Ahhhh sorry this one took so long, really. I rewrote it like 2-3 times, scrapped so many words... I was originally planning to have this chapter uploaded on Christmas Eve. But I really didn't like it, then I hit some writer's block... ugh. But thanks so much for all the support and reviews, and the essay reviews, oh my gosh!

Thank you SKda, for the super in depth reviews. I remember you reviewed one of my super old stories from when I was younger, "Limbo: The Unknown", please don't read it btw to anyone interested. It's even worse then stuff I write now, also it was left on a cliffhanger. Anyway, I'd like to reply to a couple points you made;

Why is Ignitus red?: Oops, that one was completely accidental. The first four chapters of this story were made before I took a year long hiatus. I genuinely had no idea I said he was red, I do plan to go back at some point and re-edit my first few chapters, so hopefully those inconsistencies go away.

Spyro seems to have more sense than Ignitus and Fate combined: I will agree when it comes to Fate, she is a rather new celestial, I wanted it to be seen that the celestials aren't perfect beings, and can make mistakes. And Ignitus may have trusted her with the situation a bit more then he should've.

Also, don't worry guys. I'm not done with Kenra's character yet.

I sincerely hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year's! Thanks so much for reading.

Chapter 10

"Bad Luck/Streak"

My eyes blinked open tiredly, to a very unfamiliar place. It looked like some sort of library, a rather old library straight from a fantasy book. The corridors were rather dark for me, as I looked around in confusion. Was this a dream? A nightmare? "Hello..?" I called out wearily with a rather timid voice. Though I got nothing in response.

"H-Hello!?" I called out slightly louder, my voice giving a short echo, letting me know just how large it was.

I started to feel unnerved, but my feelings washed away as Cynder poked her head around a corridor, though at first it nearly scared me half to death. "Oh! Gale?" She walked closer and I breathed a sigh of relief.

She must've noticed that I was quite scared, "It's alright sweetie, this isn't anywhere dangerous." She said nudging me with her muzzle.

"Where is… here?" I said confused as I looked up at her and tilted my head, "I thought we were… asleep." I said rubbing one of my eyes with a paw.

She smiled and giggled, "Well why don't we go ask Spyro and one of our very good friends, hmm? They'll explain it well." She said, urging me to agree.

How many people are here? I nodded, and she gestured for me to walk forward, as she nudged me to lead. We came upon a much bigger room, with a large wooden desk, and pillows on the floor everywhere. The walls were lined with books seemingly moving on their own, opening and closing, moving by themselves through the air. It was like real magic, I was in awe.

In the center of the room by the desk was Spyro, and some blue dragon I didn't recognize at the current moment. They both looked my way and smiled, as the blue one looked shocked. "Invited himself in once again I see…" the blue one said with a chuckle.

I lowered my head apologizing, "I'm sorry… I don't know what I did." Cynder nudged me sympathetically.

He waved me off dismissively, "That's not a bad thing, my little friend. Just humorous for a celestial like me."

"Where… is this? What's a celestial?" I asked, very confused.

Cynder continued to usher me forth, as she helped me on to the desk to sit down, and Spyro nudged me as a hello. The blue one nodded, "I am Ignitus, the Chronicler. I keep track of all individuals from our world's lives, future, and past. That's why I'm a celestial. You're currently in my domain, every book you see here is some being from our world's entire history."

I nodded slowly, "So you're like… a god?"

He chuckled, "I am not that powerful, however I do have my uses."

"So why am I here?" I asked.

They all shrugged, and Spyro laughed, "Good question Gale, this is the second time you've managed to come to this realm entirely on your own."

My head felt like it was spinning almost, "I brought myself here..? I've been here before?"

Cynder rubbed my back gently with a paw, and talked in a very calming and soothing voice, "Slow down Gale, it's okay."

Ignitus nodded, "Usually nobody remembers the first time they come here."

Cynder nodded, "And we're so glad you did come here, because that's when you told us where you were. It's how we found you." She said happily.

I thought to myself for a second, "I wonder why I brought myself… here…"

Spyro shrugged, Cynder wrapped a paw around my chest protectively, "Maybe because you knew you needed our help?"

Choosing to ignore how little personal space she was giving me, I shrugged as well. "Works out in the end. Why am I here again though?"

They all looked amongst each other puzzled, and the Chronicler laughed, "Maybe you're subconsciously training yourself? Spyro did that for a while, though he needed much more help." Spyro looked at him slightly insulted.

"Where is the golden one?" I said out loud.

All three stopped in shock, and I had felt I might've said something wrong, Ignitus cleared his throat, "Oh yes of course, Fate. She should be in her quarters about now."

Cynder nudged me, "How did you remember her, Gale?"

I smiled, "She gave me so many great dreams where I was from, I thought I'd say hello."

Cynder stepped forward slightly, "Gale but… will you be okay?" She asked worriedly.

I continued, seeing how they all looked weary, "I know… But I'm not angry at her… She doesn't really deserve my anger."

Spyro smiled, "That's very mature of you Gale."

Cynder nodded, "I'm proud of you." Those words surprised me, but I may have brushed them off as them just being way too nice. In fact, Spyro and Cynder were always very nice to me.

Ignitus told me of where she was, and I ran off into the library to look for her, Cynder called after me, "If you get lost I'll come get you, just call for me!"

I continued running through the maze like corridors. Not much I could make of all of it. It seemed like it was getting darker somehow, I wasn't sure if it was part of the library or my vision. As I neared her room, It was nearly pitch black, I knocked on the door, and heard her call out, "One minute!"

I waited patiently, as it seemed to get even darker, what's going on? I looked all around me, until something caught notice in my eye. A flickering torch, that was slowly and slowly emitting less light. My head suddenly hurt, and I fell to the ground as the library faded from view, my eyes shot open.

Ignitus smiled at his two friends as they conversed mildly, he watched how they treated the young dragon, and couldn't help but feel proud of them. Though they had a daughter already, he hadn't really seen her before in the library. It was refreshing to see how far they had come. He cleared his throat, "So how is that young one anyway?" Gesturing down the hall.

Spyro and Cynder smiled in a bittersweet way, Cynder sighed, "He's definitely been through a lot more than we hoped. It's going to be hard to help him get through it. Thankfully he seems to be taking it in stride."

Spyro looked back towards the doorway Gale left through solemnly, "On the bright side, he's got his good friend Kenra. They seem to be nearly inseparable."

Ignitus raised a questioning eyebrow, and put a paw to his muzzle, "Kenra?" He said as a book floating down and in front of him.

He skimmed through it a bit, a rather solemn look overcoming him, "Oh dear…"

The other two knew they weren't allowed to look into others books, though the curiosity killed them, as Ignitus looked back up. "Truly terrible… if he ever opens up to you two, please listen."

Cynder shook her head angrily, "So terrible, what he's already told us… but... it's also a scary thought, I'm not sure if bringing him was the best decision. But he adamantly refused to let us take Gale without him.."

Spyro shook his head, "We can't say we don't look suspicious. He hasn't even read about us yet, so we're basically complete strangers. Can you blame Kenra or Gale?" Cynder didn't deny it, as she sighed once again.

Ignitus smiled at the two dragons he might as well have raised, "You'll be fine. I know it." They nodded in agreement. "So you've chosen to take them both to Warfang?"

They nodded, "I'm still not sure," Spyro started, "If the city is a good place for Kenra… Gale will probably be fine, Kenra is going to be hard to manage.

Cynder hummed in a weary way, "Really? I expect he'll do great. It'll be overwhelming but he should be much happier."

Spyro shook his head, "They're northern dragons for a reason. Because they usually stay North."

Ignitus chuckled, and bowed his head slightly, "You worry far too much. Northern dragons in Warfang are not unheard of, but rare. Some like the nomadic lifestyle it brings."

Cynder nodded, "Otherwise I wouldn't have offered in the first place…"

Spyro sighed, "I don't dislike Kenra or anything… it's just that… we don't exactly know how he'll react. And I care about how he will take it, because I want him to at least find peace somewhere."

Spyro lowered his head, and Cynder leaned against his side, nuzzling the underside of his muzzle. Spyro smiled lightly, "If he is at peace being with Gale, I can't take that away from him. They will both have to adapt, but maybe it'll be easier if they're both there for each other."

Ignitus nodded slowly, "As he has already told you. His parents harbaroed him with bountiful amounts of neglect, simple acts of kindness reach him much clearer."

Cynder worriedly nodded, "Can you tell us why?"

He shook his head begrudgingly, "I wish I could help you understand him better. But you will have to ask him those questions yourself."

The clicking of claws against the floor and a yawn alerted them to the doorway, where a very confused Fate stood. Ignitus greeted her, "Ah nice to see you out again."

Cynder tilted her head, in confusion as Fate looked up, "Who knocked on my door?"

They looked amongst each other as Cynder stepped forward worriedly, "Have you seen Gale?"

She looked confused and surprised, "Gale was here?"

What happened to me was not something I expected. I didn't wake up, my dreamlike experience had just shifted completely. I was floating in a sea of nothingness, my senses had no effect here. Not touch, smell, vision, hearing, there was just nothingness!

Yet I felt… at peace. It vaguely reminded me of how I felt when I had died. And I closed my eyes, everything felt… okay. Like my worries had been taken away, and all that was left was the forever feeling of peace.

I was taken out of the moment, though, when my paws came gently to a standing position. As if I was gently set down on the ornate stone ground beneath me. I opened my eyes and looked around, I was still in darkness, a few moments later however, my vision came back little by little, as little flares of blue wispy fire floated around this platform I was on.

In the center of the platform was a tree, it looked like a cherry blossom, but it was much too otherworldly to be considered so. The leaves shone a bright cyan blue, and the tree seemed to be almost whispering to me. I approached wearily, though with an odd sense of purpose, and reached my hand out slowly, then touched the tree. It scared me slightly as the tree cracked and glowed a bright cyan the same as the trees. Mysterious letters I didn't recognize lined the bark.

After a few moments of stunned awe, the bark shed from the tree, disappearing into nothingness as a silver shine covered it. Somehow, the tree had turned silver, and the leaves were unchanged. I looked at it in confusion, but the tree began whispering again.

Slowly the whispers turned into a voice that was mostly understandable, it sounded like multiple people. But only one at the same time.

"My child…"

It's voice rang through my mind, sending a chill that didn't scare me, but captured my attention.

"They have found you…"

I tilted my head in confusion, looking around myself to make sure someone hadn't appeared. "Who found me? Who are you?"

"They want to harm you… I will try my best to see that they do not."

I sighed, "I really don't get what's going on… Can I have an explanation of some kind, maybe a book I can read to understand?"

Seemingly ignoring me, though I nearly caught the faintest hint of a laugh, "Stay vigilant. You have my blessing. They are here."

The voice slowly faded as I yelled back, "Your blessing? Please! Come back!" The tree's glow faded, and so did the platform as I was lifted up into nothingness and the platform disappeared from sight. Then color flooded in, as I slowly opened my eyes, though I was right where I had been when I fell asleep. But my feelings became uneasy as I shifted, and noticed that Kenra wasn't moving. And one emotion after another my mouth was covered, and I was blindfolded.

"What do you mean he's not here?" Cynder said forcefully, clearly distressed.

The chronicler nodded. "He's gone, he either woke up or lost focus on this world.

Cynder stuttered, "Y-You know the future though, you know what's going on right?"

He shook his head, "Afraid it's not that simple… also you know the rules, Cynder."

She growled, "What do you mean it's not that simple? What if he's-"

Spyro tried to calm Cynder a bit, "Cynder it'll be okay. What if he just lost focus? He's probably sleeping."

Cynder shook her head, "He didn't lose focus last time Spyro!"

Spyro tried to reason once again, but Cynder growled, "I don't like this feeling I have Spyro. Something is off."

Spyro sighed and turned his head away, "Cynder is this necessary? You can't be constantly worried for him."

She raised a brow and showed her teeth, "And why is that? Please inform me oh Great Purple One." She said sarcastically with an eye roll.

He seemed angrier himself now, "Because you don't worry constantly about Kali. How do you know Gale isn't just playing a prank? He is a hatchling after all.."

She stepped forward aggravatedly, "What do you mean by that? Exactly what is it that's gotten into you? Also, I am worried for Kali, thank you very much. But we left her in good hands. Gale, on the other hand, is much younger, and way more vulnerable!" She yelled back.

Ignitus groaned quietly, "Please you two this isn't the time."

Spyro reeled his head upwards, "Nothing has gotten into me! I just don't want you to overwhelm the poor little guy, give him some space every once in a while."

She stepped multiple times forward until her muzzle was inches away from his, and growled, "Says the one that spent an entire week forcing us through multiple continents to find him! And only now are you trying to tell me you want me to stay away from him?!"

Ignitus began to massage his head with a paw, as the personal conversation got worse, "Just a reminder, time passes much quicker outside when you're in here." Though they completely ignored him, making Ignitus angry as well.

Spyro shook his head and scowled, "I don't want you to stay away from him… I want you to be happy!"

He eased his tone as he noticed Cynder had tears along the edge of her eyes, and he softened his posture, "Cynder…"

She removed her soft face and growled back louder through her tears, "Than how are you trying to tell me not to be worried for Gale? Do you not trust me? Do you even care?"

Ignitus stood between the two of them, and growled. "Quiet! Both of you!" He sighed, "I know that the two of you are vastly younger than the common dragon couple usually is. But you are still adults." He said with emphasis, "I will not have this childish bickering in here, especially when your ward, maybe both, might be missing.

Spyro opened his mouth, but said nothing as he stared back down at the ground in shame. Cynder still seemed to be angry, "I couldn't agree more. I don't need Spyro to help me find him either." She said, turning her back away. "Wake me up please, Ignitus."

Ignitus sighed, "Of course, Cynder."

"Cynder I-" Spyro started.

"Not now." She said angrily.

Nodding, he aided the two of them in waking up. Blinking their eyes open they noticed a now fully awake Kenra looking around frantically in shock, tears running down his face. Cynder approached quickly and worriedly, "It's okay, Shh… where's Gale?" She said assuming the worst, offering him a hug that he backed away from.

He choked out a response through his tears, "D-Don't know. I wake up, a-and knock me out and-... and-" He couldn't find the right words to speak through his language inefficiency. His usual aloof demeanor replaced with the cries of a confused hatchling.

Cynder nodded sympathetically and offered her paw out to him, giving him a soothing rub against his head. Kenra cried, as Cynder glanced towards Spyro with a piercing glare. He looked at her shamefully until he saw her face, which was a mixture of anger, and the saddest he had ever seen her. "I'll find him. You keep Kenra safe." She told him, which he nodded to.

"Please…" Kenra cried while shaking, "I try to… help him... but...but-"

"Are you two… you two bad too? You help them?" Kenra asked in terrified horror.

Cynder put her muzzle against his soothingly, and spoke in a gentle way, "No, no no. We would never Kenra. I promise my life you two will be safe." She said, trying to convince herself as well. Kenra seemed unconvinced, but nodded as he watched her leave quickly.

She stopped mid way as she was leaving, "Spyro…" she started, bringing him into a rigid stance as he listened, "Was… this all to prove your own point? Or because you actually cared?" Growling to herself she didn't wait for an answer, rushing out the door.

She checked throughout the inn, to no luck. Asking the employees and others she came across who all gave her a sympathetic shake of the head. She couldn't shake the feeling she had, as she rushed out of the Inn onto the streets. Rising above the streets and scanning around, a single thought raced through her mind. That she had never been this angry in her life.

The old, rundown building I found myself sitting in was not how I expected this night to go. As I sat in an abandoned nearly broken down room. I was sitting in a wooden chair, and across from me sat who I assumed was my capturer. A bipedal of some kind that was obscured by the darkness. "Is this necessary?" I said aloud.

He shifted surprised, probably not expecting me to be awake so soon. Then huffed, "You're awake. Sorry for knocking you out, but I needed to speak with you."

I scowled at him suspiciously, "What do you want?" I said in an unfriendly way.

He sighed, then stood up. Approaching me slowly, and I felt a shiver, "I want… to help you."

"By kidnapping me?"

"By saving you!" He said, spreading his arms wide a bit.

I looked at him in confusion, "W-What do… you mean?"

He tapped his claws against his skull, bowed politely. Stepping into some semblance of light I could see him through. He was a tiger, by all means. With a rather intimidating look. His red eyes pierced my helpless demeanor. "Excuse my manners, I am Elich. And I was saving you from the black dragoness, and her new master." He said confidently, bowing once again.

I looked at him in disdain, "You saved me? They're my friends, what do you mean?"

He shook his head and approached closer, kneeling down to my eye level. "They are not your friends my little fellow. They're using you."

His words came so genuinely from his mouth, that I began to feel worried, "Using… me?" I parroted in confusion.

He nodded, "The she-devil and her new master, the one named Spyro. They are not to be trusted. I came here to save you from them, they had almost captured you."

I began waving my paws frantically, "No, no, no. There has to be a misunderstanding there's no way those two are bad people. They saved me!"

He sighed, standing up, and pacing around to behind my chair. "They want your trust, so that they have an easier time getting you to help them. You have power, do you not Gale?"

I turned suspiciously, "I'm not sure I do. How do you know my name?"

He smirked, "Well to create a rescue plan you must first know who you are rescuing, hmm?"

I continued to analyze him suspiciously, "And what about… Kenra. You knocked him out cold to kidnap me didn't you?"

He sighed, and waved his arm, "He would not have let us talk. And he might have even been working for them. It was necessary. Plus, it wasn't painful, I promise!" He said crossing his heart with a smile.

The act made me think of Rena, and I growled pitifully, "And why should I believe you more than the other three? All you've done so far is knock my friend out, and kidnap me against my will."

His smile seemed to be fading into almost a hint of annoyance, as he chuckled once again. "I humbly offer you what our king told me to offer you. Guaranteed protection, and a room built for the highest of nobility! And all you have to do is keep yourself hidden from those that wish to use you!"

I smirked to myself, 'The dragon locked in the castle tower behind a bunch of bipedal guards. Now that's a fantasy twist.' I laughed at my own thoughts.

I held my paw up, "No thanks, I'll have to decline. I'm not exactly built to be anything royal, I just… I want to be with my friends."

He sighed, and looked at me almost pitifully. "You could have all the friends you could ever need with us. We're trying to save you." He said holding his hand out expectantly.

I remembered the voice from earlier, and about what it said, "They wish to harm you…" the memory rang in my head. There was no way this guy intended on keeping his promises, he was the one trying to use me.

I swatted his paw away with my own paw, and growled, "If you meant half of what you said, you would've taken my no 'thank you' as an answer."

His facade seemed to be dropping as he slowly put his paws behind his back, and looked at me disappointingly, "Very well then. I can see that your mind has been made up."

He turned, and began pacing, in an uncomfortable way where he circled me. Like a shark with his prey. I kept my eyes on him the whole time, "Truly a shame, I had thought that their corruption hadn't reached you. Though it seems I was wrong."

Quicker than I had time to react he had dashed towards me, grabbing both of my front paws. Twisting them in such a way that I couldn't use them, whilst he began tying rope around them. I yelled at him to stay away, tried using my feet to kick him, but all he did was pull harder on my front forelegs. "Why are you doing this? I don't know what you want!" I yelled.

He paid zero attention to my words, he finally finished tying them. And threw me unceremoniously onto the chair, where I struggled to try and move with my legs restrained. He dusted his hands off, "You don't need to know that."

I laughed a bit, "You've got a lot of nerve stealing me out from under those two. If they find you, you're done for."

He laughed as well, "Well you're done for if they don't find you! So I'd say those are fair chances. And I'm a bit of a gambling man my little friend." He smirked cockily at me.

I glared at him, "We will never be friends."

He smirked, "Then you want to be my enemy?" He said approaching me in a way that uneased me, fear plastered on my face.

'Where is he at?' Was the question racing through Cynder's mind as she flew above the city's dark, and abandoned skyline.

She looked around calmly, but behind her actions was a sea of emotional ferocity she hadn't felt in years. He had only been saved a day ago from one thing, and now she had let him get taken. Taken from her! He was a mere couple of feet and she had been none the wiser. Was she not taking this as seriously as she thought?

She growled to herself, 'Stupid dragoness, what are you doing? Would you have let Kali sleep on her own in a strange hotel!?'

She stopped once again to scan around, though her vision in the dark was much greater than usual due to her shadow element, she saw nothing of interest. Narrowing her eyes and grimacing she focused her fear element into her eyes, to try and sense any trails of fear. To her annoyance, she could see multiple trails of fear, but none distinct enough to help her find her target.

Then a thought crossed her mind, maybe he ran away? No, Kenra would've had to help him escape, than lie. The fear on his face was not one of deceit, she could sense his fear. 'Oh god's where are you?' She wondered as she shot through the moonlit sky.

I spit out blood as he wiped his fist with a cloth, and looked at him with hatred. "Did that make you feel better?"

He ignored me, "If you will not cooperate, I have no shortage of punishments. You needn't say a word, only follow my lead. His Majesty would be graced to have you in his pres-"

"Stop talking…"

He looked at me offended, "Now, now, I-"

"NO!" I yelled, "I'm not coming with you, I will never help you or be friends with you, and I WILL NOT talk to your stupid King!"

He glared, "Tsk tsk, where are your manners? You ought to have your tongue sliced from your maw, to slander him!" He brandished a knife.

I felt fear rush over my body, I know taunting is stupid, why did I do it? But I also felt… angry. And my anger began building the closer he got. He grabbed me muzzle, and tried to pry my maw open as I resisted with all my might.

He tried to wedge the knife in between my teeth, and tried to cut the inside of my mouth to get me to open it. And while it did hurt extremely bad, I valued my tongue more. My anger was heightened as he drew his fist back to punch me once again, the room I was in emitted a faint, light blue light, that grew in intensity as I leaned back, "Stay away!" I shouted.

He looked at me in surprise for half a second, but continued to go through with his punch. And though it did make connection with my face, I felt virtually zero pain as a sort of shockwave of light blue energy burst out of me. It was quite bright, illuminating the whole room like a beacon. And the faintest word I couldn't barely hear, echoed in my mind, "Begone."

He was only pushed back, but he held his fist in great agony as he yelled in pain. His hand seemingly blackened with some sort of burn. He looked up at me in anger, "What was that? You little demon, you corrupted fool!" The light faded from around me. And I was left with the pain of my injuries as he looked at me maliciously.

"You've been manipulated too much, the devil ends with me!"

A roar, a supremely terrifying roar echoed through the night sky. The roof above where this Elich guy was standing caved in, as a black mass pinned him to the floor with extreme ferocity. As the dust cleared a little, I could see Cynder's form standing over him, with a paw firmly pressing him towards the ground, her claws dangerously ready to strike. I noticed her eyes were flowing red, but it looked like some sort of energy.

She looked over to me quickly, with a panicked and relieved look. Before seemingly noticing the blood coming from my mouth, she growled so deep the room trembled as she glared at the cheetah. "Who are you. Why are you here. And what did you do to him."

He tried to move but she pressed her paw down harder, and he choked out some words as he could barely breathe. "Ah the… auh… the devil dragoness." He spat out.

She brought her tail blade to his throat, "Want to call me that again? You fool." She mocked, "You've got quite the nerve, stealing my ward from my watch!"

He started laughing, though it came out in raspy breaths, "And quite the watch it was!" He said gesturing a hand towards me.

She snapped her maw in warning, teeth bared inches from his head, "Tell me, now!" She ordered.

"The devil… controlled by the saint… I have nothing to say to you."

Cynder took that as a last straw, and as she was going to most likely kill him, she glanced at me worriedly. Then withdrew her blade. Only to imbue one of her claws with some green aura, and cut his arms once each. It barely looked like the Cynder's was used to anymore, and I felt uneasy. She whispered something in his ear, and withdrew her paw. He laughed at her, "You see Gale? Do we really seem so different, me and her?" he said looking at me with a wild look. Though when I glanced up towards Cynder, who growled back down at him, I had to agree. She did look monstrous.

She forced him to his feet, and aggressively pushed him towards the door, "Enough! Leave, now."

He slowly backed out of the room, but held eye contact with me, "Better be obedient, wouldn't want to be on her bad side." He said it as a way to mock her, but I felt the intentions behind his words were directed towards me. He laughed, stumbling out of the room.

She watched him leave like a hawk, and once he did she turned all her attention to me. "Gale!" She shouted, and I flinched. She rushed towards me, inspecting me all around, quickly cutting the restraints on my appendages and bringing me into a hug where she gave me absolutely zero room to move, she wrapped her wings around us as well. "By the gods, I thought I would be too late!"

"What did he..?" She inspected my maw, and saw the blood. Her eyes dilated, and she looked back towards the door with ferocity and a growl, though he was gone so she had nowhere to place her anger.

"How did you… find me?" I said in amazement. I hadn't even entertained the thought that she would be looking for me already.

"Gale it was shining like a lighthouse in this room… I knew it was you because of the last time you used that power. When you…" She paused, shaking her head, "Never mind that, are you okay?"

"I'm… fine. Cynder, Thank y-"

"Fine?" She parroted in disbelief, "Gale you were kidnapped, this is not fine! This… this is horrific!" She said inspecting my cuts, and nudging my body, determining it was nothing more than small injuries that would be sore for a while.

I looked away as she said that, and she sighed, "Gale I'm… I'm so sorry. I should've been more careful I-I… I even argued with Spyro… I could've been here sooner and…" a few tears hit my body as she cried lightly.

I nodded and looked back towards her, "Really, it's okay, Cynder… I-... I'm fi-..." I couldn't finish my words as I began crying. She quickly tightened her hug.

"It… it was so scary I… I don't know what was going on… he was talking so much nonsense and… and…" I choked on my words as tears started to come out myself. "And then somehow I… I burned him? That light blue energy… w-what is it?"

She pulled me closer to her crest, "And now I'm causing trouble… a-again… I-I just wish It would stop, I-I I'm sorry." I said sadly while stuttering.

She shushed me, "No no… it's not your fault Gale. You're safe with me and Spyro I promise I won't let them near you again…"

She looked guilty, and terrified for me, "I-I know I've already said I'd keep you safe… I'm so so sorry that this happened. It's my fault."

A minute of silence passed, "Cynder," I started, "What did you do to him? Why was he calling you 'the devil controlled by the saint' and he kept calling me… corrupted."

She looked at me speechless, as she started and stopped trying to give me an explanation multiple times, then she sighed heavily, "I… I poisoned him. So that you wouldn't watch him… well." She slowly released me from the hug, placing me back into the chair. Though she kept her wings around me. "I… I've done some bad things in my lifetime Gale… not everybody has forgiven or forgotten." I appreciated the honesty, but the gruesomeness of her words made me feel unsure.

She looked away, and up to the sky through the shattered roof. "I… I've always wanted to escape my old life. Every time I feel like I'm returning to a semblance of normality, I'm reminded of that time…"

She looked down towards me again as I listened intently, "This happening... is one of the reasons that I want to rid myself of that reputation."

My face fell a bit as I looked downwards, "Oh…"

She quickly shook her head worriedly and grabbed my front paws, "Gale you… I want you to be safe, just like my daughter Kali. I don't want anybody I care about to get caught up in relics from my past but… I'm… really failing."

I looked up at her and tilted my head, she smiled, "I promised Rena I'd try my best to protect you. Debatably, I'm not doing that great…" I smiled slightly at that, and fell back into my thoughts.

"I don't think he took me because of you… he said he wanted to…" I cut my explanation short, and cringed in pain from talking. My body was growing hotter by the second, and my head hurt. She felt my forehead, and recoiled worriedly.

She nuzzled me, "Let's go back. The other two are worried sick, and then you can talk about it when you feel better, alright?" She told me. I agreed and rode on her back carefully, as she returned to the Inn.

Fate still stood awkwardly in the doorway, looking rather shaken still. The combination of everything happening between the group, mixed with her already unpleasant emotions, wasn't helping. A few minutes after the two faded from the room. Ignitus sighed, looking towards Fate. "Are you well, my dear?"

She slowly nodded, seemingly snapped out of her thoughts, "What was… that all about?"

Ignitus shook his head, "Those two again… sometimes it's a wonder to me that they saved the realms." He chuckled slightly.

Fate tapped her claws against the floor rhythmically, "Will they be alright? Gale too?"

He nodded confidently, "Of course, they will find him. I'm more worried about who took him."

Fate tilted her head, "Why is that?"

He grimaced, looking towards a stack of books on his desk, "Because… what their plans are. The realms are shifting again, for the first time in a while. People will… inevitably rise, who have clashing ideals."

He smiled, "But that little one… Him getting caught up in it? I'm very intrigued.."

Fate's ears twitched, surprised, "Gale?"

"Gale?" I heard the voice of Kenra, and I'd never been more relieved in my life. I peaked up over Cynder's back, as her and Spyro looked at each other worriedly.

Cynder gently lifted me from her back, but she didn't set me down. She held me enough for Spyro to see, and his face contorted in guilt, "Hey, Gale…" Spyro started, "A-Are you doing okay?" He said putting a paw on my head, then seemed surprised at how warm it must've felt.

I was quite tired, and feeling like utter garbage, Spyro looked up at Cynder in shock, "W-What… What happened?"

I heard Kenra from below again, "Hey, let down! Gale, are you okay?" He asked worriedly. Cynder tried to silence Spyro for a second, as she smiled down at me worriedly. She placed me gently on the pillow. Before returning to speak to Spyro.

Kenra bounded over worriedly, before seeing me. And he looked mortified, "Oh... Gale…" he brought me into a hug, and seemed to tighten it when I shivered. Afterwards, I laid myself on my stomach, with my head hanging down over the edge of the pillow. Kenra worriedly rubbed my back.

After some whispers between Spyro and Cynder I heard Spyro's wings erupt upwards in anger, "Devil of the what?!" He said a little louder than he intended. And Cynder shushed him.

The moment of realization, of what I had been through hit me, when I opened my mouth to cough, and blood splattered out of my mouth onto the floor. Not a staggering amount, but the cuts were definitely not done bleeding. My eyes sort of warped, and the room felt like it was spinning. My body just didn't get any brakes here did it? First my wounds from dying, which were still recovering though nearly finished, then a cold which seems to have progressed to a fever. And now getting kidnapped and beaten up… is there any way to retract that contract I made..?

Kenra whined worriedly as I zoned out, "Gale..? Gale? Gale!"

The other two looked over from their conversation and quickly came back over worriedly, as I snapped back out of my thoughts, "Y-Yes?" I said slowly.

Cynder leaned down, inspecting me again. "Oh my… is all of that blood from the cuts? My gods…"

Spyro leaned down, gently inspecting the inside of my mouth. And he growled, "How dare they…" he said under his breath.

Cynder quickly went to rummage through the pack, before pulling out a few things. Some medicine that seemed to be for bipeds, but could apparently work for dragons. And some sort of gauss like material for me to put in my mouth and absorb the blood, since there wasn't much of a way to heal it.

After helping me with both she sighed worriedly, "That should help with the fever little one." She smiled reassuringly, then gently stroked my forehead, "If we get you to Warfang later today, you may be able to heal with the crystals."

I nodded, and my eyes began slowly closing on their own. She picked me up gently, placing me between her paws on the pillow. "We should all get some more rest…"

Spyro shook his head, seemingly still uneased, "I'm going to stay awake, you three sleep." Cynder was going to argue, but he shook his head before she said anything.

I was nearly passed out, as Cynder looked expectantly at Kenra. "Over here, little one."

He looked over at her wearily, and she gestured down to me. "Don't be stubborn." Cynder said after seeing Kenra's face. He took the hint and carefully laid down with me in between her paws. And Cynder laid her head over her paws, creating a sort of den over us. With Cynder's paw on one side and Kenra on my other, I'd thought I would feel safe. But after everything, I really felt like I was not. Just what did they want me for, anyway?