The black dragoness ran through the forest as fast as her legs would cary her. Behind her she could hear the sounds of the purple dragon crashing through the underbrush.
"Cynder wait!" Spyro shouted but she continued to run.
"Why me?" Cynder gasped as tears streamed from her eyes. "I'm trying to help Spyro and things only get harder with each step I take."
"Cynder!" Spyro called. Her scent had surprised him and he was suddenly filled with energy he didn't think he had. The possibility of his black dragoness being so close to him was enough to sparx a new fire deep in his heart. He gritted his teeth when Cynder refused to slow down. "No, I won't lose her this time!" He growled to himself.
He tapped into his time-control power. He bounded faster until he spotted Cynder through the trees. He didn't notice the droplets of water that floated through the air that were her tears. His power subsided and he tackled her to the ground. Cynder gave a feral hiss and rolled over, striking Spyro in the face with her bladed elbow. Spyro grunted in pain as the blade raked across his cheek. Cynder kicked him against at tree, stunning him for a brief moment. Cynder was about to make a break for it but when she saw her purple dragon struggle to his feet and look at her with his eyes, pleading not to go, she lost her chance.
"Don't...don't go..." Spyro coughed as he shook his head.
"I'm sorry." Cynder choked back a sob. "I can't stay."
She turned to leave but Spyro pounced on her again. The two rolled over each other in a ball of claws, wings and legs until Spyro was able to get the upper hand and pin her down on her back. The two had broken free of the trees and had come to a stop in the middle of an open field.
"Get off of me Spyro!" Cynder fumed and lashed out at him. Her long talons missed his face, leaving three bloody marks on his neck.
"No!" Spyro shouted, ignoring the burning in his neck. "I'm not letting you go! At least not without some sort of explanation."
"Spyro, I can't tell you what's going on!" Cynder struggled to squirm away from him.
"Why not Cynder? Why can't you tell me what's going on?"
"I just can't!" Cynder cried, the tears were flowing uncontrollably. Overhead, lightning crackled across the sky shining a terrible glow over Spyro's figure. His eyes began to glow with convexity as his mind began to drift.
"Why!" He pressed down on her shoulders harder, causing the dragoness to scream in pain. Spyro froze, as he realized what he was doing. He released her shoulder and bowed his head in defeat. "Cynder!" He sobbed, tears billowing from his eyes and splashing onto her chest. "I'm so scared! I'm losing my powers, I'm losing my mind and it feels like I'm losing you too! I don't know if I can keep going on like this much longer!"
"Spyro." Cynder choked again and reached up to stroke his cheek. She looked at the smeared blood on her paw. She had never purposely struck out at him like this before. It killed her inside to know that she had done it. "I'm so sorry. I can't tell you what's going on. It'd be too hard on you. Harder than it is already."
"But why?" Spyro looked her in the eye, pleading for any sort of answer.
"It's too hard to explain." Cynder shook her head. "And I don't have the time for it."
"So what am I supposed to do?" Spyro snapped, his voice striking a bolt of fear into the black dragoness. "Just sit back and watch you work for the Dark Master and destroy everything we've worked so hard to protect?"
"I'm not working for the Dark Master Spyro!" Cynder snapped back.
"Then what was it I saw earlier?" Spyro reared back, ripping the fruit rinds from his gashes left by Cynder. "Are you telling me that this isn't the Dark Master's doing?"
"I'm not working for the Dark Master!" Cynder shouted and another bolt of lightning lit up the sky giving her aqua eyes an eerie glow. "It was just an act. I admit it got a little bit out of control, but I never intended to hurt you Spyro." The purple dragon didn't look fully convinced. Cynder sighed and choked back another sob. "Spyro, can I ask you something?"
"You know you can ask me anything Cynder."
"Do you love me?"
Spyro jerked his head back in shock. Was she really questioning his feelings for her? "How can you ask..."
"Yes or no! Do you love me Spyro!"
"Yes!"
"Do you believe that I would do anything for you?"
"Yes!"
"Do you trust me! With all your heart and soul?"
"Yes Cynder! I do! I trust you more than anyone in this world."
"Then I'm asking you, Spyro the dragon! I'm asking you as a friend and the dragon I love, to trust me in this matter." Spyro was speechless. He stared down at her, numb from her words that were burning into his heart. Cynder sensed his tension and reached her arms up and pulled him close. A few droplets fell from the sky. Before long a gentle rain was coming down on them. "I know it must be hard for you. It's not any easier on me too. But we're in this together Spyro. We're both carrying the burden. I promise you that."
"Cynder...I...I just feel so lost without you."
Cynder looked up at him. Water dripped from his muzzle and splashed onto her face. "I know how you feel. But you've been my strength this whole time Spyro. I'm doing this to protect you."
"Protect me from Malefor?"
Cynder shook her head. "Like I said, I can't say. But I'm asking you to trust me. I couldn't bear the sight of you earlier when you had changed. I wanted to tell you what was going on, but it's for the better if I don't." Spyro sighed and rested his belly scales against hers. "I don't like the idea of keeping information from you either. But I do believe it's for the best."
"Alright Cynder." Spyro nodded, still very much unsure about the whole situation. "I trust you."
"Do you really?" Cynder gazed deep into his eyes.
Spyro paused for a moment then nodded. "I do."
"Thank you." Cynder sighed and leaned up to press her lips to his. Spyro kissed back with deep enthusiasm. It felt like he hadn't seen her in years and even longer since they had kissed. Cynder let him press down on top of her, letting his body shield her from the rain. The water flowed over Spyro's body and onto Cynder's, with the occasional streams seeping between their belly scales.
"I love you Spyro." Cynder whispered in her mind.
"I love you Cynder." Spyro whispered simultaneously.
At the edge of the clearing Stella watched with a smile on her face. She had followed Spyro after Cynder and was close to stepping in between the two when their fight became too heated. But the gentle splash of raindrops on her scales soothed her as she watched them embrace under the open sky. The lightning dragoness bowed her head slightly and ducked back into the forest without a sound.
Cynder stirred as the sun hit her in the eyes. She grumbled to herself as she woke from he slumber. The sun was always waking her when she didn't want to be woken. She curled into a tighter ball, and realized that she had just bumped against Spyro's side. She cracked one eye to see the purple dragon had a wing draped over her as a cover from the rain during the night. The black dragoness yawned loudly and stretched herself out. Spyro jerked slightly and opened his eyes. Cynder smiled at him and licked his cheek softly as to not aggravate the cuts anymore.
"Good morning." She whispered lovingly.
"Good morning." Spyro yawned. It felt like he hadn't said that in ages. He watched as Cynder got up and stretched out her legs and wings, giving them a good shake. When Spyro got to his feet he shook all the accumulated rain off of him sending a shower of liquid diamonds sailing through the air. Cynder squealed as she was doused in the water and both dragons laughed. It felt so good Spyro flicked his tail over the tips of the grass and sent another spray of water at Cynder. The black dragoness let out another yip and bounded away. Spyro took off after her. The two dragons chased after each other, sending splashes of morning dew at each other in the early morning sunlight. At last Spyro tackled Cynder and they fell to the ground in a fit of laughter.
"I love you." Cynder panted, her chest heaving beneath Spyro's.
"I love you too." The huffed back. The two looked out across the hills at the mountains in the distance. Cynder sighed and pushed up from underneath Spyro. "Where are you going?" He asked, somewhat hurt that the moment was broken.
"I have to go." Cynder said sadly.
"Go? But I just got you back. I thought..."
"I know..." Cynder stopped him with a raised paw. "But I have to go now. I'll be back soon. Within a day or two is the plan."
"Cynder..." Spyro tilted his head wanting her to stay. Then he just sighed and nodded. "Alright. I trust you."
Cynder smiled and nuzzled him under the chin. "Thank you Spyro." She turned and walked a few paces away before spreading her wings. Spyro sighed to himself as he watched the sunlight reflect off of her glossy black scales and droplets of water that shimmered across her body. She looked nothing less than stunning in the morning sun light.
"I really am luck y to have her." He thought to himself with a smile.
Just before she was about to take off Cynder thought of something. "Oh, before I forget..." She turned and gazed at him with eyes that could melt metal. "The answer is 'Yes'." Spyro cocked his head curiously. Cynder smiled. "I'll leave you to figure it out." And with that she was airborne.
As Spyro watched her go he came to the realization of what she was saying and a wide grin spread across his mouth. "She says Yes." He was glowing from the inside out. He reared up on his hind legs as his golden aura spread across the forest. Before she disappeared from view Cynder heard his triumphant roar echo across the morning sky.
She smiled to herself as a couple tears escaped from her eyes. "I love you."