Hello everyone! I hope y'all are having a good week. Regardless, he's Chapter Ten for you. As it turns out, being sick for all of the weekend was just the motivation I needed to get my ass in gear and really polish this chapter. In that regard, my thanks go out to my beta reader Darkness Oversoul. Hope this is to your liking!;) Anyways...only about six reviews last chapter. Hmmm, that's a problem. It'd be an awful shame if the beatings had to start up again...c'mon friends; humor a sick man. Only your reviews can make me well! Quickly! It's the only way haha! Anyways, enjoy Chapter Ten!
Chapter Ten
Spyro's P.O.V
As the day dredged onward, I followed the blacksmith's instructions. The intense physical labor caused my muscles to cramp and tighten repeatedly. Beads of sweat rolled down my scales before dropping onto the floor. Duroc had me place the raw iron ore in the furnace, before using my flame breath to light it. Almost at once, the room was bathed in firelight. Then, the ape showed me how to use my tail blade like a hammer. I struck the white-hot metal over and over again, folding it upon itself. After what seemed like an eternity, I had managed to craft a simple sword.
When I had finished, the ape came over to inspect my progress. As he turned the blade over in his calloused hands, he nodded in approval.
"It's far from perfect, but it'll do. I've certainly seen worse," said Duroc. Meanwhile, I was completely exhausted. I had managed to slump down in the corner of the shop, right next to the forge. Dragons naturally love the heat, so it was the perfect place to rest my muscles.
'Wow, I'm exhausted! How does Duroc do this each day?" I thought. The room had become eerily quiet; Sparx had left earlier to gather his things for his journey, and after that, all the conversation had died down.
The ape turned to me and said, "You've done good work here, boy. Given time and the proper training, you'd make a fine blacksmith." I stood up, feeling the pain in my limbs as I did so.
"Thank you, Duroc. That means a lot, coming from an expert like you," I replied. The ape then took my sword and placed it with all the others he had made, each gleaming in the light from the forge. While he was occupied, I truly began to notice the room's features. Each wall was decorated with weapons of war; they ranged from simple swords, to exotic spears with elaborately shaped heads. Across from the forge was a small workbench, cluttered with unfinished projects and blueprints. On it, I noticed something that was out of place.
"Hey Duroc, what's that necklace for?" I asked. At my question, the ape visibly stiffened. He turned to face me, and I saw reflected in his hollow eyes the epitome of sadness. He sighed, and picked up the silver chain, handling it gingerly.
"It belonged to my wife. It was the first thing I ever made as an official blacksmith."
"What happened to her?" I asked timidly. I could tell that this was a sensitive subject, but he continued.
"When I first joined the army, I left her at home. Before I left, I promised her that I would be back. As you know, the war took longer than any of us expected. After Malefor was released, the campaigns continued. By the time I had returned, I was too late. A group of bandits had attacked my village; they left no survivors, not even the children. When I arrived, they had burned the entire village to the ground. I found my wife's body by our old house. I took the necklace as a reminder; I was too slow to save her." I was shocked by his story, but I knew I had to help.
"Duroc, there's nothing you could've done. What happened wasn't your fault. Besides, how do you think your wife would react if she saw you like this?" I said. The blacksmith's face fell, his eyes downcast. I put my wing around his shoulders.
"That may be true, but this is a necessary punishment. It's high time I atoned for my sins." I shook my head.
"Everyone deserves a second chance. We aren't defined by our actions, but by the legacy we leave behind. You've turned your life around; besides, the past doesn't always write the future. In the short time that I've known you, I've realized that you're a great man. You just have to realize that yourself," I told him. Duroc relaxed, his normal gruff exterior returning.
"Well put, lad. You're awfully wise for someone so young." Then, he moved over to a chest in the corner of the room. He pulled out a black case and showed me the contents. "Here, consider this payment for a hard day's work," he said to me. As I stared, he continued, "Don't worry, lad; you'll know when to use them." I managed to sputter out a thank you, before grabbing the case and running out of the shack, an idea already beginning to form in my mind.
Cynder's P.O.V
Cyria and I spent a better part of the day together. She even gave me a book that her mother had given her when she had reached my age. It was a guide to dragon behavior, which detailed everything I could possibly want to know about what was going to happen to me in the future. After saying our goodbyes, I flew back to the Temple, the book clutched in my paws. When I landed, I was greeted by the Guardians.
"Welcome back, Cynder," said Terrador.
"Hello Terrador, Cyril, Volteer. Where are you three going?" I asked. Cyril stepped forward; I could tell he was still nervous around me.
'Now it makes sense. No wonder he was acting so weird earlier,' I thought.
"Actually Cynder, the other Guardians and I were just about to leave; we are going to the mountain of Malefor," said Cyril.
"Indeed," said Terrador, "Spyro's report is disturbing, to say the least. If there is any chance whatsoever that the Dark Lord survived, then we must investigate it immediately." I nodded; I was concerned for Spyro too.
"Well then, best of luck to you all," I replied. As I turned to go, Terrador stopped me.
"Cynder, just a moment," said the Earth Guardian. I stopped, turning my body to face him.
"What is it Terrador?" I asked. The green dragon sighed; he was obviously worried about something.
"Young dragon, I'm concerned about leaving you alone at the Temple without protection," he said. I allowed myself a small smile; it was nice to know that someone took an interest in my wellbeing.
"Oh Terrador, I'm flattered. But seriously, Spyro and I can handle ourselves. We're both skilled warriors. We beat Malefor; as long as we're together, we can beat anyone." Terrador's brows furrowed again, his eyes closing.
"I know that Cynder. As a matter of fact, you and Spyro are two of the greatest warriors I've ever had the honor of fighting beside. However, not even the mightiest warrior can fight the enemy I am worried about." At first I was confused; then suddenly, it all dawned on me. I understood what he meant, and the thought made my cheeks flush.
"Terrador, I understand your concern. Cyria told me about what's happening to me; I know that I'm…unstable…right now. Thing is, I know Spyro. He'd never try something, especially if I wasn't alright with it. You have nothing to worry about," I reassured him. The elder dragon seemed satisfied with my answer, nodding his head before turning and taking off. With that, I ran into the Temple and headed straight for my and Spyro's room.
No one bothered me as I made my way through the maze-like corridors. Our room was deserted; Spyro still hadn't come back.
'I sure hope he's alright,' I thought to myself as I closed the door. 'I don't know what I'd do without him.' As I settled myself on our bed, I opened the book to the table of contents. Finding the topic I was interested in, I flipped to page twenty and began to read.
There is no general consensus on proper courtship behavior for dragons. Experts tend to disagree on this hotly-debated subject, which has led to the development of many views. In this chapter, we will outline how a basic mating should take place.
"Perfect," I whispered. "Just what I was looking for."
Before any two dragons consider taking this monumental step, we highly recommend that you are entirely sure of your decision. Once you have mated, you become bonded to your partner for the rest of your life. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that you choose someone with whom you will be happy.
'Maybe this book is right; do I really want to spend the rest of my life with Spyro? I know I love him, and he loves me, but this is a big step; we'd be committing ourselves to something that'd change our lives forever," I thought to myself. Then I remembered all we had been through together; from when he had freed me from the Dark Master's service, through the final battle with Malefor himself that decided the fate of the world, up to the point where we had admitted our mutual feelings. In that moment, I had an epiphany; Spyro really was the best thing that ever happened to me.
"Well, that's it; I DO want to spend the rest of my life with him," I said aloud. "Now then, where was I…"
Spyro's P.O.V
By the time I arrived back at the Temple, the sun had set low in the horizon, taking with it the last vestiges of day. I landed quickly, eager to deposit the heavy items I was carrying: the black case that Duroc had given me, among other things.
'I sure hope this is enough. Volteer's book wasn't exactly specific,' I thought as I recalled what I had learned earlier.
Often, male dragons will bring potential mates gifts of treasure and gems. Many dragonesses have been recorded to harbor a natural tendency to hoard such materials. As such, many of them will choose a mate that provides the best among these gifts.
'I hope Cynder's ok. If what Volteer told me is true, she must be under a ton of stress. Hopefully these presents will help us forget about this whole ordeal for a while,' I thought. Carrying my gifts, I moved towards my room. With each step that I took, I felt myself getting more and more nervous. Time seemed to slow, as though I was feeling the effects of Dragon Time. I began to breathe heavily, my nostrils flaring. 'Maybe I should stop…' I thought. Then, I felt a calming presence envelop my mind, taking away all the fear and anxiety it possessed. I recognized it at once; Ignitus.
"Young dragon, I understand your worry, but it is unwarranted. Your destiny has already merged with Cynder's; all you have to do is follow your heart," echoed the voice in my head. "It will guide the way."
"Whatever you say, Ignitus," I replied, before continuing towards the room. At last, I stood before the wooden door; and as I opened it and stepped through the threshold, I couldn't escape the feeling that I was stepping into my future as well.
The room was dimly lit; the fire in the hearth had dimmed, casting only a gentle glow. As I shut the door, I called out.
"Cynder? Are you here?" There was no response, save for the wind that had begun to gust outside.
'Ok, looks like the coast is clear,' I thought as I strode over to the bed. Then suddenly, a black mass appeared from the shadows in the corner of the room.
"Cynder? Why didn't you answer me?" I asked. The black dragoness smirked and moved to stand next to me, nuzzling against me as she passed me on the way to bed.
"Sorry, I was reading in the other room and didn't hear you. I was wondering when you were going to come home," she said.
"I'm sorry, love. I would've been back sooner, but something important came up. To be honest, I don't remember much of what happened." Cynder raised an eyebrow, looking at me quizzically.
"What exactly were you up to anyways? You should've been here with me," she said, adjusting her position on the mattress as she did. I was becoming painfully aware of my growing desire; she was slowly breaking my resolve.
"Like I said before, I'm not really sure. I know Sparx and I went to a club of some kind, and he gave me this liquid that tasted really good. I think he said it was called Dragonfire," I replied, doing my best to ignore these new feelings. Cynder smiled again, but it wasn't her normal smile; rather, it was more of a naughty grin.
"Oh? It sounds to me like you had quite a good time," she said. "Now then, I think you owe me something!" That made me worried.
'Uh oh, this can't be good.'
"Umm what do you mean Cynder?" I asked nervously. The black dragoness on my chest laughed and gave me that same seductive, almost predatory, smile.
"Well Spyro, do you remember that favor you promised me when you got stuck in the Temple wall?" I nodded in response. "I think it's time you repaid the debt you owe me." I was even more worried at this point; I could tell that Cynder's hormones were in full-swing, which didn't bode well for me.
"Well, umm, ok. What did you have in mind?" Cynder arched her long neck, leaning close to my ear. She paused for a moment, allowing her gentle breathing to tickle my skin. Then, she whispered softly,
"I want you to take me as your mate."
Cynder's P.O.V
When I told Spyro what I wanted, he just froze; his whole body, from his head to his tail, went rigid. Taking his silence as a sign to continue, I placed my forelegs on his shoulders. Then, before I could continue, he snapped out of his stupor and shouted,
"Wait! Cynder, stop!" commanded the purple dragon. Using his superior strength, he forced me off of him. I was shocked; somehow, he had managed to disregard my advances. While I tried to comprehend this latest turn of events, Spyro had moved to the corner of the room. Then, he started to speak.
"Cynder, we can't do this. You have to fight it. This isn't you!" he shouted. Meanwhile, the fire had died out, causing the cold to permeate the room. All traces of the once-passionate moment had disappeared. Spyro continued, "Look Cynder, I love you, and I do want to be yours, more than anything, but are we really ready for this?" I'm sure he would've said more, but I didn't stick around to hear it; I dove through the curtain, as salty tears rolled down my muzzle. There was only one thought in my mind, repeating itself over and over again.
'He rejected me. Spyro rejected me.'
There you have it. Poor, poor Cynder. Rejection is a horrible thing, something that's happened to me a lot in recent months. I hope that none of you EVER have to experience it. Anyways, I wonder what'll happen to our favorite couple from here...I'll tell you what; leave me your stories involving rejection in your reviews. To anyone that is brave enough to do so, I shall grant you a sneak peak of next chapter! If you're a guest reviewer, make sure you leave me some way to contact you. To everyone else, I'll send you a PM. Until then...