Chapter 25: History Repeats Itself

"Unbelievable... Absolutely, UNBELIEVABLE!" Flint yelled in frustration, making his way through the forest with limping dragons all around him, along with a couple of dark creatures and apes, "How did we fail, how could we have! We had everything we needed, and even Spyro, at least Spyro, should've died, but even after all of you worthless shits, we lost!" Making their way back to the hideout, a slight crack was heard from behind him, making Flint stop, while the others continued to make their way back, "Great... Another problem," Giving a sigh as he had turned, a red dragon stood behind him which only frustrated Flint even more, "Ignitus, what a surprise. You come to rub it in that we lost?" Snapping his fingers, dark creatures approached from all sides of Ignitus, trapping him in a circle of enemies, "I suggest you go home before I at least take your life."

"I haven't come here to fight, Flint, I just wanted to talk with you," Ignitus spoke, making Flint sit to the ground, crossing his arms and waiting for what he had to say, "Listen... I don't wish for this to happen again. Another Dark Master, the use of the Destroyer, the hate of Spyro and the rest of the world. This has all happened before, even what's happened to you, has happened before," This made him growl, but in order to prevent him from stopping him, Ignitus continued, "Which I will back off of! I just wish to ask, beg, and plead that we don't have to continue this cycle of death and war. We've all seen enough of it, and frankly, while you might not care, this war has taken a toll on my son."

"And how is this a bad thing for me?"

"I know you still have a semblance of light inside of your body. I came to try and stop the darkness from spreading any further from inside your body. We can still end this," Hoping he was getting to Flint, he walked up to him and continued to speak, "I can help you. Maybe I can make a deal with the Ancestors or something to help fix your past, to help fix you," Sitting down in front of him, while Flint still showed frustration on his face, he didn't speak, so, Ignitus continued to, "What do you say we just end this all now? You get back and love whom you wish to and we all just become friends?"

Shaking his head, Flint brought up his paw and snapped his fingers. Ignitus gave a sigh, knowing what this meant. The dark creatures around him attack, stabbing right through his body, neck, tail and wings. It didn't seem to have any effect on him, almost as if he didn't feel any pain at all. Once having dripped a tear, Ignitus disappeared, almost as if he wasn't there in the first place. Of course your scared ass would only bring a clone. Just as he had turned, another crack had been heard, as though someone else had approached him. Feeling as though it was another clone, Flint waved a paw across to slash at him, yelling even, "Back off!" The paw made contact with something, but giving wide eyes, it wasn't red and brown as he was use to seeing, but rather a red and blue looking color, "What the..." His paw had been blocked by the dragon's arm, and for him, he was rather impressed this dragon reacted so quickly, "And who are you?" Upon further inspection as he backed up, it was a red female, and seeing she wasn't responding to him, he just gave a chuckle, "You come all the way out here just to die?"

"I want to join your little group here," The red female spoke.

"Oh, well, that's rather unexpected. And what would you do?"

"I heard from another dragon in Warfang that you once had a failed assassin. I wish to fight that rule and do what she had failed to do."

"And who gave you this information."

"None of your business. Can I have the job or not."

"And what makes you qualified?"

"Give me anything to fight, and I will show you why I'm qualified."

"Alright then," Snapping his fingers once again as he brought a paw up, it took a little while, but after waiting some time, a couple of dark creatures carried a dragon's body over and to Flint's right side, "You see this dragon here. He is one of many whom have failed me. While I wished to take him back and heal him, it seems that his insubordination has made me a little pissed. So, if you're an assassin, I will give you the choice. Will you kill him, and help me get rid of the weight, or, let him come back along with you doing the same so we may talk."

"Please... Flint... sir, I'm sorry, I didn't..." The Dragon cried on the ground.

"Shut up! You failed! And I will blame everything on you if I need to! Tell you what, female, you take him out now, I'll let you get started tomorrow."

"What?! No... no, don't!"

The female, in rather an instant, walked up to his body, raised her tail blade, swung it down, and stabbed him right through the neck. The sudden attack made even Flint jump back with wide eyes at how quick she killed this dragon. Kicking his legs for a second, the dragon started to choke on his own blood for a good minute before finally seizing all together, both in movement and breath. Even for himself, Flint feared himself, watching as she twisted her tail blade out his neck in an instant, without shedding a tear whatsoever over what she had done. Now with the job down, she looked back over to him and growled, "I'm starting tomorrow. My first target is going to be Spyro as I've heard that's who your most upset for. And as for Malefor," Moving her tail blade up to her mouth, she licked the blood from off the blade before continuing, "Gonna make sure I save him for last. I'll destroy his life as he did mine."

Flint was at a lost for words, but he wanted to know why she wished to join up with him, watching his words carefully around her as he saw she was still ready to use her tail blade as it rested beside her, "If you could do this so easily, why not just take them out yourself."

"Because I'm gonna need back up in case. If I kill someone, I'm gonna have some dark forces near by the body so I can continue slaughtering them one by one. Even taking out one of the males or females who are close to one another will be a win in my book. So, are you gonna help me take them down, or is their someone else who's in the need of meeting their end?" Shaking his head, she smirked at this and opened her wings, but before flying away, she spoke, "I already know where your hideout is. Just in case of an information leak, I killed him too, so you must not worry. I will talk to you again, Flint."

"What's your names so I can greet you later on as a rather valuable ally?"

"The name's Flair."

Sitting over the top of a hillside, a female, white in color, along with a black shadow dragon, sat next to one another, looking over the entirety of the land and all of it's wonders. One main thing they could focus on was the left side of Warfang, along with everything that had happened during the battle. The white female dragoness gave herself a giggle. She herself, along with the black shadow dragon were both adults, so for her, she wished that this was a rather good sign for her. Wondering out loud, she spoke to herself, "I wonder if that dragon would be a perfect mate for me. Good thing I sent some dragons in to scope out that battle in order to learn of my next mate's name," A shiver went down her spine as goosebumps did the same, excited to meet her new mate, "Spyro, was it? With that speed, that, strength. Seems to me he would be perfect to, wrestle, in bed. Make sure to keep more tabs on him. I want to know all about that body of his. And apparently, his dark form will increases his size, and he isn't even an adult yet. Oooohhhhh... I can't wait to have him over me."

"We have a couple of dragons who are waiting in Warfang at this very moment to gain information. We mainly sent shadow dragons to move throughout easier. While we know where he lives, it's best if they wait outside, blend in with the crowd and take notes from there on out. Once they have written enough information in their books, they will return back to us with this information. But also remember, how will you deal with the female known as Cynder?"

"Oh, her? That's simple. I'm the most beautiful female in the world. Once he sees me, he'll be begging to take me. And if he doesn't, I'll let him know that I can give him anything he's ever wanted. And I do mean, anything."

"Are you sure he'd be a right mate for you?"

"Oh skies above, yes. He isn't her mate yet, so, to keep it that way, I'll just take him off her paws and have a Hatchling or two, finally. OH! Just thinking about his body now, what he'd do to me, and what he'll look like in the future gets me all excited inside!"

"Of course he didn't listen to reason," Ignitus growled, laying in his bed in the Sleeping Chambers with everyone else on their beds and Claire by his side, but in front of him was another clone of himself, "Then all I would say that we could do for now is just warn Malefor of what is to happen. Spyro's mind is still scarred after what had happened, and as of right now, if we leave things as they are, it could only get worse. And for right now, the only thing keeping him sane is Cynder after all that's happened. He needs all of us to be there for him

"I will go and inform him of what we've decided." The clone spoke before disappearing.

Once the clone slowly disappeared, Ignitus gave a sigh on what to do, but he knew he could at least do one thing, Now with him gone, I can deactivate my sound mute. Doing as he said, he deactivated his powers, now finally able to hear everyone around him, including Claire as she rested her head over his paws. This gave him a smile, glad that she was smiling as well, and even after what he's learned, he knew things would be okay, We will all be okay... We will help our son, I mean! Mine... and then... we can return back to a normal life... at least... that's the hope... I believe we can do it. Hearing what sounded like shifting, Ignitus looked to his left and over to Terrador's bed, seeing he was tossing and turning. Once Terrador had rolled over to his left side facing towards the door, he locked eyes with Ignitus, making him wonder why he was still awake, "Oh... Ignitus... You're still awake?"

"You're surprised? I should be the one whose surprised you're awake. What's got you turning in bed?"

"Oh! Nothing! Just, uh... Just been thinking."

"Do I need to ask my clone to find out and help..."

"I don't need help," Hearing Claire give a small grumble as she was almost awoken from his slight yell, Terrador backed his head up and went to a whisper, "I'm just, hopefully for tomorrow, okay. We all get to go back to our lives and... I am... meeting someone, okay. And we aren't, lovers, nor will we do anything like cuddling. It's just nice to meet someone so nice, and so... I'm... wanting to meet her, okay..."

"Okay, okay, I will back off, I promise."

"Sorry... I as everyone else is still, shaken up from this day."

"Hey, we made it through. When we all get back into the Chambers and get some sleep, we will all be back to our old selves, I promise."

"I... really would like that."

Yeah Spyro trust me and all but, why of all days, why just as he was about to say it, he were interrupted, Malefor grumbled as he laid in his bed, paw to his right cheek as he rested it there, thinking of why it had to happen the way it did. Hehe, that bastard even stabbed me in the stomach. Hearing a slight grumble, he looked to his side to see his lover adjusting herself, now laying down on her right side next to his left. Putting his wing over her side, she felt cold, so he warmed her up from underneath his wing. There you go, my love. Focusing his attention back forward, Malefor gasped to see Ignitus standing right in front of him. Taking his paw from his cheek and placing it on his chest, he grumbled at him, "What the hell, man. Don't scare me like that... Then again, I'm guessing with you being in here, I'm assuming Spyro's going to kill me and you're warning me because of it."

"Not... exactly," The clone spoke.

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"I'll be honest. Nothing I'm going to say is going to be good."

"Then leave. I've already been through enough today."

"We all have... but just, hear me out, okay."

"I really don't have a choice, so, hurry up and then leave."

"Grumpy one today aren't you."

"I'm a little pissed at Flint for what he's done, so, what do you expect."

"Yeah, speaking of him... I tried my best to calm him down, try and prevent another war, to protect him from being completely consumed in his darkness, but unfortunately, history comes full circle. Another Dark Master, another war that we'll have to deal with and even more problems to come."

Giving a sigh, Malefor hated to hear this, "Great... The bad news just keeps flowing, doesn't it."

"I need you to get up and talk some more with Spyro. The closer you get to him as before, the less and less of a problem this will become."

"He's already not exactly happy. Waking him up sounds like a horrible idea."

"So does the death of each and everyone of us. Choose your poison."

"I might take Cynder's and get it over with."

"Malefor..."

"I'm joking, alright."

"Then you'll talk to him?"

"I... guess."

"Thank you, Malefor."

"It will deal with another problem if I do so. I just hope he doesn't kick my ass if I say something wrong."

"I trust my son."

"Yeah... I just wish your son would trust me... Or at least, as a friend."

"He'll come back around, I know it."

Now down with their conversation, Malefor looked to his left and at his lover before apologising in his thoughts, Sorry to leave you so soon. Moving his wing off of her, he looked back around to his front, seeing that the clone had disappeared. Never get any privacy around here. Crawling off the bed without having to stand, he made it to the floor with ease before making his way to the door. Looking to his right, seeing all his memories on the shelf, one thing he focused on was the chains from Cynder. I can't believe she still trust me... Then again, she knows who the real threat is. If she didn't, and the others didn't, would they have trusted me? It was a thought that stuck in his mind, it was something that he couldn't just simply shake away even as he tried. Grabbing the door knob, twisting it before finally opening the door, he made it to the hallway, taking a left as he did so. Dragging his tail to the floor, he made it to the other two's door, and doing the same as his door, he opened it once he took the necessary steps. The first thing he noticed as he opened the door was Spyro's face of what looked like rage, and he even saw Cynder's frown as her head laid underneath her lover's. The two were still curled up to one another's side with his wing over her back, but this got Malefor wondering. They didn't, fight... did they? Making his way over to the bed, he made sure to stay quiet with his steps, not wanting to wake both of them. Standing to the front of the bed, he wished to try something even though he knew it would probably cause more trouble, but he didn't really care. It's not like I'm his friend, so... Reaching his tail blade around, he had enough room to touch underneath Spyro's head as Cynder's head was far enough forward. This made Spyro shiver to feel the blade underneath him and to his neck, but already having an idea of who it was, he gave a sigh, "Malefor... What are you doing?" Opening one eye, he focused to the frown on Malefor's face, once again making him sigh, "I've already said everything I wish to say. If it's something important, please just save it for tomorrow, okay."

"Spyro... I need to talk to you now," Malefor was honest with him as he took his tail blade back, and since he wasn't going to leave, Spyro opened his other eye, "Look... We've butted heads for a long time now, and every time I think back to where I was from then and now, things really have improved for me... But... I feel like you've forgotten most of the things that I've said to you while I was here."

"Like what?"

"Well, for one example; When I was first training with my dark power and you... attacked me for what I did, what I failed to do. I was, scared that you were going to kill me, and then, you didn't, you even cared about me after that. And for another example is, when I woke up in the middle of the night when you were training Volteer. I thanked you, and you were very... kind to me. You've even trusted me so much when it came to staying with everyone. You've trusted me countless times. So why... Why are you still on the fence about being my friend?"

"You know why. I spilled my guts saying why. Which means you didn't listen to what I've said either."

"Then... If you said we were friends in the Chambers, would you have taken your words back, or would you really have kept your words when you said it?" Seeing as it was taking time for him to answer, he knew what he was to say before he even said it, "Yeah... even I have to admit, that was a stupid question for me to ask..." Shifting her head, Cynder laid her head back to her paws, stretching even, making Spyro look to her while now having to support his own head without her, "Well, I don't wish to wake her, so... I guess I'll just leave."

"Then what was the point of you even coming in here if you knew what my answer was going to be."

"Because I believed the past would've changed after everything that we've been through."

"I'm trying, Malefor."

"You know, I could've let you and Cynder die in that Volcano, but I would've never betrayed your trust in me."

"Which is why I still trust you."

"You've always trusted me after you learned who I was. But since you know who I am, doesn't that mean we'll never become friends."

"We will become friends one day, I can promise that."

"I'm assuming you don't have a date on that... And what I've learned, even if you put a date on it, you'd lie about it, wouldn't you."

"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm trying. Why do you keep asking?"

"Because I'm scared, Spyro."

"Scared of what. Scared I'd kill you? I already said I wouldn't do that even after all that's happened."

"If i died tomorrow, how would you remember me?"

"What are you talking about."

"Spyro... even for me, I have many fears. My biggest fear is losing Carith, losing you all... Hehe... even drowning, but... my second biggest fear... is being forgotten about," It seemed rather personally for him to bring up, and rather then interrupt him, Spyro wished to hear him out on his words, "Think about it, Spyro. If I died tomorrow, who would care when I'm gone? Everyone remembers me as some, evil being. So, once I'm gone... I'll just be forgotten in time... And everyone will move on as if I never existed..." Giving wide eyes to what he was saying, it was something he feared for himself as well, and watching as Malefor struggled with what he was saying, shedding a tear even, it made it that more depressing, "Hehe... it would suck to know I would die and no one would show up to comfort me... And when I die... No one will be there for me... and what if... not even Carith showed up for my death."

Unable to handle hearing about him talk bad about himself any longer, Spyro got up from his bed, walked off it and to the floor. Walking in front of Malefor, he hugged him, draping his wings over his back, and with him be comforted, Malefor cried over his back, rather thankful of the hug. Spyro's anger wasn't focused to him, but now to his words of what he believed would happen, "Shut up... and don't you ever think about such a thing ever again... even after today, we'd cry for as long as we live, knowing we lost such a dear friend to all of us... We'd all be there for you... holding your paw and letting you have a happy farewell... But you shouldn't ever think about such a thing as it will only hurt us more."

Now having a rather comfortable talk with him, Malefor gave a smile, shedding a couple more tears to hear his support, and he knew, believed, and trusted to know everyone really would be there for him. Patting his back before finally backing up from the hug, Spyro finally smiled back to him, wanting him to understand that his words really were true, "Listen. No matter what happens, well, aside from losing someone, which, we will be there to protect everyone from, but, when I give another date, I will mean it. If the darkness attacks again, we will just use our OP ass moves, go home, and laugh it off. Do you understand me."

"Hehe... I would definitely love to use my golden gun again."

"We will all be there to back you up too, even if you probably don't need it."

"Thank you... Spyro."

"Anytime," Making his way back up to his bed, Malefor turned to walk away, making his way back to his room, but once Spyro stood to his bed and turned straight, he called out to him, "Malefor, wait," Hearing his name called, he stopped, turned around, and wondered what he had to say, "I really feel terrible for what happened, so... To make up for it, I still wish to go higher then just trusting you... So, what do you say, for now, I can call you my frenemy... And not much my enemy, but as my rival."

"Frenemy? But, wait! Frenemy has the word friend in it, so, doesn't that mean we're technically friends?! Or... Am I just getting my hopes up."

"Malefor... Frenemy does have the word friend in it."

Gasping with a huge smile, Malefor chuckled with his smile and had a new challenge for himself, "Now all I have to do is get rid of that rivalry, and then, we'll become full on friends!"

"Hehe, calm down, Malefor."

"Thank you, so much, Spyro."

"My pleasure. But, hey, don't ever think about being forgotten about ever again or else I really will kick your ass, and I'm sure Carith would be really disappointed to hear as well."

"Hehe, oh no."

"Now, let me get back to sleep, okay."

"Okay... goodnight once again, Spyro."

Now with him turning back around and walking out the door, Malefor made sure to close it behind him once he left. Now with the door being shut, Spyro gave out a sigh, thinking to himself about what he had just done, I... made the right choice right then and there, and I know it for sure. Hearing what sounded like someone talking, he looked to his left and watched in a blink of an eye, his lips were suddenly locked with Cynder's as she had jumped up from the bed. It was rather surprising to him which made him give out a groan, rather pleased once again with how things were turning out for him. Backing from the kiss, Cynder gave a smile, thanking him for what he did, "Thank you, Spyro. I really would've been disappointed if you had betrayed what he had said, and for this right decision... I'm very proud of you... And this is the Spyro I know and fell in love with."

"So... you heard everything?"

"When I started to stretch, I woke up once I heard Malefor's voice. I even saw you hugging him as he cried over your back. I really appreciate what you did for him."

"I... didn't what to turn my back on him, and I wanted him to know it didn't take your words for me to care about him."

"I'm going to have to talk with Carith about what he said. While your words helped him a lot, she needs to comfort him just as much too."

"I'm sure she would appreciate that."

"Now I have no fear of waking up tomorrow, that's for sure."

"I'm... glad I made you proud."

"You really did."

Now adjusting himself back down to the bed as he laid back down with his lover, she laid her head over his paws while he laid his head back over head, now both smiling compared to how they had been before. Now that he was happy with what he had done, Spyro believed that he could turn things around for the better, I don't wish to make the same mistakes I did in the past, and having turned things around as I just had... I do feel rather... comfortable. Now I look forward to tomorrow more then ever before, and hopefully as I said, we will be able to laugh about what's happened. Enjoying his time, he didn't wish for anything to change about this night, so, the two closed their eyes, falling asleep and looking forward to tomorrow.