Chapter Thirteen: Discussions and Arguments
Spyro could tell it was very early as he opened his eyes and stared around the treehouse. Looking outside the window, he found the sky to have not even begun lighting up. It was still pitch-black. He yawned, but for some reason, he did not feel like returning to sleep. He was tired, but the idea of what was coming scared him very severely.
Looking next to him, he found Cynder, still sleeping away. He gently stroked her neck, and it was there that he felt something wet. He took his paw back and found that it was just sweat. He wondered why she had sweat. Though it was warm under the blanket, he didn't think it was so warm that Cynder would begin sweating at all. He realized what must have transpired while he was asleep, and he felt remorse for his mate. She was going through nightmares yet again, and he hated that. He wished there was something he could do. The only thing that anyone could do was kill Aemus. And when they received that chance, he would be giving that job to Cynder.
Right then and there, Spyro realized just how much he despised the White Dragon. Aemus had, after all, injured Cynder, hurting her beyond Spyro's comprehension. He couldn't deal with something like that. If someone would dare to do that to his mate, they would soon be paying the price for what they had done. That was that. There would be no excuses, Spyro believed. But then another thought came to his mind.
It was not always right to do what exactly he was thinking. There were always consequences with what Spyro was thinking of doing. He hated that fact, but it was true. He believed everything would be resolved, but he didn't know exactly when. Spyro just sighed, and then closed his eyes again, hoping to fall asleep.
Soon enough, when he opened his eyes again, he felt well-rested. Now, he decided, he would wait for Cynder to wake. He wanted to see her turn around and open those beautiful sapphire eyes. It would bring him much joy. As he waited, he went into his thoughts.
Today's going to be a big day. Many things are going to happen, and hopefully, none of the upcoming events will turn out very badly. I would hate to see all our chances become wasted on nothing. If Aemus escapes yet again, I am not going to be happy. I need this all to end. Cynder needs this all to end. We can go back to being normal Skylanders once that demon is out of the way. Cynder won't have to worry about these monsters anymore once this is all over. She's so…delicate when it comes to these matters, and I do not blame her. If only the world could take it easy on those who live in it. Then everyone would be happy. Then there would be nothing terrible in Skylands. No violence, no danger, no fear…no demons. That's what this world needs, but it's not coming soon enough! Gah! I hate that fact, but it's true. For all I know, it will never come. We'll have to keep praying, as well as fighting, and I hope that soon enough, we will be out of this whole mess. I know I've thought these same thoughts so many times before, but it's so hard not to. These events are becoming a little repetitve. But they seem to keep coming again and again. I hate that so very much. But what can I do? I can only attempt to help my mate through this. She'll have to do all the rest on her own, unfortunately. But if I pray hard enough, she'll be able to get through it all. I know that for sure, and I am going to firmly believe in that.
As soon as he finished those thoughts, Cynder began stirring a little. She did not roll over to look at him when she woke, however. That made Spyro a little worried. He touched the back of her neck and began rubbing it. He heard his mate groan a little, mostly out of her being tired. It was then that she finally turned around to face him. But when she smiled at him, she did not smile in the way that Spyro wished. The smile she gave him was one that never truly reached her eyes.
"Hi there," she said. She sighed. "I had a weird dream last night. But that shouldn't matter today. I want to go a little bit of today without having to talk about my past." She thought about her comments, and realized what she said wouldn't be happening. "Nevermind. That last part won't be happening. But I'd rather not talk about my dream. It's an uncomfortable thing."
"Hey, it's okay with me," Spyro told her. Then he sighed. "There are some things I need to talk to you about, however." Before he could open his mouth again, Cynder realized what it was he was to speak about, and she cut him off right then and there.
"Spyro, if you're going to say anything about me going with you to the Ice Caverns, then let me tell you, I am going!" She sounded very confident in her words. Spyro felt fearful as he listened to her words. As cold as it was there in the Ice Caverns, Cynder would not last very long. He opened his mouth again, but Cynder once more stopped him. "I know why you're fearful, but I have you there with me, and I have Sunburn and Sonic Boom. They both can help warm me up when I am feeling too cold. Please understand that you're not going to be changing my mind anytime soon."
Spyro sighed again. He slowly got to his feet and turned his back to her. "Cynder, I love you, and I support you very much, but this experience is not something I am going to enjoy. Let's go through what will be going on in the Ice Caverns: There is an army, they are led by Aemus, a White Dragon who wants you dead, and it is below freezing in the Ice Caverns! I just want you to be safe! Is that so wrong, Cyn?"
Cynder got to her feet. "Spyro, I understand your love for me, and how you feel in these situations, but I don't always want to listen to you! I need to do this, because there are things I have to take care of. There is pain in my life that needs to be taken out. You should understand that. If you can understand everything else about me, then you should be able to understand that!"
Spyro's amethyst eyes widened. He understood right then and there that he had gone a little too far, and he couldn't believe what he'd said. He decided it was best to be careful with how he continued on in this argument. He didn't want to hurt his mate anymore.
"Cynder," he said again, turning to her. Tears shone in his eyes. "I just don't want to lose you. Is that so freaking wrong? Is it wrong that I don't want to lose the Dragoness I love more than anything in the world?"
"It's not wrong, Spyro," Cynder admitted. "But is it so wrong that I want to finish going through all this Hell? I need to finish what Malefor forcefully placed on my shoulders. The pain I've gone through is something that no one can understand. It is unfathomable pain that only God Himself could understand. If I go down there into the Ice Caverns, then I'll be able to put an end to all this. You have to understand." She stared at him with pleading sapphire eyes. It was hard for Spyro to say no to his mate, but he still had a good amount of apprehension left in him.
"Alright," Spyro finally said. "I'll allow you to come. But you need to stay near Sonic Boom and I while we're in the Ice Caverns. I'll make sure Sunburn is near you while we're down there, as well. Do you promise me you'll stay near us while you're down there?"
"Yes," she said. She cupped his chin in her paw and smiled. "You worry a little too much, but I understand why you're going through these feelings, and I will follow what you ask of me for today, at least. Okay?" She continued smiling, and then passionately kissed him. He returned it, and they stayed this way for a few minutes. They didn't want such a moment to end. It felt all too good for them, especially for with what was about to happen.
They didn't realize Sunburn and Sonic Boom were coming their way. As they perched on Spyro and Cynder's balcony, they just watched, smiles beginning to lift up their lips. They knew Spyro and Cynder didn't want their moment to end, and they respected that.
But soon enough, Cynder opened her eyes and found them both standing there on their perch. Her eyes widened, and she broke apart from Spyro. She laughed. "Uh, sorry," she said. "We just went through a little…discussion here, and—"
Sonic Boom raised a paw to silence her. "It's all okay, Cyn," she said. "You don't have to say anything to us. We understand how much you guys love each other, and we don't mind waiting on you guys to finish your special little moment." She smiled.
"Unfortunately, some of those who are coming with us might not be as understanding," Sunburn said. "I went down there earlier, and according to Cali, there are more Skylanders coming with us. And although they are doing so, none of them trust Cynder. It kind of stinks."
"Wait, who's coming with us?" Spyro asked. "What are you talking about?"
"You might want to come and see," Sunburn told him. He and Sonic Boom turned and took off toward the healing tent, their meeting place.
Spyro and Cynder looked at one another, wondering who else would be coming with them. It made them wonder.
When they entered, they found four other Skylanders. And just as Sunburn had said, none of them trusted Cynder.
They were Bouncer, Ninjini, Bash, and much to Cynder's chagrin, Slam Bam. Of course, she also hated that Ninjini was coming, as she had been trying to make Spyro fall in love with her, even despite the fact she knew Spyro and Cynder were mates. It infuriated Cynder.
"So you're coming, too?" Spyro asked them. "Why, exactly?"
"We want to take that freak out," Bouncer told him. "Wait, just wondering, what's his name again? I keep calling him something like Thawne. I don't know where I heard that, but…"
"It's Aemus," Cynder told him. She had been wanting all the Skylanders who accompanied she and Spyro into the Ice Caverns to trust her. But it seemed she would not be getting her wish.
Crap it, she thought.
"Well, I didn't really want to ask your opinion, but okay," Bouncer said. He looked to Spyro, who he saw sigh. He guessed his leader didn't like what he'd just said about his mate. He decided to keep quiet for the rest of the time.
"So what exactly are we about to do?" Slam Bam asked. He turned his gaze quickly to Cynder, and she saw anger blazing in his yellow eyes. But she didn't care. She'd dealt with him before, and she could do it again.
"We're going to the Ice Caverns," Spyro explained. "Cynder and Drobot realized that Aemus gets his strength from the Element he possesses. He controls Ice, and there's only one place within fifteen miles around here where Ice is abundant."
"And where in the name of God is that?" Slam Bam asked.
"The Ice Caverns," Cynder told him sharply.
He turned to look at her. "I didn't ask for anything you have to say," he snapped. Then he looked back to Spyro, and he was taken aback when he saw that Spyro was staring at him with anger. "What are you looking at me for?"
"If you really want to join us on this mission, then I suggest you get a better attitude," Spyro told him. "I also suggest that you stop talking to my mate in such a way. She's done more for the Skylanders than you have the brain capacity to realize. So I suggest you either do what I say and shut up, or you go back to your resting place and not even dare to come at all. Got that?"
Slam Bam didn't know what to say after that. He just decided to do what Spyro had told him to do. He did not wish to incur Spyro's wrath one bit.
Cynder was about to smile when she heard Ninjini speak.
"How do you know if Cynder is correct, Spyro?" she asked seductively. Cynder glared at her for this. The Magic Giant had always been trying to take Spyro from her since she'd been inducted into the Skylanders two years ago. "You have seen that she has made her…mistakes. And so you should most likely check your facts."
"Cynder is the best informer we have," came a voice from behind Spyro and Cynder. They turned and found Flashwing standing there. She looked to Spyro and Cynder and smiled. "I trust her with everything I've got. Even my own life. I just wish you guys could do the same."
She saw Bash suddenly, and her smile faltered a little. Seeing the Rock Dragon made her feel very uncomfortable, especially since she had just realized her feelings for Drobot.
"Well, then, I guess that's settled," Sonic Boom said.
"Now what do we do?" Sunburn asked Spyro and Cynder.
"We need to start on our way, if you ask me," Spyro told him. He turned to Cynder. "Do you think it's a good idea to leave now?"
"Yes," she said. "Please, don't think it's a bad idea for me to be going yet again. I know you're still indignant to that fact, but just try and accept that I must do this."
"I understand," he told her. "But I want you to remain near Sunburn and I. We need to keep you warm while we're down there. Do you understand me?"
Cynder nodded. "That's something I can understand completely," she said. She kissed him, and he returned the love. Flashwing saw Slam Bam roll his eyes, but she did not care. She just focused on the beauty of the moment.
Soon enough, Camo, Whirlwind, Hex, and Drobot arrived, and not long after came Trigger Happy and Gill Grunt appeared. Now all the Skylanders who would be making the trek to the Ice Caverns were together.
Now it was time for them to begin on their way.
As they left the healing tent, Cali appeared. Her face was bright with worry. Spyro could see most of the worry was focused on Cynder, and he couldn't blame her.
"Please be careful, all of you," she said. "It's dangerous out there, especially with that terrible monster you're about to face."
"Don't worry," Spyro said. "I know what it takes to fight against him now. I'll do my best to stop him." He turned to Cynder. "I'll do all I can to help her." He smiled at her, and Cynder returned it. He turned the smile to Cali, who smiled back a little bit. It was one of the first smiles Spyro had seen her do in a while. That made him feel somewhat better.
And then they continued on their way toward the gate. Something would be coming soon enough, and despite that, though they cared, Spyro and Cynder felt they were ready. They had hoped a while ago that Aemus wouldn't stand in their way any longer, and now it seemed their wish would be coming true.