"You young ones behave yourselves." Infernus leaned down towards Ember and Flame and nuzzled them both. "Especially you Flameus."
"Me? Why me?"
"Because I know myself, your father and you as well."
Ember giggled slightly as Flame hung his head in embarrassment. Hearing Ember's laugh made him perk up though.
"Make us proud." Marla nuzzled Ember. "And don't give Spyro too much of a hard time."
"I promise." Ember nodded sincerely.
The two elders looked up to face Terrador and the other guardians.
"Take care of yourselves." Marla rubbed her snout under Terrador's chin.
"As should you." Terrador nodded proudly.
"We look forward to hearing from you all soon." Volteer bobbed his head politely.
"Look after out young ones." Infernus smiled as he bowed to them. Then he looked at Spyro and Cynder. "May the best of luck be upon you two. Spyro and Cynder."
"Thank you very much." Spyro smiled up at the old dragon.
"Have a safe journey." Cynder piped up.
"We will." Marla and Infernus turned to their groups an roared to signal the groups to take off. Almost immediately the sky was darkened as the cloud of dragons took to the air. Everyone coughed as the dust choked them. After the wind settled down they watched as the dragons slowly disappeared over the horizon. When they were out of sight Terrador, Volteer and Cyril all retreated to the city temple, leaving the young dragons to their own devices.
"So, Spyro..." Ember turned to him and gave him a flirtatious stare. "I was wondering if you were busy at all and want to go out."
"Sorry Ember. But I already had plans with Cynder." Spyro felt bad about turning her down but was glad he was being truthful.
"Too bad." Ember shrugged trying to hide her disappointment. She turned and walked past Flame. Th fire breather watched as she headed for the hills before taking off after her. Cynder narrowed her eyes at Ember as she walked away before heading back inside with Spyro beside her.
"Ember, are you okay?" Flame asked when she had finally come to a stop at the top of the tallest hill.
"Of course. Why would you ask such a thing?" Ember replied without turning to look at him.
"Well, call it a hunch but you really seemed like you wanted to be with Spyro back there." Flame sat down next to her but made sure he wasn't too close.
Ember sighed. "Yeah. I had an idea for an activity to do with Spyro. But if he has other plans first then I won't force myself on him. I'd feel pretty bad if those plans were very important."
"But Spyro isn't a guardian." Flame pointed out. "What plans could he have?"
"No offense Flame. But can we change the subject?" Ember gave him a hurt look and Flame immediately felt guilty.
After another moment of silence Flame turned to her again. "Hey Ember?"
"Yes?" She turned to face him and Flame's cheeks burned.
"Um...I was...just sort of...um, curious..." Staring at her was making his heart race and his thoughts jumbled.
Ember raised a brow at him.
Flame took a deep breath and breathed a small tuft of fire before continuing. "I know that technically we're supposed to be competing against each other to become guardian. But I was hoping that you and I could be friends, rather than enemies."
Ember's eyes widened slightly. The she smiled. "Flame, I never thought of you as an enemy. But I would be glad to be your friend any day."
"Really?" A big grin spread across his mouth.
"Of course." Ember nodded. "I love making new friends."
Flame wanted to leap for joy, but restrained himself. He couldn't believe that she really wanted to be his friend.
The two sat in silence for a long time as the watched the clouds roll across the sky. Again, Flame broke the silence.
"So, Ember..."
"Hm?"
"Would you be willing to tell me about yourself?" Flame glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. He was trying to keep his cheeks from burning red.
"Only if you tell me about you in return." Ember smiled.
Flame and Ember walked back to the castle together side by side. Flame was content to be by her side if nothing more. Their conversations ended up leading to talks about Spyro. Flame couldn't bring himself to try and discourage Ember from going on and on about the purple dragon. He merely counted his blessings that he had gotten an entire day alone with the beautiful dragoness of his dreams.
"Do you think that you can really get Spyro to fall for you?" Flame asked, trying his best not to sound offended.
"I'm certain I can get Spyro to fall in love with me." Ember turned to him with determination burning in her light red eyes. "I knew he was meant to be mine the moment I laid eyes on him."
"But how can you be certain?" Flame asked, trying his best to divert her attention again. "I mean, what about Cynder? She seems to be really close to Spyro and she probably knows him better than anyone else."
"She's just gotten more time around him than me." Ember snorted and smoke shot from her nostrils. "I'm sure if I had more time around Spyro I would know him just as well if not better. And further more..." Her voice trailed off. She looked over Flames shoulder at the trees behind him.
"What? What is it?" Flame glanced from her to the grove.
"I thought I saw something." Ember squinted to try and get a better look.
"Wait here." Flame said and marched over to the edge of the grove of trees. He looked around the bushes to see if anything was obviously a miss before venturing in a little more. Nothing moved except Flames heart which thumped loudly against his chest. The fire breather lifted his nose and sniffed the air. There was a slight odor to the air. Like it was sour and bitter at the same time. Flame slowly started to turn around, keeping his eyes on the woods behind him. As he emerged back into the sunlight Ember was waiting for him anxiously.
"Did you see anything?"
Flame shook his head. "Didn't see a thing." He continued to look back over his shoulder at the trees. "What did you see?"
"I'm not sure. It may have just been a bird or something. It's probably no big deal."
"Hm..." Flame thought to himself.
"Come on Flame. Loosen up." She gave him a bump in the chest with her hips and accidentally knocking him off balance. "It's getting late, we should get back to the city before it gets dark."
"Y-yeah sure." Flame blushed. He couldn't believe she had just done something to him that he was almost certain she would have done to Spyro. He smiled, not complaining at all as he got to his feet and chased after her back towards the city walls. They didn't notice the pair of ruby eyes watching them from the treetops where Flame had neglected to look.
Ember woke up early the next morning. She had been unable to sleep anymore which annoyed her. She had been in the middle of a wonderful dream about her and Spyro which she was thoroughly enjoying.
She got off her pile of cushions and walked to the balcony. The sun was ready to rise off in the distance but hadn't yet come up over the horizon. Ember yawned and stretched her wings out before gliding down from her balcony. She soared over to the far wall where the moles were going around in their morning patrols. As she neared the wall one of the guards waved her down.
"Where are you off to so early little missy?" He asked when she landed.
"I couldn't sleep." Ember yawned again showing her teeth. "I just thought I'd go for a little early morning flight. Either it would wake me up of let me fall asleep easier when I came back."
"Very well." The mole nodded. "But just keep your wits about you and be careful."
"I will. Thank you." Ember bowed and took off over the city wall. She flew across the hills at a slow pace, beating her wings only when she drifted too close to the damp ground. She was passing by the grove of trees where she and Flame had been the previous day. She landed and shivered at the touch of cold dew on the bottom of her feet. Thankfully the ground was dry as she entered the forest. She hadn't gone more than a few yards in when she heard a twig snap and a rustling in the bushes.
"Whose there?" She growled defensively. She looked around and saw nothing. When a few leaves fell to the forest floor, Ember's eyes drifted up. Sitting in the canopy was a dragon. It's skin was an almost neon-green and yellow. It had blood red eyes and bright red and orange barb on the end of its tail. The dragon covered itself with its wings when Ember peered more closely at it. "Who are you?" She asked and took a few cautious steps towards it. "Have you been watching us?"
"Yes." The dragon hissed. "But I was hoping for the purple one you call Spyro." It peeked out slightly from behind its wing.
"Spyro?" Ember glared and took a defensive stance. "What do you want with Spyro?"
"I'm lost and have no way of knowing where I am." The dragon whimpered.
"You're lost?" Ember relaxed and immediately felt guilty for being so aggressive. "Well maybe I can help you."
The dragon paused for a moment. "Perhaps you can help me."
Ember raised a brow. She had just said that.
"Do you know your way to the silver river from here?" The dragon continued.
"Uh...I don't." Ember shook her head. Then she remembered what she and Flame had been talking about the previous day. Spyro had told Flame that e had been to the Enchanted Forest at the end of the silver river before. "But I can get Spyro to help if you'd like."
"You would do that for me?"
"What kind of guardian would I be if I didn't help someone in need." Ember s=nodded with a smile.
"You are too kind." The dragon moved its wing aside s Ember could see its broad head and twisted horns. "I only ask one more favor."
"Do not tell anyone about me. If word were to reach my people that I asked for help they would surely banish me."
Ember was shocked at this sort of news but she agreed to the terms none the less. She made her way towards the edge of the trees before taking off back towards the city.
Spyro yawned as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He looked to his side to see Cynder still asleep. She had spent the last two night with him after the ball. Spyro smiled and draped a wing over her. The time they had spent together the past couple days had been almost magical. After about ten minutes, Cynder's eyes cracked open.
"Good morning." Spyro whispered and nuzzled her cheek. Cynder cooed softly and got to her feet. She stretched and Spyro heard her joints pop. "Did you sleep well?"
"Of course." She replied. "I always seem to sleep better next to you."
Spyro blushed. Then there was a knock on the door. Both heads turned to see a mole standing in the doorway.
"You have a visitor." He announced and walked back around the corner. "He is awake miss." His voice came from around the corner.
"Thank you." Cynder recognized the voice. Her eyes narrowed as Ember walked around the corner. "Spyro? I was wonder ing if you could..." She stopped when she saw Cynder. "Oh, I didn't realize you had company."
"Clearly." Cynder muttered between clenched teeth. Ember looked from Cynder to Spyro then back to Cynder.
"Cynder can I see you a second?" Ember gestured towards the hallway. Cynder was a little surprised by this but followed Ember out, leaving Spyro to wonder what was going on.
"What do you think you're doing here?" Cynder hissed.
"It's not what you think it is." Ember protested trying her best to keep her voice down.
"Not what I think it is?" Cynder snapped, rather insulted by the remark. "How stupid do you think I am? I know you're just looking for an opportunity to take Spyro from me. But I have news for you, Ember. I won't let you."
"That's not what this is about." Ember tried to get Cynder to lower her voice. "I need Spyro's help with something. Well, more like someone else needs Spyro's help with something. But they asked me to fetch him for them."
"Well why can't they get him themselves?" Cynder raised a suspicious brow.
Ember hung her head. "I'm sorry. But they made me swear an oath of secrecy. And I don't break promises."
Cynder's eyes were filled with distrust and Ember saw it. She sighed and leaned up to look Cynder in the eyes. "If it will help put your mind at ease, I will promise not to try anything with Spyro for the entire day."
"How can I be sure you're not just tricking me?"
Ember sighed and moved closer to Cynder. "You see this pendent? It was left for me by my mother before she died. It's my most precious possession. If I don't keep my promise you can keep it." Cynder was shocked.
"No! I couldn't do such a thing. Not even if it meant the chance of losing Spyro."
"I mean it!" Ember insisted and took another step closer. "I will keep my promise to you for the day and not lay a single paw on Spyro." Cynder looked unsure of herself. At last she reached up and unlocked the pendent from Ember's neck.
"Thank you Cynder. For trusting me enough." Ember looked heart broken as she walked into Spyro's room. The black dragoness watched her and looked down at the pendent. She felt like she had heart heart ripped out of her. Her attention was grabbed when Spyro exited his room followed closely by Ember. Cynder hid the pendent beneath her wing so Spyro couldn't see it.
"Sorry, Cynder. But Ember says she needs me to help someone."
"I understand." Cynder said looking sadly at the floor.
"Are you okay?" Spyro cocked his head awkwardly at her.
"I'm fine." Cynder lied, then looked up into his purple eyes. "Just hurry back. Please."
"I will." Spyro nodded and continued down the hall. Ember paused in front of Cynder.
"Take care of it for me."
"I'll guard it with my life." Cynder nodded. Ember gave a half smile and quickly followed after Spyro.
"So why can't you tell me who this person is?" Spyro asked as he and Ember soared over the city wall.
"I promised that I wouldn't." Ember said over the whistle of the wind. "I'm sure once they meet you they'll be more than willing to explain."
"All right, I trust you." Spyro shrugged. He followed Ember to the edge of the woods on the eastern side of the city wall. Once they had landed they entered the forest. Spyro looked around the bushes and tree trunks expecting to see a smaller creature of some sort. He was so busy looking around he hadn't noticed Ember had stopped and bumped into her.
Ember was about to make a flirtatious remark but stopped herself at the last second.
"Are we here?" Spyro looked around, still not seeing anything.
"You brought him." The mysterious dragon said excitedly.
Spyro's gaze jerked up to the branches above him. The green dragon was peering down at him curiously and leaped from the branch it was on to the forest floor. It stood on two legs instead of four like Spyro and the other dragons did. It's front limbs were its brightly colored wings. Spyro swallowed hard. The dragon was easily three times his height.
"Hello." It said and leaned in close to Spyro. The purple dragon noticed a bitter-sour smell coming from the fangs that jutted up from its lower jaw.
"H-hello." Spyro stammered, unsure of what else to say. "Ember here tells me you needed my help." He glanced at the pink dragoness who was watching them intensely.
"Ah! Yes!" The dragon nodded as if it had forgotten why it had requested help in the first place. "I am lost and wish to find my way home."
"Where do you come from?" Spyro asked feeling a bit more certain of himself.
"I'm not certain..." The dragon cocked its head sideways.
"You mean you don't remember?" Spyro looked surprised.
"He said he came from the Enchanted forest at the end of the Silver River." Ember put in.
"Ah yes! The Silver River!" The dragon nodded excitedly.
Spyro looked at Ember. This dragon was kind of dumb, there was no other way to say it.
"Well, then shall we go now?" He turned back to the dragon. "Maybe if we leave now we can get there by nightfall."
"No! We can't leave now!" The dragon protested. Spyro and Ember both jumped at the intensity in his voice.
"Why not?" Ember asked.
"My kind cannot see well in daylight. Night is when we see best. Night is when we travel."
"Oh." Spyro glanced at Ember again.
"We leave tonight? Lead me home?" The dragon leaned in towards Spyro again. The purple dragon's nostrils flared at the scent.
"All right then." Spyro nodded somewhat reluctantly. "We will be back as soon as it gets dark out." He turned back towards the edge of the forest. "Until then we should all get some rest."
"Yes! Rest!" The dragon nodded vigorously and scrambled back into the branches above and curled its wings over its head.