Chapter 21: A Nightmare Of The Future
Laying there and within in his thoughts, Ignitus made sure to keep busy while the others rested, thinking of ways he could prevent such a disaster, If he does attack, or if he does do something as a way of a threat, I could always just stop him right then and there, preventing anything from even happening in the first place. But even still, the Destroyer I'm sure can act on it's own, even with what's happened to it before. Hearing slight snores form the Guardians and slowed breathes from the others, he stopped his thoughts on the matter for the time being and used this to get back to where he needed to be, Now with everyone asleep, I can take us back to the Chambers. Gently moving his right paw from underneath Claire's head, he both picked up his head and moved his other paw to the middle of her head as support for the time being. Reaching up his paw, he snapped his fingers, and in an instant, he was faced forward on his bed in the Sleeping Chambers. With him and Claire now rested in his bed, he looked around to make sure everyone else was with him. Terrador, Cyril, Volteer, and Ersa are all here, and with the other four being in their rooms, now all I have to do is wait. Moving his paw back down and underneath Claire's head, he shifted his other paw over back to where it once was, supporting her head for the time being, until he realized something. The only problem right now is, if who ever this is does show up, I need to be ready myself, so... I do apologize my love. Gently moving both paws from underneath, he made sure to slide her head off his left paw in a way that her head would rest right onto the bed without much movement. With both his paws free, and him ready to make a move at any point, it scared him to no end with not knowing when he would show, Come on... Hurry up and show yourself... And I can't exactly just find him myself since his thoughts and movements aren't a blank canvas for me. Keeping his head straight and focusing on nothing but the door, he frowned some as he knew he was missing out on a perfect night. He even gave a sigh as he looked to his left, watching as his lover laid next to him with only a barley visible smile, Maybe I could just try and get some rest. My other clone went back to the White Isles for the time being, and maybe putting him back in the Chambers would be a good idea. Thinking about what would be the best thing to do, it sounded like a perfect idea to him, but even he knew there were still flaws even to what he believed would've been a perfect idea, Then again, it would probably be best if I faced him and not one of my clones... And if one of my clones did face him rather then me, he could just kill my clone and disappear if he wanted to. Then I wouldn't know where he could've gone, only causing more of an issue. Feeling the shivers of fear starting to go through his mind and body, he knew with his shaking, he would wake up Claire, which he wanted to avoid all possibility of doing so, Claire has already seen enough of her share of conflict. If at all possible, I would like to keep her away from him, so I need to calm down and breath or else I will wake her. Trying to keep himself busy as to get his mind off his fears, he gave a sigh once again, even laying his head down over the back of Claire's neck as a way to calm himself. Let's think... what would calm me down? Thinking about Spyro and or Malefor would only make me think more of death, and... same goes for everyone else, so... I'm kinda stuck. Focusing his right eye at the door, still nothing seemed to be entering, or waiting outside of the Chambers, which was both a good and bad sign, Maybe... maybe he had a change of thought and decided not to show up... Maybe... maybe I'm just stressing myself out and that's what he wants. Closing his eyes and trying to control his thoughts of the unknown of which was causing him to stress, he trusted in his power for the time being, I'm sure if he shows up, he doesn't have the power to best me. And if need be, I can teleport both Spyro and Malefor to help me deal with this threat, which in return could help stop him all together. Giving out now a pleased, comforting sigh, he now had an idea of exactly what to focus on to help him rest, just... think about the day we all had... think of everyone's smile... everyone having a good time... hehe... And me fighting with Claire as to who would best who. Feeling calmed now, he believed in his words and power to whom ever would show tonight, but he hoped he wouldn't have to as he told himself out loud, "Everything's is going to be fine... Just... breath."
Having calmed down now, Ignitus felt it would be nice now to just try and get some sleep. Adjusting his head more upwards from the back of Claire's neck, his eyes started to roll to the back of his head as he gave a sigh, thinking about how nice it would be to sleep, After the nice of day we had yesterday... maybe I can just enjoy this night with everyone else and sleep... nice and comfortable. His vision started to blur as he tried to both sleep and stay awake at the same time, but he knew his feeling of comfort was going to take over faster then anything else. Keeping his eyes straight and making sure nothing happened by the door, it looked as though it had opened, but for Ignitus, he thought it was nothing, I really... must be tired... Closing his eyes and nearly falling asleep, he gave a pleased sigh to finally get the rest that he wanted. "IGNITUS!" Hearing his own voice yell from within his mind, his eyes shot open to see someone standing at the door, but before he could say anything to the figure, he saw a shard of ice headed right to Claire's head. Snapping out of bed, he zipped from off the right side of the before snapping over to the front of the bed and catching a holed of the ice shard. His speed was enough to kick up some wind, and his growl as he looked at the shard made Claire wake from what was happening. Grumbling as she opened her eyes, Claire asked in confusion, "Ignitus...? Is everything...?" Gasping with wide eyes, the shard of ice stopped right in front of her face, almost touching her scales right between her eyes, "Wh..?!" With Ignitus breaking the ice shard in his paw, Claire watched almost in slow motion as the figure at the door was revealed, "No... No no no..." Standing up and backing to the back of the bed, she knew exactly who it was, "It's you!" With her cry, everyone woke in a fright from the yelling, and with Ignitus facing the figure at the door, he showed his teeth as well, "Why are you here?!" Only getting a chuckle from the dragon, Claire tensed up, tail blade by her side and jumping forward to the front of the bed, she was ready for a fight, "Answer you son of a bitch!"
"Come now, Ignitus. She has nothing to do with you," The dragon spoke at the door, only angering Ignitus as he knew what he was talking about, "Just trying to take out a disobedient little shit. Hoping you would be sleeping, but I'm guessing your little clone probably told you I was coming," With Ignitus taking more steps to the dragon, the other Guardians stood up on their beds, and with this unknown threat, Volteer put his wing up to block his mate which he saw, "Huh... You know, knowing of your clones is one thing which you aren't slick about, but her," Pointing at Ersa, Volteer showed his teeth, wondering if he was going to try something, "Who is she, Ignitus? A lover to him, or... maybe a mate?"
"The hell's that to you?!" Volteer growled.
"Nothing. Just gonna be pretty easy for me to use her as a weapon against you all of she possibly has a Hatchling resting in that stomach of hers."
Snapping from his words, Volteer jumped off the bed and got half way to the dragon before Ignitus stopped him, "Volteer, don't," His voice was low, calming as to try and not keep the situation from escalating, and the dragon noticed this, "Terrador, if anything else walks in this door that isn't friendly, kill it. Cyril, you can do the same," Walking up and standing a couple of steps away from the red dragon, Ignitus made a clone walk from behind his bed and to Claire's side which she caught a glimpse of, "Volteer, keep Ersa safe, and Claire; My clone might not have to watch over you, but try and stay safe."
"Relax, Ignitus, I didn't bring anyone else... Well, we all know that's a lie. And for the time being, just scoping out the area for the time being," Looking past Ignitus from both his left and right, the red dragon smiled as he also had some more information that he could use against him, "Nice to know where you all rest. But from my other dark scouts, seems like I now know where those other four live," Everyone aside from Ignitus gasped as they viewed this as a threat, possibly a damning one, "Nice little windows they got there, but I do wonder, and I will even let you have a choice on this one, Ignitus, but... Who should I force against you if my demands aren't met? Malefor? Spyro? Or maybe my future lover. Decisions; Decisions."
"Ignitus!" Terrador growled, not liking the information he had with him.
"Relax!" Ignitus growled as he looked at his friend which made Terrador shut his mouth rather quickly, and even with the chuckle that the red dragon had for success, Ignitus turned that idea on it's head, "All his information shall and will be taken from him when he leaves," Seeing the red dragon chuckle, he knew what he was going to say before he did and interrupted him, "You walked on my land, my soil. You come in here and threaten to kill my lover. My powers may be suppressed, but I have all the permission I want to use it against you if you attack my home. Which means, I have control over everything while you're here," Snapping his fingers, nothing happened, but hearing the red dragon growl, they heard as Ignitus explained, "What happened to your dark creatures, Flint? And where does the other four live again?"
"Flint...?" Cyril asked himself, "Why does that name sound so familiar."
"He was the dragon that tried to take Cynder from Spyro the day they saved that Hatchling," Volteer growled as he remembered that name clear as day, and as he walked back to his bed and Ersa's side, he heard everyone gasp.
"What?!"
"But why hide your name?!" Claire yelled out at him.
"Because if he had told you, I would've known of what he was doing before he even started his whole plan," Ignitus growled, and with everything he said, Flint chuckled as he was getting everything right, "If I would've known his name sooner, I could've done something sooner to help stop his corruption, but because I couldn't, I can't do anything. So the information the Dark Master had transferred over to him, giving him all the war knowledge of which Malefor once possessed, and also the knowledge as to what the Chronicler is and what his limits are since Malefor knew him."
Clapping from how well he was able to figure out everything, Flint wanted to know how long he knew all this, "Congratulations. But now I have questions I want to know about; How did you erase my memory if I have darkness surrounding my mind, and also, you knew of this sooner, my identity, but how? How did you find out it was me a while back?"
"You're still young when it comes to your darkness. You try to act like the Dark Master without understanding flaws that you make. Having holes in your mind I can easily manipulate, compared to that of the other three. And as for your name, well, Spyro wanted to know what happened to you, and with what Malefor said about someone else using the Dark Master's army, I found the rat that was behind it all."
"Spyro's always where you don't want him, isn't he," Flint sighed, and since he already had all this information, he wanted to know what his answer was to what he had coming, "Well then, I'm guessing you might already know my plan?" Ignitus didn't want to say anything, and since he hesitated, Flint gave out what he was to do, "The Destroyer I'm sure would love to claim more lives if needed," With it revealed, everyone gasped, shaking and falling down to their backsides as they remembered what happened last time, "Oh... you didn't tell them? Well," Looking past Ignitus and at everyone in the back, he smiled with an evil grin, knowing he could pin the blame on someone else, "If Ignitus agrees to my demands, then such a weapon shouldn't be used," Looking back to see the frustration on Ignitus's face, he chuckled at this, "Erase their memory of this then, like you did me."
"No," Ignitus growled, and trying to keep himself calm, he only slightly looked behind himself and apologized to the others, "I'm sorry I didn't say something sooner, but I will explain everything once I come back."
"Come back?" Claire asked, shedding a tear as this was all too much happening all at once, even though she already knew of the Destroyer, "Where are you..." Watching as Ignitus put a paw on Flint's shoulder, the two disappeared quickly with only a small gust of wind appearing from where they were, "Going..." Sitting down on her bed, she looked to see everyone was afraid of what was to come, and she had to apologise to everyone as she knew this before everyone else and didn't say anything, "I'm... sorry... everyone," Hearing her words, everyone looked over to her and listened to what she had to say, "Yesterday... Ignitus told me of what was to come... And when he mentioned the Destroyer to me as well, I... I didn't calm down all that well even after what he said to comfort me," Looking to Ersa, she felt she owned her the most of an apology, "I could've told you girls sooner... And I didn't... And... This is why me and Ignitus were so scared in the Chambers... Because of what was learned."
Looking down at her bed, everyone did the same, fearing of what was to come, and even for Volteer, he was stumped on what to do, "If Spyro finds this out... He knows the Destroyer was already defeated from the inside out, and if that thing starts walking around, he'll know it was from the darkness... And if he finds that out... Then Malefor..." Everyone shivered, and same as everyone else, Volteer started to sweat, and it didn't help he couldn't think straight with his increasing breathing, "What the hell do we do?" Looking up, snapping his fingers and smiling, it was a simple idea, "Wait! It's so simple! If Spyro and Malefor don't kill each other, we have to let the Destroyer win, and then Spyro can just bring the world back together!"
It seemed like a little bit of a bad idea, but it was the only one to be known for sure, and Cyril agreed, "Hopefully Warfang won't spilt in half and be fine as it was before, but... it could work."
"Even though it won't..." The clone of Ignitus spoke, making everyone freeze for a second, "If Spyro does try something like that again... He will die..." Hearing everyone gasp, he knew they would want to have a reason, and so he explained, "The world is already unstable from the first time as it wasn't put together all that well. If he tries to put the world back together again, his power wouldn't be enough, no matter how much he has. Someone would have to hold the world together, which would mean... His body would have to become one with the earth, giving all his energy to the world to save it."
"No... No no no..." Cyril cried, putting his paws above his head and sweating to the point that he felt he was going to have a heart attack.
"Then if not Spyro, What about Malefor?!" Volteer cried out, hoping maybe he would be able to do something, "I... I don't want him die but... maybe... maybe his power would do something different... maybe... maybe..." Looking down to his bed, letting his sweat drip off his face and onto the bed, he knew nothing he was saying would help, "What if they combine powers?! What if... what if we use a huge earth wall and push it down or... or..."
Watching everyone becoming completely demoralized from what was said, the clone frowned to see even Terrador was struggling to stay strong, and unfortunately, he had to tell everyone the truth, "There's no way to stop the Destroyer unless... it either completes it's mission... or it's completely destroyed. And unfortunately, even for the Chronicler, we wouldn't be able to deal with it."
"Then we're... we're dead..." Cyril cried, nearly passing out on his bed.
"Or... Spyro is... Malefor wouldn't be able to sacrifice himself as he's not the same as Spyro. What he's learned compared to that of Malefor, he would fail to bring the earth together and die trying... And then even with that... we all still die."
"Then what does he want!" Terrador growled, making everyone look at him as he looked to the clone, "He said this could be prevented... So... what does he want?!"
Remembering that, they all believed their would be hope, even looking at the clone with wide eyes, hoping they could still stop it, but even still, it would be impossible as he spoke, "What he's wanted from the start... Cynder..." Hearing her name called, everyone once again gasped, shivering as they all knew that wouldn't be an option, "If... Spyro... was to give her up, then he wouldn't attack, and we wouldn't even have a war as... that's all he's doing this for, is to get Cynder away from him. Flint knows what would happen if the world was destroyed, he knows what would happen to Spyro, so... He knows he would win... But the problem that he doesn't understand is that... anger isn't the only way to control the darkness. In Cynder's case, the angrier the user is, the easier it is to control with your emotions."
"Like with Spyro," Ersa spoke, trying to be the most calm of all the others to think of what to do, "So I'm assuming, If Spyro dies, her emotions would effect her darkness, making her focused on who ever did this... Which would mean, Flint wouldn't have his way nor control over her... He would only have caused a permanent problem, and he'd die because of it," The clone was surprised with how well she was able to explain that of what he thought he would have to, though he knew he shouldn't be so surprised with her smarts, "Well, we aren't giving up Cynder, that's for sure. Unless someone else is in disagreement?"
Looking around the room, she saw no one was going to agree, and even Cyril had to chuckle as he knew that would be a horrible idea, "I may have had a problem with Cynder back then with her dark side, but Spyro when he's pissed... No thank you, hehe..."
"And that's the biggest problem," Volteer spoke, getting everyone's attention, and while it seemed he had calmed himself a little, on the inside, his body was ready to give out, "There's too much that could happen, and what a game of tug of war we have going on right now; because Flint wants Cynder, but Spyro wouldn't allow that, so Flint would kill him, making her kill him, so there's no way to win if we agree or disagree. The only question is, which side has a stronger pull to come out on top?" Looking straight at the wall and talking out loud, he had hopes, not giving up on what he has, "After all that's happened... Think... Think think think... The Chronicler would have an issue, but would Spyro in his Dark form, Malefor, and all of us together unlike before, we could do it. Maybe even Cynder and Carith could join."
"That's... a good idea... But," Hearing the clone almost reject the idea, Volteer and everyone else had to know as it sounded like an amazing idea, "What if we didn't just deal with the Destroyer?"
"Wh... What do you... mean...?"
Walking back and forth on the roof of the Guardians Building, Ignitus didn't know what to do, and Flint saw this as he had him right where he needed him, "So what will it be Ignitus?! You either give me Cynder and suffer slight casualties, or... Hehe... Well, I'm sure the apes, the Dark Creatures, the Destroyer, and maybe half a hundred or more dragons would show you that you've chosen wrong," Even in the night sky, the red body of Ignitus was visible enough to Flint to see the drops of sweat as he continued to pace himself, "This is all on you! Doesn't matter what you do, someone is going to die and their blood will be on your paws! Either way, it's a win win for me; I either get Cynder and Spyro dies, or I don't and I can meet her in the afterlife. Hahaha! Hay, maybe in hell, I can tell Malefor all about his lover that he'll never get to see again! And best part, after what Cynder has done, we will all be seeing each other sooner or later, and..."
"SHUT UP!" Ignitus yelled out with a clap of thunder striking down on the ground, and with rain starting to move in on the two, he warned him, "You don't control everything, and it's laughable that you think you do! You don't understand that?!"
"Whoa, Ignitus. Lost it much?"
"No... No, I haven't," Ignitus smirked, backing away from Flint and letting the rain pour down onto them, giving him comfort as he looked to the sky and took a deep breath in, and then out, "You've actually made my job so much... easier," Hearing Flint growl, Ignitus kept his smile as he turned and looked to his enemy, "I know what to prepare for, I've always know what to prepare for ever since I've seen your little hide out. And even if the world does blow up," Standing right in front of Flint with a puffed out chest, he knew he held the lives of everyone in his paws, "You're right, their lives are with me, and so is yours. I can talk with the Ancestors, you can't. So, while we all enjoy the afterlife... Hehehe, Well, say high to your friends in hell for me why don't you."
"You really think I care either way?!" Flint yelled, "Either way, I win! Everyone dies, this world goes, and good luck enjoying what ever life you would've had. In a bright flash, we will all be judged, and we'll all be dead! In the after life, life doesn't matter! It's called after for a reason, so good luck on what ever future you thought you would have, cause I'm sure theirs no life after you're dead! Which means for your friend, Volteer, well... Oh well for a Hatchling, right?!"
"You haven't seen Spyro fight in a while, have you? You know what, just try and take her if I'm being honest. When he snaps and your neck does the same, then everything is over, and his strengh would be enough to take care of the Destroyer," Even for Flint, he couldn't say anything as he has seen Spyro's display of power, but not giving Ignitus what he wanted to hear, he kept his mouth shut, "We can protect Malefor, we can protect each other. And just to give a you a run down; While my family is living it up in a paradise, including Cynder, you'll live your failure in hell over and over again. And I know that's why you're doing this; you don't want to see Cynder in the after life. You're jealous, upset of what has happened in your life, and so you're taking everything away from everyone cause you failed..."
"Shut it!" Swinging his claw around to slash at his cheek, Ignitus's arm snapped up from the puddle underneath his paws.
In a instant, Flint was knocked back as his arm swung backwards, losing the threat he made. Sliding from the attack and water at his paws, he almost slipped off the top of the building, but was able to catch himself at the edge with his paws. Looking down below him to see how far the fall was, he growled before looking back at Ignitus, but he made sure to give a smirk along with his growl to intimidate him, "Either way, some one is going and you can't stop that. We will leave the day a mystery as I want you to fear for the rest of your lives, and that will happen one step at a time," Opening his wings and splashing the water outwards, it was almost impossible for Ignitus to see Flint now as the rain had picked up, "Hope you didn't have future plans with that women of yours. Don't worry, she will betray you as she did me. But if you want to, kill me now, do it... Oh, that's right. Kill me, the attack starts immediately, and since I can give the darkness to all my troops, how would you be able to stop it even if you killed all of them?" Smirking to see Ignitus didn't say anything, he gave his finale words to him, "See you soon, friend."
Standing up on his two back paws, he fell backwards off the building and headed straight to the ground. Running up to the edge, Ignitus was barley able to make out his figure as he flew away from where they were, but he knew it to be Flint. You had to open your wings, didn't you. You couldn't just hit the ground and get your life over with. Sitting down and getting a feel for what it was he needed to do, he sighed, and closing his eyes, he looked down as he thought. With the cool feeling of the rain going down his body, it made him think if Claire's cold blue body, which was another comfort for him. Malefor... Spyro... my son... What do I do... what should I have done. Opening his eyes and looking at his reflection in the puddle of water, the droplets of water that dripped off the top of his head and dripped down his nose and chin distorted the puddle from underneath him, and in a way, this made him think. Just like these droplets of water; a single drop can easily cause a distortion... A single dragon... can distort his plan. Looking up and having an idea of what he needed, he turned, and as he blinked, he appeared in the Sleeping Chambers near the door, and as he walked to his bed, everyone looked to him before he even spoke, "Clone, go back go the White Isles for me, I can handle things from her," The clone nodded and turned, disappearing behind everyone as he walked away, "For us Guardians, get ready to defend Warfang. Volteer, we need a plan, if not and since you don't know, get those potions ready for an attack," Jumping up onto his bed and sitting down to Claire's right side, he smiled as he liked this idea the best, "If we're going to defend Warfang, make sure you all know how to use The Elements Of Devastation."
"Dumb ass name," Terrador chuckled.
"Take it up with Malefor tomorrow, get it changed, I don't care, just prepare. Ersa I need you to help of course Volteer with his work," Hearing Volteer open his mouth and speak, Ignitus cut him off as he remembered, "But don't! Over do it. We have time I'm sure, but maybe not long. You two just need to be careful, take your time and don't rush," Volteer still frowned as he didn't want her to work, but he knew if he was there to support her, things should be fine, "And as for you, Claire," Raising a brow at her name being called, he blushed, but was honest, "I'm definitely going to need your help to keep my mind straight... And calm."
Licking her lips, she knew what that meant, "Easiest job you could've possible given me," Wiping a water droplet off his cheek with a claw, she wiped the drop of water across his lips, and Ignitus chuckled once her claw had slid off his lips, "Brings back some pretty good memories, what can I say?"
Putting her arms around the back of his neck and kissing his lips, Ignitus already felt the effects of her love working, calming him down and giving him a better idea of how to execute his plan. Hearing her mate give a sigh, Ersa looked to Volteer to see his worry, but since she knew no one would be able to hear if she whispered to him, she ducked her head down and whispered, "Look on the bright side, you get to show me how to work it again," Getting a huge blush from her words, she giggled and tried her best to brighten him up, "I know you need me to be healthy, but I can't if I'm dead. And... with hopes that we make it out if this... We could always make the excuse again that I want to be left alone to... recover. Remember?"
"Hehehe... You think I would forget?"
"Well, I hear it's harder to think on your back then when standing. You should know a lot about being on your back, my love."
"Ha-ha, very funny. Just you wait and we will see who has that last laugh."
With the help of the water, the two gave nice moans of the feeling from the kiss, and Ignitus shed a tear as he didn't want to have this question, but he needed to know, "You would... never betray us... betray... me... would you?" Seeing her raise a huge brow, he chuckled as he knew it was stupid for him to even think about and even apologized, "Sorry, I'm... I'm scared. And having you is... I... Just don't want to lose you or anyone else."
"We can role play my betrayal after this has blown over, okay?" Claire giggled, and even Ignitus chuckled as it sounded like a great idea.
"As long as I have you," Nuzzling her cheek, he rested his head on her right shoulder, and for her, she rested her head on his right shoulder as well, "Now, I guess the only thing for us to do is sleep, but unfortunately for Cynder... I... have to give her a nightmare of what's to come," Taking her arms, picking up her head, and pushing him away, he was so surprised that his head slid off her shoulder, and he had to gain his balance to look at her, wondering what he did, "What?"
"You're giving her a nightmare? After she just had one of the best days of her life? How are you going to explain that to Spyro? Or are you hoping he gets pissed off and you tell him it was Flint?"
"I'm going to be there to warn her that it is a nightmare at least. And if things get bad, I will let Spyro help her out, but I don't think it should be that bad. I sent that clone back to the White Isles to prepare the nightmare, and once I review it, then I can show it," Hearing of Flint's name being called, it gave him some more to say as he knew none of it should, "Oh yeah, and to all of us here, keep his name to only us. We can't let him know it was Flint's. Similar to when I told him about Malefor back in the Isles, he wanted to risk only his life to stop him, and he will do the same if we tell him now. As for the Destroyer, just don't tell Spyro. All darkness related topics must not be discussed with my son."
"But what if discussing those topics with him is a good idea?" Volteer asked, making everyone else wonder as well.
"We will wait till after the attack. If we-When we! Make it through this... together, then we can discuss these topics, aside from Flint and a Dark Master," Getting a nod from everyone, he now wanted everyone to take it ease for the time being, "For right now, I know we are fine. For such a situation like this one, I've made three clones; My all around clone, one to help of course right dragon history, and one to specifically watch over everyone. So, let's all just... try and get some sleep."
"After all the Shit that we just learned, you want us to just, sleep on it?" Cyril asked, more wide awake then he ever thought possible.
"I have to agree. And if I'm also being honest, I would... feel a whole lot better being with Spyro and the others right about now," Terrador also agreed, and even for someone like him, he needed to have that comfort.
"Staying awake and stressing about it isn't going to help. So even if I used my power to help, you'll just being sitting there, and you might even give yourself an anxiety attack. So just, try and think happy thoughts, like what's happened yesterday at the beach, and just know that, when we make it through this, we can have all that fun again when ever we want," Ignitus tried his best to get everyone to sleep, and they all sighed, laying down and obeying what he was saying as they knew without his power, they wouldn't be able to do anything, "I'm sorry you all had to learn if this."
"I'd be more pissed off if you erased our memory so... I agree when it comes to the unknown; The unknown is scary, but sometimes, it being known, is even scarier then that of the secret," Volteer sighed as he snuggled up as close as he could with his mate, dropping his wing over her and making sure she was protected, "And for you, my love," With her looking at him, he nuzzled her for a second, and as he pulled away, he knew this is where he needed to step up, "What mate would I be to you, or father to our Hatchling, if I don't give it my all."
"Hehehe," Blushing as she had high hopes for that day, Ersa once again had to tease him in a whisper, "All that enegry you had that night, just use that."
"Ersa..." Volteer blushed.
"I love you too, hehehe..."
With everyone closing their eyes and trying their best to get some sleep, Claire watched Ignitus lay his head down, and with her resting her head next to his, she wanted to be there for her friend, "Ignitus... is it okay if I join in on the dream world with you to be there as support for her," Ignitus smiled to hear she wanted to help, and Claire giggled as she felt a little bad, "Cynder is caught in the middle of all this. And while I'm sure she feels flattered to have so many men fighting for her love, her loyalty to Spyro, I love. And I want to ask her some questions and hope to get her to show some of the emotion to him."
"I'm sure she would appreciate it if you were there for her. And... it would be nice to have your company of course."
"So I'm guessing I close my eyes and you'll pull me into the dream world?"
"Pretty much."
"Hehe... Then just guess I will see you in like, a second."
"Hehe, once again, pretty much."
Snuggling up against him some more and laying her head over his paws, he laid his head down over the back of her neck, and with him closing his eyes, she kept one eye closed and the other open as she joked, "What was with that ice shard that you were going to kill me with by the way?"
She thought he would joke along with her, but he frowned, telling her the truth of what happened, "Oh... that... I tried to stay awake but... your body felt so nice and cool that I started to fall asleep... But just as I did, he threw that shard to your head and tried to kill you. I had to jump off the bed and get in the front as soon as I could to save you."
"Ignitus..." Closing her other eye, she whispered to him, "I love you..."
Letting out a pleased yawn, Cynder woke herself as she tried to move more to her lover to feel his warmth, but as she shuffled her body to her left, nothing was felt. Now waking up more then before, she untucked her wing and touched all around to her left side. Tapping her wing up, then down, and doing the same one last time, she gave out an annoyed sigh as she felt like she was being messed with. Sitting up, still with closed eyes as she wanted to go back to sleep, she used her right wing this time and did the same as she did before. Patting up, then down, and doing the same again, she knew one thing was for sure as she spoke out loud, "Well... I'm not on my bed." Thinking of who it could be, she called out someone of whom she believed to be the cause, "Malefor, if you're trying to mess with Spyro, me and the other girls are getting together and you're going to be single." Not hearing a response, now she feared as she knew someone would've said something by now. Opening up her eyes, she saw nothing but space, with the stars, planets, and sights that she remembered well, "What. The. Hell." Standing up and giving out another annoyed sigh, Cynder spoke as she looked behind herself, already knowing someone was going to be there, "Ignitus, you really don't care for my sanity, do you?" Turning around, she saw that both Ignitus and Claire were sitting behind her, waiting for her to wake. After what she had said, Ignitus chuckled, but before he could say what he wanted, Cynder spoke first, "No no no, I'm not doing this. Just... tell me what ever it is so I can cry now rather then later."
"But I haven't even said anything," Ignitus defended himself, but her words made him understand once again as to why this place was rather difficult for her to be in. "Do I really need to refresh your memory? I'm guessing from how the past played out last time, someone is going to die, which I don't appreciate thinking about, but," Pausing and looking to Claire, Cynder wanted her to be the one to say something as she had hopes her friend wouldn't make it sound so horrible, "Claire, please, I need you to tell me what's about to happen. Every time Ignitus tries, he jumps right into it."
"What do you mean by that?" Claire asked, taking a glimpse at Ignitus and watching as sweat dripped down his face. "Well, easiest to remember, the fact that one time he made my dream so bad I broke down and cried in fear. Or, how about the other one where I was told Malefor was a good guy, and about how, if me and Spyro would've fallen in love too soon, we all would've died," While Claire was looking to her lover with wide eyes, Cynder was still thinking to herself about all the bad that he said, "I don't think that was in the dream world. But every time Ignitus wants to talk in private, he's basically going to tell me about someone dying."
"And who might that be?" Malefor asked, walking around from behind the two with Carith also being in the dream world with them, "Also, oof, Cynder. I saw what you did there with me being a good guy a bad thing," Letting Carith sit down next to Cynder, Malefor sat down next to her left and continued to talk, but this time, he spoke to Ignitus as he looked at him, "And if that death is true, then who is it? I'm assuming since we are all here, it's none of us." Ignitus didn't want to tell the truth, but since Cynder was already suspicious and watching his every action, he gave a sigh and tried to go easy on the explanation, "It's... not as bad as..."
"Ignitus..." Cynder murmured, already knowing who it could be, "Just... Please. If this is something we need to prepare for, we need to know what's going to happen to stop whom ever is to die. And... it doesn't take a genius to know that... the death is Spyro... isn't it," Seeing his body jump with a shiver, Cynder frowned and looked to the ground, giving a sigh as she hated his life being on the line every single time, "Why is it always Spyro... He's been through enough, and now you're telling me that he's going to die...?"
"Maybe!" Claire stepped in as she wanted to be the one to say what it was that they found out, "It's a possibility..." Seeing that all eyes were on her now, she took the opportunity to clear up a couple of things to make it easy for her, "While it is a possibility, I can assure you that we can save Spyro from what is to come. But in order for that to happen, his life mainly leans on your shoulders, Malefor." Looking at everyone with wide eyes, Malefor pointed a claw to himself, making sure he heard her right, "Yes... You, Malefor. To clear something else up, I want all of you to know what the threat is and how dangerous this is." Shivering slightly, Malefor felt fear as it seemed like this was a time for him to step up and show his trustworthy side to everyone, "The new threat we face is... the new Dark Master that almost made me kill Ignitus... his name is Flint."
"Flint?!" Cynder cried, both shocked and appalled that he of all dragons was the one to be the threat. "Yeah..." Ignitus murmured but upped his tone a little to be heard, "He wants you one way or another and Spyro is in his way of that of which he wants. And to clarify, I could've stopped him as he showed up today, but that would've only caused more problems." Confused as to what he meant, Malefor stepped in and asked, "More problems how? Take him out and things are done with." Shaking his head at his words, Ignitus explained, "If I did that, he has darkness in almost all the dragons that are fighting by his side. If I take him out, instead of there being one dark master, there would more then half a hundred." Seeing the three shake from his words, he gave a sigh as he decided it be best to tell them all of the truth now rather then hold back the biggest issue, "And... if I did that as well... he would've used the Destroyer now, rather then later."
"The Destroyer?!" Cynder and Malefor cried at the same time, now only making the two shiver even more. Looking down to the ground, sweating from all that was happening behind-the-scenes, Malefor murmured, "So... Spyro was right... the Destroyer really is out there," Growling from the thought of having to face such a threat, Malefor called out the obvious, "Then Spyro just bring the world back together if it successfully reaches the volcano! Me and Cynder can be there in support." Seeing him shake his head, Malefor shot stiff and wanted to know what that meant, "Wh... What the hell do you mean no?!"
"If Spyro does that, the earth is already unstable from the first destruction. If he were to try and do as he did before, no matter the power, he would have to kill himself, become one with the earth itself and hold it all together with his power," Each of the three skipped a beat from within their hearts since, with their best fall back plan being unable to use, they hadn't a clue of what to do, "I... wanted to bring you three here to tell you of what's to come and what I've learned. He's already tried to kill Claire, and it seems the only way to stop him, is if you give yourself up to him, Cynder." Everyone now wondered what Cynder would be thinking about all of this, and for a second, it was quiet as she looked to the ground, thinking of what to do. Growling through her teeth, her body tensed, but letting out a sigh, her body calmed, and she admitted defeat, "I'm not going to trade Spyro's life because of me... So... I might have to go with... him."
"What?!" Everyone cried. "Cynder," Malefor growled, surprising everyone to see his support, "Don't let that punk little shit push you around like that! He has a Destroyer, we have a Spyro. They have an army, you have me," Looking to Ignitus, Malefor's anger somewhat scared him as he spoke, "So what does he have we should be a afraid of?! I'm assuming he's not just going to use the Destroyer." Nodding as he was correct in assuming, Ignitus spoke more of what's to come, "That is true. He's brining an army of apes, dark creatures, dragons, and the Destroyer."
"Why would dragons follow someone so corrupted?!" Malefor growled. "Because he promises that of what even Spyro wanted back then; revenge against the one who took so much away from them," Understanding what he meant, Malefor gave a frown as he hated that what the Dark Master controlled him to do was causing problems once again, "We can't tell Spyro about any of this. I don't know how your friendship with Spyro is, Malefor, but that's another problem, another hurdle we have to get through; what if Spyro turns against you? Because if that happens, both you and him... we've lost our only chances of fighting back."
"I can handle Spyro," Cynder spoke, taking a stand against it now as Malefor's words were nice in support, "Malefor's right. The Dark Master has tried to take me away from Spyro plenty of times before, and I'm not going to let that happen now," Seeing the smiles from the others, she smiled herself as she believed they could make it, "We have an assassin, a Chronicler, purple dragons, Guardians, and so much more even when it comes to brains with the help of bronze. And I'm pretty sure getting my lover pissed is only going to make things better for us." Smiling as it did sound like things would work in their favour, Ignitus smiled himself as he knew that there was hope, all it took was the trust in others, "All this lies on the shoulders of your friendship with Spyro, Malefor. So what will you do to convince him that you aren't the Dark Master with all of what's to come?" Putting a claw up to his chin, Malefor chuckled as he had an idea, "Hehe, maybe not the best idea, but I could always just run and hide behind someone while crying that it's not me."
"Which means I will have to step in and stop my lover. He might hurt you, but he would never hurt me," Cynder smiled, and it seemed easy enough for Ignitus to go along with for the time being, "Hehe, and it's a win-win for me too. I get a kiss from my lover to calm him, and I get to watch you once again cry like a little bitch, Malefor." Grumbling through his teeth, Malefor defended himself as to what he was going to do, "It's not crying, it's being tactical."
"Tactical?" Carith asked, giggling slightly as it seemed weird for him to say, "I don't think getting on your knees and begging for forgiveness is tactical." Chuckling at her words, Malefor begged to differ, "If I get down on the ground, do a barrel roll and go prone, it's gonna be a hella tactical move. I bet even Volteer would have my back on that one." Bringing up his yellow friend, Malefor had to wonder about the others, "Speaking of Volteer... do the others think that I can't be trusted either?" Giving a chuckle, Ignitus was able to easily comfort him on that, "Well, since it wasn't you that tried to kill Claire, they are all still your friend, we, are all, still your friends." First giving a sigh of relief, he then later chuckled as he rubbed his paws together, "Good, Good... My plans can still go according to... plan... plans plan... I'm tired."
"I will leave you all be here soon, aside from Cynder of course as you'll be having a dream, which my clone has just finished preparing," As Ignitus finshed explaining, Cynder gave a sigh as she was scared of what this dream was going to be and how bad it might be, but Ignitus assured her, "Don't worry, Cynder, I made sure it's not as bad as some of those other nightmares have been. My clone put some hints and secrets in the dream to help aid in the future. I can't tell you of all that I know as I would get in trouble, but... I'm trying." Understanding completely, she smiled as a way of thanks, "Which I'm thankful for. And since we girls have our way of thanks in a sweet way," Looking over to Claire, Cynder giggled with a smile, "Claire, Ignitus had been so nice, so for a reward, may you please give him something nice for what he's doing."
"Hehe, oh yeah... I can make sure he's doing it right with me," The four blushed quickly from her words, and since she licked her lips afterwards, they weren't too sure of what she meant until she realised what she had said, correcting herself in the process, "Not like that! Damn it, Malefor, I'm going to kill you!" Jumping back, Malefor cried as it was sudden, "What?! Why?! What did I do..." Clenching her teeth, she tried her best to get rid of her blush along with everyone else, and to get their minds off of it, Ignitus chuckled as he had hopes, "We joke about killing you a lot, Malefor."
"Yeah... I know... Shit keeps me awake at night," Malefor grumbled, locking eyes with Claire as each were wondering if one or the other would make a move. "But... Malefor," Ignitus spoke in a low tone, and he knew along with everyone else that this was serious, "I do hope that doesn't really ever happen," Frowning at his words and taking a couple of steps back to the side of his lover's, Malefor and the others frowned as well as he continued, "Like I said... You mean a lot to us. So just... please; don't mess up this friendship that Spyro can have with you. And if I'm being honest, you being his friend... it would make our chances of making it out of this extremely high." Malefor was thankful that he had the support of the others, and thinking back to what was said, he had an idea as he wondered, "Thank you... all of you... But I have a question. If Spyro can't bring the world back... could I?" Watching as Ignitus shuck his head with a frown, Malefor gave a deep sigh as he knew what that meant, "I swear if my dumb ass makes a mistake tomorrow, I'm going to cry."
"Hehe, or you could get Cynder to bitch slap you like that one time," Ignitus suggested, and before anyone else could say anything, Malefor quickly rejected "Absolutely Not!" He cried, looking to Cynder and remembering the day that it had happened, "I still have nightmares," Putting a paw on his cheek, it was like he could still feel the burn even now, "It haunts me... I may be a man of many things, but that... that thing scares me." Roiling her eyes with a smile, Cynder looked away from him and to Ignitus, ready for the dream, "Well, while Malefor messes around, I would like to view this dream. I... I really need to get back to Spyro."
"And I don't won't to keep you," Carith agreed as she understood with what all was happening, "I would... also like to talk more with him. It's not going to feel... good... to know that we could lose him soon but... we can make it through this," Giving a sigh as she needed to calm herself, feeling her lover's wing drap over her back, Carith looked to Malefor and smiled, glad he was helping, "We... we can do this." Ignitus smiled to see that they were all dedicated to making it through this, not that he was surprised in the slightest, "Alright then. Malefor, Carith, I will let you two get back to bed so you two can snuggle up. Cynder, same as with that dream way back before Ersa and Volteer reunited, you'll be watching this dream from a third perspective." Getting herself ready, she sighed before agreeing, "Alright then... I'm... ready to see this... nightmare of a future."
"We could always stay and watch as well," Malefor suggested as he wanted to be there for support. "Malefor... Adding you into this nightmare would basically make it hell. Just go to bed with Carith," Cynder giggled as she sat there with her eyes closed, and hearing him gasp, she was about to say something back, but Carith interrupted. "She's not wrong," Carith joked, and hearing Malefor gasp once again, he then started to whimper as everyone was picking on him, but she knew how to turn that around, "If you come back to our real bodies, I could give a kiss that would feel like an out of body experience."
"Done!" Malefor quickly agreed, closing his eyes and saying, "Beam me up, Scotty!" Giving a sigh, Ignitus watched as Carith had closed her eyes too, and as he raised his paw up to snap his fingers, he questioned how his friend acted in a whisper to his lover, "Note to self and each other, if you could go back and change one thing, it would be to let you kill Malefor." Claire giggled as it was sudden, but she had to agree, "Hehe, so much for not wanting him dead. But then again," With the two sharing a laugh, Ignitus snapped his fingers.
Making her way up the stairs to the main house up top of the Guardians Building, Carith took her time as she gave a sigh, hoping that she would be able to convince her friend to finally leave this place, Come on, Cynder. It's been three years. Please just hear us out. Making it up to the door, she waited for it to open, and as it did, she walked inside the house and into the hallway. Looking to her right, she wasn't surprised Malefor was sitting over by the training room door, and she didn't really need to ask to know, "She's training again, isn't she?" Watching as he nodded, she sighed, and as she walked over to the door and to his left to stand in front of the door, she had hopes, and tried to keep her head up, "Maybe today will be the day that she'll come out of her shell and take on the world once again."
"That is the hope, isn't it. But then again, being three years since his... death... do you really think she will ever recover?" Seeing his lover sigh, he knew what he was saying wasn't helping, and so he apologised, "Sorry, I didn't mean to say... what I did... It's just that, she's felt like this for so long that, I wonder if she can even feel anything else compared to what she feels now."
"I know... But, we can still save her. So let's just try our best this time as we have all the other times. Ignitus has gotten permission that if she doesn't get fresh air, the Ancestors did confirm that he could use his power to teleport her outside. Why they waited until now to allow him to use his power is something I, nor he, even knows. But since we are here and we have the all clear, let's just... let's do this."
Pushing open the door to the training room as it had been cracked open only slightly, they were able to walk in basically undetected. Making their way in the room, they watched from the door as Cynder fought hundreds of dark creatures, training up her body with speed similar to that of even Spyro, and with her slim, smooth body, she was able to maneuver a lot easier then any of the other males. Landing in the middle of a pile of dark creatures, they all tried to jump on top of her to stop her while others prepared their weapons, but Cynder was quicker. Using her wind powers, she spun into a small sized tornado, but with more control over it, the tornado grew much larger, and only grew more and more, engulfing the middle and the entire room in a massive wind tunnel. Using her shadow powers, the white of the wind turned black as her claws ripped through all the dark creatures, making easy work of all of them. Putting his wing up in front of his love and digging his claws into the ground along with Carith, Malefor was surprised by her display of power, but he knew he shouldn't be, She's become even more powerful then me at this point. Coming out from her tornado, her body fell from the air and landed down to the ground. As she touched the ground, her body spun around in a circle for a couple seconds before she was able to gain her balance, and once she did, she gave a sigh of relief. Stretching out her body and loosening up her joints once again even though it wasn't needed, she prepared to train once again, you really are pathetic, aren't you. You've trained this long and you still can't stack up to... him...? Thinking about him, Cynder's body locked up on her, and she cried in a soft whisper as she could feel her body reliving the pain she's felt for so long, the pain she's tried to forget, "Damn... It... Don't do this..." Getting control over herself, she wasn't able to stop a couple of tears that shed from her eyes, and with her gaining control again, she looked behind herself as she heard clicking of claws from behind her as if someone was running, and seeing the two, she sighed, "Carith... Malefor..." Turning her body around and watching as they stood in front of her with a smile, Cynder wasn't having it, "I'm not going anywhere. This either has to do with an expected Hatchling from someone, or someone needing help. Other then that, I'm not going anywhere."
"Cynder..." Carith whispered softly, knowing she would have to be as easy with her words as possible or else she wouldn't agree, "Please... You've been up here and stuck in this building for three plus years and... all we want is just for you to get out there and breath in some fresh air," Opening her mouth to reject her idea, Carith jumped in quickly and continued what she had to say, "That's it...!" With her yell, it went quiet for a second, but after those seconds, she once again explained, "That's all we want... Walk out, breath in some air, and walk right back in. Just take a deep breath in... And then out... that's all we're asking."
"I can't do that," Cynder growled, turning away from the two as her body once again shuck and shivered from sadness of what's happened, "If I go out there... I... I know what's out there... that location, the sight, the smell, the time of day, I just...! I'm sorry... I can't do it..." Both Carith and Malefor looked at one another, wondering what they were going to do, and they knew they might have to use the fall back plan, but they waited and listened to what she had to say, "This is the only place I've ever felt safe. It doesn't matter how strong I get... IT DOESN'T MATTER...! It... doesn't matter... because even with my training... when I walk out this building, I will feel exposed, alone... weak... And losing... Spyro... I... I can't... I... I..."
With their friend crying on the ground as she couldn't handle thinking about what's happened, Carith shuck her head as she knew using Ignitus and his powers would only make things worse. Walking up next to her friend and sitting down to her left, Malefor later sat down to her right, and with the two by her side, they both draped a wing over her back and tried their best to comfort their broken friend. Feeling as there shouldn't be any secrets, Carith wanted to be honest as she knew not saying anything would make her feel untrustworthy, "Cynder... I want to tell you the truth about what we had planned... for a while, we've been trying to get you out back in the world, and... the Ancestors finally gave permission for Ignitus to use his powers after so long so that, if you said no... he would just teleport us outside with you so you could finally get the fresh air you've needed for a while."
Still sniffling from here to here, Malefor knew now was his turn to step in and try his best to help her out, "Yeah... We thought it would be a good idea to hopefully change things up, and compared to us telling you to... move on and find someone else... this was our next best option. Hehe, and everyone else was on board because they knew you would slap the hell out of me for doing something like that... But we didn't know if teleporting you out there would cause more harm then good. But one thing we know for sure... staying here, isolating yourself from everyone and losing everyone because of that... it's not something we want from you... not something we want you to keep doing."
Giving a giggle as she cried, Cynder broke down as she couldn't handle the pain once again from her emotions flooding back to her, "You know... it's hard for me. I've wanted a Hatchling with Spyro for so long... And... then he... goes... and... I didn't even say goodbye... I... I never wanted to say it... I knew I never could've," Clenching her claws and tensing her body, she used her fear powers to try and control herself, and while it didn't do much, it was enough to calm at least her fears, "Hehe... And then you have dragons out there painting themselves to look like my love just to mess with me... just to get to my body... not even understanding what I've gone through... not understanding what that does... And even as I lay in bed and look down on all the other parents with their Hatchlings, I wonder to myself... would I have made a good mother...? Would Spyro... have made a good dad...? And being nineteen now with my twenties coming up her soon... it's all I can think about."
Both understood what she was going through, but both of them also knew that they could never truly understand what she was going through, what she was going through as the feeling in her body was nearly indescribable. For a little bit, the three sat there, and for the other two, they listened as Cynder sniffled from her attempts to try and control emotions, and even for her, she had to joke as she chuckled, "And it doesn't help that, even after he's gone, he still protects me with his darkness, rendering my darkness and use of it useless... All to protect me.. Hehe," Giving a slight chuckle, Carith gave a smile to see she was at least talking with them a lot more then before then the other thousand times they've tried, "And yet even still... I thank you... all of you... for being there for me... And... maybe... just maybe... when I get the chance to talk with... Spyro, again... I will tell him how I've felt... about everything."
"I'm sure he would love to see you," Carith agreed as she had an idea of what she meant, but Malefor took it a different way.
"Cynder, you know Spyro would want you to live. That's what he died for," He murmured, feeling as though she had been talking about ending it, "You've tried to kill yourself before, but it's not worth it."
"Hehehe..." Hearing as Cynder giggled, they didn't understand what to make of it, but as they listened to her words, they found pleasure in what she had said, "Malefor... You dumb ass. That's not what I meant... I know what Spyro would've wanted, what he... wants... he fixed the world for us to live, and the least I could do is... at least... see it for a second," The two tried to hold in their gasps, but it was such a surprise to them that they gasped too soon and too quickly, "But that's it!" Cynder cried, breaking the two from what they were thinking about, "I'm only going to step outside for a second... only a second... Once I'm out there, I will get some sun, get some air, and then I'm coming right back. And for the rest of the month, I'm not going back out there. Understood?"
"Absolutely!" The two lover's cried happily, glad they were finally able to help out their friend.
Giving out a sigh, Cynder couldn't believe she was about to make a step outside, into a world she had shut off from herself so long ago, but it made sense to her now after so long, Spyro would've never wanted to have died for nothing... So I guess taking a step outside and seeing all I've missed isn't such a bad idea... maybe. Feeling as the warmth from her back disappeared, she looked to her left to see the two were walking away from her and towards the door. Giving a giggle as she saw their smile, she knew why. They've tried for years to get me to leave this place... And now that I am... I guess I could understand their smiles. Turning around and walking over towards them, she followed behind as they walked out from the training room and into the hallway. Turning to her left and going to the main door, she watched as the door opened, and at the edge of her view, she saw as the two looked at her with smiles. Walking over and in front of the two, she giggled, "Well... you all finally got me to leave..." Turning and facing down the steps, she walked down the stairs in the middle of the two, and they stayed by her side as they followed her, making sure to be there in support, "You know... it's... scary with how long I've been here... without Spyro... It's gotten so bad that... I haven't seen him in so long, and I'm forgetting him... his voice... his warmth... And I... I need to remember something... I have to."
"Are the dreams that Ignitus has given you not helped at all?" Malefor asked.
"They... have... to an extent... I can't kiss that Spyro... I can't make memories with that Spyro... And I can't make... a future... with him either. So it's gotten to the point where my mind is trying to reject my memories to keep me safe... but in doing so... it's also messed with me both mentally... And physically..." Knowing how bad things were for her, they wanted to help her some as they made their way down the other set of steps, making their way to the door, but she was already speaking once again, "Maybe with the warmth of the sun on my back, I can remember something... something that I've long lost... but I don't want this to be a bad day for you all. I just... hope there is something else we can do... even after these three years, maybe there is something out there... some way for me to tell him that... I miss him."
"You will be able to tell him some day," Making it to the door, Malefor put his paw on the door, and before he opened it, he wanted to give her hope, "You still have your whole life to live, and maybe, sooner or later, the Ancestors will stop being so stingy and let you see him. But for now, we want you to enjoy what's been saved; all of us... And especially you," Seeing her attempt a smile was enough for him to smile back, "There she is. Now, for the big reveal..." Pushing his paw against the door, he hit something on the other side, and after hearing a grunt and a thud, Malefor cursed, "What the hell was that?" Pulling the door inwards now to open it, he apologized before paw as he didn't see who it was, "Hey, sorry, I didn't..."
Pausing and gasping, he didn't dare make a move, even locking up which was enough to get both Cynder and Carith interested and they stood there. The two looked down at his front left paw, and seeing him wave away for the two to go, Carith knew what that meant and tried to get her friend to back up for a second, "Hey, Cynder, I actually forgot that the Guardians wanted to know if you would walk outside as they wanted to be there. So, how about we go back up there real quick." Seeing she wasn't budging as she wanted to know who it was, she knew that her not knowing would only make things worse, so she asked for clarification, "Malefor... who is it?"
"Who did you think," Malefor growled, not towards her, but for the situation they had, and since they hadn't moved, he knew he had to say something, "Listen... We've already threatened enough of you to stay the hell away from Cynder. Wipe that paint off now, get the hell away from here, or else we're going to have a problem!" With Malefor taking slight steps towards whom ever was outside, Carith put a wing in front of Cynder, but while she tried to back up while pushing her friend back with her wing, Cynder took another step forward, wanting to know who it was, "Well?! You going to say something, or do we need to banish you as we have other dragons?!"
Walking around Carith's wing and wanting to see who it was, her friend tried to call out to her, "Cynder... Don't... It's just another fake."
"Hehehe, sorry, I'm just confused as to how you think you can take me on by yourself," The voice spoke from the other side of the door.
Gasping, Cynder stopped as her heart started to race, No... that... that voice... It... It's not! Almost having another anxiety attack, she approached the door slowly but surely, and since Malefor wasn't focused on her, he had been leaning on the side of the door for support, and once she had grabbed the edge to open the door to get past his right side, he nearly fell over, and even looked at her to see who it was. Watching as Cynder stood there in shock, Malefor sighed as he knew this was to happen, but he tried to play this off for the time being, "I'm sorry, Cynder... This isn't how I wanted for this day to go..." Looking back in front of him and outside, he threatened the dragon once again, "Last chance. Either wash the paint off, or," Flexing out his body in intimidation, he hoped things wouldn't end in a fight, "I will break you as I have others before you."
"Break me?" The voice spoke again, and for Cynder, the dragon was darkened out from the sunlight as she hadn't seen light in forever, but with the dragon stepping forward more away from the light, his body shined purple, gold, and orange, "Malefor... Please... I just woke up in a grassy field away from everyone and with my body aching in pain. Last thing I need right now is to laugh," Looking straight to his left, he saw as Cynder stood there, tears in her eyes and nearly falling from fear, or even joy, but he couldn't tell, "Cynder... are you okay, my love?"
"Sp... Spyro...?" Cynder cried in a whisper as she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
As Spyro took another step forward towards her, Malefor flexed his wing outwards more in front of Cynder and growled, "Back off! She's not your love, she doesn't belong to you, and don't act as someone you're not," Taking his wing back and getting into a fighting stance, he saw Spyro's face turn to him with a serious look in his eyes, and not even fear, "Weird face to make when you're staring death in the eyes."
"Back off, Malefor," Looking past Malefor and seeing Carith behind the two, he called out to her and asked for assistance, "Carith, take care of that attitude your lover has. I need to assist, Cynder," Walking up to her and watching at the corner of his eyes to see if Malefor made a move, Spyro stood in front of Cynder and focused his attention to her, "But I need to know how," Easing up his body, he watched as Malefor prepared his tail blade, even using his paw to adjust where he was to jump, but he didn't understand the aggression what so ever, "For the time, I shall take your move as a warning for the time being. We can handle this dispute in the training room. But, right now," Putting a paw up to her cheek and feeling as her face was hot, nearly burning red, he gasped, "My love, why are you so hot."
"Paw off her face!" Malefor growled, now using his paw and slashing at his arm, but unfortunately, he couldn't do much as he was surprisingly stopped by Cynder.
"Malefor! Stop!" Cynder cried just in time as his claws were just about to touch the scales of Spyro.
Seeing him being stopped by her voice, Spyro looked at him with a smile and he couldn't believe he didn't die, "You're so freaking lucky, you know that. If I would've felt your claws touch my scales, you would've been on the ground in seconds," Malefor growled as he pulled his claws back, but even as he did, he stood ready to attack, and since it seemed he wouldn't do anything for now, he focused his eyes back to Cynder, and as he spoke, he could help with the burning, "Let me help with that," As he cooled her cheek, she shivered and her breath started to become visible as he helped cool off her body, "Sorry for that. Using my powers, your heart was beyond over heated. Any hotter and you would've had a heart attack," Giving a smile and a chuckle, he knew this was a perfect time for a joke, "And by heart attack, I mean me, and by hotter, I mean your body."
"You're not even trying, are you?!" Malefor growled, and he saw this as another attempt to get with her, "Many males before you have done the same thing! You aren't slick! You're not her lover! Spyro died three years ago in the volcano, end of story," Spyro stopped for a second, and even for Cynder, she could feel even as he adjusted the temperature to her liking, his paw tensed as his eyes went slightly wide, "Yeah, wow, big Damn shocker! But this is good," Easing up and backing off, he wanted to use someone else's power against Spyro, "After I hurt one dragon so bad for this attempt, Ignitus said he could handle it. Whether it be a memory wipe, sending them to another side of the planet, or even changing them entirely to another dragon and putting them into an endless nightmare. So tell me, dragon... what do you fear?" It took Spyro a second to respond as hearing how long it had been, he couldn't understand what could've happened as he couldn't remembered what had happened, "What. Do. You..."
"SHUT UP!" Spyro yelled out to the point where even Cynder took a step back away from him, but even as she did, she felt guilty as she watched him look at her with tears that she had shed for so long, "Thr... Three-Three-There years...?" Taking a step back and trying not to fall, he didn't take this as a joke, which it wasn't, and he yelled at Malefor for it, "What the hell has happened?! I come back home and I get treated as though I'm dead, then I find out that apparently I am, and you've said that others have tried to get with my lover?! Who?! Why?! And what do you mean three years?!" Seeing how aggressive he was getting, for the time being, Cynder backed away far enough that she stood by the right side of Carith once again, not understanding what to think, "Tell me what's happened, Malefor."
Giving a sigh, Malefor backed away from him as he didn't see a need in continuing this conversation, "I'm not going to make this a problem anymore," Backing up and going to close the door, he gave his final warning to him, "Cynder isn't looking for love. If you were Spyro, you'd stay away and understand she doesn't want to love anymore. If we see you again, you'll be banished or worse," Watching as Spyro tensed up with anger, he didn't care, and ignored this by shutting the door on him, and after he did, he gave a huge sigh, "The hell is wrong with those that live," Turning around and walking to the two, he stood in front of the two, watching as Cynder about to have a anxiety attack, "Cynder... I'm sorry you had to see that again... to experience that again... And I..."
"I need to talk with Ignitus," Cynder cried as her body shivered, and not from her feeling of fear, but the cool feeling that was still left in her body, "This... These shivers... They aren't from fear..." Turning around and running to get to the Chambers, the other two quickly ran up and followed her, and with both running fast enough to run at her right side, she cried, "The feeling of his paw... it was warm... while still being cold... The shivers... Damn it! That wasn't a normal ice dragon! It couldn't have been! I need to know... I... Damn it..." Stopping close to the Chamber entrance, she had to slow down as her body slammed to the left wall and she heaved in her breaths as she started to sweat, "No... no... no..."
"Cynder," Carith cried, helping support her friend to stand, and in case he was needed, Malefor stood behind her, "It wasn't him, that wasn't him. It's just your body trying to fight with itself. Your anxiety is only going to get worse, and with what's happened, it's setting off your PTSD," Looking behind her and to her right, she needed to the help of Ersa, "Malefor, go get Ersa so she can help with some medicine. There might be some for..."
"No!" Cynder cried, controlling herself and standing up on her own without the wing support of her friend, "I don't need medicine! All I need is to know if that was Spyro or not... I... I need to know," Walking on her own, Carith backed away and watched both from her eyes, her words, her determination, she wanted to know badly know who this was, but Carith and Malefor knew the truth, "I'm not giving up... I... I need to know."
Making it to the Guardians Chambers, everyone was out in their normal line up, and they all gasped to see the condition Cynder was in, and following right behind her were the other two. Running up and grabbing Cynder with her wing, Ersa looked to Volteer and called to him as she knew how to help, "Volteer, right most of the table, there's a red..."
"No!" Cynder cried once again, making everyone look at her, and even making Ersa stop as she didn't understand why she had stopped her, "Ignitus..." Looking up to the red dragon, he shuck his head, giving her indication that it wasn't him, but she didn't believe him, "No... No-no-no, that had to be Spyro! It... it had to be! It... had to be..."
"Cynder... I already checked," Ignitus spoke, and while Malefor and Carith sat off to the left side of the Chambers, he continued his reason why, "I checked his mind, his memories. Worst case, this is Flint trying to trick you with a dark manifestation of him, but I guess... best, case... he's just a painted dragon with some darkness to hide his thoughts, but as of right now, I can say for certain, that's... not my son... And it's not your... lover," Seeing her clench her teeth, Ignitus felt terrible, and so did everyone else as they understood and have seen this many times before, "If he does show up, I can deal with him. But for now, I can't even see where he is."
"Should've brought that bastard up here so you could've dealt with him," While Malefor spoke, Cynder pulled herself together and stood up on her own, and with her walking over to the left side of the Chambers, Ersa stood in the middle for a little bit longer to make sure she was okay, and once she knew for sure, she backed away and went back to standing next to her mate, "But for the time being, let's just forget that encounter even happened, even as annoying as it was. I do have to admit one thing though, the only thing that he had in common with our old friend was how annoying he was," Seeing Cynder tense up as she looked to the ground, he backed off of it and apologized, "Sorry... Cynder... I... didn't mean it..."
"Yet I miss it so much..." Cynder cried, even giggling once she had eased up her body, "You and Spyro messing around, calling each other out for stupid and simple reasons... I'm tired of being this way... I'm tired of being this weak... this... fragile... I miss our days at the beach, our days as an all out brawl... because I knew... at the end of the day, we could all come home and smile... hehehe..." It was something everyone missed, and no matter how many times it was brought up, it was still something they all dreamed of doing once again, something they all hoped to go back and do, "It's not the same... it wouldn't be the same without any of you..."
"Hehe, I mean, without Volteer..."
"Back off," Ersa giggled as she threatened him, causing the others to laugh as well.
Once the laughing had died down, Malefor gave another chuckle as he agreed with the previous statement, "That is something I missed though... fighting him... And just to test him, and to kick that fake's ass, I would've and should've challenged and humiliated him as I have before..."
"I dare you to try it," Hearing a voice from the left side of the entrance, Malefor turned and growled as he knew who it was, but he wasn't able to do anything as a paw shaped rock shot up from the ground and slammed his back against the wall, "There... I win," Walking around the corner, Terrador growled to see the imposter and shot a spear of rock right at him, but he didn't react as it flew right past his head, and this made Spyro chuckle, "Nice scare tactic. You know, even after hearing all that you all supposedly did, you haven't shown much improvement."
"And I can see you haven't improved your... paint!" Malefor growled, trying to catch his breath as the grip around his neck was getting tighter.
"Shut up about this paint shit!" Spyro cursed, walking up to him and tightening the grip around his neck to point of where he couldn't breath, "Not nice to have a say, right?! Not nice to be able to say anything?! Right?!"
"SPYRO!" Cynder yelled out to him, seeing as everyone was about to attack him, she wanted to stop this situation quick, and he looked at her as she yelled his name, "Put him down and back off!" Giving a sigh, he did as he was told, loosening the grip around his neck and once the paw let it's grip entirely, it molded back into the ground, "Now back off of him," Once again, he did as he was told, backing away from him and turning to walk over to Cynder, but she stopped him as he made it to the middle of the room, "No..." He stopped where he stood, scared as he knew what that meant, "You're not sitting next to me. Only my lover has ever been the one to sit by my side with his wing on my back."
He gave a sigh as he didn't understand why everyone was against him, so Spyro tried his best to show he wasn't some fake, "Look... Everyone," As he spoke, he turned to face everyone as he talked, trying his best to convince them he was whom he said he was, "I'm not a fake, I don't know what paint is, I'm not dead, and I can prove that I'm who I say I am," Pulling up a paw, he pulled up the four elements in his paw with each forming around his palm; first fire, then ice, lighting, and finally, earth, "There... does this prove that I am a purple dragon?" Seeing as still no one was convinced, he laughed as there was no way anyone else could've done something like that, "Oh come on... hehehe... No way anyone else has the four elements aside from dib-shit over here."
While Malefor growled at him for his words, Ignitus explained to him why this wasn't an excuse, "Dragons out there have been able to fake the use of elements, both in use and not. And same goes for the dark power my son once processed. Unfortunately, when some went after the power to get with Cynder, they got corrupted, and that was a huge issue we had to deal with," Seeing Spyro give a huge sigh, he also made it harder to prove his innocence as he explained more, "I can't read your thoughts for there is darkness swarming your brain, and since you've become a problem... I'm sorry... but if you don't leave right now, I will just preform a memory wipe."
"Good luck," Spyro smiled, confusing everyone, "You can't do such a thing with my darkness blocking your power," That was surprising to everyone as that was something only Spyro would know, but unfortunately, he spoke again which made their suspicions go away, "Then again, I don't really remember all that much. My mind is trying to control my memories for the time being so they all don't flood in I'm assuming. Which, pat on the back, sure I got it right."
"Look here, bitch," Malefor growled as he was the most aggressive one towards him which Spyro couldn't figure out why, "You don't have a decent back story, your powers can easily be manipulated, and the only thing I can say you did right well enough is your color scheme. Cynder doesn't want you, anymore, alright?! Now once again, please, leave, or else! Ignitus can't erase your memory, but he can send you across the other side of the earth."
"Hehe, love to see that happen too since I can break the sound barrier and get back here in seconds, unlike your slow fat ass," Spyro fired back, looking him dead in the eye as he turned to face him.
"Is that a challenge then?!"
"Against you, more like a slap to the face, Malefor. Carith wouldn't see your ass for days."
"I could easily beat you back here by just cheating."
"Did you do that when Carith wasn't watching."
"Ha-ha... Unlike you, I would never do such a thing!"
"Funny cause, I remember a Dragoness on the way here saying I looked so close to Spyro that, even if I wasn't him, she'd still bang me."
"Oh, she would. Can't believe she would mate with a little bitch ass such as yourself."
"You were the only one who's taken damage as to say so far, so who's the punk ass little bitch there?!"
"Enough!" Terrador growled, making both of the two look over at him as he had enough with this constant back and forth.
"Is it weird that I... enjoyed watching them fight?" Volteer whispered to his mate, and since Cyril heard him say something, he agreed along with Ersa as they nodded at him.
"You come in here, insult those around you, giving up bull shit lines of reasoning as to why you could be our long lost friend, and I'm sick of this shit!" Terrador growled with intense frustration, slamming his paw down to the ground as he took his right paw a step forward, and with his step, the surrounding area around his paw cracked, "You've have pushed and pushed, but now, it's time we push back! Malefor, let's just take him down! Ignitus, get ready for a mind wipe."
With Terrador getting into a fighting stance, Spyro wondered how they would take him on, along with take his memories, but Malefor had a great idea as he prepared for a fight, "That's right. If it's this darkness protecting his mind, we just need to take that, then he has nothing to protect him," Hearing that this was now turning into more of an issue, Spyro now made sure his guard was up beyond what he could imagine, "This is your last time, dragon... Get out, leave this place, or forget it all together," Seeing his body flex up, he knew what this meant, and gave a sigh as he prepared to attack, "Unfortunate."
With a quick snap of his paw, Malefor threw his paw forward for a punch, and for Spyro, he moved in nearly normal speed while everything else walked nearly at a crawl. Seeing the attack, Spyro dodged, took a couple steps forward, wrapped his paw over and down his arm, and using his other paw, he grabbed Malefor by the neck and slammed him to the wall, now with both standing up on two paws. Snapping his arm down, Malefor couldn't move at all as his neck was being held, prevented his breath, and for his arm, he knew if he made a move, he would snap it. Both Terrador and Cyril used their best of their abilities, each shooting a shard straight to his body. Using his tail blade, Spyro turned up the heat in his tail blade, and in doing so, the ice shard melted away as it touched his blade, and the remains of the liquid dripped down and burned onto his scales as it splashed to the side of his body. Moving his tail blade up in a snap after stopping the first attack, he hit the earth shard and changed it's course right to Malefor. Skipping a beat, Malefor watched as the shard past right next to his head and slammed to the wall beside him, just barely missing him and his head. Backing up and ready to attack herself, Carith didn't know what to do as she knew if she had done something, what would happen to her lover, If I make a move, and I fail, he could break his arm and come for me... What do I do my love? Surprisingly to everyone, Spyro spoke as he looked to the Guardians with a face of disgust, "I'm not hurting you, nor am I going to hurt Malefor. But for the Guardians," Burning fire through his scales as to build up his attack, he warned the girls, "Claire, Ersa, move out of the way!" Not doing as they were told, they watched as the fire spun around his mouth as he opened it, and instead of moving, both girls moved in front of their lover's, "Great..."
"If you don't want to hurt me... or my lover... then let me go!" Malefor growled, but he wasn't budging as he watched the fire within Spyro's mouth spin like a sphere, ready up to attack, "You wouldn't hurt the girls! Stand down, Spyro, alright?! We can talk about this," Since his words weren't working, he was left with no choice but to try his best and attack, "Damn it..."
Swinging his free left paw around to slice the back of Spyro's head, this proved to be a mistake as he saw this attack coming. Pulling his paw away from his neck, Malefor couldn't believe his speed. In an instant, Spyro slammed his fist to his throat, already making his attack useless, and using his left paw that was wrapped around his arm, he spun him around and threw him to the ground. Slamming the side of his face to the ground, Spyro placed his paw against his head now still ready with his attack. Now with this display of power, they we're starting to question who this dragon was, and Carith tried her best to help, "You said you wouldn't hurt him! Which means if you're lying about that, what else could you be lying about?!" Seeing as he was pulling his paw back for an attack, Carith took matters into her own paws, forming a shard of ice in her paw and warning him, "Girls are weak, aren't they," Running up to his back, everyone watched as she raised her ice shard above his back, and standing on her back two paws, she grabbed the shard with her two paws, "You are a classic male then!"
Taking his paw down from Malefor's face, he pushed his head upwards with his paw before spinning around out of the attack and appearing behind Carith. She was unable to stop her attack, but since he had moved Malefor's head, her ice shard just missed his head once again, slamming down to the ground underneath his head. Everyone noticed this, seeing that he was trying to keep him safe, but even still, the fire in his mouth still burned, and walking up next to Carith, she stood there in defeat, shaking as she had almost killed her lover, and knowing there was nothing left to stand in his way, Spyro closed his mouth. Lighting up his body red, he opened his mouth, but before he could use his attack, he coughed up the fire and burned the floor as he looked down. No one knew what had happened, but watching as he put a paw on the side of his neck, they watched as he looked at the green liquid, and with everyone realising who it was, they all looked to Cynder. She had also been in a fighting stance, but Spyro never noticed, not even considering her a threat, "Cy... Cynder... You..." Staggering to stand, his body fell to his left, but just before he was to hit the ground, he stopped himself and kneeled to the ground, violently breathing as the poison started to infect and attack every part of his body, "Damn..." Breaking her ice shard, Carith helped Malefor back to his paws, and everyone thought Spyro was going crazy, "Damn... my... love... Hehehe, Ugh!" Coughing to the ground, he still tried his best, even as the poison was paralyzing his body, "I knew this is... something we wanted to mess around with but... Damn," Now losing his grip on his body, he fell to his side, splashing in his own magma and barely able to breath as his body sweated to the point of dehydrating him, "No... No..."
"There you go, Cynder," Terrador smiled now with the threat paralyzed, and with this, he saw this as their opportunity, "Now, Malefor, take away his dark power. Ignitus, once his mind is cleared, wipe his memory immediately. Do not hesitate. If we know anything about the darkness, it will come back quick, so be ready to erase his memory," Watching as Malefor walked up to his body, he walked to his front and placed his paw on his side, ready to do as he was told, "Alright, good. Now, Ignitus, get ready."
"Wait...!" Spyro cried, shedding tears as he laid there on the ground, unable to stop anything for the time being, "I need to stall while my... darkness neutralizes this poison. Please... Malefor... Dad... don't do this..." With how he sounded, both scared and afraid with a sense of sadness, Malefor backed his paw, struggling in what to do, "I get it... I understand why you're... all scared... but give me... the chance."
"You were going to hurt the girls! You were going to burn my mate!" Volteer growled, most upset with his mate almost getting burned.
"Hehe... aside from punching Malefor in... the throat... did anyone else get hurt...?" His words were right, and even Volteer backed up slightly as it was a true statement, "I can control my fire even better then you, dad... Most I would've done was a... scare tactic to get you all to understand... I'm your friend," Trying to move his head and take a peak to his lover, he chuckled as he never thought of one thing, "I didn't know my love would've attacked... me... So I didn't even think about her involvement at all," Seeing her clench her teeth as she looked away, he knew what it could've been, and tried his best to help, "It's okay... Cynder..." Hearing his comforting voice, she looked back at him, trying to calm herself as she watched him try and stand, and everyone gasped as to how, "Now that the poison is slowly but surely being destroyed by my darkness," Reaching a paw up, Spyro asked with a smile, "Can you help me up, Malefor?"
Not knowing what to do, he growled for a second, not wanting to trust him, but the fight that just happened was enough for him to understand him a little more. Reaching his paw down and grabbing his arm, Spyro did the same, and he pulled him up, "Punching me in the throat is something I'm going to remember," As Spyro stood up, Malefor saw more of him being the real one that they all hoped to see again, and he was honest, "But I do... thank you.. If Carith would've hurt me when she wasn't trying... she would've been devastated."
"Hehe, yeah, I know. That's why I pushed your head upwards some. Just make sure you watch when you swing you fist. Putting all that force into something leaves you wide open," It was strange that he was being lectured by this dragon, but Malefor just went along with it, nodding before walking back over to his lover and snuggling up with her from what had happened, "And for the others," Looking to Terrador, he watched as he showed his teeth, and Spyro tried to understand him as well, "I get it. You're hurt, and you think I'm going to make it worse, but once I make things better, I want a big apology..."
"But you're not going to be here for it..." Cynder cried, looking down to the ground, and it was such a surprise to everyone that some gasped, while others had wide eyes, "I don't want you here, I don't want you near anyone else, and ever since you arrived, you've been nothing but trouble," Picking up her head and seeing his sadness, he tried to defend himself, but she broke his heart with her words, "I don't care! I don't care if you're Spyro or if you're not...! I... I've learned that, with Spyro's death... I've been stuck in this... hell... And I've been trying to keep hope that he would one day would return... but even if he did... I've lost everything I've once felt for him."
Spyro's body grew cold, nearly lifeless, and for the others, Volteer nudged his mate and others as he got their attention, both wanting to focus on Cynder and how this dragon reacted to her words. Not knowing what to say, he tried his best to keep things a light tone in hopes that he would be able to talk her out of what she's said, "Well... even after learning I've been gone for three years... I've never given up on you," Walking up to her and standing in front of her, she growled as his words made it hard for her to try and move on, "That's why when I was walking through Warfang, making sure everything was okay, I came straight up here, even after a dragoness or ten asked to mate with me."
"Then you should've taken them up on their offer," Cynder growled, turning to her right and walking away from him and to the Chamber entrance, "I'm done," Spyro watched as she stood at the Chamber entrance, and he didn't know what to say once again, he didn't know what to do, "If you truly were Spyro, you'd want what's best for me. Letting go of you means that I let go of these emotions that I don't want anymore. So... if you wish to protect me as you have before, you can do so... but either way... we're... done," Turning around and seeing the lifeless body she gave to him cause of her words, she continued to make sure that he was at his lowest point, "I've already had plans of what I've wanted in my future and... you're just... you aren't in them. I do hope that you do find someone else to love... And like I said, if that is you, Spyro... my love," Hearing her call him by what she use to, he had hopes that she was joking, but her finally words sealed the break up, "When I find my new mate... I'm... not going to call you that anymore. Just... Spyro..."
His body felt as though his soul had left him, and even his own powers as his body felt weak, and trying his best one more time, he couldn't let her go, "But, Cynder!" Running up and taking couple of steps, he cried as tried his best, "Bu... But... What happened to forever?! What happened to everything we use to do, what happened..." Clenching his claws and crying, he couldn't handle losing her, "What happened to your words in the volcano... 'Then I'm with you'...?" Everyone gasped as this was something they had never heard before, and even though he tried to talk more, they focused on what he said before, "And same as back then, you leave me now... what do I have left to fight for... I just... Please... let me make it up... let me have one more chance."
Thinking about what to do, she looked to Malefor and wiggled a claw to her left, and he understood as he saw this. Sighing, Cynder once again had to reject him, "You've saved me countless times, and every time, I've almost lost you... I can't handle this fear, these emotions of almost losing you. To me, you're a hero... and I can't love a hero, cause... every hero's life ends before it beings. And that's what happened to the Spyro I loved; He died a hero... and I... well... I will continue to live in this world without him. In my eyes, he's gone. So even if he were to return... the hero I loved... my hero... is dead," Now seeing she had destroyed all hope, she couldn't tell if he was a fake or not, but for the time being, she needed to keep up her act, "So this is... goodbye..."
Turning around and walking away, she turned the corner of the Guardians Chambers, and knowing she was out of sight, she stood against the wall and listened to what was said or done. Everyone so far watched as he dropped tears from his eyes, standing there and looking at the ground as though he had lost everything. After a couple of minutes, no one had said anything, but for Spyro, he knew exactly what it was that he needed to say. Picking up his head, it made sense to him, everything that was told to him, "Ignitus... Please... can you do me one favor... one last favor from father to son," Everyone believed it to be something to help get with Cynder, but it was the exact opposite, "I need you to wipe my memories as you've all tried to do for a while."
"What?!" Everyone cried.
"Spyro, think about..."
"THINK ABOUT WHAT?!" Spyro cried, interrupting Malefor as he tried to help, and even with his yell, it wasn't frustration, but defeat, combined with his depressed state, "What do I have to lose?!" Turning and looking at everyone, he walked more to the middle of the room and cried as he spoke about everything, "I've lost everything I've cared about! I lost my friends, I lost my family... I lost the love of my life... And it seems as of right now..." Sitting down in the middle of the Chambers, everyone looked away from him and saw Cynder peaking her head around the corner to see what was happening, "Maybe Cynder was right; I died a hero, and coming back now is pointless."
Trying to get more information out of him, Cyril finally spoke as he wanted to take a shot at a question, "What do you mean you lost your family? Just go back to your mother and father."
"Shut up," Spyro growled, now with frustration, and attacked Cyril with his voice, "But what a great and shitty idea! Let me go dig up my parents dead bodies! Let me lay next to their skeletons! Oh that's right, I can't, because I don't who my parents were, where they died, or even when they died!"
"Is this another death cause of what's happened during the war?" Claire asked, already hearing of what he said, but she wanted more information, "I know you said all of that about your parents, but do you have any clue?"
"Is this supposed to be a joke?! My parents were killed because of Malefor's control over my lover!" Spyro yelled, turning his attention and focusing on Malefor, and seeing him open his mouth to try and defend himself, he told him to shut it, "I don't give a shit who it was! Dark Master, Malefor, who cares! You used that against me, you tried to take Cynder away from me when you revealed she killed my parents! Well now how does it feel to know you succeeded!" Hearing his words, everyone was in shock as this seemed like the most real Spyro they had ever met, but he knew himself, he wasn't to stay for long, "You... succeeded... You took everything from me... My parents, my family turned against me... and Cynder... doesn't love me anymore..."
"Spyro, that's not true," Malefor murmured, feeling bad now as he was becoming a villain once again, and it made sense as to why he would think that, "We're all still your friends and family. We just aren't to a fake."
"Then would it matter?" Spyro questioned himself, and his questions scared everyone as it seemed crazy for him when he put two and two together, "I'm either alive, but Cynder moves on and becomes someone else's mate which means... where would I be? And if everyone believes that I'm dead... does that mean that I would be better off dead...?" Turning away from Malefor and looking down to the ground, he murmured what he spoke, but it was loud enough for Cynder to hear, "She's right... she's been trying to push these emotions away, and if I were to come back, would reuniting those emotions with herself only hurt her and force her away from me... She was going to walk outside, wasn't she... and because of me... she broke down... and it was my fault."
"That was... the plan. Cynder never left her room or this building for that matter for three years cause she... she wanted to experience the world with you as she had before..."
"Like when I helped her swim, when we flew with one another... and... when I showed her what it was like to feel alive..." The fact that Malefor didn't have to finish what he was saying and Spyro summed it well, the others looked at him with wide eyes, and even Cynder took and step forward into the Guardians Chambers, "I messed up her life by being in it... and I'm messing up her life even now just by coming back... Which means... I... don't belong here anymore."
"No, Spyro, look, we think you're a fake, that doesn't mean you should go off and leave us."
"And the only reason we think you're a fake is just cause of what's happened in the past," Carith joined in as well, and having support of others, it didn't do much for him.
"Even with what happened... I couldn't... erase your memories... I would've needed to know for sure cause... we all miss you, Spyro," Ignitus spoke, and for him, he believed it was his son, but he needed a little more proof, and he hoped they would get it some how, "And it does make this hard for all of us though. We've had multiple fakes that we believed, and just as we were getting attached... they would do something and reveal that they aren't who they say they were."
"They've all tried to get with Cynder, basically. No matter the cost," Claire spoke, and finally, his words made him lift his head.
"No one has been successfully of course. Neither in kissing her or... trying to mate with her either. She slit a dude's stomach in half for trying something like that. We almost weren't able to save him, but unfortunately, we did," Terrador growled, thinking of all the dragons that have come by through the years of their lives.
"So you could see why it's difficult to trust you, Spyro," Cyril murmured.
"Not to pat you on the back if you are a fake, but you're the closet to a Spyro of our past then any of the others. Your moves are incredible, flexible and nearly unpredictable. And taking Cynder out of your equation is," Not wanting to give him anymore information, Volteer coughed to stop himself as he apologized, "Sorry, but in case you are a fake, I don't want to give out information that you could use to get with her, and or give this information to someone else."
They all watched as Spyro was thinking, wondering about something, and for them, they all believed this was a bad thing, knowing that he must be faking to get with Cynder. Now knowing what it is he wanted to do, Spyro turned and gave a sigh, "Malefor," With Spyro turning around, Cynder quickly jumped back and hid behind the wall, once again listening to what he had to say, "I don't want to be one of these fakes. As far as this world knows... Spyro is dead, and my journey has ended." Walking to the entrance, he stopped a couple of steps and sniffled as he tried to hold back his tears, "Malefor... Everyone... Please... continue to watch over her while I go and... live my life as a ghost from now on. I can't control the darkness surrounding my brain, but once I do, Ignitus, contact me like that so I may help. But if I don't respond... it's most likely cause I'm dead... Hehe... but the good news is... you can't kill the dead... right?"
Watching as he took another step, the Guardians stood up while Malefor cried out to him, "Spyro, wait!" With his name being called, he stopped and listened to what he had to say, "And what do I tell Cynder? If she learns you're another fake, it will hurt just as bad as all the other times. Leaving her would make things worse for her, so if you are the real Spyro, go after her, give her the kiss she needs and desires."
It was an obvious bait for everyone to see through, but for Spyro, all he did was answer honestly, "She doesn't love me anymore... She's moved on from me, so saying nothing will help her forget about me more then before, and soon, I will just let my body be consumed in my darkness so she'll never have to remember me. I will only make things worse if I stay, if I... tried to change her mind," Everyone looked at one another as now they all stood up, wondering if they should go after him or not, "I'll never give up on Cynder though... If she needs me, I'll be there, even if she doesn't love me... Even if she doesn't know it's me."
"Before you leave, at least tell her goodbye!" Malefor cried out, and while it seemed serious, Spyro chuckled with a very noticeable cry.
"Apparently I told her goodbye years ago, and she just said goodbye to me so... what else is there left to do?" Waiting for a response, he knew he wasn't to get one either way, and letting the darkness consume his body, Spyro gave his final farewell, "This is what I get for not being strong enough to protect her as I've trained so long for... And I must must pay the price... So... for now... Malefor... please continue to take care of everyone as you have... as I've trusted you to do for so long... And... for me... I guess this is goodbye... Everyone."
"Spyro! Don't!" Everyone cried, but with his speed, he disappeared in a dark cloud of smoke.
With the room filling in with nothing but silence, they could all only stand there, looking at one another, taking more breaths then normal as they were once again getting attached to a once long lost friend. Since they had nothing to say, they looked back to the entrance to see Cynder had walked backed into open space, and even for everyone else, while they were taking this situation bad, for her, it was much, much worse. Making it to the middle of the room, she nearly fell as she sat down in the middle of the room, tears constantly forming in each of her eyes at separate times with no end or way of control. Seeing as her condition was only becoming more of a worry, Ersa once again needed for Cynder to get the help she needed, "I'm sorry, but... We can't risk this," As she was the only one speaking, everyone looked to her, especially Cynder as she wanted to know what everyone else was thinking, "I miss him, I really do, but look at us. We have a hint of him back once again, but once he reveals to be a fake, it's just another part of us to be destroyed, unattached and desensitized from that of our real, friend," Unfortunately to everyone, what she was saying made sense to everyone, and even as bad as it was, Cynder herself wanted to agree, "Forget the fake, Forget this interaction we had. For now, Volteer, Cynder needs the medication I've made."
"Now, hold on, Ersa," Cyril spoke before anyone else, surprising everyone as he seemed to disagree, "We can't just focus on what's happened before, but instead, what just happened. I mean, that small but simple fight. Just that right there is enough to convince me that, maybe... Maybe that really was... Spyro."
"And during the entire fight, he never tried to hurt anyone," Volteer also had to disagree with his mate, but he understood where she was coming from, "We all don't want to get attached and have this be another fake, we've been through it enough. But, as me and Cyril said, that was the first time that someone has ever spoken to Malefor in such a smooth, non kind of a threat manner. Remember, as I've said, explanation is far different then execution."
"Like that one dragon who was told what to do and say, but because he didn't remember or see who we were, he failed rather quickly in trying to be a fake," Claire understood that of which Volteer was saying, and even for her, this seemed too real, too quick, "That was the first dragon that was able to react rather quickly, easily, like he's practiced for years. Ever since Spyro had even passed."
"Or he's had the experience since the day he met us," Ignitus murmured, feeling worse and worse about this situation the more they talked about it, "He has been only two of all the others whom have noticed me as a father to him, and not just someone he knows."
"But that was just the last dragon we had. This fake could've learned about that to use it against us," Terrador pointed it out, making it worse on this fake or real version of Spyro.
"Unfortunately... Even as much as I wish to agree for him to be a possibility, there is nothing we can do," Malefor sighed, wishing he could agree after all he had seen, "Hehe... Maybe word got out he was a drama queen but... Then again... when we first saw him... at the door..." Cynder watched as he thought about it, hoping he would change his mind about what he was saying, but to her dismay, he shuck his head, "There's nothing more I would love to do right now then fight my good old friend... But I feel like what we need to do is wait. See if this fake is devoted to his words. After a couple months, then we can know for sure."
"Months?" Carith asked, and while it seemed like a good long while, it really wasn't compared to how long they've already waited, "Then again, we've waited three years and counting for him, so... Maybe waiting another couple of months would be a great idea."
"And what's my say in this?!" Cynder cried out, taking a couple steps back away from everyone as she had faith.
"Cynder... don't do this," Volteer warned, getting ready for a fight as he knew what would happen when she got like this, "You need those gems to help you. This... fake, will turn you against us as others have before, and how some have tried on purpose. You remember it."
"We can't let our emotions blind us, Cynder," Ersa also agreed, backing up Volteer in his decision, "Please, let us help you. We will deal with this and you can..."
"Move on?!" Cynder growled, clenching everyone part of her body in frustration as she wanted this to be real, for this nightmare to be over after years of punishment, "If you lost your mate, you wouldn't wait another month! Hell, you wouldn't wait a day if you knew you could have him back! Each of you would do the same thing! So let me be the one to face this, let this one be on me, and let me, as a nearly twenty year old adult, make her own decision!"
"And if he's fake, will you be able to keep your darkness in check to not kill him and turn on us?" Malefor murmured, making everyone frown as they remembered that fake, "If that darkness around your heart that Spyro gave you gives out, what then? Without Spyro, I can't train this darkness at all, and with his darkness around your heart attacking as a defense against anything else... I was barely able to save that dragon you sliced in half, let alone you." Talking about the darkness that surrounded her heart, she put her paw against her chest and clenched it, begging for his return, "Please... Just let us discuss this more while you get some sleep. We have high hopes that... in the morning, you'll feel even better then before. Volteer and Ersa have found a way to help keep your anxiety levels almost no existent."
Slamming her paw down to the ground from her chest, Cynder yelled as she didn't want to be who she was any longer, "I can't be this! Anymore! I don't want to take these gems, I don't want to feel this way any longer!" Feeling her breathing starting to get out of her control, her body was starting to shut down to control her emotions, which she hated, "Stop trying to make me feel like how I want to! How I use to! Both you all and my damn, worthless excuse of a body!" Turning away from everyone, she threatened as she wanted to do as she believed, "If this is a fake, I will deal with his death with ease. But when I wake up tomorrow, I'm talking matters into my own paws!"
While Cynder ran away from everyone and up to her house, Malefor and everyone else tried to call out to her, "Cynder! Wait!"
Letting out sighs, everyone felt the same way about what was happening as well, wanting to break down and wish this could all just end, but with still no end in sight, Malefor for the time being just wanted to help, "I'm going to go... talk to her," Walking around and past his lover, he looked at her and nudged his head for her to follow, "Come on, my love. She might need your help as well."
With the doors to the main hallway of the house opening, Cynder ran inside, turned right and straight over to her room. Flinging the door open as she grabbed the door knob, she turned around as she entered the room and slammed the door shut. Standing by the door and looking at it, she couldn't believe what she was doing, how she was acting to everyone, and looking down at her paws, she sat down and looked down as she trembled, having flashes of how, no matter how long it's been, she's never been able to move on. Clenching her eyes shut, she put a paw around her wrist while using her other paw and holding it close to her chest, Please... Spyro... come back to me. Using her darkness, she listened as his heart continued to beat, but she couldn't understand why, Why... Why can I still feel your heart beat... my love.
"I'm right behind you, silly," Jumping from a sudden voice, Cynder spun around and showed her tail blade by her side, but seeing who it was, she gasped and eased up as Spyro spoke, "Sorry. I didn't mean to spook you," He laid on his stomach in the middle of the bed, and with the sunlight lighting up the room, his colors around his body shined as perfectly as she could remembered them being, "I... would ask if you'd want to sit by me but... I... just came her to talk. Not make a move, not, to try and get with you... I just want you, and no one else."
Hearing his last words, instinctively, she both smiled and laughed as she took a step forward. Freezing up with fear, she tried to suppress those emotions as she didn't want to get her hopes up so high and give this dragon, if a fake, the smile that he was fishing for, so she had to growl at him instead, "I told you I didn't want you here. What ever you have to say, I don't want to hear it," Walking up towards the bed, she watched as he frowned, even more so as she threatened him, "Now get out," Feeling a stab to her heart, she knew this was wrong, and couldn't do this, but she didn't know what to do, and seeing him stand up, she stopped him, "Wait!" Hearing a knock at the door, she turned to look at the door, but before saying anything, she looked back at her bed to see he was gone, "Sp... Spyro...?"
Opening up the door, Malefor peaked in some before opening the door fully, "Hey, Cynder. It's just us," Watching as she turned to look at the two in fear as they walked into the room, he wanted to apologize, "We're... sorry about..."
"It's fine!" Cynder cried, making both of the two look at her with wide eyes, not understanding why she changed so quickly in her emotions, "If you really want to make me feel better," Turning from the two, she jumped up to her bed, and once she was on it, she turned and faced the two, continuing what she had said, "Please just... let me get some sleep. I apologize as well for what I had said and I will... back off. Just... please... go back and talk with the others."
They were both confused by what she was saying and doing, but seeing her curl up into a ball and close her eyes, making her tears fall down her eyes and onto the bed, staining it for the time, they both sighed, but agreed to what she had said. Turning away and trying to stay as quiet as they could be, Carith was the first to leave the room, then soon following behind was Malefor. Grabbing the door knob with his tail, he slowly shut the door behind himself, and waiting a couple more seconds, Cynder listened and heard as the door clicked shut. Now wait a couple more seconds... Listening as hard as she could, she heard as the two started to talk before their voices got further and further, become less and less understandable and later, quiet. Picking up her head now and facing straight at the door, she hoped that what she was about to do would work. Looking up at her ceiling, she gave it another couple of seconds, and knowing she was in the clear, she closed her eyes and let her darkness activate that of which was around her heart, Please... come back. Opening her eyes very slowly, she didn't hear or feel anything happen, not even the movement of the bed which made her fear. Shedding some more tears, she begged in a cry, "Spyro... please... come back to me..."
"Where would you like me to sit, though?"
Hearing his voice, her head snapped back down, and looking in front of her was once again the purple dragon of before. Seeing his smile, she smiled wide as well, and even though this feeling was coming back, she knew which one to fight and which one to use, "Look I'm... I'm sorry about what I've said but... I... I have so many questions," Seeing him smile, she could tell he was happy to answer, and for her, she wanted to put him to the test, "Now don't act like you're getting with me. Just want to test my bull shit meter. So, for the time being," Patting a paw next to her, he raised a brow as he viewed this as a test, but she assured him it wasn't, "This I'm telling you to do, not asking," Watching as he scooted over and put one paw up, he didn't want to move any other part, and seeing this, she giggled, "You're fine. I'm not going to bite."
Trusting her, he put his other paw on the bed and pulled himself up. Now on the bed, he turned to face the door as she had, laying down on his chest, and now comfortable next to her right, he wanted to known what she was playing at, "First you tell me goodbye, and now you want to talk to me?"
"Says the one who did the same thing," Cynder smirked.
"Hehe, you got me there. I saw you once I had... left... and I had hopes that, with what you heard, you would've changed your mind about me."
"Well, for now, my mind is... somewhat change. You have a chance to prove me that you're Spyro, but you'll only get this one chance, okay? And if you do have the right proof and attitude that he once had... I may change my mind and... fall back in love with you."
"Really?!" Spyro cried happily, and watching his smile as his head straightened out, along with his tail shaking from side to side, she giggled once again, but he tried to control himself, stopping his tail in the process, "I mean... Ahem... May the test begin? But then again, I can assure you, no matter what test it is... Hehe, well, I'm sure I know myself better then myself knows myself."
"Hehe... You have a way with words, don't you."
"I've learned being with you," Seeing her raise a brow, he backed his head up and mentally slapped himself as he walked right into that one, "I'm so stupid... I'm assuming that I'm leaning more to the fake side... aren't I?" Seeing her nod her head, his body nearly locked up, so for now, he took a deep breath in, and then out, and tried to be on his best behaviour, "Once you know it's me, we can go back to doing stuff like that, but I'm not jumping on it! It's your word... And your word is final. I just have to be myself and I shall and will, be fine."
"Alright then, Spyro... Let's put you through a couple of test, each one getting more and more difficult. First, we will start off easy, then medium, and then hard," She paused for a second, blushing as she remembered this tactic that Ersa and Volteer once spoke of, but seeing he was getting a little confused and not saying anything, she continued, "So, for the easy test. I want to ask you three simple questions, and I'm going to test something else of which I will... keep a secret. But for now, are you ready," Seeing him nod, even smiling, she wondered why, but for the time being, she continued with her tests, "When did we first meet? When did we first kiss? And finally, when did I say I loved you?"
Waiting to see if she had anything else to say, she now only looked at him, so this gave him the good to go to speak and answer the questions that were given to him. Giving a chuckle to her questions, she wondered as to why, but hearing his response made more sense to her, "Hehe, well, this is definitely an easy test. We technically first met was after I saved you in another dimension after I used all my powers to help you, even more technically, it was at the Dragon Temple after you had finally woken up. As for when we first kissed, you pecked me on the cheek in Avalar, but for our first real kiss, it was in our forest room after our battle with Malefor... I mean! The Dark Master," She was surprised at how in depth he was in his responses, but surprising her while also making her more suspicious was that he was who he said Malefor was, but his final response was what got her the most, "And for when you said you loved me... Well... You first told me that in the Volcano."
His final sentence made her eyes grew somewhat wide as it was something no one had ever said before, always making up such stories or even finding out the truth from other means. Correcting her emotions as she watched him smirk as though he was cocky, she growled and shrugged that off as a fail, "Many dragons before have used trial and error to found out such things. I told someone the truth before, so for now, I will count that as a failed test," She was surprised to see it didn't really seem to effect him, and she growled once again as she didn't understand why, "You just failed the easiest test. Why are you still smiling?"
"Well... It's the easiest test, which means others are going to pass it rather easily. Which means failing now doesn't mean much. As long as I pass the harder test, that helps me kick my rear in high gear and get my mind back to what it was," Once again, she was surprised by his response, how quick it was, like it flowed off his tongue without much thought whatsoever, "I am pretty pissed though that someone tricked you into saying that about our past."
"Pissed at me?"
"What?! Absolutely not. It's upsetting that others used you to get such information."
"Oh..."
"I hope you dealt with him."
"He was the one that... got closest to me," Cynder admitted, looking away from him as she frowned before facing forward at the door once again, and for Spyro, he was getting more back story as to what happened without even having to ask, "He was exactly like you... He tried everything in his power to act like my lover... and it worked... we never kissed or anything like that, but... after a couple of days... he grew angry that I wasn't being his lover. So... One day, in the training room, while everyone else was in the Chambers, he pinned me to the ground and I... Used my tail blade to cut through the entirety of his stomach."
"You seem upset about such a thing," His words made her look to him, wondering what he meant by it, "I would've been fine if you had killed him being honest. He used you... and the fact this has happened so many times over the years while I was gone... This... also is on me... and it's another reason I'm torn between staying... or leaving," Seeing he wasn't making the situation any better, he chuckled and smiled, thinking about something to help brighten up the situation, "Hey, Cynder. What do you say, after we're done talking, want to go kick Malefor's teeth in?"
"Hehe..." Giving a giggle, it seemed like fun to her as she hadn't heard someone say that in forever, "That... Sounds amazing," Looking at him with her smile, she could see he was enjoying this a little too much, and getting her control over these emotions, she snapped back to her other self to continue, "Anyway. Let's just move on to the hardest test then so I don't have to take up your time," Thinking about what she could say or do as a test to up the difficulty, a couple of things came to mind, and so she had a couple of questions for him to answer, "Last three questions. No big answers, just the answer." Once again, she watched as he once again paid close attention to her words as she spoke, "Who are your foster parents, who is the Chronicler, and who... Are my parents?" He had to think for a second, only mainly on the last question as he truly had no idea, and seeing him taking his time, she warned, "You have three more seconds to answer."
"Sorry sorry sorry... The first two are easy: Flash and Nina were my parents and Sparks was my brother. As for the Chronicler, there were two; The one whom we didn't know the name of who died and my father, Ignitus, took over. But for your parents..." Waiting for a response from him, he put a claw up to his chin, and not being able to find the answer, he shuck his head as he never even remembered hearing such a thing, "I guess I... fail... I don't ever remember you or anyone saying anything about your parents. I tried to use my wish to help but... you wouldn't let me. And I didn't want to learn of my parents before you after all that I've said of you being first so... I'm... sorry. But that's... all I remember." Giving a sad sigh, he frowned as he looked away from her, already knowing of what he should do, apologising even, "Maybe I did... and maybe when my darkness is done with my brain, I can remember... but I can't use that as an excuse." Watching as he stood up, Cynder did the same thing, and he was confused as to why, "Cynder... I'm... just going to leave..."
"No your not!" Cynder cried, making him back up slightly, which was enough for her to extend her left wing out widely and put it to his left side, "You're staying here!" Pushing her wing against his side, he fell to his side towards her, but jumping to her right, spinning around and ending up where he was, he was surprised to see how nimble she was, already on top of him while he was against his back on the bed, facing up at her, "I can't let this information get out, not any more. After what I've told you, you'll tell everyone else! And now by killing someone, they'll know how serious I am about these, fakes! Such as yourself," Bringing her tail blade around and raising it slightly above the side of her neck, she planned to use it, "You tried your luck! And now, unlike the others, you got burned."
It was confusing to him, seeing her anger towards him, and even though he didn't have all the details, he understood, and tried to understand all that he could by putting the pieces together, "Cynder... I get it... After all that's happened to you, you just want it to end... I know... cause I've seen it before," The more he talked, the more she eased up, letting her tail blade fall more and more below her neck and soon, to chest level, "At the Dragon Temple, you didn't want such emotions because you believed you didn't deserve them, you didn't deserve to be treated anymore then how those are treating you now. You've raised your tail blade to me before, and each and every time, I've never flinched. I know you'd never hurt me, because as I am to you, we love each other."
Clenching up from his words, she had enough, wanting it all to end. Taking her tail blade back up to the top of her neck, she cried out as she was done, "You won't be able to flinch when you're dead! With you gone, I will know he's dead, that my Spyro will never return, and I never have to worry about these... emotions... ever again!" She watched as he closed his eyes, easing up his body entirely, even giving very comforting breaths which only pissed her off more as she viewed this as a challenge, "You think this is a joke?! Fine! I've been the Terror of The Skies before, and I can be her again!"
Swinging her tail blade right to his head, she moved her blade last second, missing him and stabbing right into the bed next to his head. Letting out her heavy breaths, she saw as the entire time, he never seemed worried, never seemed scared or affected by what she was saying, only making her feel worse. Clenching her eyes shut and laying down on his chest, she later let the rest of her body follow as she laid on top of him, not even knowing what to do anymore. Feeling his wings drap over her back, she shivered for second, but feeling a comforting warmth come over her back and the rest of her body that eased throughout his scales, she felt this sense of ease, something she hadn't felt as well in years. Picking her head up and seeing he had opened his eyes, he smiled as well, giving off a soft voice as he chuckled, "I had this dream where you tried to kill me. Hehe... but don't worry. Not even the Ancestors can change my mind of who you are, my love."
His words got her to her breaking point, unable to hold back any longer as she had high hopes, hopes to the point where she put all she had into what she did next. Taking her tail blade out from the bed and standing above him, he wondered what she was to do, but suddenly, even for someone of his speed, he didn't expect for her lips to connect to his so suddenly. While he kissed, he felt terrible as he could feel how dry her lips were, not having kissed anyone in so long, but lucky, as before, he made sure to wet both his lips and her own as to make the kiss even more enjoyable. Luckily for him, hearing her give out a moan was good enough for him to know he did good, and now, for himself, he gave out a groan for the enjoyment of pleasure. Letting her lips back from his with ease, once she had disconnected her lips from his, she stood above him, smiling wide and crying in a murmur as she really believed it was him, "Sp... Spyro...? My love... It's you... isn't it..."
Giving a smile, he wanted to say one think to assure her, but with what had all been said now, he didn't know just how delicate she was until he made his joke, "That was crazy!" A snap of fear shot throughout Cynder's mind and body as Spyro change up his voice to a completely different dragon, making him seem as though his normal voice was a fake, "They said it couldn't be done, they said her lips would never touch any other males, yet, here I am! Oh man, I can't wait to tell the other guys! They are going to flip!" Giving out a chuckle as he thought it was funny, once he had stopped, he looked to see Cynder tensing, growing dark as her darkness started to consume her body, letting go of all control to anything which he immediately put a stop to, "Cynder!" Returning back to his normal voice, he rolled her over on her back by tossing her to her back with his wing, and now standing above her, he put a paw to her cheek and tried to calm her, "Cynder, Cynder! It's okay... It's okay... It's me... Spyro... It's, Spyro."
Seeing her trying to get back control, she looked up at him, struggling in what to do, whether giving control of letting go, "Spyro..."
"I'm so sorry... That was... stupid of me... After all you had said and... all that everyone else had said... I did that way too soon... and even still, it was... inappropriate and uncalled for," Moving his head down and nuzzling the side of his against hers, he stopped for a second and whispered as he believed this was something that wasn't spoken of or brought up, "You know, I don't believe this was ever brought up since everyone was thinking of... other things. But... you remember the first time we nuzzled? In the Volcano, after I believed Ignitus had died in the wall of fire?"
His words were enough to make her wings go around his back with ease, holding him close and making him fall more to her chest as she cried over his shoulder, crying with a smile and gaining control over her darkness as she now knew with a fact who it was, even after knowing for some time now, "Spyro... It's really you...! It's really... you... my love... It's really you..."
Instead of saying anything, he smiled and held her close, and now, for Cynder, she finally felt at peace, able to enjoy her life once again. For her, now having kissed him, her shivers had disappeared; Her fear, anxiety, and anger, it had all left her, now once again being replaced with all she had missed; Pleasure, Joy, and excitement. Taking her wings back, she watched as he backed up, standing above her and looking just as amazing as he always looked to her, "It took you long enough to save me, my love," Giving out a giggle to her own words, he chuckle while still feeling bad for what all she had been through, "With you back, I... My shaking, my panic and anxiety attacks feel... tamed. I don't feel scared anymore, I don't feel... depressed... I feel... Amazing..."
"Well, if you want to go do something, I'd be down. Though, first things first, I do need to have the others now understand it's me. But that posses another problem; If every ass hat out there spilled our history together, what do I do to convince them I am who I say I am?" Spyro asked, wondering if there would be a way, or if it would be pointless to even try, but luckily, his lover had his back.
"I don't think you have to worry about that. I wanted to find someone to love, so, it's either you came back and I fell in love with you, or, I found someone else, and fell in love with you. Simple."
"And while that does work... I don't want everyone to still think I'm dead. And by pushing it, what if someone else or you starts back with those... thoughts... and they hurt you once again?"
"Spyro, a couple of things. One, I've never discussed that nuzzle part. That right there already makes me want to throw you against the wall and make out with you. Second, you were the first of all whom never flinched when I attacked. Even making a joke like threatening them with my tail blade for love, it would make them fear."
"You don't mean?!" Getting off her, she wondered why, and seeing as he stood next to her, he reached out a paw and wanted to help her up, "Just... want to know if you're saying what I think it is you're saying." Smiling to the help of his paw, she grabbed it, and being pulled up, she now sat back as they were before with her being on the left and him being on the right, "Now, can you do the tail blade threatening thing with the voice? I know I have an idea, but, still want you to do it."
Giving a sigh while also blushing, she couldn't help but smile as she knew what he was trying to do, but she played along. Getting her tail blade and using the tip of it, she went from the bottom of his neck to the top as she threatened him, "Alright then, Spyro... just know, if you are a fake, I will not hesitate to take this neck of yours," Getting to his chin, the tip of her tail blade stood there, and getting close to his lips, she smirked, "But if you're not... I wouldn't mind you taking my neck... with those teeth of course." Giving off his normal shivers, she watched as he bit his lip in anticipation, and while tacking her tail blade back behind her, she giggled, "Now with you back, there's going to be a lot more of that."
"Me nibbling on your neck, or threatening?"
"Both!" Cynder responded rather quickly.
"Hehehe," Spyro laughed, also making Cynder laugh, finally enjoying herself and hoping this wouldn't change ever again, and once the laughing died down, he wanted to know what's next, "So, what do you say, my love? Once we go down there, I can threaten them all, take you as a hostage for fun and see how they react?"
"As fun as that would be... When we, do go down there... Be easy on them, Spyro. We were all affected very severely by your passing. And with all these fakes, we were all to our snapping points each time one of you, or, them, tried to show up. Malefor has always wanted to be your friend, and after losing you, he... Well... Like I said... We all didn't take your passing well."
"So then... I guess I have some what of an idea to calm everyone then and make they believe it's me. I do know that, once they are calmed down, do you want to come up her and make out till we run out of power," Seeing her open her mouth, he didn't know if she would've agreed or disagreed, but instead of waiting to hear her response, he declined what he said, "Wait wait wait. Never mind," It made her frown as she didn't understand why he would say no to something she had hoped for, but he was correct in his line of reasoning, "Sorry... It's just... every time now that I try to be romantic, I think about those other fakes and I... don't want to be like them."
"Hehehe," Hearing her laugh a little too hard, he chuckled himself even though he didn't know why she laughed, and watching as she turned and walked off the bed, she explained, "Well, for starters, you aren't like any of them, cause unlike them," Getting off the bed and looking at him, her lustful eyes and words made him blush red, "You got a taste of me," Seeing her words had stunned him, she giggled before waving a paw for him to follow, and once he had snapped out of it, he climbed off the bed and ran over to her, "Then again, you're the only one who's ever done such a thing so, you shouldn't surprised."
"Oh, I'm not surprised. It's just... the way you said that," Spyro smiled as he walked up to the door with her, but he admitted that he did like it, "And I feel... horrible for saying this but... I like... how you said it."
Watching as he grabbed the door knob and opened the door for her, she teased him on her way out. Getting her tail blade, she started from his chest this time, and making her way out to the hallway, the more her tail blade made it's way to his chin, "You better get use to it," With her blade gently going off his chin, she watched as he shivered once again, and now with her making it over to the main door, he quickly ran up to catch up next to her, making it to her left side in seconds, "But since you were the one that's been gone for so long, I get to pick the games that we play, okay?" The doors opening muted his sound as he swallowed hard, but she still saw this, and before she continued, she walked with him out of the room and to the Chambers, "Most of our games is going to end with you being the victim, and on your back of course. You no longer have power over me."
"Hahaha!" Spyro laughed, making her giggle as she knew exactly why, "You think I don't have control over you?" Seeing her look away from him with a smirk, Cynder blushed as she knew his words were going to make her change her mind, even though she hoped she would be victorious for once, "Seems my dark power over your mind has weakened and needs to be fixed. I shall have you locked up with me, and till you kiss my lips, you shall never leave."
"Hehehe... well... then I'm not going to be there for long... But better yet, what if I fought you against your ways?"
"Oh... Well, even if you did, you'll end up on your back with me above you as you've always have."
"You don't have to rub it in that I like looking at you."
"Hehehe. So did those other females apparently," Not noticing while he was talking, he instinctively walked into the Chambers with everyone looking at him with wide eyes while he made his way over to where he normally sat by the left side of the wall as they walked in, "Still didn't understand what they meant by that paint stuff though," While everyone looked at one another, even some showing their teeth as they watched him trying to get with Cynder, he was still clueless and continued to talk as he looked to his right and talked with his lover, "But as always, I stay loyal to my love. And always, hehe, I always have to urge to wake up and kick Malefor's ass."
"You think you could beat him up after these three years?" Cynder asked, trying to get the others to not do anything as she waved her paws for the others to stay away.
"Hehe, hell yeah I can! Dude is all fat and not bite. I beat that bitch up no problem."
"Says the bitch!" Malefor finally yelled out, startling Spyro as he didn't know they were in the Chambers.
"Wh... When... How..." Putting his wing up and getting into a fighting stance, he growled at everyone, "This is a hostage situation! Or... wait... I don't want to alarm you but, this is a robbery! Everyone stay where you are or she gets it."
"Sure hope I can, get it, when we get back up to our room," Cynder purred, making Spyro blush, even to the point where he let his wing drap back to his body, "I was talking about our little games, Spyro," Seeing him chuckle, she gave a sigh, even blushing as she murmured, "But I would be fine if I could, get it," Seeing everyone gasp as they saw what she had said, she waved her paws in front of her face and was quick to say something, "Now, Wait wait wait! That's not what I meant by this!"
"You sick shit!" Malefor growled, taking a step forward, opening his wings out completely and looking straight at Spyro as he had an idea of what happened, "After what she's been through, you think you can show her... You're sick! And just an fyi, that dragon who's stomach she slit in half, she made it to his tail to! Guess what's in the middle of the tail and the stomach!" Putting a paw on her face as Cynder blushed, Spyro was confused as to where this was even coming from in regards to anything, "Gems couldn't heal everything, and he sure as hell ain't having any Hatchlings! If I need to do the same to you, and if you try anything like he did, you're dead! Plus, I'm sure you ain't even got that much to show anyway!"
"What the hell are you..." Now finally catching on, Spyro growled, doing the same as Malefor by taking a step forward and extending out his wings completely, "Says your fat ass! And from what I'm seeing, my wing span is far bigger then that of yours, short stuff, so you really want to talk big?! How about you, grow, a couple of inches before you eat shit from embarrassment?!"
Watching as they were about to get into a fight, and the others were to join, Cynder ran up in front of the other Guardians and extended her wings, stopping the others and confusing them, "That's not a fake," Getting wide eyes from some, others weren't so sure, but she made sure to tell them all about what had happened, "Look, long story made short, he proved to me he really was, Spyro. Not in the way you all are making it out to seem as... great as that would be..."
"Cynder?!" They all cried.
"I'm almost twenty! You all know I've had such hopes for a while."
"But not with him!" Terrador growled, still declining it.
"That's Spyro," Ignitus spoke, making everyone look to him and seeing him shed a tear, "Once you had kissed him, Cynder, his mind had cleared of the darkness that protected him. I saw everything from him once again, all about his past," Earning gasps from the others, Carith was also there with the other to hear over the yelling as she had scooted past the back of Malefor and wanted to listen, "This is why, to all of you, this is why I shed some so tears, and I even broke down crying because... My son's alive... He's truly alive..."
"Bu... But how?" Terrador asked, completely dumbfounded as everyone else as they couldn't believe the truth was revealed.
"I don't know... All I know is, when he woke up, he was surrounded by what looked like shards of glass... But... lets all just... smile... cry with joy that... our friend... our family... is back from the Volcano."
Rejoicing after years, everyone watched as the two had fought back and forth, and in order to help, Ignitus spoke to Malefor's mind to get him to stand down, "Malefor... you don't need to keep fighting him... he isn't a fake... That really is our long lost friend..." Seeing Malefor smile and not even responding back, everyone was confused, especially Ignitus as he told him the truth, but he didn't seem affected in the slightest. Backing up from the fight happening in the middle of the Chambers, Malefor chuckled as he put a paw on his chest and revealed the truth, "Ignitus, please, I knew this was Spyro all along," Hearing everyone gasp, they then later growled, especially Spyro as this pissed him off even more, "I just wanted to keep him away from Cynder for a little longer is all."
"You better take that back," Carith threatened, and her voice was enough to make everyone lock up, and for Malefor, it was a point to where his lungs had even locked, "After all that Cynder has been through, she could've been reunited right then and there. So if you knew this and didn't say anything, then I'm going to know this other guy and not say anything either," Hearing everyone gasp, she sat down and watched as he looked at her with tears, and snapping her fingers and pointing beside her, she commanded him, "Come here and tell the truth."
Unfortunately for him, he was telling some of the truth, and even as he sat down next to his lover's right, he tried to chuckle as he looked to her, but instead of her smiling back, she crossed her arms. Shivering once again, Malefor gave a sigh as he looked to Spyro, being honest with him about his suspicions, "Alright... I will... tell the truth," Preparing for the worst, he wanted to make sure he didn't end up without his lover for more then just three years, "Spyro... I... Had an idea that you might've been who you said. But I didn't want to say anything cause I thought you were another fake who came back better then the others as they all had. We've seen Cynder suffer for... entirely too long... And after the War, after the death... I didn't want her to feel worthless, and used... as the Dark Master made her feel."
To everyone, it made sense, and even Carith had to frown, but still, she made sure to shrug it off and try to make things better, unlike how they've been for the past years, "While you prove a good point, my love," Taking her eyes off of him, she smirked as she wanted to play with her lover now as he did to Spyro, "Spyro, he, aside from Terrador, gave you the most trouble. So, I want to leave what happens up to you," It was confusing to some while others understood it right away of what she was saying, and seeing this confusion from the others, she clarified, "Should I stay with Malefor or... Leave him?"
"What?!" Malefor cried, backing his head up in fear, and looking at Spyro as he smiled wide, which made him fear even more.
"I... I get to choose his fate?!" Spyro cried with a smile, and seeing her nod his head, everyone watched with wide eyes as he started to laugh, "Heh... Hehe... Haha... Hahaha! HAHAHA!" Looking up and laughing to the ceiling, the others laughed while Malefor stood there in fear, watching as his life was about to end before him, and once Spyro looked back down and to him, he gave his verdict, "This is a real tough one, Malefor. But even still, you put me in a lose-lose situation here. I either let you stay and I get no joy, or I tell you to leave and you cause another whiny bitch war for losing Carith," Earning small chuckles and giggles from the others, he was right, but lucky enough for Malefor, Cynder had has back, "But... Then again..." Wondering what he was thinking now, they all listened, "Cynder did back you all up when it came to my death. She said you took it worse, even after how bad everyone else took my death. Is that true?"
"Wh...? No, of course not. I stayed a man unlike the others," Malefor tried to stay true to his mainly ways, but unfortunately, seeing everyone open their mouths, he knew he was screwed.
"Bull Shit," Everyone all said at once, laughing with one another once they had, and all Malefor could do was grumble with a blush, angry that they would all call him out for it.
"Now I do feel like starting another war..."
"Thank you... Malefor..." It was a surprise to everyone to hear Spyro say that, and even Malefor had to pick up his head as he thought he was lying to him, "You kept your promise to me, about keeping everyone safe while I was gone, and I... I appreciate that... And since you've helped keep Cynder safe from some of those other fakes as well... I will... let you stay with Carith," Smiling wide, Malefor looked to her and moved in for a kiss, but he stopped him to his dismay, "But first!" Stopping his lips right in front of hers as he was ready, Malefor turned to look at him, "I'm going to break your neck in the training room first," Looking at the others, he pointed a claw at each as he called their names, "Then you mister big shot, Terrador. Then Cyril, and then you, Volteer."
"Spyro..." Some of them murmured, and even though they felt bad, they understood for what they had done and decided to agree without question.
"And what if I stop you?" Cynder asked, making them all look to her as they wondered what she was getting at, "Putting what I said aside, how about I make sure that the next time you move that neck of yours," Walking up to him and watching him smile as she threatened him, she still tried her best, swinging her tail blade around and putting it against his neck, "It'll be across my tail blade? I've already used this quite a lot against some of those fakes, and I think I'm getting that blood lust back."
"Blood lust?" Spyro asked with a raised brow, understanding what she had said, but he wanted to turn this against her, "Weird you say that, cause usually, the lust you feel is to me. But if you'd like to choose blood over me, then, go ahead," Pushing his head forwards, she had no choice but to back up her tail blade to the point where it touched his and her neck, connecting the two as he was close to her lips, "Instead of tasting some of that blood, how about we go back to what we use to do when it comes to... taste."
While uncomfortable for the others, listening and watching as they kissed finally made them all sigh to see Cynder shed a tear of joy, finally being reunited with her lover after so long. Sniffling as a joke, Malefor clapped to embarrass the two, but as he did, everyone soon followed, making them all smile and laugh. Even as the two pulled away from their kiss and rested their foreheads on one another's, they gave off their own smiles, giving off a small laugh as well. With the clapping dying down, Cynder walked over to where they normally sat over by the right wall facing out the Chambers, and soon following was her lover. Now sitting side by side with Spyro to her left, Cynder smiled along with everyone else to see he was finally back. Wanting to hope for the best, Malefor was the one to point this out, "So then. Does this mean we can all, finally, get back to who we were? Just like how the War took three years, we've all made it through another one, and I... miss having fun."
"Not yet," Cynder spoke, getting everyone's attention as they wondered what was left, "I... Need to change just... one thing," Looking to her lover, Spyro gave a slight shiver as he didn't know what she was going to say, but as before with her tests, he believed this was another one and listened very closely, "Spyro... Now that I'm an adult, and I've seen so many... families, I've had, so much time to think of my future and I... I wanted to know if... in your future... you'd like to... have me as your... mate?"
Everyone gasped, watching for Spyro's reaction to see what he would've said, and just as they all were, he was speechless. Giving a slight smile, they all watched as he opened his mouth to respond, holding in their breaths as they listened with anticipation, "Well... about something like that... Cynder... I would have to say..."
Opening her eyes in the dream world, Cynder eyes shot wide and saw Ignitus standing in front of her with Claire right next to him as it had been before, "What?!" Jumping up on her paws, she growled at him as she couldn't believe he would do something like that, "What the hell?! You could've at least let the dream go a little longer, Ignitus." Giving a chuckle, Ignitus knew this was to happen and apologized, "I'm sorry, I swear. Unfortunately, I couldn't give a full reaction of how Spyro would respond if you asked that cause... I don't know how he would feel; whether it be anger or joy," His words made her frown as it was a little unfortunate for her to hear that was something that was still unknown, but for him, seeing her reactions made him wonder, "Do you... want to be my son's mate when you become an adult?"
"What?!" Cynder cried, backing her head up and sweating with a blush as she tried to make up an excuse, "I still have my whole life to think about and there are other things to learn if we did, and if we..." Now growling, she shuck her head as she wanted to turn this against him, "Claire! Can you shut him up for me?!" Giving a smirk as she looked at her lover, Claire agreed as she put a claw on his lip, "With... pleasure." Giving a chuckle to see her lust, he had to deny for now, "Save your strengh for later, my love," Once she had taken her claw off his lip, he continued with his explanation about all that she had seen, "But just remember, Cynder. This is by far best case, even though this doesn't count for things that could happen in the future without Spyro; The other Guardians maybe finding love, some of us becoming mates to our loves and having Hatchlings, death, and or even scars of what's happened after maybe even another war." Giving a fearful shiver, Cynder once again frowned, scared to ask, but she needed to know, "What is the... worst case... scenario? Just not the worst of worst... something I could... calm myself down with after you told me." Trying the think, he gave a slight sigh, feeling terrible for even having to bring something like this up, but he had hopes she'd understand, "Easy worst case... You kill everyone and then yourself once you see Spyro look over their bodies." Feeling a pain in her chest, Cynder didn't want anything to happen to anyone, and so, she asked with hope in her eyes as she feared, "Please... What do I do to stop... what ever it is that's happened?"
"Use all the information from this and use it as the days go by. Remember that of what was said. Unfortunately, I know some, of what's to happen, and while the Ancestors don't give a damn about you all, I do... And... I just wanted to know one thing before we do let you go from this dream as Claire was wondering as well... How would you have reacted?" Ignitus asked, and watching as she frowned, he immediately knew he made a mistake, so, he wanted to change the subject as to not make things as they were in that dream, "Actually... never mind... To help you out though, I gave everyone else the same dream with some points taken out that aren't important or personal." Shedding a single tear, it made him feel even worse as he had hopes he wouldn't have done such a thing, but she giggled at his dream, "Not having seen Spyro for three years... And even after his death... I... I would've acted way worse... Way... worse," Sitting down and thinking to the dream, Claire was about to say something to help, but she had already spoken before her friend, "The one thing the dream nailed though was... I... can't live... without him. And me seizing to function is... very accurate."
"But you wouldn't allow him to leave you, would you," Claire smiled, and her words were helpful to Cynder as she tried to make light of the situation, "After all, only you get Spyro, not death. And I know my friend has fight in her to take on anything. If you need to put Spyro in his place and tell him not to die, he damn well better not... cause you'll always be there for him... as well as are we." Picking up her head and smiling from her words, she was a huge help in changing her mood, and even for her, Cynder giggled as she looked to Ignitus and asked him, "Did you see how easy that was, Ignitus?"
"I'm not a girl so I have no idea what to say or do half the time. Bringing her into this dream worlds now is definitely going to be very helpful as it's already proven," Ignitus chuckled, getting his lover to nuzzle his cheek, and seeing those two snuggle up, Cynder giggled once again as it was something she wished to do with her own lover. "Thank you, Ignitus, for the warning. But now... after seeing another hell filled future... I need to be there for Spyro... I have to... stop what ever it is to happen and I... I just... Need his words, his warmth... to comfort me." Nodding his head, Ignitus completely understood and didn't want to take up anymore of her time, "Of course. And once again... Thank you, Cynder, for all that you've done for my son."
"Hehe, yeah, well, that works both ways," Getting chuckles from the two, Cynder laid her body down, and closing her eyes, she made sure to give one last joke in before she left, "Oh yeah... Ignitus. Another thing you got wrong about that dream; If Spyro does... I mean... when Spyro supposedly died in that dream, one thing that would be a for sure if that happened, I'd want Malefor dead right then and there." Hearing the two laugh, she giggled, smiling as she slowly faded off and left the dream world.