Chapter 4
Rather short chapter…
"You're going to have to look harder to find her!" a Black Unicorn yelled. He was calling out orders to a group of Black Unicorn soldiers. While our heroes were talking, the evil Black Unicorns and Dragons had divided into groups, searching everywhere across the Mystic Shadows World. Ripto, Rex, Brutus, and Devlin were already thinking about how they should bribe Charisma into marrying Devlin.
"I think we should get her mother and father and put them in very small cages and let her see what the torture they're going through. That way, she'll have to marry Devlin in order to free her parents from those small cages," Brutus suggested.
"That's a really good plan, but how will we get her to see what's happening to them?" Ripto asked.
"Easy," Devlin answered. "We'll just keep calling her name and say what's happening to them. If not, we could ask Melvelle to disguise as a Mystic Shadows dragon and put her in the quicksand we made and let her cry for help. We'll have a rope tied to her belly of course. When Charisma comes out, Melvelle will change into her regular self and the dragons will throw a net on her and grab her."
"Good thinking, son!" Rex praised. "I like the quicksand idea the best. What about you guys?"
"That's a great idea, too," Ripto said.
"What about my idea?" Brutus asked.
"After we capture Charisma, we can use your plan with just a couple of changes," Devlin answered.
"What changes?"
"You know about that Darkness of Evil that came with us?"
"Yeah," they answered. "So?"
Devlin had an evil gleam in his eyes. "We'll show her what's happening to her fellow dragons. She'll have to agree."
"Oh, okay," Brutus said.
"Let's put the plan into action!" Ripto cried.
"We can't," Rex said.
"Why not?" Ripto asked.
" 'Cause it's too dark, Blockhead!" Rex said.
"Who are you calling a Blockhead?!" Ripto shouted angrily.
"Fellas! Fellas!" Devlin said, trying to keep them back. "We have to work together in order to succeed!"
"You're right, son," Rex sighed. "Now lets get back. We need the rest."
Charisma and Spyro were taking a moonlit walk across the fields to see if there were any secret entrances or places Charisma hadn't found yet. Sparx was serving as a lookout near the entrance. They were laughing at the jokes they exchanged. There was a moment of pause as they took a short break.
I wonder if he knows I like him, Charisma surmised.
I wonder if she likes me. I definitely like her, Spyro speculated.
I wonder if they like each other, Sparx mused.
Spyro tried to think of what to say to Charisma.
Should I tell how much I like her? Spyro debated.
Should I tell how much I care about him? Charisma pondered.
Will they ever tell how much they like each other? Sparx wondered exasperated.
I'll wait a minute, Charisma and Spyro thought.
Instead, they both said at once at the same time:
"Spyro?"
"Charisma?"
"You go first," Spyro said.
"No, you do," Charisma said.
"Ladies first."
"Okay."
There was a pause.
"Spyro?" Charisma asked.
"Yes?" Spyro answered smiling, drawling out the word as if it had fifteen syllables. (is that possible? O.o;;; one rare comment throughout this whole fic as I'm rereading it .;;)
Charisma giggled. "Do you like anybody? As a girlfriend, I mean."
"No. Why?"
She hesitated. "I . . . really . . . like you," she stammered. "A lot."
Spyro was staring at her in disbelief.
"You do?"
She blushed.
"Yeah. When you showed how much you cared, I realized who you were. What were you going to say?"
"The same thing, too. I knew you were the right one from the start and the longer I've known you, the more I liked you." (yeah it's easy for him to admit it since she went first ¬¬)
They stood there, looking at each other, thinking their own thoughts.
He actually likes me for who I am! Charisma thought happily.
She likes me! She really likes me! Wait 'til Sparx hears about this! Spyro thought excitedly.
At that same moment, Sparx saw something not very good. He quickly flew away to find the others.
"Guys! I think we're in trouble! I saw a group of Black Unicorns searching around the secret entrance!" Sparx exclaimed when he found them.
"What!" Spyro cried. "Lets go back to the entrance!"
They raced across the field to the entrance. Sure enough, a couple of Black Unicorns were looking around.
"Everyone stand still!' Spyro whispered. "And be very quiet."
"Well, they're not around here. Let's hit the hay," one of the unicorns said.
They watched them leave.
"That was close!" Charisma cried once they were out of sight.
"Yeah," Spyro said. "We should follow that Black Unicorn's idea and get some sleep. It's been a long day."
They headed back to their little quarters. Spyro turned red when Charisma kissed him good night and Sparx laughed at him. One by one they fell a sleep.