They say that all's fare in love and war. If that's true, the reason there are winners and losers is then solely based on merit. Whoever deserves one's love should get it, right? No doubts, no hesitation... No debate.
His heart, his soul, they're torn in two. Between a heroine of dark complexion, and an orange stranger from another dimension. Between a dragoness whose whole life he's profoundly changed, and a refuge who silently changed his.
How can he know, how can he choose? The dilemma of his heart has left him confused. Maybe it was by design, maybe it was by fate. Or maybe this war of hearts was meant to stir debate. One story based in fiction and so full of controversy; another derived from canon which fits so naturally.
What happens when the heart of a hero is conflicted between the love of two souls? When they both have learned their love for him is strong, proven that they belong, and yearned to be with him all along. Can this hero listen wholly to his heart, if it's divided in two?
I once said that the secrets of the mind are also the passions of the heart. That in one's heart lies the treasure of the soul, a treasure meant for two. I once said a trial of love was needed to uncover this truth. But now both the stranger and the heroine have proven their worth. Now all I can say is it's up to Spyro to choose
A War of Hearts. A Spyro, Crash, and Cynder Tale
Spyro meant the world to me. No matter how much other's doubted me, despite how much my past haunted me, he still found it in his heart to love me. And that meant the world to me.
For I was the thing he fought for, which he admitted to me in Malefor's Lair. When ridden with guilt and consumed by doubt, the Darkness within me rose and I tried to kill him. But what I was most afflicted within that cavern abyss was blindness, for until he uttered one sentence in his defense, I never realized just how much I loved him and how much he loved me.
Losing you has left me with nothing to fight for.
Those words broke the final chain Malefor had on me, and never again would be able to bind me. In that moment, what Spyro and I had together was made real. Stolen from my home, molded into a monster, made to do evil, and until Spyro uttered those ten words, my past would always haunt me. But now, my future with him will set me free.
Smiling in euphoria as they flew around one another, Cynder and Spyro sailed the skies over the Valley of Avalar with the world safe and their future's bright.
"Woohoohoo!" Spyro yelled in glee.
"Yeah!" Cynder responded laughing. Spyro wasn't one to cheer. He was actually quite modest despite his seemingly cocky manor. Knowing this of Spyro's character was just one of the luxurious she had knowing him so intimately. It made her heart beam as she matched Spyro's happiness. This was their moment. She wanted to remember it.
They continued soring in eradicate directions, playing a de-facto game of tag and aerial stunting over the large stone castle which grandiosely stood erect in the middle of Summer Forest. Cynder remembered hearing from Spyro of some of the strange and humorous things he did in his youth to defend the seasonal plains of Avalar from some mage as Ripto. How much he had grown since then ‒ Cynder experiencing some of this first hand ‒ was a pleasure to witness. To be able to see him be joyful and carefree like he once was in the past, no longer concerned with the fate of the world, allowed him to just be himself. Not a hero or a legend, but instead good Dragon. With the world safe, Spyro and Cynder were left to do as they pleased, together.
"Where are you going?" Cynder said without a care.
"Come land over here, I want to show you something."
Cynder descended gradually in a helix pattern until she flapped her wings a couple of times to settle on the roof of Sumer Forest's Castle. "This place, Avalar, I remember you saying you used to come her a lot when you were younger. This is where you met your close friend Elora."
"Yeah. You know, it's funny; I met her by complete accident. The Professor was trying to rekindle an archway here which was not functioning. And when he did so, I was brought here by mistake. I ended up on a fun, wacky adventure and well the rest is history."
"I can see why you like this place, it's beautiful."
"This spot above the castle is my favorite. When I first came here, I discovered this spot via an underwater tunnel which lead into the castle itself and climbed my way to the top. I'll never forget the first time I saw this view. Later I could fly up here and basked in its splendor when needed. And now I can share this vista with you as well."
Cynder returned Spyro's glance with a soft smile. Taking things slow, sitting idly by and enjoying the beauty of what's around, it was a far cry to the past few years of her life. All of what Malefor put her through, and then her journey to redeem herself, she never imagined a life of peace and normalcy. But now all that was behind her, and new life could begin. After a moment's pause, Spyro spoke again as he looked forward and smiled contently. "Being up here, being able to see so much of Summer Forest, it's a gentle reminder as to why I do the things I do; being a hero. In a way, it's to preserve the beauty and tranquility of the life which inhabits this serene place. Wouldn't you agree, Cynder? It's not just about doing the right thing, but it's also about protecting the splendor of what's around you, as well as the lives which call this place home."
Cynder gave Spyro a nod in agreement as the gentle wind atop the castle carried the pleasant aroma of the surrounding forest. They then looked at each other once again, this time moving closer to one another. They leaned their heads together and took a moment to enjoy this, before making eye contact once more. What came next was instinct. It was what they both knew they wanted without thinking. They rotated their heads in opposite direction slightly, and kissed. The moment was sensual; it was all that it could have been.
But then Spyro inhaled sharply and retreated from Cynder. His breathing became irregular almost like if he was starting to panic.
"Spyro what's wrong?" His face was drained; it looked like he had just seen a ghost. Then Cynder noticed the small beads of water forming under Spyro's eyes. Was he beginning to cry?
"I… just." He couldn't even talk he sounded so scared. There was pain behind his eyes, like if he felt guilty about something.
"Spyro, what is it?" Here attempts to console him were in vain. Something was deeply troubling him, and it had happened so sudden, like if he was reminded of something. He was starting to tear up worse.
"I‒ loved him." He was whispering, talking to himself as he stared at the ground. He then closed his eyes and a look of anguish crossed his face. What was going on, how he could go from bliss to misery in an instant?
"What? Spyro talk to me, please." She then reached out to him and gently put her front paw in-between where the yellow spikes protruded from the center of his spine and where the tissue of his left wing membrane fused to his shoulder. This earned a look from Spyro. His mouth was slightly open as he was still breathing heavily do to his swirling emotions. He looked guilty once more.
"I… I'm so sorry Cynder. I‒ I gotta go." He then immediately vaulted from the top of the roof and landed on the ground below.
"Spyro wait! Where are you going?" He entered the large portal at the end of the stone walkway in front of a circular fountain and the large doors marking the main entrance to the castle's interior. She followed him through, but when she emerged from the other side, Spyro was nowhere in sight. She was now currently in the Realm of the Artisans, Spyro's childhood home. "Spyro! SPYRO!" It was no use, he was gone.
What is meant to be is obstructed by what once was. So for the current path to be free, the previous obstruction must be removed. Else a different path must be crossed.
"Why Crash? Why didn't you give up? How did you know you would win? Why... why did you choose to stay here instead of return home?"
Crash was breathing heavily and struggling to stay awake. But he with what little strength he had left leaned forward to the best of his ability until Spyro held his back and helped him lean upright. He then met Spyro's gaze and answered his question. "Ya- ou."
Spyro was surprised by his answer. Spyro knew it was the answer before he asked. It was confusing, but this time it only brought him joy. "I love you."
Spyro hugged him gently, crying while smiling. Crash returned the gesture by wrapping his arms around Spyro and they hugged indefinitely, until Crash let go and Spyro did as well. Spyro then kissed him on the cheek, and Crash smiled his brightest smile ever since he met Spyro.
Crash's eyes then slowly faltered, and he began to go limp. "Crash? Crash!" He was still breathing, but had lost consciousness. As Spyro held him firm in his arms, a portal began to rise from the ground itself. Spyro read the destination on the interior of the archway and was relieved to see it was to Avalar. Gently, Spyro dragged Crash's immobile body, careful to move his broken right leg as little as possible. "You're going to make it, Crash. You've proven you can."
Once in Avalar, Spyro got behind Crash and placed both of his forearms under Crash's shoulders and began to fly him to help. He had a long journey to get to the island he had in mind, but once he got there, the Professor would defiantly be able to help him. An hour or so later, Spyro exhaustedly hovered above the beach and carefully placed a still unconscious Crash on the sand before he also landed. He was breathing heavily and his wings were sore, but he made it. After a ten second pause, he ran towards the small laboratory that was on this island and rang the doorbell several times (an island home having a doorbell in the first place would have been hilarious to Spyro had Crash not been so injured).
"Guests! Here! Oh I better get my laser, just in case!" Spyro could hear his voice muffled by the door. Normally his strange behavior would have been amusing, but Spyro didn't have the time for it right now.
"Agent 9, it's Spyro! Open the door, now!"
The door then burst open revealing a surprised and ecstatic simian holding a deadly laser pistol in his right hand. "Spyro the flamethrower! What brings you to Agent 9's island? Or is it the Professor's island? We never really agreed on that."
"Is he here? I need his help, now. It's an emergency."
"Rynocs, Spyro? You and I can handle a few Rynocs. Come on, where are they?"
"Ugh!" Spyro said frustrated for a moment. "No, it's Crash. He's hurt, badly, and I need the Professor's help. Now!"
It took a moment, but Agent 9 snapped out of it and became serious, a rarity for him. "Where is he? How badly is he hurt?"
"He's on the beach; I set him down after the long journey here. He's unconscious and scrapped up badly. He's right leg or ankle is broken and he's lost a lot of blood."
"I can help you get him inside. Professor" Agent 9 said as he put his laser in its holster and then held that hand towards his helmet over his ear.
"What is it Agent 9?" Spyro could here emanating from the ear piece Agent 9 had on. "I'm on the verge of a discovery here."
"Whatever you're doing, drop it. It's Spyro's friend, Crash. He needs your help, now."
"Oh my, I'll be right up."
Agent 9 and Spyro both lifted and brought Crash inside and carefully placed him onto a flat table.
"Oh dear!" The Professor gasped when he first got a glance at Crash's injuries. He immediately got to work, hooking up several different instruments which began to get a read on his vitals. "His heartrate and blood pressure are way too low. He's not getting enough oxygen to his blood. Come over here Nine, you can help me stich up these cuts and stabilize him."
"What can I do?" Spyro said horrified.
"No offense, Spyro, but you don't have the hands for this. I promise you Agent 9 and I will do everything we can. Don't you worry."
It was agony, watching them perform surgery on his unconscious body. At one point he flat lined. Spyro's heart was in his throat when that happened. He rushed over towards him, and Agent 9 had to hold him back as the Professor used a defibrillator three times to get his heart beating again. He had endured so much. He fought me, the worst I could be, and won. Spyro recognized that Dark form of himself when it emerged from that tunnel at the end of the arena. It was a premonition ‒ the epitome of a Purple Dragon's strength as either an instrument of good or a maleficent evil ‒ a hint at what my future had in store, as foretold by the Guardians Spyro had recently come to know. The weight of Spyro's responsibility, the prophets over his head, they consumed Spyro's conscious. A terrible evil so similar to himself he would eventually have to defeat. The Legend of Spyro, his struggle and his destiny, it was all he could think about. However, six months ago he met Crash, a freak accident stranding him here in his home dimension.
And now he was all I care about. And he was dying before me, able to stand against Dark Spyro, but maybe not come out away from the confrontation alive. No, you have to pull through Crash. I don't care about my future, what I have to do to save the world. You're all I care about now. I admit it, I love you. I don't know why and I don't care. You're special, kind, warm, and fun loving. You don't worry about the future, you live in the present. I admire that so much about you. You're the first person who hasn't looked at me and thought of me as solely a hero, of how powerful I am destined to be, and the responsibilities I have to so many. You just saw me. You just cared about me. And now all I want to do is share my life with you, for you've made me happier than I've ever been.
After about six hours, he was stabilized but hadn't woken up. The beeps from his heart monitor were constant. The rise and fall of his battered chest was consistent. His jeans were still shredded. He looked horrible but Spyro couldn't look away from him.
"What happened to him?" Agent 9 had spoken behind him. It made Spyro jump, but he relaxed and continued to look at Crash as Agent 9 now stood to his side.
"He… endured a trial."
"What do you mean?"
"It's hard to explain. I was hearing a voice in my head as I was forced to watch him nearly get killed. He fought another Dragon, Nine, and won."
"Wow." Agent 9 said calmly. He was acting way stiller than usual; it had to be because of the circumstances. He was handling the matter appropriately, instead of in his normal manor. "I contacted Elora, Hunter, and Sheila. I figured they'd want to know what happened. Crash's grown on them too, you know. He is pretty special, Spyro. Just know we all see it too, alright big guy."
And with that, Agent 9 walked away, it being a couple of hours past midnight. Spyro, in turmoil given the current state of his best friend, walked forward and stared at Crash and all of his many cuts and bruises. He then reached out and gently placed his paw over Crash's hand. "I'm so sorry Crash. I thought I could make you happy. Seeing you smile was all I wanted every day. I never knew what it was like to love before. Maybe because you aren't a Dragon, or that we're both male… I was afraid of this. But now I know I'm only afraid of losing you." Spyro then stoked his paw through the hair atop Crash's head before returning it to the ground. "Goodnight buddy."
It had been two days, and Spyro had barely left Crash's side. True to Agent 9's word, Elora, Hunter, and Sheila all showed up and gave their condolences. Elora looked genuinely dejected, but too also left after a day. They could only do so much, say so much. They were merely his friends, people he had met through Spyro. So he didn't blame them for how much time they stayed. He however, couldn't leave. He stayed by his side every day, slept whenever his body forced him to by Crash's side, and watched him as he remained unconscious. Spyro asked the Professor questions pressing on his mind whenever he came to check up on him. "How long was this going to go on? When was he going to wake up?" When could I see him smile again?
It was on the third day that the Professor came to Spyro. He had to tell him eventually.
"Spyro" He had fallen asleep, and the Professor's words slowly aroused him from his slumber until Spyro was wide awake. He took a moment to check on Crash, hopeful but disappointed to find he was exactly the same as he had been last night.
"Professor, please tell me you have some good news."
"Spyro, what I have to say is hard. I think maybe it's best if we left the room."
"No. Whatever you have to say, just say it."
The Professor took a deep breath in, drawing in his confidence before he delivered his bad news. "Ever since Crash's heart stopped three days ago, I've been able to keep him alive, but barely. He's in a deep coma, and without the setup of machines I have rigged to him, he would eventually stop breathing on his own. I think we have to face the fact that Crash… might be comatosed permanently.
No. He wasn't… he was still alive, he was breathing, and I can see him still living right in front of me! "What are you saying Professor. He won't ever wake up? That he's… gone?"
"He is alive, Spyro. But to say he is living is a bit of a stretch. He just… isn't capable of regaining consciousness. Eventually, if a miracle does not come, we'll have to consider… letting him pass."
It was like he was stabbed in the heart with how badly in pounded in his chest. Let him go… "There isn't anything else you can do?" Spyro was beginning to lose it. He was barely able to get that sentence out without choking up.
"I've did everything I could Spyro. I promise. But unless Crash somehow finds a way out of his coma, he will remain unmoving on that bed for as long as he has left."
Spyro turned around at this point and was looking at Crash's face once more, it being expressionless. "No. I can't… give up on him."
"I know it's hard but… doing so may be Crash's best chance at peace."
"No! He's not gone. I won't give up on him! He didn't give up on me!"
"Spyro…" It was at this point the Professor could hear Spyro audibly crying over Crash's body. It was at this point he understood just how much Crash meant to Spyro. Losing his last hope. Spyro kissed Crash's unmoving body on his cheek. "I'm so sorry. I'll… never forget you. I promise."
What the hell? That was all that was on Cynder's mind. She couldn't find Spyro anywhere and none of the Dragons in Artisans knew where he was. What was going on? Something was tearing him apart and she needed to find out what it was. What did he whisper though before he took off? Why did it bring him to tears? Why did he run? Was it… because of someone else?
The uncertainty was driving her crazy. She felt so in tune with him, for all those months they were magically chained to one another. His happiness was hers; his pain was hers as well. This was the price for loving him wholly, and she'd endure it forever.
But she could only aimlessly wonder around Artisans for so long. Nighttime was approaching, and eventually she would have to postpone her search, not even sure where to look in the first place. How long would he be gone? Did he run away? Was it because of me? The questions kept gnawing at her, demanding answers because for some strange reason she felt responsible for Spyro's current state of mind. And this feeling of guilt was worse somehow than her strings of guilt caused by what she had done under the Dark One's control so many years ago. It was bringing her to tears. Spyro, where are you?
"Cynder" The voice startled her for she didn't recognize it. Turning around, she saw a faun in a green dress standing behind her. It took her a moment, but then Cynder recognized who was standing in front of her.
"Elora... You're Spyro's friend, right. What… what are you doing here in Avalar?"
"I was looking for you."
"Looking for me? Why?"
"Though it's none of my business, a Gemcutter witnessed you and Spyro fly of the top of Summer Fall's Castle in distress. When I heard about it, I figured I needed to come talk to you."
"Do you know where Spyro is Elora?"
"No. But I do have a guess. Though more importantly, I believe I know why he's run off."
"How? H- how would you know?" Cynder was more remorseful than surprised. Elora understood.
"You love him, don't you? I can hear it in your voice. How much his current pain is hurting you."
Elora was evidently one of Spyro's closet childhood friends. He and her even had some sort of special relationship. But even so, Cynder could tell she was not competing for Spyro's heart. She was approaching her as a fried of a friend. There to lend some advice and wisdom. She would accept it gratefully. "With all my heart. When we kissed, it was everything that I'd thought it'd be and more. But it caused him so much pain. Why?"
Elora sighed for a moment before she continued. "Did Spyro ever mention someone to you, someone named Crash?"
The name struck her as odd. She had never heard of a name like that. Spyro never mentioned it before to her. Was he or she someone close to him? "No. Who is that?"
"Spyro had only ever known him for seven months, meeting him sometime after he defeated the Sorceress. But he had such an impact on Spyro. I met him as well, and even though he never spoke because he physically couldn't, I always knew so much about him. It was perplexing yet so simple, for he was an honest and genuine friend. Over time he and Spyro really become inseparable companions."
"Spyro defeated the Sorceress well over eight years ago. So what happened to him? How does this relate to what's happening now?" Cynder couldn't understand how this being from so long ago had anything to do with Spyro's current sadness.
"A… trial of love."
"What?"
"I don't even think Spyro understood the feelings in his heart all those years ago. He must have ignored them or feared them, and elected to disregard them all until Crash proved just how much he loved him back. Spyro never told me, never told anyone, but he couldn't hide his feelings from me. Watching them together laugh and smile, seeing Spyro weep as his friend slipped into a coma. It was so unorthodox and so bizarre, but I truly believe Spyro loved Crash, even more than as a friend."
"Love? But he wasn't a Dragon, right? How do you know this? How can that possibly be true?"
"Because I remember the way Spyro acted after he lost Crash. The agony and the self-loathing. It's similar to how he's acting now. I do believe he loves you, as well. I believe he's devastated right now because he feels guilty, guilty because previously he's had these same feelings he has for you now for someone else in his life as well, someone else who he feels so responsible for harming seven years ago. And even though what happened was seven years ago, it hasn't faded in his heart."
Cynder was taken aback for a moment. Spyro shared a lot of his past with her, but never mentioned this friend of his who may have meant so much more than that. "I don't understand… why has Spyro never told me about Crash? He's told me about so much else. So why then, is he afraid to tell me?"
"Spyro's always felt a great obligation to protect those he cares about. He's come to know so many, Dragons and other's alike. But the one person he came to know the best, even in the short time they knew each other, he felt he failed. That trial I spoke of, it was a duel. I didn't really get what Spyro was describing when he first told me of what happened that faithful day. It almost sounded like a dream. But in that arena where Crash fought for his life, it was against another Dragon Spyro referred to as a Dark form of himself. Not an apparition, but the literal manifestation of the Darkness within him. What his future had in store for him. I never understood what he meant by that until today, until I heard of you a while ago and found out what you mean to Spyro. That Darkness he described did find Spyro, but you set him free from it. Grounded him to good because of how much he loves you. During that duel, Spyro claimed there was a strange voice in his head which told him that Darkness lied in his future. That in the end, that trial was to prove whether Crash could be someone who would anchor Spyro to good."
Dark Spyro. Cynder had seen it; she had helped him break free from that surge of murderous intent. Spyro had helped her break free from it as well. It's why they were meant to be. Evidently however, someone else had helped Spyro in overcoming the Darkness.
"So even though…" Cynder stuttered as she tried to wrap her head around what Elora was saying, "Crash defeated Dark Spyro, he didn't make it out alive. That's why Spyro's so broken over it, even after seven years. He feels partially responsible for his friend's death."
"That's just the thing Cynder. By some miracle, Crash survived the coma he entered after the fight. He woke up from it after four days. But when he returned alive, he wasn't the same person Spyro remembered."
Holding him, wrapping his arms around him, knowing that someone as special and amazing as Spyro actually loved him, it was euphoria. For Crash, he wasn't sure for how long he had these feelings for his friend. It didn't even seem possible until he knew they were true. But when Crash discovered these feelings were resting in his heart as he fought for his life in this ring, he had never felt happier. Even in extraordinary pain, seeing someone he admired so much and looked up to so much actually share these same feelings for him, it was unexplainable joy. How lucky was he to have someone so magnificent and astounding as Spyro actually shed tears for him, a creation of a mad scientist from another dimension? That's how I feel about him; he's so much… cooler than I am! He has wings and can breathe fire, control magic and is a protector of several Realms, yet someone even as astonishing as he is can still somehow see something amazing in me as well. I am the luckiest bandicoot in the world.
Their hugged lasted for what felt like eternity, Crash savoring every moment as he held his best friend close and tightly, his tears falling on Spyro as his fell on Crash. Each tear was so cold as the contact burned his skin. Then they released one another and looked at each other with wide smiles, grateful that person across from them was in their lives as their true love, tears filling their eyes. Spyro then kissed him on the cheek, and Crash smiled his brightest smile ever since he met Spyro.
It was… it was the… hap- iest… momen... life. The blackness started in his peripheral vision and quickly filled the world. He lost control of his body limb by limb as his eyes closed, shutting him out from his true love.
"Crash? Crash!"
It sounded distorted. Then he couldn't hear anything at all. Couldn't feel, couldn't see. It was another battle, but it took place nowhere in particular.
Spyro, please come back. I love you. I want to say it over and over if I could. I'd tell you every day. Please. Don't go.
Crash. You've been gone for so long. I hope you haven't given up on me. You're the only family I have. You were the greatest thing in my life. Have you abandoned me?
Coco… I haven't forgotten you. I'd never abandoned you. But… Spyro…
You are a stranger to that time and place. A visitor who has overstayed his welcome. You cannot stay where you do not belong. The world needs you here. You're sister needs you. Her love for you means something. The love which keeps you away, it was never meant to be.
Aku-Aku… But… I do love him. I can't just leave him.
He wouldn't be wrong Aku-Aku. No matter its shape, no matter its form, if love is genuine, it is the most beautiful thing in the world. It's the experience every sentient living thing in the Omniverse wants and needs.
That voice… from the arena. Crash then felt it. Someone was touching his hand. He then ran his hand through my hair. Spyro?
I'm so sorry Crash. I thought I could make you happy. Seeing you smile was all I wanted every day. I never knew what it was like to love before. Maybe because you aren't a Dragon, or that we're both male… I was afraid of this. But now I know I'm only afraid of losing you… Goodnight buddy.
Afraid. I am slipping, growing weaker. My body which I can't feel is growing weaker, failing slowly yet inevitably. But I chose this though. So no, I am not afraid. I knew what I was doing when I faced this trial of love. I endured because of you Spyro. Your voice, your touch, they are my motivations to pull through. I won't give up; I'll do whatever it takes to be with you. No matter how long it takes, no matter how much pain I must wake. You're worth it to me.
I've did everything I could Spyro. I promise. But unless Crash somehow finds a way out of his coma, he will remain unmoving on that bed for as long as he has left.
No. I can't… give up on him.
I know it's hard but… doing so may be Crash's best chance at peace.
No! He's not gone. I won't give up on him! He didn't give up on me!
Spyro was leaning on me once again. His cold tears burning on my chest. This was worse than pain. Feeling Spyro's pain. Feeling him in agony because of me. Suffering because of me. Others were giving up hope that I could escape from this darkness. He still had faith, but it was waning and being replaced by sorrow. I can make it Spyro! Please! I'll never abandon you. He kissed me on the cheek again.
I'm so sorry. I'll… never forget you. I promise.
All that was left in my empty world began to fade. From pitch black to nothing at all. I'm suffocating, I can't breathe yet I can't feel myself not breathing. My body is dying. It only has seconds left. There was a light above me. It was warm and comforting, beckoning me to follow. Spyro was below, in absolute misery. A background noise, a series of beeps I was barely able to hear stopped. The light above grew wider and more accepting. But my purpose was below. Spy… Sss…. My life was… he… I don't want to die. I want to return to who I love. I… love… someone. I need him… he… needs me.
Crash gasped for breath as he lurched upwards from the table violently as he breathed in deeply. He was back. He had his life… back? But where was he? Who is that next to him?
"So Crash is still alive. Then where is he? Where did he go?"
"He went home. The Professor found out how to return him to his dimension, so he went."
"But didn't Spyro, you know, love him? Didn't Spyro weep over his comatose body, sit next to him for four days until he woke? Why would Crash just return home? If they loved each other, then I don't understand how Crash just left, and why Spyro is so beat up over him."
"Crash went under loving Spyro as equally as he did. When he woke up, he couldn't even remember who he was. He couldn't remember anything. The Professor said such extended periods of time having low amounts of oxygen in his blood caused his brain to degrade. He was mentally crippled by the ordeal. His short term memory was affected severely; some of his motor skills were as well. Seeing Crash so broken, it felt worse for Spyro than if he had actually died. Spyro felt so responsible. He tried for weeks to help Crash remember. To help him walk since he would stagger constantly and fall. And he also tried to help him smile the most, constantly tell him every day that he was sorry for what he had done to him, and pleaded with him to remember. But Crash couldn't do it. Crash just couldn't focus enough, he couldn't remember what had happened before the trial and even what Spyro told him in the days afterward. He was a shell of himself. But I think Crash knew at least this. For he would apologize a lot. To Spyro or to anyone else for being slow, for not remembering, for not speaking well. Even me seeing him like that broke my heart. Eventually Spyro escorted him back to his dimension, and returned a day later. It was one of the hardest things he's ever done. He said after his sister stopped crying tears of joy because he was alive and then tears of empathy for her broken brother who didn't seem to remember her, she agreed to take care of him, help him anyway she could."
Cynder was taken aback. This is what she was competing with for Spyro's heart: his greatest failure. The person he loved first, who he felt responsible for giving a fate worse than death. Even though he wasn't a Dragon and was a male, Cynder at last understood it. Why it was genuine. Why even after seven years Spyro still had feelings for Crash. It depressed her to know that she had to compete for Spyro's heart with someone who quite honestly deserved it as equally as she did. Then Cynder noticed something weird. She wasn't jealous of Crash. She just… wanted to meet him.
"Do you think Crash is still alive Elora?"
"Why do you ask?"
"If the method the Professor used to send him home still works and I can return without consequence. Then I'd like to meet him. If for nothing else than to say that I did. I don't want to compete with him for Spyro's heart. I think he deserves something more than that from me. Not a jealous or spiteful rival, but a friend."