Chapter 3:A Dragon's Life Choice

Finally the slow walk through town came to an end for Thoranos and Asher. The dragon had made the walk all too long and slow to think about the offer he was given last night. Thoranos seemed to be pressuring him into forgetting about it, but his own thoughts said otherwise. His obsession and desires beckoned him to take up the offer, regardless of what it would mean between him and the Alphas. He needed to make the decision before it made his brain explode from the stress and aches.

Thoranos honestly did not help, other then push him into choosing to let his own purpose go. Thankfully, Asher and Thoranos finally made it back into the guild after so much walking. Thoranos was more than happy to go in and get some lunch and a drink. Asher on the other hand had something else to handle, and it required him to remain alone for a bit. So he leaned against the wall of the guild, while Thoranos turned to the dragon and sighed with no amusement.

"Want a mutton or something? Perhaps some slow roasted chicken from the fire,"Thoranos offered some hot lunch that might help Asher get his mind off his sister,"Come on… Let this thing go, and lets just enjoy what we got here before it all goes to the fire pits…!"

"Just go inside and let me think, please…!"Asher growled and slowly sat down against the guild while Thoranos shrugged his shoulders.

He then respectfully left Asher to soak in the inner struggle his was in. While the big cat enjoyed some cheers and some lunch the moment he went inside to get a meal in his gut. Asher looked at the bracelet he was given for a silent moment of deep thought and solemness. He had a memento of his sister around his wrist, and within it, there was a picture of her to give him plenty of closure. But that did not feel like enough, he wanted to see her, hold her, see how Cynder has grown in so long.

But would she even recognize him, or even be comfortable around him should he find her. Will Spyro trust in him after the cold blooded work Asher did while Spyro watched over her. He was known to be forgiving and even a believer of second chances for the wrongly made wicked ones. But he's also powerful, and knows how to punish the ones he truly deems wicked and vile. Would he trust another black dragon near Cynder when it was learned that she became his betrothed.

Slowly the dragon began to pull out the photo he had hidden in the bracelet. Asher took a good long look of the two dragon's standing triumphantly after Malefor's destruction. It felt good to see her actual face after the world was saved, she seemed to be growing strong and respectfully. If only he could have been there to help them, if only he could have fought for his sister. As it stood, he did nothing but remained imprisoned in an amber prison and listened to his sister get corrupted by Malefor's darkness.

He held the picture against his head as he once more remembered the screams she let out. Before all went silent, his head shook and a groan rattled through his sharp teeth. Her words of sisterly love came next, it did quite a number on his stone cold heart, compliments of his Alpha mercs. They made him sturdy and able to resist any sort of strong emotions other than anger. But it did not mean he was immune to them, especially during this struggle of what truly mattered.

"What do I do…? Is peeving off Felious worth finally finding her?"Asher asked himself as he slowly loosened his grasp on his head, and looked at the photo.

"Your sister Cynder loves you very much!"That voice racked at his brain as he pounded away at the wooden wall.

Would she really still love him after all that she had suffered through for him? He sighed, wishing there were answers to all these questions as he slowly began to stand up. For he did realize one answer to one of many questions, his answers would be given by the guardians at Warfang. And what questions remained could easily lay with Cynder, she was the key to what his life had been. It started with him, her, Malefor, and Gaul, two were now dead, and only Asher and Cynder lived on.

There was only one way to find the true closure he was looking for in his life. To do this, it would involve turning his back on the mercenaries that took him out of the ape cave and raised him. Then again, he was made into mercenary just like all the rest of Felious's crew. And boy was he a key to the Alpha's success and rise to both fame and infamy, without him the Alpha's would be nothing. Perhaps Hunter had merit to his words after accusing Felious of caring only for what Asher could give him.

Finally, Asher made his decision in that moment, his time had come to pursue what he searched for. With a shake of his head and a pound of his fist against the wall, he stormed for the door. He swung the door open with a shove from his right claws, the door slammed open. Some of the Alpha's got a small spook as Asher marched into the guild and fast walked passed his comrades. He kept his eyes forward, not even paying any attention to an instantly concerned Felious.

It did not matter, all Asher thought of was what he wanted to do for his life, and Cynder. He charged up the steps while slipping the photo back into his bracelet for safe keepings. He kicked open the door to his bedroom and rushed in to get some choice provisions for this trip. Warfang was at least a couple days away on foot, but flying on the other hand would cut the time in half. So all he needed was a blanket to sleep on, a small pocket knife, and an old metal canteen.

He folded up the blanket and manage to strap it to his back for easy carrying. He even managed to slip the knife into a crevice of the blanket, keeping it hidden for emergencies. Once he strapped a small leather survivor belt around his hip, he was then able to fasten in the canteen. A couple survival tools, and a blanket to sleep on was all he needed when in the wild. But he did need money, but that was beyond an easy thing to get, all he had to do was go downstairs and talk with Leo.

Leo was usually one to handle money in ways of personal payment for the Alphas. So Asher went back downstairs and into the guilt, he got an immediate response of looks around the room. Seeing the supplies on his waist and his back put quite the scare into the Avalarian Mercenaries. Leo simply leaned against a pillar next to the steps, chuckling and shaking his head at Asher. Before pulling out a medium sack full of gold pieces, and twirling the sack around and between his fingers.

"Leo? Care to tell me how much I'm due for after all of last week?"Asher asked before Leo simply slapped the sack into Asher's claws and chuckled.

"Just take the hundred pieces before Felious tries to stop you…!"Leo responded as Asher nodded and watched Felious look like he was about to have a silent break down.

"Right… Do me a favor… Don't hunt me down or I'll have to kill ya…!"Asher offered a favor of the archer before quickly making a fast walk for the door.

"Sure… Whatever you say…!"Leo said to himself and remained where he was, chuckling away at Asher's very grown up choice.

The dragon passed by Felious and stopped for a moment to look down to his old boss. His eyes narrowed down as Felious held his own head full of stress and left over hang over. Asher closed his eyes, and released a sigh before he then moved on to what was more important. He made for the door, leaving Felious behind as he gripped the gem he still kept hidden in his pocket. He shook his head and felt the enchantments surge through his body, forcing a sudden anger within himself.

The moment Asher swung the door open and took in the fresh Avalar air around him. The realization of what he was doing began to dawn on him, his life was about to change. He was actually leaving for Warfang, and leaving his mercenary family behind to find his true family. He looked to his bracelet and tightened up his grip before pounding at his chest. Filling himself with conviction for this mission, he just had to hold his wish to see his sister and have all his questions answered close at heart.

But now he had one more thing to settle before he could move on, there was no easy way out of this. As he heard the door swing open and slam against the guild's wall before Felious walked out. Where he then stormed down the steps and tried following Asher a good bit of the way. After a dozen feet through the town, Asher decided there was no just doing it quick like a band aid. So he stopped walking and stood in the middle of town, as Felious stopped following after standing several feet away.

Felious had some choice words to give Asher after what he chose to do. And the chances were high that Asher may never returned to him if he truly does go on this adventure. It made the Alpha leader's blood boil as he took his paw out of his pocket and finally voiced his outrage.

"ASHER! Where the heck do you think you're going?!"Felious yelled while Asher lowered his head, thinking of what to say in this moment.

He then slowly turned around, showing that he was no longer wearing his black mask. His face was just out there for all to see, and Asher even went as far as to throw off his hood. Allowing many of the other citizens to see his black face with pearly white spikes, his true identy was now revealed.

"I think you know where I'm going, Felious! This was going to happen sooner or later,"Asher replied and finally faced off with his boss and surrogate father,"I have to leave…! I need to know what happened while I was sealed away and kept hidden from the world. I need to know what has become of my sister."

"Then she should seek YOU out! But no! She does not care about you any more!She's not worth it!"Felious argued without restraint, causing every one to back away from the tension.

"That's for me to decide! But I need to see this through! I must find her!"Asher made himself clear and remained defiant to Felious.

"Is a sister that truly did not care for you really more important than the family that gave a crap about you?!"Felious roared as he bit back the temptation to grip and console the gem.

"If she did not care about me… Why am I still alive after being in the grasp of Gaul as an egg?"Asher questioned before he the turned away from Felious and decided to leave.

"Asher! Don't you run away from me! ASHER! ASHER!"Felious wanted to follow the dragon even more, but fell to his knees with anger and growing grief.

"If it means anything… Thanks for everything you did for me… I won't forget what I had here with you and the Alphas…!"Asher admitted and lowered his head once more before finally getting on his way.

"You're abandoning us! You're leaving behind the only ones that will ever care about you, Asher,"Felious spat and yelled, only to be short on breath and starting to lose his mind,"Asher! Asher…! Come back here…! Asher…!"

His roars and spats of insults turned into groans and wails of crippling misery. This was common among a lot of manly cats like Felious, abandonment was sensitive to them no matter their masculinity. And it was destroying Felious, as he slammed his fists into the dirt. He could only keep growling and calling to his favorite dragon, as Asher slowly left him for the world outside Avalar. He truly did feel sorry, but the dragon had his own adventure to take, no matter the pain it would cause him.

His head remained low as he listen to the fading calls of his old guardian Felious. He felt for the bold and respectable leader, it was not always easy to say goodbye to such a big cat. It was even starting to bring back memories, memories of a time where Felious was the only one he ever trusted.

16 Years Ago

He remembered it, four years old, sitting in a seat next to Felious all quiet. He was taken out to do some hunting, in the valley of Avalar, mercs needed to know how to hunt for survival. Those were useful skills for when they had jobs that took longer than just a day or so. And after Leo shot down a deer right through both of it's eyes, Asher was a little bit disturbed. It did not help that Felious was drinking ale to celebrate a successful hunt, but he wasn't drunk quite yet.

And once the big cat finally noticed that Asher was unhappy and troubled by the hunt. He sighed, he was pretty young yet, so he needed to be at least somewhat gentle or helpful to the dragon. Felious sat his mug down and put his feet up on the table to keep this chat comfortable for the both of them.

"So! This was a good hunt today! The boys will be eating good food on the jobs for two weeks,"Felious heartily laughed while some of the crew came down with deer jerky,"You did pretty good with tracking…! That dragon nose of yours made it impossible to lose that deer."

Asher did not answer, he could not stop thinking about how the deer was killed. Just shot dead in the eyes, and then the mercs quickly went to work on it while the body was still warm. Skinning it with razor sharp fillet knives to remove the pelt and skin itself from the animal. And seeing it's very flesh and lack of fat due to it being a lean type of animal was an unsavory sight. There was so much blood to clean out before the deer was ready to be cut up into meat for the crew.

"You shouldn't let that kind of stuff bug you. It was either the deer or us in the end,"Felious finished with the hearty laughter and tried a more frontal approach,"We hunt like this all the time, and you'll have to as well when you're out there in the wild. You gotta find food wherever it is and wherever it's plentiful, or you will starve out there in the wild."

The young dragon looked down to his claws, his tiny claws that were sharp, just like the knives. He could easily tear into the deer if he wanted to, it would be as easy as taking a breath of air. But taking a life did not seem right, even if it was for the sake of survival in the wild.

"The deer gives it's life so we can live for survival, dragons in particular did this kind of thing all the time,"Felious added and watched the boys sharing the jerky with each other, they even tossed him a piece,"No matter what evil doers have bit the dust. The world is going to get cruel at times, and only the strong will survive the cruel things in it. Believe me, you want to survive it."

"Even if it means killing…?"Asher quietly answered with a question at long last with uncertainty.

"Yes… You gotta be ready to toughen up. A lot of these boys want to one day fight by your side,"Felious pointed to the mercenary crew that surrounded them on almost all sides,"I wanna make sure you fight good and lead them to victory in every mission possible. So you'll need to be strong, and get over these sympathetic feelings for anything other than yourself and the crew."

Asher looked around to his cold blooded family, all of them having a blast it seemed. To be working side by side with them in the wild was a high and inspiring honor he wanted. So against his better judgment, Asher lifted his head and sighed for the family he wanted to prove himself to.

"Can you do that for the future? For the sake of your family here?"Felious asked as Asher took a moment to think before giving his answer.

"Yeah…"That was all he could answer before watching the crew enjoy their quarry, all thanks to his sensitive nose.

Present

This memory, and so many more would be with the black dragon through this journey. As he finally exited the town at long last, where he was now facing a vast valley before him. He could have taken a shortcut, but there was no way he'd convince Prowlus to let him pass. And last thing he needed was to create and attract notoriety on his way to the city of dragons. Thankfully he had the gift of flight, so the long way wasn't all that bad, it gave him a chance to take in all of nature.

Once he was clear of all the people and out of the town, he made a simple stroll to the nearest cliff. He shuffled the blanket and knife on his back for a better hold on it. Before he stepped out onto the ledge, taking in the gleaming morning sun that would soon make it to high noon. He took in the warm rays of sun, and spread out his arms to embrace the light and a gentle breeze. Before Asher finally took the plunge, and casually fell forward and off the cliff with grace.

The breeze changed to a gust as he fell from the ledge and let it ripple through his long coat. Before he was able to sprout his long and wide wings, allowing him to get the breeze under his wings. Asher was then able to suddenly shoot right up swiftly and take to the air. He went up, passing the ledge within seconds before he was flying for the proud blue and cloudy skies. He did not stop ascending to the sky until he then went clean through a cluster of fluffy white clouds.

Allowing his scales to glitter from the sunlight that he would follow to his destination. Warfang was the destination, and nothing was going to stop after he manage to get pass Felious. Now the time had come to go to the city of dragons, and speak with the guardians, he was going to be among his own kind.

Warfang

And this great city that Asher was now departing for was something truly unique all on it's own. It truly was a city that dragons lived in, alongside a race of mole people that grew a friendship with the dragons. They helped to build and maintain this grand city of stone and gold. It made the city shine from afar, even the most treacherous of cliff sides got a good view of the vast city. As it overlooked a plain that was once ravaged by the violence and death of moles and grublings.

But now the great green fields have flourished with flowers and new found life. A sight to be hold for the great city with the thickest of stone walls, and the most creative of homes, statues, and mechanism. Some of which were used for city defenses that miraculous stood up against the grublings. Gates that were closed up by black iron mechanisms and locks made of dragon fire that merges together. Before cooling off and turning to a solid forged iron lock, quite creative and cultural for dragons.

The Avalar village may have prospered to the point that it grew to a town, but Warfang was on a whole other level. All the gold and jade jars and statues of dragons and moles of old. All that wealth was enough to make the greediest of people sick and insane with desire. But it was distributed, and proper wealth shared among all people common, poor or rich prevented such chaos. With such a grand city so at peace and able to give all a chance to thrive and live a good life.

It left more important matters to the very important beings that helped guide this city. Three guardians of the four great elements of nature, Ice, Electricity, and Earth. Ignitus was the bearer of fire, and the very red dragon that left the temple to protect Spyro from destruction, He unfortunately sacrificed himself to help Spyro stop Malefor, but his spirit lived on with a higher calling. While his other guardians, Volteer, the dragon of lightning, Cyril, the dragon of ice, and Terrador, the dragon of earth. These three were once held captive by the corrupted dragoness herself, Cinder.

But now they lived free and proud within a more freshly made dragon palace. Where the guardians and many esteemed moles lived when they weren't helping the city. It was located on a more elevated level of the great city where the more noble and wealthy moles thrived. While the lower level was occupied by the military and the lower class but equally respectful moles. The palace even had a long strip of road and gardens where dragons and other flying creatures could come in for a landing.

This time around however, it was merely Hunter walking up the steps at the side of the stone landing strip. For he had at long last returned to the city through the secret tunnel and by pony ride. He was slow to make it up the stairs, he had grown weary from the travels he went through. The afternoon sky glimmered on his back and wide across the landing strip stone. A slight warmth was like a sweet welcome to the Avalar archer, he longed to return to the palace to rejuvenate.

But first, Hunter needed to consult the three remaining guardians of the city. He needed to report that his mission was a success and hope for good news from Cyril. For he was a wise icy dragon that read a lot in the palace archives, if there was any one to consult, it was him. Volteer was smart too, but he was a dragon of many words, and he made it impossible for any one to pay attention after he started talking. So Hunter preferred it to be Cyril he spoke to, as he slowly pushed the red double door gates open.

They were heavy and studded with thick gold studs, but they opened without too much trouble. Allowing Hunter to enter the palace, green and black jaded flooring was under his feet. Great gold and red pillars lined up next to the middle of a great hallway that lead to more steps. Steps that were covered by a rug also colored with red all the way to the end, but that was not his direction. He made a sharp right and went through a small jaded door with a loose handle knob that required pulling.

He rushed in where he then had to ascend up a spiral stair case of the same colored jade material. As exhausted as he was, his patience kept him going as he calmly walked up the stairs. This gave him time to think about what he talked about with the long lost twin of Cynder. He seemed a bit harden, but he was clearly more open minded than the other mercenaries in that guild. Plus the dragon proved to be the merciful type, but his eyes showed that he had shed more than a fair share of blood.

But Cynder was a dragon with a dark past as well, she could never hold anything against her twin. At least that was what Hunter would liked to believe, and she sounded sincere when she gave them this long time request. In fact, she seemed heart felt and worried more than she did before. So the conversation he had with Asher had more significance than he knew himself. He steeled himself to stay dignified and patient for the result, but his heart hoped that Asher would take the offer.

Hunter was almost too absorbed in his thoughts, and almost missed his final step before he entered it. The very archives located atop of one tower of four that surrounded the dragon palace. But he was saved from such a stumble thanks to a glowing old friend who would remain a memorable friend and brother to Spyro.

"Hey! Hunter, you made it back just in time!"Came the greeting of the glowing yellow dragon fly himself, Sparx.

"Ah, Sparx. Your chatty self has actually saved me from hurting myself on the steps,"Hunter admitted as the dragon fly shook his head, for he had gotten use to the jokes about his chatty self,"It's good to see you, my friend! The journey all the way from Avalar has take a significant toll on me."

"Well, yeah! That's a long way to walk between Warfang and Avalar. But I guess you really had to do it, huh,"Sparx went on and agreed with the state Hunter was in from his travels,"So did you find this long lost brother of Cynder? And was he just as…"kind and gentle as her?"

"Hehe… I did find him as a matter of fact, and he turned out to not be as bad as the guardians expected,"Hunter explained as he then began to walk with the sparkling dragon fly,"We spoke, and he seems deeply interested in finding Cynder. He actually saved my neck from his less than savory family of mercenaries."

"Ok, score one for the friendly type versus the annoying and witty type…!"Sparx of course spoke of the testy and sassy relationship he and Cynder shared in the past.

"But the leader Felious doesn't appear to share Asher's personal goals to heart,"Hunter went on to remember how vicious the Alpha leader was when it came to keeping Hunter away from Asher,"I nearly lost my head to that foolish merc. He means well, but I can sense his greed for the wealth Asher brings in is stronger than his compassion for the dragon."

"Hah! And they say dragons can have a ridiculous greed streak in their hearts!"Sparx laughed before they then paused to see the blue dragon Cyril putting away some books.

"So… Is Cyril open for my debriefing, or is he busy?"Hunter respectfully asked of the dragon fly, not being one for rude interruptions.

"He just got done reading a book about Ignitus's young days, but I think he'll be fine,"Sparx admitted while crossing his arms at the sight of the blue dragon,"But…to be safe, I'd stay away from any nostalgic talk with the guy."

"Understood… Thank you, Sparx."Hunter replied and walked to the blue dragon of ice.

He was quiet to approach, for he needed a moment to think of what to say. But he didn't have long before the ice dragon spotted him approaching from the reflection on the flooring. Cyril turned around and made Hunter take a kneel before him, the dragon bowed to Hunter in return.

"I have returned, Cyril…! And I have found the lost twin of Cynder. In the town of Avalar itself."Hunter began to explain what had transpired during his mission to find the black dragon.

"Excellent, so he does live. Ignitus would have been pleased to know of his survival,"Cyril responded with relief and a stroke of happiness for this good news, but he remained steeled,"Were you able to meet with the dragon? And was he at all compliant with you."

"Well, he did keep his fellow mercenaries from cutting me into pieces,"Hunter admitted as he stood back up and regaled the tale of fighting mercenaries to see the dragon,"And he was willing to sit down with me and talk. So he was a bit more pleasant than any of us expected him to be."

"Good… A dragon of rational thinking among those Alpha mercs. And did you bestow to him Cynder's gift?"Cyril asked of the experienced archer friend, his curiosity was truly piqued.

"I have… He was grateful, and was enticed by the offer of possibly finding her at long last,"Hunter explained the conversation him and Asher had about Cynder,"He said he'd think about it. But I worry that his crew might try to keep him away and hidden from us."

"Mercenaries… Moment please…"Cyril suddenly requested before he then suddenly walked towards a center mechanism.

Hunter fell silent for the dragon's request as he approached the strange mechanism. It held six different balls of different sizes, ranging from a boulder size to small bouncy ball size. The ice dragon slowly blew a cold breath that streamed into a tube spiraled around the large spheres. Causing the tube to fill up and start to glow with strange enchantments. They then began to turn the orbs around the room, as a bright blue light filled them, along with a black swirl.

The large orb got a respectable breeze blasting around the entire room. Before the glow from the large ball of crystal swirled down and into the ones below it, as a mist of blue masked it slightly. They all watched in silence as Cyril slowly grabbed at the final small orb. Feeling out it's magic as the orbs transferred the magic lower and lower down the line. Till it finally reached the final one, and caused the small orb to let a first of magic and images surround the entire room.

Hunter and Sparx looked around and saw a whole town that was all too familiar to them. It was the Avalar town Hunter had just came from, but it showed a much different image. It brought them to the spot where Felious angrily tried to follow Asher himself out of the town. Sparx was surprised to actually see another large dragon, for he had only known the guardians and Malefor to be the big ones around the realm. So this was quite a sight to behold, and it only got more tense.

As they had then began to hear the dramatic and intense fight between Asher and Felious. As unsympathetic Hunter wished to feel about the cat who tried to have him beheaded. Once he saw Felious drop to his knees and give into a heart wrenching defeat, sympathy was felt. Sparx didn't know him, so he could not feel bad for someone who tried to kill a friend of his. With that, Asher departed from the town, and they even got to see the dragon take off into the skies, heading in their directions.

Cyril smirked and nodded with satisfaction, and a bit of sympathy of his own for the merc. But now they had the answer they were hoping to get from the black dragon. Asher was coming to Warfang, just like they hoped, this meant that they needed to roll out the red carpet for him. Quickly, Cyril tapped the small orb with his claw, and the magic began to quickly shut down. The images lightly exploded into mists of blue as the orbs were quick to be drained of it's magic.

Once the magic was gone, the orbs stopped spinning, and the room went dim with light. Only the sunshine of several windows kept the room lit to some degree, it was enough to see. As the ice dragon slowly turned around to face Hunter and Sparx with new orders that needed to be fulfilled.

"Hunter… Do gets some much needed food and rest. I'm sure your journey was costly to some degree,"Cyril decided to let Hunter get the rest and relaxation he needed from his journey,"Sparx! Move around the castle, tell the guards, and tell the people to prepare a welcoming for the lost black dragon!"

"You got it, Cyril! One big celebration and welcome wagon coming up!"Sparx replied and took off through a window to spread the word of Asher's arrival.

"Are you certain that you won't need any further assistance?"Hunter made perfectly sure with the dragon before he would leave for his much deserved break.

"Yes…! He will arrive by tomorrow around noon. He'll need your guidance, so you'll need your strength and knowledge to help him through the city,"Cyril responded and slowly pulled out another book from the shelf on dragons that were born,"Once he is here… Then my fellow guardians and I will take it from there."

Hunter sighed, as much as he liked to honor the dragons with his assistance on the matter. He respected this personal endeavor of the dragons and bowed to Cyril's wishes. Before he then slowly left the dragon to his book, and made for the stairs to leave and get some much needed food first. This gave the ice dragon a chance to look over the final three names that appeared on the book. Spyro, Cynder, and Asher, these were the last three dragons ever born in this realm.

"Get here safely lost one…! You must be the one to find Spyro and Cynder…! They need you,"Cyril gave a small hope for Asher's survival on the journey he was making to Warfang,"Without you… I fear a deadly fate will befall the two dragons, and all hope for our race will perish."

As general as his concerns were, he could recall a time when Cynder at long last visited them. Ten years ago, she and she alone came to the palace for an unexpected request of them, she seemed so sincere that day.

10 Years Ago

It was quite the surprise, the guards were the first to see the grown black dragoness in her familiar yet most refreshing form. She was full grown, her body almost as slender as a snake, her legs sleek while her claws and spikes were as white as snow. Her green eyes were gem like, but they were no longer filled with evil or darkness, there was only beauty, kindness, and bravery in them. She may have taken on the adult form she once bared as an evil servant, but she was anything but a servant now. And her purpose for being at the palace was anything but evil.

The guards were wide eyed, they did not know what to think when they saw her in the form she now took on. Out of respect for her redeeming rescue of their city, they then decided to take a kneel to her, as she bowed her head to them with respect. Slowly the black dragoness passed them, and entered the palace, folding in her red wings for safety. Once she was in the jade hallway, the dragoness found herself a bit lost in the palace. Rather than risk getting lost in the palace, she simply decided to call out to her old friends.

"Volteer! Cyril! Terrador! Please, show yourselves! We have to speak!"Cynder called out strongly before her calls were quickly answered.

"Well! This is an expected visitor!"Cynder recognized his voice immediately and sighed heavily, as the dragon fly of the hour buzzed right in front of her face.

"Of all the help that i could find in here... I get the chatty dragon fly... Hello, Sparx,"Cynder greeted the dragon fly she did have some past issues with,"Have you seen the guardians? I have to speak with them on an important matter."

"Wow... Just a small hello and a sigh before you're straight to the point. That's a heck of a way to break the ice after ten years,"Sparx huffed and buzzed around the black dragoness,"Where's Spyro? I thought he would be with you?He is still around isn't-"

"Spyro is waiting outside of Warfang for me... There's... Some other things we want to do before we ever return,"Cynder explained that there was apparently some personal things that they felt needed to be cleared up before they could move on to the future,"I'm here because I need you and the guardians help with finding some one."

"Who?"Sparx curiously picked up on the important and low tone Cynder suddenly took.

"My twin brother..."Cynder answered and did the impossible by striking Sparx with disbelief, and making him fall silent, no words could be said.

"A twin brother, you say?"Came the deep and bellowing voice of the earth guardian himself, this gained Cynder's attention towards the stairs.

There she witnessed the three elemental guardians that defended the last of the dragons now stood before her. Volteer, the great yellow dragon of lightning with a mouth as fast and vocal as Sparx himself. Cyril, the blue great dragon of ice, calm and collective in his own right and recently started to catch up on more reading. Then there was Terrador, the strong green great dragon of earth, stern but respectable for his strong heart. This was quite the refreshing sight to see, though it was bitter sweet not seeing Ignitus with them.

"Hello...! It's good to see you all after so long...!"Cynder knelt down to the guardians that her and Spyro looked to for guidance.

"It's been too long, Cynder. You and Spyro are managing in the new age of peace, I take it?"Terrador asked of the dragoness as she raised back up and stood tall.

"We have...! The two of us have been...flying...! Traveling to areas around the realm, fixing mistakes from the past,"Cynder explained a bit about the travels that kept the two of them apart from the others,"And I'm here on the matter of fixing one last problem..."

"Of course... It is this...twin you apparently have?"Cyril took much interest in this lost secret about Cynder's past.

"Yes... He and I were taken by Gaul under the orders of Malefore...! I'm remembering more and more of it as I go,"Cynder approached the guardians while spinning a tale of her perspective on the life as a slave to Malefor and Gaul,"For some reason, my brother was sealed within a prison of amber. Malefore chose not to do to him what he did to me."

"Well that's for the best...! I mean, you were a big enough issue in the past when we first met. Why would we want a beefy male version of you trying to pound us into dirt,"Sparx questioned and saw Cynder actually bite back temptation to snarl and chew the dragonfly out,"What? It was just a thought."

"Why do you think he spared your brother from Malefor's corruption?"Terrador asked curiously about this odd behavior from an old enemy.

"I don't know... But he was used as leverage against me. To make me surrender to the darkness,"This made the guardians feel a sort of grim and gentle fury after a child or even baby being dangled around and used as insurance against another,"Eventually I had to submit, or Gaul promised he would kill him... But that time was over, and I learned that Gaul never killed him...! So me and Spyro went back to his lair."

"And did you find him...?"Cyril asked.

"No... Only his egg shells remained... He had to have hatched, so me and Spyro are leaving to find him,"Cynder answered and started to play with her right bracelet and casually remove it,"And we were hoping to request some help from all of you... He's out there somewhere... And I want to see if you will keep an eye out for him..."

"Of course we can look out for him, Cynder! Just the thought that there's another young dragon only means so much more hope for our people,"Volteer got started on his endless share of words that got his fellow guardians groaning and bracing for an imminent annoyance,"A dragon like you helping to grow back our world would be an absolute boom to the dragon realm, the only concerns we have is what he might be like if he was in your presence as an egg during your time with Gaul. He may very well be scarred mentally or even insane from what he retained as an egg."

"Volteer is right, we will keep an eye out, but be prepared if things might not go the way you hope Cynder..."Terrador agreed and warned Cynder of a bad outcome that was possible for her if she was to find her twin.

"Man... That sounds like a...tough break..."Sparx admitted and suddenly went silent the minute he saw Cynder lowering her head a bit.

She was hoping never to worry about such possibilities, the idea of actually losing her twin after what they endured together. That was not a fitting end that she wanted for him or her, death or insanity was never something she thought possible in this endeavor. But the facts and possibilities were to be respected and understood. So all she could do was slowly remove the bracelet from her right claws and look deeply into the shine. Before she would give it up and hope it would help prevent such an outcome.

"Me and Spyro are going to search for him regardless... If he's alive out there, we will find him,"Cynder made her determined desire clear before slowly offering the bracelet to the guardians,"But if you are able to find him... Make sure he gets this... As a symbol of our freedom."

Sparx looked to the guardians with confusion, and they just nodded in response to her plea. So the dragon fly zipped forth and took up the bracelet to give it to Cyril for safe keeping. This left Cynder to turn away and look to the exit, knowing that she had quite the adventure on her claws with Spyro.

"When I wore both it symbolized my slavery to Malefor, and Gaul... But if we both wear one, it shows that we have broken our chains of servitude, and we are free,"Cynder explained and slowly began to leave the palace and the friends she just got to see again,"I'm sorry to leave you all this soon... I missed all of you... Even you Sparx..."

"We understand... We will keep our eyes vigilant for any sign of your twin... Is there... Anything we could tell him if we do?"Terrador asked of Cynder as she froze at the door.

"Tell him... If he wants to find me... He just has to do this..."Cynder thought about the means of her brother finding her, should he miraculously be searching for her.

Cliff Hanger! And so the first part of a grand adventure for the lost black dragon begins here. A journey to Warfang will ensue, and it will prove to be the first test of Asher's will and desire to find Cynder. Feel free to review and such, I'd like to hear from you the spyro fans, I don't know a lot of Spyro fans, and I'd like to. So stay awesome every one.