Welcome back to Ashes of Midnight. Last time, we ended up in what may be the worst possible scenario for this adventure. Cynder and Iron Man arrived at Avengers Tower, fought off the enemy, only to discover that Lilith and Malefor have corrupted not only Bruce Banner, and gotten him to steal a Gamma Reactor from the Tower, but that Spyro has been turned into one of their Fallen as well. This is not going to go well for Cynder's mental state going forward. So what awaits? Read on to discover...

(Our scene opens up on the other side of the Limbo portal, where Caretaker, Doctor Strange and Captain Marvel are waiting as Cynder, Iron Man, and Captain America step through)

Doctor Strange: Tony, I don't know what to say...

Iron Man: (As he storms off) Then don't say anything! Because I don't want to talk about it!

Caretaker: Tony Stark at a lost for words, that's a first.

Doctor Strange: Not even remotely a first, and almost certainly not a good sign. He's deeply shaken.

Captain America: I don't blame him. Bruce was probably the only person Tony had a lot of shared experiences and interests with.

Cynder: (Hushed) He's not the only one.

(Only in this moment does everybody realize how badly Cynder is hurting right now, probably even worse than Iron Man. She's trying in vain to hold back the tears as now she's being forced to fight against the only dragon she's ever loved. That's bad enough, but to have heard him call the monster they worked to destroy his Master, that hit her deep in the core. Cynder just... walks away from the scene. Doctor Strange tries to comfort her, but Caretaker stops him as she enters the Abbey, heading straight up to her borrowed quarters and just crying herself to sleep. But in her dreams, she's confronted by a very familiar spectral form: The Hunter is trying to contact her)

Cynder: This really isn't the best time.

The Hunter: I just wanted to talk. To let you know I sympathize with you.

Cynder: (Forcing The Hunter's hand from her shoulder) What do you know about what I feel?

The Hunter: That it's a pain eating away at you. I've lost many comrades throughout the years.

Cynder: Spyro was different. We didn't just fight as a team. I loved him.

The Hunter: Then we're alike in one thing. We're both fighting those we love.

Cynder: Oh please, you were raised as a weapon against your own mother, I doubt Caretaker would even let you feel love for Lilith.

The Hunter: Well believe me, I do. And it pains me that she's the one causing you all this suffering.

(But Cynder just seems to refuse to be comforted by any of this.)

The Hunter: (Sighs) I guess you were right. Maybe she'll hear you out more.

Cynder: (Confused) Who are you talking to?

The Hunter: An old friend of yours.

(With that, a familiar figure materializes in this dream, Ignitus, the former Fire Guardian, current Chronicler, and always father figure to both her and Spyro)

Cynder: I..Ignitus?

Ignitus: Yes.

(Finally seeing a familiar face, Cynder just collapses around his leg, bawling her eyes out before she can even get a word out. Trying to comfort her, Ignitus throws a wing around Cynder)

Ignitus: I know how tough this is on you. Spyro felt the same way when Malefor took control of you again before your final confrontation.

Cynder: (Through sobs) Then... you see why I feel I've nothing left to fight for.

Ignitus: There's always something to fight for. I believe those were your words to Spyro in that moment.

Cynder: I... I don't know if I can do this.

Ignitus: I know you can, Cynder. You're stronger than you believe yourself to be.

The Hunter: Everyone here believes in you. All the friends you've made in your years, the heroes you fought with, they're all behind you here

Ignitus: You're the only one who can do this.

(Cynder still doesn't seem convinced)

Ignitus: Then maybe this will help you. The minute Spyro and Wanda were captured, I started looking for them. I know the Spyro you love is still in that Fallen monster somewhere, desperately trying to escape. And you're the only one who can set him free. I can still hear him, crying out for you in that prison that was his body. You're his only hope.

(Somehow through this moment, Cynder has stopped crying and somehow started to steady herself.)

Cynder: Thanks, Ignitus. I needed that.

Ignitus: That's my girl. Now, I do believe it's time for you to wake up. And you might want to check in on your friends, the Midnight Sons. I think they'll need your help pretty soon.

(And on that cryptic remark, Cynder's dream ends, and she awakes to find it's the next morning already. But below her, she can hear voices from the depths of the Abbey. Keeping Ignitus' words in mind, she heads down there, ending our tale for today)

And that looks like a good spot to end for today. And now we can check off the requisite Chronicler Ignitus scene. After her worst possible moment, he comes around to give Cynder the pep talk she needed. But now it seems the Midnight Sons are up to something. What are they planning and how can Cynder help them? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!