There is a new poll on my profile, for which you can vote up to 3 times. Basically, I want to know what to write next. I have ideas for everyone of the options, and if you have any that aren't there, message me. If you want, I'll even just write you a story. In any universe. All I need is a plot. So please take the ten seconds it would require to check it out. Maybe vote on something. Who knows, maybe it could end up being more popular than FWYA.
This scene never made it into the final draft. What it does manage to get through was implemented in later chapters a bit better. This scene would have been placed at the beginning of Chapter 9, thus pushing the remembrance ceremony back to the next morning. It would have also changed the party afterwards in various ways. I'll let you figure out how though. This is definitely the more popular of my two stories, since it gets consistent views. So I'm beyond curious to see how this sudden update will affect the view count. Hopefully the reviews too. Anyway, tell me if you like the way things unfolded here more than the final version. I know someone will.
I have other scenes that were removed/changed, but most are small. So I might just compile them into a single chapter.
As the sun danced just above the horizon, Flame stepped into the fire guardians chambers. He saw the purple dragon lying on the bed, clutching the scrolls. "So this is where you've been? Everyone's been worried about you".
Spyro stayed silent, his eyes staring for a thousand yards. Flame sighed. "You can't stay here forever. Hating yourself doesn't do any good. Have you even eaten today"?
"I'm not hungry". The purple dragon spoke without emotion.
Flame looked over the scrolls strewn over the bed, one of which Spyro grasped tightly. "So you read them"? A nod was his answer. "That explains why you haven't been out of here yet. Still"... Flame sat next to his roommate, a concerned look taking over his features as he sat in silence.
"Did you know Sparx got married"? He sniffled as he thought over the notes.
"I did not".
"It's true. Jada's her name. And they had a son! Can you guess what they named him"? Flame shook his head. "They named him, Spyro". The purple dragons eyes welled up again at the thought of it. "And I couldn't even congratulate him. What kind of brother am I"?
"Hey hey hey. You're a great brother. He would have obviously understood why you weren't able to come back". The drakes words hadn't managed to cheer up his friend.
As he was ready to admit defeat, Flame jumped up with a clap. "You said he had a son right"?
"Yeah, why"?
"Why don't we go visit his family"!
Spyro sat up slowly, not sure if Flame was being serious. "We can do that"?
"Well, we aren't allowed to leave the city after curfew. But we could sneak out. Hopefully be back before anyone realizes we were gone".
"And if we get caught"?
Flame shrugged. "We just got off course. Then we'll try again".
Spyro set his clutched scroll beside him gently, then stood and made for the door. "Let's go"!
Flame was quick to step in front of his friend. "Woah woah woah. We can't just walk out! We have to be sneaky. Let's go out the window. I've always wanted to do that".
"What are we waiting for then"?! Spyro and Flame ran to the window and leapt for it, but slammed into eachother and consequently the wall. They stood slowly, clutching their heads. "Okay, one at a time. You go first". Flame dove through, followed by his purple friend, this time with less head trauma.
They soared high above the clouds to pass the wall, making sure to stay unseen. The air was especially cool at the higher altitude, and soon the two found it all the more pressing that they get closer to the ground. They dove through the clouds when they were out of sight of the capital, trailing some behind them as they continued their journey to the swamps.
"I can't believe we're doing this! I have a nephew, I have a family. What are they gonna think of me? Do you think they'll blame me for not coming back"?
"I'm sure they won't blame you. Don't worry about it".
Spyro took a few breathes and regained his composure. "You're right. We're family afterall". They flew the rest of the way mostly in silence, the swamps coming into view after what seemed like forever.
They swam through the thick treetops, managing to force their way through the vines and land on the soft, wet ground that gave way slightly upon their resting.
"Do you know where to go"? Asked the fire guardian as he flicked mud off his feet.
Spyro looked around, not sure where they were. "I don't rightly remember". He smiled through his nerves as his mind raced for the memories. Sadly, the racing was pointless.
"We'll find them. I know it. Let's go this way". He lead Spyro through the soggy brush, managing to land them neck deep in foul smelling water.
"Why is it so... thick? It's like trying to move through tar". Spyro struggled to pull his legs up and push them forward.
"We should try to get to land". Flame moved as fast as he could, trying to escape the tar like water and rest for a little.
"Flame, wait. I think I felt something brush against my leg"!
"You're just imagining it. Nothing could swim in this stuff".
"I swear to the gods I felt it".
Flame rolled his eyes, brushing off the words as a scary story. "I'm sure it was just a tiny fish, or something. It's noth"... His phrase was shut down when his body disappeared underneath the water instantly.
"FLAME"! Screamed the purple dragon, forcing his body to his friend's last location in record time. "Where are you"!? He scrambled to find his friend in the black liquid, but he was unable to fell the red dragon.
It wasn't until he heard a gasp did Spyro turn around. Flame had emerged from under the water covered in the tar like substance mixed in. "I believe you now! Let's get out of here"! The two scrambled to shore, only stopping once they had clambered up several feet.
When they had stopped, the two looked at eachother and laughed. "I've never been so scared of water in my life! I son't think I'll eb able to bathe for a while".
"Well you sure smell like you haven't".
"Hey, you're not much better! If I recall correctly, I was dragged under the water".
"Because you didn't listen to me".
"Okay, I'll admit I didn't. How about we stay out of the water from here on"?
"That sounds like a good plan". Spyro stood and managed to shake off a decent amount of the muck. "Let's keep looking. Who knows where they might be".
"If the trees weren't so thick, we could search from the sky".
"Sadly that's the way it is. Let's keep going". Spyro led Flame now, going over the mossy ground instead of the infested waters.
It wasn't long before the wet ground began irritating their feet. "I need to stop, I can barely stand"! Exclaimed Flame, sitting down on a stump.
"I'm with you on that". Spyrp plopped down on his back and began rubbing his feet. "Why does this hurt so much"?!
"Shhh". Cut in the fire guardian, listening to the wind. "Do you hear that"?
"Hear what"? Spyro stopped, and he heard faint music in the distance. Without a word the two followed their ears, stepping through the dense brush and onto a village of dragonflies.
Their world seemed to halt in an instant upon the sight of the purple dragon, which in turn caused Spyro and Flame to stop. They looked around at the numerous dragonflies, a nervous smile was the most they managed.
Flame nudged Spyro, getting him to speak up. "H-hello. I'm looking for Jada and"...
"Spyro"? Asked a surprised dragonfly. The voice belonged to a green, female dragonfly. She was very old, and had a difficult time staying in the air.
"Y-Yes. Do you know them"?
The dragonfly smiled, a tear coming to her eye. "Sparx always said you'd come back. And now you're here"! She flew to the drake and embraced his snout.
"Jada"? She nodded as she backed away. "I'm sorry".
"Shhh. Don't you dare apologize. Sparx never blamed you and neither do we, so don't go blaming yourself".
"Thank you".
"There is no need for that. What you need is to meet your nephew. Come with me". Jada led the two dragons through the village, where they stopped before a covered seating area. "Give me a moment. I'd invite you in, but I don't think you'd fit". She flew inside, leaving Flame and Spyro to themselves.
"So you grew up here"? Asked the red drake, shaking more mud off his feet.
"Not here no. I grew up with my family. I never knew any other dragonflies". Spyro looked around the swamp, it's residents had gone back to idle chit chat with one another. "I never understood why".
"Maybe it was to protect you"?
"...Maybe"...
Jada had emerged from the sitting area, a younger, purple dragonfly in tow. He looked so much like Sparx, even his voice was similar. "Spyro! Nice to meet you, I'm.. well, Spyro". The dragon accepted a hug from his nephew. "I have to say, my father wasn't wrong about you. You really are the fattest dragonfly I've ever seen".
Spyro chuckled, hearing one of Sparx' jokes was a touching feeling. "I saved his life more times than we can count".
"That's not the way he told it".
"I can believe it. He always did like to stretch the truth".
"I think we should celebrate your return"!
"We can't stay long. We kinda snuck out". Spyro sounded sad, but his reasoning was sound.
Spyro the dragonfly nodded, understanding their dilemma. "Warfang had gotten pretty strict by the time I had grown up. Can't say I'm surprised". His eyes moved to Flame, who continuously shook water off of his scales. "So whose your friend"?
"My name's Flame, I'm the newest fire guardian".
"How'd you managed to drag him into your journey"?
"It was his idea to come and find you. I was kind of just sulking in bed when he came in and cheered me up".
The dragon's nephew seemed confused, walking the situation over in his mind. "So, he just walked into your room and told you about our village"?
"Oh, no. We share a room. It's been nice, even if the bed is kinda small".
Jada looked to her son with a worried exppresion. "That's... interesting".
Her son looked between the two as he tilted his head. "So are you two... together"?
It took Spyro a second to understand what his nephew meant, but was quick to reject it. "What?! No! We're just friends. Isn't that right Flame"?
Flame looked to the ground at Spyro's words, a look of sadness taking over his usually joyful expression. "Yeah. Just... friends".
Jada and her son looked to eachother again, noticing something that the purple dragon did not. "Well, we should probably let you two get back to the city. No point in you getting into any more trouble, right"?
"Right. It was so nice to meet you. I can't tell you how excited I am to visit again later".
"We look forward to having you". Spyro hugged his family as well as he could, then turned back with Flame in tow.
"Wasn't that great?! I have family! I have a nephew! I have a home".
"Yeah. Great". Flame spoke without emotion, very obviously impacted by something.
Spyro caught onto this and slowed his flight to meet Flame's. "Is something wrong? Didn't you like them"?
"No, they're fine".
"So what's the problem"?
"It doesn't matter". Flame sped up, trying to avoid his friend.
Spyro matched pace again and continued his prying. "Something's wrong, and I want to help. Tell me what's bothering you. Please, Flame".
"I don't want to talk about it".
"Was it because they thought we were a couple"? Flame looked away, his anger climbing steadily. "I'm sorry they thought you were gay". Flame snapped and struck his friend, who tumbled a few feet back and grasped his face.
"How are you so dense!? I AM gay"!
Spyro was shocked. Not just by the strike, but also by Flame's sudden venting. "I didn't know".
"How could you not?! I've only been ogling at you ever since you showed up. Cynder caught onto it. So did Ciezan. But you.. I thought you were just being respectful. I was hoping you had maybe given it a thought. I mean, you did choose to sleep in the same bed with me".
"That's the only bed in the room"!
"And the pillows wouldn't work as a bed!? You can't tell me you didn't think about that". Spyro kept his mouth shut. "Of course you did, and yet you still chose to sleep next to me. Do you see how that might have sent some mixed signals"?
Spyro took a breath, calming his racing heart. "I'm sorry, Flame".
"You're sorry? Are you serious? Do you think that makes everything better? Because it doesn't. I thought there was a chance to be with the hero I had always admired. The one whose tale pretty much shaped my life, my morals. I wanted to become fire guardian because of you. And wen you showed up, I was beyond ecstatic. And now... now I don't know what to think". Spyro sat in consideration, not sure how to approach the situation at hand. "Still nothing, huh? I'm not surprised". Flame started off back to Warfang when Spyro called out.
"Flame wait"! The red drake did just that, hovering in the air with his arms crossed. "I did lead you on. I won't deny that. But it's not like I meant to do it. I guess, maybe I... had thought about it. But I'm not very good at talking about these sorts of things".
"R-really"?
"Yeah. But I could never go through with it. I'm not... not sure about anything right now".
Flame flew closer to the purple dragon. "Well, maybe I could help"?
"Help how"? The fire guardian smiled and sprang forward, locking Spyro into a kiss. The hero was taken by surprise as his dear friend invaded his mouth.
Flame pulled away, a bit out of words. "Wow. That was... underwhelming". He back off even more and gripped his upper arm. "Do you wanna go back? Get some sleep"?
Spyro nodded. "Sure. That'd be... that'd be nice".
They managed to get back into the city unseen, and while Flame wasn't angry, the awkwardness he presented was obvious. "I'm gonna go take a bath. After that I'll head to bed. You just... do whatever". The fire drake was quick to leave, not wanting to be in the same room as Spyro for very long.
"That was nice, what you did". Spyro spun around, greeted by the sight of Ash. "Can't say lying suits you very much".
"I wasn't lying. I just... wasn't being completely honest".
"That's still lying. And while you two would make an interesting couple, I doubt you'd be ready for anything that serious".
"How do you know what I said"?
Ash waved his question off. "Don't worry about it. Just know that I see and hear all. And as much as you'd like to believe it, you wouldn't have the guts to go through with it. Not sober anyway". Ash began to turn to dust, washing away on the wind. "And by the way, you're a terrible kisser".
As he vanished, Spyro swore under his breath. But it didn't change the fact that the thrask had a point. Even if Spyro was presented the opportunity, he wouldn't be able to pursue Flame's advances. That was the night Spyro had decided to sleep on the bed of pillows. Flame seemed relieved by this change when he returned, climbing into bed without a word.