Chapter 9
"So what do you think of the party so far?" Devlin asked.
"It's okay," she said with a sigh. "Would you mind if I danced with other boys around here?"
Devlin thought about this concept and whether or not if it could go with his plan on capturing Spyro. Of course! he thought glancing at Charisma who was looking for Spyro. If she dances with him, I'll know who Spyro is and will be able to throw him into the dungeon. Then there will be nothing to stop my evil plans! Am I good or what? He grinned and turned to Charisma.
"Sure. Just as long as you stay within my sight."
"What are you?! My protector or something?!" she said exasperated.
"No. I'm just looking after your well being."
"Whatever," she said, rolling her eyes and searched for someone to dance with.
Now where is Spyro? Should I dance with him now or later? she pondered.
"I think you should dance with some others and then dance with Spyro," Sparx whispered. Never dance with him first or last. I don't trust Devlin. He gave in too easily. I think he's on to us."
"Oh dear," Charisma said in alarm. "I hope he's not too suspicious. Well I'd better think of what I want to say instead of saying them aloud."
"Don't worry. We'll be fi-"
He stopped whispering when he saw something. Actually, someone.
"Do I see, who I think see?" he asked himself.
See who? Charisma thought to him.
"It is!" he exclaimed softly.
Who is? Charisma thought impatiently.
"I wonder if she asked Spyro to dance with her," he mused.
Who asked Spyro to dance?! She was starting to get really annoyed and she yelled really loud, "Tell me!" (whoa-ho o.O jealously factor rising .;)
Everyone turned to stare at her. She blushed and said, "Uh, there's no problem here! I was just thinking about a conversation I had back home." She gave a little laugh and everyone went back to what they were doing. How humiliating! she thought embarrassed.
"So what was the conversation about?" a familiar voice asked behind her. She turned around to see a grinning Spyro.
"Spyro!" she whispered fiercely. "What happened to your disguise?"
"I, uh, ran into a door on my way up here," he said blushing.
"Spyro!" Sparx said laughing. "Just be glad there are others that look like you."
"Why don't you call me Asher until this is over?" Spyro suggested. "That way, they won't suspect I'm here that easily."
"Good idea, buddy!" Sparx praised.
"Now that we got that settled, why don't you tell who you were dancing with?" Charisma asked impatiently.
"Was it who I think I saw?" Sparx asked curiously.
"Who do you think it is?" Spyro asked.
"Donna," he said confidently.
"Your right," Spyro said with a sigh. "She knew it was me. I wasn't sure who she was at first. I only knew that she looked familiar. Then she told me her name. She told me that she adored me and I think she tried to kiss me, but that was when the song was over. I quickly drew away and she sighed, but I know she might try again."
"Who's Donna?" Charisma asked curiously.
"She's this gorgeous dragon that Spyro never really pays attention to," Sparx informed Charisma. "She's that light green dragon over there." He pointed toward a little group of dragons by the refreshment table. There was Donna, standing in the center of the group, her friends talking to her, obviously in deep discussion. Sparx saw Charisma getting a little worried.
"I wouldn't worry too much, Charisma," Sparx said just loud enough for Spyro to hear. "Spyro only has his eyes on you." Charisma and Spyro started turning red, Spyro the most.
Out of the corner of his eye, Sparx saw Devlin approaching them.
"Uh-oh. Trouble is coming. Better get away from here Spyro, um, I mean Asher," Sparx said teasingly. "Devlin is coming this way."
Devlin hadn't spotted Spyro yet, so Spyro took the chance and went to the other side of the field, staying in the big crowds.
"Hi, Devlin," Charisma said with a sigh.
"Hey. Found anyone you want to dance with yet?" he asked. "Hmmmmm?"
I think he's suspicious, Charisma thought.
"I think he's knows!" Sparx whispered frightened.
Okay, we'll just distract him, Charisma thought in a frantic voice.
"Okay," Sparx said, ready to do almost anything.
"Hey, Devlin," Charisma said, inwardly groaning and hating herself.
"Yes?" he answered expectantly.
"Would you . . . like to," she stammered. Ugh! "Dance?"
Devlin smiled. "Sure. I knew you would turn around."
"Look. I don't really want to do this, okay? It just that I would look stupid just standing here while everyone is with someone, okay?"
"Okay, okay. Lets just move on out!" Devlin said cheerfully.
Ugh! I hate myself! I hate myself!
"Hey, look on the bright side! Devlin won't know who Spyro is. This a great distraction," Sparx told Charisma.
"Ready my dear?" Devlin asked in a gentleman's voice.
"Ready," she replied grumbling.
Where is she? Where is she? Where is she? Spyro thought frustrated, searching for Charisma in the crowd. He had been standing by the refreshment table for thirty minutes. It was already 9:00, and to Spyro, the party had just begun. On one end of the field, the guests had set up a game of bobbing for apples. It was becoming a big mess. He was getting another helping of punch, when Spyro suddenly spotted Donna walking toward him. Will she ever give up? he thought exasperated.
"Hey Spyro!" Donna cried cheerfully.
"Shush!" he whispered loudly. "Call me Asher, okay? I'm trying to stay away from the guards and getting caught. I think they're on to me," he added worriedly.
"Okay, Asher," she said, giggling. "I won't tell a soul."
"Good," he said relieved. "How did you get here anyway?" he asked curiously.
"A friend of mine who knew a friend who knew another friend had gotten an invitation to this party. So, the friend of my friend asked if she knew anyone who would want to come. Naturally, I came to her mind, so my friend told her friend. That's pretty much how I came."
"Whoa. How did you get here? Like what path?"
"Oh, that was easy. Elora had let us use a superflight portal."
"You know Elora?" Spyro said incredulously. Elora was a faun who had helped guide Spyro to defeat Ripto.
"Yeah. I had met her when my family and I went to Avalar. That was, of course, after you had successfully beaten Ripto. She talked nonstop about it."
"Really?"
Donna nodded her head. "She told me to tell you to come to Avalar sometime to visit. Hunter said that he wanted to show you something cool." She rolled her eyes. "I had gotten a peek at it, and it was just some manta ray. He said he had been working on it, but still had some kinks to get out. That cheetah is quite weird. Anyway, enough about Avalar, tell me what you had done so far."
"Well, right now, I'm in the process of finding Charisma and Sparx. Sparx is hiding in Charisma's flower so he can tell me what's going on."
"Who's Charisma?" Donna asked curiously.
"She's the Mystic Shadows Dragon princess. Devlin is trying, unsuccessfully, to win her heart so he can rule Mystic Shadows."
"Wow. Who's Devlin?"
"Prince of the Black Dragons."
"Your mission must be tough," she said adoringly. "What will you do if you get caught?"
"Let's hope we don't find out."
A group of dragons were waving Donna to come over there. "I gotta go. I'll see ya later, Asher," she said, giggling at the name.
Whew! She's finally gone! Spyro thought happily. What will I do if Sparx and I get caught? I'll think about it later. He suddenly spotted Charisma at the other end of the table, with Devlin. Rats! he thought, frustrated that he hasn't really talked to Charisma yet, or dance with her for that matter. He saw Devlin leave to go to some of, Spyro guessed, his friends. He went toward Charisma, still staying in the big crowds, in case Devlin came back.
"Hey!" he greeted them.
"Spy – I mean, Asher!" Charisma replied, catching herself.
"Want to dance?" Spyro said in his nice gentleman voice.
Charisma blushed. "Sure," she accepted shyly. It was a nice slow dance when they headed toward the floor.
"Do you think you'll get caught?" Charisma asked Spyro worriedly.
"Nah. If I do, I won't go without a fight," he replied bravely.
"I think I should leave you two lovebirds alone," Sparx interrupted teasingly. "Just dance by that torch over there and I'll stay hidden there."
"Okay," Spyro said.
They walked toward the torch and dropped Sparx off. "If I see Donna, under me, I'll distract her."
"Good idea," Spyro said.
They walked back to the floor and started dancing. In the middle of the song, the lights dimmed a little. Charisma's amulet glittered and sparkled in the darkness. (oh how so not uncoincidential . *glances at Sparx by light switch)
She looks so beautiful, Spyro thought.
He's so handsome. I hope Devlin is jealous, Charisma thought mischievously.
Indeed, Spyro did look quite dashing, which did catch a couple of girls' eyes. (ho ho ho…wait how do they dance? O.o)
"So," Spyro said, trying to start a conversation, "how about we head outside?"
"We are outside, silly," Charisma said giggling.
"Whoops. I guess we are," he said, slightly embarrassed. "It's just that I saw a gate on the side of the wall there. I thought maybe we could go out there instead. I saw a couple of pairs go through." Spyro shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows? Maybe there's another field."
"Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to just take a look," Charisma agreed.
The walked past the torch Sparx was in and whispered where they were going.
"Just be careful," Sparx told them worriedly.
"Who are you?" Spyro said teasingly, "My mother or something?"
Sparx blushed.
They quickly went to the gate Spyro had spotted earlier.