It seemed that not so long ago, I just started this journey. I am grateful to those who have helped me, both with reviews and advice...
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Chapter 21/ epilogue
"Spyro... wake up." The words floated to his ears, even when he couldn't sense anything else.
"Wake up, young dragon." Gradually, he became aware of a cold stone floor beneath him and the sound of turning pages.
A paw prodded him in the side. He opened his eyes, not surprised to find the Chronicler standing above him. He groaned, then stood up, surprised that he was stiff. He glanced around, and he saw he was in his host's library.
"How long was I out?" Spyro asked. He stretched, hearing cracks and pops from folded joints.
"According to your friends, you still are. I just wanted to speak to you for a moment," the Chronicler said. "Walk with me."
Stone steps appeared in front of them, floating into the space ahead of them with no apparent destination.
They padded along in silence. Then the Chronicler spoke up.
"Do you feel that you did the right thing, taking Malefor on by yourself?"
The question took Spyro by surprise. "Don't you?"
He shook his head. "Not for me to say. But you did do well, in your choice of action. Nobody died, and Malefor has been freed. But keep a watch on how you treat Cynder, hmm?"
Spyro winced. The look of betrayal on her face was one he knew he wouldn't be able to forget.
He pushed those thoughts away. "Any other surprises I should know about?"
The Chronicler glanced over to him, surprised. "You know that I don't reveal the future unless great problems could arise from NOT revealing it." He lowered his voice. "But between you and me, the worst is over for a long time."
"And one more thing... what happened to the amulet that Malefor had?"
"That was just one of the trinkets Malefor had. It exploded when he lost and was touched– that was what set it off. Nothing more, though."
Spyro peered into the distance. "Is that–"
"Yes, that is my library. I moved us. Unless you want to talk more, I suspect you want to return home?"
"Yes."
They stepped into the building, and the Chronicler turned to Spyro. A small ball of light appeared in his paw, and he handed it to Spyro.
Spyro stared at it. "What is this for?"
"You'll know when you wake up, and don't worry- nobody else will see it. Just heal one of them, and the other will come around soon..." his voice was fading, along with the entire area. The ground evaporated under him, and he drifted into open space.
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The first sense he had when he awoke again was sound. Not waiting for his other senses to return, his eyes snapped open and he jumped to his feet. He winced as his side and wing screamed in pain at the simple action, closed gashes still painfully apparent. He stumbled, careful not to drop the orb. Now that he was in the real world, it pulsed with small waves of light and had an oddly warm and comforting feel to it.
Comforting as it was, he decided he should probably figure out how to use it. He stepped out into the corridor, and was nearly crushed in a hug from Ember. He choked down the pain from his side.
She released him moments later. "You're awake! I'll go get the others!" She didn't wait for a reply, but instead dashed off to a different hall.
He suspected something had happened from the time he had fallen unconscious from the battle to when he had woken up. He followed Ember around one corner, through the adjoining passage, and met Flame and Cynder by the infirmary when they saw Ember.
A look of slight surprise flashed across Flame's face, and Cynder pointedly looked the other way.
Ember slipped inside the infirmary. "Where's she going?" Spyro queried.
"She's seeing if Cyrus will come out. He's been in there for days, staying with Shara." Flame's voice caught a little when he spoke.
"What happened?"
Flame shook his head. "Nobody here knows. She was out like that when Cyrus pulled her out of that huge battle you fought. Not a good move, by the way."
Cynder abruptly stood up. "I'm going in now," she announced. And she did.
Flame glanced back and forth from Cynder to Spyro. "What did you do?"
Spyro avoided the question, even when he was saddened by Cynder's reaction. "So, how long was I out?"
"Just under two weeks."
"How long has Cyrus been in there?" Spyro asked. As if that wasn't obvious.
"Just under two weeks."
"That's a long time."
"And he's dedicated," Flame replied. "At least he's sleeping occasionally. Now, there's one more thing you need to know before you go in there."
"What is it?"
Flame lowered his voice. "Whatever Malefor did to her, it, well... changed her."
Spyro leaned forward in interest. "Changed how?"
"How to put it... um... she's a dragon."
"What?"
"Its the best guess we have at the moment. Now, are we going to go in?"
The two drakes stepped into the infirmary then. As advertised, Shara did appear draconic– scales, short horns, skin wings (not feathered). It was all there. She wasn't quite right for a dragon, though; her skeletal and muscle structure was more like she had been before, and she had more dexterous hands. Her breathing came roughly. And while her head had been altered slightly, it still retained the more graceful features of a griffin..
Ember stood helplessly over Cyrus. The white wyrm was passed out on the floor at her side. He almost looked as bad as when he had been at their short-lived refuge.
Spyro held up the orb that he had been given. Was this what "heal someone" meant?
He stepped toward Shara, but was blocked with a white forepaw as Cyrus stood up, stretching. He blinked, then his eyes narrowed on the glowing ball in Spyro's paw.
"What are you doing?" Cyrus asked. "I think just about anything would be worse for her right now."
Spyro was confused. Could he see it? No one was supposed to see what he held. He tried to pass it off in a small gesture. He moved his paw over Shara again. He pressed it into the center of her chest, and stepped back to watch.
Shara's form shuddered. She began to breathe better, and she straightened out to a more natural position. She groaned weakly, but didn't wake up.
Cyrus leaned forward to level with Spyro and check on Shara again. "This is the best she's been in days." He glanced over at Spyro. "Whatever you did, it's working."
Spyro lowered his voice. "Just something the Chronicler gave me. Said to heal someone." He glanced over at Cyrus. "He also said that I'd be the only one to see it."
Cyrus smirked. "I didn't. Just kinda a ripple in the air. A ball?"
Spyro shook his head. "You never cease to amaze me."
Both their attentions were drawn back to Shara when she suddenly shot upright, with a shriek of shock. She gazed around wildly, then settled on Cyrus with relieved look.
"How did.. I... get here?" Shara rasped, her voice scratchy from about two week's disuse. "I remember going outside to get some fresh air, and... waking up here."
Spyro stood, stretching his legs. "I think I'll leave you two alone. Coming, guys?"
Cyrus waited until they left to turn back to Shara. "How do you feel?"
Shara didn't reply right away. She just lay there, taking stock in her memories. Then she said, "I'm not sure yet. It's just..." she shook her head slowly. "I know I was outside a minute ago."
"Do you feel... different?"
"Why, should I?"
"You might..."
Shara closed her eyes and rubbed her head. "You're giving me a headache," she said. Then she opened her eyes, and froze in surprise.
"What's this about?" she said, examining her hand. She admired briefly the way the light reflected better from scales than her old feathered coat. "Certainly different."
"It is. You know, I'm surprised that you're taking this so well," Cyrus remarked.
She tried to sit up, but stopped for two reasons. The first reason was more obvious, with the hooks on her wings catching on the fabric. She stopped from that, then happened to glance down. A quick glance under the blanket confirmed her suspicion.
Shara sighed. "Cyrus, what happened to my clothes?"
"Um... they sorta burned off when you started smoking.. Sorry about that."
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Cynder stormed away from where they had stepped away from the infirmary, choking back a sob. She had been waiting long enough for Spyro to talk with her– not that she would admit that.
She had been staying on more of the watches on Spyro, hoping she would be the first one to see after he woke up. She had been worried sick when Flame had carried him out of the chamber. He had looked so much as shredded then, which would've been her had he not shielded her. Why wasn't he paying more attention to her now, after what had happened?
Spyro looked after Cynder, watching her disappear around the corner helplessly. Then he flinched as someone punched his shoulder.
Both Ember and Flame were standing there; they looked incredulous at his clueless expression. "What?"
"What are you waiting for? Go after her!" Flame ordered. Beside him, Ember nodded.
That was all the encouragement Spyro needed. Spinning around, he dashed around the corner to go outside.
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Cynder had found a quiet corner of the gardens to settle in. She was disturbed by the way Spyro had swept past her.
She knew she wasn't being fair to him– he couldn't have known about her watching over his recovery. He hadn't been awake. But still – why didn't he even directly talk to her?
Her head whipped around as she heard soft, padded footsteps in the outer halls. Through the bush she had ducked under, she saw a cloaked form carrying a bow drop to the ground.
Cynder was relieved. "Hunter?" she called.
He turned, and it was indeed their more mysterious companion. His expression was guarded, but he relaxed when he saw it was only Cynder. "Ah. Why haven't I been told about those deathtraps outside your Temple?" He lifted hos left arm, and there was a burn all across his cloak and a patch of singe on his fur.
She winced. "Yeah... sorry about that. We haven't really gotten around to fixing that side of the minefield yet."
Hunter glanced to the left, only now realizing the boulder embedded in the wall wasn't normally there. "What happened?"
"It's too long a story. You can wait until we tell the elders when they return. Please."
He laughed. "Well, I guess that'd be easier."
Just at that moment, Spyro entered the garden at the far side. He looked around for a moment, then ran over when he spotted them.
"Hey," he said, out of breath. He didn't seem the slightest bit surprised about Hunter. "Can I talk with Cynder for a second?"
Cynder stopped staring at the floor. "You sure you don't want to talk to Hunter first?" she teased. "Well, let's go then."
With that, both of them left Hunter. He shook his head. "What just happened?"
Spyro padded at her side for a short while, relieved that at least she had agreed to walk with him. "I can tell you've got something you wanted to say for a while now," he ventured.
Cynder glanced over at him, and he could see her pained expression. "It just... scares me, when you throw yourself at something, even when you don't have much of a winning chance."
Spyro thought he knew what she was saying. "Like when I was fighting Malefor... you thought I was wrong to go alone?"
"Not just that... the lies you put into it, having Cyrus mislead all of us, assuring us... even before that. You told us to prepare for a battle, when you were really preparing for a different battle." She pulled away from him for a moment. "Is there anything else you've hidden from us?"
It was at that point that Spyro realized she wasn't so much offended ir angry as scared for him. He would have to be less of a self-reliant person if she was to stay with him.
Completely honest. He shuddered.
Pulling her back over to him, he replied, "Nothing. I can't say everything will be perfect in the future, but... I'll always be yours, Cynder."
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While they had been walking outside, Flame and Ember had been wandering inside the Temple, and they heard a patter of feet behind them. Ember's head whipped around, but there wasn't anyone there.
She shook her head, turning back to watch her path. She stopped in surprise when a cloaked cheetah with a bow and a travel sack dropped to land in front of her, though.
Flame stepped forward. "Who are you?"
"I'm Hunter. You?" The cheetah sounded in a slight hurry, but nonetheless he performed an odd but polite gesture in dipping his head slightly.
Ember stepped forward, ignoring Flame's annoyed hiss. "I'm Ember, and this is Flame. Is there something we can help you with?"
Hunter nodded. "I'm just here to see the elders, but I can't seem to find them."
"They're out –again– on some diplomatic assignment."
"Not everyone, mind you," came a voice from the other room. "Your people can be quite stubborn when it comes down to a war between tribes, Hunter." It was Ignitus.
"Yes, quite determined to stay to their view, not even consider the others. Very self-centered, if I may say so myself," said Cyril.
Hunter stared at the old ice dragon. "Really..." he shook his head. "Anyway, I heard from my tribe that that Spyro fought and won against Malefor recently." He gazed around curiously. "Is it true?"
Ignitus met his gaze steadily. "Yes, that's what happened."
Hunter nodded slowly. "Then is it also true that you're keeping him... alive?"
He shook his head. "Why would we keep the worst mass murderer in our history alive? That would just invite more hostility and death to our home."
Hunter shrugged. "Well, that's the official business completed." He reached up to his ear, and brought out a small insect-shaped piece of metal. It chirped inquiringly, then lifted off of his hand and buzzed away.
He grimaced. "Sorry. One of the little automatons that I was forced to bring with me. The last."
Ignitus chuckled, shaking his head slowly. "I know you're here for something else as well."
"Actually, this time it is just official business. I'll be off on another job in a few days. Something on sightings of feathered and oddly shaped... and sentient... hawk dragons. I'm thinking griffins, as crazy as that seems. I mean, they're extinct, aren't they?"
There was a nervous moment of silence. Then Cyrus poked his head out of the infirmary. He didn't ask questions about Hunter's appearance, but brightened considerably when he saw the bag over his shoulder. He grabbed it and rummaged through it for a moment.
Hunter whipped around. "Hey! That's my–"
Cyrus held up a long cloak. "Sorry. I'm Cyrus– and I need to borrow this. Thanks!" He went back into the infirmary.
He threw his hands in the air frustratedly. "What is it today with just either brief hello's or ignorance of me?"
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Cyrus slipped inside the door and jogged over to where Shara was still covered. "This what you were talking about?" He tossed the cloak over to her, then looked away as she dressed.
"Uh... I guess it'll do," Shara replied. "Now all I've got to do is cut a hole in the back for my wings."
"Okay... let's go see why they were talking about griffins."
That brought Shara up short. "What? What kind of talk?"
Cyrus sighed. "I don't know. And we won't be able to know if we don't go out. Coming?" With that, he padded out the door.
Shara stood shakily, then yelped as she stepped on her tail. "Gah... why did I get a tail too?" She slowly made her way outside.
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"What would they do to one of these... griffins, if they managed to capture one?" Ignitus asked warily.
Hunter shook his head. "I don't know. And it's not likely that one will be caught. They've been so elusive, it's like they weren't aware they settled so close to us, and now they're just hidden. Any attempts to enter their settlements have failed. You get close, and they disappear."
Shara stepped over to him. "How fast?"
"Faster than you can blink. Some people have lost memory of the entire area too– they just suddenly look around, confused." He looked surprised. "And you are?"
"Shara. I need you to show me where these search groups are, how many there are, and possibly where I can join up." She reversed course a little, realizing she was quite invading Hunter's personal space.
"What? Shara, no!" Cyrus said, almost horrified. "You can't go–" he stopped himself, aware that their guest didn't know her history.
Shara pulled him aside. "This is my choice... I'm sorry if you can't accept that, but I have to go back, or at least try to." She made sure he was listening before continuing. "And I want you to come with me."
He pulled back for a moment. "Really?"
"Of course!"
He pulled her in for a hug. "That's great!"
Hunter broke in. "If you're going with me, you'd best pack your things soon and say your goodbyes– you're going to have to leave in two days."
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"So you're sure about this?" Ember asked.
"I've got to leave," Flame said quietly. "I'd like you to come with me."
"But... what about the others? Don't you think we ought to tell them about this?" Ember protested. "I mean, you aren't even sure that what she said was true..."
It was true, though. He had recieved a letter by the now-revived aerial mail service.
Flame turned to her. "Okay, we'll tell them," he sighed. "I mean, it's not like you find someone who could be your sister every day..."
Spyro interrupted at that point. "What? You have a sister?!" he exclaimed.
He and Cynder had entered unnoticed while they had been speaking.
"We were just talking about going to see her," Ember said.
Flame drew Ember towards him. "I know we won't be back for a while, but try not to be sad about it... somehow, I just know that we'll be around again."
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"So this is it," Cynder said sadly.
They sat in solidude on the balcony, the six of them sharing the last time they'd be together as a whole for quite some time. Spyro and Cynder had protested their leaving so soon after their victory, but to no avail; it seemed like there was nothing that could delay them.
Hunter padded out softly. "I know it might not seem like it, but we have to go now..."
Cyrus stretched, and Shara used him as a support to stand. She walked over to each of the other four, giving each of them a farewell hug.
"I... I just want to let you know, I'm sorry we have to leave so soon. Just... keep the place safe, alright? I've come to like it, and I don't want to come back to a ruin," Shara said, choking a little as she spoke. Cyrus said nothing, but stepped forward to nod his own good-byes.
Ember and Flame exchanged a glance, the stood as well. "I guess it's time we're off, too..."
This time, there were no words to say– what else could be said? They were parting ways, and there wasn't anything that would stop that.
Cynder and Spyro watched as Flame and Ember flew away, similarly followed by Cyrus, Shara, and Hunter on foot; Hunter didn't have wings, and Shara's were too weak yet to fly long distances.
"Do you thimk we'll see them again?" Cynder asked softly. Hunter's new trio had long since disappeared into the thick copse of the forest, and Flame and Ember were small specks by the time she spoke. "I mean, we all kinda went our separate ways..."
Spyro thought carefully as he watched the sun rise on the new day. "There's always a chance, isn't there?"
"That's not really an answer..."
He thought carefully again before he finally answered a second time. "Somehow, I have a feeling we'll see each other sometime..."