Hi everyone, here we are with another chapter, this one is a bit longer. I hope you'll like it.

Cynder flew for hours and hours not caring how tired she was. All her energy was focused on one task: bring Spyro to Warfang.

Sometimes she craned her neck backwards to see if the purple dragon had awaken, but nothing, just a limp body packed on her shoulder like a weight, only dripping crimson blood on her obsidian scales.

She tried not to cry, but the emotional and physical burden was too much. Her tears silently shedding form her eyes, quickly drawn along her cheeks by the wind rushing against the dragoness.

The only thing that gave her the indication of how much time has passed since their departure was the Sun. Now it was sinking below the horizon. In a moment of lucidity, she complimented to herself: she's been flying all day long never stopping, even for drinking or eating. She was sure that, once landed, the fatigue would take its toll, but at that moment all that mattered was Spyro.

After an undefined amount of time she glimpsed the great wall of Warfang. Noticing that it was in the same state as when they left, a sparkle of hope ignited in her chest. She sped up for the last kilometres of her journey.

Cynder was a few hundred meters away from the wall when she heard the guards beginning to call.

It was only an indistinct noise, a buzz to her hears as her senses began to fail.

She ultimately managed to land brutally on the wall, Spyro's body being shoved off her back like a motionless sack. Then she collapsed.

The few dragons that were patrolling the barrier quickly converged to them, one in particular began shouting orders. A dragon took flight instantly, heading south, while another began to inspect Spyro. Finally a guard approached her, talking quietly:"Young dragoness, what happened?" With the fatigue now spreading over Cynder's body like a virus, she managed to say:"Spyro, help him, he's dying…" Then she blacked out.

"…"

"….."

"…Cynder…"

She heard that familiar voice.

"Cynder…"

She tried to open her eyes, slowly catching the light invading her surroundings.

She focused on who called her: a familiar dark green dragon was standing with his muzzle in front of hers. She quickly recognised him.

"Terrador, where…" But the guardian cut her:

"You're safe now, you and Spyro have been transported here after you landed on the wall."

"Spyro…"

"SPYRO!" she screamed, trying to stand up, but a strong paw on her shoulder was forcing her down.

"Now young dragoness you need to rest. Spyro managed to survive the night, the medics are doing their best."

A tinge of sorrow injected in his last words.

"What happened to him Terrador? Why he's taken so badly? Will he…"

She didn't finish the phrase. Deep inside she knew the answer to the second question. The battle with the Dark Master was devastating for both of them, then the power which Spyro used in the planet core had probably done the rest.

"The doctors said that most injuries are internal, they don't know what caused them. The broken wing and leg are probably due to a bad fall."He stated.

"For what caused those injuries I'd like to tell me what happened after the Belt of Fire, if you're ready to talk about it."

His tone calm and gentle with a weak smile on his muzzle, even if his eyes stated anxiety and misery.

She breathed heavily, and slowly began to recall all the recent events.

Cynder started to narrate what happened through and after the Belt of Fire:the sacrifice of Ignitus, their journey through the burned lands, their ascension to the former Dragon temple, the dreadful battle with Malefor deep in the planet core, and finally Spyro's reconstruction of the world.

The Earth Guardian was almost speechless, astonished and saddened by all that Cynder told him.

The passing of Ignitus struck him the most, but he had that sad feeling since he learnt that the Fire Guardian hadn't returned with the young dragons. He wouldn't have dared to leave them alone, never.

"Where are the other Guardians, Terrador, are they fine?" Cynder asked.

"Yes, thanks to the Ancestors. Volteer is working on establishing contact with the dragons that evacuated from city in prevision of an attack, while Cyril is reorganising the defences." The Earth Guardian answered.

"I've already notify them of your returning. I hope they'll find the time to come here… Now excuse me Cynder but I need to go, you need to rest and I've got my duties to fulfil."

He bowed his head and then left.

Cynder dropped her head on her forelegs, her thoughts now on Spyro.

"It's all my fault I should have protected him, and now even after he has done for us, he's still risking his life."She thought while a single tear slid down her cheek.

"Miss Cynder?" An unfamiliar voice called. Her eyes darted to the origin of the sound.

A light grey and blue dragoness was standing near her. Her slender and elegant figure stayed at the corner of her bed, with a smile on her face, her brilliant blue eyes glistening at the sunlight.

"Who are you?" Cynder asked tiredly.

"My name is Aramis, I'm the chief medic of the structure." The dragoness answered gently.

"I came here to ask you if you feel any better, yesterday evening you collapsed by exhaustion."Aramis stated.

"I'll be fine, but what about Spyro, will he be ok?"

"I cannot say that certainly, his internal organs are pretty damaged, it's almost a miracle that he's still alive."She paused, while Cynder stared at her with pure sorrow etched on her face.

"But he's a strong dragon, the fact that he's still breathing, and that he survived the night proves it. Just give him some time, and have faith in your friend."

Cynder stayed silent for few moments before asking the dragoness:"May I see him, please?"

Aramis gazed her, noticing all the suffering reflected in those emerald eyes.

"Yes, you may, but we won't stay for too long, the moles are working on him. And I warn you: it couldn't be a pleasant thing to witness."She stated, lowering herself to the bed's level allowing Cynder to slide on her back, as being yet too weak to walk.

Aramis walked to the next room. She slowly pushed the door open, revealing another ambient pretty similar to the one Cynder found herself in. The wall were of a solid and clean white, the floor too was of pure clear marble. The room was enlightened by a series of windows and a great circular opening on the ceiling casting a column of light directly on the bed in the centre, were Spyro was lying.

His left hind leg and his wing were bandaged with a blood stained white cloth. His bruises and cuts were mostly gone even if some brute scars were still remaining. His maw and nose were now clean of blood. His flank slowly and unevenly raising, signalling that he was breathing.

A couple of moles were working on him, carefully massaging his chest in order to set the ribs back in place. Another mole came with a handful of gems, both green and red, and quickly pushed them near the purple dragon. The crystals immediately dissipated at the contact with his scales.

"It's a grace that he's still unconscious, he would be suffering much more if he was awake."Stated Aramis.

She nodded to the moles who had noticed her before turning around to take Cynder back.

Once Cynder settled down the black dragoness thanked the medic, then tried to sleep.

But no peaceful rest came to her. Whenever she closed her eyes, images of Spyro's broken body flashed before her, forcing to open them.

She remained in this state for an indefinite period of time, and in the end sleep came to her only by exhaustion.

She woke up several hours later, as the sun was beginning to sink under the mountains.

All of a sudden the noise of clicking talons on the marble floor came to her ears. Someone was coming to her room.

"Maybe it's Aramis, she said she would come to check me every few hours, or maybe... "

"No! I mustn't lose hope"She said in her mind.

Cynder was slapped out from her trance by the creaking sound of the door opening. Two familiar dragons were standing at the door, with them a very angry dragonfly.

In a beat of a heart, the golden dragonfly zipped in front of her.

"You monster!How could you let Spyro get hurt like that!"

Sparx try to fist her nose, a vane endeavour of hurting her, even if her heart was already broken.

Cynder was silent, guilt grasping her throat. She only managed to mutter few words:

"I'm sorry Sparx...it's all my fault…"

The dragonfly hovered silently for a few moments in front of her, his expression was illegible.

The other two guests in her room stood still at the door, gazing miserably at the scene.

"You know what? It's all my fault. I should never have trusted you, and I should never have left you with my brother! I never want to see you again!"

And without another word he left the room in an instant.

Cyril sighed.

"Don't listen to him, he's a bit shocked like all of us. It will pass…"Stated the blue dragon.

"I fully support Cyril's theory, and it's clear that our little dragonfly friend doesn't comprise the marvellous, astonishing accomplishment that you and Spyro have achieved. It's "

"Stop blabbering you old windbag". The blue dragon interrupted noticing Cynder becoming more miserable. Cyril got closer to Cynder, putting a paw on her shoulder, as she raised her watery eyes to him.

"This are difficult times young dragoness. I know that you are suffering and you don't deserve anything of this, but you can do nothing for him. Just give him time and have faith in young Spyro."

At those words something in her snapped, as she rose up and started screaming:

"YOU ALL TELL ME TO HAVE FAITH, BUT YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW I FEEL NOW!"

Her rage building up as Cyril began to recoil.

"SPYRO IS DYING AND IT'S ALL MY FAULT. HOW CAN I WAIT JUST DOING NOTHING!"

She then stopped as tears cooled her face, now ashamed from the display she turned up.

She collapsed down to her bed, sobbing uncontrollably.

"It's all my fault, I failed him..."

The two guardians looked at each other miserably, shaking their heads.

Volteer inched closer to her, caressing her with one wing.

"None of this is your fault, my darling. All that happened was outside of you control. It's a miracle that you two managed to succeed. Please don't feel guilty, after all you are a hero, our hero."The yellow dragon said kindly.

"A hero that didn't save her loved one." She thought to herself.