Welcome back to Ashes of Midnight. Last time, the dust finally settled on the attempt to destroy the Parchment of Power using the Gamma Accelerator. And, as some of you might have expected, it went horribly wrong. Not only did Lilith and Malefor's forces gain control of the Parchment of Power, they did so through Bruce Banner absorbing the gamma blast, transforming into Fallen Hulk, delivering the Parchment of Power to his masters himself. With the Parchment of Power now in the enemy's hands, there's only one thing Lilith and Malefor need to succeed in their plan, or plans I guess depending on how united they are now. That thing being: Cynder. Or more accurately the spirit of The Hunter within her. Things are getting worse before they get better. How can our heroes regroup from this? Read on to possibly start discovering...

(The scene opens with everybody returning to the Abbey after the plan at Los Diablos went horribly wrong, and nobody is really in a great mood, least of all Caretaker.)

Caretaker: So much for your simple plan, Stark.

Iron Man: How the hell was I to know Lilith and Malefor were pulling the strings from the beginning?!

Caretaker: You could have listened when I was telling you about her history for one.

Cynder: Caretaker, please. Now's really not the best time. We've got to come up with a plan.

Caretaker: Perhaps you should let the expert handle it this time, after the last one went so well.

Nico Minoru: Last I checked, Caretaker, all your plans led to the same thing.

Magik: Perhaps in the fact that you never really had any.

Scarlet Witch: And now you see why I left this group.

Spyro: That was my reason as well.

Blade: As strange as this sounds to everyone, I guess I'm the optimistic voice right now. We did manage to get rid of Sabretooth.

Wolverine: Still, Illyana shouldn't have been the one to do it. (To Magik) Sorry I put his life on your head, kid. I should've finished him off long ago.

Magik: How could anyone have known it would come down to this, Logan?

Ghost Rider: We may have beaten Sabretooth, but we gained the freaking Hulk as a foe. And lost Johnny Blaze. (Sighs) And now I feel bad for wanting him dead.

Spyro: I'll join you there, Robbie. (Sighs) At least, if it means anything, he and Roxanne are reunited. Hopefully.

Doctor Strange: I will stand with you there.

Cynder: Regardless, we've got a lot of new wrinkles to iron out. Everybody get some rest, and we'll tackle them in the morning. I have a feeling we're all going to need the rest.

(With that, everybody heeds Cynder's advice, but Wolverine and Spyro stay behind a moment)

Cynder: (Trying to find some levity by joking around with Logan) You're more upset that you won't get to smoke that "I just killed Sabretooth" cigar I know you have.

Wolverine: (Snickering slightly because she's right) That's... also a thing. But what I said to Illyana is true, one hundred percent.

Cynder: You may come off like an asshole at first, Logan, but that heart of yours is stronger than any adamantium skeleton. (Pats him in the back) Go get some rest, bub.

(Stifling back laughter as his ever-used nickname is now used on him, Wolverine does head into the Abbey while Cynder and Spyro hang back)

Spyro: Cynder, is everything alright?

Cynder: (Finally breaking down and tearing up) Does everything look alright, Spyro? We just lost the Parchment of Power, we have no idea which of Lilith or Malefor is the biggest threat, and it's taking all my effort to keep this team from tearing itself apart at the seems. I just... I...

(At this point, Cynder can't even form words anymore and just collapses into Spyro, who catches her as she starts sobbing into his shoulder.)

Spyro: Cynder, I know this may not be what you want to hear, but right now, you're the only one who can do this. You've held this team together till now, you brought Wanda and I back from the brink of the abyss, you've bested every obstacle in the way so far. If Lilith and Malefor think they stand a chance against you, they've got another thing coming. I may be the Purple Dragon of Prophecy, but this is your Legend. This is your story. And I know you're terrified right now. But I'm not afraid, I know who I'm about to marry. You can do this. And deep down, I know you know that too.

(Having heard all of Spyro's speech, Cynder takes her head off his shoulder, dries her eyes, looks Spyro directly in his, and the two soon kiss, breaking it off just as the moon rises behind them)

Cynder: Thanks, Spyro. I needed that.

Spyro: Any time, my love...

(And with that, the two walk into the Abbey, tails intertwined, as the scene ends)

And that looks like a good place to end for today. So, as everything gets worse, Cynder just needed a little pep talk from Spyro to see this through to the end. But, will she be able to? Will this ever end? And if it does, will it end well for literally anybody involved? Tune in next time as we start finding out. Same time... same channel...