Authors notes:

This chapter has gone under heavy revision to remove unneeded elements.

This chapter bounces around a bit. Still should be better than the original.

Chapter 9: Shedding tears

Flame and Ember sat together in the mess hall. In a few minutes the other guardians joined them at the Table. Volia and her new friend Venik took the spot across form Flame and Ember.

"Where do you think Spyro is?" Flame asked hoping to break the silence.

"Probably still sleeping with Cynder." Volia answered. "They don't really have to report for meetings."

"Nor do we today actually." Dahlia replied causing most of the guardians to turn to her. "Today's meeting is purely political nothing that involves us guardians."

"So today is a free day, sweet!" Frostbite exclaimed.

Footsteps could be heard behind them.

"Ancestor what happened to you Spyro?" Ember asked.

The guardians turned to face Spyro. He had multiple thin scratches across his chest and shoulders, on the back of his neck was a bite mark. Cynder had scratch marks on her as well unlike he thin ones on Spyro these ones were a bit wider.

"How did…oh." Flame stopped himself before going on he looked at himself and noticed the scratches Ember left on him.

"Let's just say we got too excited and not dwell on the subject any further." Spyro said wanting to not to dwell on the subject.

"Still worth all the scratches." Cynder said with a sly smile.

Spyro chuckled and nodded. They both sat down near Flame and ember and began to eat their meals. Once they finished they all took off to enjoy their day off. Ember and Flame walked down the stairs to Warfang.

"I am going off to the market." Ember said. "Care to join me?"

"In a moment I want to go down to the training rounds to see if the younglings are training, maybe I can teach them something." Flame answered.

Ember nodded and the two went their separate ways.


Volteer sat outside of Terrador's room. His door was closed and Terrador was inside refusing to come out.

"Terrador, we have a meeting scheduled in a half an hour." Volteer called.

"I will be out in a bit I'm just…reorganizing." Terrador called back his voice cracking a bit.

Volteer sighed and walked away. Inside the room Terrador was holding back tears, in his front left paw he held a small green jewel.

You promised you would do anything for me!

The memories of her taunted him.

I love you please don't leave me for this!

He gave up everything to become a guardian.

Is that all you care about what about me!

"We would have been happy together." He said tears forming in his eyes. "But I chose duty over love and now I pay the price for it."

I thought you loved me!

He placed the jewel down and took a minute to compose himself then he walked out of his room and buried his feelings as deep as he could.

Then go…*sniff*…Leave me!


Ember trotted along the marketplace like she usually would when not with Flame. She did not need any shiny jewelry or flashy accessories to make herself pretty to Flame. Her looks and beautiful Ruby pendant were enough for her. She continued minding her own business when a figure appeared behind her.

"Ember what are you doing here alone?" A yellow dragon with a familiar voice asked.

Ember turned to face him.

"Dernin." Ember gasped.

Dernin gave a kind smile and a quick bow.

"Honored to meet you again." Dernin replied. "Have you seen Cynder anywhere?'

Ember shook her head. "Why?" she asked.

"We have a piece of land that she owns." Dernin stated.

Ember was confused by this.

"A piece of…wait you mean her dark fortress?" Ember inquired.

Dernin nodded.

"I know that voice anywhere." A Proud male voice stated.

Four dragons approached. They stood out form other dragons by their blue scales which reflected water they had webbed feet, gills, their tails ended in a fin like a fish tail and between their wings and continuing to the base of the spine was a sail to help them move through water faster. Three of them were adults and wore some armor the one in the middle had gold armor while the others wore silver armor. The fourth dragon was their age.

"It can't be." Dernin stated in awe. "Water dragons."

Ember gave Dernin a confused glance.

"How the water dragons were whipped out when the apes invaded the Aquis Province." Ember stated.

"We sunk our city so the apes could not reach us." Stated gold armored dragon with a kind laugh. "Even Cynder could not reach us."

The young water dragon gave ember a quick bow.

"Salutations milady my name is Donovan, might I inquire what your name is fair dragoness?" The Water dragon asked as he gently lifted one of Embers front paws and kissed it causing Ember to blush a bit.

"E-Ember." She stated with a slight stutter.

"Charmed." Donovan replied.

"Don't worry about my son he is just a romantic." The Gold armored on stated. "Anyways I am Hydrius leader of Hurrical the capital of the Aquis Province."

"We should head to the temple than and alert the council." Ember stated.

Hydrius nodded.

"I hope I get a chance to tour the city before the meeting." He stated he then turned to Ember. "Can you please lead us to the temple."

Ember nodded and motioned for them to follow. Spyro and Cynder gave them a nod as they passed and Dernin left the group to meet them.

Cynder and Spyro walked down the market place tails entwined as always. They noticed the unique dragon that Ember was escorting to the Temple they gave a nod to her which she returned but one of the dragons broke off and walked over to meet them.

"Hello you must be Spyro and Cynder." The Dragon said. "I am Dernin son of The ambassador of Thunder cliffs."

"In Concurrent skies that's near my old fortress." Cynder said.

"Yes my father wanted to address that with you." Dernin replied.

"How so?" Cynder asked.

"We managed to secure it." Dernin said. "But we want to know what you want to do with it my father wants to use it as an outpost."

Cynder pondered.

"I will give you an answer as soon as I can." She replied.

Dernin nodded and ran off leaving Spyro and Cynder to continue their walk.

"What do you want to do about your fortress?" Spyro asked.

"I want to spend time with you right now we will think this over later" Cynder decided.

Spyro nodded.

"Perhaps we should head to the garden." Spyro suggested.

"How about the training grounds I hear Flame is teaching hatchlings today." Cynder said.

"Sure." Spyro chimed.


Ember was excused when the council met with the water dragons. She wandered off to the training grounds to find Flame. When she reached it she noticed a group of eighteen hatchlings surrounding Flame. Not all were fire dragons in fact the group of hatchlings were a rainbow of colours. Flame was using close combat anyways His moves were not graceful or quick like Spyros, Flame focused on Heavy Powerful strikes that staggered opponents Ember was Glad that Flame accepted this he usually mixed his elements in with his melee attacks when he was not incinerating opponent with his powerful fire attacks. A cheer came from the hatchlings as they watched Flame use his horns to send a practice dummy into the sky then leaped up and then drove it headfirst down towards the ground, when he was close enough he opened his wings and kicked off the dummy propelling downward faster while Flame slowed and glided down while the dummy smashed into the ground breaking to pieces. The hatchlings gathered around him cheering. Ember walked up smiling.

"Showing off for the hatchlings I see." Ember poked.

"I am teaching them how to fight I was just showing them something I will teach them when they are older, of course I will use grublin practice dummies for them and not trolls." Flame stated as he blushed.

Ember gave Flame a quick affection at kiss on the lips, gaining a chorus of 'Ewws' from the hatchlings. Both Flame and Ember snickered.

"how about a spar to show the hatchlings about fighting another dragon." Ember suggested.

The hatchlings eyes lit up. Flame smiled.

"hmm I don't know." He said while smiling.

This gained a chorus of 'Aww'.

"Why not." Flame said.

YAY!

Flame and Ember took their positions across from each other. Both Lowered into a combat stance. The hatchlings were in the stands nearby all were looking anxiously. One hatchling stood up and waited a moment.

"Go!" He shouted.

Flame charged in head lowered horns ready but Ember leaped over him. Flame turned and caught Embers paw to the side of his face.

Ooh!

Flame rubbed his cheek then turned to Ember who had moved back a bit and leaped at him claws first. Flame blocked using his wings then pushed her back with them. He then leaped at her closing the distance. Since this was a Spar his strikes were not as powerful but Ember still had trouble blocking him but Ember found an opening and used it, she brought her paw up and knocked Flame back with an uppercut.

Ooohhhhhhh!

Flame corrected himself and stood there Ember charged this time horns forward. Flame smiled and positioned himself lowering his head so her horns would meet his they collided. Ember gasped when her she was stopped Flame then used this fault to shift the fight in his favor he pushed he back flipping her onto her back Flame wasted no time and leaped on her bringing his teeth to her throat for a moment then moved off.

"I win!" He chirped as the hatchlings rushed out surrounding both of them.

They found themselves buried under the hatchlings praises. They heard the laughter of two dragons.

"Well Spyro looks like they are practicing for when they have a hatchling of their own." Cynder snickered.

"Help us please." Flame cried.

Spyro chuckled the whistled. The hatchling turned around and ran to Spyro and Cynder they all gathered around and sat quietly.

"How?" Flame asked in shock.

"Hello Master Spyro, and Lady Cynder." The hatchlings chimed in a synchronised chorus.

"I'm guessing they were showing you how to fight." Spyro said.

The hatchlings all nodded. Spyro turned to Flame and Ember.

"Me and Cynder will take the class over for today." Spyro said.

Flame nodded and trotted off with Ember they left the grounds and entered the Temple. Inside they saw Terrador walking down the hall towards his quarters Flame could hear what sounded like muffled crying.

"Something is wrong with Terrador." Flame whispered to Ember.

"Serves the jerk right." Ember muttered.

"Ember this could be serious, come on." Flame whispered as he motioned to follow.

They followed after him silently until they watched him enter his quarters. They waited a moment then put their head to the door muffled crying could be heard from the other side. Flame slowly opened the door. Inside was Terrador holding a green gem to his chest trying to hold back tears.

"Terrador?" Flame asked.

Additional notes:

Shake and Shudders backstory was removed due to being weak and hastily constructed the characters were originally supposed to play a bigger role but ultimately I had no motivation with their storyline.

Oh yeah and Yeah a fight scene. We are 9 chapters in and there has been little too no fight. Well here you go. Yes the Italic words during Flame and Embers spar was the hatchlings.

Oh yeah and water dragons.