Chapter 43: Closure

Silver: Hey Rift it's time for you to beta read!

No response was heard from the orange dragon.

Silver: Rift? Where are you?

Silver begins to search for his lost beta reader. He looked all over his house not finding the fire drake. Silver then sits down in his chair at jos desk, pondering where the dragon might have gone. He stares out his window, lost in thought, when he spots the orange dragon dragging something towards the house.

Silver opens the window.

Silver: Rift!

He looks up.

Silver: Get here and beta read!

Rift: I'll do it later!

Silver: No! Do it now!

Rift: Fine!

Silver: And don't forget the disclaimers!

He says before closing the window.

Rift sighs and continues to drag a tree towards the house.

Rift: Silver doesn't own any Spyro characters or storyline, only his OCs and story. I am owned by a hooman, Rifty Agon. If you don't like the story, be lazy and don't read it.

Silvus' POV:

During the week of Rift's unconsciousness, I hardly moved from his side, much to the dismay of Void. He wanted me to move around and regain the strength in my legs. I reminded him that Rift stayed by my side, and I will stay by his. I wasn't alone in this, Kara was here as well. They are close friends, closer than they think they are.

Though I left every once in awhile when everyone managed to convince me that I needed to exercise my legs, Kara never left. Not for school, not for anything. That's how I knew they were meant to be together. Each time Kara and I were alone with Rift, not many words were spoken. We talked every once in awhile. I told her a bit about my training, and she told me what they learned in school.

Both of us spent the nights on either side of Rift's infirmary cushions. They hardly did anything to treat Rift after Kara repaired his bones. Well, nothing they can do until he wakes. Unless...he doesn't... I kept those thoughts to myself, I didn't want Kara to think that way, though today she did.

It had been a week, and there was been no sign of Rift waking up. His breathing was normal, as was his heartbeat, but there was no sign of activity. Kara began to get worried for her best friend.

This morning, I woke to see Kara with tears running down her cheeks. She had her eyes squeezed shut and was curled up next to the unconscious Rift. I could hear her whimpering.

"Kara..." I said softly. With a sniff, she opened her eyes. "He'll wake up."

She looked at me, brown met purple. "But what if he doesn't." Kara said. She sat up on her hunches and looked at Rift with a worried expression.

I stood up from my side of the bed and moved to sit next to Kara. I put my paw on her shoulder. "You love him, don't you."

She took Rift's paw in her own. "More than anything." She whispered.

"He'll wake up, I know he will." I said. Though I didn't say it, I myself was not sure if he would. The blast he took was life threatening. Dark Magic is something that shouldn't be trifled with. Keltin was exiled for two attempts of murder and for practicing dark magic.

At this moment, I looked up at the sound of footsteps. Kara quickly wiped away any tears. Void walked into the room with the doctor.

"Has he woken up yet?" Void asked upon entry. I shook my head and Kara continued to look at Rift. Void let out a sigh and tossed me something. "Get something from the market. You and Kara need to eat."

I sighed and walked out the door. I knew that Void could've gotten it himself, but I need to let him have some time with his son, even if he was unconscious.

My legs felt good as new. I felt as if I could run to the market, but I thought it better to just walk. I had my satchel back and repaired thanks to Kafta before she left to Warfang. I told her that Kafto was their recovering from an injury.

The walk to the market was nice. Void had given me a scale, one of his that could easily be identified, allowing me to eat for free. It's like some sort of coupon, from what I was told. The market itself wasn't too crowded. There were several building for shops. I walked into the one that had pre-cooked venison.

I walked up to the fire dragon at the main desk. He looked in surprise at my absence of horns and my bandaged back that was almost completely white. When I reached into my satchel and put the the single scale in front of him, he picked it up and examined it. He looked closely as if he was looking for something specific. Then with a sigh, he tucked it away and picked up a bag large enough for me to carry comfortably.

I thanked the fire drake and left making my way back toward the infirmary. Upon entering, I gave a nod to the dragon at the entrance and proceeded to walk towards Rift's room. I was still a ways down the hall when I heard something so unexpected.

"THE CAKE IS A LIE!" The sudden yell made me jump so high I almost hit my head on the ceiling. The voice sounded familiar, and I ran straight into Rift's room, seeing him getting suffocated by Kara hugging him. "I'm fine Kara, just let me breath." He struggled to say hoarsely.

She let go of him with a red face. I sent her a knowing smile, making her face redder. "What happened and where am I?" Rift said hoarsely. I left the room to get him some water while Void explained the past week to him. He looked rather angry at what he heard. "How's Tygor? Where is Keltin, and why does my arm feel like a building crushed it?" He asked after I gave him a sip of water.

Void continued to explain the situation. Rift looked particularly pleased at hearing of Keltin's banishment and relieved at hearing the Tygor was okay. Tygor, the dragon that was first attacked by Keltin. As far as I knew, that dragon made a quicker recovery than Rift, but unfortunately he was moving to Warfang. I don't know how Rift is going to take that.

"On a brighter note, be sure to thank Kara, she never left your side once." Void never saw me come in, so he did not mention me, even when I gave Rift the bowl of water. He looked away at the exact moment and didn't see me.

Rift gave Kara a smile. "Thank you Kara, it means a lot to me."

To which she returned the smile. "No need to thank me, I'm your friend, It's my job to make sure you're okay." I knew there was a deeper reason, though I didn't say a word.

But that didn't stop Void from whispering something to Kara. I was close enough to hear but Rift was not. "Don't be giving me Grandchildren yet." I put a paw over my maw to suppress my laughter.

Kara's cheeks turned as red as healing gems, which made me almost burst out into laughter. Void then left, noticing me, and gave a smile as he took the bag of venison from me. "Once you get him up, we'll eat at home." I gave a nod.

As soon as he left, the earth dragon, Tygor, arrived. I sat in the corner of the room, knowing what is about to happen. I tried not to pay attention to the conversation as I watched the two talk then laugh. But the laughter soon died down once Tygor told him that he was moving to Warfang. Rift looked distraught once Tygor left the room, his expression only brightening a little once his attention was on me.

"I'm sorry to hear that your friend is moving." I said, while putting a paw on his shoulder.

"It's fine..." He said in a crestfallen voice.

Kara attempted to cheer him up. "Silvus never left your side as well. He was positive that you would make a recovery."

Rift smiled at that, but the smile didn't reach his ocean blue eyes. I knew that he was feeling angry at Keltin for causing pain to him. I knew the feeling, but on a greater scale.

I spent two weeks with the recovering Rift, filling in the gaps when others couldn't spend time with him. Once he fully healed, Rift began to train harder than ever before according to Void. This was a result of Keltin's attack, I know it was, even if he didn't tell me. I encouraged the up in training, and I helped him in other areas.

But I knew that I had to leave soon. It had almost been a month since I woke up here. I was fully recovered, and the time I was suppose to get to Windig was almost up. It took a lot of thinking over, I had a lot of time for that. I came to the conclusion that I would go, just to see what Zoi wanted me to do.

Today was the day I was going to leave. Windig was far enough that once I get there, it will be the deadline for the month. Today, I had to leave Rift. Though his emotions were beginning to return to normal, I think me leaving might have an effect on him. I sure hope he'll understand.

I waited in the cooking room with Void, who was already informed. I was waiting for Rift to get home from class. I sat at the end of the table, enjoying some fruit that was given to me. My satchel was on the table, packed and ready to go, and my armor was in the corner of the room. Rift hadn't seen it yet, so he did not know that I am now a Messenger.

Upon hearing the door opening and closing, I looked up toward the hall, knowing who would emerge from it. I heard two young dragons from the hall, I could tell by the sound of their steps. My guess was that it was Kara that Rift brought home. It's no surprise, those two spend a long time together, and they still haven't confused their feelings for each other that were so obvious, though they could not see it. I already got confirmation from both of them that they love one another, but they didn't want to tell each other for some reason.

My suspicion was proven correct when both Rift and Kara entered the room and sat at the table with me. "How was school?" Void asked the pair, hardly looking surprised that Kara was here. He knew the same things as I did.

Both replied with a measly good. It took a moment for either of them to notice my packed satchel, though neither of them noticed the armor.

Rift looked at the satchel, then at me, then back at the satchel before looking straight at me. "You're leaving..." He said.

"Yes." I replied.

He looked saddened by this and asked another question. "Why?"

I sighed and went over to retrieve my armor. I put on the helmet before turning to look at them.

"You're a Messenger now?" Rift asked and I nodded. "Where are the symbols?"

"I don't have any yet." I said, taking off the helmet and placing it in front of the fire drake.

"Will you do the honors?" I asked.

He stared down at the helmet and held up one claw which began to glow orange. "What should I put?"

"Whatever you want."

Rift thought for a moment before proceeding to engrave a symbol. Once he was finished, he turned the helmet so I could see what he put. Neatly and much better looking than the first time he did this. It was in the center of the helmet, the symbol for family.

"Thank you." I said, taking the helmet from him at setting it down next to my satchel. "Well guys, thank you for everything." Rift got off the table to give me a hug that I gladly returned.

"Goodbye cousin… good luck." He said before pulling away. I gave a slight nod at that.

"Goodbye Rift."

He stepped back and surprisingly Kara gave me a small but quick hug. "Bye Silvus." She said simply. "And thank you."

"Bye Kara."

Void who was standing behind the pair that just said their goodbyes. "Would you like me to give you a portal?" He asked.

"No thanks Uncle Void. I need to stretch out my wings anyway."

He then gave me a hug as well. I returned it before breaking it off to go put on the rest of my armor. Then, I swung my satchel over my wing and secured it against my side. Then, I turned towards my uncle and younglings, flashing them a smile to which they returned.

"Looking good Silvus." Void said and I nodded. Then, looking down at my chestplate which was nearly torn through thanks to Cynder's poison.

"Well, bye everyone! I'll come back to visit whenever I am able." I said with a smile.

Each of them gave a nod in return. I then left the room, a single tear running down my cheek. It would be a long time before I see them. It was a feeling that I couldn't understand.

Once I was outside the house, I looked up at the clear sky with a sigh. I looked at the Celestial Moons, then tilted my head in confusion. The two moons were very close to being one with each other. Soon, it will look like one will cover the other. I didn't know what it meant.

I tore my gaze away from the moons and toward the direction of Windig. With a few flaps, I was speeding toward the ruined village, the one place where this crazy life started. The place that I witnessed the death of my mother by the claws of Cynder. The place where the worst day of my life occurred, and I'm going back.

It took three and a half days, like I predicted. The sun was going down as I landed in the ruins of Windig. The place brought back images during that dreadful day. Tears were threatening to release as I walked through the village.

Why did Zoi want me to go here? Did he want me to feel pain?

I did not know. I spent a lot of time walking through the large port village. The moons were high above the sky by now. They were inches away from looking like a single moon.

The night felt like no other. It felt heavy, misty... gray.

I felt drawn to the one place I didn't want to revisit. I tried to resist the temptation, but it was useless. I found myself being drawn closer and closer towards the place where my mother was murdered in front of my very eyes.

Once I reached it, tears began to flow freely from my eyes as I remembered the event perfectly. Then, I looked up towards the moons. At that exact moment I saw the moons. Well, now it looked like a moon. There was a quick flash of purple before the moon's started to glow.

I looked around and noticed that the entire area looked grey and misty, like I was taken to another world but not at the same time. It took me a few moments to notice that there were bright dragons walking around. They were all light grey and looked happy. I recognized some of them to be the dragons that were killed during the attack. I didn't know what was happening.

Until I saw a dark blue light on the ground in front of me. I saw my shadow, and realized that the light was coming from behind me.

I slowly turned around and once I did, I gasped loudly. There was a dark blue spirit smiling in front of me. My helmet dropped to the ground.

"Mom?" I said, tears were flowing freely.

"Hello Silvus."

She sounded the same. She looked the same. The dragon spirit that was in front of me was my mother. I rushed forward to try and hug her but my paws went straight through her, like I was cutting through mist.

"It's been a long time."

When I realized I couldn't touch her, I sat as close to her as possible.

"I've m-m-missed you so much." I said with a shaky voice. "My life has b-been so f-full of pain w-without you." My voice cracking.

"I am here now, don't worry." She said softly while putting a paw around me.

All was silent. Neither of us said anything to one another. Questions that I've wanted to ask my mother if she were still alive, vanished from my mind at this moment. Except one.

"Why didn't you tell me you were a Guardian?" I asked her still in a shak voice.

"You weren't ready to know then."

"So you would have told me if the demon didn't kill you?" I said with bitterness in my voice.

"Silvus, It wasn't her fault." She said causing me to gasp.

"How can you s-say that! Of course it is!" I said slamming my paw down, causing the area to be covered in ice, but I didn't pay that any mind. "And I want revenge for what she did! To you, to me!" I pointed at my hornless head. "She deserves to die!"

My mother continued to look at me. Without saying a word she gently touched her paws to my head. The contact felt like flowing water, until images and memories flashed through my mind. Memories not my own, similar to my dream like visions I used to have.

Screams of pain occurred as my body grew. Stretching the bones. Corrupting my mind. Pain was all I felt. Then when I opened my eyes, I saw my body doing things out of my control. Killing creatures without mercy. Things that I would never do. It was too much for a three year old. Growing older and older. Killing more and more. My mind was a constant battle. Each side fought for control over my body. Fighting those I didn't want to fight. Torturing those innocent. Until it all stopped, with multiple flashes of purple, my mind was clear.

I gasped as my mother retracted her paws. Tears were running down my cheeks as those memories flashed through my mind. A vision.

"What...what was that?" I asked my mother.

"Memories of the one you hate most." She said. "Cynder was tortured into submission. Tortured at the age of three before becoming the monster controlled by Malefor."

Tears were still running down my face. Some of my anger for Cynder's actions disappeared. I almost felt sorry for here. But one thing confused me.

"What happened at the end?" I asked, remembering a fight of some sort, and bright purple flashes.

"She was freed from her torture." I was silent. I couldn't believe all of this, I just couldn't. "Everyone deserves a second chance Silvus. All you need to do is give it."

"How? How can I do it?" I said, looking her straight in the eye. Her misty light blue eyes.

"By letting it go." She said. "Revenge will only tear you apart. Nothing is gained from achieving it. You are destined for great things, Silvus, but you cannot be what you truly are….without letting...it...go."

I took a deep breath while closing my eyes. Then I exhaled. "I will try mom."

She smiled and I smiled back. "I love you Silvus."

"I love you to, mom."

For the next few hours, sat side by side, watching the waves crash on the shore. But eventually, she had to go. The moons were setting as I shared my truly final moments with my mother.

"When you see your father and sister again, tell them I love them." She said.

We were sitting in front of one another. I couldn't contain my tears.

"I will."

As I saw the moons beginning to set, her paw became clear and not misty. Only for a brief second, and wiped the tears from my eyes like she used to do whenever I cried.

"Goodbye, Silvus."

"Goodbye."

I watched her disappear as the moons did. She faded away. Though I still felt her paw against my cheek. For the first time in seven years, I felt content.

Rift finishes building and priming a guillotine, setting his head in the slot.

Silver: What are you doing?

Rift: No more spelling errors, please make it stop. I beg of you, take this rope and pull it.

Silver: Sorry, but I do need you to beta read the rest of the chapters. If you're good, I'll cut your head off then.