Chapter Twenty: Life in Hand

(Cynder's death)

"I can barely stand, let alone fight," Cynder said as she looked towards Draikor who pulsated with pure demonic energy. "Please let this work… It has to work." Barely able to stand, Cynder dragged her exhausted body over to Spyro as Draikor was admiring his newly acquired power.

"We are one," Draikor said as he allowed the two demons to take control over him. "We are immortal."

"Forgive me…" Cynder said as she grasped Spyro's lefty hand with her right and allowed her life force to exit her body and enter his. "Take it all my love, you'll need it." Her eyes began to feel unbearably heavy as Spyro's began to flick and flutter open.

"Cynder, don't do this... I'm begging you please." Spyro said weakly as Cynder shook her head slowly in disagreement.

"No Spyro, only you have the power of Convexity," Cynder stated as Spyro knew she was right. "I'm spent, I have nothing left. Now go!" Cynder's eyes were filed with tears as a weak smile glistened on her face. The red life force which seemed to take forever to seep into Spyro's body finally stopped as he felt strength find its way throughout his body.

Spyro's heart started to beat with incredible force as he inhaled weakly as first, but then more steady as he looked towards Draikor with hate filled eyes.

"You are nothing you waste of blood," Spyro said as he ignored the bitterness of his own blood which seeped through his gums and teeth and his broken bones. "She gave her life to me so that I can have another chance to kill you and my own demons; I will see to that it is done."

"We are legion, we are pure power," Draikor chanted as the two demons controlled his every motion. "You shouldn't have shunned me away Spyro… Now you will pay for what you have done!"

"Over my dead body I will." Spyro said as closed his eyes and felt the power of Convexity surge through his veins.

"As you wish, I can make such arrangements now that I have the power to do so." Draikor said flatly as he opened his wings and fired a bolt of pure demonic force as Spyro countered with a pure beam of Convexital energy. As the two beams intersected, a seemingly blinding light emitted from the intersection as Spyro pushed with all of his strength as Draikor did the same.

"I can feel him losing his grip," Spyro thought as he squeezed his eyes tight together to maximize his concentration. "Just have to keep the pressure on him!" Just about when Spyro thought he couldn't take the strain any longer, he found himself sending Draikor over the volcano's edge by the Convexital blast as he ceased his strain.

"This cannot be possible; he can't possibly bolster that much energy!" Draikor yelled as he flew up towards the platform again and hovered a few yards away from Spyro as he watched the purple dragon stare at the demonic dragon in anger by the edge of the platform.

"You can't kill me Draikor, not when my love's life is involved or the world." Spyro said as he kept his eyes locked onto Draikor's.

"No matter where you go Spyro, as long as you are near the ones you love, you will always jeopardize their lives!" Draikor yelled as he flew towards the west.

"He's right…," Spyro said as he turned towards Cynder's lifeless body. "But I can leave however. It would keep you and everyone out of harm's way for a while. Spyro gently held Cynder's body close to his chest and began to release small amounts of life force powerful enough to allow her to live. Knowing that she was in a very sensitive state, Spyro carefully placed her back on the ground again.

"This is far from over Spyro," Malefor said in Spyro's mind as he lowered his head in agreement. "Return to the Shadow Forest, I will await for you there."

"Goodbye my love," Spyro said while gently kissing her on her lips. "Don't be sad, we'll see each other soon." As Spyro opened his wings, he took one final look at his beloved before setting off towards the Shadow Forest.

"Hurry Volteer, are you sure you have the right medical supplies!" Terrador said as the two reached the volcano platform.

"Yes, I grabbed everything I could!" Volteer said as Cyril landed among the platform with Hunter on his back.

"There's Cynder!" Hunter yelled as the four hastily made their way towards the barely alive black dragoness.

"She's barely breathing and her heart beats slowly to the tune." Hunter said as he looked towards Volteer.

"Pour this over her head slowly and allow it to sink in for a minute." Volteer said while handing Hunter a small veil filled with a green aura with red liquid swirling through the aura.

"It's a violent mixture of red and green crystals with a hint of dragon blood," Cyril said as Hunter slowly poured the veil's contents across the crest symbol among Cynder's head. "It will put her in a state of shock for a second before the actual effects start to work."

The moment the green and red elixir entered Cynder's body, she quickly sprang to her feet with her teeth bared and ready to attack while Hunter backed away quickly.

"Cynder its ok, Draikor is gone." Terrador said as Cynder began to calm down.

"Where's Spyro?" Cynder asked as the group of four shook their heads.

"Gone I'm afraid," Volteer said as he looked outwards in the sky. "Judging by how we did not see the rip in reality for yet… there may be a chance he may be alive… or dying." Cynder's eyes drew tears as she somberly flew to the cave she shared with Spyro, hoping her pain would subside and pyro was ok.

"Do you think he's dead?" Hunter asked as he looked among the ground and rocks wile noticing the small blood spots which doted the terrain in multiple areas.

"Either that or he wants us to think he's dead, which is too far-fetched for me to even begin to think of a reason why he would to such a thing." Terrador said as they stood in loss about what to do as the volcanic ash fell like snowflakes in the early winter.

(Three days after Spyro's death)

The darkened trees seemed to more alive than before as Spyro made his way through the poisonous thorns and twisted branches. The howl of indescribable creatures and the occasional snap of a twig broke the silence as Malefor approached in a ghostly form.

"Welcome my son, yet again you find the center of this forest." Malefor said with a serious tone as he noticed Spyro's beaten body.

"Don't worry about the broken bones or blood father, I will live, Draikor will have the favor paid back before to long." Spyro said as he noticed the bitter taste of his blood finally ceased from antagonizing his taste buds as Malefor drew near.

"I was watching you when you fought Draikor my son, so many mistakes were made on your behalf." Malefor said in an unpleased tone as Spyro began to grow angrily.

"He won't survive when I find him again next time." Spyro stated as he noticed his anger was beginning to take control over him.

"You should be worried about the army you will be facing once his plan is completed," Malefor said as he looked to a pure black crystal which Spyro felt strangely attracted to. "You will need another type of power which you have yet to harness."

"What power are we talking about?" Spyro asked, hoping Malefor wouldn't say Dark Magic.

"The power which you shunned away your whole life, Dark Magic," Malefor said as Spyro shook his head at his words. "Don't fear it however, that is how it takes control over you. I was afraid when I first witnessed its power, which was how I was consumed by its destructive force. I have faith in you though; I know you can harness the beckoning power which it will bring to you."

"How do I know you aren't lying and you're just using me for some plan to get what you want?" Spyro said as he recalled Malefor's dark past.

"Because I can see clearly now that you are my son, my true flesh and blood who I would never endanger unless I knew you couldn't handle the situation," Malefor said as he looked towards the dark crystal. "Now draw the power from that crystal and listen to my words to harness the power."

Spyro only shook his head as he neared the crystal and inhaled deeply, knowing he might be consumed by the dark, destructive force of Dark Magic. As Spyro placed his hands on the crystal, he could feel the power flow into his body immediately as his muscles constricted over the might.

"Focus, think of Cynder," Spyro said as the screams and taunts of the darkness which streamed through his mind as Spyro clinched his teeth together. "I'm not afraid of you; you will obey my every command because you know I can easily destroy you!"

"That's my son," Malefor said as Spyro yelled with dominance at the top of his lungs. "Let the darkness flow through your blood, but don't allow it to consume your heart. Always keep your heart pure."

Spyro's body radiated with a black aura similar to Cynder's demonic form as he said in a slightly distorted voice, "I'm in control father, show me how to kill Draikor."

"This training will be the hardest you've ever been through my son," Malefor said as his ghostly figure began to vanish. "You will know no pain, no loss, no remorse, and most of all, no emotion. The first lesson will begin now."

Spyro's eyes which had a now yellowish tint to them darted around the blackened forest as he surveyed the surrounding area for a surprised attacks from enemies. Suddenly, a seemingly large number of glowing red eyes opened in front of Spyro as all of the trees stood absolutely still. Only hearing his heartbeat in his head, Spyro bared his teeth which caused his teeth to bleed again at a slow rate, readying himself for the first out of many other brutal lessons which would hone his senses and newly acquired power of Dark Magic.

"Let's do this," Spyro thought as the red eyes jumped into view, showing the large amount of Hero Orcs which Spyro was against. "I'll see you soon Cynder, I love you."

Epilogue

(One month after Spyro's death)

Spyro,

I've been here in our cave for over a month now, alone and an outcast. Every time Flame or Ember or anyone tries to check on me, I lie in wait until they leave me alone. It pains me to thin that you are dead, sadly however, I'm beginning to believe it. If you were trying to make us believe you were dead, you've done it two weeks ago. I don't think I can keep this up on my own anymore Spyro.

When we first started to fall in love for one another, I knew I would find undying love with you. I want you to understand this Spyro, I will always love you for what you've done for me and you should know something… I'm pregnant. I can feel the egg forming inside of me. Each day I stay shunned inside of our cave. At night I leave in search for food and water and I return back home.

The thought of suicide keeps clawing at my mind, I know better than to turn my tail blade to my throat however. I know you would want to see the egg in the next couple of days when I finally lay it. At times I think I could never see your face so clearly, that's until I look at this painting of you and I lying among the edge of Friendship Falls. I miss you so much.

I just wanted to say that I love you with all of my heart, soul, and spirit and I will not move on with another dragon. I vow from this day forward to never open this diary ever again, as long as you are dead.

With undying love,

Cynder

Cynder blew on the wet ink to dry among the crisp diary pages and closed the black and royal purple trim book while tying the gold and red pieces of fabric tight to keep the book from opening and placed it in the trunk at the foot of her and Spyro's bed, along with the golden dragon statue and the painting of them both to never be looked at again.

"I love you Spyro." Cynder said with eyes filled with tears as she locked the trunk securely, hoping not to open the trunk as long as Spyro wasn't with her.

This concludes the second part of the Legacy of Spyro series. Please, if you have any questions or would like to speak with me. I would like for Phoenix of Decay and Shadow117 to PM me about the series if possible. The third installment will begin soon, Legacy of Spyro: Resurrection. Thank you for all of the wonderful reviews and keeping the series going, many thanks to all of my fans out there, bless you all! -VPR