Cynder and Max sat in the garden talking for hours on end. Despite the current circumstances of her mate, Cynder was happy to get her thoughts away from Spyro and clear her mind of all the negativity in the world. She talked about her adventures with Spyro and how they had defeated the Malefor the first time and how he had come back and how they had ended up in Certrona.
"Sounds like you've been around quite a bit for someone your age," Max pointed out, genuinely intrigued by her story.
Cynder gave a light chuckle. "I guess you could say that. I wish it were under better circumstances."
"Speaking of which." Max shifted on his large, bird-like hip bone and fluttered his wings. "What about your friend who Singe is taking care of? Is he going to be alright?"
Cynder nodded and gazed out at the fog beyond the cliffs. "She says he's stable and recovering as well as can be expected."
Max tilted his head slightly and stared at her hard. "But you're still sad," He pointed out, noticing the glossiness in her eyes.
Cynder gave another dismal sigh. "It's nothing."
"I don't believe that for a second," Max nearly spat, surprising Cynder in the process. "If there's something on your mind, you should get it off or it just builds up. And then it'll just hurt you more when you finally come out with it."
"I know." Cynder bobbed her head. "But it's not your problem. You shouldn't have to worry about it."
"I'm well aware." Max nodded. "But perhaps talking about it to a friend will help you sort your thoughts. It's better to have a clear mind than a clouded one and deliver the wrong message."
"I understand what you're saying." Cynder looked the raptor-like dragon in the eyes. "But you don't have to go out of your way."
Max laid a hand on Cynder's shoulder and draped his tail over hers. "I'm not asking because I have to Cynder. I am because I want to." Cynder was frozen for a moment. Something about his words and actions reminded her of Spyro. Her cheeks flushed and she had to turn away to hide her face. Max removed his hand and waited for her to speak. After a long moment Cynder turned back to face him.
"Spyro isn't just a friend to me." She started and Max felt his insides flutter but managed to keep the same straight face. "He's my best friend in the whole world. He's my savior, my idol, my one true love and my future life mate."
"I see." Max replied on a monotone voice.
"But lately things just seemed to get more and more complicated."
"How so?"
Cynder gave another sigh and went on to explain about how Spyro had lost all of his powers and the horrifying scene she had witnessed when he had gone berserk and exploded. When she was done Max sat with his jaw hanging open in disbelief.
"I'm amazed he even survived something like that," He gasped after a moment of silence. "It's no wonder he's in as bad a shape as everyone says." Indeed there had been a lot of talk amongst the other dragons of Certrona about Spyro's condition.
"But what hurts the most is that he didn't even recognize who I was. It was as if he had no memory of me at all." Cynder's shoulders slumped and tears began to well up in her eyes.
"I understand." Max sighed and bravely draped a wing over her back. "But you're only thinking about it from your perspective. What about Spyro's? What do you think was running through his mind at the time?"
"I... I don't know..." Cynder stammered. "I wasn't sure but I figured since it was me, I could bring him back."
"But if this... Liun guy was toying with his mind then who knows what damage he might have caused for Spyro not to recognize his own life mate."
"I guess that didn't really cross my mind until now," Cynder muttered shamefully. "But when you get that close to someone to only have them torn away like that..." She looked Max in the eye and shook her head. "It's just mind boggling. And it hurts more than any wound I've ever suffered." She looked down and Max noticed the nasty wound on her breast scales. It was unmistakably a large puncture wound but from what, he had no idea. The scales were forming over the scar tissue, hiding the ugly mark.
"Well I for one can sympathize with Spyro." Max broke the silence after a long moment. "You said that you didn't tell him about what was going on in fear that he would over react and from what it sounds like he did anyways. Am I right?" Cynder nodded quietly. "Well I, personally, wouldn't have kept something like that a secret from my supposed life mate. Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming you, but if you're going to be together you should handle each other's problems together."
Cynder twisted her lips intuitively as she thought about the dragon's words. He did have a very good point but doubt still lingered in the back of her mind like a buzzing gnat. At last she looked up at Max and spoke.
"Do you think Spyro is the right one for me?" She asked, almost shocked that she had even brought such a question up.
Max only stared at her. The silence that passed between the two dragons was almost torturous. Max fought with himself over what he could say and what he should say. His conscience nagged at him to the point where he couldn't take it anymore.
"I can't say for certain Cynder," He finally replied, "I don't have the power to see the future." Cynder nodded understandingly and stared at the flowers around her. "But, if I had to give an opinion, I'd say that you and Spyro really are made for each other. I mean, judging by how much you two have been through together and how much you two love each other. I'd be shocked and probably have a heart attack if you two didn't spend the rest of your lives together."
"Really?" Cynder looked at him out of the corner of her eye.
Max's heart ached as he stared into her magnificent, turquoise eyes. He had not met Spyro yet but already he was feeling very envious of the purple dragon. However, he cared for this lovely black dragoness sitting before him and could not bear to see her unhappy. After a moment he sighed and nodded.
Cynder sniffled and wiped away her tears before smiling genuinely for the first time in weeks. "Thank you Max. I think I'm starting to feel better now."
Max forced a smile and nodded. "Good. I'm sure Spyro wouldn't like you being so glum and I sure as all hell can't stand seeing you down either."
Cynder blushed. "You're really sweet." She leaned in and gave the black dragon a kiss on his boney cheek. When she looked at him she notice the way his scales seemed to almost brighten and his spines stand fully erect. She giggled and Max had to look away. After a moment he started laughing as well; something he rarely did. After the laughter had died down they both sighed and spent a long time just quietly staring out at the vast clouds of fog that burned away into wisps of vapor in the midday sun.
"This place is beautiful." Cynder broke the silence after a while. "I wish I could stay here forever."
"Ditto," Max answered. Cynder turned her head and stared at the raptor in surprise. The black dragon snapped out of his trance, realizing that he had just spoken his mind and felt his cheeks start to burn again. "I was agreeing with you about how beautiful this place is." He tried to save himself but wasn't certain Cynder was buying into it. He turned and looked down at the flowers that surrounded them. "I know this isn't your home, and that you'll have to leave eventually. But I hope that you do enjoy this place for what it is while you can."
A smile tugged at the corner of Cynder's mouth. "That's very kind of you."
"Hey!" A sudden shout grabbed their attention and caused both black dragons to jump to their feet. They turned to see Ember glide down from the sky and land in front of them. "There you are, Cynder." She looked at Max and gave him a quick sweep. "Who's your friend?"
"Oh, uh..." Cynder nearly choked as she remembered her manners. "Ember, this is Max. Max, this is Ember. She was one of the candidates to become fire guardian a year ago."
"Yeah, now I'm the fire guardian's advisor." Ember nodded modestly.
"Hi." Max bowed and smiled. He had seen this dragoness before from the safety of the shadows when the guardians first arrived. She always stayed close to the red dragon in their group, making Max almost certain they were a couple.
"What seems to be the hurry?" Cynder asked.
"You have to come to the clinic. It's urgent."
Cynder felt her heart nearly stop and her legs froze up. "Is something wrong? Is everything okay with Spyro?" She managed to speak.
Ember gave a soft comforting smile and nodded. "He's awake."
Spyro had been tossing and turning in his sleep. His dreams were plagued with nightmares and visions of death and war. He could see the city of Warfang burning as the moles and manweersmalls fleeing for their lives as the hordes of mutant wolves gave chase.
"No! Leave them alone!" He shouted furiously as he looked down from the sky, unable to take control of his body and help them out. The rodents scrambled across the ground, dropping most of their weapons and armor to make themselves lighter to get away from the bloodthirsty canines. The manweersmalls were the first to dive fore shelter. The ones in front flung themselves towards the woods and began to burrow furiously into the ground. The other manweersmalls followed after them or started digging their own holes as the moles did their best to hold off their pursuers. The beasts swung their long, massive claws, knocking the moles out of the way, spreading their blood across the ground. The wounded lay screaming in pain as the wolves turned their attention away from the manweersmalls. Spyro could only watch in horror as he saw the warriors that guarded his home being cut down before his very eyes.
"Stop!" The purple dragon wailed helplessly. "I said stop!"
"Spyro!" A voice called from the distance and the purple dragon's head jerked up in response. Suddenly everything around him went dark. He was standing with his shadow casting an incandescent light up underneath him. "Spyro, wake up!"
"Who... who's there?" Spyro called turning around in circles trying to get a fix on where the voice was coming from.
"It's me Spyro. It's Ember." The voice seemed to grow louder.
"Ember? Where are you? I can't see you! I have no idea where I am!"
"You're safe Spyro. I promise. You just have to do one thing to find me."
"What is it? I'll do whatever it takes." Spyro pleaded on the verge of tears, wanting desperately to be brought out of this nightmare.
"Wake up." Ember's voice came in a gentle whisper.
"Huh?" Spyro raised an eye brow and suddenly he felt a cool breeze sweep over his body. He began to glow with a soft golden aura and slowly the darkness began to fade away.
At last Spyro opened his eyes. His eyeballs rolled around to see Ember and another white dragoness beside her. Both females smiled down at him.
"Welcome back," Ember cried softly and leaned down to hug Spyro as best she could without hurting him too much. "Welcome back Spyro."