The actual chapter you have all been waiting for I think is this chapter, the final one. This chapter will conclude this story but I may write a sequel depending on the response this story gets from you. Enjoy.

Chapter 5: Showdown

The crystal charged slowly. Cynder paced back and forth, Ignitus was still passed out and she had put all her remaining army to protect this place. She had restocked on mana and was ready for a fight. She had also placed the other three crystals into the slots by the portal in Convexity.

Bored, Cynder took flight and flew around her lair. Streaks of lightning lit up the sky. A odd glowing light caught her attention, looking closer, she realised that it was the dragonfly that stayed around Spyro all the time. Cynder swooped down and saw Spyro. As much as she wanted to fight him, she had other priorities, mainly getting the last crystal. Cynder headed back to where she held Ignitus prisoner. It was a faint hope that her forces could stop Spyro, he would make it through anything she threw at him, in a way, she admired him for his determination. As Cynder folded her wings over her back and made her way to Ignitus, he suddenly spoke.

"Sorry, I'm sorry Cynder that at the time you needed me the most, I wasn't there. I wasn't there when you were taken and I'm truly sorry that you had to go through the things the Dark Master has done to you."

"You don't know what he did, how much pain I've suffered by him and his minions."

"No, I don't know, but don't go through with his bidding, don't believe in his twisted lies. I know you must feel betrayed that we had been unable to protect you, that you have to live in solitude because of things out of your control."

"I don't need your sympathy."

The Crystal was half full.

Despite herself, she thought of all the days, the weeks and months she had lived by herself, alone and shunned from the apes, she hadn't chosen this way of life, it had chosen her and she would see it fulfilled.

A loud knock came from the double doors. When she opened it, an ape was standing outside. "General, the purple dragon is here like you guessed, he has made it to the elevator."

"Ok, thank you."

Cynder shook her head, something was wrong with her. Since when did she thank an ape. Spyro would come to get Ignitus, he would probably come walking in and be an easy target. Cynder flew up to one of the beams on the roof and waited.

The doors opened and a small purple creature walked in, like a personal light a dragonfly followed him. Ignitus' head snapped up and he called down to Spyro.

"Spyro… Break the crystal… quickly."

Cynder jumped down, using her wings to steady herself.

"If only it were that easy, little one?" Cynder reared up in front of him.

The dragonfly stuttered something but she wasn't listening.

"Time you learned how complicated life can be."

She remembered how much pain and suffering she had gone through to get to this stage, life really wasn't that easy.

Ignitus called from behind her in a pain-filled voice, "Spyro, run… Save yourself."

"Not this time, this time I fight." The confidence in his voice brought her back to the present.

Cynder laughed to herself, what chance did this youngling have against her, The Terror of the Skies.

"Bring it."

Cynder knew a thing or two about fighting, her whole childhood had been about fighting. Spyro on the other hand was raised in a peaceful village, where the hardest fight was against frogweeds. Yet, he somehow managed to match her. She was only stalling for time as she had to wait for the crystal to charge. Cynder was used to fighting large opponents, like the guardians, but Spyro was small and quick which was strange.

The crystal started buzzing and she looked to find it fully charged. Ignitus was sagging in his restraints.

"It's so sad it must end this way."

Spyro jumped up and flew straight at her. A quick step sideways sent him tumbling behind her.

"Now, where was I?"

Cynder picked up the crystal. Ignitus fell as his bonds disappeared and with a evil laugh, she flew out the window to go to Convexity.

Cynder opened her maw and a white orb flew out. After it reached several meters in front of her, it exploded in a bright, swirling purple and green light. With quick beats of her wings, Cynder flew through the portal to Convexity.

Convexity was a strange place, things floated in open space and odd creatures lived in this desolate void. Cynder made her way to a large floating island which had a huge obelisk that radiated a red light. Three of the crystals were already there and this last one would set her master free. Cynder landed and excitedly placed the crystal in its slot.

"We're too late."

She knew that voice, she knew he would be here. Cynder turned around to see Spyro with his pet dragonfly.

"Persistent little fella, aren't you?" Cynder had finished her mission for her master and now it was time to enjoy herself a little, "This is where it really ends."

"Bring it!" Spyro's reply was like honey in her ears.

"No mercy this time."

She pounced at him and he came and met her halfway. Now that she didn't have to worry about anything else, she could concentrate entirely on this fight. She swung her huge paws at him and swiped her tail around at him, but he seemed stronger this time like he wasn't fighting for just himself. This time, he was fighting for the other guardians as well, he was fighting for the rest of the world in fact.

He was also fighting for her.

An odd feeling rose up within her, something that she had never felt. The determination in his eyes reminded her of herself, how she would strive to do her best at any task. She admired his courage to come and face her after battling her army and seeing how futile his effort was.

What was she thinking, this was a battle, she needed to concentrate. If the Dark Master heard of how she was reluctant to kill an enemy, he would be majorly disappointed.

But was he an enemy, he must of learned something about her to make him fight for her, something that meant a lot to him.

Cynder flew away from him, a column of fire surrounded her as she warred in her mind. Fighting between her loyalty to her master and the strange new feeling she was having with Spyro.

Spyro started shooting bolts of aether, the counterpart to what was running through her veins. She fired balls of fire but they were weak. She didn't know what to think anymore. Something about Spyro triggered a strange feeling that no one else had.

A swirling purple and black vortex appeared in front of him, directed at her. Before she could get out of the way, dragon-shaped creatures flew out of it at her. They passed right through her, whispering things.

"Close your eyes Cynder, give in."

"We can save you, but you must submit."

"Stop resisting, close your eyes."

The voices chanted in her mind. If she gave in, what would happen, would they kill her. It didn't matter Spyro was there, he would fight for her again.

Slowly, Cynder closed her eyes. As they closed fully, she fell, but in a dreamlike fall. She didn't feel the ground hit her. Her body began to feel weightless.

Cynder heard Spyro say one final thing, "She is just like me."

Then, it was dark.

Cynder woke to Spyro lying beside her. She didn't remember too much that happened, it was all kind of blurry, but one thing she did know was that Spyro had saved her. Cynder struggled to rise and dropped back down. The sound woke Spyro who groaned and opened his eyes.

"Cynder, are you ok?"

"Yes, thanks to you."

The dragonfly next to him stirred and lazily took flight.

"Sparx, are you ok?"

"Aside from falling out of the sky, I'm all good."

Spyro stood up on wobbly legs and walked towards a nearby crystal patch. A few strikes saw it crack open and shower him with energy. Spyro flicked some of its contents at her with his tail. Instantly she felt stronger. Cynder stood up as well and moved to another crystal patch.

"We should be getting back to the Temple, the guardians will probably be anxious."

Spyro led the way to the Temple with Cynder by his side and Sparx spinning around above him.

This is the end of this story. If you want a sequel (The Eternal Night) then tell me with a review or PM and if enough people want one then I'll do it. Thanks to all of you who have supported me and I hope you enjoyed this chapter/story.

I have also become a beta reader so if you want, I can beta read any stories you may want me to (PM me for more info).