The past few weeks weren't the best, I avoided everyone the best I could without being rude. Everyone, of course, decided to stop by and check on me. I'm pretty sure I have them all convinced that I'm fine, but I don't think Cynder believes me for a second. I'm pretty sure she knows that I've been sneaking out. She probably has tried to follow me a couple of times. There is no way she could have though. She doesn't know I have the shadow element so she can't track me very far.

I hate having to sneak out, but it's the only way for me to keep my secret and to use my elements in private. It's some me time, but it always makes me feel bad and for some reason I've been feeling the need to use my elements more and more. I wish I could share this part of myself without causing trouble for my new friends. I could just imagine the fun we could have. Jumping from shadows playing tag, creating ice rinks in the middle of summer, flying through the sky having the times of our lives. It gives me a dose of depression every time I think about what could be and not having it.

That's just selfish thinking, what's wrong with me. Well on a good sort of note, I got my room decorated and furnished. I like it, so has everyone else as far as I know.

I have three sizable cushions in the main room that can easily fit two dragons on one or just one if you wanted a comfortable nap. The shelves are lined with various trinkets, I actually found some elemental crystals that were shaped into various dragon shapes. Apparently they resonate with the dragons that correspond to their element and passively increase the amount of elemental magic they can store just by being around them. I just wanted the figurines on my shelves, but bonus I guess. My sleeping room now has a little more to it now. I got some royal blue curtains for my balcony, damn where they were expensive though! I also got a ton of pillows for my "bed" if you will. I still say it's a glorified dog bed. So now I can sleep in, on, or surrounded by pillows. I should be comfortable, but strangely, I'm not….

It's been harder and harder to get up in the mornings. I feel overly tired for almost no reason. I know I've been keeping myself busy, but I make sure to eat properly and sleep well. I don't know why I feel this way and it… just keeps getting……..worse.

A knock comes from the door, "Hay! Ya up yet Mr. lazy scales!" Cynder…. great. It's not like I don't like her company, she's just more likely to pick up that something is wrong with me.

"Ya I'm up! But I don't feel so well, can you let everyone know I won't make it to breakfast!" I don't know if she heard me or not. I wasn't really yelling as loud as I could right now. Then I hear my door open. Great…. next thing I see is her head peeking around the corner. "Well at least you're decent, so what's up?"

"Decent!? You're the one that came in without permission so it would be your own fault" I blush a bit at what she was suggesting "anyway, I'm just not feeling to well"

"Well you look comfortable at least. do you need anything?" She was fishing for a response. I know it's a typical thing to ask a sick person, but with how I answer will give many different pieces of information.

"No, I should be fine, thank you though." It's the most bland answer I could come up with while also telling her to leave me alone.

She has a worried look on her face, "Well, ok then, call if you need anything."

I just nod my head and let my eyes droop a bit while she leaves.

Cynder

I know something is up with him. He's been like this since the school closed. He puts on this mask to appear like he's doing ok, he's good at it too, that in itself is never a good sign. I need to find a way to help him. Wait a minute! He's been getting up later and later in the mornings, he isn't depressed is he? He has to be worried about what we think of him. I'll get Spyro to go talk to him later. For now though, I'm going to get Volteer to give him a check up to force a little more interaction out of him.

I find Volteer stuffed in one of his books, he's reading up on magic side effects on the body, how come.

"Hay Volteer! Ya busy?"

"Oh! Cynder. I didn't see you walk in. Anyway, yes, at the moment I'm double checking something. What did you need?"

"Sam was feeling under the weather. I was wondering if you could go check on him."

Volteer began to scratch his chin "Actually Cynder, that was what I was double checking. Sam has been getting up later and later and has appeared more tired than ever. But I'm confused."

"With what?"

"Well, he's got symptoms of magical overcharge, and the only way for that to happen is if he absorbs too many green gems or if his emotions are in turmoil. But I've not seen evidence to prove either statement true"

"Almost didn't make it complicated Volteer, A for effort, but you did miss something. Sam's emotions have been in turmoil. My question is how would that give him a magical overcharge?"

"Well it's quite simple actually, our elements are connected to our emotions, so when we experience an emotion we usually get an elemental response. And if the energy is just constantly gathered and not dispersed, the body will try to bleed off the energy naturally. This process however, tires out the dragon in question, and can sometimes lead to a permanent comma. There's still one issue however, this is usually an issue for youngsters that haven't had their element for long and don't know how to release it. Sam is far from a novice so he shouldn't be having this problem."

This just confused me more, he's got more than enough experience with his element. "Maybe he's unintentionally doing it to himself. He did say that he basically grew up alone and was constantly using his element to escape. Maybe he never learned that it could happen. I mean he hasn't been using his element as much since he's been here and this is also his first time with other dragons. It's a perfect storm if you ask me."

Volteer raises an eyebrow, " that would certainly explain it, but that would mean that his energy regeneration rate would have to be exceptionly high…." then his expression goes from contemplation to worry "by the ancestors! We need to help him now! Or it may be too late!"

Volteer literally bolted out of the room and down the hall. By the time I had gotten there he was already running back out of the room with Sam wrapped under his front leg.

Sam was unconscious, was I too late, did I wait too long to get him help….

Sam

I remember being carried somewhere, I didn't know why and I didn't really care. I was just so tired. I slipped back into sleep just to be woken up again, but I was in the training room. Why was I in the training room

"Sam!"

What was that, it sounded like someone called my name… I guess it's time to get up.

"Sam hurry! Get up before we lose you!"

"Huh, what? What do you mean?"

"Hurry use as much magic as you!"

Why do they want me to use my…. magic. I'm tired, can't they…. just…. let me…….sleep………..

I jumped up from an electric shock. I'm a little panicked from it and I'm looking around trying to figure out what the hell zapped me. Then Volteer literally smacked me.

"Use you element damn it!"

"Ow, you didn't have to smack me. I would have done it"

"I don't care! Your life is in danger! I already had to revive you once I'm not willing to do it again! Now do it! Unleash everything!

I hesitated for a second, but as I began to try and gather the energy to do it I noticed something, the energy was already gathered. It was interesting, it was like a damn getting ready to burst, I've been getting similar experiences all this week and that's why it always felt nice to get out and use my elements, but nothing this intense.

"Hurry up damn it!"

"Oh ya. well, here it goes."

I let loose every spell I can think of that can blow off as much magic as possible while not hurting anyone I'm the room. I unfurled a massive pair of wind wings, I surrounded myself in a mini tornado and i blew a steady stream of wind from my maw toward the door to send it down the hallway, I later learned I had dusted the whole temple with that one, I kept that going for a while too it took almost till diner to completely drain myself while using as much as I could without making anything lethal. Everyone's reactions were a little worrying though. At first it was relief, but then after an hour it became confusion. I could tell Volteer wanted to fire a million questions at me and so did Spyro and Cynder, they looked a little more amazed then anything, but they still looked a little confused by how long my magic reserves where lasting.

It was time for diner and apparently it was also time for an intervention. Terridor held a very stoic poise and started it off, "you need to tell us what's wrong" he said matter of factly. I just looked away, I can't handle being thrown out for this, I don't know what I would do if I was hated here of all places. "Don't be afraid there is nothing you could possibly tell us that would make us hate you" Cyril said matter of factly. "Well I could tell you I'm a reincarnation of Malefor, that would make you hate me, but that would be a lie" I chuckle a bit to hopefully change the subject, I would literally prefer anything else. I would rather be scolded for that bad joke then talk about this, but it looks like it's not gonna happen. They all just give me Blank stares with various degrees of annoyance. "Sam", Cynder speaks up, "don't be afraid, I did some bad things in my past and I still have people that care about me" she gestures to everyone in the room, "so please, just tell us. I don't want one of my only friends dying because of who they are. I wouldn't survive it no matter what Spyro would say. It would make me question everything I have built up for myself. I would fall into a depression just as strong as before and I wouldn't be able to climb out of it, but right now we can help you climb out of yours, so please, tell us what's wrong."

My eyes are watering at this point. I can't let her down more than I already have. I would rather have her hate me than be sad because of me. So I sigh and relent. "Are you all sure you want to know?" They all silently nod their heads. I sigh again, "ok. I'm sure you are wanting to know how I have so much power at my disposal and not want to be a guardian. Well, allow me to show you."

I step back into a clear section of the dining room and raise a paw. I create a simple wisp of wind. Everyone just started looking at me confused and a little bit of agitation from both Cyril and Terridor. I sigh and begin the show. I created a wisp of shadow and everyone immediately got an intrigued look on their faces and before anything could be said I created a wisp of poison and then fear to accompany them. Cynder looked especially excited to find someone that could do everything she could, so I had some hope.

She gets all excited and blurts out, "that's so coool! Why would you hide that part of yourself!"

I chuckle a little bit and smile at her, "actually, that's not all."

Now everyone really looked confused. So while maintaining the four wisps I had, I started making the last four. Now with fire, ice, electricity, and earth wisps floating around me, with wind, shadow, poison, and fear… every just stares at me, their mouths all agape. Volteer begins to shake. Oh no. Here it comes.

"This is marvelous, stupendous, absolutely spectacular! How in the ancestors do you exist! I've never seen or read about another dragon like you ever existing! THIS IS SO EXCITING! I can't wait for you to show me everything you can do!"

Now I'm confused, "Wait… you aren't going to lock me up…. or banish me or something like that?" Volteer actually stops his musings to answer, "oh heavens no! What in the world gave you that idea?"

I just began to droop, "well Malefor was the first purple dragon and he turned out to be evil. Now I'm the first Silver dragon and I can potentially become more powerful then he ever could have. Why wouldn't you try and get rid of me before I became a threat." I'm starting to sob now. I literally just gave them the perfect reason to lock me up, but I'm sure Terridor and Cyril were already thinking about that anyway. "Just lock me up now and let my powers overload again so I don't become a problem" I lift up my front paws and lower my head as a few tears hit the floor, but no kind of restraints come. In fact, I was met with a hug instead… and another… and another and finally all of them. "What are you guys doing? Why aren't you capturing me and locking me away until I die…"

I can feel Spyro rubbing my back, "because stupid, we don't do that to innocent dragons, and we don't throw out friends"

I can't help it anymore, I just let out a good cry. All the while my new friends are holding me close and accepting me.

"Oh, and don't think we aren't going to spar now, I wanna see what you can do too."

I chuckle a bit, "Ok Spyro, but I'm not responsible if you get your but kicked."

"We'll see about that."

I'm glad I was able to find a new home here.