Cynder's Story

"It's a very long story so try to bear with me."

They all nodded. Cynder began her story. At first her words were slow and halting but she soon grew more confident and she spoke more fluently with each sentence.

"I can remember breaking out of my shell and breathing my first proper breath. All dragons can, even on their dying breath, evenif the dragon's hatching day was one thousand years ago. Anyway I broke out of my egg and the first thing I saw was Gaul the Ape King's hideous face. I was so frightened by his…" she spoke the next words with so much venom Spyro thought she was evil again. "…filthy yellow teeth that were so sharp they could bite through a sheet of diamond with ease and his emerald green eye glaring down at me that I jumped straight back into my egg. He pulled me out roughly breaking my tail in the process. I remember biting his finger with my little jaws. I let go immediately because of the vile taste. His matted fur tasted like rotten meat that had been kept in a warm cavefor three years, the crap of the thousands of damn fleas that live in it and vomit all rolled into one. The fur disintegrated in my mouth like dust under my wind breath. Irritated Gaul shoved me into a high ranking ape's hand and told him to look after me. Well when I say look after me it was more like torture me. That ape named me Cynder in hope that I would grow up to be like an infamous dragon called, Cynder. Don't know much about my namesake but she must be respected even among the apes. I was one week old when I was made to run ten miles a day which for a hatcghling is terrible. The smallest of apes kicked punched and slashed at me until every bone in my body except from my skull, was broken. When I was one month old I was put into this weird chamber. It was big enough to accommodate three Terradors so I felt really small inside of it. The walls were a sickly green and seemed to shift around and flow like water. The green light pulsed and was so bright it embedded itself in my eyes changing them from silver to the green they are now. Suddenly a black shadowy smoke poured out of small holes in the wall. It swirled around me for a while before concentrating into a ball that forced its way down my throat. The shadow pulsed through my veins filling them with excruciating pain that shook my scales and made me tremble and shake. Sweat poured off of my sides and I slipped because I was so slippery and landed on my bum. It would have been funny if the situation had been different. As it was red lights clouded my vision. They looked pretty but a shooting pain in my lungs made me panic. I became light headed and realised I couldn't breath. Luckily the shadow came out of me before I keeled over. I felt my limbs stretch and my wings strengthen. When I came out of the chamber I was the same size I am now but a lot different. My wings were red and my horns were a lot longer and sharper. My underbelly was as red and my wing blades were sharper than glass. The pain subsided slowly. My eyes were green as planned but when he looked at them Gaul was troubled. I had been in the chamber for a day and only Gaul had seen me. When the apes that had beaten me up saw me they peed themselves. The stink was horrible and made my nose hurt terribly. The hatchling that they had kicked around was gone. To prove a point I slammed a gawking ape in the face with the flat of my tail blade. Gaul who had been next to me in case I was unsteady pulled me aside.

"Why didn't you kill him he was worthless?" Gaul had asked.

I looked at him with my emerald eyes that again worried him. I asked why but he wouldn't tell me. Persisting with my questions I managed to wear him down. He gazed at me with an expression that I had never seen before.

"Cynder come, I'll tell you in the morning. I'm taking over responsibility of you now."

I accepted his statement and didn't speak for the rest of the night."

"Next morning I woke up to find that Gaul was already away. I got up shook myself and walked to the feeding cave. The apes looked at me with a mixture of expressions. Some were fearful others were indifferent and some particularly the very large ones looked at me with hatred. I was about to grab a scrap of meet when n five apes jumped on me. The feeding regime was now simple. Stop Cyndergetting a meal. They beat me with the flats of their swords. I fought back in anger. Every blow I landed snapped the bone of an ape. My tail ached from slamming into armour and hide. I was using the flat of the blade because I couldn't bring myself to kill them. Rivers of sweat gavemy scales a sheen that rivalled a diamond. Pain lanced up my legs every time I jumped or if the odd ape climbed onto my back. By now all the apes had joined in and a sense of hopelessness overwhelmed me. My tail blade clashed against a sword and I felt a bone give way under the force of the blow. My agility helped me a bit but my strength was flagging badly. My heart was beating extremely quickly and my breath was coming in ragged gasps. Every bone in my body burned with pain and I knew a lot of them were broken. My head ached when a small ape cracked a club across it. Barely managing to stay conscious I lashed my tail across the ape's chest killing it. Hot ape blood spurted across my flanks and made the ground slippery. I tried to take to the air but an ape cracked my wing. I roared in pain and head butted at a nearby ape which further pained my head. I was so groggy that I was now fighting on my knees and my blows wouldn't have hurt a fly. Luckily an ape guard ended my misery by suffocating me with a rope. I was so weak I went out like a light."

She looked up at her audience apologetically.

"Sorry I didn't mean to go into so much detail as that. It won't happen again."

Nina smiled "Don't worry about it just continue the way you want Cynder."

"Right this continued for about a week until Gaul came back from a mission. I was unconscious when he came into his cave. He looked at my injuries and I heard from an ape that I sort of got on with that he was so furious he locked every ape involved in the dungeon for three years. I woke up a day later to find Gaul watching over me. I was so surprised I nearly fell out of bed. Gaul pushed me back down gently and pushed a steaming bowl of stew, apes don't always eat raw meat you know and neither do dragons. I smiled at him. Hunger urged me to eat the lot but I stopped halfway through. This may surprise you Spyro but Gaul was the only ape who went out of his way to show me any kindness no matter how slight. I felt then that I ought to show him some kindness back. He seemed thin and weak so when the stew was half done I pushed the bowl over to Gaul. He stared straight into my eyes again however, this time he didn't' look worried he looked happy. It was so nice to see him happy that I smiled, got out of bed even though it hurt and curled like a cat on his lap. I looked up at him and growled happily. "Goodnight Gaul if it is night anyway." I promptly fell asleep but before I did I felt Gaul stroke my head. Next day when I went for something to eat Gaul came with me and all the apes stepped away from him and I was able to get a proper meal with all the other apes. I ate next to Gaul and felt it was time to ask him something that had been nagging me for a while.

"Gaul why did you freak out every time you looked at my eyes." I asked as innocently as I could manage while swallowing a mouthful of meat

He was taken aback but answered quickly. "I did say I would tell you so come with me."

I limped after the huge ape as he led me to his chamber a place I had never been before. It was amazing. Book lined the walls many of which he gave me for my library in Concurrent Skies. The floor was made of polished marble and I was always afraid I would scratch it with my claws. The room itself was large and circular. It was very neat and bare. Green lanterns lined the side giving the room an eerie mystical feel. He walked up to his throne and I hopped onto his lap. He spoke in such a seductive warm tone that it entranced me.

He spoke of how Malefor was helping the apes destroy the evil dragons and that Malefor and I were the only decent dragons left. He said that Malefor had been imprisoned and it was my job to free him. I accepted every word he said and was eager to help Malefor. He still didn't tell me why he had been so scared when he looked at me but I was so enchanted I forgot about it. When I was one year old I was taken to the chamber again. I was extremely nervous because I remembered how painful it had been last time. I could see that Gaul was also very anxious. This did nothing to allay my fears. This time I was surprised to see a huge dragon waiting for us. He was huge and stood on two legs. His scales were black and unlike mine absorbed every speck of light that hit them. His eyes were deep red pits of fire and lava; they were devoid of any emotion except one. Hate. Tattered, dull wings as large as sails sprouted from his back. I can't believe I'm saying this but he was even bigger and scarier than Malefor. His claws were as large as my horns and shone in the moonlight. In his right hand he held a huge staff with a sharp crystal tip on the bottom end. On the top there was a huge black stone that swirled with dark power. I don't even think he was loyal to Malefor but to another dragon, probably one like him. Gaul ushered me into the chamber and because I had grown to trust him I went in. The chamber wasn't as imposing anymore because I was at least ten times the size I had been the first time. I was about a foot taller than I am now and a lot stronger. The shadow came again but this time it shot straight down my throat. And I couldn't breathe again. This time I really did keel over. The pain was almost devastating and I'm almost glad that I blacked out. Before I blacked out I saw Gaul trying to get me out but Shadowdrak, that's the dragon's name, stopped him.

"Stay away, Do you want her to make her stronger and for her to be the one to free Malefor? You've become attached to a female of the very species you despise. Sentimental old fool."

I was about to cry out to Gaul but the lack of oxygen in my body forced my body to become limp and my eyelids to close. I was out of it for almost an hour. When I woke up I was the size of a fully grown dragon, my horns were longer and sharper than before. Huge pink wings that coul support my painfully thin body in flight and the wing blades were sharp and deadly. My tail was so long that it could curl all the way around my body and still have four feet to spare. The tail blade at its tip could cut through armour skin bone and sinew like water; it also became my signature weapon and everyone in my way feared it.

"As did I," remarked Spyro "Sorry ."

"The mark on my forehead glowed for the first five minutes then faded. When Gaul looked at me his eyes were so full of fear and hate it terrified the spark of true dragon I had left inside of me. A cold evil laugh echoed through the chamber and made the apes nearby run in fear. What Gaul had seen before in my eyes was warmth and light but that had been replaced by an icy glare that pierced Gaul's heart. He told me all this when he was keeping me in The Mountain of Malefor."

"Well it isn't as bad as I thought," acknowledged Flash.

"I suppose but it all went downhill from here."

"Gaul looked at me and growled angrily. I giggled evilly.

"What's up Gaul? The pathetic wretched little hatchling you doted on isn't here anymore so get used to it."

"I didn't dote on you so don't flatter yourself. Get used to that you big stinking lizard."

"Suit yourself." I hissed before turning around.

I flew out of the fortress and into the night feeling the frigid air dance beneath my wings. My mind was racing; I was suppressed by my dark form but I could still think and feel. After a few hours I decided to go back to the fortress and piss off the males again. From the outside the stronghold was very imposing and almost impenetrable. If of course you weren't allowed in. I was so getting in was easy, I just smashed through the window. And no Sparx I didn't use doors when I was evil." She added with a touch of amusement.

"I met Gaul and Shadowdrak in the chamber I landed in. They were both pretty annoyed at me but I didn't care.

Gaul spoke at me venom dripping from his voice.

"Where have you been young lady? I should punish you for your disobedience."

"Disobedience ha I don't actually recall you asking me to stay old man." I snapped back.

He did punish me and very severely at that. He had me whipped until I was unconscious and then starved me for three weeks. I didn't ask for mercy or scream. My still, mocking silence disturbed him I could tell. Desperately I tried to break free and stop hurting Gaul but I couldn't. My evil slowly degraded Gaul into who you fought Spyro. He was an empty cowardly shell of a once brave and respected ape. After that Maleforappeared and gave me orders on how to free him through a hologram projected by a crystal Shadowdrak had given me. I obeyed him without question destroying every single land and bringing it to its knees under me. All the while I continued to destroy Gaul. He even had to have one of his hands replaced after I sliced it off. We fought so much Malefor had to break us up once using the limited power he had, which was still considerable. Then I met Spyro but if he doesn't mind I'd like him to tell you that."

She broke off abruptly and began to cry, tears rolling down her cheeks. Cynder's POV: I hate myself for what I did to Gaul. It may not have been me but it still sickened me. I hated Malefor; I hated Shadowdrak but worst of all I HATED myself. I had been a monster that relished hurting people. That youngster whose father I killed must either be dead or living a difficult life of slavery. My tail lashed against the ground in anger. The others looked at me but I couldn't give a toss. Slowly I hiccoughed myself out of the black hole of grief that threatened to consume me. Distress was still coursing through my veins and I was as tense as a cornered wolf. Flash spoke to me.

"Well thank you for telling us your story Cynder.

When I didn't respond Spyro nuzzled my neck and whispered in my ear.

"Cynder what happened wasn't your fault and Gaul knows that. I'm sorry I killed him and that you didn't get another chance to meet him." His head dropped in shame.

"Spyro," I whispered "That wasn't you either. You didn't have a choice. And I want you to know this. You and you alone were the one being Gaul respected and feared. Not Shadowdrak, not me and not even Malefor. You, he knew that only you had the heart and the courage to stand up to him and fight him, no matter what the cost. If he was to die he would have wanted it to be by your hand. That, I can assure you of."

He looked at me with his enchanting violet eyes and something flipped my stomach.

"Hmm maybe your right Cynder but I still wish I hadn't killed him. He was a true warrior. Just because two people are on opposite doesn't mean they can't admire the others prowess. And even though he can't hear me I'm going to say this. He had the same courage he admires me for and the heart. If he had wanted to he could have defeated Malefor and ruled the Apes and the world himself but he didn't. He was brave, loyal and true to his word right to the end and I learned something from fighting him. That no matter how bad things look if you have the right reason for doing something you can't fail."

I looked at him "Thank you Spyro."

He nodded and turned to his parents who had heard him. A wash of pride for my friend filled me as they congratulated him.

"Well said Spyro. You've really grown up a lot since you left this swamp three years ago." Smiled Flash

"You and Cynder have been through a lot but you've both pulled through and made it together." Smiled Nina

Spyroand I looked at each other and it took five minutes to tear myself away from his eyes. Sparx sniggered.

"Hey Cynder not a bad story and everything but did you have to make it sound like a PLAY? Saying Gaul's parts was really freaky. How do you remember all that?"

"Well Sparx I remember it because I'm a dragon and how I tell a story is up to me after all."

"I suppose," he sighed totally defeated

"Well Spyro it looks like it's your turn," Flash chuckled.

"Oh oh can I tell this one?" asked Sparx.

"NO!" they yelled in unison.

And that everyone is Cynder's story. Sorry if it was a bit boring. I hope it wasn't but it's a chapter that is going to be very important later on. Rate it out of ten. I know I said last chapter that this wouldn't be posted unless I got 5 reviews but I decided to be lenient. If you want me to describe Spyro's story tell me. If not tell me. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far: Bluesilverdragoness, Black Cyrus, Noonetoworryabout, ZeroSpyro, Popprincess (said it was good via review reply, I counted that as review 5) and AremisFowl fan101. As for Cynder telling Sparx it was her story that was something that Aduro told me and it just fitted for this chap. Thanks Aduro.

Slasher