The young dragons soon came to the entrance of their destination. Sparx, hovering about them as always, couldn't help but snicker.

"Have fun with your 'spa day,' I'm going to go see if there's anything to eat. I'm sure there are butterflies fluttering about this city somewhere," the glowing insect said. He flitted off into the city, cackling as he did so.

The four dragons all let out a sigh of relief. A break from the dragonfly would do everyone good.

"Well would you look at that? The spa has already relieved some stress; it got rid of Sparx for us," Frost jested. A giggle escaped her, joined immediately by the laughter of the other three. At least she could make the others laugh with a joke. It started to break down some of the walls in her mind, walls made by insecurity.

The past twelve years were far from kind; having no one adopt you, even when living on the streets, could have a devastating impact on the mind of an eight year old, and that impact could easily continue to affect an individual for years to come.

The four strolled inside, to be met with enthusiastic greetings from men and women of different species. There were dragons and dragonesses inside, but also cheetahs, moles, wolves, fauns and rabbits. A male faun walked over to the group. His frame was sturdy and lean. Not overly muscular or incredibly thin either. It was more of a balance.

"Welcome! It's so good to see new customers come to our facilities. And two of them are so well known too! Please, right this way. We'll show you our packages. And for you four, a special discount. It's not every day that the protectors of this world walk into our spa," he stated. Before anything could be said by the dragons he walked off, beckoning them to follow him.

Spyro, Cynder, Blaze and Frost simply shrugged. Who were they to complain? He certainly was enthusiastic, but Volteer still put him to shame. Their paws padded along the ground as they walked after the faun. They looked around them, several of the other employees staring after them, along with other patrons. Daggers were in the eyes of patrons as they fell upon the scarlet male. It made Blaze uncomfortable, and he lowered his head to stare at the floor.

His head was lifted up, however, at the feeling of the pale aqua dragoness beside him rubbing her cheek against his.

"Pay them no mind. They're just fools who believe anything they're told," she whispered reassuringly. A grin lit upon Frost's face as she saw Blaze smile at her gesture. She loved having this effect on him; the effect of brightening up his mood when gloom attempted to sink its claws into his heart. She was surprised that he hadn't slipped into full-blown depression in their time on the streets.

Or maybe he has and isn't telling me? But then, if that were true, how is it he was able to keep himself optimistic? Is that all just bravado?

She shook her head free of these thoughts. It can't be. If he had any issues he'd tell me. He told me he would. We promised each other that we would four years ago, when we first become a couple. No secrets from each other; that was what we said. That was our vow.

Onward they continued through the complex. Other patrons continued to shoot glares in the direction of the scarlet male. Hatred was filling their eyes. Not even the retaliatory glares directed at them by the purple and ebony dragons leading the train could dispel the loathing in their eyes completely, though it diluted it somewhat with the shock that these two heroes were defending a mere urchin.

Regardless, the workers at the spa were more than civil. They were very courteous, even to one who was hated by the populace. After all he was still a paying customer, and this was a business. There were some who eyed Blaze carefully, though their attention seemed to be focused on his face. Especially on his chin and what was under it. They seemed to be looking at the frills, almost like fur on an animal.

It seemed so familiar to Spyro and Cynder, but they couldn't put it to a face at the moment.

The spa workers looked at these features with interest, seeming as if they wished to clip them. That could come in the future, after cleaning and other pampering. One stepped forward, a female cheetah with fur a rich golden hue and bright eyes of a similar color. "Right, how will we separate the four of you? Into couples, or will we have the males together and the females together? It's up to you, of course."

Spyro pondered over the question they were posed. They had been told last night that the males and females were to stay in separate rooms during the night. The only question was this: did it apply here as well? He didn't see why it would but then he didn't know just how extensive the treatment here would be. His violet eyes were turned to the ebony-scaled dragoness beside him. "What do you think Cyn?"

The dragoness' polished black scales shone as they caught the light inside the room when she shifted about slightly. Her emerald green eyes looked down at the ground. She herself was pondering the choices that they were offered.

It'd be good to get to spend time with Spyro, but I could also get to know my new roommate better. Of course, there will plenty of time for the latter.

A sigh escaped her lips; she had her answer. "I think it'll be where Spyro and I are together, and Blaze and Frost as another couple are in a session."

The cheetah nodded in response to Cynder's request. "All right then. Spyro and Cynder, if you'll follow me please, I'll take you to the room. Another worker will join me to tend to the other. Usually it's a female who tends to the males and a male who tends to the females." Her golden eyes cast themselves to the other couple.

"You two will be attended to by two of our other workers. You have the more extensive package, including scale cleaning and polishing, claw sharpening and buffing, and some trimming for the male in terms of what's under his chin."

The scarlet dragon shook his head vigorously at the statement tossed his way by the woman. "Oh no, you're not trimming it. I like having this under my jaw." His eyes were focused on the cheetah; he was not enthused by the idea of getting what other species had called a "goatee" trimmed. He stepped backward away from the spa workers. "I'm all for the cleaning, polishing, buffing and all that, but this is off limits."

The pale aqua female beside him nodded in agreement. "I like it too. Cleaning is fine but please don't cut it."

Her bright cerulean eyes looked off to her right as the sound of heavy footfalls reached her. From the short spacing between the steps and the pace it was going it, much like a prestissimo tempo in a song, it was clear someone was running through the walls. And as the sound grew louder it became obvious that they were running this way.

"Who could that be?"

Her question was answered as a yellow mass rounded the corner. The four young dragons winced, their eyes clenched shut, as the sound of claws scraping over the stone ground reached them. Whoever it was they were skidding through the halls out of control, screaming like a banshee.

"No! No you are not trimming my beard. I am not having a baby face," the dragon cried out.

Hot on his heels were three employees of the spa. He was running as if they were demons come up from the core of the world. His panicked gait brought him out of control; he was barreling toward the scarlet male with no signs of being able to stop.

Blaze couldn't help but scream out in dismay, shock and pain as the yellow dragon crashed into him. The full force of the other's weight, combined with the momentum he had picked up, sent the slight male rolling a good distance down the hall and into the wall some twenty feet behind him. A pained groan slipped past his lips.

"Great, a canary yellow cannonball… just what I needed at the spa to relax," he sardonically said.

The new dragon shook his head, somewhat dazed by the impact. "What the heck was that? Felt like I hit a wall… made of relatively flimsy wood. But it still hurt!"

His bright blue eyes eventually focused on the form of the emaciated scarlet dragon he had inadvertently knocked into the stone wall. His gunmetal grey scutes rose and fell as he attempted to catch his breath, a bit worn out from the sprint.

"Sorry! Didn't know there was someone in my path! I'm really, really sorry. I didn't see you there."

Blaze slowly stood up, sharply sucking in air in a pained gasp. "Oh lovely… think I cracked a rib or two there." As he gained his ground his eyes fluttered as pain surged through his body.

It didn't come from his sides though. Rather, it came from his head. "Okay, I stand corrected. Make that a concussion. Charming."

His bright scarlet eyes focused on the dragon who had crashed into him as the clarity started to improve after a few seconds' time. He couldn't help but stare at the one who so unceremoniously sent him into a wall. "Okay so… care to explain why you were running through the halls and crashed into me? And who are you exactly, if I might ask?"

The other dragon sighed as a first response to the inquiries that the red-scaled male directed at him. It seemed rather silly to be running through a spa, after all. His face was flushed crimson with embarrassment as the recent events became clearer to his mind as the fog of panic lifted away from his being.

"Right… I'll answer the second question first. My name's Vheissu. Again, really sorry about! I was running from the employees here.

"They wanted to shave me. I kept telling them that no one touches the beard but my mate. Guess they don't understand the meaning of the words 'No touchy,'" the yellow dragon remarked.

His blue eyes remained focused on the male he collided with. As he stared he gauged the age of the dragon. Two years younger. I can tell by the frame, but the face is so different. It looks aged… did stress do that? He has such a slight frame. Thinner even than Cynder. His eyes solemnly concealed themselves behind their yellow curtains.

Blaze couldn't help but let out a laugh at the words of the newcomer. The way this Vheissu spoke was… amusing. It wasn't innocence though it certainly sounded like it. As he thought more of this person the more intrigued the young male became. There was a mischievous air around the yellow dragon. Vheissu reminded him of himself, now that he thought of it.

"Funny. We were in the same situation then. These people said they wanted to clip me as well. Not something I wanted either." He spoke so calmly, despite having been knocked down a hall.

Four came around the corner within the next few seconds; the three employees who had been chasing Vheissu and another dragoness. The appearance of the dragoness however left everyone in the group stunned. She looked so much like the ebony dragoness among the four young dragons one could think they were mother and daughter. Polished scales of ebony, horns of treated ivory and bright emerald green eyes were all features that this female possessed. A major difference was the presence of violet frills going down her body as opposed to the spikes that would go partially down her neck. Her figure was also fuller than the younger dragoness' and her secondary colours were more of a magenta compared to Cynder's amaranth colour.

None was more surprised however than Cynder. To see someone who looked so similar to her was baffling.

But this can't possibly be my mother; I was told that my mother was a dragoness with white scales and a silver secondary color. So who is this dragoness? It was mind-boggling.

"I'm sorry but… who are you? You look so much like me." Her question came in a soft voice, filled with uncertainty and wonderment.

The question brought Vheissu's attention back to reality. His blue eyes snapped open immediately and brought themselves to fall on the young onyx-scaled female. His eyes roamed over her features. He too was stunned.

"Whoa! You look just like my mate. How in the world? I mean, she and I haven't had children, and she's only… twenty-seven. You're only seven years younger than her."

The older dragoness could only laugh at the bewilderment that flashed across everyone's faces. Her emerald green eyes glowed with mirth as she listened to the exclamations of the yellow dragon standing only a few feet before her and to the question posed by the world's heroine.

"My name's Feuriah. As for why I look like you that is a curiosity. I'm not related to you that I know of. Maybe it's just a coincidence?"

Her gaze fell on Vheissu and a sigh of exasperation hissed into the air. "But darn it V what possessed you to run through the halls like that? Just calmly tell them you don't want it shorn off. That's it, no need to make a big show out of it.

"And you gave this guy a concussion from what I can tell. I can see blood on the side of his head. What a bother. It looks like you're not getting any tonight," Feuriah stated.

The yellow dragon groaned in disappointment in response to his mate's statement. The penalty she threatened to impose was a harsh one. For him it was, at least.

"Oh now that's just mean Feu. And you can't resist it all day you know." He chuckled as his hips swiveled playfully.

"That all depends on whether or not you're up to listening to what others say and behaving. Besides, it's tough love." Her voice was lilting, teasing even.

The banter between the two came to an end there. All assembled looked to the employees of the spa. All save Cynder; she looked instead to the ebony dragoness.

"I… have another question. Do you know either Volteer or a dragoness by the name of Aria?"

Feuriah shuffled about as the words the other dragoness reached her. Both names were familiar to her; one more familiar than the other. Just about every adult dragon has heard those names. One was still alive, and the Electric Guardian no less. His name was the most familiar to her. The other was also familiar, revered as a hero, killed during the war. Her death was a casualty that hit their species especially hard.

"I know one personally, the other only by name. I know Volteer personally. Not as a friend, or as an acquaintance. Something much closer; we're kin. To be specific he's my older brother."

"Brother? But… but you must be twenty years younger than him!" Spyro said. He was dumbfounded; they all were save Vheissu. He seemed calm. He must have known beforehand.

Spyro's mouth hung agape. Volteer had a sister? And he never told anyone?

"Dragons can live for centuries, young dragon. And have children for far longer than most other species, if not all others."

Words had been failing Cynder following this revelation by the other dragoness. Feuriah claimed that she was Volteer's younger sister.

If that is true, then that would mean that this female is related to me as well. That would mean that…

"Then… you're my family as well. You're… my aunt." She finally found her voice to say that to her.

The surprise that had filled the other young dragons now transferred to the two adults. Both stared at the younger ebony dragoness, bewildered. Volteer had a child? But for so long, even he had said that his child with Aria surely had died the night of the raid. Probability had been against his child having survived; only two eggs had survived the night, with two having been adopted a week before that fateful night.

"I… have a niece?"

"Well, isn't this quite the shocker for them?"

The periwinkle dragon chuckled as he observed the events. Luckily this sanctuary had come with a vision pool. Rather it appeared for him, one of the few dragons who had the ability to see visions through the magical reflecting surface. Perhaps his predecessor didn't possess the innate ability and that was why there was no vision pool to be found. His teal eyes closed as a warm smile stretched his scarred lips. "Cynder now has another relative. Not a mother, but perhaps someone who might become a motherly figure. That is, of course, if Feuriah believes her."

Casually he stepped away from the vision pool. His joints cracked as he began to move about. Gracious, I feel like I'm even older as the Chronicler than I did when I was alive. And here I heard that death was supposed to make one feel younger.

Quietly he began to walk through his new home. His footsteps made almost no sound. They were so quiet, not that it would make any difference if his footfalls were actually loud; he was the only one here. No one else would be able to hear except him. He still had one goal in mind; find the missing parts of four different books: his own, Spyro's, Blaze's and, most importantly, Malefor's.

They must be around here somewhere. I just need to look carefully.