Chapter 10

"Kill her!," "get them out!," "find another place to stay!," "why did you even come back!," "you should've stayed dead!," "leave!," "we don't want you here!," "you bringing her back was a mistake!," "we can't trust either of them!," "you only bring trouble!," "kill them both!"

Cynder's eyes shot open as she woke up, she hesitantly looked around, noticing it was still night. She slowly calmed down and looked around but couldn't find Spyro anywhere, must be keeping watch, thought Cynder as she took a deep breath and laid her head down on her paws.

Maybe I should just stay here,I mean...I've caused enough trouble haven't I, she stopped as she heard walking near her. "couldn't sleep?" asked Spyro as he lied down next to her, she glanced over at him and shook her head, he nodded and took a deep breath before looking around, "the night's beautiful, I'll give you that," he said trying to start a conversation. She nodded her head, her eyes closed still as she did.

"Such a great view, in such a deadly place, a real "diamond in the rough" wouldn't you say?" asked Cynder looking up at him. Spyro chuckled and looked around, "didn't think you knew that saying, but yes, I suppose it's true," he said as he saw a firefly land on Cynder's paw. Cynder giggled as the bug crawled about her paw before flying away.

Spyro smiled as the small insect flew away, "yeah it's nice, though I still think the green fields of Avalar look better," he said with a chuckle. "Spyro," she whispered, even though it was low it still got his attention, she tensed up and looked down at the ground, "I'm not sure going back to Warfang with me is such a good idea, they won't want me there, maybe I should stay here..."

she stopped when he wrapped his paw around her waist and pulled her closer to him, "I want you there," he said as he draped his wing around her, "isn't that enough?" he asked. She smiled and nuzzled him, "more than enough," she said as she rubbed her head under his.

"uhhhhh, this is weird," Spyro and Cynder both looked and tried their best not to laugh at what they saw, Thorin had woken up to find himself covered head to toe with fireflies. "I...am both calm, and a little scared," he said as he grabbed his staff and slowly sat up, his eyes shut as he sneezed and all the fire flies dispersed, he sniffed and looked around, "aww, you know I kinda enjoyed that, not the smell though...not the smell" he said as he wiped himself off.

"you take the last shift?" asked Spyro as Thorin started walking towards the river with a canteen at hand. Thorin scratched his head and yawned, "yeah...why not," he said still a bit drowsy, "I might need to jump in too, these things smell bad now," he said to himself as he walked away.

"wanna get some more sleep Cyn?" asked Spyro, Cynder smiled and looked at him, "I guess so, why not." Spyro lied on his side and she snuggled next to him, "you think we'll reach Warfang today?" asked Cynder, doing her best not to sound worried.

"yeah, maybe somewhere around noon, depending on how much happens along the way," said Spyro with a chuckle as he slowly began to fall back asleep. Noon..., such a simple word, and yet it delivered so much worry, with a sigh she curled her head under his and fell asleep.

XXXXXXX - Meanwhile at the center of a secluded mountain – XXXXXXXX

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" yelled Kyro as he saw some of his minions sitting around, "I didn't conjure you up just to have you standing around all day, get to WORK!" he yelled as he slammed his staff on the ground causing black lighting to strike near the lazy creatures. Kyro looked around at the bare crater which he now called home, "how low we've fallen," he said as he walked over to the base of his soon to be tower, "get to work," his staff began to glow and with a powerful slam the ground bellow him began to shake.

Soon after the ground began to break away as a Black Throne with skulls at the armrest began to emerge, tall pillars which seemed to have been made of black marble followed soon after. Kyro grinned and walked up to his throne and sat down, "after all," he released his staff as it vanished into thin air, "this place won't build itself," he said as he chuckled but stopped as something caught his attention, against one of the pillars, he saw a name written in bright, glowing letters.

Kyro sat up and walked over to it, " Li..." he got closer and squinted, "Lilith...Lilith?" you don't remember do you? Kyro spun around looking for whoever said that, he heard giggling and spun once again, "come on Kyro," he heard someone say.

As he looked around the inside of a palace seemed to slowly appear out of nowhere, "you're so slow," said the voice of a women. Kyro looked to where the sound came from and saw fog come together, slowly forming a women wearing a light blue dress running to the middle of the room, even though she was right infront of him her face seemed to be nothing but a blur.

"I'm coming," said another voice, he looked to where she had come from and saw another person appear, his clothes were light blue and had a cape with gold lining, "how are you so quick?" asked the kid as he slowed to a stop infront of her. The girl giggled as he said that and threw her head back as she laughed, only then did her necklace catch her eye, "oh Kyro...I'm not quick, you're just slow."

The scene seemed to fade away like mist, Kyro looked around confused by the slow change in scenery, who was that? He wondered as he looked back at the pillar. He stumbled when he saw that the name was gone, he walked towards it but felt nothing on the marbles surface... he looked down and grabbed the necklace, he looked at the glass center and for a moment saw a face, he let go of the necklace and soon afterwards heard laughing echoing around him, he panted as he looked around and grabbed his hair, "what's happening to me?" he wondered in a panic.

He stopped when he noticed that his minions had stopped and were staring at him, "WHAT, GET BACK TO WORK YOU WORTHLESS SLOBS!," he yelled as he conjured up a black orb and shot it at one of the creatures, the monster screeched as it exploded into a cloud of shadow. The others looked away and quickly got back to work, he looked back down at the necklace, "Lilith...why does that sound so familiar?"

XXXXXXXXXXXX – Back at the Twilight Falls – XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Come on slowpokes!" yelled Cynder from the top of a cliff, she had been waiting for Spyro and Thorin to climb up the vines for nearly an hour now and she was growing impatient. "HEY!, you're not the one light headed from loss of blood, or the one with a stabbed shoulder!" yelled Thorin as he struggled to climb up the vines.

Not far behind was Spyro, he decided to stay close behind in case Thorin fell, "we're almost there Cynder, you think you could fly him the rest of the way?" asked Spyro as he slowly climbed up the vines. Cynder looked back and stretched her wings, "maybe...alright I..I'll give it a try," she said as she flew down and grabbed Thorin by the shoulders.

Thorin hissed in pain as Cynder slowly raised him to the edge of the cliff and let got, she stumbled to the floor and sighed, "owww...I wasn't ready for that," she said as she slowly rose to her feet. Spyro climbed over the edge and stretched, "well, that was a slow and painful procedure, now what?" he asked looking over the forest ahead.

Thorin got up and looked forward, "well, we could go that way, follow the path through the forest and reach Warfang directly, or that way...towards Avalar," he said pointing towards the branching paths. Spyro took Cynder by surprise and placed her atop his back once again, "the quicker the better, right Cyn?" he asked looking up at her.

Cynder gulped and hesitantly nodded her head with a worried smile. "oh thank you," said Thorin, getting questioning looks from both Spyro and Cynder, "duh I mean...as much as I'd loove to go and visit (cough) we gotta let them dragon elder dudes know you're alive right?" he asked as he walked towards the branching roads.

Spyro and Cynder both looked at each other and grinned, "ohhh, I don't know about THAT," Thorin froze in place as Cynder said that, "I mean...there IS a path leading into the city isn't there, who knows..might be faster." Thorin turned around with a nervous look, "y-you don't say," he said, his voice cracking and nervous.

Spyro contained his laughter and walked towards the path to the right that led towards Avalar, "Avalar it is then," he said. Thorin gulped and stared down the path, "yeah, why not," he said nearly crying, I'm gonna die...Prowlus is going to kill me.

Spyro proceeded to walk down the path with Thorin following at a distance, jumping from cover to cover. "Why do you think he's so worried?" asked Cynder in a low voice, "we're just going through the Avalar fields." Spyro thought for a while then came up with something, "he might be scared of seeing Prowlus, as far as he's told me they never really got along, even before...never mind, do you think he's gotten back yet?" he asked.

Cynder looked at him with a questioning look but decided best not to ask, "I'm not sure, last I saw of him was when he led some cheetahs into the fight back at Warfang...hope their okay." Thorin stopped when he saw the all too familiar green fields approaching, "okay, in and out, the entrance isn't even near the village..I got nothing to fear," he mumbled to himself as he kept walking.

As they exited the forest Spyro and Cynder looked around, some of the area had been contaminated, destroying its near perfect image but not too badly. Thorin slowly walked out of the forest and sighed, never though I'd get to see this place again, he thought as he took it all in, I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss it.

Spyro and Cynder began to walk towards the fallen tree they had used as a bridge before, Thorin took a deep breath and followed them. "you think the cave is still open?" asked Spyro, Cynder simply shrugged her shoulders as she held on tight while they crossed over the river.

Thorin was in such a daze at seeing the fields he fell over the edge and plunged into the river, he soon emerged teeth clattering as he did, "cold..so cold," he said as he walked out of the river and crossed the bridge. Spyro and Cynder were practically in tears as they tried not to laugh, "y..you okay, Thorin?" asked Cynder.

"Oh yeah...I'm f-fine," he said as he walked past them, still dripping wet, "come on then, lets keep moving." Spyro followed him, still laughing slightly as he did. It wasn't long before they reached the cave and, to Thorin's relief, it had been left open.

Thorin took out his flint and steel and lit one of the many torches lining the wall, "these torches are old and had been long since replaced, we better move fast," he said as he walked into the dark cave. Spyro jogged a bit to catch up and slowed down, "we're almost there...gotta say, I didn't think we'd make it this far, not with our luck anyway."

he could feel Cynder lightly shaking on his back, "yeah...almost there," she said in a terrified and shaky voice, "are...are you sure I can't stay behind Spyro...please," she pleaded, tears nearly falling out. Spyro sighed and smiled while looking up at her, "don't worry Cyn," he raised his tail and softly rubbed hers to calm her down, "I won't let anything happen to you, plus you helped save this world too, I'm sure that counted for something right?"

Cynder looked down and sighed, "I guess," she said as she laid her head down between his horns. "man with you two around there's little need for romance around here," said Thorin in a whispering voice, Cynder blushed as she heard that and looked away.

Thorin tossed the torch into a small pool of water close by and stopped, "well, here we are," he said as they looked up to see a large opening leading to the City, "the all great and powerful Warfang!, with its clean streets, gorgeous buildings, and beautiful decor...what the heck happened here?" he asked as he walked into the ruined, and broken city.

The once solid and polished floors were now covered with debri and blood, most of the decorations had been destroyed with parts spread around the courtyard. As they looked around they noticed large cracks on the ground and the once tall, beautiful buildings tied together with large chains and rope, "what do you think those are for?" asked Cynder as she looked around.

"They're there so that the city literally doesn't fall apart," said a mole as he walked out of a shop, he adjusted his binocular on his eye as he walked near them, "mind standin' still, this darn thing got damaged during the war and now it's all out'a focus," he said as he turned a dial with his hand.

Spyro and Cynder both stood still as he did that, Thorin mean while wandered into the shop to look around, "almost there...aha got it!" he jumped back in surprise, "oy, ain't ya that purple dragon fellow they say helped out in the walls?" he asked as he took a closer look.

"yes he is, uhm, if you don't mind me asking where is everyone, this place seems deserted," said Cynder looking around the empty city. The mole glared at her, "Cynder? Oh it is you, I hear you helped purple here down at the wall, tis' a pleasure to finally meet you, ah..I heard you had changed for good, uhm..is this by any chance.. true?" he asked.

Cynder looked around wondering why she hadn't been attacked yet and nodded her head, "oh that's just great, oh and to answer your previous question everyone is up at city hall uhm..or at least...what's left of it, I'm going there right now if you wish to follow?" he offered.

"hey how do I look?" asked Thorin as he walked out of the shop with new clothes and studded armor, "I didn't have much but I had just enough jems to buy this." Spyro looked at him and shrugged while Cynder only grinned and nodded, "uhh, fellow I don't believe that armor fits you..isn't it a bit tight?" asked the mole as he saw how small the armor looked on him.

"No not really, the mole in there said it was supposed to look like this, oh and also he threw in this...uhm..whatever its called," he said as he put on one of the moles binoculars on, "I don't see how you can see with these things, everything's so dark and blurry," he said as he took them off and blinked.

"yes well they're made for mole use, not cheetahs," said the mole as he walked down a road, "follow me if you wish to see your guardians," he said as he climbed over a crack. "wanna come along Thorin?" asked Cynder as Spyro began to follow the mole.

"uhh, yeah yeah I'll...I'll be there soon, you go on," he said as he fiddled around with the binoculars, Spyro and Cynder looked at each other and shrugged. "alright we'll be down at city hall if you need us," said Cynder as Spyro jumped over the crack and followed the mole down the street.

Thorin simply waved them off before walking back towards the shop, "hey you know how to adjust these things?" he asked as he entered the small store. Meanwhile Spyro and Cynder followed the mole through the debri filled road, "oh names Phyx by the way," said the mole as he climbed over a fallen wall.

"nice to meet you Phyx, oh I've been meaning to ask you, how did you manage to wrap those large chains around the buildings like that?" asked Cynder as she looked up at the tall structures. "oh those were placed by the dragons, with their help we were able to bring back the pieces of the city and hold them together, of course having the elders around helped as well, one of them froze the ground together while the other green one re-enforced the ice with some earth, seems to be holding quite well."

"as well? Do you mean there's more dragons around," asked Spyro. Phyx chuckled and walked out into a court yard, "oh yes, tons of em' too, some flew in while others simply came back from defending the other walls, you can see them over there, perched atop buildings or statues near city hall," said Phyx as he pointed to the crowd infested surroundings of city hall.

Phyx ran ahead to join the crowds surrounding the building, "you see them?" asked Spyro referring to the elders. Cynder looked around and saw them at the entrance of the building, she sighed and nodded, "yeah, there right in the center of it all, over in the entrance of the building," she said with worry in her voice.

"you ready?" asked Spyro as he walked out of the road and into the open, Cynder shook her head and hid her face with her wings, "here we go," he said as he began walking towards the crowd. As he neared them nearly everyone turned around to look at them and, to Cynder's misfortune, so did the dragons. Just when I thought this couldn't get any worse, she thought as the crowd opened up and let him through.

Spyro stopped infront of Cyril, he smiled down at him and sighed, "welcome back...Spyro and Cynder."

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…..hey...so...been a while huh-_-'...guess that whole, chapter-per-month thing didn't work huh hehehuhhhh. Aaanyway, I'm back woooo, sorry for taking so long, T.V., games, and the Internet have a way of distracting me...that and I've started trying to use RPG Maker VX Ace so...you know theres that.

How long has it been? Couldn't have been that long right?...right? Oh man.. I'm really sorry guys but...I did tell you that I'm not all that good at keeping schedules, also the summer's gotten so hot I can barely do anything right know, if I even go up stairs I swear I can feel myself burning alive, living in a house without any A/C sucks.

Also I've been meaning to clarify that if by any chance you read chapter 8.5, when I said that it happened but it didn't happen I mean that that didn't happen in the actual story, it didn't happen at all, it's there but not in any way connected to the real story...maybe I should just get rid of it...can't imagine you guys enjoyed that..or maybe you did who know, I'd set up a poll but...I don't really know how to...even if I did I highly doubt you guys would answer it so why bother, seriously should I leave it there? I think it's just there to bother people.

Anywho I don't believe I have anything else to say other than that it may be a while until the next chapter. I guess I'm done for know, anyway I guess that's it, till next time piece b with u.