"What?!" said Spyro surprised. When he heard this he lowered his guard for a slight moment, giving the Hermit the opportunity he needed. The Hermit quickly rolled to his left, right from under Spyro. While Spyro was still surprised at what happened the Hermit quickly stood up, grabbed Spyro and pinned him against the nearby wall. Spyro glared at the Hermit, before the Hermit dropped him.

"Now like I said, I mean no harm to you, I'm just looking for Cynder."

As Spyro stood back up he said "I don't know where she went. What do you mean she will die? What is wrong with her?"

"I don't have time to talk, if you don't know where she is, then I'm leaving." the Hermit walked towards the stairs.

"Oh no you don't, you're not leaving until you tell me what is going on." Spyro blocked off the stairs.

"I don't have time for this." said the Hermit, but Spyro refused to move out of the way. "Fine I will tell you really quick. Did Cynder tell you how she got her elemental powers?"

"Yeah, she said that her father…"

"Yes I know the story, shut up I only asked if you knew it. Anyway that story was not entirely true. In truth, she was born with those elements."

"Why would her mother lie to her about that?" Spyro Interrupted.

"I told you to shut up, I am getting to that. You see she was born with a very weak heart, and if nothing was done soon, her heart would stop. Now during this time, Malefor and I were good friends. In fact, I helped him try to take over this city all those years ago. Those were the good old day. The two of us just would just stand around thinking of the best way to conquer Warfang. You know it was actually Malefor who gave me the name the Hermit. My birth name you see is actually…"

"Can we get back to Cynder please?" asked Spyro.

"Oh, right. Ok she was born with a deadly disease, so Malefor asked me if I could do anything to help because I know tons of voodoo, and black magic rituals, one of which could save Cynder for the time being."

"If you were able to cure her then way, would her mother keep it a secret?"

"I never said I cured her. You see it is impossible to heal her condition; however, there is a way to give it a helping paw. One of the downsides to the medicine is that it only lasts for so long, depending on how old the main ingredient is and even then the medicine will only last up to 5 months."

"What is the main ingredient?"

"The main ingredient is a dragon's life force. The younger the dragon the more life force it has, however the process of doing so causes most of the dragon's life force to diminish before it can be turned into the medicine."

"But then why would you not tell Cynder this?"

"First tell me how do you plan on telling someone that the only way they can live is if they kill others?" Spyro fell silent after that, until a thought came to mind.

"You said that she was born with the elements she can use today, how is that possible? I thought dragons could only have one element?"

"I frankly don't know. My best guess is because her father was a purple dragon, and she just inherited the ability to control four elements."

"I have one more question. Why do you help her?"

"I do what I do because I promised Malefor that I would keep her safe. After all he saved my life once, so I'm just returning the favor. Speaking of which, will you help me find her?" Spyro wasn't sure, after their fight, if she liked him anymore. But there one thought that made him go.

"Fine, but only doing it because she doesn't deserve to die yet." Spyro said in a bitter tone.

"Good, now come on let's go find her!"

The two quickly snuck out of Hunter's home. The Hermit walked casually down the road, while Spyro stayed in the shadows so he would be harder to see. The Hermit was about to ask him why he was hiding, when he remembered hearing about Spyro killing Blast. They spend several minutes searching for Cynder without any luck. Then an idea came to the Hermit's mind

"Spyro it will take a long time to find her if we stay together, so how about we split up at the fork in the road up ahead?"

"Sure why not, I will go this way." Spyro turned right.

"Wait Spyro before you go take this." said the Hermit as he pulled out of this pocket a small vile with a blue liquid inside. He tied a piece of string to the vile, and then tied the other end around Spyro's neck.

"I take it that this is the medicine?" he asked as he examined the vile around his neck

"No it's just some jewelry I had with me. Of course it's the medicine." the Hermit rolled his eyes, finding what Spyro said to be idiotic.

Spyro grimaced before the two went their separate ways.

It has been over ten minutes since the two of them split up and Spyro still had no luck. He had a few close calls along the way as some of the townsfolk almost saw him. He then found himself at a familiar location, Cynder's old home. Figuring that Cynder might be inside Spyro walked in through the back door, as the streets in front of the house was crowded with dragons, and moles.

He wondered through every room on the bottom floor, but there was no trace of the black dragoness. He went upstairs and checks a few room and still couldn't find her. Then he reached the final room in the building. He opened the door, and inside was a small pile of old newspapers stacked into a pile. The room looked similar to the room Cynder gave him, when the two of them lived here; however, this room had a small black leather bound book sitting on top of the newspapers. Curious Spyro picked up the small book and opened it up to the first page.

13/21

Today is the first day I start writing down my life in this thing. I still don't understand why mother thought it would be a good idea to write about my day in this thing. She says that I can use this release some of my stress, but I don't see how that will work. I might as well write in here, it sure will kill some of my boredom.

Spyro realized that this was Cynder's diary. "She must have forgotten about it." he thought. Wanting to read more Spyro turned a few pages ahead

13/29

A few dragons were picking on me again today. As much as I hate every single living being in this town I have to say, watching them run away after mother approaches them is almost worth it. I do hope Mom lives forever; I don't think I could stand living here without her.

Spyro started to become more interested in reading more, but he didn't know why. He skipped ahead again to a random page and read it.

1/25

Mother doesn't seem to look to well. Like I mentioned the other day she seemed to have fallen ill, though I'm not sure. Every time I see her she seems like she is trying to act strong in front of me. We also don't leave the house as often as we use to and when we do mother can't go very far without becoming exhausted shortly after. I asked her if everything is fine but she always tells me that she is fine. I'm starting to get worried. She seems to become weaker by each passing day. Whatever is happening it better end soon.

Even though he knew what was going to happen he couldn't help but jump ahead once more to a new page.

03/37

It has been a few days since Mom died, and I still can't seem to get over it. I wish you were still here Mom, thing have gotten worse and worse. I don't know how much more I can take of this. I hope you don't miss me too much, because if things don't get better I might end up joining you.

He then turned the page and read what was written.

06/05

I'm pathetic, a disgrace to all dragon kind. Today I tried to kill myself in so I could be with my mom again, but I chickened out at the last moment. Damn it all, why must I be such a coward? Mother if you're watching me, I'm sorry that I couldn't do it. Please don't be ashamed of me.

Spyro couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for Cynder. "I should go find Cynder." He put the book down and was just about to leave the room, when something in the back of his head told him to read more. He shook his head trying to get rid of the thought, but he just couldn't remove it. "Just one more page should be fine I guess." he said to himself. He picked up the dairy once more and flipped to the last page that was written on.

9/43

It's funny how this world works. I wouldn't be writing this today in fact if this world was different. It would have been my 5th suicide attempts this mouth. Only a few hours ago I was walking down a street, as I made my way towards the palace. I figured I might as well die the same way my dad did, in battle. I decided to walk there just so I can think over my life; however, on my way there I found Spyro lying on the ground, covered in shards of glass, and wounds all across his body. I felt so sorry for him. I don't know why but I felt like I needed to help him. I took him here and patched him up, but I don't know if it will be enough. He wounds were pretty bad. I only hope he will make it. He woke up not too long ago, and he told me what happened. I'm a little glad that his parents did what they did.

I don't mean that in a bad way, in fact what they did was unforgiveable. What I mean is that I found someone whose life is like mine. I hope he is able to make a full recovery. You know what; no hoping will not be enough. No matter what I will see that he heals. My life has been nothing but crap for the longest of time now, and I won't bare to see him going through what I did. From this day further no matter what I will make sure he has a better life.

Spyro sat there quietly as he reread the last few sentences. "I can't believe that this is what Cynder thought. What a fool I was. I shouldn't have yelled at her. What is wrong with me? Cynder truly did only want what was best for me. Why didn't I believe this before? I must find her, so I can apologize to her, but where could she be? ...Wait a moment Cynder's mother is burred in the park. That must be where she is!"

With a new found motivation, Spyro placed Cynder's diary back down, and ran out the door.