Silence. Total, utter silence. That was the only thing I was aware of as I sluggishly rose to consciousness. Well, that and the smooth, comfortably cool floor underneath me that felt like it was made of marble or something similar.

I forced my eyes to open, my vision blurry to begin with but slowly regaining its focus. My eyelids felt heavy and my mind was hazy, like I was just waking up from an extremely long sleep. My confusion only rose when I noticed my surroundings. I didn't know this place; that I did know for sure.

I was lying in a round chamber, shaped like some kind of small meeting room or auditorium. The edges of the room stepped upward, like they were meant to be used for seating, and ornate columns decorated the walls. The ceiling was dome shaped, with a hole in the very centre to let light in. Everything in there was white—the floors, the steps, the walls, even the light coming in from outside. It felt...pure, but also empty. I felt empty.

Where was I? Actually, who was I? I wasn't sure...wait, no. There was a name. Spyro. My name was Spyro, the purple dragon. I grew up in a swamp. I was trained by the Guardians. I saved the world, alongside Cynder, my dearest friend. The knowledge was fuzzy, but it was there, gradually slotting together like pieces of a broken puzzle that someone was trying to reconstruct.

I looked down at my paws, and a frown crossed my face. My body...I looked like a dragon in his prime, but...wasn't I older than that? I had the distinct impression that I was supposed to be, but why? The memory wasn't quite there. I couldn't grasp it, and it only left me feeling more frustrated and confused. What was going on here? What was happening to me?

"Do not be afraid," a voice spoke up suddenly behind me, startling me.

It was a female voice, warm and soothing. Despite my flustered state I felt my tense body beginning to relax at the sound.

"The confusion you are experiencing is completely normal," the voice continued. "Don't worry, it will pass."

I rose shakily to my paws, turning to face the speaker, and my jaw dropped slightly when I caught sight of her. Standing before me was a stunning dragoness with shining while scales, silver wings and chest, golden horns that formed a circular crown shape above her head, and deep, beautiful blue eyes. She stood at least one and a half times my own height, and the sight of her stirred a mixed reaction within me. I felt intimidated by her physical stature and the incredible aura of power around her, but her voice and eyes were like that of a mother, calming my very soul and making me feel safer than I could ever remember.

"Who...who are you?" I asked hesitantly.

"My name is Alona," the dragoness replied, giving me a warm smile. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Spyro."

I frowned, cocking my head to the side in confusion. She knew me? "Uh...well, thank you...Wait. Alona. I've heard that name before..."

I fought to grab on to the elusive memory that felt like it was on the tip of my brain, but in the end I gave a growl of frustration when I couldn't manage it. It kept slipping away, taunting me almost.

"Do not fret," Alona told me, her voice comforting. "Disorientation is normal for a dragon in your situation, but yours is a special case as well. There is much to fill in from your life, but I promise that you will be whole again in time."

I looked up at Alona quizzically, meeting her smiling gaze, and I instinctually felt like I could trust her. I let out a sigh, and after that I glanced around at my surroundings again.

"Where am I?"

"You are standing in the gateway to the Realm of the Ancestors."

I blinked in surprise. "The Ancestors?"

She nodded, and suddenly it hit me: the reason her name was familiar. I had heard it before, many, many years ago. A fragment of a memory from a time long past slipped into place: a room in the swamp Temple, books everywhere, and the Guardians. They were teaching me about dragon beliefs while I was recovering from my battle with Cynder.

My eyes went wide as I looked back up. "Alona. The Spirit of Light..."

She nodded once. "That is correct."

I stood frozen in shock for several long moments, but with a jolt I suddenly realized the full weight of what she'd just said. I was standing in front of an Ancestor! One of the deities of dragon faith was right here in front of me, and I was just gawking at her like some fool!

I dropped to the floor immediately, my head bowed low as a confused rush of wonder and fear shot through my being. Only a second later I jolted when I felt a touch on my cheek, however, and in disbelief I looked up to see Alona smiling down at me with amusement twinkling in her eyes, her paw lifting my head up.

"Please, Spyro, there is no need for that," she told me. "Especially not after all the help you've been to me and my colleagues in the past. No, in fact right now I'm here to help you."

I blinked, too stunned to think of words for a moment, but finally I managed to stammer out, "You...help me? What do you mean?"

"As the embodiment of Light, one of my duties is to guide new arrivals to this realm. Illuminate their path, if you will. That is why I'm here now."

I frowned again, tilting my head to the side.

"New arrivals? What are you..."

Almost immediately a cold feeling squeezed around my heart as realization struck me once again. A shiver ran through my entire body, accompanied by a feeling of panic.

"I...I'm dead, aren't I?"

Alona nodded again, her expression taking on a sympathetic air.

"Do not be upset," she told me in a soft, gentle voice. "You lived a long, fulfilled life in the Dragon Realms. This is simply the next stage of your existence."

I was silent, feeling numb as I grappled with this news. I didn't feel dead. Every part of me felt whole and strong as I stood here in Alona's presence. I was in the best shape that I could ever remember! I could feel my heart beating in a strong, steady rhythm, vitality pulsing through my veins. There seemed to be no conceivable way that I could be dead!

"But...I don't understand," I muttered. "That doesn't seem possible. I feel perfectly fine."

Alona nodded, opening her mouth to answer me, but that was when the sound of a paw brushing against stone interrupted her. We both turned our gaze toward the noise, and I immediately gasped. My whole body had gone rigid with surprise as I watched a very familiar dragon stepping out of...well, nothing. His body seemed to just phase into existence as he strode forward, as though he was passing through some invisible portal.

"Chronicler," Alone said, surprise evident in her voice as well. "This is most unexpected. You don't normally forsake your library lightly."

She spoke so casually, but I myself was beyond shocked. That...he looked like...but how could that be? Ignitus wasn't teal! And why was he dressed like the Chronicler? Why had Alona used that title to address him? I...just...

What?

"Forgive me, Lady Aona," the dragon that looked like Ignitus said quickly, giving a low bow, and my chest clenched when I heard his voice—that familiar, wise, comforting voice. "I know it is unorthodox, but when I saw Spyro's name appear in the Book of the Dead..."

He trailed off, straightening and turning to face me. My eyes locked on to his and a weak gasp left me. They had changed colour too, but everything else about them...There was no way they could belong to anyone else.

"Ignitus...?"

A gentle smile turned up the edges of his muzzle, a fond glimmer appearing in his eyes, and he nodded. I stood frozen in confusion and shock as he padded toward me, stopping only a step away and taking a moment to look me over. I did the same, quickly taking in his new attire and colouring before I met his gaze again, the two of us nearly eye to eye.

A soft chuckle escaped his lips, and after that he surprised me by stepping forward again and catching me in an embrace with his forepaws. For a second I was frozen by uncertainty, but then the reality of what was happening finally hit me and I returned his hold with a fierce one of my own. A laugh broke free from my jaws, and I felt my eyes beginning to mist over as a mix of relief and joy surged up inside of me.

"You're here!" I gasped. "It's really you!"

Ignitus laughed again before disengaging from our hug, holding me out at arm's length and nodding his head. He was smiling broadly, joy and pride radiating from his expression. It seemed like so long since the last time I had seen him smiling like that.

"Indeed, it's me. I've missed you, young dragon. It has been too long since we last spoke."

I was helpless to do anything other than stare at him in disbelief as I gave another weak laugh. This was so surreal! After losing him in the Belt of Fire...I didn't think I would ever see him again!

"How?" I asked. "I don't understand. I thought you were dead!"

Oddly, Ignitus's reaction was to cock his head at me in confusion.

"Dead?" he asked. "But..." Frowning, he turned his gaze on Alona. "His memories are still missing?"

"What?" I said before Alona could reply. "I don't...What are you talking about?"

"Oh, forgive me," Ignitus said quickly, giving me reassuring smile. "I thought that you would remember the last time you visited me at the White Isle by now, but it would seem that I was a bit presumptuous. Not to worry, my friend. All will be well."

I was silent for another few seconds, trying and failing to sort out what I'd been told. Last time I visited? What did that mean? I had only been to the White Isle once, hadn't I? Ignitus hadn't been there then. That was well before he'd been lost in the Belt of Fire...

"I don't understand," I muttered, my gaze drifting off distantly as a frown creased my features. "Ignitus, what's happening?"

"There is no reason for alarm, Spyro," Alona spoke up in a soothing tone, resting one of her large forepaws on my shoulder. "This is what I was trying to get to when I said I was here to help. You are still suffering from the after-effects of the amnesia that dominated most of your life."

I faltered, looking up at her in surprise, but just at that moment several more broken fragments of memories fell into place in my mind. Most prominently was a slightly distorted image of myself, Cynder, Sparx and the Guardians gathered in a large study along with a mole and a red dragoness.

That was right. Amnesia. I had...what was it...anterograde amnesia. Yes, that sounded right. I had been unable to form any new memories since after the fight with Malefor. The strain of the battle, and repairing the world...it had broken me. And now...

A cold, hollow pit opened up in my chest. When I spoke, my voice was faint.

"So...everything that happened in my life...it's all gone? I don't have anything left from it?"

I looked up quickly, my eyes darting between Ignitus and Alona, and my heart plunged when I saw the sympathetic looks they were giving me. My chest felt tight, and I could barely take in a breath of air.

"Am I really dead?" I asked, my eyes locking onto Ignitus. "My life...it's actually over?"

"I'm afraid so," he nodded apologetically.

"It's alright if you feel upset," Alona said, her paw still resting on my shoulder. "That is a perfectly normal reaction for a dragon in your position."

I couldn't come up with any words to reply with for what felt like ages. This was all too much to take in at once! So many thoughts and feelings were crashing around in my head, it was enough to make me dizzy. One feeling did stand out above all the others, though: Loss.

"So, that's really it," I said quietly. "My life has ended, and I don't have any memories left from it. It's all gone. I just...I feel so empty. My whole life just feels...meaningless."

I jumped when I felt something against my back. Looking up, I saw that Alona was now sitting directly beside me with her wing resting over me like a blanket. The look in her eyes was one of sympathy, but also of reassurance.

"That is not true, child. Your life was a blessed one, filled with people who loved you and defined by acts of courage that inspired thousands. However, it was also an unfairly harsh one, what with its struggles like the war that you were thrust into at such a young age, and the amnesia that claimed the remainder of your years. I am sorry for the trials that you suffered, Spyro. Truly I am. After the service you did for our world, you deserved far better."

I didn't know what to say in response to that. I was grateful for her words of comfort, but they didn't soothe the empty feeling in my soul. I had missed so much. My past was nothing more than a void, and as much as I wanted to believe what Alona said about the impact my life had apparently had, without being able to look back on it myself that was simply impossible.

"That is one of the reasons I'm here now, however," she continued, causing me to look up at her quickly. "I can make things right."

I faltered, my eyes widening. Make things right? She...was she saying what I thought she was?

"What..." I said quietly, my voice barely more than a whisper. "What do you mean?"

"Your memories," she replied with a large smile forming on her lips. "It's time that they were returned to you."

I gasped, shock sending me completely reeling. I hadn't heard that correctly, had I? My memories...Could I really have them all back? The empty gap in my mind seemed so massive, spanning an untold number of years! It almost seemed impossible that anything could ever fill it!

"Really?"

Alona nodded. "Our realm is one of healing. Your worldly scars belong in the past, not here."

I had no words to reply with this time. All I could do was sit there in numb silence, looking back and forth between Alona and Ignitus with large, disbelieving eyes. They both smiled warmly back at me, and slowly a feeling of hope and excitement began to bloom in my chest.

"The process is already beginning," Alona continued. "Even now small pieces are resurfacing. Given enough time all of your memories would eventually return to you on their own, but there is no reason to leave things to their own pace when we can help the process along. It's the least that I can do to repay you for your heroic deeds."

"I..." I stammered breathlessly. "This...I don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything, then. Simply relax, and before you know it..."

Alona trailed off, her head tilting inquisitively, and I frowned in confusion. Following her gaze, I saw that she was looking at one of the satchels hanging off of Ignitus's back.

"Ignitus," she said curiously, "is that Spyro's book that you're carrying with you?"

She pointed with a talon at the purple covered, gold trimmed tome that was resting in his left pouch. Quickly glancing back at it, Ignitus nodded his head. A knowing glint appeared in his eyes when he looked back up to meet Alona's gaze.

"Indeed it is," he replied. "I thought that it might be of benefit."

"Wonderful!" Alona exclaimed. "That will speed the process along tremendously. Worry not, child. Your mind will be restored in no time at all!"

I watched with a mixture of confusion and fascination as Alona gave a simple flick with her forepaw and my book floated over to her without any delay. It promptly angled itself toward me at an easy reading height and opened itself to one of the pages quite near to its beginning. As I scanned over the runes written inside, an image formed inside of my head of myself floating in the air above the world's core, my power radiating out of me in a blinding aura as I pulled the world's pieces back together.

My last memory.

Alona and Ignitus leaned in by my sides, peering down at the open pages over my shoulders.

"Now," Alona declared eagerly, "let us begin..."

The page turned, and without realizing it I leaned in closer, my breath held as a new image began to form in my mind.

It was such an unbelievably strange feeling, seeing myself from an outsider's perspective as events from my life played out before my eyes. It all seemed so detached at first, and for a second I wasn't certain if I could even believe if what I was seeing was actually my past, but that was when the flood of emotions and sensations struck me full force, making me stagger and almost fall. I wasn't just seeing the events taking place anymore. I was feeling them. I was living them.

Fear was the first thing I was truly aware of. Overwhelming, disoriented fear as my functioning memory was cut down to mere moments at a time. This...I didn't even know how to process it! What was happening? I couldn't keep track of a single thing! This was almost unbearable!

Still, through it all there was a sense of awe as well as I watched Cynder work tirelessly to bring me home to Warfang safely and care for me day after day after that. I was such a broken, panicky, confused mess, but she was at my side for every moment of it. How was she able to do it?

The pages continued turning, each one presenting a new day of my life, and with every one that passed I could feel a tiny piece of myself get put back in its proper place. It was...I didn't know how I was supposed to react. It should probably have been an amazing feeling to have these long-lost moments returned, and there were wonderful scenes to behold mixed into the mess, like the celebration thrown in Warfang in honour of Malefor's defeat, and especially the moment when Cynder was officially absolved of all crimes committed by the Terror of the Skies—The look of liberation she'd had in her eyes was just incredible to see!—but all of it was drowned out by that horrible, suffocating guilt of watching Cynder and Sparx struggling to look after me after days, and weeks, and months of the same torturous routine without end...

I couldn't bear it. Just seeing the misery that my condition was inflicting on them, even through the smiles that they put on to try and make me feel better...It was horrible! I shut my eyes tight and turned away, teeth and claws clenched. Why did they have to be burdened with my problem? It wasn't fair! It was wrong! This wasn't all there was, was there? Was this my life? I could never forgive myself for doing that to them if it was!

"I can't—" I gasped shakily. "I can't watch any more!"

I jumped when I felt Alona's wing on my back again. Looking up at her quickly, I saw her offering a gentle, reassuring smile.

"It's alright," she said. "I know it's overwhelming, but you'll be glad to have seen this afterward."

"How? How could anyone even manage to live like that? How could they stand to live with that?"

"Have faith," Alona urged me, rubbing my back soothingly. "It gets better."

I wasn't sure I could believe her. It seemed like just one giant nightmare, but Ignitus nodded reassuringly when I looked at him, and with a hesitant breath I focused on the book again. I braced myself, fearing what was to come.

I winced when the images that formed in my mind showed the same struggles continuing unchanged, but there was one thing I noticed that had been lost on me before, and that was the sheer dedication of Cynder and Sparx as they guided me through my terrifyingly confusing days, step by disoriented step. My breath caught in my chest, pure amazement filling me. It was obvious how hard it was on them, but they never gave up on me. They stayed by my side through it all, and the gratitude I felt was staggering, swelling in my chest until it felt like it would burst.

Then, finally: the turning point. The day Trill had the breakthrough that would change my life forever, and the day my treatment began. My eyes widened, my breath stolen away at the images and sensations that rushed past faster and faster as the crippling fear was gradually replaced by something new. There were so many! Too many for me to possibly count, flying past so rapidly that it made me dizzy and yet not a single one was lost. Piece by piece my life was slotted back together like a puzzle, and with each one came a whole host of emotions.

It was like a miracle playing out before my eyes. Trill's medicine...it was like it was giving me life itself! It started slowly at first, but as the periods of clarity grew longer and longer my life took an upwards turn that I had never seen coming.

I couldn't stop the laugh that broke free from my jaws when I watched Cynder and me taking the first gradual steps toward a life together. I saw the home that the Guardians provided to us, the Academy and the friends that we began making there, and I felt my heart flutter in my chest when mine and Cynder's friendship started turning into something so much more.

I saw Sparx return to the swamp to begin his own family. I saw my classes in the Academy, and felt both the frustration and the triumph that came with my experiences there. I saw mine and Cynder's first kiss, felt my heart stop cold when I witnessed the funerals for my parents, then felt it soaring higher than ever when my relationship with Cynder grew from a budding romance to a devoted courtship, right up to our first night together.

My head was reeling, and I couldn't figure out how I was supposed to respond. It was so vivid! So real! It really was like I was living these moments all over again, and I could feel my broken mind piecing itself back together with every second that passed. It wasn't long before tears filled my eyes as the rush of emotions became too much for me to take, joy and sorrow, regret and hope all mixing together into an impossible blend of healing that left me laughing and sobbing all at once.

I recalled the first official acts of my friends, the new Guardians, and I felt the sting of watching each of my former mentors being claimed by time. The feeling of excitement and joy was indescribable on the day that my daughter hatched, and I felt my heart shatter into pieces on the day that Cynder died, the same as Sparx before her. The arguments. The moments of laughter. The travels to foreign lands and the wonder I felt upon waking up in fantastic, exotic cities with Cynder by my side. The loneliness of living without her, but also the devoted companionship of all of my friends. The best part, by far, was being able to finally, finally get the experience of watching my child grow from a hatchling into a wonderful dragoness with a family all of her own. It...I just...there were no words to describe the feeling of sheer pride that it brought me! Every single memory brought fresh laughter to my lips and tears to my eyes. I just couldn't handle it all! It was beyond overwhelming, and I loved it!

It felt never ending, and I didn't want it to stop. Every single memory that fell back into place fuelled a sense of completion that I had never known in life: a feeling of wholeness and certainty in who I was, and a feeling of personal pride. Pride in the life I had lived. Pride in my actions, and the other lives that I had touched along the way without even realizing it.

I would never need to question everything happening around me ever again. I would never have to live in fear of the unknown that I had been drowning in for so long, or worse, the pain of knowing that everything I experienced would be stolen away from me before the day was up. The events that I had thought I had lost forever were all back to me now. Every obstacle. Every triumph. Every precious moment.

My life. It was all there.

Finally, the inevitable flow of time caught up with me. I watched with a grim feeling of understanding and acceptance as my medicine started having less and less effect, and the damage I'd suffered to my magical core began to manifest as an inescapable weariness that dogged my every step and a deep, persistent ache in my chest. Then one night it happened. The pain in my chest sharpened until breathing was all but impossible. I was aware of darkness, and of fear when I found myself alone in a place I didn't recognize, and slowly it faded away into a deep, silent void.

My life had ended, but now I knew that my family and legacy would live on.

Now, I would never forget them again.

Tears were pouring down my face, and as the last page of my book flipped past and the cover shut I sagged under the staggering weight of my emotion. My paw was held tightly over my mouth as I laughed and sobbed at the same time, the flood of memories leaving my composure utterly shattered. It was amazing. It was the greatest gift I could ever receive, but it was also far beyond my strength to handle. I would have collapsed to the floor if it weren't for the supportive wings of Alona and Ignitus that caught me, wrapping me in comfort and warmth.

"That's it, young dragon," Ignitus whispered, his forepaw rising to gently rub my shoulder and hold me close. "Don't hold it in. Two centuries' worth of emotion is a lot to take all at once."

I tried to laugh, but it just came out as a broken cough and I gave up after that. There was no strength left in my body, and I sagged heavily into Ignitus's and Alona's caring embrace as I sobbed uncontrollably. I had never, never felt like this before! It wasn't pain. It was peace. It was something I had craved for so long, and now, finally, after over two hundred years of life I had it. I had the surety of just knowing.

"Th...thank y-you," I managed to gasp. "Thank you. Thank you s-so much. I...I can't..."

"Shh," Alona whispered, and I relaxed instinctually when I felt her snout brush against my neck, so much like a protective mother. "We know. You don't have to say anything, child. This has been long overdue, and we are both simply happy that you can finally come to know the peace that you've deserved for so long."

I choked back another sob, nodding mutely. For several long minutes after that I simply gave in to this wonderful, unfamiliar sensation of wholeness. It was strange, in a way. Each day in my life still felt distinct, separated from the next by the memory loss that reset me back to square one every morning, but at the same time each one fit into a cohesive whole that I had never been able to appreciate before.

The peace that this feeling brought me...I just couldn't say it enough. The struggle was finally over. The stress. The torment. The loss. It was all behind me, and that was such an enormous relief that I just couldn't believe it.

Eventually, after Ancestors knew how long, I lifted my head and brought a shaky forepaw up to wipe at my eyes. I felt drained, but I still had an enormous smile covering my face when I looked up to meet Alona's and Ignitus's gazes.

"Really, thank you," I told them, my voice slightly ragged still. I blinked away a couple more tears, trying to focus my blurry vision on the other dragons' warm expressions. "I really can't express how much this means to me. I..."

That was all that I could come up with. I literally couldn't express what I was feeling, and with a weak chuckle I lowered my head and wiped at my eyes again. Alona also chuckled quietly and lifted my chin to face her again with a forepaw, her motherly smile warming my heart. I felt a sudden, powerful urge to hug her with all of my strength, but I restrained myself—barely. Not that it mattered; she pulled me into a warm embrace by her own volition, wrapping me up in her enormous wings.

"Cherish the life you have lived, Spyro," she told me in a soft voice. "You brought nothing but good to the world and the people around you. The other Ancestors and I are very proud of what you've accomplished."

My smile spread wider, to the point that it was almost painful, and I simply nodded. The lump in my throat had grown too large for me to speak at this point, and I was on the verge of breaking down again. Ignitus squeezed my shoulders tighter with his wing once Alona released me, and the smile that spread across his face spoke up such happiness and pride...I had no words anymore. I smiled back at him. It was all that I could do. I just hoped that I would get more opportunities to talk to him after this, because there was so much that I wanted to talk to him about now.

"This was long overdue," he said as he pulled me into a hug of his own. "I only wish I could have brought you to this point sooner."

"You tried," I managed to reply—I could remember that distinctly now; the multiple visits Cynder and I had made to his library in the hopes that he had found some solution to my problems.

"Well, I'm glad it all worked out in the end."

I smiled back at him, no more words coming to me. For a brief moment after that no one moved, but at length Alona broke the pause.

"Now then," she spoke up, and when I looked back up at her I faltered slightly at the knowing grin she bore. "I believe there is still one more thing that's missing before you can truly be called whole once more."

I frowned, looking at Ignitus for clarification, but he just smiled back at me with that same knowing look. That was when I heard a sound, though, like the soft click of claws against the marble floor, and Alona and Ignitus both retracted their wings to turn toward the source. Curious, I followed suit and found myself facing the only doorway out of the chamber. It wasn't empty, I realized with a slight start. There was a figure standing there, tall and slender, and—

I froze, my breath catching the instant I recognized her.

Could...could that...could it really be?

"Cynder..."

She...I...I couldn't believe what I was seeing! It was her! She was standing right there, radiant and proud, backlit by the pure white light that shone in from the entranceway behind her. She was a vision, a sight of pure beauty, and that beauty was only accentuated by the smile of pure joy that graced her muzzle. Her eyes were streaming much like mine had been mere moments ago, her breath quivering from barely restrained sobs, and in that moment she was the most beautiful sight I had ever laid eyes on. This...it was like something out of a dream!

"Hey, handsome," she said with a weak laugh, and my legs almost gave out on me. That voice. Oh, Ancestors, I had missed it so much! It was like pure music, and I just wanted to listen to it forever.

Another shaking sob broke from my jaws, a fresh flow of tears trailing down my cheeks. I took a trembling step toward her, barely managing to keep from falling over, and at the same time she crossed the rest of the distance between us. For a long moment after that I couldn't bring myself to do anything more than stare at her, taking in her stunningly youthful and pure appearance. That smile, and the way her eyes shone like I had never seen before left me completely robbed of breath. I opened my mouth to say something, but absolutely nothing came out.

Slowly, almost afraid that this was all just a dream, I reached up toward her. My paw hovered over her cheek for a moment, shaking in anxious anticipation, and when it finally made contact a tremor went through my entire being. Her eyes slid closed, a long, blissful sigh leaking from her nostrils, and she leaned into my paw and grasped it with her own. My heart pounded harder than it had in over a hundred years. I'd forgotten what the feeling of her warm scales against mine was like, but now it all came rushing back to me and it was better than I ever dared to dream.

I could feel my strength breaking again. My tears couldn't be restrained any longer, and I felt my whole body beginning to tremble. Cynder was in the exact same state when she opened her eyes again to look at me, and just like that we had both leaned forward and ensnared each other in a fierce embrace. Cynder pressed her head into the crook of my neck, a sob of pure happiness shaking her form, and I covered her completely with my wings and rested my chin over her brow. The feeling was more than I could ever describe, and I lost myself in the warmth of her presence and her scent washing over me. This on its own was paradise, and I could have stayed like that for all of eternity with her.

"I m-missed you so much," she gasped, and I let out a shaky laugh of delight at hearing her amazing voice again. "Oh, Spyro, I'm so, so happy to see you!"

I couldn't answer, my voice blocked by the lump in my throat. Instead I pulled her tighter against my chest with my wings, shutting my eyes and savouring every sweet second of this reunion. I was on the verge of sobbing with every shaking breath I took, but the smile on my face had never been bigger. Turning my head, I laid a gentle kiss above her brow—The first one in over a century! By the Ancestors!—but then before I knew it she had shifted so that our muzzles were pressed tightly together. I was stunned at first, but immediately after I felt my heart soaring higher than the clouds.

I had to keep reminding myself that this was real. It just felt too amazing to believe, but it was really happening. We were together again!

For a minute after that we were both silent, revelling in each other's presence after so long apart, but as time ticked by my pulse began to race faster and faster. This moment...it was absolute perfection! My chest was filled to bursting with joy and excitement beyond all comparison, and I just couldn't hold it inside any longer. Seeing Cynder's brilliant smile and her amazing emerald eyes, shining with joyful tears and staring straight back into mine like a vision from my dreams...it was something I had needed more than I'd ever imagined. Now that she was really here, I had to celebrate! I had so many things to tell her, so many questions to ask, so many things that I wanted to do now that I finally had her at my side again! I couldn't just sit here silently!

I had to speak. I had to say something to her, something to convey this flood of emotions that was rushing through my soul.

In the end, I only needed two words.

"I remember."

(Update: 2017-04-06)

Man, this was a lot of work, but here's the rewritten epilogue of One Day. ^^ One thing I've found is that it's very hard for me to go back and rework something that I've already 'completed'. My mind keeps trying to default back to what it already put together the first time around. Regardless, I am much happier with the final result this time around and I feel like it brings back much of the emotional impact that was cut short in the previous version. I hope you readers agree. :)

A massive thank you to everyone for their feedback on critiques on the previous epilogue. While it was a bit of a tough pill to swallow to see that the epilogue's reception wasn't quite living up to the hype I'd had for it in my own mind, I'm very grateful for it anyway because without it I would have still been stuck feeling like something was missing from it but not being able to figure out what it was.

If you have any feedback on this version of the ending, I'm definitely eager to hear it. Just keep in mind that this most likely going to be the final version of this submission, so any critiques may not be reflected here.

Keep an eye out for the upcoming one-shot spin-off that will contain the additional scenes from Cynder's perspective that I mentioned. I'd say I have about half of the work for it done. No promises on a date, but I hope to have it ready soon (ish). Thanks to everyone for their suggestions on what they would like to see. :)

Until next time!

(Original A/N):

The End!

I'm just going to say, I can't believe how quickly these past few weeks have gone by. It feels like almost no time at all since I started posting this story, and already it's reached its conclusion. It's crazy.

I really hope you enjoyed this ending. I know a lot of it is probably cliche, but I honestly don't really care. I'm a sucker for happy endings, no matter how rough I am on the characters during the course of the story, and for another thing I'm not of the strict belief that cliches are something to be avoided. Originality is obviously a great thing to strive for, but if there's something you want to have in your story and you feel like it works well and you can pull it off then I don't think it matters if it's been done many times before. :)

I'm very eager to hear people's final thoughts on this story. The response it's received so far has absolutely blown me away, and I'm so humbled and flattered by the reviews that have been left so far. This story started off simply as a way to escape a bit of a rut and have some fun by trying something new. It wasn't meant to be something particularly impactful, but at the same time it was something I hoped people could get emotionally invested in. Judging by the comments so far I feel like I've succeeded at that, so thank you all so very much. This has been an extremely enjoyable writing experience for me so I can't say that enough. ^^

Now, one final thing I want to touch on is something a couple of reviewers brought up mainly in chapter 3, and that's the fact that Cynder's perspective was completely absent after chapter 2. This was an intentional decision, since this story was always meant to be about Spyro and how he copes with a condition like this, while Cynder's perspective was just a necessity at the beginning to make the events transpiring coherent in any way. That said, I do also think that seeing some of Cynder's experiences later on in her life with Spyro could be fun, so I pose this question:

Is there a particular scene from chapter 3 onward that you readers would enjoy seeing retold from Cynder's point of view? It doesn't have to be a scene strictly from this story either, but rather any moment from their life that's implied in the time gaps too. If there's enough of a consensus that this is something people would enjoy then I'll write a bonus chapter for this story containing one or two scenes from Cynder's life as she deals with Spyro's amnesia alongside him. Let me know with a review or PM if this is something you would like to see, and I might make it happen. :)

That's all I have for now. Thank you again to everyone who has read and/or reviewed this story.

Until next time...