"Are you sure you want to go?" Asked the faun, glancing between Hunter and Zoe, a slight drop to her ears.

"It's not like I'm gonna move in with 'em... But I figured, since the dragons said that we'd be welcome to come and visit whenever we'd like, I figured I'd go over and scope out the place."

Hunter always was one for exploring new places... Now that the Dragon Realms had been opened, the cheetah saw new opportunities for adventure, and meeting new friends... She supposed it probably would do some good for someone to venture to the Dragon Realms and make new acquaintances. Walking over, she gave the feline a gentle pat on his shoulder.

"... You gonna be alright? With him?"

"... He's been behaving himself for the past three days. I believe he has settled down somewhat," said the faun, offering the cheetah a reassuring smile.

With a hug and a wave, Elora bade her friends safe travels, and watched as Hunter and Zoe departed to the Dragon Realms... Part of her had wished that she could go with them. But her place was in Avalar, with the Professor, and now Crush, Gulp, and Ripto.

A soft sigh had left her as she walked past the Super Portal, regarding it for a moment with a heavy heart before moving on... She looked up and saw the little sorcerer, sitting at the top of the stairs, staring off into the night sky of Winter Tundra. Once she had reached the top, she sat down beside the little sorcerer.

"I thought you didn't like the cold?"

"I don't. But... I guess you kinda get used to it after a while." He drew in a deep breath and sighed. "Stupid dragons... Think they know everything."

"... You're still bothered by that?" Elora frowned... The little sorcerer had been in a bit of a mood since the dragons departure. Those last parting words of Zander, the purple dragon with the crystal wings... Crystal wings... She had not thought anything of those crystal wings at first. Her knowledge of dragons was limited, but she knew well enough that they were magical creatures. Why WOULDN'T a dragon have crystal wings? But the more she thought of it, the more she wondered if those wings truly did come natural for the dragon. What's more was that the dragon spoke to Ripto as if with a hint of understanding.

"... Warm me as you have been. I am tired," said the little sorcerer after a moment. She regarded Ripto at her side, then reached over, setting her hand upon his head. His face seemed to relax, and his eyes fluttered shut, and a soft purr could be heard... It brought a smile to her face.

"... He knew... I don't know how he did... But he knew... It boils my blood that he would."

"... I don't believe he meant any harm-"

"I know..." The sorcerer sighed. "It still hurts... Even now... I hate being reminded of it."

The faun frowned once more. She moved her hand down to rest on the center of his back, slowly moving her hand up and down...

"... You said you would protect me," he started again after a moment, opening his eyes to look at the faun. "And you have upheld your promise."

He shifted, straightening himself up. He had his scepter at his side, Elora noticed. He had reached for it, and - to her surprise - had offered it to her.

"This belongs to you."

"What?" Elora blinked in confusion. "But... I don't understand."

"You need the Power Crystal, don't you? To help out with that Super Portal down there," Ripto stated, setting his scepter down in the faun's lap. "The Super Portal functions well enough with orbs alone," he added. "But what if it's not enough? The Power Crystal should help give you the extra boost that you need... If worst comes to worse, then... Perhaps the dragons can help."

"Ripto..." She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Ripto was actually returning the Power Crystal to her?

"How... How can I ever repay you?" Said the faun, holding the scepter up and staring at the Power Crystal fixed upon it.

"And... One last thing," he added. "That whole thing of being king of Avalar? I've been thinking about that for a bit now, and I've come to my conclusion... You can forget about it."

"Ripto-!" She made to speak, but the sorcerer held up his hand to her.

"Look... Each individual world is governed by it's own ruler already, right? Sunny Beach, Aquaria Towers... Skelos Badlands. Crystal Glacier. And all those other worlds we've visited... You're right, there's a lot involved in being a king, and... And my reasons for wanting it in the first place is selfish... It... Wouldn't be right... To have a king that thinks only of himself."

"... Yet you surrendered the Power Crystal," Elora started, turning her gaze back to the little sorcerer. "You wouldn't have done that if you were only thinking of yourself... I would have guided you... But... If it's no longer your desire, that's fine..."

Setting the scepter down at her side, she reached over and set her hand over his.

"... What will you do now?" Asked the faun.

"... I don't know," the little sorcerer answered. "I guess we will be continuing our travels... I... Can't really say I have any specific destination in mind-"

"... You could stay with us."

"What?"

The little sorcerer looked up at Elora in surprise.

"... You don't have a home... Do you?"

There was no comment... The sorcerer shifted, averting his gaze from the faun... Still, she continued.

"King or no king... I think we can accommodate you, as well as Crush and Gulp."

"... You'd really welcome us?"

With a smile, she reached over and pulled the little sorcerer up into her arms, kissing him lightly upon his nose.

"To Avalar... And to my heart."

The little sorcerer felt a soft fluttering in his heart at her words... With a soft trilling, he nuzzled closer into the faun's embrace, purring.

"Even though you've given up on it... You'll still be my little king."

"Well, that was fun!" The little purple dragon said, trotting out from the portal leading to Dragon Shores, with his trusty dragonfly in tow. Returning to the Dragon Realms, he had found that the storm had cleared, and the sun was shining down upon the Artisan's Home at long last.

"Still... I can't help but feel as though we've missed out on something." Spyro looked to his sparkling companion with a slight tilt of his head. But soon enough, the thought was pushed aside.

There were always adventures to be had in the Dragon Realms, after all...!