Chapter Seven: Inside the Heart
The night was still young yet; the star littered sky was radiating an aura of peace while the Celestial moons still shone brightly in the night sky. Skyro's eyes stayed locked onto Flare while the four flew towards Twilight Falls, mesmerized by her beauty as he found himself thinking about the dance they had just shared not too long ago.
"Looking at something buddy?" Smoke asked, nudging Skyro's shoulder who blushed in embarrassment.
"Not so loud you dope, I don't want her to know that I was looking." Skyro said through gritted teeth, smiling as he looked forward again once more to gaze at Flare.
"You like her don't you?" Smoke asked, smiling as he too was looking forward to gaze at Scarlet, watching her wings gently propel herself forward towards their destination.
"Yeah I've always cared about her," Skyro said, smiling as he watched her lips move to form words while talking to Scarlet. "I can't believe we almost kissed tonight… I wouldn't know what to do if we did."
"Just be yourself, that's all I can say," Smoke said, as they soon neared the beautiful forest which made up Twilight Falls. "I mean I care about Scarlet and I just act how I normally am."
"I'm just afraid she'll reject me." Skyro said, slowing himself down while gliding down towards the forest floor after Flare and Scarlet.
"Oh brother, if you only knew how much she cared…" Smoke said to himself as he was the last to touch down, watching as Scarlet covered Skyro's eyes with her hands as Flare and Smoke giggled in excitement, knowing that Skyro was going to love their surprise they had for him.
"Are you ready for your surprise birthday boy?" Scarlet asked, teasing the purple dragon as he laughed out of happiness.
"Oh yes I am, you guys really shouldn't have though." Skyro said with a smiling, knowing that whatever they had for him was worth the shove Flare gave him in the back of the head for saying otherwise about them getting him a present.
"Nonsense, a best friend deserves the best present that his friends could get for him." Smoke said as he nodded towards Scarlet, letting her know that she could remove her hands from Skyro's eyes now.
Well, you can open your eyes handsome, what do you think?" Scarlet said sweetly, smiling as Skyro opened his eyes, smiling to what the three had given him.
"What is all of this?" Skyro asked, smiling as he picked up the medium sized bottle of liquor in front of him, noticing that Smoke was holding four small glasses in his hand while Scarlet retrieved a bouquet of flower from a nearby bush which she clearly hid there on purpose. Flare was the last one to reach for something, grabbing a small wooden box from behind a tree.
"We've been the gang we are now for years buddy, and on this day we celebrate the one who is always in the middle, the one who we go to for help, the one who keeps us together, you Skyro," Smoke said with a smile, taking the bottle from Skyro and slowly uncorking the decorative bottle and began to pour the liquid evenly into the four glasses. "And we can't feel any luckier to have you as our friend than how we feel about waking up every day knowing that we are still alive. So we thought a little gathering of just us was just what you needed to get away from the bullies and your father for a little while."
"We picked these flowers over at Friendship Falls, we had to thank Flare's parents countless times for letting us collect some of their flowers from their personal garden," Scarlet said as she gently handed Skyro the beautiful red and blue and yellow flowers, watching as Skyro inhaled their beautiful aroma with a smile. "All of those flowers are our favorites and yours combined to show you that best friends stay together. Ember said that if you keep them in water they will live for about a month or so if given enough sunlight."
"And this is a gift from all of us Skyro," Flare said, opening the box and retrieving a brilliant blue aura crystal which took Skyro by surprise.
"A blue crystal, those are very hard to come by anymore, where did you find it?" Skyro said, bedazzled by the beauty and power which the crystal held as he accepted the gift from his friends, holding the small crystal with are as he knew how fragile the blue crystals were in nature after they were excavated.
"We literally just stumbled upon it," Smoke said with a chuckle, watching as Flare blushed to what Smoke had said. "Flare and I were walking towards Scarlet's cave before we stopped by your cave about a month ago and Flare tripped over a stone along our way. Well the rock tumbled over and it was lying underneath it."
"Oh I think that's enough now," Flare joked, taking her glass of wine from Smoke first, followed by Scarlet and Skyro. "This was the best wine we could afford with all of our tokens together and a friend who knew it was an important day for you and helped us with the spirits… you knows because we're not old enough to buy this stuff yet."
Well we're almost old enough; just have to wait three more years, but today is an important day," Smoke said, raising his glass up in the air for a toast. "A toast to our friend, Skyro; happy birthday brother." They all tapped their glasses together before drinking all of the wine from their glasses. Skyro recoiled a bit to the taste a first but continued to swallow the wine as he knew that they still had about half a bottle left to go.
"You guys are the best friends someone can ask for." Skyro smiled, not wanting the night to end as they all laughed and told stories about their past school years and other miscellaneous activities.
"Now that is how you cook a sheep," Spyro said, rubbing his stomach while finishing off what was left in his wine glass. "Thank you so much guys that was delicious."
"Hey no problem, it's been a wonderful day today," Ember said as she used her napkin to wipe her lips clean from meat grease, smiling as she was also satisfied with her meal. Well now what shall we do? Is it starting to get late?"
"A little bit darling, it is about time to turn in," Flame said while stretching out in his chair and yawning. "I don't know, what do you think Spyro?"
"Yeah it is starting to get a little bit late I suppose," Spyro said as he began to sit up from his seat. "I'm going to head to Warfang tomorrow with Sparx to meet with the Guardians, would you two care to join?"
"I'm in for it, how about you honey?" Flame asked Ember who also sat up from her seat, followed by Flame.
"Nah I'll stay back at the cave and take care of a few things, how about you fill me in when you get back home?" Ember said, yawning also as she to begin to feel drowsy.
"Alright then my love, Spyro and I will see what's going on tomorrow then," Flame said, giving Spyro a hug first before Ember stepped in and gave him a hug as well. "Hey tell Skyro we said happy birthday will you?"
"Will do my friend, I will see you tomorrow, goodnight you two," Spyro said with a smile before taking flight from the town. "Thank you for the lovely dinner you two; goodnight."
"No problem my friend, I'll see you tomorrow." Flame said as he watched his close friend begin to fly away into the night sky.
"I worry about him Flame, he has a smile on his face but he's hurt inside," Ember said as both she and Flame took flight back to their cave. "He's still hurt about Cynder, can't you tell?"
"Yes I can tell and I'm afraid that he's not getting any better," Flame said as they continued to fly together while feeling the cool night breeze against their scales. "All that he has to lean on is Skyro, he is his rock. The only thing we can do is just give our company to him and hope for the best."
"Do you know when our daughter is supposed to be back home?" Ember asked as they both smiled to the thought of their daughter.
"She said she won't be out to late," Flame said as he looked over to his beloved wife with a smile. "If she's out late I won't ground her, will you?"
"Nope, let her have all the fun in the world," Ember said as she smiled back and gentle caressed her hand against Flame's hand while taking hold of it. "You're only young for a brief time, let them enjoy all of the time they have together."
"Hey guys, I'll be back in a second." Skyro said, finishing off the last bit of wine left in the bottle before heading off into the forest.
"Anyone have any idea where he's going off to?" Smoke asked after he knew Skyro was out of earshot.
"I might have an idea, I'll be back." Flare said, heading after Skyro which left Smoke and Scarlet alone.
"He's going to see his mother isn't he?" Scarlet asked Smoke, knowing that was the reason why.
"Yeah he is… it's been awhile since he's had some time with her." Smoke said as he finished off his last glass of wine.
"We should stay her and let him be alone with her then." Scarlet said as she saw Smoke nod his head in agreement.
"Yeah, plus it gives him and Flare some alone time as well." Smoke said, smiling a little bit as the two dragons sat close to one another, taking in the moonlight while breathing in the fresh air.
"Skyro really cares about Flare and she doesn't know it," Scarlet said, smiling as she looked up to Smoke with happiness. "And Flare cares about Skyro and he doesn't know it."
"Yeah I know, it's pretty obvious that he has the case of shyness." Smoke said with a chuckle as he looked down towards Scarlet. "I told him not to be shy and just be himself. But who knows, he'll get around to it sooner or later."
"I know how he feels." Scarlet said, knowing what she was getting herself into.
"You do?" Smoke said, raising an eyebrow as he smiled towards Scarlet, wondering if now was the time to tell her how he felt about her.
"Yeah, it's pretty annoying after a while, not being able to get your feelings out in the open." Scarlet said as she scooted a little bit closer to Smoke.
"Well maybe sometimes all you need is a little push to get the words out." Smoke said gently, wrapping his wing around Scarlet and slowly pulling her in closer.
The towering waterfall which lead into the Catacombs still rushed with beauty while the fireflies and green and red crystals intensified the beauty of the surrounding forest. The moonlight casted a feint glow through the treetops and clearing which gave Skyro enough light to finally reach the base of the waterfall where he knew his mother was buried.
"Hey mom… how've you been," Skyro said, walking closer to the small headstone which had his mother's name engraved in beautiful cursive letters. "I graduated school today and had an amazing fifteenth birthday with my friends, even danced with Flare tonight. I also stood up to that bully, Slair. It's been a good day today so far. I mean, the debt this region is in has me concerned, but other than that, it's all been ok with life… I wish I could say the same for dad though. I know he's still in pain about your loss, but living like this is no way to live. I mean I miss you like no other mom, believe me I do, but I just want dad to see that there is more to life than drinking and sorrow."
"Skyro… you know how to use words like nobody else I know." Flare said softly to herself, not wanting to interrupt his time with his mother.
"That day at your funeral I promised myself to be happy, or at least try to be happy," Skyro said as he sat down in the grass next to his Cynder's grave. "And I believe that I am happy in this life. I have amazing friends, a wonderful father, the greatest teachers I could ask for; just life in general is good. I know dad wants to keep me away from a life like he has lived, but I am a purple dragon. I don't know that whole history about the purple dragons before me, but I know that if my destiny is worth anything in this world, I will fulfill it." Skyro paused for a second before nodding his head to the words he had just said.
"I heard you say that you love me while we were laying you to rest here seven years ago," Skyro said, allowing a small tear run down the left side of his face, followed by a single tear which trickled down the right side of his face. "And I just want to say mom… that I love you to… I love you more than words can describe. I am proud to tell everyone I know how lucky I was to have a mom like you. I want to let everyone know that you were the best mother a dragon could have and that I wouldn't trade the time I had with you for anything in this universe." Skyro wiped his eyes from his tears before sitting up from the spot he sat next.
"Well mom I have to go now, Smoke, Scarlet, and Flare are waiting for me," Skyro said with a smile, leaning down and giving the headstone a gentle kiss before turning away. "I'll see you again here soon hopefully, I'll see about getting dad to come by next time. Goodnight mom." Flare then knew that this was a great time to show herself. She gently pushed through the bushes and headed towards Skyro who smiled to his friend.
"Hey I heard what you said to her, that was pretty nice of you to say," Flare said as she gave a gentle hug to Skyro before finishing her sentence. "Are you going to be ok?"
"Yeah I'll be fine, thank you Flare," Skyro said, nodding his head in assurance before continuing his sentence. "Thank you for asking, it's been awhile since I've gotten a chance to talk to her." A small silence passed the two dragons, not sure what they should sway to one another.
"I'm glad we got to dance tonight Skyro, I really am," Flare said with a smile as she gentle shoved Skyro jokingly. "It was fun; we should do it again sometime."
"Yeah we should, it was fun," Skyro said as he felt that heavy feelings in his heart begin to pass over him again. "I love spending time with you."
"So what are you planning on doing tomorrow, do you want to spend some time together?" Flare asked kindly, knowing that Skyro would want to have some company after what he had just done.
"Actually Flare Smoke said that he wanted me to train with him tomorrow for a few hours at the beach," Skyro said, not really sure how to finish his sentence. "I'm sorry, but he kind of asked first. But would you like to spend some time the day after tomorrow, I'm free then."
"Yeah, that should be alright, I'll let my folks know what's going on and we'll take it from there," Flare said happily, smiling as the two looked over towards the waterfall. "You know, I'll say this about your mother, she is really lucky to rest here. This place is beautiful, I'm glad your father chose this place."
"This was the place where he knew that he loved her, the same for my mother," Skyro said with a smile, feeling kind of happy about the topic. "He thought that this was the only appropriate place for her."
"Do you want to head back to Scarlet and Smoke?" Flare asked as they both began to walk in the same direction.
"Yeah, let's finish up tonight and call it a day here soon," Skyro said with a smile as they walked through the brush and between trees back to where their two friends waited for them. "You know I have to say, thank you so much for the birthday Flare, it means so much to me."
"Hey we're your friends Skyro, it's what we do," Fare said, flashing Skyro a quick smile before turning back to where they were heading. "Well look at that." Skyro peered through the brush in front of them and saw something wonderful.
"Well look at that, he actually did it." Skyro said with a smile as he and Flare both looked at Smoke and Scarlet who were in the middle of sharing a kiss before cuddling next to each other once more while talking about the smallest things in life.
"Good for you guys, I'm happy for you." Flare said to herself, then thinking about Skyro, thinking about how much he meant to her.
"So am I, they deserve each other." Skyro said with a smile, soon thinking about Flare and how much he cared about her. He smiled as he glanced over towards Flare without moving his head, noticing that she had done the same. They watched for a few more seconds before walking out in front of the two dragons who sat cuddled close to one another.
"Well isn't this a happy sight to see." Skyro said with a smile as he looked over towards Smoke first and then Scarlet who both had smiles on their faces.
"What can I say, I couldn't hold it in any longer." Smoke said with a smile as the four sat around in a small circle, talking it up for a little while longer before they all had to go home.