Author's Note: Hello dear readers! With this short chapter, the second act of the story is set to begin! Thank you B1ackbird for beta reading (as always) and thank you new reviewers for providing input, I appreciate it immensely! Please do tell what you're thoughts on the first act are! I would love to hear the feedback before the second act gets going. Also, I have a poll now for which side (Draker/Celtac) you're favouring (Just so I can get a figure on bias) please do take a look at it, it only takes a second. Thank you all!

Update 05/2018: Removed questionable scenes I didn't realize was even there...

The Starlight Eclipse

Chapter 10 – Serenity Before Sunrise

Orange, red, crackle, pop! Fervid fiery fingers fiercely flickered for five jaded dragons while outside, the storm blew slowly past and left a path of ravaged forest in its wake. Yet the Crucible stood undaunted by violent nature's formidable force, granting its newest occupants an unfaltering stronghold from the wild winds.

Spyro laid against the cold ground as he gazed upon the fire, lost in a storm of thoughts brewing in his clouded mind as he emptily gazed upon the hypnotizing ballet of orange, yellow, and red dancers tossing up a cascade of embers like celebratory confetti. A shuffling of scales brought him out of his thoughts and he blinked away his spacey gaze as Cynder shifted beside him.

"A silver for your thoughts?" She murmured and opened two glimmering emerald eyes to stare at her lover.

He swiveled his head and came nose to nose with the black dragoness. Who's slowly widening orbs radiated an unusual aura of relief and befuddlement. Suddenly the fire didn't seem to burn as bright anymore...

Spyro let out a content sigh and gently pressed his nose against hers, nuzzling it before planting the faintest of kisses upon the very tip. "Are my thoughts always so cheap?" He teased lightheartedly.

Cynder giggled and wriggled her snout at the ticklish sensation incurred by his actions before rolling onto her side and pressing her back against his side before emitting a prolonged yawn, displaying a row of deadly fangs. "To me, they're priceless. But if a silver won't do, will a kiss suffice?" She smacked her lips and flaunted for him a wily simper before stretching her legs, groaning leisurely as her joints popped. Finishing her stretch, she rolled onto her other side so she faced the purple dragon and playfully tapped his shoulder.

"Hm, I would love one of those." The purple dragon gaily replied and craned his head towards hers only to feel a claw tap against his lips, halting him midway. He rolled his eyes as Cynder guided his head away and leaned in to nuzzle his cheek.

"You'll have to speak first." She whispered slyly and he shivered subconsciously as her breath grazed over his scales.

"Do I?" He smirked as Cynder's head retreated and became instantly painted with a suspicious frown upon catching sight of the silly grin over his face.

"Spyro?" She muttered worriedly before yelping as she felt claws fall over her belly.

"What th-" She didn't finish before her words turned into snorts and wild cackles as she felt his claws poke at the ticklish areas of her scales.

"l-let g-Ha!" She squirmed before finally shoving herself out of range, permitting her to roll onto her feet, puffing out residual chortles before flicking her head towards the grinning purple dragon laying close by and fixating him with a vengeful glare.

"Why you…" She hissed and stood over him, intending to wipe the stupid grin off his smug purple face when a muffled cough made her pause and look up.

Her eyes went wide with shock before her face flushed as she caught three pairs of eyes staring between her and Spyro, each with incredulous to annoyed expressions. Laindon coughed again as Spyro scrambled onto his feet as well and sheepishly looked over their motley group.

"Uh, this… isn't what it looks like." He stammered.

"Really now, there ain't much else it could look like." Snickered Laindon as both purple and black dragons wilted in embarrassment.

"Gross..." Syrina muttered under her breath while from the other side of Laindon, Corin stuck his tongue out mockingly.

"Um… Cynder, can I speak with you momentarily?" Spyro whispered to his companion, who eagerly nodded, relieved to find an excuse to get away for at least a few minutes.

"Sure, Laindon, watch over those two while we're gone." Cynder nervously laughed at the flat expressions that still locked onto them, her tone rising up a pitch before she quickly turned and trotted away and out of the broken-down door.

"Careful Laindon, don't be too harsh on the Sunblight or he might cry." Syrina glowered at Corin from her spot across the campfire, as far away as she could place herself in the bubble of warmth.

The Celtac snarled and spat a small light pulse over her head, making her instinctively duck. It exploded in a blinding flash against the far wall as the dragoness leapt onto her feet and poised herself to rip the light dragon to shreds.

"Syrina!" Spyro's irritated bark made her huff and sit back down. "Listen to Laindon." He turned to address Corin as well. "You two better not get into trouble."

With those words, he turned and followed Cynder out, igniting a small fire orb over his head to provide light. As his tail turned the corner, an uncomfortable silence fell over the three remaining dragons, made even more tense by the mutual glare being exchanged between Draker and Celtac.

Laindon glanced awkwardly between the two before scratching the back of his neck. While neither one of them had any direct issues with him, he doubted they would've bothered to listen to him at all had Spyro and Cynder not forcibly made them agree to cause each other no harm.

"So... you want to talk smack about the Celtacs again?" He grinned at Syrina. While she initially had been wary of him, she had been quite interested by his tale of mistreatment as an Ingrata. He was certainly glad that they shared some similar distaste for the Celtacs, else he doubted she'd even grant him an ounce of trust, even after Cynder, and subsequently Spyro, vouched on his behalf.

Corin snorted in annoyance and rolled his eyes at a growing smirk over his nemesis's face. "Could you not? I don't think I'm in the mood for this rubbish again."

Syrina beamed derisively at him, purposely presenting a clear view of her fangs."Laindon, tell our friend to take his opinion and shove it-"

"Shut up already!" The young warrior snarled, interrupting her.

The two simultaneously leapt to their feet again only for their attentions to be drawn by the sound of a clearing throat. Silhouetted against the doorframe, Spyro waited until he had their undivided attention. Evidently, he had the presence of mind to double check on them after they'd thought he'd left.

"You two behave... I mean it." He chastised them with surprising seriousness in his voice. "If either of you harms the other, you can consider any chance our support void." He didn't really intend for his threat to be anything more than just that as, quite frankly, he didn't have the heart to carry out such a harsh punishment anyways but he hoped they'd buy the bluff.

When the two rivals cast each other a final, furious snort before padding back to their pervious spots, he knew they did. Thank goodness... He inwardly sighed in relief before turning around.

Silence followed in his wake until he disappeared from sight once more, and when his footsteps finally faded from hearing, Laindon breathed out a nervous breath. "Okay, let's do something else instead... The grey dragon sat up onto his haunches, smacked his lips and rubbed his paws together. "So..." A childish smile crept over his face. "Any of you played truth or dare before?"

Spyro rounded the corner only to find that Cynder was nowhere to be seen. He paused in confusion before taking a few hesitant steps forward, ignoring the voices of the dragons in the room he just left when they resumed speaking again.

"Cynder?" He called out gingerly as he crept forwards once more, cautiously looking left and right.

Tap. He spun as a rusty piece of metal flipped over seemingly on its own. What the? He stared at the strange occurrence before it clicked in his brain.

"Wait!" He gasped before the dragoness shot out of the shadows, barreling into him and tossing them both head over heels until she came to a stop over him, flashing a triumphant grin while Spyro groaned painfully and shot her an unamused look.

"Was it worth it?" He asked dryly.

"What, to use all the mana I recovered just to get back at you?" She snickered and casually inspected her claws. "Completely."

Spyro kept his stare for a second longer before a smile crept back over his face.

"Well, since we're even… can I kiss you now?"

Cynder peered down at him with a wide smirk and shrugged. "Sure, I suppose, but only because I'm glad you're okay."

She got off and waited for him to roll back onto his feet but to her confusion, he just stood up and shrugged his wings. "Hello? Earth to Spyro, I'm still waiting for that kiss." She raised an eyebrow as he simply stared at her with a grin.

Despite her attempts to maintain a flat expression, the persistent swaying of her tail behind her all but gave away her excitement. Finally, she let out a loud, exasperated groan and strode foreword and shoved her lips against her purple dragon's, wrapping her arms around his neck in a tight embrace. She felt Spyro melt against her.

The growing need for air separated them again and Cynder opened her eyes halfway to peer at her partner as he leaned forward and ran his muzzle down her neck, affectionately nuzzling her scales.

A pleasant chill trickled down her spin as he pulled away and licked her nose again, eliciting from her throat another light giggle that made his grin all the wider.

"For the record…" Cynder murmured, "that was only because Laindon interrupted me last time."

"Duly noted." The purple dragon sighed in content and turned, gesturing with his head. "Walk with me." He blew another ball of fire before him and manipulated it to hover between his horns, providing a gently light with comforting warmth. He proceeded to drape a wing over his lover, chuckling when she happily pressed closer to his side.

"You know what's something I don't understand?" He whispered.

"How out of everyone, we're the ones that get stuck with all the pressure?" Cynder replied with the bittersweet flavor of melancholy rolling off her tongue, thinking back to how most of their young lives had been spent fighting for survival.

"Hey... if it weren't for all this, I wouldn't ever have met you." Spyro pointed out.

"I know... though if only we could've met on better terms." Cynder replied.

"But then who knows if we'd be where we are now?"

Cynder's face twisted at his response. "I see your optimism knows bounds." Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Why thanks," Spyro cheekily grinned. "I think I'll take that as a compliment."

"Okay, second guess. Is it why you're so cute?" Her tone took a playful turn.

"Yeah… you too." Spyro replied shakily, blushing lightly.

"I thought that was a given, my purple knight in shiny armor, but you still haven't told me the answer." Cynder nuzzled his cheek.

"Right… well, I don't understand how we keep landing in the middle of these type of things." He replied and Cynder tapped her chin with a claw.

"Well, I suppose it's to make life more interesting of course." She laughed and looked away, dropping her voice to a devious rasp. "Or would you prefer something more mundane?"

"Goodness no." Spyro quickly replied back, crossing his chest with a forearm.

"Didn't think so." Cynder spoke with delight in abundance in her voice.

They sauntered down the empty, overgrown corridors, with but themselves and the quietude of night to make their company, lost to the simple joys of carefree chatter, forgetting, for just a few minutes, the new responsibilities that burdened both of them.

Yet, this moment of ephemeral bliss was not one to last.

Spyro's mind slowly returned to the dreadful notions of said burdens and stopped in thought, nearly tripping Cynder, who yelped at his sudden halt and lurched forward before righting herself.

She looked towards him and caught a glimpse of pensiveness glint across his visage. Squirming out of the comfort of his warm wing, she padded to stand before him and sat down on her haunches, gesturing for him to do the same.

The dragoness took her right paw and placed it over his left one before using her other to cup his cheek. Looking into his almost glowing violet irises, she shot him a reassuring smile before pressing her forehead against his.

"I know what you're thinking." She whispered with eyes closed.

"So, you're a psychic now?" He teasingly replied.

"Spyro, trying to be serious here."

"Oh, okay, sorry."

The dragoness took a deep breath before speaking again. "We'll find a way to make this work." She thought of the major conflict of interest splitting the two parties. It not only pressured them to find a solution, but also built even more unwelcomed tension on the already taught line between Corin and Syrina.

"I know we will… in fact, I have an idea." Spyro swallowed and continued to say, "It's why I called you here."

"Not to enjoy my company and let me riddle your face with kisses?" She quipped.

"Well, a bit of that too…" Spyro admitted before contemplating her words a second time. "Okay, maybe more than a bit… Anyways, I have an idea, but I doubt Corin nor Syrina would fancy it too much."

"I see, what's the plan?"

"We go bring an army, that still stands… however, when we bring it to the valley, rather than backing any one side, we're going to force them to sue for peace and call off their troops. Then, we'll make them establish borders and hopefully, it'll let each side leave the other to their own devices."

Cynder didn't speak for a few moments as her mind thought it over. "Okay, two major flaws I currently see. First, what are we even supposed to say to Corin and Syrina? I doubt the middle ground is the solution they seek. Second, say it works and we leave and everything goes la-di-da until we disappear over the horizon. What's stopping them from tearing each other's throats out?"

"We tell them the truth… to an extent." He took a hesitant breath and swallowed the saliva building at the back of his throat. "Somehow, I don't buy that the Sentinels are unaware of who their foes truly are. I also don't buy that all the Drakers even want peace in the first place… due to their nature."

"Right, I had my suspicions too, but this just complicates our problems." Cynder murmured quietly.

"Yes, which is why for now, we simply tell them that the Guardians will hear both of their stories and from there, judge which side to back." Spyro said in response to her worry.

The black dragoness scoffed. "And the moment we tell Syrina and Corin, they're going to murder each other." She replied dryly.

"Which is why, we need be crystal clear that no one is getting anything unless both of them make it to Warfang in one piece."

"Okay… this plan's got more holes than a sinking ship but since we're stuck with no alternative, it will have to do. What about the second point though, what happens when we leave?" Cynder let out a light sigh, understanding the precariousness of their situation.

"As for the second point…" Spyro winced and opened his eyes just a sliver and saw the furrowed brow over Cynder's still shut ones. "I… haven't thought about that yet… but hey," he threw on a crooked smile. "Like you said, we'll find a way to make this work, right?"

The purple dragon wiggled his nose when Cynder huffed out a puff of hot air before opening her eyes too and meeting his. "Touché… but this sounds like an optimism fueled long-shot if I've ever seen one."

"I won't lie to you, it is." Spyro admitted.

"Right…" the black dragoness separated herself just a bit before planting her own kiss upon her companion's nose and following up with a playful lick. She grinned at the surprise frozen upon his purple face and stood again. "Then let's make this work… and we can have Laindon keep those two in check even if we're not watching them."

"…Will they even listen to Laindon?" Spyro raised an eyebrow, doubting that either of the dragons will take orders from they grey comrade.

"They will once we force that rule upon them, keep this in mind my dear purple dragon. We hold all the strings. I get that you loath imperiousness but I dread that that's the only way to get them both to Warfang in one piece." Cynder reassured him.

He looked unhappy with those words but nodded in apprehension. "I got you." He whispered.

"Good." The dragoness playfully punched his chest before clasping him on both shoulders. Spyro blinked as she pulled him onto his feet again and beckoned for him to lift a wing again before letting it drape over her back. Satisfied, she let out a pleasant sigh and pressed her flank against his. Slowly, he beamed and cast her a grateful look.

"Remind me why I'm such a lucky dragon to have you here again?"

"Oh, I don't know." She flippantly flicked her head. "Maybe because I owe you for saving me in Concurrent Skies… or…" A wicked smirk came over features as she lean. "Maybe I'm the only female who can put up with you."

"Cynder!" The purple dragon balked, opening his jaw in mock insult as she flirtatiously batted her eyes.

The dragoness kept up the act for a second longer before dropping the façade and breaking down into a hysterical fit of laughter interlaced with brief sucks for air.

"Cynder…" Spyro rolled his eyes at the joke cracked at his expense but soon enough, his own snickers echoed with hers along the walls.

"I-I'm s-sorry… you're… you're just too adorable when you do that!" Cynder fell onto her back and clutched her belly as Spyro groaned, a smile still plastered across his face.

Fine, two can play this game. Before she could recover, a purple head snaked down over hers and she suddenly found herself staring into two perky purple irises before they dipped down and his breath blew over her neck.

"Spy-Eep!" She squealed loudly as he froze her choker with a breath of arctic wind.

"G-Ah! Ancestors, that's dirty!" She sputtered, shaking uncontrollably as the icy burn seeped through the metal and into her scales, but she couldn't help herself from giggling as Spyro blew a raspberry at her.

"How about we call this a draw?" She coughed as he leaned down again and thawed the metal, a silly smile unknowingly stretching her lips.

"I don't recall making this a contest." Spyro nonchalantly replied, echoing her own words from days before.

"Well in that case... Tag!" She shoved him, sending him tripping over a stone table as she bolted down the corridor.

"What? Hey!" She heard him call at her as he scrambled up and bounded forward in pursuit. "You little sneak!"

"Little? I'm pretty sure I'm taller-gah!" Cynder was cut off as she rounded a corner and slammed on her heals, nearly colliding with another dragon, specifically a grey one who had a second to open his mouth when Spyro rounded the corner as well, his own eyes widening as he tried and failed to stop himself. He impacted against Cynder's back, sending them both tumbling in a tangle of flailing limbs, narrowly missing the wide-eyed Ingrata as they slid to a stop.

"Laindon?" They both muttered in confusion as they clutched their heads and stumbled upwards only to trip over each other.

"Laindon!" Corin and Syrina rounded the corner on the other end of the corridor and caught up with their companion. They both raised confused eyebrows as they stood over the grumbling purple and black forms.

"Uh… gross." Syrina crinkled her nose and looked away while Corin coughed awkwardly.

"Wait, no, this actually isn't what it looks like! We were just playing... tag." Cynder pleaded to three unconvinced faces and she realized how stupid her explanation sounded, so she chuckled nervously and changed the subject. "What are you even doing here?"

"We heard you scream… but I think we've misheard…" Corin grunted.

"Oh…"

Spyro rubbed his neck and looked helplessly towards Cynder, who winced and shrugged her shoulders as she slowly sat up onto her haunches. "Is it so unbelievable that we were playing a game? Tell them Laindon!"

He shot them a crooked grin. "I saw nothing."

Spyro narrowed his eyes at the grey dragon. Gee... thanks... He coughed and cleared his throat."So… um, now that we're all here… we're going to need to talk."

"Sure, as long as it isn't about your evening… entertainment." Laindon laughed, earning him two simultaneous glares.

"No… and for that last time, we weren't doing anything!" Cynder glared at him.

"Exactly what I'd say if I was doing something..."

"Laindon, I will hurt you and for everyone's information, Spyro and I were also deciding on how this expedition's going to go." She took his subsequent shrug as a sign of giving up so she forced seriousness back into her voice as she looked between Corin and Syrina, who both perked with interest at her words. "But firstly, let's just put it out there that there will be no violence tolerated between you two during this journey. If one of you don't make it to Warfang, then neither of you will get anything." She warned them sternly, paralleling Spyro's own words.

"What?!" Came two separate but simultaneous responses.

"How is that fair?" Syrina growled unhappily. "Why should I be burdened with making sure this sack of scales here survives out there?"

"It isn't fair." Spyro solemnly admitted to them. "But it is necessary. So, do you two understand?" He hated having to use his bossy voice. Hated it with a passion that caused his stomach to churn uneasily.

A stiff silence filled the humid air before Corin briskly replied. "Fine."

Syrina merely grunted in response but nodded.

"Good," Cynder shot them an approving look before pointing to the last dragon in their posse. "Laindon here will make sure of that."

"Laindon?" Syrina and Corin gasped incredulously.

"Laindon?" The grey dragon pointed his claws at himself.

"Yes, you Laindon. Congratulations, you're now in charge of these two." Spyro rolled his eyes as two livid looks locked onto him. Well, that's the expected reaction I suppose. "No compromises on this either."

They still both looked ready to throw a fit but before they could argue, he raised his foreleg and cut them off before acknowledging Cynder. "Now, the two of us have agreed on some… changes to the plan and I know you may not like this very much."

"You're already outdoing yourself with things I don't like." Syrina hissed dryly, an agitated blaze burning beneath her brown irises.

"Well, how much worse can it get?" Corin sighed in defeat and massaged his temple with a claw. "It's not like I've been branded a disgrace, banished from my own city, and then forced to share space with this… vile Devourer or anything… oh wait." He finished sourly.

"Hah! I absolutely love meta humor!" Laindon chortled gleefully and pointed two claws at the unamused Celtac. "That's pretty good, high five me!" He shot out his hand in anticipation but Syrina heatedly flicked Laindon's arm away as she advanced on Corin.

"Vile Devourer? How hypocritical of you Sunblight! Last time I checked we weren't the ones sending army after army into our homes-"

"Silence!" They stopped and four pairs of eyes shot to the grey dragon who took a moment to complete his own high five before pointing both paws at the bickering duo. "Corin and Syrina, like each other!" The Ingrata spoke with a previously unheard, commanding tone in his voice. "Or prepare to count thy costs." He slapped on a strange accent before snickering at his own antics.

Spyro and Cynder exchanged bemused glances, but the dragons in question didn't hesitate before vocalizing their displeasure. "What? Never!" They both screamed at him angrily.

"Well too bad!" Laindon grinned victoriously. "Cuz I'm the head honcho now, the big cheese, savvy?"

Corin and Syrina flicked their pleading, horrified eyes to Spyro and Cynder, who glimpsed at each other before gracing them with helpless shrugs. "Sorry, but rules are rules." The black dragoness waved a flippant paw at them. "Now, do as the er… big cheese… says."

In response, Syrina let out a loud, frustrated groan and shoved her forehead against the nearest wall while Corin's expression fell flat and his eyes seemed to lose all focus as the light behind them briefly vacated its vessel of scale and flesh.

Spyro felt a twinge of guilt drip into his gut before Cynder nudged him on the shoulder as they watched the exchange. "Don't worry, they'll get used to it… now let's tell them the plan already, at this rate we won't get any sleep tonight and I do quite miss my snugly purple pillow."

The purple dragon realized that it was most likely past almost sunrise by now and the storm outside was dying down. "Yes, let's." He muttered. "I'm quite tired too; after all, these past three days have been really something."

"Yep, only three days and I already feel as if it's been three years." Cynder agreed.

"And to think, this is just the beginning."