Chapter 9

*Knock knock knock*.

Spyro opened his eyes.

*Knock knock knock*.

He looked around, and saw Cynder next to the bed, asleep on the ground. The wave of guilt that bombarded him, but he wondered what all the noise was.

*Knock knock knock*

Spyro dragged himself out of the bed and went to the door, careful not to wake Cynder if she hadn't already done so. He carved a small window into the wall, "One second please." He said, in nearly a whisper. He closed the hole, and walked over to Cynder, still half asleep himself. He picked her up a little and used his earth ability to help put her on the bed, gently. Cynder was touched by this. She too was awoken by the knocking, yet she remained in her position. Spyro walked back to the wall and opened a hole again. But this time, he realized who it truly was.

"Hi, Muck," Selverous said.

Spyro looked behind him. Nothing. "What are you doing here? At this hour?"

"I came by to drop something off. I'm sorry for, what happened. Hope this makes us, on good terms.". Selverous said as he dropped the bag and flew off. Spyro picked the bag up and was ready for anything. A bomb, maybe, or a prank. But he pulled out a letter and a residence number. Spyro opened the letter, and it was by Terrador's hand.

Muck, or so that is what we've been told,

I apologize if that isn't your name, but anyway, I wish to apologize, along with everyone here in the upper city who have intruded on you. Selverous brings you this as his apology. It was wrongdoing, and we hope this makes up for it, and thanks for helping those fellow citizens. We are to hold a ceremony to celebrate what you did in two days time. You shall receive an award and a few other things. During the Day of Dawn celebration, we Guardians would like to personally invite you to join our courts.

Terrador, The Fellow Guardians, and the pupils

Spyro looked at the residence assignment. He knew this had to be a large room because it seemed to be right next to the town hall. He also looked in the bag and found his citizenship record, stating that he was now a citizen of Warfang. Spyro pulled the bag inside and closed the hole in the wall.

"Find anything?" Cynder said to make Spyro jump. It was effective. She started laughing. Spyro started laughing out of embarrassment.

"I did," Spyro said, as he rebalanced himself, "but it's nothing good." Cynder pulled out the residence number and the citizenship record.

"What are you talking about!? This is wonderful!"

Spyro shook his head. "You didn't even get anything."

"Oh, well that's okay. You deserve this!"

"But aren't we leaving after the celebration? Why do we need a room like that?"

Cynder put the stuff back into the bag. "I don't know, Spyro. Here, I have friends and you, and maybe staying here won't be such a terrible thing."

"I just, I just have a bad feeling about this," Spyro said.

"How come?"

"I just, I just think that this is all a way to keep an eye on me," Spyro said. "Heck, Selverous delivered this with a twinkle in his eye," Spyro said.

"Slithery who now?"

"Selverous, the one who barged in earlier today."

"Oh…" she looked concerned.

"They just want to keep an eye on me," Spyro said. "Here." Spyro pulled the citizenship record from the bag and torched it. It burned up in flames, and the ashes fell to the ground.

"What did you do that for!?" Cynder said.

"Well, stay or not, I rather remain as far away as possible from them."

"Okay then." She said, sad that Spyro doesn't feel at home here. "Shouldn't we at least go see the room?"

"Maybe we could give it to one of your friends. Quintessence, Ember-" Spyro was interrupted.

"Oh, right. Miss 'oh, hug me Spyro! Take me into the sunset for the rest of time. Kiss me day and night! *Kissing imitation*'."

Spyro started laughing. "Yeah. Maybe having them scout it out wouldn't be best." Spyro said. Then a thought came to mind. "Speaking of, uh, relations…"

"What's up?"

"Maybe, I don't know, you wanna go to the festival?"

"But we're already going-" Cynder paused. She felt a wave of embarrassment drowning her. "You didn't happen to overhear me-" But she was interrupted by Spyro nodding and chuckling. "Oh, how embarrassing!" Cynder said. Spyro was laughing now. Cynder turned her head away. "I can't believe this."

Once he had control over himself, "Soooo…" Spyro said.

"Yes! Yes of course!" Cynder said.

"Awesome!" Spyro said.

"Awesome," Cynder said. Yet Cynder was curious when Spyro rushed to get his bag behind her. Cynder was giggling. "What's all the fuss about?". Then Spyro reached into the bag, and pulled out a golden necklace, and to bracelets "Spyro-". He pulled out a candle and lit the wick. In the twilight, the necklace and bracelets could be seen.

"It was nothing," Spyro said, scratching the back of his head. "Wish I smelled better." He said, chuckling.

Cynder rolled her eyes. "How long have you been wanting to ask me?" She took each bracelet and put one on each wrist, and then Spyro reached behind her, putting on the necklace. each was a perfect fit.

"For quite a while now. How do you like them?"

"Spyro, I love them!" Cynder said.

"I know," Spyro said, cockily.

Cynder looked at herself and was curious. They never brought up Malefor or what happened during the battle. So she wondered if he remembered her confession. She hoped he did. "Spyro?"

"Yes?" Spyro said, admitting her.

"Do you, do you remember the fight with Malefor?"

"Umm, nope. Sorry." Cynder slapped him playfully.

"I'm being serious! Do you?"

Spyro opened his maw, but there was knocking at the wall again. Cynder sighed. Spyro walked over to the wall, and forged a door, and opened it. It was Ember, and Quintessence was behind her.

"Ladies! What are you doing up so early!?" She said.

"Come on come on!" Ember said. Dragging her out of the room, revealing the jewelry Cynder had on. "*Gasp* Look at you! You're gorgeous!" Ember said. Quintessence recognized the jewelry.

"Oh, thanks. Where are we- Whoa!" She was yanked and they wandered off. Spyro watched and chuckled. But Flame arrived at the door as Spyro was closing it.

"Muck!" He said. Spyro reopened the door. "Can we talk?"

"Yeah, sure." Flame walked in. Spyro grew a worried expression. "What did you want to talk about?" Spyro asked.

"Something fishy is going on here, Muck.". Spyro calmed himself after that remark.

"Fishy?" He asked. "It's probably me, I've had fish for dinner for quite some time now." He said, trying to make a joke out of it.

"You don't get it." Flame said. "This is not a joke!" Flame said.

"Alright alright. I can be serious. What's up?"

"First of all, I'm, I'm, s-sorry for how I acted when we met."

"Oh, that's fine," he paused. "That looked hard."

"Yeah. I'm not very good with apologies."

"Anything else-"

"Yes! The whole thing with saving those dragons in the fire. There was a room of ice, and all the dragons in the area were either fire or earth dragons. You don't happen to know two elements?"

"Okay-"

"I think you do, Muck. And so does everyone else." Flame said.

"Flame. How can a dragon know two elements?"

"It's very rare! But some accomplish it! Muck, I'm trying to help! Do you know two elements or not? Ice and earth? Or am I going mad!? Or was there someone else in there? We've already questioned everyone there, and no ice dragon was there to their knowledge."

"Flame, I'm no ice dragon-"

"Don't lie to me!"

"Okay okay. What's the fuss?" Cynder asked.

"Well, we're going around and asking out dates to the celebration!" Quintessence shouted.

"Is there dancing or something there requiring a partner?" Cynder asked in a hurry.

"I think! There is dancing, and maybe some other events." Ember said. "My family is hosting a rally in the Colosseum. It's going to have a competition to see who is the best fighter in Warfang. Not to the death, of course."

Cynder's maw dropped in curiosity. "Ooh, I'm intrigued," Cynder said.

"Yeah! We're also bringing our dates to watch!"

"Okay, so who are you two asking?" Cynder asked.

"Well, Ember said she'd introduce me to a friend of hers from Megolishion City who just arrived. What about you!? Maybe you'll get him!" she said, winking at Cynder.

"I'm gonna try Muck. So strong, so handsome, so-"

"Ember?"

"Hmm?"

"Muck is, well... already taken," Cynder said.