Chapter 8

Two nights later, crescent moons shown over the swampland. Cynder looked around as she soared through the air. It was miserable here. She knew very few creatures lived in this swamp, where the waters had been polluted by the not so far away castle. Even the air was nauseating. Mangled, twisted, and splintered trees dotted the landscape, like spikes that branched from themselves with even more.

'Tarrador! Do you see anything?' She called out.

"No, but Keep searching. I know the castle is around here somewhere!" Terradors voice echoed a few minutes later. Cynder looked down, and sighed. She turned her eyes this way and that, and still no sign of this Vellrock Castle they were searching for. As she rounded a small Plateau, she saw it. Even bigger then she remembered form her vision.

'Terrador! Look!" she called out. Terrador swooped down to her side, and landed. Peering at the dark-stoned castle, he nodded. 'That is our target alright..." He muttered.

"Do we have a plan?" Cynder asked. "Or should we just improvise like Spyro and I did so much?"

"There's a plan. Listen, Ill create a distraction, and keep their attention. Find an entrance, and take it. Get inside, and free Spyro. He should be in the dungeons." Terrador explained.

"Alright." Cynder turned to the castle. It had no thunder storm, but it had the same ominous feeling her now abandoned fortress had once had. She narrowed her eyes. I'm coming, Spyro... She thought. "I'll go first." Terrador announced, and took flight. Cynder watched him as he flew over the castle, and suddenly rolled up into a cannon ball shape, and smashed into the far side of the castle.

Dragons started to ascend towards the hole he had made, and then had to duck as he catapulted back out. Cynder took this chance, and flew in, low and slow. Within a few moments, she arrived at the man gate. Two dragon soldiers turned to face her. Before they could move, she sent a blast of fear energy at them.

They retreated from her. She went to the door that would allow her entrance, and smashed it down. She looked around. The last of the dragon Soldier shad just exited through the hole in the roof to fight Terrador. She quickly began to race down hallways, and down stairs, looking for the dungeons. It wasn't long before she came to what she assumed was her destination. A pitch dark hallway.

She picked up a lantern, hanging it from her lower jaw, and raced down the halls. "Spyro!" She called out. She raced for minutes, and no sign of him. She had began to fear she might be too late, when she heard a quiet whimpering in one of the cells. She turned her light to shine through the barred window. She saw Spyro, and as soon as light struck him, he shied away.

"Spyro! There you are!" She said with joy in her voice. She reared back, and busted down the door. But as she stepped in, she paused. Spyro was cowering away from her. "Spyro?" she asked. She then realized his condition. His leg was bent at an odd angle, and he had several bruises, scrapes, cuts, and slices on him. His body was covered with dry blood. One of his horns had been broken in half.

'What have they done to you-" Cynder was cut off.

"Stay away from me!" Spyro screamed, his voice trembling with fear and pain. He scooted away from her.

"Spyro, it's me." Cynder said. She slowly advance,d doing everything she could to not appear threatening.

"No, you're not! Your just another illusion, sent here to torture me! Aren't you! Their have been others... The real Cynder is dead..." Spyro was crying, hard. Trembling. Cynder slowly walked up to him. "Spyro..."

"I'm all alone... why don't you just kill me already? You've already taken everything else from me..." Spyro's voice quieted to a dim whisper. Cynder put the lantern down.

She slowly clsoed the gap between her and Spyro. Spyro looked at her, terror in his eyes. She smiled at him, and gently leaned in close to him, pressing the side of her head to his, A dragons sign of love and affection. "You're not alone..." Cynder said quietly. Spyro quieted himself, as Cynder gently hushed him.

She slowly pulled away, and smiled at him. "It's me, Spyro. I'm here." she said.

"I... I..." Spyro couldn't find anything to say.

"Come on, let's fix this leg, and get you out of here." Cynder examined Spyros leg. It was a simple popped joint. She placed her paws on it, and snapped it back into line. Spyro cried out, and sniffled slightly. Cynder carefully helped him to his feet, and led him out of the cell, picking up the lantern as they went.

Zelas Observed the fighting above Vellrock Castle. He cursed mildly, and began to focus. After a moment, Terrador looked around. He looked suddenly worried. In Terradors mind, the enemy number had just increased, and he couldn't fight quite this many. Of course, the enemy number was still the same.

Terrador made a choice. One which he would ultimately regret. He unleashed all of his energy in a single great fury blast.