Chapter 27: Full Circle

"It's that time of year again," the Fire Guardian said, as his mate made sure that his decorative armor was secured correctly.

"Indeed," Incendia said, releasing her hold on him, "shall we check in on the others?"

Ignitus nodded, and opened the door to the Guardian's corridor. In the hall was Terrador, like the pair of fire dragons, in his decorative armor.

"Will Emera and Boldor not be joining us?" Ignitus asked his fellow Guardian.

"They will meet us in the ballroom."

Time went by; days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. The temple residents continued their routines, and eventually, it arrived once more; tonight, was the Warfang Ball.

Terrador walked to Cyril's room, knocking on the door.

"Enter," the Ice Guardian's voice called from the room.

Terrador opened the door, Cyril stood in the middle of the room, with Aurora brushing off his armor. On the bed was ice pairs' only child, a daughter.

"Perfect," his mate said, "Now don't stay out too late, I could get lonely."

Cyril walked to the bed, nuzzling his daughter, "You have young Winter to keep you company."

The light blue hatchling cooed, returning her father's gesture. Cyril and Aurora fought on if they would have a son or daughter. Cyril leaned toward a son, but it seemed that Aurora was right in the end. Not that it mattered, the little dragoness was precious to him.

Across the from the Ice Guardian's room was Volteer's room. The Guardian of Electricity was departing from his own family.

"I will be back after the opening ceremony."

"No rush."

The Guardian looked over his two children on the bed, even smaller than Cyril's daughter. Volteer nuzzled to two hatchlings, earning coos from them both. The male was a red hatchling, while the female was yellow.

"You both behave for your mother," he said, not expecting an answer as he turned around.

However, he felt a gentle bite on the end of his tail. He turned around to see his daughter, the tip of his tail in her mouth. The hatchling released it, whining with her blue eyes looking into her father's yellows ones.

Volteer smiled, turning to the hatchling, "I'll be back, don't you worry. Your brother and mother will be here with you." He gave a gentle and reassuring lick on her check.

The male hatchling slowly made his way to his sister and rubbed her cheek with his own.

The Guardian turned to his mate, "I'll be back soon."

Flare pecked him on his cheek, "She's such a daddy's girl."


In the student's corridor, everyone was waiting on Cynder and Glacia to exit their rooms. As usual, the males and females made their preparations separate from each other. Electra and Gaia arrived, their scales beautifully polished, and ready to enjoy another Warfang Ball.

"What's taking so long?" Blaze asked, mostly to himself.

Electra shrugged, "She is probably almost done, she might be trying to makes sure everything is perfect."

Suddenly, Glacia walked out of her room, her scales just as polished and cleaned as the other dragonesses. Blaze couldn't help but stare a little, causing the ice dragoness to smirk, "See something you like?"

"More than one thing," he replied, earring a peck from the dragoness.

Then, Cynder's door opened. The black dragoness' scales were polished, and the symbols that adorned her body shown in a light silver. She still wore the silver set of jewelry Spyro had gotten her, polished to perfection.

"Wow," Spyro said, staring at the dragoness.

"It's rude to stare, Spyro," Gaia said, earning a laugh from the group, and a blush from the purple dragon.

Cynder giggled at Spyro's reaction, however, she was not offended. She liked it when he stared at her because she knew it was genuine and out of love. Cynder rubbed her side against his, "I don't mind."

"So," Blaze said, "Are we ready?"

The group of eight dragons made their way to the main corridor of the temple, where the Guardians and Incendia were waiting.

"Are we all ready, young dragons?" Ignitus asked the group, who all nodded.

"Could Flare and Aurora not find hatchling sitters?" Electra asked.

Volteer shook his head, "It's not that. They are both still in their motherly instincts phase. They will not leave their hatchlings sides."

Cyril spoke, "After the opening ceremony, Volteer and I will be returning to them."

"Sorry you have to miss out on this year's ball," Spyro said apologetically.

The pair of Guardians smiled, Volteer replying, "Spyro, in this case, it is worth it."

Incendia interrupted, "Let's get going."


"I'm impressed," Sanda said to her mate as she took in every detail of the ballroom.

The transition from Silverhorn to Warfang was very smooth for the family. After months of planning and moving their possessions, they were officially residents of the dragon city. Sorine was enrolled in a school, and was having a good time and making friends.

"It's huge," Sorine said, still looking around, taking in her surroundings.

"Bigger than what mom and dad said," Frost said, his mother and father behind him.

Neva smiled, looking to Solar and Sanda, "So you decided to take Sorine with you?"

Sanda nodded, "Since Frost and Serra were coming, she had more of a reason to come."

"Hey Frost, Sorine," a light grey wind dragoness said, approaching the pair with two older wind dragons behind her.

"Hey there, Serra," the yellow dragoness replied back, happy to see her other friend.

Frost was the same dragon she met at the park many months ago, and to her joy, he went to the same school she started. The pair were close and met Serra, and the trio became fast friends.

"It's good to see you again," Serra's father said with a smile.

"Likewise," Solar replied, as the six adult dragons began to converse.

Sorine was looking at the main entrance, waiting for her older brother to emerge. She enjoyed the company of her older brother, especially when he showed her and Frost some neat techniques he had learned. Serra had felt left out, as Spyro did not share the power of wind, but he fixed that when he included Cynder, who was more than happy to show the young wind dragoness a thing or two.

In no time, she easily picked out the purple dragon, his group of friends walking with him, and Cynder at his side. The Guardians broke away as the younger set of dragons continued on.

"Spyro!" Sorine said, excited to see her brother, granting the sibling a hug when he was close.

The purple dragon smiled, returning the gesture, "Hey, Sis," he then looked over to her friends, "Frost and Serra decided to come."

"I would rather be here than alone and bored," Frost replied, earning a laugh from everyone.

"How come Sparx isn't coming?" Sorine asked, missing the dragonfly.

"He was busy, but he will be in the city in a few weeks."

Frost whispered to Serra, "I still can't believe that Sparx is the 'older' brother."

"I heard that," Spyro said with a smile.

Eventually Spyro and his friends split to continue to converse amongst themselves. Leaving the three young dragons with their families for the time being.

After several more minutes of mingling and talk, Ignitus' voice boomed around the room, "Can I have everyone's attention, please?" Soon the room was quiet, with only a few voices still audible. Eventually, the room was silent, "Thank you all for coming to another wonderful Warfang Ball. It's good to see families and loved ones once again gathered here to have a good time. With that said, please enjoy yourselves, and have a wonderful night."

There was a quick round of applause for the Fire Guardian as he stepped back.

Volteer smiled, "I remember your first Warfang Ball speech as a Guardian being a lengthy one."

"He learned to not be you," Cyril teased, earning a roll of the eyes from the Electric Guardian.

"Will you to be taking off?" Ignitus asked, noting that Earth Guardian was already with Emera, Boldor, and Terra.

The two Guardians nodded, with Volteer saying, "I promised Flare I would be back after the opening ceremony. The children were a little restless when I left."

Cyril turned to Volteer, "They will be that way for a few more months, Winter wants both Aurora and me with her."

Incendia walked next to her mate, "Then you both should be off. We'll see you in the morning."

However, Volteer spaced out, looking to the open space of dancing dragons. A memory of Flare and himself appearing in his head, causing a smile to form.

"What is it?" Incendia asked, knocking the yellow dragon back into reality.

"Oh? Nothing, I just realized that I met with Flare again at the Warfang Ball last year." His smile faltered, "I wish she was here with me to remember."

Cyril nudged him, "She would be; however, I do believe that she would rather be watching over the hatchlings with you than be here."

Volteer smiled at the Ice Guardian, "You may be right."

Cyril stood with pride in his stance, "Of course I am."

The Guardians of Electricity and Ice said their good-byes to the pair of fire dragons, and eventually to everyone else. Soon, they were walking out of the building, ignoring the stares and comments of younger dragons pointing to the pair in excitement.

The two were flying back to the temple when Cyril asked, "Why are you so antsy?"

Volteer glanced to the ice dragon, noticing he was flying faster then Cyril. "Oh, apologies," he said, slowing himself to be at the same pace as his fellow Guardian.

"Care to explain?"

"I suppose I want to be with Volta, she really didn't want me to leave."

"She has her brother and mother."

"I said the same thing, but I feel like I have to be with her. To comfort her. I can't explain it."

Cyril laughed, "You mean after all of these years there is finally something you can't explain?"

The two dragons landed in front of the main temple doors, Volteer opening one of them, "Good to know that you find it humorous."

Cyril closed the door behind them, and the pair walked to the Guardians' corridor.

"I find it funny because the answer is obvious. It's called being a father."

The door opened as the two approached, closing behind them as they walked to their rooms.

"I will except that answer."

"Because it is the truth," Cyril answered back.

The two dragons said their good-nights. Each entering their respective rooms with their children and mate, knowing that life was good.


Dragons continued to enjoy the night, whether it was chatting and making small talk, enjoying the food and beverages, or dancing.

For four dragons, one thing stole the night.

Sanda smiled, leaning her head against her mate's, while Umbra did the same with hers.

"They make such a good couple," Umbra said.

"They do," Sanda replied, looking at the slow dancing forms of their children.

Sorine, who took a break from her friends, asked, "So, are Spyro and Cynder like you two?"

"Not quite yet," Solar answered, "But in the future, I have no doubt."

The pair of black and purple dragons stood on their hind legs, their forelegs holding each other close. Cynder's head was nestled under Spyro's chin, her eyes closed, and a soft smile on her maw, as the pair swayed from side to side, the music perfectly fitting the mood.

Her smiled twitched upward when Spyro briefly moved his head to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. She pulled her head back, her emerald eyes meeting his amethyst ones.

"Having a good time?" Spyro asked, as they continued to sway.

"Of course."

"I think our parents are watching."

The dragon looked over to the four parents, Sorine with them. Cynder mirrored his action, earning nods or smiles, and a happy wave from his little sister.

A sigh slipped from Spyro muzzle, making Cynder look back to him, "What is it?"

The purple dragon smiled, looking at the dragoness, "I'm just thinking about how great and a little crazy my life as been." Spyro glanced to the side, seeing his friends by the food tables.

Blaze was looking at something with interest, clearly a piece of food he had never tried. Glacia spoke to him, probably explaining what is was. Blaze popped it into his mouth, and after a quick moment, it was clear that the taste was not to his liking. He forced himself to swallow, and looked around for something to hid the taste. Finding the punch bowl, he took two glasses and downed both, one after the other.

Volt, Electra, Gaia, and Terrain found it humorous, while Glacia rolled her eyes at her boyfriend. However, she provided Blaze a napkin to wipe the remains of the punch on his maw. The fire dragon thanked her by sneaking a kiss on her cheek. The ice dragoness pulled back, wiping the possible punch off her cheek, glaring at the dragon. The rest of the group laughed again, at both Blaze's actions and the toothy smile that followed.

"I have really great friends," Spyro said to the dragoness, as his gaze moved to another part of the ballroom.

The remaining two Guardians and their mates were talking amongst themselves. The smiles they wore made it clear that they were having a good time. Terrador and Emera would steal glances toward their son, who was dancing with his girlfriend. The group of dragons looked incomplete without the other half of the Guardians, but considering the reason, no one would mind.

"Amazing teachers who I can look up," Spyro continued, then looking back to where their parents were.

The four dragons were talking to Sorine's friend's parents, while the smaller dragoness was laughing with her friends.

"Not to mention the mother and father I had dreamed of meeting. And a fun and loving little sister."

Cynder pushed closer to the dragon, "A lot has changed in a year," she said, realizing that her life changed as well; making new wonderful friends, to reuniting with her own parents.

"Although," Spyro said, "there is one thing that made it perfect."

The black dragoness shifted under his chin, "And that is?"

The purple dragon pulled his head back, much to Cynder's dismay. The dragoness looked at Spyro, her emerald eyes meeting the love of his amethyst ones. Her body nearly melted under the affectionate gaze.

The purple dragon smiled, his face every so slowly inching towards hers, "I met the most beautiful and wonderful dragoness in the realms."

Cynder returned his smile, her body acting on instinct, closing the gape, "Good answer."

"I love you, Cynder," the dragon said, his words full of love.

"And I love you too, Spyro," she replied with equal affection.

Their eyes closed, and soon their lips met in a kiss. The kiss deepened as the music and the surrounding crowd seemingly disappeared, with the couple's only concern in that moment was each other.

And neither would have it any other way.


After 5 years, we made it to the end. Life and Love is officially finished.

First, I want to thank everyone who were on this journey with me. There were ups and downs, but everything worked out in the end. I had no idea how good, or bad, this story was going to be, so thank you all for your support.

The inevitable question: Will there be a sequel? In short: No. Fun fact, this story was originally supposed to be just over 10 chapters… then it grew into the 27 monstrosity it is now. I have no plans for a sequel.

But! I do have plans to keep writing. I have a one-shot that is 85-90% done, although, I'm not sure when I'll get around to finishing it. I have two other one-shots that may or may not see the light of day, but maybe I'll post them anyway after I am satisfied with them.

As for stories, I have two in the works, as in rough drafts. I am having a better time with one, so I might try to focus on that one. I have not planned on when I will be posting a first chapter.

Big shout out to Clear Blue Crystal for being my beta-reader/editor/writing guru for most of the story. Life sort of got busy for both of us, so I was on my own near the end. However, I am more than sure that he helped me improve on my writing.

With all that being said, thank you all so much, and I'll you all in the next one.