Chapter 10: The Promise

I looked at her as she laid upon the bed. A bandage fastened around her wounded side, her face peaceful and motionless. Volteer and the other guardians had done their best to patch her up, but Volteer said we wouldn't know for sure if she'd survive until if and when she recovers.

All the while I couldn't help but blame myself, how could I let this happen? She trusted me, and I failed her. "I'm so sorry Cynder..." I said softly.

Sparx flew up next to me. "Come on buddy, it's not your fault some dumb grublin hurt Cynder. If it wasn't for her it would be you in that bed." Sparx said, he'd been trying to comfort me this whole time, and while I appreciated that he cared enough to do so, I knew better than to think this wasn't my fault. That grublin was aiming for me, if I had just payed attention neither of us would have gotten hurt.

I left the infirmary, I had decided a while ago I was going after Malefor alone, I was done letting my friends get killed. If anyone was going to die by Malefor's claw it was me. "Whoa whoa! Where do you think you're going hot shot?" Sparx asked flying right into my path.

I gave him a stern look. "I'm going after Malefor! This has to stop Sparx! I can't keep having the people I care about getting hurt by Malefor and his cronies! I can't go on worrying if the guardians, or you get hurt or worse. I'm ending this now!" I said sternly before going to leave again.

However all this did was make Sparx even more determined to stop me. "WHOA! Hold on there death wish! You barely beat Malefor last time, and that was with Cynder's help! You're out of your purple little mind if you think you can take him on your own!" Sparx protested, I figured I'd get this reaction, and I knew he was probably right, but I couldn't let this go on!

The sooner Malefor wasn't a factor anymore the sooner everyone would be safe, and if I had to die for that to happen then so be it. "Get out of my way Sparx." I growled, however he refused to budge, you know, I could easily go through him, he was only an inch tall, but I wanted him to understand that I had to do this.

Suddenly Volteer came into view, I knew he wouldn't approve, and unlike Sparx he could physically stop me, so I made a break for it. "Spyro! Sparx what is going on?!" I heard Volteer shout. "Stop him! He's trying to go after Malefor on his own!" Sparx replied.

I quickened my pace but somehow Volteer was on me in seconds, he tackled me to the ground and pinned me to the floor. "Spyro you cannot go out there on your own! It's suicide!" Volteer said.

I tried to break free but Volteer's size advantage made this a nearly impossible task. "LET ME GO! Every second I let that monster live gives him another chance to hurt one of you! I'm putting an end to it!" I objected.

However it was clear Volteer had no intentions on letting me go. "Not on your life! The only thing that will end by you going there is your own life! Spyro please think rationally about this! I know you're distraught over what happened to Cynder, but don't think for a second I'll let you throw your life away so recklessly!" Volteer shouted.

I heard more claws scrapping against the stone floors, the other guardians had happened upon us. "What is going on here?!" Terrador boomed.

Sparx flew up to the others. "Spyro's gone nuts! He's trying to go after Malefor by himself!" Sparx said to the elder dragons. The two looked down at me with shocked expressions.

Terrador quickly trapped me under a rock fixture. "NO! LET ME GO!" LET ME GO DAMN YOU!" I cried as I tried in vain to squirm free.

The guardians however were clearly unwilling to comply with my request. "Spyro stop it! You're not ready to face Malefor yet. I know you're upset about what happened to Cynder, we all are, however that is no excuse to throw out all logic and reason!" Terrador scolded me.

I gave up, they would sooner lop their arms off than let me go after Malefor on my own, I sobbed quietly to myself, defeated, scared of what would become of my friends. I felt so powerless.

I heard a sigh from Terrador. "Spyro, I understand you're afraid for our safety. But we need to think about this rationally, you don't have all of your memories or breath abilities yet, and even when you did have them you had to sacrifice yourself to defeat Malefor. Dying by Malefor's hand will do nothing to make us safer." Terrador explained to me.

I just stared sadly to the floor, I wanted it all to go away, I wanted Malefor gone, my friends safe, and everything to be okay. But the only way any of that could happen is if Malefor was taken out of the picture. I saw the guardians look at each other. "What should we do?" Cyril asked Terrador.

Terrador thought for a moment, looking at me periodically as he did so. "We can't let him go after Malefor yet, he's not ready. For now we keep him in the temple. Hopefully when Cynder wakens she can talk some sense into him." Terrador said before releasing me from my rock prison. "Spyro, we don't enjoy doing this to you, but we have no choice, you are not to leave the temple for any reason. This is for your own good." Terrador said sternly.

So now I was on lock down? All because I wanted to stop the guy I was supposed to stop anyway? Why can't they see that no one is safe with that monster out there?! How many more of us need to get hurt before someone does something about it?!

Later...

I sulked around the temple, frustrated that I couldn't do anything about Malefor. That the guardians wouldn't let me just put an end to this madness. They had Sparx watching me constantly, I knew if I tried to make another break for the exit he's give me away instantly, so I didn't even bother trying.

Sparx flew into my view. "Would you stop sulking? We're just trying to keep you from getting killed okay?" Sparx said to me.

I got that, but the problem was Malefor wasn't going to wait for me to be ready to face him, he wasn't stupid, he knew he had an advantage over me and he'd do everything he could to milk that advantage for all it's worth. "I just want to put an end to this before someone else gets hurt or worse." I said.

"I know buddy, but going after Malefor and getting annihilated isn't going to make us any safer." Sparx pointed out. I had to admit, I may have been severely overestimating my chances against Malefor right now. But sooner or later I was going to have to square off with him. Otherwise he'd just keep attacking.

I had to face the facts, I was caught between a rock and a hard place, I didn't stand a chance against Malefor right now, but I couldn't let him run loose out there either. Man this sucks!

I walked down to the dragon dojo, I had a lot of frustration to vent right now, might as well put it to good use. I decided to try practicing with my new found fire abilities, since Ignitus wasn't here to re-teach them to me and all. I started simply with a stream of fire, being careful not to catch Sparx in my flame.

It probably would have helped for me to activate the dummies but I had no clue how the hell those things worked. Besides, several flaming dummies running around the temple would probably result in bad things. "You gonna be okay Spyro?" Sparx asked me.

I looked at him. "Other than my friends being in more and more danger by the second and me not being able to do anything about it I'm just peachy!" I growled. I doubt that was the answer he wanted to hear, but it was how I felt. Could anyone really blame me? This was a very frustrating situation to be in. Some asshole was targeting my loved ones and he was too badass for me to do anything about it!

I could see how frustrated Spyro really was, despite my determination to keep him from confronting Malefor prematurely, I couldn't fault him for feeling the way he did. Between when Malefor broke my leg and what happened to Cynder, I couldn't blame him for wanting to end Malefor's madness right now.

However I knew if I let him go after him now he wouldn't last a minute against him. All I could do was silently watch him practice his new found fire ability, ancestors know how he unlocked it, but I wasn't going to complain, the sooner he unlocked his elemental abilities the better.

But Cynder's injuries complicated things, I couldn't send Spyro after Malefor alone, even at full strength I could not do that, not in good conscience. But I doubted Cynder would be in any condition to fight even if she recovered. And with my broken leg neither was I. As much as that pained me to admit.

I heard someone approach from behind. I looked to see it was Volteer. "I'm worried about him, you remember how upset he was when you got injured, I fear if another one of us get's hurt it will send him over the edge." Volteer said.

I turned to my fellow guardian. "Then we will have to take extra care that that doesn't happen. Spyro has enough stress to deal with without worrying about us. I just wish he could set it aside and keep his focus." I replied. That was always a problem with Spyro, he had a warrior's will, but he was easily distracted by his concern for others. It wasn't a bad thing he wanted to protect those he cared for, but sometimes he had difficulties keeping his focus on the threat instead of those he was protecting from it.

Volteer paused for a moment, before responding. "He's still just a boy Terrador, it pains me to see him under such distress." Volteer said.

Indeed he was under a lot of pressure, even full grown adult dragons would have difficulty carrying the burdens Spyro does, however this could not be helped. Spyro was the only one who could stand a chance against Malefor, I could only hope when this was over he could finally find the peace he so richly deserves. I pray to the ancestors that he succeeds, and is still with us to reap the rewards of his struggle.

Meanwhile...

Pain... that was the only thing on my mind when I woke up. I could still feel the stab wound I got protecting Spyro screaming with agony. Getting up was out of the question as it would only make it hurt more.

I kept wondering to myself how I was still alive, when it happened I thought for sure that was it for me, however it seemed fate had other plans.

I couldn't get the look on Spyro's face when it happened out of my mind, that horrified look, the tears welling up in his purple eyes as he saw me fall to the snowy ground. I didn't doubt he was worried sick over me.

Look at yourself Cynder, you're in the infirmary recovering from a stab wound and here you are worrying about Spyro. I almost laughed at the idea, of how much I cared for the little purple dragon. Perhaps losing him for three whole years had something to do with that. My need to keep from losing him again throwing my own self preservation out the window.

I was beginning to question whether or not I could actually help Spyro with Malefor this time given my condition. I kept telling myself it was just a simple stab wound and it would heal, but how long that would take was what concerned me. I knew Spyro stood little chance against Malefor by himself, and I was willing to stand by him all the way, but I doubt he'd be willing to let me go after what had happened.

I was pulled from my thoughts by the sounds of someone entering the room. It was Cyril. "Well, good to see you're awake." He said simply. "Can you stand?" He then asked.

I tried to stand up, but the pain in my side shot that down quick. "No...not really." I winced. Kinda annoyed at my inability to stand on my own feet.

"You gave us quite a scare Cynder, poor Spyro was devastated, he even tried to go after Malefor on his own, but we stopped that quickly." Cyril explained to me. My eyes widened when Cyril mentioned Spyro trying to go after Malefor by himself, I expected him to be upset about what happened, but not to throw out all reason and take the fight to Malefor.

I looked to the ice guardian. "Wh...where is he now?" I asked him.

Cyril took a moment to think before answering. "I think he's in the dragon dojo training right now, if I know him he'll come around here eventually." Cyril explained. I scrambled to get up to talk to him, I couldn't let Spyro go after Malefor by himself! I knew Spyro better than to think he wouldn't try again.

However Cyril was on me in seconds. "Oh no you don't! You need to rest, you lost a lot of blood back there! Don't worry about Spyro we have a close eye on him. He's not going anywhere I assure you." Cyril said before I finally gave up on trying to squirm away.

What was I going to do? If Spyro went after Malefor on his own he'd get killed, and all because of me! I couldn't live with that. It was hard enough for me to live with the things I had done in the past, losing the dragon I love like that would be too much.

Later...

I finished my practice session, I had a pretty good grip on my fire ability, however Malefor was still hanging heavy on my mind. But at least now if he attacked I'd be more prepared. I also knew that when I went after Malefor, it would be by myself, I don't want anyone in the line of fire. I knew that my friends wouldn't let me, but it was better that way, Malefor was my problem, I should be the one to face him.

I saw Cyril approach me. Oh man what does he want? "Good news Spyro, Cynder has awoken, I think you'd best go see her now, I had to hold her down to keep her from rushing out the door to find you." Cyril explained. I felt relief wash over me, knowing she was alive took a lot of stress off my shoulders.

However why did she want to see me? Maybe she was worried I had worked myself into a massive guilt ridden depression or something, or maybe she wanted to tell me something? I wasted no time in heading for the infirmary, a move Cyril didn't seem to appreciate very much. He wasn't the kind of dragon that liked to be ignored, but he didn't try to stop me.

In time I finally reached the infirmary, and there Cynder laid, she looked at me as I walked in. "Cynder, oh man I am so glad you're okay, I was so worried!" I said but then she interrupted me.

"Spyro, you can't go after Malefor by yourself." She said, she was just so... direct about it. Cyril must have told her about my attempt to take the fight to Malefor. I should have figured she wouldn't approve. "Cynder, I have to, I don't want anyone else to get hurt. I know you want to fight him with me, but I'd much rather you be out of danger. Malefor's my problem." I said to her, hoping she would understand.

However she was quite upset by this. "He's both our problem Spyro! If you expect me to sit here worrying about you while you go fight Malefor you're out of your mind! I'm coming with you whether you want me to or not!" Cynder yelled.

However I had made up my mind about this a while ago. And I wasn't about to change it. "No Cynder, I've made up my mind! I can't risk your life like that! I can't! If you died out there I'd never forgive myself!" I asserted, why couldn't she just understand? I want her to be safe!

However Cynder was just as unwilling to budge. "Spyro, I get why you feel this way I really do, but I'm more than willing to risk my life to help you. You don't stand a chance against Malefor alone, I know that, and deep down you do too. But together, together we can do this. " Cynder said.

I can't belive I have to fight with her over this! "Cynder you're injured! You're in no condition to fight Malefor! And the longer I let him run around the more risk you guys are in!" I said.

However Cynder just waved it off "It's just a little stab wound, it will heal. But losing you, that won't. I'm sorry Spyro but there's no way in hell I'm letting you go after him alone." Cynder said. I could see it in her eyes, she wasn't going to budge. But I couldn't let her go, I couldn't risk her life when I didn't have to.

Cynder looked me right in the eyes, her face so close I could see my face reflecting in her emerald eyes. "Spyro, I get you don't want me to get hurt, but I don't want you to get hurt either, I'd take Malefor on myself if I could. But we have to face the facts, Malefor is too powerful for either of us to take on by ourselves. I'm coming with you, and that's final! We started this together, and we're going to finish this together." Cynder said.

I just stood there silent for a moment, I wanted to say she was wrong, I really did, but I couldn't. I kept thinking back to my last encounter with Malefor, and how easily he fought me off. Whether I wanted to admit it or not, she was right, I couldn't take Malefor on by myself, it was suicide, I just wish I didn't have to put her in danger.

I looked at her. "Just promise me you won't die..." I requested, my voice cracking slightly from the tears I was fighting back.

She nodded. "Only if you promise me the same." She replied. We both silently agreed to one another's terms. An agreement that no matter what happened, we would both make it out alive.

A promise I hoped we both could keep...

A/N- Dawww, isn't that sweet? Hopefully our heroes can keep their promise to each other and take Malefor down.

But of course, Spyro still has one last element to master before he and Cynder can set out to take the fight to Malefor...