Midnight Runaway
The Night was calm and quiet. The Inhabitants within the temple continued to sleep soundly. It was rare for all of humans and dragons to get a decent sleep with during the past weeks they all have been on their guard and Spyro, Adir and the other humans upkeep their training but this night all were rest and with the temple sealed up there was no worry of an intruder sneaking their way inside so for now they all could sleep peacefully.
However there was one that couldn't sleep. He barely was sleeping at all since the escape of convexity. It was, Sparx like almost every night would wonder around the temple trying to find something to do as he acted as the unofficial night guard. The Dragonfly wouldn't sleep until he would lose his inner battle against the depravity that had consumed him.
Sparx developed this over his fear and hate for the black dragon that nearly led to his and his friend's demise. He believed that if he let down his guard the former terror of the skies would try something so he would not dare allow himself fall prey to her so he would stay awake until he couldn't and would keep his distance. But this night as he was once more wondering the temple he had seen over a thousand times now he saw something peculiar and had to inform a certain dragon he called a brother since the day he was born who was sleeping on the balcony outside the temple.
"S-S-S-Spyro!"
The Loud whisper along with the noisy creak of the temple door that that led to the balcony outside was enough to wake the sleeping purple dragon jolting awake from the sudden noise. The Dragon looked up into the sky to see the two moons were a distance from each other. Something about them being close as they were didn't feel right.
The Dragon flew up to the dragon as the dragonfly's glowing figure light up his sight like the stars twinkling in the sky. "Hey, Spyro! Nice night huh? Beautiful."
"What is you want, Sparx?" Spyro sighed sitting up not appreciating being woken up at this time of night.
"Huh. Why do I have to want something?" Sparx asked indignantly. "I'm just ready to have the best day ever now that evil- psycho- she-dragon is gone."
"What, Cynder?" Spyro gasped "What do you mean, Sparx?"
"Whoa, calm down big fella." Sparx said. "Gosh, your awfully tense. Haven't been sleeping much? You should listen to, Volteer tell one of his stories that'll put anyone to sleep."
"Sparx, what happened?" Spyro demanded.
"Okay okay…you ready?" Sparx replied. "Yet again I couldn't sleep so I got up to get some fresh air since I don't sleep much these days with the female-of-fright hanging about. Low and behold, there she was, sneaking out into the garden." Sparx gave a shiver with a small chatter of his teeth. "She gives me the creep's dude."
"Come on, we've got to find her!" Spyro cried. "It's dangerous for her to be outside the temple at night." Spyro began to walk up to the balcony entrance when, Sparx flew in front of him.
"It's dangerous for any one of us to be outside the temple at night!" Sparx argued. "Beside, Ignitus said you have to wait till you and, Adir's powers return. Cause your weak." He whispered and stiffed a snicker.
"No time to argue!" Spyro retorted. "Let's go!"
Spyro went into the temple with, Sparx following. The Dragonfly couldn't believe he was going to follow, Spyro to go and retrieve the dragon that caused them all so much trouble. But first they would need someone else to help them since, Spyro knew that his dragonfly of a brother would not be so eager to find, Cynder he would need one who would be more willing to help.
At the base of the great dragon statue in the dojo was lying, Adir. The Purple Dragon samurai currently was lying on the chest plate of his armor while the rest of his armor was lying in a tidy pile near him with his sword in its sheath leaning on the side of statue.
The Young man didn't make a sound as he was sleeping and due to the fact that he was a heavy sleeper he would not stir so easily.
"Well well at least one of us can sleep well." Sparx huffed at the sight of the sleeping samurai as he rolled to the side. "Can't believe he didn't wake up earlier when I first saw the she-witch leave."
Spyro shook his head growing tired of, Sparx's name calling of, Cynder. What happened to her never was her fault and, Ignitus's himself told them all about what caused her to become so evil. Spyro and, Adir accepted that fact and understand her deeds were not her own other than, Sparx who continued to judge her on it.
"Adir…wake up." Spyro put a claw on; Adir's back and gently shook him. Adir murmured but did not wake. Sparx saw, Adir's sword lying against the statue base and got a clever idea to wake the sleeping warrior.
He went next to the sword and gave it a gentle push and the sword fell down and the hilt clonked right onto, Adir's head.
"Ow!" Adir yelped from the sudden impact rubbing his now sore temple sitting up.
Spyro shot an angry look at, Sparx. "That was uncalled for!"
Sparx stretched his arms out. "Hey, it worked didn't it?" He quipped while holding in some laughter.
Adir now was wide awake and with a slightly sore forehead now. He turned to see, Spyro looking at him and, Sparx holding his mouth trying not to blurt out laughing.
Adir rubbed his head soothing it. "You guys...do you know what time it is?" He asked sarcastically seeing how it was still dark outside and judging by the sounds of the chirping and creaking of the insects outside it was no doubt too early to be waking up. Especially by one's own weapon falling on their heads.
"I'm sorry, Adir. But, Cynder ran off." Spyro said making, Adir gasp.
"What?!" The Human couldn't believe, Cynder would run away. But then he should believe it. Since they saved her and has resided in the temple, Sparx and his family have been giving her a very hard time. Sparx being the guiltiest nearly every time they would talk, Sparx would spat some kind of accusation or insult at her. His Family was just as guilty but over the last week they seemed to finally started to back off on her realizing she was not the monster they were enslaved under for a whole year.
Adir looked at the dragonfly with a stern look. "I know this would have to be on you, Sparx!" He accused standing back up.
"Hey!" Sparx didn't like the tone that, Adir was giving him. "Can you possibly so easily forget what she did your family and you?!" He spat.
Adir rubbed his chest under his shirt where three large scars remained from his first encounter with, Cynder. Those came from when she slashed his chest and after awhile they formed into three scars that became a permanent reminder of what, Cynder did to him. "I remember everything!" snapped Adir.
Spyro got between them but glared at the dragonfly. That was too far! "Enough! Right now we have to go get, Cynder and bring her back."
Adir nodded for this was a more important matter but still he was angry with dragonfly. "You better watch your mouth, Sparx!" Adir pointed at him with his cold warning. Sparx just turned around folding his arms. How could, Adir of all people not be on his side against the black dragon that nearly killed the human just hours before he and, Spyro found him near death in the swamp and enslaved his family?
Adir with haste dressed himself putting his armor on and strapped his sword in place. "Ready." He informed. Spyro nodded and headed for the grotto with the human and reluctant dragon fly following.
The door to the grotto opened up but before they could make their way through it a human was sitting near the pool of visions.
They looked to see it was, Adir's younger brother, Rai. The Human was smaller than, Adir with short light brown hair and was busy doing some tinkering with some armor pieces with a pair of goggles on his head he made from a couple of small pieces of glass, a strap and just right sized pieces to place the glass in making a good frame for them and thus his first assembled piece in the realm he and the rest of the family now had to call home. He made them after going on a flight with one of the guardians he believed he would need to protect his eyes and made the goggles. They proved useful for not just against the wind blowing but when he tries to make something there would be no accidents for his eyes.
Rai was adjusting some straps on some armor set pieces when he heard some steps coming from behind him. He looked to see it was his big brother, Spyro and Sparx.
"Oh! Hey guys!" Rai waved at them. "What are you doing up?"
Adir cocked his head. "I could ask the same about you." He inquired back at his brother.
"Well…" Rai put down the armor pieces he was working on. "…I was sleeping when I heard a faint creaking noise …I don't know… Maybe fifteen minutes or so ago. Couldn't go back to sleep so I came in here to tinker. Was that you guys who made the noise?"
Spyro shook his head. "No, not that long ago. We know who made that noise. It was, Cynder leaving the temple." He explained.
"Cynder left?" Rai sputtered.
Adir nodded in confirmation. "We are heading out to find her and bring her back." The Group hastily walked past, Rai who grabbed Adir's arm.
"Let me come!" Rai asked to the bewilderment of the three.
"Rai, you can't." Adir cautioned. "It's too dangerous outside the temple. You know that."
Rai nodded knowing that having been learning under the guardians of the dangers outside the temple. "Yes, but if, Cynder left who knows what she could encounter outside and you will need all the help you can get."
Spyro stepped up to the little human. "We appreciate that but, your brother's right. It wouldn't be wise to bring you." He insisted. The Dragonfly flew next to, Rai.
"Your brave I'll give you that." Sparx admitted leaning against, Rai's shoulders. "But seriously, kid. You want to go after the one that kept you caged up and forced you do….whatever it was?" Sparx exclaimed he can't believe he was being on his own against, Cynder. When did, Adir's family start to side against him when at first they each were all together in hating the black dragon.
"I've come to realize that I along with the rest of us may have been wrong about her like you told us, Adir." Rai admitted a bit shamefully. He along with the rest of the family gave, Cynder a very hard time and perhaps that's what drove into running off. They have started to stop just a few days ago and now the hardship they gave, Cynder has boiled over. "I may be one of the reasons she ran off so maybe I can help bring her back. Please you gotta let me try!" He begged.
Adir looked at, Spyro as the dragon did him. They both wondered if they should. It's true what, Rai said he had once been a reason that, Cynder left as she did. He now realizes how wrong he was and wants to make it up. More eyes with them would help them find her faster. It's just; Rai had no experience in battle other than the training sessions in the dojo.
Adir nodded to, Spyro applying a silent agreement as, Spyro did the same. "Alright, Rai. You can help but stay close by us and remember be careful." Adir said to his younger brother who now as beside himself.
"Thanks guys!" He almost yelled out in excitement hugging both the dragon and his big brother around their necks making them cringe. Sparx only sighed seeing now he truly was alone standing against having to bring the once evil being back. "I won't let you down!"
"Just get your armor on and grab a weapon. Who knows what's out there." Adir urged.
Rai quickly put on some armor pieces he was working on. Some shin guards, arm guards, shoulder plates and a breast plate. It wasn't much like, Adir's armor that was crafted by the dragon ancestors but it would indeed protect partially from anything they would encounter. Rai went up to a weapons rack the family made and placed all sorts of weapons they gathered from the fallen apes that were once guarding the temple until, Spyro, Adir and Ignitus took care of them.
The Weapons varied from swords, spears, hammers and axes. Some were shorter or larger than others and, Rai collected a pair of short swords that were small enough for him to use and light enough to be quick with. He had used the same weapons the most in the Dojo and had selected them to be his choice weapon. Once he strapped them on his back the group of four made it to the passageway where the guardians were sleeping along with the other humans that were in some of the smaller chambers where they made their quarters at.
"Quiet…we mustn't wake them." Spyro whispered to his friends.
"WHAT?" Sparx yelled. "I can't hear you through all this snoring!" He was then silenced by, Rai placing a hand over his mouth putting a finger tip on his own shushing the loud dragonfly.
The Group carefully snuck past each of the guardians. Terrador the Earth Guardian snoring so loudly its surprising the two humans that their family in the other rooms could tolerate such noise but given their time living in dungeons having to hear all sorts of fiendishly sounds they grew accustomed to sleeping through it.
Cyril and Volteer were talking in their sleep as, Volteer the Electric Guardian was busy explaining a theory in his sleep.
"Boy, even when asleep he's annoying." Sparx groaned getting a hush from the three around him.
Cyril the Ice Guardian was muttering something of his lineage to the annoyance of, Sparx. Finally they made it past; Ignitus the fire guardian unlike his fellows was sleeping soundly and peacefully. Soon they reached the door that lead out into the garden and looked back to make sure the guardians and anyone else were disturbed.
They exited the temple with the door shutting behind them. They hoped with as loud as the creaking doors were they didn't stir the ones still sleeping inside. They looked around in the garden to see that, Cynder was nowhere in sight but they found fresh prints on the ground that lead out into the mushroom forest ahead.
"Let's go!" Spyro said running into the forest as the rest followed. They followed some of the prints that led deep into the dark forest. Rai was starting to have some regrets coming out there. It was true what the Guardians once warned. The Forest was not be taken lightly when out at night. The Night combined with the near silence with only the insects making noise gave off an eerily feeling but he remained focused for he asked to come out with the others and he swore to not let them down.
After passing through some areas of the forest and almost beyond the sight of the temple they found a black dragon currently walking away from it.
"Cynder!" Spyro called out getting the female dragon's attention stopping in her tracks.
"Cynder, what are you doing out here?" Adir asked "It's dangerous!"
The Black dragoness turned around and sighed. "You all shouldn't have followed me." She murmured
"Well, that's good enough for me." Sparx replied. "Let's go, see ya." But the two humans and purple dragon didn't move.
"Cynder, what gives?" Rai asked. "What's going on?"
"Please, don't make this harder for me than it already is." Cynder pleaded.
"We're just trying to understand." Spyro said.
"I'm leaving, Spyro." Cynder bowed her head with sadness and shame on her face. "I don't belong here. After all I have done, all I put you through. Put all of you through…I can't stay."
"Cynder nobody blames you for what happened." Spyro soothed.
Rai agreed though it was true once that he along with the others did blame, Cynder he understands now she never was to truly blame. "Its true, Cynder." Rai agreed. "None of us blame you. And for what its worth I am sorry that we did." He apologized hoping that maybe, Cynder would change her mind about leaving.
"Hmph, I do speak for yourself!" The Dragonfly snorted
"Sparx!" The Humans and Purple Dragon warned in sync.
"No, Sparx is right." Cynder agreed sadly. "And every day that goes by I'm reminded of it." She looked at, Rai with weak smile. "I appreciate your apology, Rai but this is something I must do. Give my best to the rest of the others."
Cynder then looked at, Spyro and Adir. The Ones who freed her from the darkness and were the first to show her kindness and offer their friendship to. "Spyro, Adir…your place is here. Your Destiny is here. But mine is somewhere out there for me to find."
Spyro's voice seemed to almost crake. "Please Cynder…I don't want you to go."
Adir too felt like he was about to collapse. She just couldn't leave. "I beg you to reconsider this, Cynder…please."
"Goodbye everyone." Cynder sighed and with that, she set off into the forest disappearing from their sight.
Rai looked down sadly. He felt responsible for this. Spyro and Adir too felt frustration and sorrow. Cynder was gone.
"Good riddance!" Sparx cried throwing his hand in the direction that, Cynder and off from. "Now we can finally get some sleep around here. "I've been sort of half asleep with one open for weeks now, alternating eyes of course. It lessens the strain but I tell ya its taken its toll. Say…was this twitch always here?"
Adir now had enough of it. He looked at the dragonfly clenching his fists. He dared say all of that! His accusations just caused, Cynder to leave. And here he was spouting idiocy. "THAT'S IT, SPARX!" Adir marched up to the glowing insect with his hand raised high about to give, Sparx what he had coming.
Rai though he too was frustrated by, Cynder's departure and, Sparx's annoyance but there wasn't a true call for what his brother was about to do. "Wait, Adir!" He ran in front, Adir to try and halt his brother from doing what he was about to do to the winged glowing insect.
"Hey, calm down, Adir!" Sparx put his arms up defensively backing up into a mushroom tree as, Adir gained on him and, Rai trying to hold him back wasn't working.
Spyro was about to intercede but suddenly his eyes felt blurry and suddenly he collapsed on the ground getting everyone to stop and look.
"What the?" Sparx looked at the dragon confused. "Spyro are you okay, buddy?"
But then, Adir felt something was wrong with himself. He put his hands on his head something was causing him to lose it and his vision failed him and suddenly without, Rai realizing he collapsed on top of his little brother.
"Oaffffff…" Rai groaned as the weight of, Adir weighed down on him as they both fell to the ground getting, Sparx's attention.
Rai grunted trying his best to crawl out from under, Adir till he made it and took a few deep breaths. "What happened?" He coughed trying to regain himself.
"I don't know!" Sparx cried out. "Hey guys come on!" Sparx flew over both, Spyro and Adir to see they both seemingly fell asleep so suddenly. He quickly forgot about how, Adir was about to smack him down. "Listen guys I wanna sleep too but maybe we can do it inside. It's dark and spooky out here."
However nothing he said was heard from both the dragon or the human. They each were in a state where could not hear the dragonfly's pleas. Once Rai regained himself he tried to shake, Adir awake but it didn't work.
"Adir, come on. What's wrong!" He yelled but his brother wouldn't stir.
"Come on, Sparx we gotta try and wake them up!" Rai said trying to think of something he could do while, Sparx flew over the two.
"Hello, anyone home?" Sparx asked tapping on, Spyros and Adir's head. "Yoo-hoo!"
