Elora seemed to know exactly where she was going. Spyro didn't know how, but she went in the same direction that caused him to feel the pain of a suffering being. It was as if they were feeling the same exact thing. Spyro felt everything else slip away. The constant thumping, the noise of the squeaky wheels, Sparx's bright glow, everything just seemed to melt away. He could only feel the sensation growing stronger as they neared it. He couldn't feel what direction they were going, higher, lower, to the left or right, all he knew is that they were getting closer. Meanwhile, Elora was feeling the way to go. With the knowledge of the palace and the feeling she was receiving, she was heading in what she believed to be the right direction. Her eyes were wide open, but she did not see. Her ears had no problem, but she heard not a sound. Her very heart felt warmed as she reached the near top of the long winding staircase where she always had been forbidden to go as a child. At the top was a heavy iron door. It opened as they neared it. As soon as she set foot inside, the three felt a warm sensation. There was not a fireplace or a heater, but it was a warmth that went from their sense to their souls. Underneath the great feeling, Spyro finally felt the full blast of the painful sensation. Whatever was causing it was in here at this very moment.
"Look!" Elora said, regaining control over herself. She pointed to a weak and tired Cynder. Shackles chained her down and her heavy spiked collar had a chain connected to it.
"Cynder!" Spyro yelled, running towards her. A surge of pain swept over him as he neared her. Every breath she took was like a chore. Her eyes remained closed as she coughed every couple of seconds. Spyro shook her lightly, but got no response.
"Hey… it's your gem." Elora said, walking over to a pedestal. It was in plan view, but the reddish-brown stone shone with the intensity of a deadly blaze but the warm heat welcomed them as they came towards it. Elora picked it up, and held it out to Spyro.
"Well well, we're going to need bigger mousetraps to keep rats of your size out." A voice said. Spyro and Elora froze. The Sorceress came from the back of the room with a mischievous grin on her face. "I see you're not a soulless little wretch anymore. I take it the two of you have been busy, stealing things, haven't you?"
"Um, well, technically, it's not really stealing if it was ours, I mean, his to begin with, your majesty." Elora said. She was disgruntled and unsure of what to say. Spyro assumed that Elora must've had a bad experience with disobeying the Sorceress at one point in her life.
"Elora dearie, can I ask you a question?" The Sorceress asked in a sweet kind voice.
"Yes my lad-"
"WHY DO YOU INSIT ON BEING SUCH AN IGNORANT FOOL? You can't see past the small size and kindness that dragons are cold-blooded killers. Sure, he seems like your friend now, but once he gets older you'll be sorry once your children die on the battlefield all because we couldn't destroy them!" she screamed in her face.
"But they don't want to fight just as much as we do…" Elora said, taking the opportunity to speak. "And we don't believe in inflicting harm on someone unless it's necessary so no real conflicts are caused." She said quickly as if she was being timed on how long she is allowed to speak.
"You call this necessary?" The Sorceress asked through gritted teeth. 'I'll show you necessary!" she hit Elora across the face, knocking her to the ground. As soon as she sat, she took yet another hit. This time she bled a little. The Sorceress picked up her staff that she used to break apart Spyro's heart. She raised it high above her head and sung it down to strike Elora. Spyro pushed the Sorceress, sending the swing of course and hitting the wall.
"Run!" Spyro shouted to Elora who had just realized she hadn't been hurt.
"You shall pay for that you little piece of lowly scum. I shall send you straight to hell." The Sorceress said, raising the staff once again.
"Hey Ugly! No one messes with my big purple maniac!" Sparx shouted as he pushed a heavy vase from a shelf above their heads. It was a direct hit, sending the Sorceress into unconsciousness. Elora who had ran over to the door but stopped as soon as Sparx hit the Sorceress walked over cautiously as if danger was still hanging in the air. For a moment, they stood in silence, then remembered Cynder and the gem. Spyro walked over to Cynder and pulled the chain. It didn't move.
"This metal looks pretty weak, but it will take more than some pulling to break it off." Spyro concluded.
"How 'bout melting the chains?" Elora asked, lifting the gem of the pedestal. She staggered as she carried it over, indicating that it must be heavier than the previous gems. She held it close to his heart and it glowed bright red. Spyro felt the warmth cover his entire body, then fade away. Without haste, he hurried over to Cynder and blew fire onto the chains, slowly melting them to the point where they lay in a hardened puddle on the ground. Cynder, feeling the heat slowly woke. Seeing Spyro, she let out a weak smile. Spyro tried nudging her, but she wouldn't move.
"Is… she okay?" Sparx asked quietly.
"She's alive, but she looks pretty sick. She has some scars on her back. I guess she might have gotten beaten a bit." Spyro said, helping the half-conscious Cynder up. Sparx waved his hands in front of Cynder but got no reaction. Usually she'd gently swat him off or lightly flick him away. Sparx seemed deeply concerned and kept silent. The Sorceress twitched. Everyone (except Cynder) jumped in surprise. They all shared glances, indicating that they should get out as soon as possible. Elora opened the door and ushered them back into the cart. Sparx flew in headfirst, but Spyro had to take his time to help Cynder in. Once inside, Elora hurried down the stairs to the servants' quarters. A few other maids turned their heads to see why she was in such a hurry, but went back to their work.
"Made it!" Elora said as soon as they returned to the room. "We better get out of here, sometimes the older maids sit down to talk after lunch."
"Got it." Spyro said, once again helping Cynder. Elora, trying to be helpful, attempted to lift her up. Cynder was heavier than she looked, but Elora managed to carry her. They climbed up the stairs and down the depressing hallway once again. The door wasn't locked from the inside, so all they had to do was open it and exit. It was a wild dash back to the forest, especially since it was cloudy and everyone was too tired and frightened to remember the way. After 20 minutes, they made their escape deep into the dark woods. They had to find another clearing a bit deeper in the forest; it would be idiotic to use the same one that they did the last time, especially since the soldiers knew where it was.
"No more sleeping in the cold" Spyro said, snapping twigs off the trees and piling them up. He blew lightly and they ignited into flame. After a few minutes, it was quite a large, yet controlled, blaze. Spyro pushed Cynder a bit closer so she'd be warmer while they took a rest.
"Finally! Do you have any idea how cold it is out here? I mean, really." Sparx said, landing near the fire. Elora smiled and sprawled on the ground. Her grin remained as she drifted off into sleep. Spyro felt dizzy and exhausted. Slowly everything disappeared into a dream…
The sunset was a beautiful shade of red-orange, and he warmth was incredible as it was the first time Spyro ever felt it. The reflection of the sun on the lake was among the most gorgeous things Spyro had ever seen in his entire life. The heat surrounded him with extreme strength, but it was gentle and comforting. Looking up into the scarlet disk, it shone with the intensity of all the burning fire in his heart.
