Chapter 11:Bitter Work
The first week was not too difficult, but it was boring beyond belief. All Asher could do was rest and read, confined to a bed until his wounds healed enough that he could walk again. It was a daily thing, closest thing to a high light was getting some tlc from the nurse when it came to bathing. Hunter stopped by to speak, but there wasn't much else they could really say to each other. He dared not try to strike up conversations with Sparx, for that dragon fly would never stop.
At the very least, he did catch up on the needed reading about the areas of the realm. From the swamps to the Artisians, places where most of his common merc missions were. As well as the lesser known areas like the Glacierscar, and The Old Munition Forges where weapons of war were made. Even the curious White isle was insisted upon, it was like Cynder didn't just look around the inner world. It sounded like she was even going as far as to the edges of the world in her search.
If this was true, then he needed to be ready for these lesser known parts of the realm. There was no knowing where Cynder would take him on the journey she herself went on to find him. So as boring and painful as this in bed reading was, he paid close attention, and read his books thoroughly. Basically he would read until he fell asleep or some one arrived to check on him. The visits were rare, but they were helpful for support, as much as he hated to admit it, he did need help.
Suddenly, in the middle of the week, he got a much different type of visitor. It happened at sunset right when he was starting to get tired of reading a whole book about the well of souls. After finishing a page, he gave out a deep breath of relief that slightly turned to a groan. He placed a book on the table next to him, before laying back to slowly fall asleep to pass another day and night. Only to shoot up and hurt the side of his body, thanks to a window creaking and tapping.
He looked to the window in question, and watched it frantically open up with a struggle. He lifted his right arm as high as he could, but it was not completely recovered from it's injuries yet. Thankfully, he could lay down his arm once he realized who it was, and shook his head.
Leo the archer struggled, but got the window open before rolling through the opening. He landed on all fours, and pulled out his bow to scope out the whole room with an explosive arrow. Once he verified that the room was clear of onlookers, he slowly put away the bow, and greeted Asher.
"You look like you've seen better days, Asher. Enjoying the bed rest?"He greeted with a chuckle and playful mockery of Asher's current state.
"Look into my eyes…! Does it look like I enjoy being in this bed like a slob?"Asher groaned and tried to sit up more.
"That nurse seemed to help you feel a lot better about being here."Leo incited and Asher scoffed at the notion.
"What are you doing here? Trying to give me another lecture like Grit?"Asher decided to end the small talk and get to the point of Leo's visit.
"Now what ever gave you that idea? You think I'm interested in doing something Grit would do,"He made another questioning joke before suddenly relaying some recent news,"Grit was actually executed shortly after he returned to Cheetah Town…"
"Really? Finally pissed off the wrong cat or beast?"Asher questioned, knowing Grit had quite a few people with grudges against him.
"No… He was actually killed by Felious himself for some sort of betrayal."Leo answered and made Asher go silent for a moment at the response.
Grit was a weasel of a shrew, cowardly and nasty in his own right, but betrayal? If there was ever one redeeming quality that the coward had, it was loyalty to the Alphas. And several days ago, the fiend got done yelling at Asher for leaving the Alphas for his own personal path he needed to take.
"That doesn't sound right at all. What could Grit have done for Felious to kill him,"Asher asked Leo and even asked himself this question,"They're really this upset at me for leaving?"
"Yep… And even I have no idea what Grit could have done… Somethings going on,"Leo warned as he slowly pulled out a letter he got a day ago,"He wrote a very weird letter to me… Sounds like something you hear from the unstable hermins from those huts in the Ashlands."
Asher reached out, willing to take up the letter to see this weird behavior for himself. Leo kindly gave him the letter, it felt like a good sign to notice Asher's lingering concerns for the group. Once the dragon started reading, it was getting harder and harder to believe that this was Felious's writing.
Leo
Grit has been taken care of for his betrayal, but now I need you on more than a mere recon over Asher. My boy… He's not in his right of mind… He's going to kill the Alphas with his actions. You must stop him, convince him not to go on this journey to find Cynder. I don't wish to kill him like I did Grit…! Do everything you can to stop him, please…! I'll await your next message, and either the Alphas are going to go dragon hunting, or my boy will be returned to me…!
Felious.
"What the hell…? I never had a thought in my mind to attack the Alphas. Unless they got in my way."Asher felt a growing outrage in his chest to hear such thoughts of a fight between him and his mercenary family.
"Well, Felious doesn't know the difference anymore apparently,"Leo warned while Asher crumpled up the letter to toss it,"He really means what he says about hunting you or bringing you back…!"
"If he's going to stand in my way, then I will fight him off. This is my destiny!"Asher showed that he was not backing away from the path he chose to walk.
"I know…! But I honestly don't want to see the Alphas destroy themselves over a misunderstanding,"Leo yelled and then sighed to keep himself composed,"I need to at least give you the option to turn away from this path…! Unless you're certain that you can do this!"
"I can and I will! My sister has done the same thing I'm about to do! And she's still out there risking life and limb to find me,"Asher roared and manage to slam down a fist before slow pain would make him regret it,"If she's willing to search all of the world for me, then what the hell kind of brother would I be if I couldn't do the same for her?"
Leo went silent, his hood stayed over his head as it lowered into deep thinking. Asher remained convicted to this path, and this new insight into Cynder herself immediately changed his thoughts. It sounded like this black dragoness was being just as set on the search for Asher as he was for her. It reminded him of how Felious once was a long time ago, for he was once a family cat himself. Felious would do the same thing for the family he once loved, before dark times settled in.
Finally, he crossed his arms, knowing that there was nothing more to say now. This was the choice that Asher was going to follow, and for once it was something of a noble journey he was going on. In a way, he had to give Asher the respect he deserved for doing something warm blooded for once.
"Then I guess I can't stop you from doing what you believe is right,"Leo agreed to Asher's decision with a nod,"This is your family… Your…true family. I won't stand in your way, not if what you say about your sister is true."
"Thank you… Feel free to pass that on to Felious when you see him again."Asher remarked before he was able to gently lay back down to relax and prepare for pain in his arm.
"I am to stay here until you either change your mind or be on your way. So… Can't really go anywhere,"Leo chuckled and leaned against a wall,"At least I can offer more enjoyable company. Unless you're starting to enjoy Hunter and the dragon fly's company."
"Hunter is not so bad…! And all you gotta do is learn to tone Sparx out."Both Leo and Asher were able to exchange a round of chuckles.
"I would hope so…! That banana bug has a bigger mouth than the frogs that eat them!"Leo followed up with a joke of his own.
"Aaaagh!"The pain was coming back in Asher's arm from earlier, and the laughing caused aches in his chest.
"Going to hard as always, I presume?"Leo questioned the dragon's actions that clearly put him in this position.
"Just had to prove a little something to the guardians. Wasn't a fan of being treated like a naive student."Asher admitted while groaning and trying to relax his body.
"I know, I saw the war zone you and them old dragons caused all through the area,"Leo admitted that he spied on the fight Asher engaged in with the guardians,"They're right, you know? About you being a little too reckless in battle?"
Asher immediately groaned and slowly turned around to his side away from Leo. He got this lecture before and he got it again with Hunter, now Leo needed to remind him of old lessons. No matter how strong he was, the only way he ever survived as long as he did was because a team was behind him.
"You succeeded in endeavors with the help of others most of the time,"Leo gave him the lecture, regardless of how many times Asher already got it,"You're strong, but you're not invincible. You pull that kind of stuff out there. You'll end up in an early grave."
"I know…! You told me that as a kid, and I got done getting that lecture by Hunter,"Asher growled and shook off the lecture,"I'm already being forced to bring Hunter and the fruit fly with me for back up!"
"Wow…! That's it? Just some white knight wannabe archer and a bug are your back up,"Leo was lost for words at the idea of a cat like Hunter, and a mere dragon fly being Asher's allies,"They call the two of them your crew members on thi-"
Suddenly a knocking came to the door, and he was quickly alarmed to the sudden arrival. He wanted to argue this idea, but now he needed to wait for another time to talk this over. For now, Leo bolted for the window, he vaulted through it and vanished before the door opened. Allowing the nurse to enter the room with some special ointment, pills and new bandages. This time, Cyril came in right behind her, for a decision was made to speed up Asher's recovery to gain more time to train him.
"We've come to redress your injuries and help with your healing."The nurse informed while Cyril stood by the tabel to give her space to work.
"Ok… Then what is he for?"Asher asked while Catra lifted his left arm to get started on the mystery ointment.
"I'm here to cut your recovery time in half, starting with this ointment,"Cyril explained while the nurse began to apply it to the effected areas,"We'll need all the time we can get to help you learn your element, so we need to speed up the healing process."
"The ointment will control temperatures in your body and blood, so Cyril can freeze them."The nurse explained, and gently rubbed in the ointment from his wrist to his shoulder.
"How is coating me in ice going to heal me faster. That sounds just like a quicker way to die."Asher remarked before noticing the weird feeling of warmth being trapped in his arm.
"I will coat your body in a thin sheet of ice. The ointment will keep you from freezing,"Cyril continued on as Catra worked on the other arm,"Meanwhile, the cold itself will chill your nerves and your blood. Allowing the cells in your body to be stimulated, allowing them to duplicate quicker through the body."
"English, please?"Asher requested.
"Your injuries will heal much faster. A couple days is all it will take after he applies the ice."The nurse explained as she quickly did the other arm.
"Geez… All this special treatment just to teach me how to play with fire?"Asher questioned the curiosity the guardians were slightly showing for him.
"You'll need all the help you can get on this journey. You have an impressive fire that burns hotter than we've ever felt before,"Cyril explained while Catra dared to start working on the upper and lower body,"But it will take time to teach you how to use that fire like second nature, especially since it works completely different from your physical abilities."
Asher could not remember it precisely, but he did recall some talk about how his fire worked from Ignitus. He spoke about the spirit being the true torch for his fire, his physical talents was very different from fire. But he looked to the guardian, hoping to hear some clarifying information on how he will learn to harness his element.
"It won't be easy, but you must learn to let your spirit reign free and strong. Your heart, mind, and spirit are the source of your fire,"Cyril explained the difference between Asher's nature power and his physical power,"Your physical abilities only constrict and hold your fire back, closing out your spirit to true power."
"My spirit? Why do I feel like I'm about to get introduced to some hipster crap?"Asher asked before Catra finally finished coating his body in ointment.
"It will require some meditation and a calm mind, but it also requires a strong heart,"Cyril admitted and started working in some of the details,"Your heart is the release for your spirit, and all it will need is focus and a strong enough purpose to drive you, to unleash your fire."
"Great…! Sounds like a whole lot of fun…!"Asher scoffed at the idea of a completely different form of training, one that tested something he rarely ever used before.
"You shouldn't be so quick to write it off as a nuisance. Your heart will always be stronger than any amount of muscle you can hope to muster,"Cyril turned the explanation into yet another lecture,"Spyro was a natural with fighting with his heart. For he always put the lives of others and the realm itself before his own desires, even when darkness threaten to overtake him."
"What's the point of bringing your precious student into this?"Asher retorted after disliking the sudden comparison Cyril tried to do between him and Spyro.
"You can do it too. Your heart clearly desires to find your sister, yet you hold it in to preserve this sort of mercenary mentality,"Cyril went on to come out with it and tell Asher the problem with his fire and spirit,"Your overly tough mentality that you adopted from the Alphas forces you to close your heart to emotion and drive beyond money."
"I see… So perhaps the reason my fire is growing and sparking recently is…"Asher finally took a moment to think about it, and realize what was triggering his fire recently.
"Your desire to find Cynder is guiding you. It's what your heart wants, not your muscle,"Cyril explained the key to helping Asher wield his power over fire,"So we will need to help your mind focus, help you find peace and willingness to let your heart open up. Allowing your spirit to unleash, along with your element."
Cyril slowly stood up as the nurse removed the sheets, she immediately began to wrap him up in bandages. When that was finished, Cyril was able to start unleashing his icy breath. The breath came gently, the cold still spiked a bit through Asher's bones as the ice began to form. It was thin, forming like a second layer of skin rather than frost or blocks, it was enough to send shivers within the black dragon. But the ointment was already doing it's job, keeping his body warm from the inside.
The shivers soon gave away to a sudden rush of adrenaline, it was like his body was kicked into full gear. His heart was pumping, he could feel the blood rushing through him faster than before. It was like he took quite the strong drink, or even a stimulating elixir meant for muscle enhancement.
"Are you willing to trust us, and open your heart to our teachings? For the sake of your sister?"Cyril asked as the pain numbed, and Asher was able to sit up, breathing rapidly to bring this stimulation down a bit.
"Holly hell…! Feels like the moment before I first had-"Asher was unable to finish that statement by Cyril interrupting him.
"Asher? Will you please accept these teachings?"Cyril asked once more, and the black dragon looked to him.
This form of training still felt sketchy, and it was going to be so much more different from his mercenary training. But he proved to himself that his fire could be used, and it was all thanks to his desire. So if this training could open him up to greater strength, and ensure that he would find Cynder. Then he was willing to take this training to heart if he must, and try his hardest.
"Yeah…! When do we begin?"He asked with new found eagerness.
"Soon enough, Asher. Soon enough…"Cyril promised, and he delivered on that promise two days later.
After two days, the training had finally began, Asher was moving around at almost a hundred percent. Aside from some twitches and hesitation in his wrists when flexing his claws. Even then, this training was everything Cyril warned it to be, physical requirements were not so vital. This demanded great patience beyond what he normally needed to have, as well as a calm mind. He currently was sitting in an open ground, being directed towards the sun as his means of focusing on it's heat.
He needed to know the feeling his fire will give him once he opens his heart and lets it flow. Too bad that was much easier for Spyro than it was for him, he was already starting to get jittery. He did not like this simple laying straight like a rising flower and staying in place to soak in the sun. He wasn't even permitted to move till he felt truly warmed up to the point that even he could sweat. But his patience was wearing thin within two hours, the heat seemed to barely have any effect on him.
His head shook, his eyes wanted to snap open and cease his focus from the painfully boring activity. This ancient monk training was already feeling like a waste when he could be somewhere else. And when Cyril started talking, his mind already lost it as he collapsed with a growl.
"Remain focused…! Let go of all things that make you close yourself away from any feelings,"Cyril explained as Asher's growls turned to groans of frustration,"Sorry for the interruption, just remember. Keep an open mind and heart, don't ever close it."
"I was trying before you INTERRUPTED ME!"Asher yelled and pounded the dirt with a solid fist.
"Calm down…! Just try again, we have all day to help you learn how to-"Before Cyril could finish, Asher was already at the door and storming back inside.
Cyril sighed, and shook his head at Asher's struggle to find complete patience. This was already looking like quite the strenuous dragon to teach, Spyro was a walk in the park to teach compared to Asher. Twenty years of being a merc was definitely going to fight him and the other guardians tooth and nail. But they were patient, much more patient, so he took this in stride since he at least knew the limit of the black dragon's patience. As they continued on to the next part of his training with Terrador.
This one was directly working with how strong his fire was willing to flare, and how much they could improve upon it. Once again, a lot of focus was needed, and only his fire was required. All temptation to use any amount of muscle was to be resisted, he needed to find his drive without it. All he could think about was succeeding and being ready for this journey. This proved a bit troublesome, for only his mind was in this, not his heart, and this would end disastrously.
Asher and Terrador stood side by side, a gentle breath was all Terrador needed to start creating a small mound. The earth and dirt formed like a statue going through split second evolution. It was nature in perfect harmony and tranquility, the gentle side of it's power. This was not the case for Asher, he could barely get a flame going as he tried to breath and blow as hard as possible. But his mouth would only spew a bit of a flicker of fire and a lot of heated air, almost like a gas leak.
He strained his body, which was a serious mistake and only tiring him out. The more he put in some chest muscle, trying to force more air out, the weaker the flame got. Until it went completely out, and he was only blowing hot air. That did not stop him from trying, he repeatedly tried blowing and putting every ounce of breath and chest muscle into it. His eyes were almost bulging before Terrador saw him and reached out to cup his claw against Asher's mouth to make him stop.
"Enough! You're going to explode if you keep that up! You're using your chest muscles again,"Terrador informed him aggressively for his stubborn use of raw power,"Use your heart! Not the muscles around it!"
"I'm trying…! But all I'm getting is a little flame and a lot of gas…!"Asher ranted and panted before standing back up.
"Then don't stand too close to me…!"Sparx joked as he crossed by the arena holding his nose.
"SHUT UP!"Asher did not approve of the toilet humor.
"Pay him no mind…! Concentrate and try again! With heart this time,"Terrador demanded and Asher groaned before he attempted to try and start a fire again,"Think of something that gets your heart beating. Something that penetrates through the stone heart of a mercenary! Something that makes you feel!"
"We're not going start hugging and kissing, are we? You're a bit too old for my taste…!"Asher mocked the idea and way Terrador talked about feelings.
"That all depends…! You want your sister to be hugging you or hugging your dead body?"Terrador shot some mockery back towards Asher for his comment.
"Excuse me…?"Asher blasted hot steam out of his nose, the minute his sister was brought up in a very upsetting position.
"It be very disappointing if she only had your body to love other than you yourself,"Terrador decided to help give Asher a bit of a push towards opening up a bit,"Then again, perhaps love isn't something you're…IN to… Since you're such a mercenary…!"
"You saying I don't care about my sister?"Asher questioned as his fist steamed and suddenly sparked with fire surrounding his limbs.
"You just said it yourself, I never said that at all…!"There was sarcasm, but the mockery became regrettable as Asher exploded with outrage.
"Go to hell! I wouldn't be here if I didn't care! I wouldn't have left the Alphas if I didn't care,"Asher's body began to steam as smoke and heat was preparing to erupt from his jaws,"And you know what else? IF I DIDN'T CARE! I WOULDN'T ACTUALLY BE WASTING MY TIME WITH A BUNCH OF OLD GEEZERS THAT TREAT ME LIKE A CHILD! SO DON'T TELL ME THAT I DON'T CARE, BECAUSE…I…DO!"
The black dragon suddenly sparked like an explosion ready to go off at the touch of static. The fire around him erupted while his chattering mouth suddenly blew out a ball of fire into the ground. An explosion went off, blasting smoke and dirt into the air while Asher went flying. There force carried him through a pillar and cracking a stone wall with his back, pieces of the ceiling came down. Littering him with rubble as Terrador simply stood there with black smoke and char covering his face.
Asher slowly sat up and coughed while trying to brush off the dirt and the dust from the rubble. He then sighed while waiting for the rest of the smoke and dirt to clear out from the room. Before he would be looking at a black faced Terrador with complete lack of amusement, shaking his head at the results. He admitted that he was a bit in the wrong for provoking Asher, but at least he now realized how to give Asher a little bit of drive. For now, all they could do was clean up and prepare for the next part of his training.
The third part of his training had the boring demands of patience along with dance. Asher was forced to be on all fours for this one, and performing a slow dance of Buddhist like feeling. Volteer insisted that this dance was to exercise peace in his body and openness for his spirit to flow. However, all it was doing so far was making him feel like he was losing muscle and masculinity with each minute of dancing. He was getting bored, and the dancing was getting mocked.
Volteer before too long was already circulating lightning around his body like a harmonic serpent. While Asher was still getting nothing, his mind once again to distracted by boredom and lack of feeling. Other than feeling annoyed and embarrassed, he was holding it all in. He grumbled and was showing less enthusiasm as they kept a going, and that's when it happened. Sparx flew in carrying towels for when the dragons needed to clean off any sweat and cool their heads.
"Just keep a good flow going, let your body remain calm and relaxed. Opening the path ways for your spirit,"Volteer instructed as Asher looked at the ground, starting to think that planting his head through the ground was starting to look like a good idea,"The fire will flow and it will bind to your will as your physical powers do."
"Yeah yeah…! Dance like a hipster so I can play with my fire. I get it…!"Asher groaned before he then heard the restraining snickers of the dragon fly, and shot a look to him.
"Pay no mind to Sparx, any mockery he gives will usually come back to nip him…!"Volteer tried to keep Asher from being distracted by Sparx.
He growled, but attempted to show some patience when being mocked by the dragon fly. He could see it coming, a wolf whistle and money being tossed at him like he was a lady dancer. Sounded like something Brutis and Swifter would do, but Sparx was more than willing to fill in for that. The minute Asher returned to the dance, Sparx made it over to the door to leave. He then slowly turned around, put two fingers in his mouth and made the infamous wolf whistle to tease Asher.
"Looking good! Ladies might pay good money to see that!"Sparx called out before screaming and bolting.
He made it inside just in time before a large ceramic jar shattered against the door. Asher was already heated, while Volteer just sighed and shook his head at the lack of restraint. Asher needed to find a sort of peace in mind before he would be open to the possibilities, and find his complete drive. For now, they were at least able to slowly get back to the dance for just an hour more. After that, it was finally time for Asher to relax and have some dinner, while he thought about how the training went.
This bitter work had continued on for four straight days with all the same results. The guardians were growing frustrated, but they were not deterred from training Asher as best as they could. Their problem as his mercenary mentality keeping him bottled up stone hearted. They needed to find a way to break the black dragon of that, but to do that would require at least one form of actual emotional connection. They needed to find something that could reach Asher's heart, something connected to Cynder perhaps.
Meanwhile, Asher ate quietly in his room, a nice roasted lamb would fill him up and reinvigorate his muscles. Then again, the training wasn't about his physical prowess or brute strength, this was about letting his heart show. But how could he do that in the open when feelings have proven to simply be a means of weakness? Weakness and feeling was a useful tool to be exploited when torture was administered. Felious himself once cracked under interrogation because he got emotionally connected to Asher.
He sighed, and decided to add the only encouragement and emotional support he was willing to accept. The photo was pulled out from the bracelet and placed next to the tray his food rested on. Just so Asher could see his sister, remembering who he was doing this for, and who he would search the entire world for. He tightened the grip he had on a rack of lamb bone he was holding. Before slowly continuing to eat, it did offer comfort and some confidence for the struggles ahead.
Little did he know, Hunter was secretly watching him from a crack in the door. He smirked, now that he realized the way to start making some progress and opening Asher's heart with drive. For now, he simply left the dragon to his dinner to inform the guardians of the idea to help the black dragon.
Another day arrived, and Asher was not looking forward to more dancing, more meditation, and blowing smoke. He already arrived to the palace gardens where Cyril was awaiting him. He stood in front of the opening gate where they could directly witness the sun's burning glow. He groaned, wondering just how painfully long this session was going to be before he was fed up with it. Only for Cyril to kindly greet him with a small bow, ready to help give Asher the proper push he needed.
"Are you ready for your next session?"Cyril asked while Asher already sat down, just wanting to get this session over with.
"That's why I'm here. Let's just get this over with…"Asher insisted with a sigh, only for Cyril to snatch up his right arm to reach into his bracelet.
"Not so fast, Asher…! Let's try something just a little bit different."Cyril suggested before pulling out a photo of Cynder in her younger days.
"Hey! Claws off the photo, snowflake! That doesn't leave my possession!"Asher snapped and grabbed at Cyril's wrist to squeeze it tight, hoping for the guardian to release it.
"Easy…! I'm just putting it, right here…!"Cyril insisted as he gently placed it against Asher's right forearm.
He laid the photo out nicely like a sticker for children, and patted it down. Before gripping the arm and letting a brisk cold coat the arm in frost and stick the photo tightly to Asher's arm. He cringed a little bit from the cold touch, but it didn't last any longer than a mere second.
"There! Now we have some incentive to open yourself up a bit more."Cyril took pride in this new step towards Asher's elemental training.
"What did you do this for?"Asher demanded an explanation for the photo being frozen to his arm.
"Simple, when you start to lose patience. You will look to that photo for drive, after all. She's the one you're doing all this for, correct,"Cyril explained and Asher had no choice but to ease up and slowly nod to the question,"Then let this photo remind you of that. Let it guide your heart rather than go with your mercenary instinct alone."
"You saying… I should think of her rather than the task…?"Asher looked to the photo and felt the way he always felt when he looked at her.
"In a manner of speaking, yes. Let her guide your mind towards opening your heart,"Cyril slowly walked pass Asher to simply go inside and leave the younger dragon to his session,"After all, she's the one who will be guiding you through out the dragon realm!"
He stopped at the door and looked back to Asher, watching as the black dragon had yet to even look away from the photo.
"It's already starting to work…! Get to it them, Asher! And remember to focus!"Cyril shocked Asher out of his thoughts and got him look back to the ice dragon.
Asher sighed, looking to the photo once more and nodding to it before accepting the older dragon's words. This allowed Cyril to leave with a bit of confidence in the younger dragon. As he went inside and left Asher to his session, the former merc clenched his right fist for the photo. He then walked to the red gate and took in a deep breath as he slowly laid on his belly and started concentrating. He raised his head to the sun and started to focus, letting the rays gleam down upon his body.
For two hours he remained in that position, and nothing seemed to be happening. He felt that ache for something else coming, the boredom and irritation was daring to creep up on him again. His agitation caused him to growl, and one of his eyes opened, threatening to throw him off balance. This time however, that one eye caught the sight of the photo stuck to his arm. Immediately, a deep breath replaced the growling he was bellowing, and calm came back to his mind.
He just needed to think about her, Cynder's face, her eyes that they both shared. The beautiful dragoness she had become, he could not let his rage damage a dragon he loved, even when he never truly met her. In a way, he still loved her regardless, and he wanted to finally be with her. The pain and torment under Malefor threaten to destroy them, but they held strong. However, they were ripped apart by time and destiny itself, and he needed to find her after all these ages.
So he began to close his eye, only to suddenly realized he reached a moment in his meditation. He gasped, as he shot his eyes open to find himself in a vision, something only possible when the mind has reached enlightenment. He looked around, tall grass surrounding his feet with flowers dancing wind. A great sky watching over the land with mighty clouds moving with the wind. The mountainous areas and the vast clusters of woodlands and forests, this appeared to be Avalar Valley.
He recognized the animals and the far reaching rivers that separated parts of the valley. He was even staring at the river where he took out the hermit in one of his final missions as an Alpha. The memories he once shared with the Alpha's themselves were mounting. From the fishing, to the hunting, to the climbing and even to the flying, this place still felt like home, even in a dream. Then, his mind became side tracked by a sudden pair of shadows swooping over him.
He looked up a second too soon, but a flap of wings got his attention further through the sky. Once he had focused on a cloud, he then witnessed two great figures bursting out of the clouds. A closer look distinguished them to be a pair of great dragons, one was purple and about his size with a bit more bulk. His great gold horns and rattle snake like tail was an immediate dead give away. It was Spyro the dragon himself, the purple dragon of legend at long last before his eyes.
He had some features identical to the guardians, but he was definitely a lot younger. Maybe ten to fifteen years older than Asher, no spikes or perhaps facial hair like features on his chin. His wing span would make the largest of eagles green with envy, as the purple dragon suddenly came in for a landing. Before he then witnessed the dragon that was right behind Spyro. It was Cynder herself, and she looked no different than she did when she visited the palace for some help.
As Spyro came to a landing right next to Asher on the left, Cynder herself came in on the right. He looked at the both of them, Spyro was a couple inches shorter, but he was definitely at least a medium build, but his body type was a bit different. Cynder was sleeker, but she was the same height. To see them both in comparison was quite the surprise, his sister standing at his side. As well as the legend himself, the destroyer of Malefor, and the savior of the Dragon Realm, Spyro.
"Is this just a dream? Or is it a vision? Fake or real…?"Asher wondered before the two dragons then began to talk.
"We're here…! Seems like a long time since we came here, doesn't it?"The purple dragon displayed a gentle yet surprisingly masculine voice.
"Yeah. I needed this flight around the Avalar Valley… The memories have been coming back to me,"Cynder admitted as she slowly sat down and watched the sparkling river rush,"Some even more so than others… Your company has…helped me so much…!"
"Every one deserves a second chance, Cynder. I was never going to give up on you."Spyro reminded the black dragoness of his loyalty and trust he had for her.
"I know…"This was her only response as she stared at the river, riding out the flow of memories.
Both Asher and Spyro noticed the strange behavior that Cynder was starting to display. It seemed a bit solemn, as if she realized that she was starting to realize that something was missing. A claw went against her heart as she then looked toward the sky, watching the clouds roll across the mountains. Once she swore that a cloud took the shape of a dragon, a sigh left her. For there was no more hiding a little secret from Spyro, especially since he was already on to her.
"What's wrong? You don't get like this unless there's something bothering you."Spyro pointed out after years of knowing her, and being with her.
"Nothing gets by you now a days, does it,"Cynder asked before finally letting Spro in on a secret that she had just learned from her memories,"While we were flying through the skies… We had passed right by Gaul's old base… And… I remembered something I…shouldn't have even dared to forget…"
"Oh… What was it?"Cynder seemed hesitate to give Spyro the answer.
"I… I have a brother…!"She answered him, and needless to say, he was surprised.
"Really?! I mean…that's great! That means more dragons that survived Malefor,"Spyro became supportive and happy to hear that Cynder had family,"In that case, did you…perhaps wanna go out and look for him?"
"That's the problem… I don't know where he is. He was with me in Gaul's base,"Cynder began to explain what she could remember from her days under Malefor's tyranny,"He was frozen in a prison of amber. Like the one you put us in to protect us before."
"Then we go back to Gaul's base…! See if he's still there,"Spyro insisted, and did not dare allow Cynder to dive too deep into her dark past,"If he's trapped in a prison of amber, then he'll still be alive and just waiting for some one to find him."
"But Malefor is dead. The prison he was in would have probably crumbled away by now,"Cynder worried about what they could find if they went back to Gaul's den,"And without it… What if he's…"
"Cynder…"Asher saw that fear coming a mile away, after all it was honestly a miracle that he did survive.
He slowly reached out, wanting to comfort her and perhaps even touch her for the first time. But it all fell flat once his claws faded right through the dragoness's cheek, reminding him that this was not real. He lowered his arm, and lowered his head, feeling a bit upset at her fears for his safety. No matter how grown up they were, she still proved to show a deep innocent care for him. She seemed so strong, yet she showed that she was a lot more than a strong and powerful dragon.
It was then that Spyro walked over to her and nudged her chin up with his nose. Hoping to keep her chin up and holding hope, rather than giving into fear and falling into despair.
"It can't hurt to go in and see. Maybe he made it out? He is your sibling after all,"Spyro insisted that this was at least a worthwhile thing to investigate,"If he's anything like you. Then he won't go down so easily…!"
The flattery was surprising, Spyro was willing to actually push her into going on this trip. Which would ultimately lead her into going on a journey of her own to find him. This definitely earned Spyro some respect, as Asher tried to put his claw to the purple dragon's shoulder.
"You don't know how right you are, Spyro…"Asher responded as he stood with the dragons, feeling a sense of peace and even happiness to stand alongside this legend and his sister.
From outside the vision, back in good old reality, Cyril witnessed progress at last. Asher finally found peace, and not only embraced the warmth, but even made warmth of his own. As his body finally opened up and fire flickered and surrounded his entire being in a strong blaze. With this moment of enlightenment, Asher now opened the door towards finally mastering his element. Once the guardians made sure of this, that's when they would deem him ready for the adventure that awaited him.
"Well done, young dragon… You are finally on your way to becoming a true dragon."Cyril nodded before leaving the younger dragon to at least one more hour of meditation.
It's almost time, the Lost Dragon's Journey is soon about to begin, it's just around the corner. And it's going to be a journey to remember, full of hardship, pain, even friendship. Nothing is accomplished without such things, an Asher will learn that once they have gotten started. Also, try not to take some of that harsh character behavior during training too seriously, wasn't trying to bash characters, it was all for some humor. Be ready every one. Stay awesome.