Chapter 6: Departure

"I still can't believe that you're engaged to Cynder," Blake said to Spyro for what must have been the tenth time since word got out.

"You've said that many times," the purple dragon said, as the pair walked down one of the corridors of the temple. The teacher and student had finished a session, with the young fire-earth dragon meeting Spyro's expectations. However, his apparent 'engagement' has been a topic that continuously got brought up.

"Why aren't you excited? Not only did you find your future mate, but she is the famous, and possible champion of the Fighter's League, Cynder. Every dragon is jealous of you."

Spyro was not sure if Blake was saying it in jest or being sincere. Spyro had not gone into the city since the news, and he had no plans to meet the masses about it.

When the pair got to Spyro's room, Spyro said, "Sorry Blake, but I need some time to myself."

Blake groaned, "Come on, Spyro. You always lock yourself in your room when I, or anyone, ask about it."

"I just… want some privacy. Please understand Blake, I don't like the attention."

Blake responded in defeat, "Fine. But you should have thought about that before asking someone as famous as Cynder to be your mate."

Spyro entered his room, closing the door behind him. His room was square and a good size for any dragon. It had a mirror on the left wall, and a bookcase on the opposing wall, filled with books on dragon history, elements, and novels. The large bed was on the back wall, with an opening on the left that led to a small balcony that overlooked Warfang. To the right was a desk, with a journal he used to jot down notes on exercises or ideas for his lessons.

Spyro sighed, "But I didn't," he mumbled to himself.

He had no idea how it all started, and he doubted anyone else did. It possibly came from many seeing him and Cynder walking with each other, having dinner, and enjoying each other's company. When he heard that Cynder spoke highly of him in an interview it warmed his heart.

After she left, he thought that things would just go back to normal. To his surprise, he was questioned about his relationship with the black dragoness. Of course, he would say that they were very good friends, and went about his business.

Soon, the students of the temple crowded him asking all sorts of questions. Then, he was shown the local papers. Spyro found himself engaged to Cynder, and everyone wanted to know about it. He would deny it but no one would listen, brushing it off as Spyro being embarrassed about it. Soon, the attention he got was so unnerving that he avoided the city entirely and spent all of his time in the temple, refusing to discuss it with anyone. Not even the Guardians.

Spyro would be lying if part of him didn't enjoy it, though. To be engaged to the dragoness of your dreams. Ever since Cynder and him became friends, he developed an attraction to the dragoness and eventually it turned into a crush. And during the last year of their time at the temple, he realized he had fallen in love with her.

Why he never said anything was obvious.

She could do better, was what he had told himself.

After five years, he had yet to meet a dragoness that he felt the way he did with Cynder. No one paid him any mind, and the only dragoness that he felt he would love nothing more to spend his life with, was out of his league.

A knock from his door jumped the purple dragon out of his thoughts. He let out a sigh, "Blake, I'm serious."

The voice, however, was Ignitus', "Spyro, Cynder is here."

Spyro was taken aback, what was Cynder doing here? "What?! O-oh, I mean, um, sure Ignitus." Spyro walked to the door and opened it; the Guardian standing in the hallway with Cynder, Gale, and a pink dragoness he had never seen before. "H-Hey, Cynder," he greeted, more sheepishly than he had intended, "What are you doing back, don't you have a match to get ready for?"

Cynder smiled, "It will be fine. Can we talk?"

"Sure," he stepped aside, and the pink dragoness walked in first, confusing the dragon. He looked to Cynder and Gale who both gave apologetic looks before entering his room. He turned to Ignitus, "Thanks, Ignitus."

The Fire Guardian nodded, "You are welcome."

As the Guardian left, Spyro closed the door and turned to his guests. He frowned when he saw the pink dragoness looking over his room. He was quite familiar with the look on her face. She was clearly judging.

He cleared his throat, getting all three females' attention, "So, not that I am complaining, but what are you doing back so soon, Cynder?"

"Well," Cynder started, shifting slightly, "It's… complicated."

The pink dragoness rolled her eyes, "Then I'll simplify it. You are engaged to Cynder, at least according to the public."

Spyro scanned over the dragoness for a brief moment. After a brief pause, he asked, "Who are you?"

Ember's eye twitched, "What?!"

"Umm."

"I am the owner of the most successful jewelry brands in all of the realms!" she replied, offended by the purple dragon's ignorance.

"I… uh."

Cynder decided to save Spyro, "Spyro, this is Ember. She is my sponsor."

The purple dragon looked back at Ember, "Wait, you are the owner of Heart Diamond Jewelry?"

"Why yes I am," Ember replied, beaming with pride.

"Spyro," Cynder continued, "you know about the story of us being engaged?"

"Only that I can't leave my room without being swarmed by everyone trying to get details. I'm don't even know the details."

Ember snorted, "I bet you are quite enjoying the attention."

"I don't want it," Spyro shot back, looking to Cynder, "Cynder, I swear I'm not riding on this, I promise." Spyro was panicking. Was Cynder going to break ties with him over this mess? "I wouldn't do that to you."

I wouldn't want to tie you to someone undeserving of you, he mentally added to himself.

However, Cynder smiled, "I know. And that's one of the many things that make you, well… you." Cynder's smile fell slightly, "But, in my world… because of the profits Heart Diamond is raking in, people will think this is all a publicity stunt, and hold it against us."

"So," Spyro started, "to admit it is was a mistake, would hurt your image and turn everyone against you?"

"Oh good," Ember added, "he's not completely hopeless."

"Ember," Gale hissed, knowing that Spyro was in fact their only hope to at least lessen any blowback.

Cynder gave a glare at Ember before turning back to Spyro, "We need you to… pretend. Pretend that we are engaged."

Spyro blinked, then again, then a third time, "What?"

"Only until all this blows over, long enough for people to be… satisfied."

Spyro raised a brow at the last word, "I highly doubt that your male fans with be satisfied that some loser is 'engaged' to you."

"You know what I mean." Cynder sighed, knowing Spyro was going to reject this charade. Why wouldn't he? She dropped him from her life, and suddenly, not only does she come back, but asks for a huge favor. It made her feel shallow, and it was a feeling that she didn't like.

Gale interjected, "We will work out a deal with you. We will allow you a margin of profits from the sales of Heart Diamond Jewelry." Gale could feel the icy cold glare Ember was giving her. Ember was about to give her an earful when Spyro spoke.

"Absolutely not," Spyro said definitively.

Cynder gently bit her lower lip, her gaze lowing ever so slightly.

"Because I'm doing it regardless."

Cynder's head snapped up, "What?"

Spyro gave her a friendly smile, "You are my friend, Cynder, and I am going to help. I don't need you to pay me or anything. I would be an awful friend to take advantage of you like that."

The black dragoness was shocked. Was he being serious?

Of course he is, a voice in her head said, This is Spyro we are talking about. Cynder looked over the purple dragon, his eyes full of kindness and his smile genuine. "Spyro," was all that she could say.

Ember spoke up, "Good, now that this has been settled, we need to head to Shatterpoint."

"We?" Spyro asked.

Ember raised a brow, "You expect the public to see you two apart? No, we need you two together if we want to pull this off."

"But I wouldn't have a place to stay."

Cynder spoke up, "You can stay with me. I have room."

The purple dragon turned to Cynder, "I don't want to impose on your privacy. I could just, get a room at a hotel or something."

"Spyro, it's not a big deal. Besides, it would be nice to have the extra company."

"Now," Ember said, "get what few things you have and pack up, we're leaving right away."

Both Gale and Cynder gave the pink dragoness a glare, as she left the room. Spyro, however, looked over his room, self-conscious about what little he actually had.

"Please excuse her," Gale said, "she is just under a lot of stress about the whole situation."

Spyro seemed to not acknowledge that he heard the wind dragoness, lost in his own thoughts.

Cynder nodded her head to the door, silently telling Gale to wait with Ember. Gale gave a small nod and left the acting betrothal couple alone.

"Are you feeling okay, Spyro?" Cynder asked, concerned.

"Is everyone in Shatterpoint like her?" Spyro asked.

The black dragoness sighed, "Unfortunately, quite a few, but she does mean well."

"More like; plain mean."

Cynder giggled at the purple dragon, who frowned, but couldn't help but smile at the sound of her laugh.

"Maybe, but there a few like Gale and me. Don't worry about those snobs that will insult you or berate you. Because I will be there every step of the way, and I will beat them in the arena if I have to."

The dragon smiled, "I'm sure you could, you just did it to me a few days ago."

Cynder returned the smile, "Now get whatever you need. We can always get you stuff when we are in Shatterpoint."

"Thank you, Cynder," Spyro said, "I do appreciate it."

Cynder pecked Spyro on the cheek, causing his face to redden, "I should be thanking you."

The dragoness left Spyro alone in his room to gather his belongings. When the door closed, the dragoness let out a breath. Spyro had agreed to pretend to be her future mate. The next thing was for Spyro to get accustomed to Shatterpoint, as it is a very wealthy city thanks to, in part, the Dragon Fighter's League. She knew Spyro would have trouble, as he disliked the attention, mostly because he usually got negative attention, but she would stay by his side.

"Cynder," a voice called, making her jump.

She turned to see Ignitus, "Ignitus, you scared me."

The fire Guardian smiled, "Apologies, can we have a quick word?"

The request confused her, "Sure."

The pair walked down the corridor, away from Spyro's room, "I wanted to thank you."

"For what?"

"You make Spyro happy." Ignitus continued on as they walked, ignoring the eyes of the students, "Spyro has been… treated unfairly most of his life. It warms my heart to see that, when you returned to the temple, Spyro's attitude has brightened. You make him happy, and your engagement will only make him even more so."

Cynder was slightly taken aback at Ignitus' claims. "Is… is he really that happy?"

Ignitus smiled, "Ever since you both graduated from the temple, Spyro was really unhappy with his life. I wonder just how deep those thoughts ran. But I think the Ancestors brought you together for a reason."

It hurt her to hide the truth from one of the dragons she looked up to, that their 'engagement' was nothing more than a sham to enrich her. The last thought caused a pang of guilt to run through her body.

Ignitus stopped his walk, causing Cynder to do the same, "Please, keep him happy. It's good to see him so full of life again."

Cynder was filled with determination, "I will. He is very special to me."

The purple dragon tightened the large satchel that slung around him. He stood in the hall, facing the partly closed door. He grabbed the handle and closed the door, but hesitated to let go. Part of him was still in disbelief that he was about to leave.

However, he let out a sigh, It's not forever, only for a few months, and then I'll be back to where I left off.

He let go of the handle, and began his trek to the main entrance of the temple. He caught glances of dragons and overheard dragons commenting on how he had to be the luckiest dragon in the realms, completely oblivious to what the reality was.

In minutes, Spyro entered the main corridor of the temple, several dragons were crowding around the three dragonesses he would be leaving with. Many dragonesses talking with Ember, no doubt complimenting her jewelry.

"I strive for perfection," the pink dragoness said to the group, "and I bestow that on all of my products."

Cynder rolled her eyes at her sponsor's pride. She caught Spyro in the corner of her eye, a smile appearing on her snout. When he was near, she asked, "You ready to go?"

"About as ready as I'll ever be."

"It will be fine."

Spyro shifted his weight, "It's just, not easy leaving home."

The black dragoness nodded, "I know, better than anyone. But unlike me, you have someone to help you out."

Spyro's lip twitched up, "Thanks."

"Spyro!" a voice called out.

Spyro turned to see Blake, once again, "Blake?"

"Are you really leaving?" he asked, disappointment clearly in his voice.

Spyro frowned, "Yeah, I am. Sorry, it just… happened."

"But," a female fire-electric dragoness said, "who is going to teach us now?"

A few dual element dragons approached the purple dragon, all with concerned looks, wondering what was to happen with their training.

The purple dragon looked over the group of dual element dragons. They did not want him to leave? Spyro smiled at the group of young dragons.

"My goal, and the purpose of my teachings, was go help you all learn to better control the two elements you had. To push you to move past your shortcomings or insecurities. Most of you have achieved than, and now we are working on refining that. However, that does not necessarily require my help." Spyro glanced at the younger dragons, smiling he then looked to the older group, such as Blake. "I will be away for a while. So, it's your turn. Help those that need it, like I did for you. I have full faith in all of you."

Spyro paused, the smile not leaving his face, "Teaching you all has been a one of the best experiences for me."

Spyro left with that, smiling at the thank you's and goodbyes.

Cynder walked next to him, "You are good for them."

Spyro, however, shook his head, "No. I think they are good for me."