Chapter 7
"No!"
Spyro and Sparx woke with a start.
"What was that?" Sparx asked.
"I think it was Charisma," Spyro answered worriedly and hurried toward Charisma's window. Sparx followed him. They found Charisma tossing and turning in her bed screaming.
"No! You'll never take me alive!" she screamed. She was thrashing around as if she was fighting something. Spyro and Sparx tried to wake her up.
"Charisma! Wake up! You're having another nightmare!" they cried.
"Spyro!" Her eyes shot open and she quickly stood up. She was covered with sweat, had this terrified look in her eyes, and she was shaking from horror.
"Charisma, are you all right?" Spyro asked worriedly.
"I'm okay, now that you're here," she said shakily.
"What happened, did you have another nightmare?" Sparx asked concerned.
"Yes, and I didn't like it. Not one bit."
"Well, we can see that," Sparx said impatiently. Charisma glared at him. "Sorry," he said sheepishly.
"I'd feel better if you were in here with me," she continued, "but this will have to do. Well, it started out as a nice day. Spyro and I were playing tag in the fields. Only it was that field behind you and it was like none of this horrible stuff had ever happened. But suddenly, the sky turned black and the ground erupted beneath us. That's when you came in, Sparx," she said turning to him. "You speedily flew toward us and tried to tell us where to go when this power beam came out of nowhere and you disappeared."
Sparx turned white. "I think I'm going to be sick."
"Hang in there, buddy," Spyro told him a little shakily.
"You were trying to reach me, Spyro," she continued, "but the ground split in two with me on one side and you on the other. It rapidly grew wider so you couldn't glide over. We kept on running along the side to see if there was a place narrow enough for you to glide over. We suddenly heard this evil laugh followed by thunder and lightning. The ground turned red and started to part and rise. We were calling each other and screaming. We heard your voice, Sparx, in the wind. We finally found a narrow opening and Spyro tried to glide over. At first, it seemed like you were going to make it, Spyro, but the chasm suddenly grew wider and you only got the edge. You clung to it and tried to climb up. I tried to help with my magic, but it wouldn't work. You were starting to slip and –" She burst into tears. "– and you lost your grip and fell! I was screaming, and that's probably when you first heard me. I was suddenly lifted up to the sky and Devlin appeared. He had this evil grin on his face. I was moving against my will and tried to run away. That's when I called for Spyro and when you woke me up." She started crying harder and they tried to comfort her. (what a really…badly created dream I made…)
"Don't cry, Charisma! We're here to protect you, especially Spyro," Sparx added teasingly. Spyro blushed.
"He's right, you know," Spyro said. "We will do everything we can to prevent Devlin from marrying you."
"Thanks, Spyro," Charisma said. "I wonder what we will do at the party," she said, trying to change the subject.
"Do you think we can pull this plan off?" Sparx asked nervously.
"Of course we can!" Spyro declared. "We can do anything if we have faith and put our minds to it."
"Spyro's right," Charisma said, already calming down. She was about to say something else but stopped when she heard footsteps again.
"We'll be waiting here," Spyro whispered, then they hurried toward the bushes. Charisma once again picked up a book and started reading. I must have read this page a hundred times! she thought.
Her door opened and Devlin came in, unaware of what had happened.
"Ready to stretch your legs?" he said brightly.
"Are you going to watch my every move?" she asked suspiciously.
"Nah! I trust you enough."
"Okay then, I'm ready."
"Follow me."
They exited the lair and entered the field. "This is where you can romp around and have fun," he told her. "Just call if you need me."
Charisma waited until he had returned inside and looked around. Finding the area clear of guards, she looked around for Spyro and Sparx. They were in the bushes in front of her room dozing away again. They were both curled up together and seemed very comfortable.
They always seem to be asleep when I'm looking for them. She looked at them. Spyro looks cute when he's asleep. Sparx must be glad to have him beside him to keep warm. I almost hate to wake them up. Almost, that is!
She started to nudge them lightly. When that didn't work, she started poking Spyro in the head. At first nothing happened. Than, when Charisma started poking him harder, he started to stir. He opened one eye and, recognizing Charisma, started to get up. This woke Sparx up. (dang they're hard sleepers aren't they? O.o)
"Hi, Charisma," Sparx said sleepily.
"Up and at 'um sleepyheads!" Charisma commanded loudly. "We have an hour to have some fun!"
Spyro, fully awake now, started to stretch his legs and walked around. "What should we do first?" he asked.
"How about a game of . . . tag?" Charisma suggested.
"Okay, now I'm awake," Sparx said. "Who's going to be It first?"
They both looked at him.
Sparx groaned. "Okay. I'm IT, but you better watch out!" Sparx exclaimed.
* * *
What they didn't know, however, was that Devlin was watching them. Rex and Ripto were with him. Brutus was checking the guest list.
"Who are they, Devlin?" Rex asked.
"I don't know. Ripto, do you know?"
"That dragon looks familiar, so does that little dragonfly." He paused for a moment, then turned red with rage.
"That's that stupid dragon I told you about! Spyro! And his little friend, Sparx!"
"What?!" Devlin and Rex exclaimed.
"I'm sure of it! The way he grins and charges. That's just how he did it! He destroyed Crush and Gulp! RAAAHHH!"
"Cool your jets, Ripto!" Rex commanded. "What should we do now, Devlin?" Rex asked, looking at him. "We know for sure that he is here to help the dragons."
"Wait until the party," he answered, an evil grin creeping up his face. "That's when we'll catch him."
* * *
Back at the field, Charisma, Spyro, and Sparx were resting from a very tiring game of tag.
"That was a lot of fun!" Spyro exclaimed breathlessly. "I haven't played tag in a long time!"
"Really? When was the last time you two played tag?" Charisma asked him curiously.
"I don't know. Sparx, do you know?"
"I think it was before we kicked Gnasty Gnorc's butt. I think."
"Really?! You never played tag after that?!"
"Yep," they said together.
"Wow. You guys seemed like you played tag forever!"
"It may be because I chased a lot of sheep and bad guys on my adventures," Spyro said.
"And I chased the butterflies that came from the sheep," Sparx answered.
"Butterflies? Coming from sheep?" Charisma asked incredulously.
"Yep," they both said.
"Now I've heard everything!"
They sat there, contented and filled with happiness. They thought about the things that are going to happen and the things that had happened. A peaceful silence enveloped them.
Breaking the silence, Spyro said, "I just had a thought."
They looked at him expectantly.
"At the party, I won't be able to dance with you, Charisma."
"Oh Spyro! Only you! Only you!" Sparx exclaimed laughing.
Spyro blushed. "Well it's true! I won't be able to do anything! For all we know, a big fat dragon would want me to dance with her!"
They all broke out laughing.
When they stopped laughing, Charisma said, "I'll make a deal. I won't have fun or dance if you stop complaining. Deal?"
"Deal."
"Speaking of the party," Sparx said thoughtfully, "what are we going to do while we're there?"
"I stand on the sidelines and watch what goes on while you stay hidden in Charisma's flower and eavesdrop on anything you hear, especially if Devlin makes Charisma dance."
"Sounds simple enough," he reasoned. Then he started blurting questions. "How will you get into the party, Spyro? What if they try to check you? What if they can tell that you're not really black? What if you get caught? What if this plan doesn't work? What if –"
"Enough already!" Spyro interrupted laughing. "We get the message! I'll be extra careful. Don't worry so much, you worry-wort. How can this go wrong? What's the worst that can happen?"
"Us getting caught and being tortured like in Charisma's first dream," he answered.
"Don't remind me!" Charisma groaned. "I had enough nightmares as it is." She looked at the sky. "I think I better get ready. It's almost dark." She turned to Spyro. "You promise you'll be able to make it?" she asked Spyro.
"Of course," he promised.
"Well, I guess the only thing left is to take Sparx with me. Meet me by the window, okay?"
"Better yet, I'll walk you to your window and then hide in the bushes."
"Okay. Just keep a look out for the other guests and follow them." They had reached the window. "Well, see you later." Sparx hopped inside and Spyro went to the bushes and hid.