Authors note (or more likely apology.): I am sorry that so chapter took this long to come out. Recently I have been losing my motivation to write. But here it is finally.

Chapter 7: finding that which matters to you

*4 days after mission*

Spyro made his way through the market toward the temple. He stopped however at a stand where something caught his eye. It was a jewelry vendor and on display was a matching set of gold collars with clear gems in the middle that looked like they were made out of glass.

"Interested in these courting collars?" The wind dragon who owned the stand asked. "Perhaps there is a fair dragoness you are courting?"

"Erm no…well not yet." Spyro answered.

"Still you will find one eventually and these can help discourage any potential challengers for your partners love." The dragon stated.

"How much?" Spyro asked.

"Normally one purple gem but with that jerk down the street who is selling low quality knock offs of my usual stuff I will make it 8 blue gems." The dragon answered.

Spyro nodded and pulled 8 blue gems out of his satchel and placing them on the counter afterwards the dragon took down the collars and handed them to Spyro.

"I should let you know that these collars have binding enchantments on them." The dragon stated. "They respond to each other and the gems will change colour in response to your relationship with the dragoness."

He left the building with the two collars hidden in the bottom of his satchel. He began thinking about courting choices.

"Cynder." Spyro mumbled curiously. "Perhaps she would be interested in me."

Spyro began to mull the idea of courting Cynder over.

"I should get to know her better first." Spyro thought and nodded happily.

He trotted towards the temple with a plan developing in his mind.

Fira yawned as she got off her bed and stretched.

"An hours rest really helps." Fira sighed.

She left her room and went towards the mess hall for some lunch. She casually got what she usually got (spiced venison) and sat at a table. Terrik joined her shortly afterwards.

"Hello lovely." Terrik chimed.

"Need something?" Fira asked.

"No just joining my partner." Terrik answered. "I usually never sleep in this late."

"Lazy." Fira said in a sing song voice.

"Am not." Terrik replied slightly offended.

Fira stuck her tongue out at Terrik before she went back to eating leaving only silence between the two.

"So…" Terrik began. "What do you think about the others?"

"What do you mean?" Fira asked.

"I am just curious about the pairs they may form." Terrik answered.

"Why are you bringing this up?" Fira asked.

"Flame and I talked last night." Terrik began. "He started talking about finding a dragoness to court."

"That sounds like it will end in disaster." Fira replied.

"Why?" Terrik asked.

Fira looked up from her food and gave Terrik the 'are you serious' look.

"Flame needs to learn how to think before acting or speaking, also he needs to get a grip on his emotions or he may drive off a dragoness with his anger." Fira stated. "He also needs to learn to accept new things and tone down his recklessness."

Terrik pondered that before nodding.

"You make a valid point." Terrik stated.

"Yes I do." Fira replied. "Anyways did Flame have a dragoness in mind?"

"He would not tell me." Terrik replied.

"Probably wants less competition." Fira suggested. "Or maybe he is still unsure."

"That is possible." Terrik replied.

The Two then noticed Frost who is walking through the room. He gives them a casual nod as he passes them.

"So how about Spirit and Frost?" Fira asked.

"Their behaviour changes so suddenly." Terrik began. "The day before the mission they were at each other's throats then they just stopped and now seem to almost be courting."

"Spyro always said they were perfect for each other." Fira replied with a snicker.

"So what about the purple dragon then?" Terrik asked.

"Any dragoness here who is not already courting would be at his beck and call." Fira answered. "All they are interested in is his fame."

"There would be some genuine choices among them." Terrik replied.

"Needles in a haystack." Fira countered.

A moment passed between the two before Fira spoke again.

"do you really think that what is going on between us will work out." Fira asked.

Terrik sighed and looked away.

"If you have to ask that question then that means we need to examine our relationship." Terrik replied as he got up. "I will be in my room let me know when you answer that question."

Spyro had placed the collar in his room and was now off to search for Cynder. Her room was not far from his much like his teammates; after all she was part of the team. He noticed that Cynder was right outside of her room and internally he cheered but externally he just gave a cheerful smile. At least until he noticed Flame talking to her. It was obvious he had been talking to her for a few minutes from what was going on.

"Anyways I was wondering if you wanted to join me for dinner tonight?" Flame asked.

"Dinner?" Cynder asked.

"You know go out and eat somewhere nice." Flame answered. "Have a chat and get to know one another."

Cynder started at Flame with a hint of suspicion as she tried to read the dragon looking over his current expression including the rather fanatical glint of excitement in his eyes telling her that he would not react well to refusal.

Not wanting to test his temper or hurt him Cynder sighed and after a moment she reluctantly replied.

"Alright." Cynder answered.

Flame controlled himself but it's obvious he was over the moon.

"I will see you later tonight just as the sun touches the horizon." Flame stated and walked off to his room with a slight skip to each step.

Cynder sighed turned to see a speck of gold disappear down the hallway opposite from the direction flame was heading. Letting curiosity get the better of her she moved to its former location then went down the hallways the speck disappeared and noticed Spyro walking down the hallway.

"Hey Spyro." Cynder greeted as she approached.

"Hey Cynder." Spyro replied in monotone.

Cynder glanced at him with both curiosity and worry.

"Something wrong?" Cynder asked.

"No." Spyro murmred in reply.

Cynder frowned at Spyro's current attitude which was not normal of him given the location.

"Are you sure?" Cynder asked. "I have never seen you this upset with out a reason."

"Cynder I'm fine." Spyro answered in an irritated tone.

Cynder noticed the tone change and backed off.

"Spyro?" She asked in surprise.

Spyro realized what he had just done and sighed.

"I'm sorry Cynder, I just don't feel like talking right now." Spyro stated. "Have a good night Cynder."

Spyro began to walk back to his room.

"You were coming to ask me out." Cynder stated.

Spyro turned around and sighed again.

"Yes." He confirmed. "I was coming to ask you out."

Cynder sighed.

"Perhaps tomorrow." Cynder suggested.

"Perhaps." Spyro replied a faint smile appearing on his face.

Spyro continued on way towards his room while Cynder went to find something to occupy her while she waited for time to pass before she had to go for dinner.

The day passed rather slowly for Spyro who was now busy in an internal debate. One side pushing him to try courting Cynder the other fighting against it. this internal conflict continued as he made his way through the temple.

Flame's my friend.

But shes not interested in him.

That still is no excuse.

She may be the one.

How do I know?

Spyro groaned. Sometime he really hated his selfless nature sometimes. Putting everyone else before him usually led to lost opportunities.

"I need to think for myself sometimes." Spyro growled.

But then again being selfish never lead anywhere in the long run. At least for someone like Spyro who now continued through the halls of the temple past Spirit's room.

Frost had never seen Spirit's room. But he had once believed it would be a reflection of someone who enjoyed the rich lifestyle, but those expectations were changed when he had seen her true self. Still he never expected this. The room was bland with no hint of personality. just a bed fit for a young dragon and the drawers used to store items.

"Not what you expected?" Spirit asked.

"It's so empty." Frost replied.

Spirit laughed.

"Are you insisting that it should have some serious decorative look to it because i'm a girl." She giggle. "Or is it because i'm a noble?"

Frost turned to her and shook his head.

"I was just expecting some personality." Frost stated. "Maybe something to help me understand you better."

Spirit just looked at him and frowned.

"Do you always expect something of me." She whispered. "Just like my parents."

Frost turned to see Spirit glaring at him. She snarled and stepped forward viciously making Frost step back into a wall.

"Is that all everyone does is expect things?" She hissed.

She moved close to Frost and glared into his soft, worried eyes and what she saw made her glare soften. Her frown turned into a small smile.

"Spirit..." Frost began.

Spirit brought a paw to his mouth to silence him.

"shh... Frost." She whispered before looking into his eyes. "You know why I brought you here, I can see it in your eyes."

They moved closer together until their muzzles met.

"Spirit." Frost whispered again.

Spirit did not answer instead she kissed him. It was not long and passionate but it was short and sweet.

"I love you Frost." Spirit whispered. "You are important to me, now more then ever."

She nuzzled his neck and let her head rest under Frost's jaw.

"I love you too Spirit." Frost Replied gently. "I will do anything within my power to make you happy."

Spirit hummed and the two just sat there in silence.

Then the door to the room opened and two adult dragons waltzed in. They were Electricity dragons with all the physical attributes like a primary scale colour that was a shade of yellow with a lighter shade as the secondary colour for their wing membranes. Frost easily identified them as Spirits parents. Their eyes looked at Spirit with a gentle look but suddenly it turned to a harsh glare at him.

"Spirit, what is this street trash doing in here." Spirit's mother asked in a venomous tone.

Spirit faced her parents and took a deep breath.

"This is Frost one of my closest friends and my current potential." Spirit stated.

Frost turned quickly and stared at Spirit. His heart had sped up and he blushed. Unfortunately Spirit's parents did not take this news well, at least not her mother. Her frown became a snarl but father simply looked Frost over.

"Really daughter you have the choice of many great dragons but you go for this..." Spirits mother opted to just glare at Frost instead of insult him.

However Frost turned his attention to Spirit's father who was smiling.

"Honey calm down for a moment."

"And why should I?" Spirit's mother snarled.

Spirit's father turned to Frost.

"Are you in fact not the son of General Tundrus who I believe is a close relative of Cyril?"

Frost looked down and started to sniffle.

"yes...I am." He answered.

"Well then I don't see..." Spirit's father began but Frost interrupted him.

"I'm a bastard." Frost whimpered.

Spirit's turned to him and gave him a confused glance.

"My mother is not his real wife...my birth was the result of a night with one of his soldiers due to intoxication." Frost began. "It was not an affair just a lapse in judgment."

Frost began sobbing.

"I'm a mistake."

Spirit turned to Frost and embraced him much to her mothers displeasure.

"You are not a mistake Frost." Spirit whispered.

"I'm only here cause Cyril pitied me." Frost whimpered

"No that is not the reason." Spirt Frost replied her voice becoming harsh. "Please put away this self pity thing it is not you, you know why you were accepted here at the temple is because you show skill, and determination to succeed."

"Darling you can do much better then a bastard, there are many more deserving dragons out there."

This comment earned a glare from Spirit.

"Frost is my choice." Spirit growled. "You can either accept my choice or grumble about it either way I am the only one to have a say in this."

Spirit's mother growled and turned away before uttering.

"Very well."

Spirit's father on the other hand had a look of anger on his face as he left.

"Tundrus you idiot." He growled making the two young dragons stare at him.

Spirit's father closed the door as he left leaving the two young dragons alone in isolation.

"How did my father know you are related to Tundrus?" Spirit asked.

"He walked in while Cyril and Tundrus fought about it." Frost answered. "I was present for the whole thing, but your father walked in at then end."

Spirit nuzzled Frost.

"Don't let is bother you because no matter what you are not a mistake." Spirit murmered. "You are a wonderful dragon and among the best of the students here, all of which were hand picked from the top academies in the dragon realms."

Frost nuzzled into Spirit's neck.

"I love you Frost." Spirit murmured. "Remember that."

Frost smiled and gave a happy sigh.

"I will remember that, always." Frost replied. "And I love you too."

Author's note: So its been about what almost a year since I updated this story. yeah sorry about that as i said before I have had a lack of motivation (maybe writers block.

But here is the chapter. I hope its not too mediocre.

oh also as you can see i am sort of developing a love triangle involving Spyro, Cynder and Flame. Please note that this ties into the story (Telling how so will spoil the plot.)

If you are that concerned about your favoured pairings i will divulge the info next chapter if it becomes that big an issue.