Cynder waited a moment after knocking on the door before hearing a muffled voice through the door say "Come in." Opening the door Cynder saw an elderly looking mole. The mole smiled as he watched Cynder walk in. "You must be Cynder," said the mole, "me along with my other colleges have been expecting you."
"You have?" said Cynder confused.
"Well considering your past, several other therapists and I figured you would be coming to one of us, now that the war is over. But enough about that, I presume you're here to set up an appointment?"
"Yea, I was told by Canneta, that you would be able to help me with my… condition. By the way I never got your name," said Cynder looking around the small office for a name tag or something that had his name on it.
"My apologies for that, my name is Aditsan,"
"Well it's nice to meet you Aditsan," said Cynder
"Like wise. Now then sadly I am rather booked today, and I don't have much time before another client of mine comes in. Are you free three days from now? Say around six pm?" asked Aditsan.
Cynder thought about this for a moment. Now that the war was finished, she didn't really have much left to do. "Yea I think I can make some arrangements, I've got nothing important going on at the moment," said Cynder.
"That is splendid to hear. Now I'm sorry to say this but I do need you to leave. As I've said I've got someone else coming soon,"
"Oh no that is fine, I do understand. With the war being over and all, Im sure you and the rest of you therapists will be working all day and night for a while now," Cynder said as she opened the door. Just before she closed it she heard Aditsan mumble to himself, "Tell me about it."
Over with Spyro, he was walking pondering what to do. Now that the war was over he didn't have any responsibilities, and this was the first time since he lived in the swamp that he had no duties to fulfill. Then it hit him. He hadn't gone home in over three years. His parents must be worried sick for him. Not only that but he hasn't seen Sparx since he left Warfang nearly a week ago. "I hope everyone is alright," thought Spyro. Deciding to go find out for himself, Spyro took off, heading towards the swamp.
As he was flying towards the swamp, Spyro was deep in thought about everything that he went through, from freeing Cynder, to defeating Gual, and stopping Malefor, and how much he has physically and mentally changed since he left home. Would his parents even recognize him? It worried him a little and it made him nervous. But never the less he's missed them.
Back with Cynder, she was pondering what she is going to do. She wouldn't see the therapist for a while now, and she had to avoid Spryo that entire time.
"What am I going to do?" asked Cynder to no one in particular.
Cynder continued to walk through the hallways, when she stopped in front of her door that led to her room. She was just about to open the door when a thought accrued to her. She sleeps right next door to Spyro. How is she going to avoid him if he sleeps only a few yards away from her? The only thing she could come up with is to move out. Cynder sighed thinking how much a hassle it was going to be moving. She may not of had a lot of things, but none the less the idea of moving wasn't something she was fond of.
First she needed to inform others of what she was doing. She walked over to the guardian's chamber room and knocked on the door. Soon afterwards Terrador opened the door and looked down at Cynder.
"What can I help you with," asked Terrador. Cynder quickly explained she had learned recently and told him what she planned to do. Terrador then said "I am sorry to hear about your condition. I do wish you the best of luck. If it would help you, once you find a home to live in, I can send some moles to transfer your items there."
"Thank you Terrador, I would appreciate that.
While that was going on, Spyro continued to fly around, without much care in the world. He would occasionally stare towards the ground and watch as the grassy hills under him went by. By noon he started to grow hungry, so he quickly found himself something to eat, and took off again. After several more hours of flight, Spyro could see the swamp up ahead. He quickly landed giving his sore wings a much deserved break, and walked into the swamp.
As he walked deeper and deeper into the swamp the darker and darker it got, and the fact that the sun was setting did help much with providing light. Spyro however was used to this as he has grown accustom to things getting extremely dark at night.
Walking deeper in Spyro noticed several things that Spyro and Sparx use to play around at. Several more memory's flooded Spyro's mind as he continued. As his mind was swimming around in his memories, he almost forgot why he was here in the first place, until he heard quiet muffled voices in the distance. Being drawn out of his memory's Spyro looked up and saw a large mushroom, with a few windows build in, and a large door in the front. Spryo couldn't help but smile as he was finally home after so many years.
He felt anxiety as he crept closer and closer to the mushroom home. Just as he reached the front door, he took a deep breath trying to calm his nerves. Then looking down at the door, he brought up his paw and knocked on it.
"Who is it?" said a female voice on the other side of the door. Before Spyro could answer the door opened to reveal a pink dragon fly. The first thing the dragon fly saw were purple paws. Her eye drifted upwards traveling along the purple beings legs until it reached a familiar face. Upon seeing Spyro's face, she placed both of her hands over her mouth as a shocked look fell upon her face. Spyro gave his step mother a concerned look, as her eyes began to water. It looked like she was about to say something when suddenly she fainted.
Spyro's eye's widened when he saw this. He wasn't sure how his parents would react when they saw him, but he did not expect this. Then a male voice was heard. "Honey, who was at the doo…" said a blue dragon fly just as he saw Spyro standing in front of the door way. Like his step mother, his step father was overjoyed to see Spyro, only he didn't cover his mouth and let a huge smile appear on his face. However before he could say anything, he fainted.
Spyro wasn't sure what to do know. He just witnessed both of his step parents faint just from seeing him. It left him rather confused. "I guess they missed me a lot more than I thought they would," mumbled Spyro to himself. Spyro had to wait a short while before his step parents woke up.
When they did Spyro smiled once more, happy to see that they were alright. Just as quickly as they woke up, they flew up to him and hugged his snout the best they could.
"We are so happy to see you again," said Flash.
"It's good to see you two as well," said Spyro.
When they let go of his snout Spyro noticed that Nina's face was filled with anger. Before he could ask her what was wrong, Nina punched Spyro's snout. It didn't hurt him at all, but he reeled his head back and twitched his nose when he felt this.
"Were in the world were you?!" asked Nina furious. "After three years, we haven't had a single visit from you, do you have any idea how worried we were about you?!"
Spyro looked at his mother and could tell that she was very angry with him. If there was one thing that scared him almost as much as Malefor it would be his mother, despite their size difference. Spyro glanced over to Flash, silently asking him for assistance, only for the blue dragonfly to shrug.
Facing his step mother again, and said "Im sorry mom, I wanted to visit you guys as soon as possible, but I never had the time to do so. I did however think about you guys every day."
Nina glared at him for a short moment before sighing. "Well I guess saving the world is a good enough reason to not visit, but only barely," said Nina as felt her anger slowly leave her. "But next time someone is trying to destroy the world, I expect you to come home as soon as possible. Got it?" she said in a stern voice.
Spryo chuckled at this before saying "Yea I will be sure to do that."
"Anyway it's getting dark, why don't we head inside?" suggested Flash.
"Where's Sparx?" asked Spyro. "I thought he would be out here by now, is he not home?"
Nina and Flash gave each other worried glances when Spyro asked this. Flash then said "Well you see when you didn't return for a few days, Sprax thought you were dead. Ever since he got home, he has been spending all day at the tavern."
Spryo was rather shocked to hear this. Worried for his step brother Spyro said "You guys can go inside, I'm going to go find Sprax." Flash nodded his head and the two dragon flies flew back inside their home, as Spryo headed towards the village. Spyro ran as fast as he could towards the village. It worried him that Sparx would do something stupid while there. Luckily for him thanks to his large size, he reached the village in no time. Upon reaching the village he slowed his pace to a slow trot and gazed from building to building looking for the tavern. He began to worry a little as he could not find it. After a few more minutes of searching which felt like a year for Spyro he found what he was looking for, The Shaking Monarch.
He quickly walked up to the door and stuck his head inside. He mentally cursed to himself as his large size only allowed his head and front paws to stick inside the tavern.
"Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing? You blocking up the entire entrance Spyro!" said the red dragon fly behind the counter.
"Sorry, Im looking for Sparx," said Spyro to the dragonfly bartender.
Suddenly a yellow dragonfly rose above the other dragonflies around him, as he heard his name being called. "Hey Spyro *hic* my man how is it going," said Sparx in a drunken state.
"Sparx there you are, I was worried about you. Come on let's get you home," said Spyro.
"Oh no you *hic* don't. Ive talked with you many times today, and your just one of those, oh what, were they called… FAKE!" shouted Sparx, "your just one of those *hic* fake Spyro's that I've been seeing all day, telling me what to do. Barkeep, give me another glass of Mead, if you will."
The red dragonfly does nothing until Sparx pulled out some small gems to pay for the drink. The bartender gladly took the money and gives Sparx another drink. "Thank you," mumbles Sparx to the red dragonfly. "Now them, as for you, *hic* mister fake Spryo, what do you want from me now?"
"Sparx that is the real Spyro, not part of your imagination," said a blue dragonfly that was sitting near Sparx.
"No this is a fake one; the real Spyro is as dead as a doorknob. *Hic*, speaking of Spyro, you know fake Spyro, you remind me a lot of Spyro," said Sparx.
"Sparx it's actually me, Spyro, Im actually here," said Spyro trying to get his brother to see that it is him.
Sparx stared at Spyro for a moment with a drunken expression on his face. "Let me get a closer look at you," said Sparx in a drunken slur. Sparx then quickly stood up and slowly flew over to Spyro, swaying left to right as he did, bumping into some of the other dragonflies there. Soon he was a few feet from Spyro's head and examined him. He then said "No you're not the real Spyro. Spyro has purple scales; your scales are clearly violet."
"Sparx your mind is screwing with you," said a green dragon fly sitting near the door.
If my mind screwing with me, let's play along, check what I can do," said Sparx as he quickly flew over to his drink, and a candle. He then tilted his drink and dipped the flame from the candle into his drink, lighting it on fire. Sparx then took a deep breath and blows on it, sending the extinguishing most of it, but also sent a lot of it flying into the air. Most of the flaming liquid burned out before it hit the ground however one tiny bit landed on Sparxes arm, catching it on fire. "Behold fire bitches, I now can make fire! And wow does it burn!" shouted Sparx.
Acting quick, Spyro used his ice breath to put out the fire; however some of his ice breath missed Sparx and froze the wall behind Sparx.
"Damn it fake Spyro you ruined all of it," shouted Sparx one last time before throwing his glass at the wall, shattering it, which sent shards of glass and several drops of Mead everywhere.
"Alright that is enough, Ive had it with you," shouted the red dragon fly behind the counter. "Get the Hell out of my Tavern, Sparx. And the same thing goes for you as well Spyro."
"Well fine then, all of you are pieces of shit anyway," said Sparx before floating towards the door.
Spyro removed his head from the door way, and watched as Sparx flew out soon after. Spyro signed as he closed his eyes and thought about how difficult it will be to get the drunken Sparx back home. When Spyro opened his eyes he looked towards the spot he last saw Sparx, only to see that he is no longer there. Spyro looked around franticly for the dragonfly only to find he flying in the other direction, swaying left and right again, towards two female dragonflies.
When Sparx reached them he said "Lovely ladies how are you beauties today, alloy me to introduce myself, the name is the love stud aka Sparx here to attending yawl's lovely needs!" earning a giggle from the two girls.
Seeing this Spyro called Sparx's name and ran over to him. Before Spyro reached Sparx, Sparx said "but how about we skip a part and how would you lovely things like to have a night one stand with the handsome stud currently in front of you?" Suddenly Sparx quickly grabbed one of the females and kissed her. The dragonfly he was holding quickly pushed him away and began to wipe her mouth, while the other female raised her fist and punched Sparx in the face. "Wow that was a good kiss," said Sparx before falling out of the sky, only to be grabbed by Spyro just before he hit the ground.
As Spyro checked to see if Sparx was ok, Sparx was waving goodbye to the females as they flew away. Other than a black eye Spyro could not see anything wrong with this foster brother. The next thing Spyro knew Sparx quickly flew out of his grasp and flew off down the dirt road. Sparx was flying very fast and was starting to get away. Spyro would start flying himself as it would be faster, but the trees around him were to close together to spread his wings.
Spyro soon found himself out of the village, when he finally caught up to Sparx who was starting to puke onto the ground. Just as Spyro reached his brother, Sparx saw a beam of light pouring out of the sky and flew over to it. Looking up he saw one of the moons high in the night sky. Sparx then began to fly towards the moon. Spryo tried to grab him but Sparx was zigzagging a lot making it hard for Spyro to grab him. Eventually Spyro managed to gently grab hold his tail, keeping him from flying off. Spyro was growing rather annoyed by all the stuff Sparx was doing so now he was going to drag him home.
It wasn't until Spryo began to pull Sparx downwards was when Sparx noticed that he wasn't flying towards the moon anymore. "Hey let go of me!" shouted Sparx.
"Not a chance Sparx, I am taking you home right now," said Spyro.
"I said let me go! Let me see my brother!" shouted Sparx.
"What are you talking about?" asked Spyro confused as he stopped pulling Sparx but still held him.
"Do you see that?" asked Sparx as he pointed just left of the moon and towards a dragon constellation. "That has to be him; it just has to be Spyro. It appeared the day Spyro died, so it has to be him." said Sparx as tears started to form in his eyes. Sparx soon stopped struggling and began to cry. "Please, just I want to see him, one last time. I miss him so much. He is my only brother. I just want him back," said Sparx as he buried his face into his hands.
Feeling sorry for the dragonfly, Spyro let Sparx go and watched him slowly float down. When Sparx touched the ground he mumbled "It's all my fault that he is gone,"
Spyro laid down next to him, and asked in a soft voice, "what do you mean by that?"
"I should of gone with him, I shouldn't of ever left him go off without me. If I was there when they fought Malefor, then maybe I could of… I don't know, but Spyro would still be alive if I went with him," said Sparx as he continued to weep.
"Sparx listen, there is nothing you could have done. I told you to stay behind because; I didn't want you to get hurt,"
"But I feel so useless. Ive done little to nothing to help Spyro on his journey to fulfill the stupid prophesy, and the one time I might have been some form of help, he tells me to stay behind, and ends up dying. What kind of brother am I to let him go and do that?" said Sparx.
"Sparx, you are a terrific brother, I couldn't have asked for a better one. Besides Im still alive, so there is no need to cry," said Spyro in a caring tone.
"Stop telling me these lies!" shouted Sparx, as he faced Spyro. "Spyro is dead, and your just some stupid trick my mind is playing on me. Maybe some sleep with get rid of you," said Sparx before flying back towards his parents home.
Spyro and Sparx soon reached their parents' home, and when both Nina and Flash saw the two of them through the window, they both came flying out to greet them. Sparx however ignored them and flew into the house. Nina gave Spyro a worried looked; as she wondered what was wrong with him, and were did he get the black eye.
"What happened?" asked Flash.
Spyro thought about it for a second, but only said "I will tell you in the morning, if you wouldn't mind, I'm tired and would like some sleep."
Flash and Nina just watched as Spyro sat down near their home and curled up trying to get some sleep. They continued to look at the sleeping dragon, and in the dim moon light they noticed some of the scars on Spyro. Nina gasped and flew closer to him. The light emitting from her body revealed more of Spyro's scars, cuts, grazes, and bruises. It nearly brought her to tears as she examined her battled bruised child. Nina was about to wake Spyro up and ask him about them, but she felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking behind her she saw Flash.
"Come on let's let him sleep. Im sure he is very tired. We can talk to him in the morning," said Flash in a quiet voice. Nina thought about it for a moment, and despite her urge to talk to Spyro, she nodded and the two dragonflies flew back into their home.
Meanwhile with Cynder, she was enjoying her night. She had just found an apartment far away from the temple, and the moles have moved all of her belongings there. She was now just wandering around Warfang's market place looking for nothing in particular. Just anything additional she could add to her home. It was late at night but there were still several shops still open. As she turned a corner she saw a large group. The group seemed to of noticed her as well, as they quickly walked over to her.
Cynder wasn't sure what they wanted, but whatever they wanted, Cynder readied herself as she calmly walked forwards. She had to stop however as the group of dragons stopped in front of her.
"Your Cynder right?" asked a green dragoness.
Cynder nodded her head, earning several thank yous from the group for saving the world, which shocked Cynder greatly when she heard that. Suddenly the group began asking her questions.
"What was it like being in constant danger," asked an old looking ice dragon.
"Why didn't you and Spyro just fight Malefor right away?" asked a middle aged fire dragon.
"What is Spyro like?" asked the green dragoness.
"How many apes have you killed?" asked an electric dragoness.
"What have you been doing these past three years?" asked a fire dragoness.
"How did Spyro save you?" asked a young ice dragon kid.
"Can you really use more than one element just like Spyro?" asked a young fire dragoness kid.
"Was Malefor as scary as they say he was?" asked by twin dragon children at the same time.
"Whatever happened to the apes, is Gual finally gone for good?" asked one of the Dragon Soldiers standing guard at the area.
"Are you and Spyro mates now that Malefor and the dark armies are gone?" asked an earth dragoness.
Cynder tried to answer their questions, but more and more kept on coming. Soon her heart starts beating faster, and her mind begins to race. Her breath soon become quick and short, as the group continue to bombard her with questions. She closed her eyes for a second trying to calm herself down, but when she opened them the earth dragoness that was in front of her was replaced by an ape.
Cynder reeled back slightly in fear, by the suddenly appearance of the ape. She blinked and the ape was gone, replaced with the earth dragoness. Cynder closed her eyes and shook her head, and when she opened them again, the young fire dragoness kid, the old looking ice dragon, and the young ice dragon kid, were all replaced with apes. Cynder began to back up, as she listened to the dragons ask her more questions, while the apes began hooting and howling at her.
She continued to back up until she felt something behind her. Looking behind her, she saw that she backed up into a stand. When she looked back at the group in front of her, she saw that they were all replaced with apes of all kind of sizes, yelling, bellowing, and screeching at her. Cynder started to panic even more, and tried to look for a way to get away from the apes, but suddenly she saw that she was back in her old fortress in the Concurrent Skies. She noticed that the apes were drawing closer to her, still screaming at her.
Fear was coursing inside of her. She wasn't sure what to do. "Dont let them take me back," Cynder mumbles to herself, hoping Spyro would come and save her. "I don't want to go back. STAY AWAY FROM ME," shouted Cynder as she swiped at the apes in front of her. She didn't hit any of them, but they stopped walking closer to her. They did however continue their screaming. Cynder begins to quiver in fear, and closes her eyes trying to block out the sounds of the apes. Her heart beat, and breath quicken even faster. She opens her eyes hoping to see that everything is back to normal, only to see that she is completely surrounded by apes, and in front of them all stood Gaul.
Cynder was both relieved and terrified when black spots began to appear in front of her. She became dizzy, and fell over. Just for she passed out from a panic attack, she saw a familiar red dragon walk past all of the apes and Gaul.
"Ignitus?" Cynder said weakly, before passing out.