Chapter 37: Heroes Eternal
Considering that we had spent most of the morning teaching Spyro how to cook –no small task, let me tell you – I decided it was time to let the twins have a little fun.
"Cole, where are you going?" Spyro had asked warily, as I ushered the twins out of the kitchen.
"Don't worry about me," I said, "Now why don't you go cook something nice for Cynder?"
The effect was instant. His face turned redder than Flame's. Despite being together for about twelve years, he still blushed and stuttered when I said something like that. I guess that's mainly why I do it.
"Bye-bye, Spyro!" Kia called brightly. Comet and I laughed. We left him stuttering in front of our house.
"Cole, where are we going?" they asked together. I'll probably never figure out how they are always in sync.
"It's a surprise," I told them mysteriously.
We headed to a new section of the city. The great walls didn't surround this part. It was a massive park surrounding the Memorial. The memorial itself was gleaming like a second sun.
"Cole, is that…?" Comet and Kia hadn't been to the funeral.
"Yes, the War Memorial," I said. The moles were still working on it, "But I didn't bring you here for this." – I turned them to the massive park – "I brought you here for this."
They both gasped in awe, "Cole, did you build this?"
"No, but I helped. I need to help the moles, but you're here to have fun."
"Yay!" They ran off to play and I couldn't help but smile. There were four huge dragons guarding the little ones.
"Mason!" I called, heading over to the moles still working on the memorial. He was the head mole for any project.
"Hi, Cole," He was also one of the few that called me by name.
"Mason, I have a project but I have no idea what the old Guardians looked like."
"The old ones? You mean Ignitus and Terrador?" the old mole asked.
"Yes, and Volteer and Cyril as well."
"Why not ask Spyro?" Mason suggested with a shrug.
"I'm not going to make him remember those things," I said, shaking my head. But no sooner had I said it, did a voice speak in my mind.
'You have a kind heart for one with your past.'
I slammed up the walls in my mind, instantly on guard. But somehow the voice still broke through.
'I'm no enemy'it said.
"…who are you?" I was speaking out loud, confusing Mason.
"What, Cole?" the mole asked, but I didn't reply.
'Cole, I'm a friend,' insisted the voice,'My name is Ignitus.'
That caught me off guard and the walls in my mind lowered. I felt him in my mind before I could raise them again.
'I'm not here to hurt you.' He sounded sincere, but to me that didn't really matter.
"How can I hear you?" I thought to him.
'Being the Chronicler, I've gained the powers of his mind. You wanted to make statues of us?'
"Yes," I responded, still in thought.
'Here am I.'
A picture flashed into my mind, of a wise old fire dragon.
"Mason, move," I said quickly. My hands were glowing green. The ground rumbled as I called up massive diamonds and rubies from the earth. I hollowed out the diamond and shaped it to look like Ignitus then filled it with the rubies.
"Wow, Cole," I heard Mason breath in awe.
"Thanks Mason." On the block on the bottom I put in Draco the words: 'Ignitus, mentor of Spyro, Guardian of Fire. Gone too soon and much missed.'
"I didn't even know him and I miss him," I sighed, looking down at the words I'd inscribed.
"Most dragons do," said a voice behind me. I turned.
"Hi, Spyro," I said.
"How did you…?"Spyro inclined his head at the statue,
"He's in my head," I explained wryly. I heard Ignitus speak again.
'Cole, let me talk.'
Who was I to deny an old Fire Guardian's wish?
"Spyro," I said, but it wasn't me who spoke, nor was it my voice that came out. It was Ignitus, speaking through me. Spyro gave a great start, eyes flying wide open.
"Ig-Ignitus?" he stammered, before dashing forwards and grabbing me – or was it Ignitus? – in a hug.
"It's so good to see you again, Spyro," I felt Ignitus say through my mouth. Clearly he was seeing through my eyes too. Spyro was nearly glowing with happiness.
"However, my possession of your friend weakens him, so I must be quick," Ignitus continued. He was right; I could feel my energy draining as he spoke.
"You have a right to know who your family is," Ignitus's thoughts were mixing with mine, now, "Spyro, I'm your father."
I felt my expression – Ignitus's expression – morph into one of simultaneous happiness and sadness. I'm still not sure how he pulled that off.
"Wh-what about my mom?" Spyro stammered.
"I'm sorry, Spyro," Ignitus sighed, "she was killed in the first months of the war. I am afraid I must leave now, Spyro. Goodbye."
I felt him withdraw from my mind and his presence left my body. Then I fell.
"Cole, are you ok?" Spyro asked, leaning over me.
"I'm fine," I insisted, pushing myself to my knees, "Are you?"
"Yes," he looked away, still affected by what had just happened, "Just shaken."
"Spyro, unless you're psychic, you were looking for me," I said, quickly changing the subject. His relationship with Ignitus didn't seem to be something he wanted to talk about.
"I need a fighter, Cole," Spyro responded instantly, his eyes meeting mine again. As soon as I heard that, I was all mercenary.
"You got one. What do you need?"
"When me and Cynder beat the Dark Army the first time, the majority of the troops went into hiding," Spyro explained, "I need you to find them and kill them."
"Two things," I said, holding up a hand, "First: where? Second: I need you to watch the twins."
"Deal. When?"
"Tomorrow," I replied. The sooner we got this over with, the better. We didn't need more remnants of the Dark Army still wandering around out there.
"Alright, the first place you should check is the area around Mt. Malefor," Spyro said.
"Ok," then I had a thought, "Wait, not tomorrow. The day after. I need to modify my armour."
"That's fine," Spyro turned to leave, his thoughts still with Ignitus, "Goodbye, Cole."
"Bye, Spyro."
When he was gone, I busied myself by finishing the statues with Mason's guidance. By the time I was done, most of the day was gone and I was wiped out. Yawning, I collected the twins and headed home.