Chapter 2 The Truth
The school was almost out of sight. Spyro led Ember toward a forest for whatever reason he had. Of course she thought it was for privacy for the moment. Spyro looked behind him for a second without stopping then continued onward on an unmarked path. The palm trees swayed as the wind blew and a few clouds were blocking the sun. The two were in an open spot with a tree line, which they crossed earlier, was blocking the school.
"It was a rare contagious disease",Spyro suddenly said.
"What?",Ember replied not knowing what he was talking of.
Spyro thought for a second then answered, "How my mother died. She caught some rare disease named plenicoplylia."
"Plen what?"
"PCP for short",Spyro finished.
Ember stayed quiet for a few steps then asked, "So if I may ask, what exactly was the point of running away for all these years?"
"I was searching for the cure for the disease."
Ember looked ahead to see a tiny forest in the distance. Spyro took no notice of it, they just remained at walk. "But if your mom had already died, then why look for the cure?"
Spyro looked up and saw the forest Ember saw earlier then said, "Hey I found a pretty sweet lake on the other side of that forest, wanna check it out?"
Ember nodded, "Sure." But she was really wondering why Spyro still looked for the cure.
They walked for a few minutes as the tiny forest slowly became closer and Ember still wondered if she would have to ask her question again or if Spyro was going to answer it eventually. When they reached the forest the sun was finally off their backs, giving them a cool shady spot from the sun. They entered the tiny forest from which they began walking past the trees to from which Ember could see was an opening a little ways ahead.
Spyro broke the silence with a question, "So how has school been?"
Ember sighed then answered, "Maybe later."
Spyro immediately knew that it hadn't been going well evidently. Maybe she was lonely throughout the years. A few minutes passed by as they walked through the forest with the sound of birds to break the silence. When they arrived at the end of the trees the environment opened up into an open plain with a beautiful lake in the middle. Ember seemed astonished at the sight.
"Oh my . . . I never even knew this was here. Who knew that this lake was hidden in the trees?"
"Yea, I figured you would like to see it",Spyro smiled.
Ember walked up to the ledge where the lake began and looked into the calm waters. She looked into her own reflection and saw Spyro's image appeared beside hers looking at the same sight.
"I was looking for the cure for to save someone else. Someone else had caught the disease and I couldn't sit back and watch him die."
Ember looked over at Spyro, "Who?"
Spyro scratched under his left horn with his back left foot like a cat would. He looked up and a bird flock flew over his head and into the trees. Spyro began walking around the lake with Ember catching back up and walking beside him.
They walked about an eighth around the lake until Spyro answered, "My father caught the deadly disease."
Ember looked up into the clouds then looked back ahead, "Oh I see."
xXxXxXxXxXx
Around a week before Spyro's disappearance
The bell rung meaning it was time to go home. Spyro stood up off the playmat and gave a small smile to Ember although she could tell it was forced.
"Well I'll see you tomorrow Ember."
Ember made a smile back, "Ok Spyro I'll see you tomorrow."
Spyro walked by some of his classmates with his head down and low. Mrs. Rune studied Spyro as he made his way out the classroom door until he was gone.
"No one should have gone through what you have",Mrs. Rune thought. She returned to her duties on her desk, writing some records on an important sheet of paper.
Spyro walked out the front school door and saw some dragon younglings making their way to their mothers. Spyro looked around and sighed. He walked by a few of his classmates who gave him a few worried looks. Spyro walked onto the sidewalk and began his lonely walk home. Ember watched her friend just walk away. She thought about tagging along to comfort him but she would be in trouble if she didn't go straight home after school. She knew he was feeling bad about something but she didn't know what it was. She also noticed that his mother hadn't been picking him up recently. Ember had no idea why, but her curiosity was urging her to find out.
Spyro slowly but surely made his way back home where his father was waiting for him. Spyro passed by a few dragons who made a quick greeting but was sadly ignored. When Spyro finally arrived at his home his father opened the front door for him. His father smiled with the sun reflecting his shiny orange scales and his yellow wings were folded back. He was about six to seven times bigger than Spyro and he had some frills on his cheekbones. Some spines ran down his back just like Spyro's did and his horns were curved back. Spyro looked up into his green eyes with a dead expression.
"Come on in, I got a snack for you in the kitchen if your hungry",his father greeted with a smile.
"I'm ok for now dad. I'm just tired." Spyro made his way inside his home. He breathed in what smelled like lemons and breathed back out. He looked around in his living room and laid down on the nearest couch there was available.
Spyro's father picked up his drink he left on the coffee table in front of the couch and sat down beside Spyro.
"Spyro, there's something I have to tell you. It's important and I need you to understand",Spyro's father exhaled deeply.
Spyro sat up on the couch instead of being slouched like he was, "What is it? Am I in trouble?"
"No it's something else. I really don't know how to say this and I know this is so sudden but",the orange dragon deeply sighed, "I'm dieing Spyro."
"Wha what?",Spyro stuttered with confusion. "But you can't die! Mom just died and I can't lose you too! Please!"
"I'm sorry Spyro. But I caught the disease your mom had. The one that killed her. I have around five years left in me."
"But, there's gotta be something I can do!",Spyro objected.
His father smiled, "Just promise me to love me forever. That's all I could ever ask for."
Spyro wrapped his arms as much as he could around his father as a tear came down his cheek, "No! There has to be something we could do! I could get medicine for you! Maybe that would help."
The orange dragon slightly shook his head, "There is no medicine to cure what I have. I tried to find the cure for your mother but I only ended up in failure."
Spyro thought then asked, "You mean when you were gone for a whole year? You were looking for medicine?"
"A sort of medicine. The only cure for the disease I have is in one of the world's most rarest of mushrooms. Legends say that this mushroom sap has some sort of healing properties but legends can't always be trusted."
"But what if this legend is true? Then that means that",Spyro began.
His father interrupted, "I looked Spyro, believe me I traveled through forests and swamps in search for it but I never even came close."
"I'll find it for you!",Spyro exclaimed.
The orange dragon smiled, "I know you would Spyro. I wouldn't want you to go throughout your childhood without any parents but this disease is slowing me down and I'm afraid I won't be able to help you look for I would only become a burden to you."
Spyro then realized what he meant, "What? You mean."
"Yes Spyro, it is your choice if you want to help me or not. I would much rather you go so you won't get this disease either, but like I said before it's your choice. Your young for something like this, but you are special and I know your the one who can get things done. And so I will teach you the ways of fire, which should help you out. I will give you some time to make your choice but regardless of your choice I need you in the backyard so I can help you learn more of fire."
Spyro nodded, "Alright dad."
xXxXxXxXxXx
Present Day
"I can't believe your father caught the disease. Did you ever find the cure to save him?",Ember bravely asked. They were halfway around the lake now and were still walking.
"Now now, a good story can't be rushed. After I learned my dad caught the disease I thought hard on the decision at hand. I could stay with my dad with the risk of getting sick like him or try and find this mushroom which is thought to never exist."
Ember looked toward the trees toward her left and spotted and deer making a run for it into the forest, "Sounds like a tough decision. What did you do?"
Spyro resumed his story after knocking a pebble into the lake causing a small sploosh, "Well as I thought about it time passed and before I knew it my father was teaching me some things about fire. Like launching fireballs, controlling my fire breath, sending fire into my paws for some heavy close range fighting, that sort of thing. It took a few continuous hours but I managed."
The two stayed quiet for a little while longer as they made their way a little over three-fourths around the lake. Spyro looked over at Ember to see her clearly in thought. After a few more steps she finally asked, "So you evidently made your choice to find the mushroom? I mean that was why you were gone six years right?"
Spyro laughed, "Yea I did. My father was too worried I would catch what he had. Although catching that disease would be very hard, but he didn't want to risk it."
"So he made the choice?",Ember asked in confusion.
"No, I did. I was confident that I could find it so I set out to find it with the help of a few unsuspecting friends."
"You made knew friends?",Ember murmured. "Are they here?"
"They're not here, probably busy for the moment for introducing. How about we go see what else lies beyond this little forest? That is if your with me?"
Ember immediately answered, "Of course, I would like to hear more of this story of yours. Did you run into any dangers?"
Ember waited for an answer but Spyro never responded. Seemed as if he didn't hear her but she tagged along with him anyways. They made a full circle around the lake and Spyro was leading them back into the forest which from there, they were going to explore as Spyro told his story.