A storm replaced Armavir's presence over the city. The rain washed away the pools of blood and piles of grublin parts, leaving the bodies of the fallen behind. The flickers of lightning illuminated the battlefield, teasing them with the task of recovery. Thunder yelled at them overhead, scolding them because of their defeat.

He felt the drops of rain touch his scales through the holes in his armor, making him shiver with the sudden chill. His body ached and burned, protesting him standing. He didn't want to lean on Cynder too much, he didn't know if she could take his weight along with her own. That didn't stop him from draping a wing over her back.

She was bloodied and bruised just like everyone else. Various punctures were stained with a tint of red, the liquid life running off her with the rain. She looked up at him with a grim expression, motioning to Spyro who was still standing ahead of them.

He wasn't even sure if he was breathing, let alone if he was all there. Spyro was rooted to the ground, staring at the broken gate. He didn't share their defeated stature instead he stayed in his defensive posture, as if waiting for Armavir and his army to return. He didn't say anything to them, simply stared into the void beyond the shattered defenses. Cynder brought him forward, besides the stunned Spyro.

"We'll come back from this Spyro, don't worry." He placed a paw on his exposed shoulder.

"What did he mean?" His voice was cold, filled to the brim with venom.

"He could've meant anything, Armavir doesn't seem to be in the right mind." Cynder defended him.

"Did you not hear him? What he said?" Spyro looked at them over his shoulder. "He still needs him." He pushed his paw off.

"I don't know what he meant. All the power has unstabilized him." Eclipse had Cynder bring him in front of Spyro. "As she said, he could've meant anything maybe even nothing."

"Then what's the point of saying it in the first place?" He snarled.

"To do this." He gestured to him. "To fracture us."

"How can you fracture something that's already shattered?" His eyes darted between the two of them, hints of jealousy subtly filling the purple orbs. "As you said we're not friends."

"Now's not the time for this conversation." Cydner tried pulling Eclipse away but he held firm.

"Spyro, we're not doing this right now."

"What shouldn't we be doing right now?" Spyro shoved him off Cynder. He tried to catch himself but his back legs gave out beneath him.

"Spyro!" Cynder copied him, pushing Spyro back then going to Eclipse.

"This is what he wants. The two of us ripping each other apart." He struggled to stand. "Are you really going to give him what he wants?"

"This has been too long overdue." Spyro approached him.

"Stop!" Cynder shoved him back again.

"Stop what?" He laughed.

"He can barely stand!" She pushed him again.

"People like him shouldn't be allowed to stand for all he's done." His eyes locked on to his, the jealousy turned into anger among the many swirling emotions.

"All he's done? This is not the time for this!" She tried to push him again but he stood still.

"Is this what the great 'Father of Darkness' does? Let others fight his battles?" He shouted around her, more venom filling the sharp words.

"Stop it! Just leave!" She tried turning him around with little success.

"Leave now? No, no, no. I'm just getting started." He pushed past her, pushing Eclipse back down.

"Spyro! Leave!" She tugged at his tail, only to be shook off.

"I've stayed silent for too long, I'm sick and tired of seeing you making the wrong decision!" He shouted, facing her.

"The wrong decision?" She stepped back.

"What makes him better than me? Ever since I saved you from Malefor, all I've ever done is help you!"

"Is this what this is about? What's wrong with you?"

"What is wrong with me Cynder? Why do you chose him over me, what has he done that I haven't?" He grabbed her shoulders with his wings. "I need to know!"

"Get off of me!" She pushed his wings off her.

"I don't understand. He's a monster!"

Don't let him speak of us like this. I can't stop him.

"He's not a monster!" She fired back.

You're going to let her do all the protecting? I can't do anything.

"You have the audacity to say that after everyone he's killed. All the fear and death he created in Malefor's name!"

Tell me what to do. Give him what he wants.

"He didn't have a choice!" She flared her wings out, shielding him from Spyro.

Tell him what he wants to hear.

"He did have a choice and he chose to wipe out entire colonies of dragons. He is nothing but a mass murderer!"

I am nothing because the darkness is everything

Eclipse began to laugh.

Cynder's wings dropped back to her sides, revealing both her and Spyro's confused expressions. "Eclipse?" She stepped towards him as he steadily raised himself off the ground.

"What are you laughing at?" Spyro's words were spilling out hatred, each letter more filled than the last.

"You really are just pathetic. Aren't you?" His maniacal laughter was replaced with a grin. He stood up alone without any of his legs buckling like before. "Concerning yourself with what a dragoness thinks of you."

"You're the only one here who's pathetic!" He shot back.

"Oh really?"

"Taking pride in your ability to scare dragonets and take life."

"How many apes and grublins did you kill during your adventures?" His grin grew at the silence. "Did you honestly think that you weren't feared by more soldiers? You were just like me for my side."

"I'm nothing like you!"

"Didn't you kill Gual after he surrendered? Didn't you brualize any ape or grublin that stood in your way? Didn't you help release Malefor from the Well of Souls?" Spyro went silent, squeezing his eyes closed.

"Eclipse, stop." Cynder still stood between them.

"Stop?" He laughed at her. "We both know what I think of mercy."

"You can't do this now." She placed a paw on his chest.

"I'm done letting you hold me back." He pushed her aside and stepped towards the purple dragon. "No one will hold me back from him." Black wisps began circling around his legs like a vortex.

"Using your precious darkness as a shield now? To think you were the topic of everyone's nightmares for so long." Spyro shook his head and looked at him. The wisps fell off his legs and snaked towards the rapidly darkening purple dragon.

"To think that you were the savior of the dragon race. Too bad Cynder did most of the work and you got all the credit." His smile grew larger as Spyro snarled at him.

"I did everything! I'm the one that saved everyone!" His purple iris' gave way to a milky white filling while his scales faded to black.

"You're scared."

"I've never been scared of you."

"You're scared of what the guardians will think."

"No I'm not!"

"You're scared of what the city thinks of you."

"Everyone loves me more than you!"

"You're scared of that I'm better than you."

"You're nothing compared to me!"

"You're afraid that Cynder is afraid of you."

"Cynder?" He looked to her only for her to look away. "What have you done to her?"

"The only person that's done something to her is you."

"I haven't done anything to her! I know what you're doing!"

"Oh really?" He smiled again, the wisps wrapped around Spyro's legs.

"I know everything about you're darkness, the fear, the corruption in your heart." He didn't notice the wisps tightening like rope. "You're using it on her!" He tried to jump at him but the wisps held him in place. Confusion returned to his face as he looked down, before being overtaken by fear.

"You claim to know about my darkness but..." Eclipse surged forward, grabbing Spyro's neck. "... you know nothing." He held him there for a moment, his smile widening as Spyro began gasping for air. The wisps let go of Spyro, letting Eclipse throw him to the ground at a his feet. He laughed as Spyro scrambled to get up, before grabbing his tail in his mouth.

He spun him around like a lasso, taking a moment to enjoy the blood in his mouth, before letting him go and sending him into a wall. The force and weight behind Spyro's body cracked the wall with an audible thud. Spyro groggily got up, wobbling slightly and shaking his head. He locked onto Eclipse approaching him, summoning fire to his throat. He pushed his eyes closed as he released the torrent of fire. Eclipse darted to the side before moving back in to grab him by the snout. He forced his muzzle up, throwing all the fire into the raging storm above. The clouds turned a dark orange as the fire penetrated their underbellies.

Spyro opened his eyes with shock, watching his flames burn the air rather than the dragon it was aimed at. He swung his tail around, connecting it with Eclipse's hind leg. The black dragon's leg took him down, forcing him to let go of Spyro. The fire ceased, instead ice shot out at him. He rolled sideways, hearing the spikes bounce off the ground where he once was.

Spyro turned his head like a turret, keeping the spikes just behind Eclipse's roll. He rolled forward, pouncing on him from underneath his spray. They toppled over, Eclipse landing on top of him. He moved his head out of the way of Eclipse's talons, narrowly dodging the white knives. He slid them over the side of his neck leaving three red streaks in their wake.

He kicked his stomach with his back legs, pushing him off him. Eclipse recovered mid air, turning it into a flip and landing on his feet. Spyro quickly got up, bracing himself for the fight in front of him. Eclipse only smiled back at him, his demeanor being calm and passive compared to Spyro's tense and defensive tone.

"No wonder the ancestors had to save you." Eclipse taunted with a small laugh.

"They don't need to save me now." His threat made him laugh more.

"Your empty threats bring out your fear."

Spyro roared in response, sprinting towards him like a raging bull. His smile grew, side stepping as he tripped him, sending him head first to the ground. He was back on his feet almost as quickly, swiveling to face him once again.

"You think you're such a great warrior, don't you?" Spyro questioned, more rage entering his voice.

"I'm clearly better than you." He mocked.

"Then why haven't you killed me yet?" He mocked back.

"Everyone makes mistakes, I'll make sure not to make another one." His smile sent Spyro at him again. He stepped out of the way again, this time wrapping his tail around Spyro's hind leg. With a strong tug, Spyro lost his footing and fell onto the ground. Eclipse spun around, letting go of him and sent him flying again. He righted himself in the air, opening his wings, he hovered above the ground.

Spyro rushed down towards him, talons stretched out for Eclipse's head. Eclipse disappeared before his eyes, becoming one with the shadows casted by the dim light. Moments later something landed on his back, using it's weight to crush him between it and the ground. He knew what it was and whipped around yet nothing was there. He got up, studying the surroundings for him. He began appearing everywhere he looked, his laughter coming from seemingly every direction.

He was in front of him for a moment, his smile wider than ever. Eclipse spun around, throwing his blade out to catch Spyro's cheek. He disappeared immediately afterwards, just before the blood slid down to his chin.

He kept flickering around him, lashing out with his talons or blade before disappearing once again. Spyro roared in frustration, beginning to whip his head around, sending flames in every direction he could. Eclipse met his fire with his own black flames and the two collided, spiraling into the air in a mixture of black and orange.

The combined heat washed over their bodies and scorched the stones beneath the beams of fire. The burning snaked out as if it was trying to escape the heat of the colliding flames. The column of fire illuminated the sky, stealing away the lightning's light show around them. They stopped at the same time, ending the column of fire and the burning sensation on the ground. Heavy breathing dominated their ears as their stared at each other, both having the matching white eyes. A clap of thunder drowned out the breathing, and Eclipse disappeared with it.

He appeared in front of Spyro, running full speed towards him. Spyro matched his speed, lowering his head to ram him with his horns. Eclipse went into a spin, moving around him like water. His tail blade went along his, cutting through scales with a sickening ripping sound. A sound of pain filled his ears along with Spyro skidding across the ground.

Electricity entered his body, locking his muscles in place as it made connected. Pain accompanied the stiff feeling in his body, threatening to shut down his brain. Yet, his smile only widened as the stiff feeling faded. He was used to it.

He turned towards the Spyro, his scales and eyes now their normal royal purple. Fear controlled his eyes, replacing the previous rage and hatred. Slow steps was all he could muster, the electric energy desperately tried to make him stop. It arched along his scales, showing off their bright yellow glow.

The bolts electricity died off, Spyro's magic reserves finally being emptied and useless, however he kept his pace. Every step doubled the fear radiating off of his body, feeding into Eclipse's darker desires.

"The legendary Spyro, the Savior of the Realms."

"Eclipse, stop. I'm sorry, okay?" He pleaded, trying to pick himself off the ground.

"Why should I stop? You didn't." He reached him, pushing him against the ground. "Why start something you can't finish?" A soft chuckle escaped his lips.

"I didn't want this."

"Liar." He put his other paw to the side of his head, causing him to wince. "You're terrible at hiding your emotions. You've wanted me dead almost the moment I spoke to Cynder." He shook his head with his paw. "Being controlled by envy, oh how the mighty have fallen." He pressed his head down more. "I wonder what I should do with you." He contemplated the crossing of thoughts in his head. "If I end this now then I won't get to see you suffer with everyone rejecting you, but if I'm too impatient to wait that long. Decisions, decisions."

"Eclipse?" Her voice shattered the world around him almost like glass. He stepped off Spyro, his scales becoming distinguishable again. Silver conquered the blinding white in his eyes, surrounding the black of his pupils. The thoughts in his mind disappeared, instead, pictures of what her face would look like when he turned around.

What have I done?

"Come back to me." He felt her begin to run a paw along his side, relaxing the muscles as she went. More representations of her disappointment flooded his mind, clouding other thoughts.

Why can't I stop this part of me?

"Stay with me." A wing replaced her paw on his back, as it ran up the back of his neck.

I will hurt her.

"Everything will be okay." He looked down, avoiding her eyes as she rounded in front of him.

"I'm sorry." He took off into the sky without looking directly into her eyes. He closed his eyes, ignoring her pleas to stay. His wings flapped up and down as hard as they could, raising him higher and further away from her. Her pleas faded from his ears, as Warfang was swallowed by the distance behind him.