That's what friends do
The cold breeze of the night sky traveled across the land, above the sleeping creatures and varied buildings around. Only passing through the unfortunate open windows that some citizens forgot to close. (Hope they don't suffer a cold)
Apart of that, it was a calm night. An immense sense of peace bathed the city while the people lied comfortably in their beds, sending their minds to the peaceful realm of dreams.
Except for one certain creature, specifically a dragon.
She was trembling in her bed. Moving around the sheets, her face contorted into a grimace as she let out some groans that gradually became louder and erratic growls. Suddenly she woke up with a gasp, her eyes wide open and sweat emerging from her scales as she looked frantically to her around. Once she saw that it was her room she let a relieved sigh before letting her head hit the pillow.
"It was just a nightmare, Cynder..." She said to herself. "Again..." The sad tone in her voice was accompanied with her tired eyes.
It has been already two weeks since she has been haunted with these nightmares as the same time she and Spyro returned to Warfang. The memory of her and Spyro being worshipped still present in her mind. Not that she hated being treated fine compared to other times.
But the first night she spend in the city, she was welcomed with a thrilling nightmare of her dark self, standing in front of her and piercing her soul with those yellow eyes.
That was just the start. Almost every night she was sent to another nightmare, oftenly invaded by her dark form, Malefor or even Dark Spyro. It scared her the most to see her friend being possessed by the darkness, even if it was a nightmare.
She tried to forgot them or let it pass away but it didn't work as she planned.
The only thing she thought but never did was ask Spyro for help, but when she was about to tell him, her brain changed the subject as soon as she spoke. She felt that she would be bothering Spyro with her problems and that would ruin their friendship. Of course she was overreacting but deep down she felt this was something she must do alone considering all what Spyro did for her. She didn't want to press him on these things.
Frustrated, she stood up from her bed, removing the sheets over her and directed to her door, leading to the corridor. Outside she couldn't help but stare at the door next to hers, Spyro's room.
It wasn't a secret for anyone that Spyro and Cynder have a special bond since the first time they were together, but it was a secret the love they have for the other that ironically they are unaware from the other.
Those words that Cynder said before he restored the world were real, but it seems that Spyro didn't hear her. Everyday she wondered if he feels the same for her, but trying to find it out would be risky and embarrasing to say the least.
She has been passing for this routine already and she was so tired of it. Why this happened to her? Didn't the ancestors forget her actions as a monster in the past and this is how they are punishing her? Or it was just her own mind playing tricks?
She had too much enough in her mind. Shaking her head she put all those thoughts away and continued her path.
Crossing the rooms aligned in the corridor she walked to find the fountain. When she has this problems a good gulp of water managed to calm her mind and ease her sleep.
Once she reached the fountain she reached out her head until her maw touched the cold liquid, opening her maw to let the water flow through her throat.
"Hello Cynder." A new voice sounded from behind her, making her yelp in surprise with the water still in her mouth, gaging in alert and throwing her head back, coughing and trying to spit the rest of water inside.
Once she ended, she turned back with a mad glare to the one who interrupted her and in that moment her face turned into a confused look.
"Cyril?"
The tall ice dragon stood there in front of her, looking halfsleep almost like her, giving her a curious stare. Above his eyes there was a cloth with a weird figure, big enough to cover his eyes along a cape around his body presumably to not pass cold in the open night, which Cynder though as something very odd considering he is a dragon of cold.
"Why are you awake?" The ice dragon asked her, his curiosity evident wondering about Cynder being awake late in the night.
Cynder tensed up, knowing she couldn't tell Cyril about her problem. Not that she doesn't trusts Cyril, instead she doesn't trusts his judgement over personal problems, also she feels uncomfortable with him close considering he is who trusts less in her.
She didn't forgot when he was against the idea of let her stay, but she couldn't blame him for that either. Even now she thinks he holds a kind of resentment.
"Uhh... I was, uh, taking a midnight drink." She responded before taking another gulp of water.
"Sleeping problems?" Cyril inquired earning a surprised Cynder, who after drink the water looked at the guardian.
"How did you know?"
"I have the similar problem. And a drink of the fountain manages to relax me." He said before stepping forward the fountain, Cynder stepping aside as Cyril leaned his head down to take his gulp of water.
"Oh, well. I'll go back to sleep then. Goodnight."
She tried to rush back to her room but Cyril was faster.
"Why are you so rushed in going back to your bed? It's not like it's gonna dissapear."
Cynder stopped and asked him without turning. "Why do you ask?"
"It's not the first time you wake up in midnight to take some water." The answer made her tense up again. "Am I right?"
She didn't respond. She was shocked, believing that Cyril knew it, but maybe it was just mere curiosity.
"Have you been having nightmares, maybe?"
Damn it.
Cynder knew she is in no position to run or elaborate a lie. Cyril may look smug and very proud but he was clever, she can give him that. Sighing heavily she turned back to face him with worriness in her eyes, something that the ice dragon noticed.
"Yes... I have." She admitted. And she hated herself for it.
Cyril got closer to her, almost looking intimidating for the black dragoness. "I assume that these nightmares have been tormenting you for a while."
Cynder didn't respond. She still was unsure about this. "I really don't wanna talk about it." She murmured looking down.
"I see." Cyril felt the sadness in her voice. Whatever these nightmare were it have to be that bad to make Cynder not say anything. He felt sad for her.
Then an idea crossed through his mind, maybe it could work.
"Follow me." He said before walking past her, going in direction to the stairs leading to the upper floor.
Cynder was confused, and being honest she had no time for that but she couldn't disobey the ice guardian just like that. Sighing frustrated she followed him through the silent temple towards their destination.
No one talked during the walk and it didn't lasted more than mere minutes but for her it felt like hours. Cyril stood in front of a tall door that she didn't know where it leads thanks to the almost absolute darkness. Then Cyril stood in his hind legs and pushed the doors forward, leading to an open balcony.
Once he pushed the doors totally he stepped in, sitting in front of it and recieving the breeze in his face, smiling contently. For Cynder it was irreal to see Cyril smile, it was like once of a lifetime to see that chance.
"Won't you come to join me?" He politely asked her. She stood there thinking. Cyril was inviting her? Well that's new.
Some reluctantly she got closer to his side, sitting and looking at the horizon with Cyril. No one said anything, they only enjoyed the breeze of the night in complete silence, admiring the stars and the two moons in the bright sky.
In short time the dragoness enjoyed watching the firmament, she even could get a glimpse of a constellation with the form of a dragon, somehow it reminded her to Spyro and smiled.
Cyril noticed her smile, content with seeing her calmed and happy. He felt proud of himself knowing he helped someone.
"Feeling better now?" He asked her, earning a soft nod and a "Mhm" from Cynder. "Then, care to explain what's troubling you?"
And there it was again. Her gut twisting in anticipation to this moment and she still was resilient to say something.
"Cynder." He called to gain her attention. "From here I can tell that anything is troubling you is something you want to keep for yourself and I respect that, but if you keep holding it without a solution soon it could get worse than now." The reasoning in his voice was smashing and true, and she knew it. "Why don't you say something?"
Cynder didn't say anything yet, her mouth was sealed, sweating and scared to say even a word.
"You don't trust in me?" Cyril asked, sounding a little dissapointed now. "Is that?"
It was in that when she realised what she did. She was ignoring him only to save her tail, and now she felt bad.
Maybe it was time.
"No, it's not that..." Cynder finally spoke. Tireness evident in her tone as she breathed some air while Cyril paid attention. "Well, kinda. I had these nighmares since the day Spyro and I returned to Warfang, about me and..." She trembled with only remembering those scenes in her head, her head lowering in defense.
Cyril put a paw over her shoulder trying to reassure her, giving her strenght enough to continue. "...and my dark self." That surprised Cyril but he let her continue. "And not only that, also Malefor appears too, and even sometimes Spyro but corrupted. I always tried to evade them, ignore them but no matter how much I try, they still are there." Her voice started to break, her eyes welling up with water. "I just don't know what to do."
In her almost breakdown she felt the weight of something in her back, looking at her side it was revealed to be Cyril's wing over her with him staring at her calmly. Cynder was surprised to see Cyril very caring with her, almost as if he really wanted to help.
"You never told about this to anyone? Not even Spyro?" The question made her flinch a little, only nodding sideways.
"I get it now. You are scared with these nightmares that envolves your dark past but you don't want to anyone knows about it including Spyro." Cyril resumed perfectly her problem now aware of her position. "May I ask why you didn'k look for help? You know you call tell your problems to us so we can help you, including Spyro."
Cynder hung her head low. "I tried but, everytime I do it my brain changes the subject before I can start." Her sad tone came back. "With Spyro... I just don't want to bother him more..."
"Bother him more? How?" Cyril inquires confused at the idea that how Cynder would bother Spyro with her problems.
"He already did too much for me. He saved me from my darkness, he ventured to find me when I ran off the temple in the swamp, he stayed at my side, he protected me..." Se recalled all those moment as if happened just yesterday. "He was there for me and believed in me when nobody else did... I can't keep being a burden for him..."
"Cynder... You're not a burden for anyone." The compassion in Cyril's voice managed to reach her ears. "We are aware of what you have been through, but that doesn't mean you're a burned. It's comprensible you feel that way with yourself, but the reality is that you don't need to."
"The life that you had before Spyro saved you was a disgrace, not only for you, also for us." Cyril admitted to her as she looked up. "We always regreted that day and still we do, but more when we remember by what you have been..." Soon his voice turned low. "And for me much more when I was against the idea of let you stay..."
That surprised Cynder much more, so he remember that day and admitted that he regretted it.
"Did you... regret it?" She asked softly.
"Yes. I was blinded by the hate and the despair, believing you would turn against us again but I was wrong. You proved to be a good ally and a good friend. And for that, I owe you an apology."
Cyndee couldn't believe what she heard, Cyril just said sorry to her. It was crazy thinking how it came from drinking water to be honest in the balcony.
If he could admit his mistake, she could too.
"I also owe an apology Cyril. I evaded you because I thought you would be holding a grudge against me after what I did..."
Cyril smiled at her honestly. "I can't blame you. I may be some proud when I can."
"Some?" Cynder couldn't laugh a little.
"Maybe more than some." Cyril also laughed a little.
They stayed there, talking like they were friends since time ago and they liked it.
Cynder never thought that this night would develop so far, Cyril thought the same but they were content with how it developed.
"Thanks Cyril." Cynder said with relief in her voice. "I needed to take this out of my system."
"You're welcome, Cynder. I'm glad to help." Cyril replied sounding politely and content.
They looked at the stars one last time before Cynder yawned. "Well, I think I should come back to sleep. It was nice to talk with a friend."
Then Cyril put a smiley face. "Well, that's what friends do."
Cynder shared his smile. "Yeah, what friends do."
Then Cynder stepped back to the temple, ready to sleep. "I better go to sleep now. You should do the same."
Cyril followed her, closing the door and both made their way to the lower floor.
Once there Cynder and Cyril were about to sleep. "Thanks again for helping me Cyril. I really appreciate it."
"You're welcome Cynder. I'm glad to help. And before you go to sleep, I wanna advice you something." He said as Cynder listened carefully. "Maybe you should sleep with Spyro from now on."
That advice made Cynder blush hard, thankfully that the darkness managed to hide it or else she would be ashamed.
"In our talk I could sense the way you talk about Spyro and I think that if you sleep with him and tell him your problems, you will get rid of these nightmares once and for all." The guardian commented sure about his observation.
Cynder now was embarrased to try it. "But... he will let me?"
"I know he will." He assured her. "Well, now I must go back to my bed. I don't wish to have imsomnia." With that he dissapeared in the darkness before the creak of.a door was heard.
Now Cynder was alone in the corridor, wondering if she must go with Spyro or to her room.
"Maybe... It won't be that bad."
With that she made her way to Spyro's door. Once there and after staying static for minute she knocked the door slowly and softly to not make noise. Soon the door opened and it revealed the purple dragon, half asleep wondering who knocked his door.
"Oh. Hi Cynder." He said greeting her before yawning. "What happen?"
It was now the time to ask him.
"Hi Spyro." She said nervous but Spyro didn't noticed it. "Well, the thing is that... I had a nightmare."
Hearing that Spyro put a worried face. "Do you feel good?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. But I was wondering if... you could..." Cynder strugged to complete the question, but he remembered his talk with Cyril and found the strenght. "...if you could let me sleep with you?" She closed the eyes expecting an answer.
"Of course." That was his answer.
Cynder was baffled. "Really?"
"Indeed Cynder. You are my best friend and I will help you with anything you need." He said with honesty. "Also, it would be nice to sleep with someone rather than alone."
Cynder smiled contently. Cyril was right.
"Come in." Spyro signaled her as she entered. Once inside she lied down at the left side of the bed with Spyro lying in the right side.
"Feeling comfy?" Spyro asked her, earning a "Yes." from her.
"Well then." With that both prepared to sleep, Cynder made her place in the bed when she felt something above her, looking up she saw Spyro's wing covering her like a blanket. It made her blush again but at the same made her feel protected, and moved a little closer to him.
Spyro felt the movement and though she was uncomfortable. "Oh, sorry. I'll just take it off and..."
"No..." She interrupted him. "It's fine." Said relaxed.
She couldn't see it but Spyro smiled as he moved closer to her too. "Okay then. Goodnight Cynder."
"Goodnight Spyro, and thank you."
"Always."
With that, both dragons fell asleep, together. And at last, Cynder hadn't a nightmare that night, instead she had a dream, a good dream with him at her side...
Hello everyone! It's me! I'm back baby!
Well, I wanna say some things.
1. I'm really sorry for being dead more than a year. I passed through a half-depression related to collegue and that like gave me less enthusiasm to write. Also that in that time I met a new fandom and with that I joined it that helped me to overcome this greatly. I'm not this open with many but I felt like I had to owe you an apology.
2. With all this virus thing I have been busy with preparing for the lockdown, but with more time in home I can write again. I also hope you all are fine and healthy, this situation is serious and very scary but I hope we can get rid of this soon.
3. This fic is part of a challenge in the Spyro Fanfic Discord event, among slice of life between Spyro or Cynder with one of the guardians and an alternate ending of DOTD about Malefor.
That being said, I hope you liked this oneshot. Oftenly I see Cynder hanging fine with Volteer and Terrador but rarely with Cyril, so I tried this. i hope I did well.
And remember, wash your hands, take caution outside and stay healthy.
Until we read again! :)
PS: I may try to do the alternate ending fic later. Who knows?