A/n

Here is the next chapter, again the story in general overall has not change, but details have, so enjoy the story!

Chapter 22: The Bonds of Trust

-Neutral pov-

Genuine trust between individuals can be hard to come by, for some more than others. Saber is a prime example of this truth as he trusts so few beyond a set point and is why he has so few friends. But that is the thing about trust, it is earned as it is strengthened, or it is torn asunder as it is abused. Unfortunately, Saber has far more often known what it is to have trust abused, thus is the story of his life before coming to the Dragon Realm more often than not. Hence, history teaches us lessons, but will it be one of repetition or of new beginnings?

-Spyro's pov-

Once again, what Saber says does not make much sense for how 'Z's relate to sleep I don't know, maybe it is a human thing. I will ask about that later when there are more important matters that need to be seen to. Yet, right now we needed to come to an understanding, there were answers to particular questions that were needed. "No, we need to talk now, it cannot wait," I insisted.

I glanced to my right and saw that Pyris and Blaze were coming to meet us. It was then, Seth replied to me, "Spyro calm down, I think we could all use some sleep. That battle was rough and draining."

Cyra nodded in agreement and I could agree with what Seth was saying. I was tired myself, but this battle had shown that something with the apes had changed, what had changed I could not say. It was dangerous to not know what was going on for everyone here. Saber had a tendency to keep to himself information that would be better than everyone knew. It was plain that Saber knew something we all needed to know. "Seth, I know we are all tired, but this needs to be dealt with now," I started.

There was a crash to our left, and then Cyra shouted, "Saber!"

Seth and I looked over to see that Saber had fallen and we rushed over to him. His breathing was ragged, and his color was very pale and by past experience that was a bad thing. He was not doing much more than breathing in gasps and this worried me. This feeling of worry only increased when I saw red liquid around his mouth and on his lower face. Pyris and Blaze were looking at Saber and chatting between one another before poking me to get my attention. "Hey Spyro, what is this red liquid? It looks like it is coming from under your friend," Pyris asked.

Salena looked over my shoulder and gasped, "He needs help soon. That is a large amount of blood and I would doubt he can afford to lose very much more," she said.

Salena call an order and three dragons came forward and then carried Saber off to the village healer which Seth, Ruben, Cyra and I followed them. I noticed that the grey dragoness was nowhere to be found and I have no idea where the grey dragoness that had come with my friends had gone… I think her name was Sarana. That, however, did not matter at the moment, Saber was hurt and that took priority!

The healer dragons took him to where Cynder and I had first gone here, which was similar to the healer wing in Warfang. They had been doing what they could for Saber, but as he was not a dragon it was proving to be a more difficult task. There is little known about ape healing methods or their bodies inner workings in general. Since Saber's body seemed closest to ape bodies, the assumption was they had similar body workings. The healers were doing their best and it is hoped that will be enough.

As the healers worked, we were outside waiting to hear the news, Seth was sitting on his haunches with Cyra next to him. Ruben was pacing back and forth as he does when he worries, while I just sat down on my own haunches and waited with worry about Saber still nagging at me. There were so many questions he raised and few answers to those questions. After a little while, Salena came in, but I was more focused on the one following her, "Cynder?!"

Cynder gave me a pained smile as she came to my side and she rubbed her head against my neck affectionately, "Thank the ancestors you are okay," Cynder said.

"But Cynder what are you doing here," I asked, "You should be resting and healing."

Salena spoke up to answer my question, "As should you Spyro, yet here you are worried about a friend I assume?"

I nodded to Salena in reply, "Yes Saber, though he may look odd and like an ape, but he is not an ape as he will tell you in detail if you wish. He has proven a friend to all of us here on different occasions," I replied

Salena just smiled and went down and settled on her haunches, "I would assume that there is a story for how that happened, correct," she posed.

I nodded and then began the story of how I had met Saber and the following events that happened on the way back to Warfang while Salena just listened to the story and said nothing. When I got to the part when we arrived at Warfang, Seth and Cyra took over the story. I rested my head on the floor and felt Cynder rest her head next to mine. I was really tired and should get some sleep and I would after I was sure Saber was going to be alright.

Seth was doing much of the talking of the story, and that was fine, "I have to say I did not know what to make of him at first. The first time I saw him, he was calling Sparx odd names and Sparx was doing the same in return as well."

Cyra smiled at hearing Seth, "Yep yep yep, Saber is really nice," she said. "When I first met him, I thought he was some kind of odd ape that was going to hurt Seth, so hit him with ice. But he did not get mad though I was not expecting him to be able to melt ice with fire."

My head shot up at the last thing Cyra had said, "Wait, he used fire at Warfang?"

Seth nodded at me and he had a thoughtful look on his face, "I was shocked at first," he mused, "the fire came out of nowhere. I did not know what to think."

I glared at Seth, "Why did you not mention it," I demanded.

"Saber asked us not to," Cyra said.

I looked over at her, the answer confused me for why would Saber not say anything about being able to harness the elements? Friends do not keep secrets and were we not Saber's friends? Cynder nuzzled her head against my chest, "Spyro, I would guess Saber had a reason to not tell you or any of us, leave it until you can ask him," she suggested.

I sighed and nodded before Seth then continued the story about the journey to save Ruben. When Seth had gotten to the part of finding Ruben with Cyra adding her comments here and there, he talked about the small odd ape that Saber had fought. And I had to ask the question, "So Saber has fought these small apes before?"

Seth nodded in confirmation, "Yes, he said they have an interest in him though what kind he did not say. He may not know himself," Seth replied.

"Seth did Saber not call the small apes 'Monkeys'," asked Cyra.

I had not ever heard the term that Cyra had just used, "What are mon-cee-es?"

Ruben answers my question speaking up for the first time in this conversation, "It is what Saber calls those kinds of apes. Honestly, I have to agree with Seth and Cyra on the fact that Saber uses many unknown terms and words."

It was at that point one of the healer dragons came into the room from the back. He cleared his throat to gain ever dragons and dragonesses attention, "Your friend is doing better at this time. I must say we are very impressed at his ability to continue going despite his current condition," he said.

Cynder raised her head and asked a question, "What do you mean?"

"His endurance is amazing even more so when you add the wounds that are still in the earlier stages of healing," continued the healer dragon.

Salena spoke for the first time in a long while, "Then he had previous injuries before today?"

The healer nodded, "Yes he does, judging by the amount of healing that has happened, the injuries were likely received between three and four weeks ago and were likely problematic when they happened."

I was about to ask more about these 'injuries' when Seth spoke before me, "Can we see him?"

The healer dragon nodded with a smile and we all walked back to the other room. I did not know what to expect to see, still, I was not prepared for the sight that met my eyes. Saber was laying on a bed front down and head turned to the side towards us. I know I have never seen him without the stuff he wears, clothes I think he calls them. But without them, the scars which were sporadically spread over his whole body were visible, most of them healed overall yet not all. However, the most noticeable thing was his back, it had numerous cuts and jagged gashes running from the top to the bottom. The injuries looked like they were only partly healed, many of the cuts and gashes were still red and in some places, his flesh had been torn to such an extent that the muscles were exposed, and flesh was hanging loose.

Cynder looked away and put her head into my chest, "Ancestors, what happened to Saber? What kind of event occurs for that to happen to someone?"

-Saber's pov-

I felt warmth being pressed against me and the longer the warmth was against me the clearer things started to be. My mind was muddled to say the least, actually, more of a mush pit to be more, um well, my mind was a mess and leave it at that. I had been pushing myself hard and I know that, but I wouldn't think that things would be this bad. It was around what I would feel after a moderate to harsh beating that Uncle Douchebag would give me.

After a while I started to hear voices, they were unintelligible in the meaning, but it still proved my hearing was working. I tried to open my eyes however, my eyes didn't do what I wanted them to, I tried harder and managed to open them slightly. What I saw was colors swirling in all different arrays and hues, but that didn't make sense to me. Although, I had to say they were mighty pretty with how they were moving and everything. That thought snapped my mind to at least partial attention and started getting on task so, I attempted to get my vision to focus, though with little success.

I kept at this until I was able to open my eyes without the swirl of colors, they just went to be blurry. The colors said that I was seeing Seth and Cyra at the far end, at least I think that is the far end of the room. It didn't appear that I haven't any real depth perception at the moment so I can't really tell distance at the moment. I believe Ruben was by the door along with Salena I would guess, it could be Cyra and the one with Seth isn't, I don't know. Concentrating a lot hurts a great deal right now so, I will leave the finer points alone for the time being. I see Spyro and Cynder to the left of the door sitting together, I couldn't help but smile ever so slightly. "Well at least I," I coughed and gasped before I continued, "will not lack for visitors this time for a while."

"Saber you are awake, for how long," asked a voice that sounded like Seth.

I was still having a bit of a problem breathing which was affecting my hearing to a degree, "Yes, I am awake with a splitting headache I might add. As to waking up, I just did," I replied tiredly.

"Saber how do you feel," said a voice that sounded like Cyra, but with none of her cheerful coloration and it was really odd to hear without the cheery tones.

"Overall, for the long answer, I feel like I have been to hell and back more than once on horrible trudges. Those journeyings have been done cursing along the way as the Grim Reaper swings at me while I dodged that very sharp scythe of his. And he is got too close for my liking as I have been trudging along lately." I took a moment to breathe slowly in and out before I continued, "The short answer, I have had much better days than today and weeks that have led up to today." There was silence for a bit, and I could almost see the explanation look on their faces, "The explanation on the vast subject of 'Hell' will have to wait till another time."

"Saber," and I heard this and knew without a doubt it was Spyro.

My mind must be getting clearer with me being able to better recognize the owner's voice, "Sorry for dropping out on you Spyro," I was forced to pause as a coughing fit came to me, but once I was able to speak again I continued, "I did not intend to do that and my body just hit its limit and I collapsed."

"No! it is not your fault, you are injured and so I should not have pressed," Spyro replied, as usual blaming himself.

I experienced another coughing fit before steadying my breathing as it was painful otherwise. I swear Spyro can be too nice for his own good and was causing himself unnecessary worry. I had never said anything about my condition so Spyro would have not known if I had not toppled over. That's how I normally am, I keep things to myself, a natural instinct for me unfortunately due to developed habit. "We are good Spyro, I have been careless and reckless. It is a very bad combination that tends to get one into trouble and I dance with that often enough," I returned.

"What happened to your back," Cynder's voice asked from the same direction that Spyro's had. They had to be sitting close if not against each other, knowing them it was most likely against each other. The question brought up a lot of things, and I don't know where to start in the subject that my scars tell. They are to an extent a map of what my life has been like and I have obtained a new collection recently. So, where to begin in the story of my folly in going against the guardians and what has come before the Dragon Realm? I didn't answer right away, considering the way to explain my scars in a fashion that would give understanding. I don't know if dragons understand the subject of abuse in its various forms and I've endured a great deal of it.

"My back is," I started but hesitated, "for lack of a better explanation, the results of lessons learned the hard way for me."

"What is that supposed to mean," Spyro inquired.

Before I could answer Spyro, Seth spoke up, "Spyro give it a rest and let it go for right now," he said.

It wasn't that I couldn't answer, nor was it that I didn't want to either, it's just complicated for me. "No Seth, he will find out the story at some point whether it is here or back at Warfang. He might as well know and the subject of how I have the newer scars that I do. The rest of them is a complicated subject that stretches far beyond what happened weeks ago. Well Spyro I... for lack of a nicer term and for my defense, I had a difference of opinion with Terrador."

"Difference of opinion," Cynder questioned.

I smiled slightly at Cynder's question, "Maybe it would be more accurate to say a disagreement rather than a difference of opinion though to me they are the same thing in the end," I replied.

"What was this disagreement about," said a female voice.

That was a voice I wasn't as familiar with which meant it would most likely belong to Salena. Oh dear, should I just come out and say I insulted them by saying their way of doing things is… what is the best way of saying it… stupid maybe? "Um well, I kind of questioned the methods and the ending results of said methods that the guardians use among other things. Honestly, I cannot remember all the things I said to them anymore, and it is probably a good thing I do not," I answered.

"You did what," exclaimed Spyro.

Spyro's reaction was what I had expected as I had a feeling Spyro wasn't going to take this well. It is only going to get worse the more of the story I tell, the tale has just begun after all, "Then, I pretty much challenged Terrador to a fight," I continued.

"Wait, you… please say that did not," Cynder posed.

Cynder was having trouble accepting this too I guess, if only they had been there to see how the experience had played out the first person. It's probably better that they didn't though, "I did," I shot back. "And I ended up losing the said fight and then… well, I was sent crashing through one of the windows in the council chamber."

Oh, did I get looks of horror from both Spyro and Cynder, at least I believe that's what was being sent my way? "What were you thinking," Spyro demanded.

What was I thinking at that time, a lot of things, surviving being paramount among other things? The event hadn't worked out in the end, yet due to my preparation before the meeting with the guardians, it had been okay. I thought for a moment about how to answer Spyro, "Well Spyro, I have to say that glass shards leave rather painful marks that's for sure. You would be surprised how sharp shattered glass can be! I would not recommend crashing through windows, nope not fun at all and bad for one's health obviously."

"That is not what I meant, and you know it," snapped Spyro.

I sighed at Spyro's accusation, so much for lightening the mood in the room. I mean I had questioned the methods and way of the guardians before doing so to their faces, so why was Spyro surprised? He should know by now I see things differently than the dragons do, and in this instance, I paid a price for it. "Spyro, from what I have asked you at times, would you really think I would not question them? I just do the courtesy of saying what I think of them to their faces at the time. I have always been taught to think and choose for myself the best I can. If something does not make sense, then you tend not to do it. Guidance is all well and good, but it is just the idea of guidance that I see differently. Guidance is made up of guidelines that are recommended that be followed. It is up to the one to choose to follow said guidelines or not, they are not orders or something that is absolute."

"I see you do not think much of others telling you what to do," Salena remarked.

I couldn't deny what Salena had said, it was true for me, "Terrador said the same thing to me before the fight in which he sent me through the window. I would say that most of the time, I prefer to follow my own views and take on the situation that way. However, what you said is another way of putting it fairly bluntly. I adapt to the observations I make, and this method works very well for much of the time. Where when you just follow orders, others can and often do take advantage of that. A prime example of my point and logic would be Spyro and Cynder being sent here," I stated.

Everyone was silent and just stared at me which I took that as a gesture to go on with my explanation. "It was all based on rumors that had no credible source, at least the Guardians could not give me one. That is unwise and pretty much says trap in so many ways to me and I am not the only one that would see it that way. There is a saying that some humans have, 'there is a reason believing a lie rhymes with left to die' or something along those lines. The moral or meaning of the saying is to make sure you check the source of information before you believe it to be true. If you do not, you get results such as are standing here healing from the said trap and I am of course referring to Spyro and Cynder here. All this evidence only further proves my point and logic specifically," I iterated.

"That is just a coincidence," Spyro replied.

Uh huh, sure it was as coincidental as trying to stop dead on ice has you slipping instead. Spyro, I hope and pray for the day to come that you become less dense! "Was it Spyro," I posed. "If I would have told you before today that the apes have a hierarchy by which they work, would you have seriously believed me? The other thing is I do not believe in coincidence, my luck would laugh at the coincidence and ignore it completely and do its thing."

Spyro didn't say anything for a minute, "No, I do not think I would have, but now after the battle with them, I think you may be on to something with the apes," Spyro admitted.

I huffed at this as if this fact should have already been obvious, I then softened my expression, "Do not beat yourself up about this Spyro. I was surprised just like you as I suspected something of the apes, but not what happened today. We were all caught off guard in this and now we have to go on from here. We all have a lot of things to think about though I would say we all need sleep, it will help I believe."

Salena giggled at my statement, "Saber has a point we could all use some sleep," she agreed.

I grunted in agreement before my eyes closed on their own accord and I slipped into sleep.

-Cyra's pov-

After Auntie said we all could use some sleep, I saw Saber's eyes close and his breathing becomes shallower as it does in sleep. I was still worried about him as I watched him sleep as there was still so much about him that no one knows. I thought about the conversation, rather a dim and dreary one, the kind I am not fond of due to me always looking for the positive side of things. In this situation it was harder to see the positive side, it was even harder to be cheerful as well due to that. I felt so out of my normal self with the gloomy mood in the air. All of us left the room and I had to say that sleep was sounding like a very nice idea, the battle had been tiring. Then the journey to get here had been a long one as well. I walked out next to Seth, "Now the arrangements have made for everyone to get some sleep," Auntie said. We all looked to Auntie Salena who smiled warmly, "Do not fret about your friend I do not doubt he will be fine."

Yes, Salena is right I need to be positive, Saber will be fine. Salena had assigned us places to sleep when we felt ready to do so. Seth had gotten into a conversation with Spyro and Ruben had joined into the same conversation. Honestly, males always seem to want to be serious about things and not involve us dragonesses. I walked over to Cynder who was also looking over at the male dragons, "Why is it, when dragons get together, they are always so serious and all about talking about what they think are important things," asked Cynder.

"I wish I knew Cynder," I commented. "How are you feeling by the way?"

Cynder turned to me, "It could be worse, I just cannot stay in that bed any longer. It was comfortable and everything, but there was nothing to do."

I giggled at her complaint and she looked at me questioningly, "What is so funny," asked Cynder.

"You sound like Saber when he woke up in the healer wing. Actually, he tried to get out at least three times a day when he became able, which did not take all that long."

Cynder looked amused, "Is that so?"

I nodded, "Yep, the healers had to post dragons around his room so that he did not leave. They called him a troublesome ward I think. yet he still found ways to as he said to 'only go for a walk'," I replied.

Cynder looked at the dragons seeing they were still talking to one another, and then looked back to me. "Cyra I really want to know if what Seth said is true," she said. "Did Spectra really give Terrador a reprimand and yelling along with it in front of the temple no less?"

I giggled again, "Yep, it was really something to see. Seth and I only saw the beginning of it though we heard a good portion of it."

Cyra snickered at that image, "Well, Terrador has always been stubborn, it is about time some dragoness puts it in perspective for him."

I nodded in agreement before we then both looked at the males and saw they were still talking with one another and no sign of stopping soon. "Say do you want to go get something to eat? It looks like the dragons are going to be a while," Cynder suggested.

I nodded to Cynder and we left the healer's place and went off to get food.

-Spyro's pov-

The next morning a little after dawn I awoke and upon looking around, I found Cynder sleeping next to me, she had pressed herself against me for I would guess most of the night. Not that I was complaining in fact, I had gotten used to this as it had become common with her and I did hug her back most of the time. I smiled at her peaceful sleeping face before I slipped out of her hold without waking her and walked outside. There was little noise at this hour, but then no one would be up at this time as it was still early. As I walked around, I came to the village center and saw to my great surprise Saber doing some of those morning exercises of his. His back seemed to be wrapped in white cloth, which he had not had before that I saw as I approached him. "Saber," I questioned.

I heard him hiss painfully before he turned to me, "Oh hey Spyro, what are you doing up so early? Should you really be doing movements like that," he asked.

Saber's hands had gone to either of the lower areas of his torso, "I could ask the same of you as you are hurt and should be in bed. Should you really be doing those exercises," I said.

"I think we both could be told that," Saber replied, "and it looks like neither of us seems to heed that council."

Saber dropped his hands to his sides and then sat down on my left and I lowered myself to my haunches next to him. "So how do you feel? That and you have not answered my second question," I posed.

Saber shrugged, "I am in pain, but I expect that for a time. I do my morning exercises to make sure my back muscles heal up properly. That requires that I move and stretch them enough to prevent them from weakening while healing, it is part of the healing process when it is done right. I will be okay, I have had worse," Saber answered.

I stared at him with what he said implied as that meant he had previously had worse injuries. I do not know if I want to know about that, "Why then do you not stay in bed," I questioned.

Saber sighed and glanced over at me with a look that said 'really', "Spyro, what is the longest time you have been forced to stay in a bed without being tied down? Then feel free to ask that question. A hint, it gets really boring really fast," Saber returned flatly.

I then understood what Saber was saying and I had to agree for being confined to a bed is never ever nice or fun. I decided to change the subject, "I get your meaning. So, you can harness an element then, unless I was not seeing things right."

"No," stated Saber, "you were seeing just fine Spyro. Yes, I can use, harness or manipulate a number of the elements."

"Why did you not mention that before," I asked.

Saber looked at me with surprise, "Um Spyro, try seeing it from my position for a second," he started. "Dragons see you as an ape since that is the only thing that you come close to looking like. Then add the fact that you can use an ability that the dragons can that the apes cannot. Perhaps I am paranoid in this, but I see a lot of dragons being afraid of me if they knew I could harness the elements." Saber hesitated momentarily, "You see, fear with humans drives them to do stupid things like attacking what they fear or worse. I assumed that dragons could and perhaps would do the same thing. It is out of the habit of self-preservation I didn't say anything."

I suppose when you put it like that, it is hard to argue with his reasoning, "I guess that is understandable," I admitted.

"I was not trying to hide the fact that I can control the elements, I just didn't see a reason to mention the fact. It is a mindset if no one asks then you don't tell," he added.

Saber emphasized the 'S' in elements, though that would mean he can use more than one, like me, "Wait you mean you can use more than one," I questioned in shock.

Saber nodded to confirm the point, "Yes indeed, I am up to five now actually, and I would guess there will be more at a future point if things keep going in the direction that they are." I just stared for he said this like it was normal, but how does he stay so calm! Saber just continued talking, "Ice is the newest element I can work with all be it far from well, but it is how it starts."

I was about to ask Saber how he can, but before I could voice the question, he gave the answer to it like he could read my mind. "Please Spyro, do not ask how I can do so, I have no idea how I can, it is a mystery to me. I just know that as it stands, I can use to varying degrees five elements, those elements being; fire, electricity, wind, fear and now ice, I was able to gain the use of them in that said order."

I sat there in disbelief at what I was hearing from Saber as it should be impossible. A purple dragon can use the elements of; fire, ice, electricity, and earth, but not the other four elements in any story that I have ever heard about. Yet Saber could use three of the same elements as me and two that Cynder could. It was odd, yes, but there had to be a reason, but I could not come up with anything. By the Chronicler's horns, there was more to this than Saber had said, but it looked like he would not say any more at the moment. Saber is my friend I want him to trust me, yet he needed to make that decision for himself. "Saber, there is more you are not telling me, I can tell. You can trust me, tell me what is happening. We are friends are we not?"

Saber looked at me for a long moment, nodded and then sighed, "Can you promise me that you will still be my friend afterward and hear me out completely," he posed.

"I think we can both do that," said a voice from behind us.

Saber and I turned to see Seth walking up to us. How long he had been listening I do not know, but long enough to know the subject matter of the conversation. He came and sat down on Saber's left.

-Saber's pov-

Okay, I know that Spyro and Seth… I guess I would include Cynder and Cyra in the group at some point do deserve an explanation. The question I need to ask myself… could I trust them? Telling them my basic story is one thing, telling them the whole horrible tale that is my life with nothing left out. Would they judge me to be someone who is not all there, or well, could I take the chance again and open up? I have been burned badly before now when I have taken that chance and the price I paid for those times hasn't been small. It is why I look after myself pretty much and little else truthfully, it has been one of the few consistencies that work with my life.

Yes, I suppose I could try once more, I want to believe that it will be different this time. "Okay then, the first thing you need to understand is my life does not always make sense nor is the nicest one to have lived. Now fact number one, before the age of five I really do not remember anything," I started.

It was true, I really couldn't recall anything from before I was five years old, the most distance memories I have. Those had been the early days with Uncle Douchebag and those hadn't been horrible, to begin with. Spyro looked a little shocked, "But, what about your parents? Surely, they can help you with that," he asked.

My face fell at that statement for I would have loved to say that Spyro was right, but… I couldn't, I have no memories of a father or mother at all. No, my descent into the depths of hell never involved any figures like that other than my Uncle and others later on. "I have never seen or met my parents, I don't know who they were. Logically speaking, I had to have had them at some point I imagine or I would not have been born. The story that I have been told was my father died while doing his job and that is all. My mom, I have really no information on as no one talks about the subject of my parents and as I do not have any idea why I cannot remember. It is like someone or something blocks the memories from being recalled, I do not know," I admitted.

"Did you not have anyone to call family," asked Seth.

I wish I could have told him I did not, but I would be lying and I avoid doing that. This was one of the subjects in my life which I didn't like to talk about if I didn't have to. The relationship between my uncle and me… was hard to explain, "Well, back in the world of humans there is for lack of a better term a 'system'," I said with bitter tones.

How to explain the idea that is employed to hand children that have nowhere to go? "The said system states that when a child does not have either of their biological parents or adopted parent, then they are sent one of two ways. The first and normal thing is that the child is then handed to a relative such as an aunt, uncle or some other relative who will take care of them. The other way is the child is sent to a place to be looked after by an assigned person or pair of people. My case was that my uncle got the responsibility to look after me and I honestly do not know if we are even related," I iterated hollowly. "At first it was fine, and he did watch after me most of the time. Then things went south… which I say to mean took a turn for the worse. As a result, my uncle became a drunken douche bag and made my life horrible for the years that passed."

Seth and Spyro just stared at me and I shrugged in response, and then continued "I have… family issues and that is putting it nicely." Their expression didn't change so I took that to elaborate the subject, "As I told Cyra once, to say that my uncle and I do not get along would be an understatement. We cannot stand being in the same room for more than a minute without getting into a fight. You know, it would better if I did not get into the kind of relationship I have with my uncle, it is complicated. So subject change then," I said.

Spyro spoke then after shaking of the shocked expression, "Where does your master as you call him to come into this," he questioned.

My mood shot up quite a bit with that question for any time I get to talk about Master Kai, the dojo or anything to do with it is a great time. "Ah, I am glad you asked for that subject is the saving grace of my life," I exclaimed. "It started a morning after I had been in a fight with my uncle. I was less than seven years old at the time and I was walking past the dojo when someone greeted me, which was Master Kai. Looking back on that day, it really changed my life forever and for the better."

I went into detail about some of the things I had learned and had been able to experience because of Master Kai that I wouldn't have otherwise. I regaled them about how Master Kai had offered for me to come in and have a talk and I had unknowingly needed that. And oh, how the one meeting changed the course of my life for I had found an activity that I could focus my bottled-up feelings. That was only the beginning, the training in martial arts and later kendo and swordsmanship helped me to learn life's lessons that most learn from their parents. For me well, I believe two words can explain why I learned these particular lessons from training at the dojo, my uncle. Anyways, I told them Master Kai's kindness had completely reshaped my life in ways I can only see looking back upon, rather than at the time the experiences were happening.

Now, I mentioned to Spyro and Seth about how my life wasn't the best which would be putting it very nicely and to a minuscule extent, mildly. There were a few things that contributed to my life is the way it has been, but three main ones come to mind. The largest contributor to why my life is an inescapable living hell? My uncle? The way other people treat me? Those two are two out of the three factors, there's no question about that, yet neither of two bears the biggest responsibility. No, the one that holds the top spot would be my bad luck would hand down, nothing else comes close. And I did mention some of the many examples of my bad luck, mostly general instances.

One such example I decided to tell them about an instance that I had told no one about except those who were involved and even most of them I said nothing to. I desperately want to trust both Spyro and Seth for I haven't had anyone who I can be fully open to for so long… years in fact. Master Kai is the only one I have been so forward with over the years of my life. Yes, I still have trust issues, and can you blame me with the people in my life I have had?! A prime picture of my point is my uncle, the drunken douche bag among other things. So, I have had a hard time trusting people and most don't take the time to cohere me to become closer. This would be the first test if I could trust the two, the first leap of faith in my part.

"Spyro, Seth… the experience I am about to tell you stays between us. I have my reasons why I state this, I can promise that. The only reason that you can say anything to anyone else is if I give you permission to do so," I stated.

They both looked at me curiously then nodded. I nevertheless hesitated in talking about this particular event for it wasn't nice in a way that my bad luck doesn't normally provide. I sighed and took a deep breath, "Well… I was still young, closer to nine than ten at the time. I had become fairly good at martial arts by then, confident to a credible standard. Between places that train people in such things, there is some 'friendly' competition, some less friendly than others. One time one of those competitions went bad and things… got messy," I began.

The painful tale about one of the few friends I had who was around the same age as me. She lost a match, but her opponent didn't just stop like they were supposed to when my friend had admitted the loss. Her opponent kept beating him and had started to hurt her. None of the adults had noticed at this 'friendly' competition as they were being kept busy by likely allies my friend's opponent. It had made me snap back at the time and things hadn't ended well to my shame. "You two have seen how far I will go to help a friend, so you know I am loyal to a fault at times. In this instance, I… I just snapped, it was like nothing else mattered, other than to make the one beating up my friend pay. I wanted vengeance on the boy, or so I thought," I paused, then continued. "It was then I heard a voice, I don't know if it was in my head or from somewhere else. It made me an offer," I said trailing off.

"What did it offer you," Spyro asked.

I cringed at the memory which was my first real eye-opening experience with the one I know as Shae. It was the first glimpse that he wasn't going to help me, more use me for his own desires. Before that, Shae had actually sympathized with my situation, he would listen, so I hadn't suspected that Shae would do the things he did or made me do. I glanced over to Spyro who had asked the question, "It offered me the chance at getting back at the other kid that was hurting my friend, it offered me what I saw as rightful vengeance. So, I accepted without a second thought. I only learned… no, I realized afterward that there was more to the offer than the voice had said. I had been blinded by my anger and was unable to see what the real offer was."

I talked about how I had not just beaten the kid, I had literally beat him into a bloody mess and near coma. This was before I had been stopped by force by some of the older students and I hadn't even realized what I had been doing. It is the reason I don't heed Shae any more, he can take control and that has never ended well. "Why did you go so far," Seth questioned.

I looked to Seth meekly for how do I explain what happened? For what I had gotten from Spectra, dragons don't know much on the workings of the mind and that's what this involves. "The thing is," I started. "I do not remember doing any of that at all! I remember agreeing to the offer the owner of the voice had made and then it is like someone flipped off a switch. The next thing I knew I was being held and pinned by three of the older students. And when I got a glimpse of what had happened to the kid, I was shocked, and I looked to the older students for an explanation of how this had happened. Yet I got silence, just glances down at my hands and when I looked down to my hands, I clearly saw that I had the injured boy's blood spattered on them." I paused as memories of the realization that I had done what happened came back to me. "I was scared at the implications this scene gave, I simply could not understand how I could have done anything to put the boy into that state. It was all like some kind of nightmare," I admitted.

I then went into the talk I had with Master Kai, which had been a very painful experience. I had never liked disappointing Master Kai, he had changed my life in ways I couldn't have done for myself. "It was during the conversation with him that I could not mistake the expression of disappointment on my master's face. That cut deeper and hurt me more than any physical harm would do to me. I wished for Master Kai to be proud of me, to be pleased with what I did. And I had done something that had gone against everything he had taught me up to that day." I took a deep breath, "That is when I began to think that some other force was involved and that maybe some of the things I had credited to my imagination could be more than that. The voice that had offered me what I wanted had somehow taken control of me and had used me to really hurt someone. It was like someone else was in me in control, and I have thought about the idea of possession a few times, however, I have always thought there was more to it than that. Well, ever since then I have been on my guard against that particular voice… anyways."

Spyro and Seth looked at me slightly worried, but both still listened to my story. It was a good sign that they had not got up and left after hearing about the experience. I then moved onto the odd experience of coming to the dragon realm, "Then, more recently," I began, "just before getting to the Dragon Realm in fact, I encountered something that I cannot exactly explain. A creature that freaked me out to my core and I cannot figure out why."

I have a loose description of the freak of nature that I had seen, it's not like I can forget it, more haunts me off and on. "So, you attacked by some sort of black creature," Seth inquired.

"Yes, it seemed to come out of the darkness and be made of it as well. I still cannot figure out what it was," I remarked thinking back. I thought about the experience once again and now thinking back on it the creature resembled a… dragon. My eyes widen slightly, and my mind started racing at this revelation, maybe there was more to the attacking creature and ending up in the dragon realm, rather than happenstance as I had originally thought.

"Saber you okay, was there something else," questioned Spyro which jerked me out of my thoughts.

I looked up at Spyro keeping a straight face as I spoke, "I do not think so. At least I do not see anything else that has real importance. I just thought… well, it's most likely nothing to worry about, so do not worry about it. Now let's see where did I leave off?"

"You had just arrived in the dragon realm," Seth supplied.

I picked up at that point of the flow of events and quickly ran through the events up to when I met Spyro. I went into a bit of detail of my interesting meeting with Sparx and that brought some interesting response. "I must say though Spyro your 'brother' was," I paused thinking of what words I should use, "interesting to say the least. I still have yet to decide if it has been a misfortune or not. I am leaning slightly one way that I will not say."

Seth snorted at my comment, "Misfortune without a doubt."

I took the tone an adult would with a child when gently reprimanding them, "Now Seth, that is a bit harsh even if I will neither confirm or deny that you may be right. Although IC does deserve the punishments he gets, still you should be nice. Yes, because of the personality he has, that is a large contribution to the problem. Plus, I have promised Spyro that I would try to be nicer to Sparx. I grant you that there are times that are hard, mostly when he is not around and then there are easier moments to tolerate him."

Spyro sighed and cleared his throat, "Come on you two enough, Saber continue please," he insisted.

I giggled a bit while rubbing the back of my head, "Yeah back to my story."

I continued until I came to the point where I had first saved the dragons from the apes and blacked out. At that point, I hesitated for a second for thus far both Spyro and Seth had listened to my story and hadn't left or shown expressions of horror or disgust. So, I continued, by going into my dream or vision that I met Azreyel and both Spyro and Seth were shocked when I told them that Asreyel looked exactly like me.

"This Az-rey-el looked exactly like you," Seth questioned.

I nodded at Seth and I had yet to come up with a rational explanation for why Azreyel looked like a carbon copy of me. "It was not just that he resembled me it was more like he was a carbon copy of me, an exact duplicate and that is not something you expect ever to see. The other thing was the place I had been around," I paused, trying to figure out how to word the idea. "I had never been there before that I can recall, yet it was familiar somehow, it was odd and weird feeling that's for sure."

"What is a car-b-on copy," asked Spyro.

I glanced over at him, seeing that he was giving me the 'explanation look', "A carbon copy is an exact duplicate or twin in this case. In other words, everything was the exact same, not a single piece no matter how small is different." I continued my story and got into about me discovering I had the ability to use fire and how it was activated by anger. When I got to the belching contest incident, Seth began chuckling keeping it quiet, so as not to wake those still sleeping. I then got to my second vision as I was coming to call the experiences, "So, in my second vision I got not only his name but also found out I could use electricity."

Spyro was deep in thought and Seth also had a thoughtful expression on his face, "This Asreyel is very unusual by what you said," commented Seth and I had to agree.

There was no need to tell me Asreyel is unusual, different, weird or any other term one cares to use, I already knew that fact. "By the sound of it, Asreyel sounds kind of like the Chronicler," Spyro said.

Hmm, I had never thought about it in that way that Spyro had put it even if that brought up the point I don't know who this Chronicler is. I'd heard reference to the individual from dragons in passing, but that's about all. "Hey, I hope neither of you two minds me asking something, but who is this Chronicler I keep hearing about," I inquired.

Both looked at me with surprise at my question though Spyro was the one to answer me, "I am surprised you have not heard things about him?"

I cleared my throat to respond to Spyro, "Oh I have actually, I just do not understand most facts I have heard about this 'Chronicler'. The stuff I have heard mostly references to the individual," I replied.

"Well," started Spyro, "the Chronicler is a dragon who keeps all the knowledge of time and history of the realm. He is thought to live forever and be the wisest dragon."

I thought about this even if it wasn't very much information other than his job has to suck and no way to get out of it. Much of what Spyro had said had been more or less what I had already gathered from the facts I had learned from listening around. Still, it sounded like not much was known about this Chronicler anyways, so who knows how much of the information was correct! "Okay, so this Chronicler is supposedly an immortal dragon who keeps records. That is not much to go with but I guess that works… kind of at least," I said.

Leaving that subject as it was, for now, I picked up where I had left off with the story. As Spyro knew much of the story from there to Warfang except my encounter with the cheetah tribe, I skimmed over the menial details. Seth looked amazed at how I had dealt with the Cheetahs while Spyro was trying not to laugh instead of just chuckling slightly. I then paused after the fight with the cheetahs for my third 'vision' had been by far the strangest of them all. Honestly, the third vision had been freaking creepy and I had relived the events of the vision in my nightmares twice. "Spyro, Seth, this next part is something I still don't understand. It seriously scares me; it does not make sense to me," I warned.

I gazed at those who were sitting and listening to me, "I had a third vision before waking up in the cheetah village, but this one was different from the two previous."

Giving the details of the vision wasn't that hard at first since it took place in the same place as the two previous. I told them of not seeing or finding Azreyel, unlike the previous visions before getting into the part where things became freaky. As recounted the next part in the series of events, I noted Spyro shiver and Seth shutter when I described certain things. I didn't blame them, it still scared the pants off me… figuratively speaking. I was freaked out by the experience, I will admit that, and I was the one who had the vision! "This vision you had Saber has to have happened for a reason! I mean you are not a dragon so," Seth was saying

I glanced over at him and frowned as I wanted to agree with him and Spyro who was nodding. However, after going through those events, it was very hard to believe that such had happened for a reason. It just confused me all the more, "After what I saw… I do not know if that is true. If it is, then I am not sure I want to know the reason for such events myself," I admitted.

"What do those voices you mention mean I wonder," questioned Seth.

Seth's question was one I was absolutely sure what the answer was, and I may not like the answer either, but that's how it is. Yet, these two had not once disbelieved me or spoke harshly about anything I had said thus far, and I hadn't had that happen with any other than Master Kai and one other. So, I would trust them with the thing I wasn't willing to admit, "The voices… meaning is not a mystery to me yet, I just hate… the cold truth of the answer!"

Both Spyro and Seth looked at me surprised and Spyro voiced the question that I would not doubt both were thinking, "What do they mean and why would you hate the answer?"

"Those voices were saying the feelings… that was in my heart… and I guess still are to an extent," I muttered. I don't think anyone likes to confess that you have faults and it's worse when you state your 'inner demons'. Those things that you can call the deepest, darkest secrets can be anything and usually are embarrassing to admit. For me, they were the feelings that I had gone to extreme lengths to hide and bury and now I felt so ashamed of even voicing those feelings. I hated them, but that didn't change the fact they were there, and I felt them from time to time.

So, it was to my great surprise that I felt Spyro put his wing over my shoulder, and when I turned to him my eyes were wide with astonishment, "You are not alone, you have Seth, me and everyone else here. You may be of a different race and come from a different place than we do, still, that does not matter. We are your friends and will be by your side come what may."

Seth stretched forth a paw and placed it on my left shoulder in a comforting gesture, "Spyro is right Saber, we are here for you no matter what may happen."

I stared at Spyro, heck, I openly gaped with my mouth hanging open, yet I didn't really notice this action I had done. I had never had someone say that to me, I'm essentially an outcast of society for crying out loud. Sure, I had 'friends' at the dojo, but none of those that I had told them my story, had ever replied as Spyro did. Most just thought I was telling stories or didn't believe me and it's the main reason I had stopped telling my story to anyone, most tend to think I am crazy or not all there. My mouth slowly closed and formed a genuine smile, the first in years I had outside the dojo and even there it was rare. "Thanks, Spyro, Seth," said with humility. "That means more than you can ever know."

"Of course, happy to say so," said Spyro and then seemed to be thinking, "But I have never heard of a white-scaled dragon before."

"Nor have I Spyro. Saber are you sure that as a dragon your scales were white and not very light grey," posed Seth.

I looked over to Seth and shook my head since I had gone through the horrible experience three complete times! There is no way I would mistake the fact of scale color as it was stark, "Nope, they were definitely white no question," I stated.

I continued my tale, from Seth showing me around Warfang to meeting Cyra. When I got to the next morning finding Sparx in the position I did, Spyro sighed, "So that is what happened. Why do you two do things to one another?"

I turned to Spyro and fainted ignorance, "I have no idea what you mean. I can't help that I build things during the time I sleep. My… you know what, never mind, the point is it was his choice to try to enter when I specifically told him not to," I justified.

Seth was muffling his laughter Sparx's mishap as I went on by telling them about meeting the moles and Hawkins and the conversation I had with Cyra. When I got to the evening of confronting Spectra, both Spyro and Seth gave me their full attention. When I described the incident Seth frowned and Spyro just looked shocked. Spyro was the first to respond, "Shards of my egg I did not think Spectra could be that mean without someone making her mad. Most that are around her, know better," he said.

"I can believe it when she is pushed to a point," Seth confided "She can be scary."

I understood what Seth meant and I snorted for there is a perfect label for Spectra with how she had responded to me. "It is called an 'overprotective sister mode' Seth. It is a royal pain in my butt I can assure you! I should know since I was the one on the receiving end of the idea." I continued with telling them of how the wind element reacted to me and I sent Spectra flying, then the rest of the conversation as it happened.

When the next morning had come, it had been the outset for Seth, Cyra and I went to searching for Ruben. I went into more detail on the first meeting with Mara after the fight I had the first morning outside of Warfang. I mentioned my suspicion of her and these 'Silent Killers' she was a part of as they were not to be waved off in my opinion. When I got to the part of finding Ruben in the cave, Seth chuckled a bit when I said Ruben had shot me with electricity and my… reaction to what he had done to me. Spyro frowned at that piece of information, "I cannot see why Ruben would do that," he said.

I sighed as Spyro sometimes is too nice for his own good, his innocence can be a detriment in a way. However, this is the real world and so it isn't all good and happy ending kind of thing, "Spyro in his defense, it was obvious that he had been beaten, tortured and in all ways treated badly. So, seeing a creature that looks like the apes… I would have been hostile as well if I had been in his position," I replied.

"Um, you were yelling at them, so you were kind of hostile," Seth stated.

I turned to Seth and gave him a look of annoyance of being corrected when you are telling a story. I normally have firm control over my emotions, BUT even I have my limits to how much I can take before I lose it! Yet, I think I should be cut some slack for me as I had been under a high amount of stress. "I had built up," I began, curtailing the profanity that was trying to claw its way out, "some frustration over the last few days okay. So, please give me a break and cut me some slack, AND in my defense, I did not take the pent-up frustration out physically on Ruben, Nightbane, and Nightmare! I took it out on the apes, who are a much better medium for venting so no problems with that, if you do see any, then keep them to yourselves."

I took a minute to take some deep breaths and calm down and I then kept going from where I had left off. That brought me to the point when we had got back to Warfang when we had met back up with Spectra. At this point, Seth spoke up, "I have to say I was a little worried when Spectra said the guardians wanted to see us."

I shrugged, "Cyra was showing more worry than you were and I am impressed you were handling it as you were Seth," I replied.

Spyro asked a question then, "Why were you worried about the guardians want to see you?"

Both Seth and I glanced over at Spyro with looks of disbelief, "Um, Spyro you do remember the situation we left in, correct," Seth questioned.

I was nodding, "Yes, what Seth said, we left Warfang without the guardians' knowledge or permission. So, our standing with them was not good, to put it bluntly, very bad actually."

Seth looked back to me with a questioning look on his face, "So, did you build that tool in the time you disappeared?"

I realized what he was talking about then and nodded, "Yes indeed, I used the less than an hour of time I had to come up with an idea that would be able to increase the chances in a fight with a guardian or multiple guardians, should the need arise of course. And it just so happened that need did arise, so my preparations had not been in vain," I said.

"So how did you get into an argument with Terrador," Spyro inquired.

I looked over to Spyro, unable to keep the look of guilt like a boy that has been caught in doing wrong by an adult. Would Spyro understand that I have a tendency to be an uh… little too good at playing the role of 'devil's advocate'? Then when you combine that with my streak of stubbornness… let's just say it very rare for such to help me and leave it at that!

"Well, you see um, it is… rather complicated," I began. Spyro gave me a look that said get on with it and I sighed before I began the story of the incident. I set the stage of the room of the guardians on one side and those of us who were in trouble on the other. Although, I noted Spyro cringing slightly when I described the unhappy look on Terrador's face. I supposed that means he has gotten that look or something similar as well.

In fact, three out of the eight guardians were mad at what we had done for whatever reasons they had. I said I knew our chances of coming to an understanding with the guardians would be slim, but not that slim. I had to tell this to Spyro so he could understand just how tense the room had felt since the rest of the story wouldn't make sense if I didn't. I gave a quick account of the conversation we were doomed to listen to by force through the means of guilt from the start with the guardians. Seth put in his thoughts and his thanks for me defending Cyra and himself as I put out the point of how the guardians are missing the point in this entire journey that we went on. I couldn't help, but mention when Terrador talked about my luck, "I don't understand. Why would Terrador saying you are 'pushing your luck' is funny?"

Glancing over to Spyro, I'm surprised that Spyro hasn't seen the reason it is funny. He has a front row seat to view the results and frequency of my bad luck after all. "It is funny due to the fact with my bad luck, pushing it is a daily requirement. You have seen that first uh, you know what, never mind, it is too hard to explain the joke to be worth it at this time."

I went on with my tale that had spellbound both of them with how I pin the point to the Guardian dragons by putting forth the point of the ends justifying the means. I had endorsed the Guardians into the view they had of me and in hindsight, I did thoroughly wind them up, no denying that. Then, with my issues with authority didn't help the situation in any way so, the outcome was rather obvious, I guess looking at it now. It was when I got to the challenge I gave Terrador that Spyro went wide-eyed, "You said what to Terrador," he exclaimed.

I thought for a moment, "I believe it was something along the lines of 'Anytime, anywhere Terrador, just name the time and place, then we will have us a rumble. So, bring it, and don't think your size will give you an advantage over me. I have beaten many opponents who were bigger than me.' but I could be roughly paraphrasing to an extent. I did state the line in the heat of the moment and with the clear oncoming battle could have affected my speech in the way of increasing the use of sarcasm and insults. So, I do not think I was entirely at fault… per se," I iterated.

Spyro just sighed and shook his head in disbelief, "I really cannot see how it could have gotten worse," he muttered.

Oh Spyro my friend, you should know me better by now for I have shown myself capable. And making things worse is my luck's forte and business, so there was no way things would stop with my comments I had made back at that time. As humans might put it metaphorically speaking, Spyro knows nothing of setting fires under people's feet… or here paws I suppose, whereas I definitely do. There is an amusing point to the art that is hard to say no to, in fact, I would compare the idea as the one you can consider addictive!

As for me, when I set a fire under someone, I light me a blazing bond fire at bare minimum and go on from there! Many may think such ways of thinking is unwise pursuit, but I say why to do something a small way when you can do so much farther haha whee! I tried to smile as I reply to Spyro, but it turned out to be more of a guilty grimace, "Well Spyro, I would love to say I agree with could not have gotten worse. Yet well, when I get on one of those interesting tangents… it is just extremely hard to stop ha ha ha," I said.

Spyro glared at me, "What did you do," he demanded.

This will not be taken well by Spyro, but what's done is done and I can't take it back, "Funny you ask that I pretty much-added insult to injury by saying something to the effect of the fight not being over the position of alpha male. I have got to say… those tangents can really get me into trouble at times," I answered with a laugh at the end.

Seth and Spyro were looking at me with the explanation look again and I sighed, "The phrase 'added or adding insult to injury' means you are making a harsh insult or mean gesture worse by adding more to it. The idea of an 'Alpha Male', simply put the top ruling male of the place and the one who makes the rules."

Seth face lit up with comprehension, "Oh, that makes a lot of sense and your exchange is clearer now! Not nicer, but easier to understand and now I comprehend why Terrador got so mad," he mused.

Spyro just groaned, "Do I really want to know what you are referring to Seth," asked Spyro.

"The long fight short, I lost to Terrador and was sent flying through one of the glass windows in the council chamber," I replied in a flat tone. "I have to say if I had been able to feel pain at that time, going through the window would have been worse. It definitely would have been awful to the nth degree or at least a doozy of a painful idea to feel. Thank goodness for the side effects of adrenaline, they are wonderful when they come," I exclaimed. Then my expression changed to be a bit soberer, "I felt it later though and it was still painful. Again, thankfully Seth and Cyra were able to help me down from where I stopped."

Seth shook his head slightly, "If not for your tool we would have not reached you before you hit the ground," he stated.

I nodded in agreement as he was quite right, if not for my grapple shot then I would be a splattered on the grounds at the foot of the Dragon Temple. Spyro let out a relieved breath, "And for that out of the many things makes me happy as I am just glad you are okay," he remarked.

I smiled at Spyro, "Thanks Spyro, that means a lot," I returned.

Seth spoke up at that point, "I must admit though, I have never seen Spectra yell that much, at Terrador no less."

Spectra did WHAT!? I'd never heard anything about that and Spectra tongue lashing Terrador is something I want to see! So, I spun around on the spot hearing this, "Wait back UP if you please, Spectra vocally abused Terrador while I was out," I exclaimed, to which Seth nodded in response. Why… oh why, do I MISS THE MOST AMAZING THINGS?! "Man, why do I miss the good stuff? Seth you have got to give me the full details later… Spectra vocally abusing Terrador sounds epic."

Seth looked at me curiously, "Okay I admit it was neat to watch, but why are you so interested?"

Okay, after having spent weeks in the healer's wing being bored out of my mind, I wanted something to make it worth what I went through. I sigh and shook my head as I don't think they will ever understand the idea of just how entertaining watching certain thing or individuals can really be, especially when you're not the one providing the said entertainment! Well might as well as give them a chance and attempt to explain, "Oh Seth, there is a human phrase that fits this perfectly, 'Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn' and it is absolutely true! The meaning of the said phrase is, don't mess with a female you will regret it in the end period. If you do mess with a female, then they have nasty ways of getting back at you which you cannot avoid! I can say from experience that females can fight dirty! It does not mean they always do, but they can if you give them a reason," I iterated.

"So you took some time to recover and then what," Spyro questioned getting us back on task.

I turned back to Spyro and continued the story and after I gave a brief description of getting clothes and meeting Hunter on a more personal basis, I talked about meeting Sarana. I couldn't help the shudder that ran through me at remembering that experience. I went on about how we were given the mission of finding Cynder and himself as no one had heard anything about him. I mentioned to Spyro about the ambush that happened on the outset.

Then the events that led up to getting here and then was silent, "Well that is quite a story, and I believe it," said Spyro. I glanced over and smiled at Spyro and ironic, he used basically the same reply I did when he told me his story.

"It is interesting that you reply in the same fashion I did to your story," I commented, "It is funny, I have a hard time believing it and I have and am still living it. There are times I wonder when I will wake up and find this has all been a dream."

Seth laughed at my comment, "I highly doubt that your dreams are neither all the injuries you have gotten nor this vivid."

Seth had a very VERY good point, "I do not know how still you will need to train yourself to help not getting hurt, Saber," added Spyro.

Spyro wasn't saying anything I didn't already know, yet I still had to agree with Spyro on that, especially after my close win against Shiek yesterday. "Hey you two since we're on the subject of training maybe you could help me. I am doing okay with learning how to use the elements by self-teaching, but I would progress better I think if I had someone teaching me."

Both Spyro and Seth thought for a moment, and then Spyro spoke first, "Well, the Guardians are the best choice."

I groaned at the thought of the Guardians even asking them for such was for me unwise in my opinion since the position I had with them was shaky at the moment. True they had asked me for help finding Spyro, but I know it was out of desperation more than trust… plus, I had been pestering them about Spyro. "Nice thought Spyro, but I would think that would be a bad idea so, I don't think so. The Guardians know of my abilities to use at least one of the elements, none of them know I am up to five."

Seth also frowned at my answer and nodded in agreement, "I think Saber going to the Guardians is a bad idea as well. He does not have good standing with some of them," Seth was saying.

"You can just call them by name you know," I said flatly. After saying that reply to Seth I turned to Spyro, "What Seth means, is Terrador, Cyril and Volteer do not exactly trust me… and honestly, the feeling is mutual for I do not really trust those three either. I cannot see them finding out that I can use not just one but multiple elements going down well with them. I think the Guardians are the last choice and resort for me."

The three of us continued to think upon the subject of a teacher for me, then a thought came to me, a simple yet amazing idea. The question was would he agree with me on this? I looked over to Spyro, "Say Spyro, what if you teach me?"

Spyro just stared at me confusion on his face, "Me teach you?"

Seth hummed approval at the suggestion, "Actually that would work better than any other solution I can come up with," he mused.

Spyro shook his head in denial, "I cannot teach you."

"Why not Spyro," I posed to Spyro. "You know more about how to harness the elements than I do in four areas and I am finding out by trial and error! A method that is not the best to use, it can end badly sometimes, my injuries should make that clear enough," I insisted.

Spyro was wide-eyed by this point at my suggestion and Seth's agreement to it, "What if I teach wrong?"

I laughed at his worry, for truthful I doubt he could do any worse than I had been doing, "Spyro you cannot, I repeat, cannot teach me any worse than I am currently teaching myself really. I will say it to you like this in hopes that you will understand. I have long ago found out of the incredible healing properties of the red crystals from all the burns and sparks and other elemental damage marks I have taken over the time I have been attempting to teach myself. So trust me you cannot do worse," I assured.

I thought about the alternatives if Spyro flat refused to teach me for if he said no, I would respect that choice. I did have a couple of options available to me, "I mean if you are so against it, I can and will respect that. I suppose I could ask Cyra on ice and Ruben on Electricity they might be able to help me." I hummed, "Say Seth do you think Cynder would be willing to give me some pointers in the ones she can use?"

Seth nodded in reply trying to keep a straight face as it would seem he had understood what I was trying to do, "I don't doubt she would if you asked," he replied.

Spyro let out a sigh meaning that I do believe we have convinced him, "Alright I get it yes, I will try to help you learn to harness the elements."

I smiled widely at Spyro, "Spyro I do not doubt you will be a wonderful teacher, you just need to give yourself a chance," I stated.

Spyro smile slightly and Seth started to chuckle, "Saber, Spyro, what do you both think about breakfast," asked Seth.

"Sounds good to me," I replied.

"Indeed I like the sound of that," Spyro returned.

The conversation with Spyro and Seth this morning had done wonders on improving my mood overall. Spyro and Seth had heard me out and had not hated or feared me and I grudgingly confess I hadn't really expected much. Okay, I thought they were going to say I was lying and the draconic equivalent to 'you're a raving lunatic'! Yet they hadn't, both of them were indeed true friends to me. Master Kai had always said to be yourself and you will draw those who wish to be your friends to you. Now as I walked with Spyro and Seth, I understood what Master Kai had meant.

A/n

And that's where chapter 22 will leave off, hope you're liking the rewrite please some of you take the time to write reviews, thank you for reading this.