The purple light was all anyone remembered. A bright flash and sudden silence.
All the purple dragon could see now was a white light. He was in a white room, with leather straps binding his limbs to a metal frame.
The purple dragon strained to move his head, muscles sore and bindings tight. He caught a glimpse of movement from the corner of his eye. Spyro shifted uncomfortably, and Ash stepped into his field of view, arms crossed and eyes low.
"Good morning. Sleep well"? He moved to the foot of the bed, forcing Spyro to strain his eyes to look at him.
"What happened"? He asked in a coarse voice. "Where am I"?
"The infirmary. I recommended to baths, but got out voted". He moved to Spyro's side, and undid the strap on his head. The purple dragon stretched his neck, then let his head fall back. "And as for what happened... Do you want to good version or the bad version"?
"Give me the good version".
"Good choice. Well the good version is that you managed to take control of your dark side".
Spyro was overjoyed. "That's great"!
"As for the bad version... You managed to take control, but you took control just a bit too late".
Spyro raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking abo"... His mind flashed with a picture of Cynder lying beneath him, and then a bright purple flash. "Where's Cynder"? He asked, forcing against the restraints Ash hadn't undone.
Ash scratched the back of his head. "She's recovering. You hit her. Albeit indirectly. You managed to direct your convexity beam to the ground beside her face".
Spyro felt relieved he hadn't killed her. "Can I see her"?
Ash shrugged. "It's not up to me. It's up to her".
The purple dragon was confused. "Why wouldn't she want to see me"?
Ash laid his face into his palm. "The fact that you ask that. Look", he said, staring into Spyro's eyes, "you almost killed her. I'm not surprised she'd be a little cautious around you right now".
Spyro's eyes pleaded with the thrask. "Please. I have to know she's okay".
Ash sighed as he looked at the helpless dragon before him. "Fine". He finished removing the leather straps, and led Spyro across the hall to Cynder's room. "Wait here for a second". Ash eased the door open, and was greeted by a nearly empty room aside a white bed, black dragoness, and gryphon at the beds side. They turned their attention to Ash as he knocked on the door. "Hey. How's it going"?
Cynder had bandages wrapped around her body, but smiled regardless. "Better than yesterday. No more burning feeling. How's Spyro"?
Ash bobbed his head as he wandered deeper into the room. "He's worried about you. Wants to visit. Nothing I wouldn't expect, y'know"?
Cynder nodded slowly as she trailed her eyes back to Ciezan. "Yeah. That sounds like him".
The thrask tilted his head. "Could he visit? He's kind of freaking out about you".
The dragoness sighed. "I guess it would be nice to see him. Tell him he can come by".
"Are you sure that's a god idea"? Questioned Ciezan. "He might not be in the right mindset yet".
Cynder patted his talon reassuringly. "I trust him". Ciezan still doubted. "Send him in".
Ash nodded. "I'll be right back". He left the room, and was back within the second, dragging Spyro by his horn. He pushed the purple to her bedside. Ciezan stepped away and Ash leaned down to ear level. "Such perfect handles! I can see why dragons would be so much fun to hunt".
Ciezan watched the purple dragon, as him and Cynder exchanged words. "I don't trust him after what he did".
The thrask laid a hand on his head. "Don't hate him. It was my idea anyway".
Ciezan pushed his hand away, a fire behind his eyes. "Your idea?! How could you think that endangering her life was a good idea"?!
"Well I was under the impression we were protected by the enchantment. How was I to know he broke it"?
Ciezan opened his beak, but shut it just as quickly. "I guess you wouldn't".
Ash spread his arms out. "So once again I'm right". He poked the tip of the gryphon's beak. "I don't understand why you keep doubting me. I'm on a streak right now". He looked around the room, noticing something was different. "Where are the children"?
Ciezan sighed. "They're at school".
Ash raised an eyebrow. "Not like you to want to be rid of them so easily. I'm guessing they aren't in an authentic gryphon history class right now. Any reason behind it"?
"The law mostly. It doesn't exclude based on species. So Vesh and Takkye are learning the history of dragons. And their views about how they were always doing the right thing. Even when they hunted my species to near extinction". He looked to Cynder, who wore a smile as Spyro talked to her. "Why did you let it happen"?
Ash's eyes followed the same path as Ciezan's. "She told me to".
Their attention was pulled by a mole as she entered the room, dressed in white. She made her way to past the Spyro, and stood at Cynder's bedside. "How are we today, Cynder"?
"I'm doing well".
"That's very good to hear. If you wish, we could see how well you've healed. And maybe even keep the bandages off this time". Cynder nodded, and the nurse turned to the group. "You can stay if you wish".
She pulled from a pocket a pair of scissors, slide it under the bandage, and severed it with a squeeze of her hand. The wrappings fell to the bed. "There, all done". She picked up the linen and walked out of the room.
Cynder looked between the the three of them. "So? It isn't that bad, is it"?
Spyro and Ciezan shook their heads simultaneously, but the gryphon stole the first words. "Just as beautiful as always".
Cynder blushed behind her new complexion. "Just as sweet as always. Thank you".
As nice as it was, they had lied. Cynder was no longer the solid black. Instead she had a bright purple burn mark covering the side of her face. It matched the color of a convexity blast perfectly.
"You guys sure are nice". The voice from behind them spoke sarcastically. "You're not very easy on the eyes. That's for sure. I'd need half the tavern in me before I thought of doing anything".
Ciezan's jaw hung open slightly, and he pushed the thrask out of the room, closing the door behind them. Once it was shut firmly, he glared Ash down furiously. "What the hell is wrong with you"? He screamed quietly. "What would make you say something that rude"?
Ash rolled his eyes. "Oh I don't know. Maybe the truth".
"No! That wasn't being truthful. That was just you being an asshole".
"Oh don't give me that crap. We both know it's the truth. Don't go calling me an asshole when you feel the same way".
Ciezan had to stop himself from hitting the thrask. "No. I don't feel the same way as you. You've been a total asshole pretty much since we arrived. Never considering how what you do or say could make others feel".
"And how are their feelings my problem? If someone can't handle the truth, they might as well just end it. Life isn't a bed of rose petals".
"Are you seriously trying to defend yourself?! How could you think for even a second that what you do has any redeemable qualities whatsoever"?
"Because I'm honest. I tell it like it is and if I hurt someone's feelings, who cares"?
"No. You're not honest. You're just an asshole. You've always been an asshole".
Ash nodded sarcastically. "Of course you'd think that. If I were an asshole I think I'd know it".
Ciezan had a fire in his eyes now. "You wouldn't know because you don't care. You like hurting, embarrassing, killing and all in all bothering others until you're bored of it. Asshole".
"I'm not an asshole. I'm honest. I'm sorry you can't take the truth".
"And I'm sorry you can't take a hint"! He screamed. "This isn't a hint actually! I'm telling you, You. Are. An. Asshole. Don't deny it. You are and always have been. Ever since we met".
"Okay. Give me one example of when I was an asshole. Any example".
Ciezan laughed. "Where do I begin?! Oh, I know. How about when we first met. You remember? When I was a child? How you threw me in a river and yelled, 'Let's see if pussies can swim'! I couldn't".
Ash rolled his eyes. "That was a joke. Give me an actual example".
"Okay. When I starting having a relationship with someone, you started spreading rumors about how I had a myriad of diseases. And a really tiny"...
"Oh come on! That's a classic"!
"NO"! Screamed the gryphon. "You realize that after that, we broke up, right? That was my first, and until recently, last relationship. They kept calling me a horrible names! You ruined any chance I ever had of raising a family"!
"But families are so overrated. The way I see it, all those insults made you stronger. You should be thanking me".
"I tried to kill myself"!
"Only tried? Not good enough".
"SHUT THE HELL UP"! He snapped. "How do you not see that you're an asshole?! This level of stupidity is beyond what I thought of you! But I guess you keep surprising me".
Ash glared down at him angrily. "Don't say something you'll"...
"There you go again! Hiding behind your threats because you can't handle the truth. Is that why you're such an asshole? You talk shit to feel better about yourself? That's pathetic. Even by your standards".
Ash didn't hesitate to slam his fist into the gryphon face, knocking him to the ground. He placed his foot against Ciezan's throat, and began pressing down. The gryphon clawed at his leg, but he didn't respond to the pain. Instead he leaned in, whispering menacingly. "You don't ever talk to me like that. You're nothing but a cockroach to me. And I won't hesitate to crush you under my boot. Do you understand me"?
Ciezan kept struggling, drawing blood from Ash's leg. The thrask removed his foot and the gryphon coughed violently. After his fit had subsided, he looked up to the thrask, a fire behind his eyes. "I guarantee the others feel the same way I do. If you're still enough of a dumbass to deny the truth.. ask them. I bet you a favor they'll agree with me".
Ash raised an eyebrow. "A favor you say? You have piqued my interest. What kind of favor are we talking about"?
"A long term favor. If I'm right, you stop being an asshole until the day you die".
Ash considered his offer while thinking of his own terms. He nodded as he came up with a suitable task for Ciezan. "And if I'm right, you break up with Cynder. Today. And when she asks why, you tell her you could never love someone so ugly". The thrask smiled, and extended and arm. "Do we have a deal"?
Ciezan ignore his hand, and instead stood up on his own. He pushed past Ash with a huff. "You've got a deal". He entered the room alone, and was met with awkward eyes from both present. He smiled at them as they stared. "You heard that, didn't you"? They nodded in unison. "Hope they didn't hear the deal we made. Here goes". Ciezan sighed angrily. "He's just such an asshole. He doesn't care about anyone".
"That isn't fair". Said Cynder. "You can't just label someone like that for a few mistakes".
Ciezan looked at her in disbelief. "So you don't think that he's been an ass as of late"?
"I didn't say that".
"Then what did you say? What are you saying? That he's just misguided? That this is all just a phase? Don't worry, he'll grow out of it? It's not that he's inconsiderate of how others feel. He's just confused. Trying to find out who he really is"?
"I'm not saying he isn't an asshole. I'm not saying he is one. I'm just saying that maybe he's stressed, and lashing out".
"Funny how he lashes out at everyone, right? If I remember he attacked Cyril first. Not the nicest of dragons, but surely smart enough to not agitate with the intent of fighting. No. That's Ash who does that".
"Okay you two, stop it. Ciezan's right, Ash is an asshole". Ciezan was going to gloat, but Spyro cut him off. "But so is Cynder. We shouldn't judge him on a few actions. You have known him longer, so we don't have your experiences. We can't confirm or deny what you say about what happened".
"But you do think he's an asshole, right"?
Spyro nodded. "Yes".
Ciezan turned to Cynder, who nodded in agreement. The gryphon was overjoyed, he turned to the doorway, where Ash stood with clenched fists. "I told you"!
That thrask stomped into the room and grabbed the gryphon by his throat, pinning him against the wall. "That doesn't count! You coerced them into agreeing with you"! He cocked his arm back, prepared to paint the wall red. "You owe me a favor now".
Ciezan laughed a wheezy laugh. "An asshole and a child. You amaze me". Ash threw his fist forward.
"Tisk tisk Ash". Said a voice from behind him, a voice that halted his punch like a brick wall. "I'm gone for but a few weeks, and already you're about to beat poor Ciezan? How far your mind has fallen".
Ash cranked his head to the side, catching eye of an all too familiar blank mask. He shook his head violently and dropped Ciezan. "No. No no no no. You can't be here! You're dead"! He screamed.
Koma looked to his hands. "Strange. I don't feel dead". He thrust a fist into Ash's gut, he heard the air rush from his lungs. "And You certainly felt that. So I'm obviously very much alive. Too bad. It was a good punch". He looked to the others in the room, who stood frozen in place, absolutely unmoving. He walked around them, looking them over and chuckling. "They all hate you. You know that, right? Obviously you must not, otherwise you wouldn't have tried to kill the gryphon just now. Because if they didn't hate you before, they certainly do now". He moved to Ash's side, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You're going to apologize. Make right by them and whatnot. Then you and I will work on picking up the shattered pieces of your mind. Once that's done, we put them back together. Bring back the old Ash. How does that sound"?
"You aren't real. You can't be". He said in disbelief.
"So much denial. Of course I'm real. I always have been. I always will be". He gestured to the others in the room. "Now then, I want you to apologize. And I want you to mean it".
The thrask looked over his friends then back to Koma, who snapped his fingers. As he did, Spyro ran to Ciezan's side, helping him to his feet. The purple dragon looked up at Ash, a rage building inside. "What's wrong with you?! Who does this to their friend"?! He took notice of Ash's new composure. He could see the fear and guilt in his eyes.
"I'm so sorry". The thrask spoke softly.
Koma nudged him with an elbow. "Louder".
"I'm so sorry"! He said loudly. His body was shivering, and his eyes flooded. "This isn't me. I'm not well".
Koma clapped his hands as the group stared in disbelief. "Look at that! They have no idea what to think"! His smile faded as Ash became silent again. "Don't let me keep you. Continue".
The thrask sighed regretfully. "I am an asshole. And I promise to right my wrongs. But before that can happen, I need to fix myself. I'm sorry". Koma gripped his neck with a hand.
"Was that so hard? Now let's go fix you. You went farther than I would have liked". They turned to dust as a breeze blew through the room, leaving nothing but silence.
The three looked to eachother, the same questions on their mind. They tried their best to forget what had just happened, and so they went back to talking about various things. All the while wanting answers they would not get.
As the day got older, it had become apparent how hungry the three of them were becoming. They made their way out of the hospital, getting a goodbye from the nurse that had removed Cynder's bandages.
The city was quiet, only the dragons willing to stay and fight remained. More fighters were being brought in by the trains everyday. While the other cities would make a decent target, Warfang was the only city that housed Spyro, Cynder, Ash and the gryphons. The only ones who mattered to the enemy they stood against beforehand.
As with all cities, the tavern was still just as busy as ever. Now one of the only places to get food and drink within a reasonable walking distance of everything, it had become a haven for the guards and mercenaries paid to fight. Warriors whose names shook those to the bones when uttered.
The three sat at a table in the back, away from the shocked eyes that stared at Cynder's convexity burns. The tavern owner, a green and beige dragoness, found her way to them, shaking her head. "If you're here for food, I'm sorry. All the food shipments are to be 'donated' to the war effort. Not even fighting yet and I have to give up everything. Though I am still able to serve drink. They haven't taken that away. Yet".
Spyro and Ciezan glanced at eachother. "No, I think we're good on drinks, thank you". Said the gryphon, thinking on past events.
The owner nodded. "Understandable. I heard about what happened between you two".
"You heard? How"? Asked the purple dragon, already sure of the answer to come.
"Your thrask friend came in and told everyone".
The three nodded unsurprised. "Of course he did. Why wouldn't he"?
"He also tried telling us about you and the fire guardian, but most of us saw that first hand. You and your friends sure are close, huh"? She joked. "Anyway, if you want to get something to eat, there's food being given away at the hall of council. You should know where that is by now".
"We do, thank you". The owner smiled and waved as they left the tavern toward the templeary.
The food was served in a pavilion built for just such occasions. The numerous dragons and moles nearly filled the structure to the edges. It was within the sea of faces, that they ran across familiar ones. Flame and Ember stood at the edge of the of the crowd, looking outward, waiting for something.
"I thought you said they'd be here"? Stated Flame impatiently.
"I'm not always right you know. Take what I see and say with a grain of salt". She noticed a flicker of purple coming up the cobblestone street. It was not the purple dragon she saw, but instead the glowing convexity burn that took over Cynder's face. Ember tried her best to stay calm. It was rather alarming after all.
She nudged the red dragon next to her, who turned his head and gasped silently. She ushered him to keep quiet about it, and he did his best.
"There you are". Said the black dragoness in question. "It's nice of you to wait for us like this".
"Yep"! Said Flame. "You know us. Always so thoughtful". He pointed to the pavilion. "I'm gonna go get some food. Anyone coming"?
Spyro and Ember were quick to offer themselves up. "I will". They said in unison.
"Sounds good". The fire guardian looked to the other two. "We need a place to eat, why don't you work on that? We'll bring you back something tasty".
Cynder shrugged. "Sure. Let's go Ciezan". She snaked her way between the tightly packed tables with the gryphon on her tail.
When they had managed to find a table with enough seats, the dragons seated at it left in a hurry upon seeing the black dragoness. This struck her deeply, and she hung her head as she took a seat. "Is it really that bad"? She asked the gryphon, who in turn stammered and twisted his tongue.
"Well I wouldn't say... It's not that you're... Maybe it's a little"... He sighed. "Yeah. It's pretty bad".
"Thanks for cushioning the blow". She teased and added a light punch to his shoulder. "What am I gonna do when you leave"?
Ciezan shrugged. "Think of me, wish I was by your side, love me. You know, the usual".
She chuckled at his cheesiness. "If that's what you think I do usually, you go right ahead and think that".
"Are you saying you don't love me"? He asked sarcastically.
"I didn't say that".
"You didn't not say it".
Cynder raised her eyebrow. "I don't think that works".
"Do you understand what I meant"?
"I... think so".
"Then it works". She nodded as she thought it over. "But I'm happy you brought up me leaving".
"Is this going where I think it is"?
"Which is why we should talk about Spyro".
"And here we go again".
"I just want to know for certain that you won't give up on me for him. Not now anyway. Not after we spent so long building what we have".
Cynder looked into his eyes warmly. "Ciezan... I know you worry about it, and I understand why. And even though I do still have feelings for him, I can't give up on you. That isn't fair. I gave him a chance, and sadly it didn't work out. For the last time... I won't cheat on you".
Ciezan had faith in her promise, and they shared a smile. Which was interrupted by a wooden bowl being dropped onto the table. They jumped as it happened.
Ember sighed longingly. "I wish I could find someone who treated me like you two treat eachother. Knowing every dirty secret someone has to hide doesn't make for a good first impression". She shrugged. "Oh well. I'll find my perfect someone at some point. Until then though", she looked to her food, "I'm starving". And she began eating whatever was in the bowl.
"So what were you two talking about"? Inquired Spyro before he tore a strip of meat from his serving.
Cynder and Ciezan exchanged a glance before the gryphon answered. "Mostly about what happens when I leave with Vesh and Takkye".
"Oh yeah". Said the fire dragon. "I almost forgot about that. It'll be weird not having you around. Hope it won't be too hard on you two".
Cynder nodded. "Yeah. I hope it won't either". The group fell silent as they ate the strange food before them. It was meat, or as close to meat as someone could come.
After they had finished and said their goodbyes, it was time for Ciezan to get ready to leave. He had stayed longer than planned on account of Cynder and Spyro's stay in the hospital. But now he was stretching what little time he had for a safe evacuation.
He gathered Vesh and Takkye from the lesson with the other three guardians. Since all the others had left, it was decided they would teach them of dragon culture and history for the short time they would stay.
The three would set off for an abandoned thrask settlement, hidden by the magic of old high in the mountains. Among the thrask lived dragons gifted heavily in their respected elements. Together they created new exotic types of elemental magic, such as plasma, sunlight and radiation. These feats and their determination to reflect on the elements, earned them the title of magic crafters.
They would leave first thing the next day. They did their best to spend as much time with everyone as possible, creating as many happy memories as they could. But their was never enough hours in a day, and the sun lingered on the horizon in what seemed too short of a time.
It was Cynder's idea that everyone sleep around a fire, under the stars that night. Her and Ciezan slept in eacother's embrace, not wanting to leave one another's side.