A white light was all Spyro could see. As he sat up, he recognized his surroundings as the Chronicler's home.
"Well, I must say, you took your time getting here young one".
Spyro turned to face the owner of the voice, expecting the Chronicler. He was surprised to see a dragon that wa Chronicler-like, but not the one he knew. As he stared on, a memory flashed in his mind. It was a painting, the one in the templeary with him, Cynder, Sparx and... "Ignitus"? He questioned.
The dragon laughed. "It's been a while since anyone's called me that".
"Ignitus"! Spyro ran forward, wrapping his arms around the larger dragon's neck.
"It's good to see you as well. If only it were under different circumstances. What you did was noble, truly a heroes death".
Spyro let go and backed away. "It doesn't feel like it. I feel like I kind of gave up. Cynder ended up with someone else and I won't be apart of her life anymore".
"I wouldn't say that". Another voice from behind the purple dragon caught his attention. The voice belonged to none other than Ash. Spyro snarled at him, ready to pounce. "Calm down".
"What are you doing here"?
"Well I'm dead. So not much. I had planned on showing you something, but you seem to be aimed at attacking me". Spyro noticed something was different about Ash, he looked... brighter almost. "See that, did you"? He gestured to his body, free of all burns. "I'm normal! For a thrask anyway".
"What did you want to show me"?
"That I think she'll remember you for a long time". The thrask waved his hand, and the air in front of them rippled. In the ripple was a vision of now.
Cynder and Ciezan arrived at Warfang, the bodies of Spyro and Ash on their backs. The city was silent as they walked through the crowds, and towards the destroyed courtyard.
The guardians met them there, three graves already filled in and a wave of sadness painted vividly on everyone present. They each took turns digging the holes.
As they rested the bodies inside, they shared stories and reminisced on happier times.
The image faded. "So I really am dead? I was hoping it was just a dream".
"Sorry to say it isn't. But it's not all bad! You get to spend the rest of eternity in paradise. Nothing better than that, right"?
"I can think of a few things". His voice was quiet, sad.
Ignitus placed his large paw on Spyro's back. "Spyro, you did the right thing".
"I know, but still. I wanted to be with her. I wanted to have a future together. I wanted to raise a family. But now"...
"It's up to her". Finished Ash, earning a worried look from the purple dragon. He conjured another portal to show the future.
It was a beautiful day, where the sun shone down, the flowers were in full bloom and the birds sang happily. He could make out Cynder and Ciezan running across the field, older than in the previous vision. She looked like she had when under Malefor's control, and Ciezan was equal to the size of Ignitus.
As they ran, two smaller dragons came into view. Spyro gasped when he noticed the color of their scales. "Black and purple". He uttered, turning to Ash, who wore a smile as he watched. "How did this happen? It was only one time! We were so young. It shouldn't have been possible".
"You forget the fifty years that passed. You were both nearly a century. Sexual maturity". The vision faded. "Poor Ciezan. Looking at your children dreaming of his own. Hoping, praying, wishing".
"Couldn't he just ask the thrask"?
"He does". Another vision appeared before them.
Ciezan stood in a circular room, with thrask sitting all around. He was yelling at them. "Why won't you help me?! I've done so much for you! I only ask for one favor"!
The elderly thrask before him shook her head. "We cannot young one. As much as we would love to".
"Why not"?! He cried out, tears in his eyes.
"Because she cannot bear any more children. She is infertile".
Ciezan looked to the ground, breathing eradically. He wailed in anger and despair as the thrask left. The elderly one bowed to him. "I'm sorry. I wish we could help". The vision faded.
Spyro was shocked to say the least. "You stole his happiness in one night. He will hate you and Cynder for the rest of his life. Every kiss, every hug, every 'I love you'. All lies. All because you couldn't say no. Staying together as they drift apart. Truly tragic".
Spyro shook his head as his voice trembled. "I-I didn't want this. I don't want to make him raise MY children"!
"That's not your problem anymore".
"Bullshit it isn't! They're my children"! His gaze fell and his voice grew quiet. "I should be the one raising them". The purple dragon sighed, but was quick to raise his eyes as a thought crossed his mind. "What about Vesh and Takkye? Isn't he going to raise them"?
Ash shook his head. "They aren't his children. They'll be heading back home now that the threat is eliminated".
"So I have no hope of doing anything"?
"You still could". Ash reached behind him, and held the scrying stone used to resurrect the dark master. A fracture was visible on it's otherwise flawless surface. "Still stable enough for one wish".
"A wish"? Ash nodded. "And it could be anything"?
"Anything. It was touched by the breaking curse, so it transcends the absolute death you and I suffered". Spyro lit up with joy. A chance he could have what he wanted. "But I'm going to limit you".
"What? Limit me"?
"Yes. I will give you three wishes to choose from. You will wish accordingly. Understood"?
"But I know what I want".
"And that will be an option. But you should at least hear the other two".
"Fine. Just get it over with".
Ash waved his hand, and three visions appeared above him. He pointed to the first. "Number one. You will trade places with Ciezan. He will have broken me and you will end up with Cynder". An image of Spyro and Cynder sleeping peacefully with their children was visible. He pointed to the second. "You will break Cynder's infertility, allowing Ciezan to bear children with the aid of the thrask. He will know it is broken and try his hardest to do so". A picture of a dragon-gryphon hybrid was visible. He pointed to the third and final vision. "All lives lost in the war, excluding ours, are negated. The corrupted are returned to thrask, and a strong friendship between our species is guaranteed for eons to come". A picture of a thrask shaking hands with Flame was visible. "Choose".
Spyro's eyes bounced between the options. He was torn. "I-I can't choose. None of them are what I want. Not exactly".
"What you want is impossible. To restore life is to use great power. You and I are too strong to be involved. Separately, we are worth the entirety of the losses. This is a flawed stone, and the only one capable of resurrecting us. You must choose".
He thought about it. Cynder. Ciezan, or Flame, Ember, Volteer And everyone else. "This isn't fair"! He whined, earning Ash's palm.
"So what if it isn't? You don't always get what you want. Sometimes it's better to accept that you failed and move on. Go ahead, be selfish. Take his place and be happy. Or bring him happiness. Hell, bring back everyone who died. They didn't want to, but hey, they aren't in love with someone who's to stubborn to leave a horrible relationship! So screw 'em"!
Spyro remained silent for some time, taking in Ash's words. "Look, Spyro, I messed up. I let anger guide my hand. And while you aren't letting anger take control, it has the same properties. You want them to be happy. He forgave you. Could you really live with knowing he isn't happy because of you? That a fire guardian, not even in his sixth decade died in a stupid war, and you chose to let him stay that way"?
"No".
"Then do the right thing. Be selfless".
He nodded slowly. "I choose the third option. I want them to be happy, but it's still selfish to ignore death. They have families too, and deserve the chance to see them".
Ash smiled. "I know I pushed you, but I'm glad you see it that way". He raised the stone, placing it in the third portal. The vision faded, then returned, the changes obvious.
At the funeral stood all of his friends, knowing of his sacrifice and proud to call him a hero.
The three visions faded, and the scrying stone fell to the ground, shattering on impact. "So what now"?
"Well", started the Chronicler, "you could move on to paradise, live in harmony for eternity. Or, you could stay here with me, and become the next Chronicler".
"The next Chronicler"?
"Yes. You would stay here with me and learn all there is to keeping the books. I gave a similar option to our friend here. Except he would become my personal seer and writer. It's been many years since a Chronicler has had that option".
Spyro looked between them, unsure of what to do. "What are you gonna do, Ash"?
He shrugged. "I have an idea. Try to steer things into the right direction. I do like the idea of staying here though. But first I want to try and do right by everyone, and I think I'll start with Cynder. I'll be right back". He disappeared with a wave of his hand.
Spyro felt an odd sensation in his mind. His memories shifted as Ash messed with the past.
In his new memories, the only one that was very discernible, was the hospital after his convexity blast with Cynder. Now she stood over his bed, no burns at all, flawless as always. Everything went on normally from then, aside from Cynder's scars being gone. The vision faded.
Ash walked into the room again, a joyful expression noticeable. "Did you do that"? Questioned the purple dragon.
"Who else? But there is another thing I need to do". He moved to Spyro, pulling a mirror from thin air. The purple dragons reflection told him everything. He saw faint, glowing burns across his body, the ones Cynder once had. "You won't have to worry about them anymore". He dropped the mirror and placed a hand on Spyro's forehead. A strange sensation overtook him. As if a snake was crawling through his skin. He saw the purple scars imprint onto Ash, then fade instantly. "There. Now they're mine. Even if they don't show".
Spyro looked to the mirror that lay on the floor, no more faint purple lines visible. "Spyro", started Ignitus as he pulled the purple dragons book from a shelf. "come and see. Your pages have been fixed, and are now legible".
As he read his book, the Chronicler pulled Ash to the side, speaking quietly. "So, thrask, what do you plan on doing now? Before coming in as my personal seer"?
Ash placed his hands behind his head, looking to the ceiling. "Not sure. As much as I hate to admit it, Koma did teach me a few useful things".
Ignitus raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? What might they be"?
"Time magic for sure. But most importantly, he showed me my future. Where I belong and such".
"Is that place here"?
He bobbed his head side to side. "Yes and no. Right now it isn't. I have something I want to make right first. But later, you can count on me".
"Well then, I hope you manage. Can you leave yourself? Or would you like me to open the door"?
"I got it". He waved his hand and a portal floated in front of him. On the other side was where he had died, the center of the earth. Two bodies lay on the floor, one black and red, the other purple, covered by boulders. He stepped through and walked towards a small item on the ground. He reached down and held it in his hand. As the portal closed, Ash turned to Ignitus and waved. A large, purple crack running diagonally across his face. The image faded as he pressed the item to his features, and began shaking the black dragon.
The End