculine voice to see his father sitting out on the landing platform. His gaze brought a sheer amount of reassurance that could have easily suffocated all of them, and they also brought a considerable promise. Tango watched his dad approach with powerful, yet casual, strides and lay down opposite of his mother, putting the little yellow drake in the loving surroundings of his parents.

"How long were you standing there?"

"The entire time," Spyro answered. "We were on our way down when we heard you cry out. You gave us both quite a scare. Glad you've calmed down now."

"Me too," Tango breathed. "I'm sorry I frightened you. Didn't have much control over it."

Spyro reached out and pulled Tango to him, hugging him tightly. "I love you, son," the legendary purple dragon spoke softly. "You are everything that I wanted in a child, and I didn't even create you, but I can thank the ancestors for leading your mother and I to you on that day. Taking you in reminded me of when we brought Avala home from the nursery for the first time. And watching you two grow up together over the past decade has made me the happiest dragon in the world. But it saddens me to hear that you think we'd be angry at you for keeping information from us."

Tango immediately looked down in shame, not wanting the conversation to go this way. He shifted away from his father, sitting an equal distance between both of his parents. "Are you angry?"

"No, I'm more upset than I am angry," Spyro answered calmly. "Because finding out that one of my many joys of the world is having a problem with his power right under my nose without me knowing about it makes me feel completely powerless."

"I'm sorry. I've wanted to say something for so long, but I was just scared of creating a bigger monster by telling you two," Tango mumbled, looking back and forth between the two adult dragons. "I still am scared."

The yellow drake felt both of his parents nuzzle him gently from either side of his face, rubbing their muzzles across the entire length of his head in gentle waves. Tango rubbed his head against theirs, letting himself cry one more time. They shifted closer to him, wrapping their arms around him, holding Tango in the tightest, warmest embrace. Even though he was no stranger to crying, Tango still felt this round of tears were the most wholesome and relieving. And now he had done it. His parents knew about the problems he was facing and were on his side to help him fight it.

They held the position for a few more minutes in complete silence, letting Tango cry entirely out all the tears, before releasing him. The little yellow laid against his mother's chest, allowing Cynder to cradle him with her arms. Both parents leaned in close to him, their gazes misty with bits of sadness and relief, and gingerly kissed him on the forehead.

"Like your mother said earlier," Spyro spoke quietly. "We'll do anything for you and your sister. We're not sidelining parents, and we never will be as long as you live. We will always be on your side and always have your back through any endeavors you want to pursue or problems you need to fix. You just have to put more faith in our abilities because we know what we are doing. We've had some of the greatest mentors in our years that helped shape us into who we are today, and we take their teachings and use them to raise your sister and you."

"But we can't do that if we aren't honest with each other," Cynder added, adjusting her hold on her child. "You're one of our pride of joy, and I hate to see you hide your fears inside your mind. Watching you have a panic attack made me more scared than I have ever been in my entire life. It's just that little bit of faith and trust you need to have in us so that we can help you fight this problem."

"Does that make sense, son?" Spyro asked.

Tango nodded, wiping his face clear of any tears and streaks. "It does make sense, and I'm glad that you two finally know about this. Not the way I had hoped, but the truth is finally out. I feel like I've been on rock bottom for so long now that I almost feel like I'm actually drowning in fear. It makes me wonder how bad that panic attack could have gotten if mom hadn't shown up to calm me down."

"Avala used to have silly little nightmares when she was barely crossing her one year mark," Cynder began. "Would wake up in the night crying or screaming, and your father and I took turns trying to calm her down."

Spyro chuckled. "Nothing ever seemed to work for a while, and a lot of sleep was lost for the two of us. Avala slept with us for nearly a year and still would wake up every few nights. Took me hours to get her to fall back asleep because she was simply too scared to fall back asleep."

"Until one day, I just started cradling her," Cynder said. "Slowly rocking her back and forth, nuzzling her, reassuring kisses on the cheeks, and whispering gently into her ears until she fell right back to sleep. Worked every single time. Only had to stay awake for no more than an hour."

"Nightmares started occurring less and less, and soon she was back in her own room sleeping each night without a single fuss," Spyro shrugged. "And just like that, we figured out how to relax her when she was upset. Still works too."

"I'll be honest, I am completely relaxed right now," Tango sighed. "I feel warm and comfortable and almost a little drowsy. Even if it is a little weird now that Avala and I both pubescent young dragons, yet we still feel like hatchlings when you cradle us like this."

"No matter how tough or old we are, nothing comforts a dragon more than an embrace from a loved one," Cynder spoke quietly. "It's like a pure refreshment of the soul and mind, making all the undesired thoughts disappear. It worked with your sister, and it will work for you too. Besides, I know that deep down, you both really like this because it helps you fall asleep."

"Does Avala still ask you to hold her like this?" Tango asked, a slightly evil, yet playful, a grin across his features.

Cynder laughed. "Sometimes when she is having a tough time sleeping she'll ask to be put to bed. But she doesn't do it as often anymore mainly because she has started to grow out of it. And don't be getting any devilish ideas about making fun of her for it either. That stays inside this house and never leaves it ever."

"I wasn't going to say anything, I promise," Tango said innocently. "I was actually going to ask if you'd help me fall asleep. After fighting with her last night, I barely slept because I felt guilty for pushing her like I did. Also because she and I never go to sleep angry with each other, so I only got about an hour or two of inconsistent sleep. Woke up a few hours before the sun even came up and I've been up ever since."

Cynder chuckled deep in her throat, kissing Tango on the cheek. "After all that's happened, I'll even carry you up to your room and stay with you until you wake up. Gives me a perfect excuse to sleep with one of my babies again after so many years. Does that sound okay to you?"

"Getting rocked to sleep, carried up to my room, curled up against a warm belly, and finally having the truth off my shoulders," Tango listed off, implying his consent. "Sounds like a decent portion of the day to me. What about Dad?"

"I have some business with the Guardians and the Council to take care of," Spyro chimed in immediately. "So I will be gone for a good majority of the day. Meaning I'll be working while you lucky pair gets to sleep in peace. But you honestly deserve it after that little panic attack. Let your mind relax and rest. We can discuss the issue later, but for now, you can get some sleep. I'll see you both later." With that, Spyro kissed his mate and left the mother and child to their own devices.

Tango yawned widely before rolling into Cynder's chest and closing his eyes, allowing the gentle rocking motion of his mother's arms coax his body into a comfortable slumber of security. Her breathing and refreshing scent on her crimson chest scales numbed his entire body as he finally drifted into a blissful sleep. His mind held a brand new light to it as his mother kissed him one last time before carrying him to his room.

He felt like a brand new dragon. Only this time he had a new goal in mind. To beat the nightmares and rid his memory of the sins of his horrific past with the help of his family. And this time, Tango was going to win.

A/N: Pretty quick update, the chapter plan was already written out, and I just had to motivate myself to actually write it. I tried my best implementing Cynder and Spyro and I believe I did alright.

Side note: I'm an avid gamer and really would love to chat and play games with anyone that is interested. My details are on my profile page if you're interested.

Thanks for liking my story! It's getting a lot more favorites and follows than I had originally expected it to and I am more than psyched about it. I'm hoping to break 50 favorites and follows by the time I hit chapter 10, but I'm not getting my hopes too high just yet. But in all reality, I like reviews just as much as I do a favorite or a follow, probably even more if I am being completely honest.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed. Leave a comment telling me how I did.

See you all in the next one!

Atlas Out!