Chapter 25
"Spyro..." Cynders voice came. It echoed through his ears quietly, almost silently. He focused, and began to open his eyes. He saw Cynder. She was staring him in the eye. She sighed with relief. "Thank the ancestors..." She said.
"Cynder...?" Spyro muttered, still groggy.
'Yes, Spyro. I'm here." She whispered, nuzzling him. She then turned, and nodded. The guardians entered the chamber. Spyro realized where he was. he was back in the temple. Spyro looked to them. Terrador smiled. "you have done well, young dragon." He said.
"Thank Cynder, Terrador. Without her, I never would have broken away from my shadow." Spyro replied.
"I thank you, Cynder, AND Falthis. You all did great." Cyril said. Spyro smiled.
"Thank you." He said. Suddenly, Cynder gasped, and collapsed, twitching uncontrollably. "Cynder!" spyro said, standing up. Then Falthis entered the room. "Cynder... I think you've delayed long enough." He said.
"What's going on, Falthis!" Spyro demanded, marching up to the gray dragon.
"I'm sorry, Spyro... But Cynder must return to the gathering." Falthis said calmly. Spyro looked at him with an unreadable look.
"She... Has to go back?" he asked, he and his voice visibly trembling.
"I couldn't completely restore her Spyro, I am sorry. And with Thermar dead... we cant detach her from It." Falthis explained. Spyro slowly looked down. Cynder, now back on her feet, walked up next to him, and wrapped a wing around him. "I'm sorry... I didn't know how to tell you..." She said. Spyro didn't respond.
He simply looked at cynder, his eye swelling with tears. Cynder sighed, and held him close to her. "Cynder." Falthis said. Cynder looked up. "It is time."
"NO!" Spyro suddenly yelled.
"Spyro, i-" Cynder was cut off.
"No! I cant lose you again!..." Spyro quieted down, and began to cry. "It was too painful the first time... I Fought so hard to get you back..." He lowered his head. "I couldn't bare it..." Cyder sighed, and quietly soothed him.
Spyor and cynder approached the pool at the top of Thermars tower. It was the following morning, and it cast an eerie glow on everything. Spyro looked at her, And she looked at him. "This is it, I suppose..." She said quietly.
"Yeah..." Spyro sighed. "I just... I dont want to lose you again..." he said.
"Spyro... When it comes time for you to die... I'll be waiting for you..." Cynder said, resting a paw on Spyros shoulder. Spyro looked at her, and suddenly jumped in surprise. She was kissing him. He closed his eyes, and kissed her back. It seemed to last forever. Nothing else mattered. He was savoring his last few moments with her.
Finally, she slowly pulled back. Spyro opened his eyes. She was levitating. Her body was beginning to turn to spirit energy. Then came the flames. green fires that erupted around her body. "cynder!" Spyro screamed.
"It doesn't burn!" she said, watching her paws slowly disintegrate, and flow into the pool. She looked down to Spyro, and forced a smile. "I love you, Spyro." She said. Spyro paused.
"...I love you too, Cynder..." He said back. Cynder smiled, for real ,and then, she disappeared completely into the gathering. "If only you knew how much..." Spyro whispered. He stared into the pool for several minutes. Before turning away. "Goodbye, Cynder." he said, and took to the skies.
A faint whisper then hung in the air...
don't worry about me, Spyro... I know it hurts, but please, try to move on. You'll see me again... someday. Just don't rush it. There is so much more good you can do for the world... just by being in it...
Spyor heard the whisper as he flew, and nodded. And he flew off, to live the rest of his life with the knowledge, that Cynder was waiting for him on the other side.