Chapter 51: Missing Dragons

"Next!" a voice exclaimed from inside the queen's treehouse.

The first dragon in line walked across the bridge to the treehouse in question, yawning, and slid through the curtain that hung in the doorway. Link watched as Glory convinced Mangrove to accompany him into going with him and another RainWing named Bromeliad to have an audience with Magnificent.

"What do you think is happening with those missing dragons?" Link asked Cynder.

"Sounds like a kidnapping," she replied. "I hope the kidnappers are not like I was when I was under Malefor's control..."

Link nodded in understanding. "I know, Cynder," he consoled. "Malefor is a monster, isn't he. Are you feeling alright?"

Cynder nodded. "I think so," she stated. "But I have been having a strange dream the last couple of days. It doesn't concern Malefor. The dreams did feature a dragoness that bears a striking resemblance to me, yet had your scale color." She looked down. "Something about her tells me that her destiny lies with another purple dragon that bears your name and someone named Strikor."

Link nodded in understanding. "Anything else?" Link asked.

Cynder blushed rather intensely. "I have this feeling that she will hatch from this egg," she replied, gesturing to one of the purple eggs. "Or will be the child of the dragon that hatches from it."

Link's jaw dropped. "That is nigh impossible, Cynder. Purple elemental dragons are very rare. One is born every thousand years among the other races of dragon."

"But you possess the power of a purple dragon yourself," Cynder replied. "And purple elemental dragons hatch from purple eggs. Our child is going to be a purple-"

"Next!" Magnificent exclaimed. Link watched as Glory, Mangrove, and Bromeliad entered the hut. He turned to face the group again.

"Most likely," Cynder stated, interpreting what he said, blushing worse. "And likely soon, because before she showed up in the dream, I saw the egg she hatched from being looked over by us and our friends in this very forest. It was accompanied by another egg. When the dream focused on it, the surroundings around it changed to a volcano like Munitions Forge, but larger and at the brink of eruption."

"Sunburn," Link mumbled to himself, thinking about the dragon phoenix hybrid he ran into a few times in his youth.

"Next!" Came Magnificent's voice again.

Clay and Starflight hefted Webs up so they would carry him. Link led them into the hut and walked in.

Queen Magnificent's eyes widened at the sight of the others. "Ooooo!" she exclaimed. "You're all new!" She gave Link a quick glance. "Except for you, of course. Who would forget the dragon that is protecting our forest."

"Greetings, Queen of the RainWings!" Starflight proclaimed, bowing before Magnificent.

"Ooooo!" the queen stated again.

"I'll continue from here, Starflight," Link commented. "These dragons that accompanied me today have came from outside Faron seeking refuge from a war among the other tribes."

"Not just that," Tsunami stated. "We need your help."

Magnificent's wings drooped slightly. "Oh dear," she said. "Do I have to do something?"

Sunny brought Webs forward and showed Magnificent a rather nasty wound that was no doubtedly caused by the venomous barb of a SandWing's tail. Queen Magnificent made a disapproving sound.

"That is very ugly," the queen observed.

"It sure is," Glory added. "Also, it's killing him. Minor detail."

"Your dragons know about poison," Tsunami stated. "We need someone that can help cure him."

"That doesn't look like something one of us did," the queen replied. "We never use our venom on other dragons!"

The conversation continued for a little longer until Magnificent recommended to ask the village healers if they could do anything for Webs. She also asked Glory to inform her anything about the missing RainWings. The dragonets and Webs left through the door, leaving Link and Cynder with the queen.

"Now then," Magnificent stated. "Grandeur keeps reminding me about these weekly meetings with you, Spyro. Any updates on the Gerudo King's movements?"

"He's been sending giant hinox beasts into the rainforest for the past few days," Link stated. "I had no trouble with them, but they are rather dangerous. I would hate to imagine if he sends Volvagia to burn the forest down. There have been sightings of the Subterranean Fire Dragon around the crater of Death Mountain."

Magnificent nodded. "That would be horrible to imagine," she agreed. She looked at Cynder. "And who might you be, young one?"

"Cynder is my mate, your highness," Link stated.

Magnificent smiled. "The two of you do make a cute couple," she stated. "Next!"

Link and Cynder walked out the hut. As they walked across the bridge, Cynder blushed.

"Why did you say that we were together?" Cynder asked.

"Because we are, Cynder," Link stated as he spread his wings and lifted into the air. "I don't want RainWings to think that I'm available." He looked at the eggs Cynder was holding. "I can hold some of them if you want."

Cynder swallowed as she handed Link some of the eggs. "How has your skills with the wind element been coming along?" she asked.

Link shrugged. "I recently got my fire abilities back and have been experimenting combos involving wind and fire," he stated as Cynder took to the sky as well. "You were an excellent teacher."

Link gave Cynder a tour of the village. They landed on a wooden platform and talked for a while longer until Starflight came running up to them. Link was the first one to notice him.

"What news do you have on Glory's investigation?" Link asked.

"We found a creepy hole," Starflight replied. "Glory and Clay are staying by it for the night. I came back to take you two, Sunny, and Tsunami back to the hole in the morning with really strong vines."

"I'm guessing Clay glued his jaws together by eating a certain fruit," Link commented.

Starflight's jaw dropped. "How do you know that?" he asked.

Link smirked. "His future self told me," he replied. He turned toward Cynder. "It's almost night time. Let's hit the hay."

Cynder nodded in agreement.